The Army Comes Calling (22 page)

Chapter 37

     The undergrowth had grown considerably in the forest between the compound and the hidden lake. If their intent was to traverse the course often enough to form a path, they were losing the battle.

     Still, even without a path to guide them, it was hard to miss their destination. All they had to do was keep Salt Mountain to their left and follow it around to its back side. Even when the canopy of the forest grew thick, the mountain was periodically visible through the trees.

     It was almost exactly a mile from the gate of the compound to the water’s edge. Mark, Hannah and Markie had made this trek several times before. Marty, on the other hand, hadn’t had much exercise of late and became winded.

     Hannah told him, “Out of courtesy to you, Marty, because you’re such a doll, I’m going to dispense with all of the ‘old man’ jokes.”

     “Gee, thanks.”

     Hannah had an afterthought.

     “Hey, how old are you? If you don’t mind me asking, of course.”

     “I don’t mind at all. I’m forty seven. I don’t consider that old at all, although right now I feel so. Why do you ask?”

     “Oh, Sarah and I were talking the other day about finding you a woman, and we were wondering what age we should hook you up with.”

     Marty looked at Mark and laughed. Mark just shook his head, as if to say, “What can I do? She’s nuts.”

     But he was smart enough not to verbalize it.

     Marty asked Hannah, “And what makes you think I need a dame?”

     She stopped short and looked at him.

     “A
dame
?”

     “I’m sorry. That’s probably not politically correct anymore. A broad then.”

     “A
broad
?”

     He winked at her.

     “Marty, I hope you’re kidding. A dame or a broad. No wonder you’re single.”

     Then…

     “
Are
you kidding?”

     “Yes. I have way too much respect for women to call them such disparaging names for real.”

     “Then why are you single?”

     “Well, I suppose there’s just too much charm and sophistication wrapped up in this one package for any one woman to handle.”

     “No, seriously. Why are you still single?”

     “I have a better question, Hannah. Why is my love life so important to you?”

     “Who says it is?”

     “It seems like every time we have a conversation, the topic just swings that way.”

     “Oh, Marty. It’s just that love is such a wonderful thing. They say it makes the world go around. And you’re such an amazing man. I hate to see you missing out on so much by not having a good woman at your side.”

     “Look, Hannah, here’s the thing. Yes, having a good woman at my side would be great. But I’m not missing out. I’m in love with life in general. I love standing before the rising sun and feeling it warm my face while I sip a steaming cup of coffee. I love lying in the grass and watching the clouds roll by. I love sharing a good meal with my friends. I even love hanging out with you and Mark and laughing at your antics along with everyone else.”

     “Marty, a sunrise can’t keep you warm at night. A cloud can’t comfort you when you’re feeling blue.”

     Mark thought it was time to add his two cents.

     “A cloud can’t make you sleep on the couch when it asks you if its butt looks big in its jeans and you give an honest answer.”

     “Oh, you hush over there.”

     Marty said, “Look, dear. I appreciate you trying to find me a woman. But I’m content with my life the way it is. I’m doing something to help people that gives me a sense of accomplishment. I’ve got a great circle of friends, and I’ve survived the worst disaster in the history of mankind.

     “Yes, I know my life would be enriched even more by the love of a good woman. And perhaps someday I’ll find one. But if that happens, it’ll happen on its own. I don’t want to be forced in that direction. And I don’t want any woman to feel pressured to start seeing me simply because you and Sarah think we might be a good match.”

     Mark couldn’t hold back.

     “See, baby? I told you he’d say that.”

     Marty said, “So, can we drop the subject now?”

     Hannah stuck out her pouty lip, but relented.

     “Oh, okay… but I think you’re making a big mistake.”

     “It wouldn’t be the first one, I assure you.”

     “Okay, let’s talk about Glenna, then.”

     “Glenna, the woman from Eden who stabbed that man?”

     “Yes.”

     Marty rolled his eyes and said, “Here we go again.”

     “Oh, no! I’m not trying to fix you up with Glenna, I promise. I only bring her up because she wants to meet you before you head back tomorrow.”

     Marty cast her a wary eye.

     “How come?”

     “We were talking about the men who went to rescue her and her children. She was asking how we knew about their plight, and I told her that you had come to the compound looking for men to do the rescue. I said you had gotten word that the citizens of Eden were under siege, and you just didn’t have it in your nature to ignore the situation. That you had to go help.

     “Anyway, I asked if she remembered you from that day and she said that everything was hazy. She said her mind had been in a fog that day, and everything was so surreal she didn’t remember much of anything. Except stabbing that knife in and out of Castillo’s chest. She said it brought her such joy as his warm blood rushed out and covered her hands, and she knew he was finally on his way to hell.”

     “Uh, pardon me, Hannah. But exactly
why
should I be in any hurry to meet a woman who found such pleasure while killing a man?”

     “Because it’s part of her healing process. She needs to meet you personally, so she can thank you for what you did for her. She’ll never be able to put that day behind her until she’s able to do that.

     “And she’s a good and God-fearing woman, despite what she did that day. She did it out of desperation, and to protect her and her children from further harm. Not because she’s a mean or vindictive person.”

     “But he was bound and defenseless.”

