Charlie's Requiem: Democide (25 page)

“Just do it!” Kramer said back. “I want to see your face when you pull the trigger. I want you to see the man that will haunt your dreams for the rest of your life!”

“OH Lord!” The timid man said. “Just turn around.”

“Or what?” Kramer calmly replied. “You’ll kill me if I don’t?”

The other two stopped their jocular banter and stared with disbelief at the doctor.

“Well,” the agent said. “Seems like we have a hero!”

“Tell you what,” the agent continued, bringing his shotgun up and pointing it at Grafton’s raised right arm. “If you don’t turn around, I’ll blow off your head. Then, I’m going to use this shotgun to take his arm clean off. Then I’ll take off the other one. Then I’ll shoot off his legs, one at a time, and leave him here to bleed out. Now, it’s your choice! Turn around and we’ll do this clean, or face me and I swear I’ll blow off your head and leave your friend here in pieces to die a slow, painful death!”

Kramer knew the answer, refusing to allow Ed to suffer because of his own pride. Kramer spit at the men’s feet, and turned around, slowly shuffling himself on his knees until they were both facing the trees and the retention pond beyond.

“I’m sorry, Gerry!” Ed said quietly, having gained his composure. “You can turn back if you need to. I’ll be all right. I mean, dead is dead. Right?”

“That’s OK. Let’s just get this done. See you on the other side!”

Both men heard a click, as the agent with the shotgun took off the safety.

“Good bye boys, and thanks for the…”

A single crack popped from the bushes nearby, and a cry came from behind them. Suddenly, four or five more pops came forth and Kramer heard the men behind him fall to the ground.

“DOWN!” Kramer yelled to Grafton and they both fell to the dirt. Sneaking a look behind them, Kramer could see all three of their attackers were down, two of them with bullet holes in their foreheads and their tall executioner with one through his left eye.

“CLEAR!” Came a cry from in front of them.

“CLEAR!” Came from yet other spots.

Someone came from behind, and gently but firmly grasping Kramer’s hands, they cut the zip ties. The doctor rolled over and stared at two younger men, both looked to be in their mid-twenties. They wore MARPAT camouflage garments and each carried an AR-15 rifle. They had green and brown camo ball caps and both had full magazine pouches lining their belt.

One of the two, a black man, reached down and gave Kramer a hand getting up. The other one, a man of unassuming size and a bird-like face, hefted Grafton up like he was lifting a fish from the water. An impressive show of strength for such a normal-sized person.

“Thank you!” Grafton said. “You saved our lives.”

“Thanks,” Kramer added. “We owe you!”

“Hey,” the black man said. “That was impressive.”

“What?” Kramer asked.

“The way you faced that guy down.”

“It was nothing!” Kramer replied.

“No,” the other said. “That was not nothing. I just hope I could be as strong if I’m ever in that situation.”

Kramer, not knowing what to say, just stood mutely before them.

“Name’s Trey Williams,” The black man said, shaking Kramer’s hand. “And this is Will,” pointing to “bird man.”

“Name’s Will Schumacher.” The young man added.

“Gerry Kramer,” the doctor said. “And this is Ed Grafton.”

The four men moved back to the fenced in area and stood by Grafton’s pickup truck.

“Hey, I know you!” Will said.

Kramer began to ready a reply, being used to the recognition, but that’s when Will continued.

“You own Grafton Racing Team. I’m a huge fan!”

Kramer bit his lip and silently chuckled at his pride, assuming that he was the famous one.

Ed perked up and nodded as Will began to act like a star-struck teenager.

“This guy’s team is the best,” He started telling his companion, who quickly cut off his star-struck friend’s rant.

“Hold off on that thought, we’d better get moving,” Trey said. “They may have friends around.”

“I doubt it,” Kramer replied. “I don’t know if you heard them when we were first caught, but they weren’t going to arrest us. They were going to steal our truck and store it in some warehouse.”

* * *

“DHS looters, huh. Well, that just puts the icing on the cake.” Trey said with hatred.

“What are you two doing here, anyway?” Will asked.

“Well, I hate to admit it. But we were looting too.” Kramer said.

Kramer told them about their plans to use the batteries to run his house at night and for a backup during the days when the clouds blocked the sun.

“Wow, power! That would be nice.” Will stated soberly.

“What about you boys,” Kramer asked. “What are you doing out here?”

“Just trying to survive,” Trey replied. “We were at Will’s house when a crew just like those three showed up. We told them we were fine, but they wouldn’t leave us alone. They called for support and got an up-armored HUMVEE delivered to Will’s front door, then blew his house up with a TOW.”

