No Normal Day (15 page)

There
were
unintended
consequences of the fires burning in the back yard, however. Twice in
the last week, the watch had
stopped
someone trying to climb over the fence. The barb wire was
unexpected
and sent
the
first intruder, yelping away. A
night
or two later, Jason and Dianne were standing the midnight to 4:00
watch. Jason had
been
really
rationing
his
cigarettes, he was indulging in one as he and Dianne walked
the
perimeter, starting from opposite sides of the yard to meet up in the
middle. He had
Lee's
AR15. Dianne, like all of the sisters now, was comfortable with
carrying a gun. She carried
a
.22 rifle. They were just about to meet up in the
center
of the back stretch of fence, when a noise caused
Dianne
to
turn.
It was a moonlit night, in the shadow of the trees she really
couldn't see anything. She swept
a
flashlight up along the fence top.
There
,
a
blanket or something had
been
tossed over the barb wire topped fence and a leg was coming over.
Jason was right behind her, he pointed
his
flashlight at the same spot. Dianne dropped
her
light, raised
the
rifle and fired. There was a howl of pain and the climber
disappeared. Lee stumbled
out
of the trailer, jerking up his jeans,.45 in hand.

Several
voices could be
heard
on the other side of the fence, a shot zinged
through
the fence about a foot behind Dianne. Lee motioned
for
Dianne to get down. Jason stretched
up
and could
see
well enough over the fence to spot a
second
intruder reaching for the fence. He motioned
for
Lee to follow him to the inside corner of the fence. The side fence
that joins the back had
the
rails that held the panel boards together, running on the inside. Lee
lifted
himself
up on the center rail, so he had
a
good view over the fence. Jason took
off
his shirt, rolled
it
up and used
it
to
cover
the barb wire,
he
dropped
over
the
side fence. He was still caught by some barbs but moved
along
and hugged
the
wooden panels to see around the corner.

There
was one man on the ground, two were stood behind the man that had
been
climbing
the fence. Jason
could
see
a gun hanging down in one man's hand. He could not
see
if there were more. He aimed
the
AR at the man with the gun, hitting him in the shoulder and the man
fell
back.
A shot fired
in
his direction, the second man had
a
gun. The man dropped
back
off the fence, as Lee shot
from
his corner perch. Jason eased
around
the corner, the fourth man was running, he fired
but
missed.
The
man quickly disappeared
in
the darkness. Lee shouted, “Jason, are you okay?”

“
I'm
good.” Lee pulled
the
dirty blanket that was wet with blood off and threw
it
over the side fence. He climbed
over.
Dianne dusted herself off and climbed
right
behind Lee. They moved
with
caution to the wounded. The man that Dianne shot was barely
conscious, he moaned and bled
badly
from the wound in the upper thigh. The man that Jason shot in the
shoulder was not conscious and the climber who was shot by Lee at
pretty close range, appeared
to
be dead. Dianne was nauseous, she turned
away,
trying to push down the rising sick. She had
never
even seen a badly wounded person, much less been the one who caused
the injury. They stood
in
silence for a moment in the empty church parking lot. By this time,
Jack and Eric were up and the rest of the family awake. Jack was at
the back fence.

“
Jason,
are ya'll there, is anybody hurt?”

Jason
responded, “We are fine, we had a bit of trouble, though. Could
you and Eric come around and give us a hand.” Jack and Eric
went out the garage door and the boys closed it down behind them.
Even though there had been several gunshots fired, there was no sign
of anyone in the neighborhood. Truth was, shots had become a regular
occurrence. Those that are left in the addition, didn't want to see
or know. Behind the fence in the church lot, Jack scanned the scene.
It was not cold but Dianne shivered. Jacks light showed dots of blood
on her shirt, the barb wire got a peck at everyone. Lee gave a short
report.

“
When
I heard shots, I ran out. Dianne had shot this guy, trying to come
over the fence.” He pointed at the man who was silent now.
“Then a shot came through the fence. I moved to the corner,
climbed up where I could see. Another guy was trying to climb the
fence. Jason went over and moved up on them. He shot that guy on the
ground, who had a gun. About that time, I shot the guy coming over
the fence, from my corner. The fourth guy took off running and we
missed him. The runner dropped his gun and here is another one. So,
we inherited two more weapons.
”
Jack
looked at his middle daughter. He just put his hand on her shoulder.

“
This
is what we are going to do. Dianne, don't go back over the fence,
just wait here a few minutes. The men and I are going to pull these
bodies over across the lot, to the other side of the church. I don't
know if they are all dead or alive but their buddy can come back for
them...or not.”

When
they are finished, Dianne still stood, waiting and quiet. Jason
jerked the blanket off of the fence, they would burn that. They go
around to the garage door, tap out a previously agreed upon entry
code on the metal panel. David, the youngest of the boys pulled up
the wide door. They go through the entrance to the patio. In the
bright moonlight, the three other boys, Dane, Matt and Cody are
standing at intervals along the fence, guns in their hands. Dane
asked, “Everybody alright, Poppa?”