     “Yes. But after everything she’d been through, she couldn’t trust the legal system. Her greatest fear was that he’d somehow get free again. Or would send some of his friends after her.”

     “Well, I guess it’s understandable that someone who’d endured what she had might feel that way.”

     “So you’ll meet with her?”

     “Yes. How’s she doing, by the way?”

     “She has a long way to go. She’s coming out of her apartment more now, and starting to mingle with some of the others. Her children are playing with the other children now, and sometimes she goes out to watch them. They’re actually adjusting better than she is.

     “She’s still very distant, though, and spends much of her time just staring off into space. Sarah and I go by there on a regular basis to sit with her. We try to schedule it so that she sees at least one of us every day. But we’re not professionals, and don’t know how to draw her out. So we just basically sit there and talk about whatever she’s comfortable with on any given day. I’d like to think we’re helping to some degree, but I just don’t know.”

     “Well, take me to her tomorrow before I head out. I don’t know how her meeting me will help her heal, but if you think it may be beneficial I’ll do it. Now, then, is that the lake I’ve been hearing so much about?”

     Hannah had been too busy talking to notice, but they’d arrived at their destination. Before them was a wide expanse of emerald green water, the sunlight shimmering off its surface.

     Little Markie exclaimed, “Yep! That’s it! Yay!”

     “Then let’s quit talking so much and do some fishing.”

Chapter 38

     The fish weren’t biting from the shore, and the small rowboat a long-dead fisherman left on the shore wasn’t big enough for three adults, a child and two German shepherds.

     So the group split up.

     “You guys go ahead,” Hannah said. “Mark, take Marty to that place on the far side of the lake, where we caught all those fish last time.”

     “What are you and Markie going to do?”

     “Oh, don’t you worry about us. We have lots of things to do. I had him wear his trunks so I could give him another swimming lesson. And we’ll play fetch with the dogs, and maybe go for a walk. We’ve got enough to keep us busy for a couple of hours. We’ll be fine.”

     “Okay. Two hours is about the time we have left before we need to start heading back. Give me a kiss for luck.”

     Hannah kissed her husband and he and Marty climbed into the boat.

     As he rowed away, Mark saw Hannah take off the jogging suit she wore to the lake to reveal a pure white bikini underneath. And it occurred to him for the ten thousandth time how lucky he was to have such a gorgeous and loving wife.

     Markie couldn’t wait to get in the water.

     “Mommy, how come this water is different from the water at home?”

     “What do you mean, little sailor?”

     “Well, at home when you fill up my bathtub I can still see the bottom of the tub. But I can’t see the bottom of the lake. It’s all green.”

     “Well, that’s because fish and other things live in this water. And they need for it to be green. The green stuff is nutrients that help keep them alive. If the water was clear they wouldn’t be able to survive.”

     “Is it the fish that sometimes I feel on my toes when I’m floating in the water?”

     “Yes. And maybe some turtles and frogs too. They all live here in the lake.”

     “Do they all go to the bathroom in the water?”

     “Yes, well, they do. That’s another thing that makes the water green.”

     She was half afraid he would want to get out of the lake and never return to it.

     But Markie seemed oddly okay with it.

     “Does it bother you that the fish go to the bathroom in the water that you swim in?”

     “Nope. Cause if they can, then I can too.”

     “Oh, Markie. You didn’t…”

     “Yep. I just did. Is that okay?”

     “Tell me you just peed and not the other.”

     “Yep. Is that okay? I mean, if the fish pee in the water, then I can too, right?”

     “Markie, ewww…”

     “I’m sorry, Mommy. I guess I should have asked first. But I really had to go.”

     “Oh, it’s okay, honey. It’s my fault. I should have asked if you needed to go before we got into the water. Next time, before we get in you can go off into the bushes and go. Okay?”

     “Okay, Mommy. I promise.”

     “Let’s swim over this way…”

     All in all, it was a very successful trip. The men came back from their excursion to the other side of the lake with two stringers full of fish. It wouldn’t be enough to feed everyone in the compound, but it would come close. And with the ten perch Mark had brought back on his previous trip, now thawing at the compound, they’d have enough for a good fish fry.

     Hannah and Little Markie had their own great time, first bonding with each other and then the dogs. They learned that both dogs were natural swimmers, and liked to fetch sticks thrown into the water.

     As long as they weren’t thrown too far into the water, though. At one point, Hannah heaved a stick a good forty yards into the dirty green water. Shiloh looked at her as if to say, ‘I don’t want it that bad.’ Then he lay down at the water’s edge and waited for the tiny waves to bring it closer to shore.

     On the way back to the compound, Hannah announced that she was right about Misty. The dog was indeed expecting.

     “How do you know?” Mark asked.

     “Well, I noticed that the past few days her food and water dishes were both empty in the afternoon and had to be refilled. She’s eating and drinking for two now. Today I felt her belly and it’s hard. And her nipples are swelling and getting more pronounced. She’s got some puppies in there. Marty, you’ll soon have your companion. Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?”

     “A girl. I’m going to name her Millie, after the best dog I’ve ever had. Once I have Millie, maybe you’ll stop bugging me so much about finding a woman.”

     “Maybe. But I doubt it.”