“A TOW?” Ed asked.

“Yeah, a “Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided” missile.”

“A missile?” Ed said with astonishment. “They blew your house up with a missile?”

“Yeah. Well, if Will here hadn’t taken a shot at their HUMVEE, they may not have taken out his house.”

“I should have put one of them down,” Will replied. “I figured they’d get the message if I just creased their windshield.”

“It wouldn’t have mattered,” Trey admitted. “They had it out for us, anyway.”

“Well, when we saw these three moving through the neighborhood back there, we followed them figuring they’d try the same thing on someone else.”

Trey pointed to the back of the property where Kramer and Grafton had been led. Beyond the tree line and across the pond, a large subdivision of newly constructed homes was visible, the zero lot-line parcels of property filled to capacity with oversized, faux-stucco homes.

“So, is that where are you guys staying?” Kramer asked.

“For now, until the food runs out. Then, I guess, we’ll move on.”

Kramer had an idea. He excused himself and pulled Grafton into the outbuilding to get some privacy.

“We could use them,” Kramer said. “We need friends, especially young, healthy men.”

“And particularly men who can handle themselves.” Grafton replied.

“Can we feed them?” Kramer asked. “That’s why I brought you in here. I know I can chip in, but I don’t have enough for two more mouths.”

“I think we have enough,” Grafton replied. “I mean, with the boars and sows roaming about, we should be able to bring in more than enough protein to feed us all.”

“What do you think?” Kramer asked, prodding his friend to help make the decision.

“I’m good, if you are!”

“I agree. Let’s ask.”

The two men quickly returned and approached their rescuers.

“How would you boys like to join our little community. Now, before you make a decision, let’s get some ground rules straight.” Grafton began.

The two men stood expectantly.

“First, let me tell you what we can bring to the party. We have electricity, running hot and cold water and enough food to get us through next year, if we supplement it with some hunting and fishing.”

Their eyes lit up at the thought of hot water. They were about to burst with enthusiasm when they heard about all the food.

“Second, we have room for you to bunk in the house. My wife and I already have one guest, but we have another two bedrooms available. One guest room has a queen-sized bed, and the other a pull-out twin mattress. It’s up to the two of you to decide who sleeps in which bedroom.”

“And third, you can leave at any time, and we can ask you to leave for whatever reason. There is no contract and no lease! You are there at our pleasure, but you can stay at yours. All we ask is that you live by our code of conduct, work hard and we will get along famously.”

“What codes are those?” Trey asked.

“Respect my land, my family and each other and work to earn your keep. Be honest and forthright with no secrets and we will all do just fine.” Grafton concluded.

“And what do you expect from us?” Trey asked. “Why are you asking us to join you?”

“Because we have two families, and only three men available for protection is not enough. It’s a cruel world out there right now. You two have shown us you can be trusted, and that’s in short supply as well. You can handle yourself in a fight, and you saved our lives. It would be an honor to have you join us.”

“Sir, we need to discuss this. Could we have a minute?”

“Of course, son. Take your time.”

The two young men met by the edge of the fence. Their animated faces and gestures were not too hard to decipher. Ed was good at reading men, and these two were leaning toward joining them at their homes.

“Well,” Kramer said. “Looks like you’ve won them over.”

“You think?” Grafton said. “What makes you so sure.”

“Well,” Kramer continued. “They’re playing rocks, paper and scissors. That could only mean one thing.”

“They’re deciding on who gets the queen bed!” Grafton replied.

Trey and Will turned and rejoined Kramer and Grafton.

“Mr. Grafton. Mr. Kramer.” Trey began.

“That’s Dr. Kramer,” Grafton said.

“You’re a doctor? A real doctor?”

“Is there any other kind?” Grafton asked with some amusement.

“Well, yeah. Dr. Kramer could be a medical doctor or some college professor.”

“Ouch!” Kramer laughed at his friend. “He got you there! And yes, I am a real doctor. I’m a cardiologist.”

“Well then, that’s just the gravy on the biscuit!” Will chimed in.

“What my friend is saying,” Trey added. “Is that we would love to take you up on your offer. We’d be appreciative of the chance to join your family.”

“Well then,” Grafton said. “Who won the right to the queen bed?”

“He did,” Will said with some embarrassment, pointing at Trey.

“I told Will he shouldn’t keep playing the same thing. Paper, paper, paper gets you some scissors in the end.” Trey said laughing.