Dianne
was softly crying. Jack answered, “Yes, son. Everybody is good.
Thank you boys, for stepping in.”

It
was nearly 3 a.m, Lee said that he would go ahead and take the watch
with one of the boys. The story was told to the other adults, all
awake and waiting. The three boys came in and hugged Jason and
Dianne. Matt said, “My mother, the sharp-shooter”. Dianne
flashed a weary smile.

Beth
said, “Lets try and get a little sleep, it will be breakfast
time.” Everyone moved towards their space. Dianne and Jason,
very glad to rest for a while.

Lynn
said, “I am wide awake now. Think I will make some coffee. I am
sure Lee could use a cup.” They had put an old cabinet on the
back porch. It was stocked with coffee, tea, seasonings, many of the
things that were used to cook with everyday, even some of the pots
and skillets, etc. Lynn prepared the camping drip coffee maker on the
burner and lit it. She pulled out a couple of mugs. She didn't
usually like coffee but as long as the powdered cappuccino flavored
creamer lasted she would drink it. While the coffee was dripping, she
went back inside, quietly moved to the locked closet where the guns
and ammo were being kept. There were children in the house, they all
knew the safety drill, except for the ones kept on or near the men,
the extra guns were stored in the closet with the lock nearly to the
top of the door. She stretched to open the closet, got the .380 in
the canvas case and put it at her waist. She re-locked, moved back
out to the patio. Lee and Cody walked up and down the fence line.
Still not quite dawn, it would be soon.

The
coffee was ready, she fixed up hers and one for Lee. Lynn, not only
wore the brace on one leg but she did not have perfect use of one
hand. Still, she managed very well. She pushed the two mug handles
together and grabbed them with one hand. The coffee was hot, so she
moved carefully to where Lee had stopped and was watching her.
“Thought, you might need a cup of coffee,” she said and
then to Cody, “Why don't you go and get you something to
drink?”

Cody
moved to the house. Lee said, “Um-m, what's in this?”

“
Cappuccino
flavor...you like it? We probably won't have it for long, for now
enjoy.”

“
Well,
this has been an exciting night, huh?” said
Lee.
“Your sister did pretty good.”

“
Yeah,
she is strong. I guess we all do what we have to.” Lynn blew
across the cup and sipped the hot drink.

Lee
said, “Let's walk the fence. Do you mind?”

When
the sun was well up, they still walked
back
and forth. They had talked about the night. They talked about the
past and about this scary present. He told her about his limp and she
told him about hers. He talked about Cody and she talked about Mindy
and Michelle. When all the residents of the compound had
drifted
out onto the porch and when the aroma of breakfast drifted
from
the patio, Lee and Lynn were still talking. No one commented,
although a few looks were traded between the women
when
they came walking up to join in.

Over
breakfast, the duties of the day were discussed, everyone took
a
job. It was agreed that Jack and Eric would
take
the mower and trailer, with the water containers that they have
emptied, to Joel's pond and get water. Joel and his family were
holding up well. There was only Joel, his wife and several dogs, he
was well prepared for a crisis. So far, he felt
comfortable
sharing water with Jack's family. They always brought
food
stores as barter. He had
a
garden and Jack was trying to get pointers. Although, Jack and
family, had
started
a small patch in one side of the yard, only some of the seeds were
sprouting up.

Jack
said, “Lee and anyone else that needs it can get some sleep.
This afternoon, two of us men and two of the boys will go out and see
if we can do some
shopping
.”
They had
to
keep the War Wagon in good running condition, it was their life line
to the outside. The men had
made
a couple of
scavenging
runs, always trying to add to their stores and always trying to
acquire things from the constant list. Each time they ventured
out
into the city or the
close
by suburbs, it became
more
dangerous. Last night's incident was proof
how
the danger here at the compound was increasing. People's desperation
and hunger multiplied
every
day and the items to loot were lessening every day.

Jack
also wanted
to
check on the Carpenters across the street. Each time he knocked
on
their door, he expected
the
worst. Sometimes, Mr. Carpenter answered, sometimes not. The last
time, he answered Jack, but did not open the door at all. Jack told
him, “Mr. Carpenter, here is a full propane tank and some food
and water. I will leave it by the door.” It was gone later. He
hoped that the old man was the one that got it. He honestly didn't
know who else was in the neighborhood. Occasionally, he got
a
glimpse of someone, but mostly folks were locked inside or maybe just
not there.
More
often than the smell of fires or food cooking, unpleasant and
disturbing odors hung
in
the air. Rotting food, human waste and death was
heavy
on the outside. They tried
to
ignore it as best they could. Often, he saw
the
little ones wrinkling their noses. Some days, if the wind was blowing
very much in a certain direction, they wore
masks
when they are out of the house. He felt
lucky
that the two houses on each side of them, the house next to the
Carpenters and the large church facilities had
never
had people there, since the event. Unless of course, the desperate
had
moved
in.