“I’m not good with those gambling games!” Will said back. “I just don’t do well. We should all just share the rooms and change them every week.”

The three men smiled at Will’s discomfort. Trey slapped poor Will on the back and the two young men started to leave the fenced-in enclosure.

“We’ll be back in a few minutes. We have to get our bikes.”

“You have bikes?” Grafton asked, but they were gone, running into the tree line and disappearing.

“Jeez, are we going to have to slow ourselves down so they can keep up on their bicycles?” He asked.

“I don’t know,” Kramer said. “But can’t you come up with another vehicle for them?”

“I suppose so,” Ed replied. “We need to hit the junkyards though and look for some older vehicles to salvage. I suppose we could…”

Suddenly, they heard the high-pitched roar of small-engine motorcycles as Trey and Will shot out of the tree line, whooping and hollering as they took to the air at a small hill nearby. They tore up the dirt, kicking up rocks and debris, finally drifting to a stop just outside the gate’s opening.

“Ready, Mr. Grafton!” Will said, his face beaming from the adrenaline of their race to get back.

Both had camouflaged backpacks over their shoulders and their rifles strapped across their chests. Handguns were attached to their battle belts and their helmets were painted with a homemade pattern of forest green and dusty brown.

Kramer smiled at Ed, whose jaw was agape at the boys’ antics.

“Just what did you two boys do for a living?” Ed finally asked.

“Well, sir. I hadn’t found a job yet.” Trey said with a bowed head.

“I was doing lawns, sir.” Will replied as well. “I was just waiting for Trey so we could start our own company.”

“Waiting for Trey?” Ed queried. “Waiting for him for what?”

“For him to get out of the Corps. We were all together in the Marines. I got out first.” Will said.

“Hallelujah,” Ed said, hearing about their military experience. “There is a God!”

“Was there ever a doubt?” Kramer added.

“Not for you!” Grafton respectfully replied, aware of Kramer’s devout loyalty to his religion.

“Where are we going?” Trey asked, revving his bike’s engine.

Both had vintage Yamaha XJ720 motorcycles. The early 80’s bikes had a 700cc engine, kick start ignition and carbureted fuel system.

“How did you boys get those things running?” Grafton asked.

“Well sir,” Will said. “I restored them while we were in the Corps.”

“I was his C.O.,” Trey said. “The kid’s a natural mechanic. When I saw his bike, I had to have one of my own!”

“What did you do in the Marines?” Grafton asked.

“CLR-1, sir. Combat Logistics Regiment out of Camp Pendleton. I was a mechanic.”

“That’s where we met,” Trey said. “Pendleton, sir.”

“Adapt and overcome,” Will added. “That’s what we do. Trey just got out a few weeks ago and we were planning our future when things went south.”

“What happened, anyway?” Trey asked. “How did we lose power?”

“Plenty of time for conversation,” Grafton replied. “For now, let’s get back to our place and get you boys settled in. It’ll be dark in less than an hour, and I want to be home before then.”

Ed gave them directions to the house, and both seemed to know where they were going.

“Let’s move out, gentlemen!” Grafton shouted over the din of the motorbikes and the rumble of his old truck’s engine.

“Copy that, sir!” Trey shot back.

“Will, take point. 100 meters. I’ll take the rear.”

Will shot off down the driveway and fishtailed into the street.

Ed pushed his old truck to its limits as they carried the old pickup’s maximum capacity back in its bed. But the old stovebolt engine didn’t fail, its cylinders chugging and compressing like an old locomotive. Slowly but surely, they moved off of the main highway and back through Montverde; and by the time they made it home, the sun had dropped below the horizon. Beeping his horn before they got there, Grafton caught the two men’s attention and reminded them not to make too grand an entrance. The ladies and Rob weren’t expecting such a raucous group to be returning.

Finally, Ed pulled the old truck into the garage and shut it down, while their new colleagues were introduced to some very surprised people. Ed sat alone in the garage reflecting on the day, shaking his head at the tremendous change in their fortune. From near death to a new life and an even safer home, the last 12 hours had been quite the rollercoaster ride. He crawled out of the driver’s side, having let Kramer out before parking the truck in the garage. He could hear the doctor introducing Carol and Rob to their two new Marine companions.

He stopped and watched as Will and Rob came out of the house to examine the two older motorcycles. Will excitedly pointed to the engine, stoking Rob’s passion for all things mechanical. They then quickly returned to the dining room table, the smell of home cooking seductively wafting out from the open kitchen window.