Without (25 page)

It took us five hours to hike out of the hills and make it
back to Stevenson. J.D. offered us his home for the evening, but Perry was on a
mission. We all were.

Trying to convince my uncle not to confront Pastor Jenkins
as soon as we returned was falling on deaf ears. He didn’t understand the
dangers of confronting a man like that on his own turf. All Perry saw was the
man who hurt his family. He didn’t see the manipulative, intelligent, evil,
homicidal sociopath I did.

Rick didn’t become those things when the power went out. He
had been that way his entire life. I imagined there was a long list of unsolved
rapes and murders in whatever town the pastor took up residence, brainwashing
his flock into believing he was the Second Coming. He preyed on the
vulnerability of weaker minds during times of duress. And we were in an epic
time of duress.

We couldn’t call the local authorities or the FBI for help.
There were no laws to be broken in our new world. Any enforcement of rules
established by local authorities fell on the shoulders of the people who
created them. In Stevenson, Pastor Jenkins created the rules. He held a Bible
in one hand and a leash on his dogs in the other. If you broke his rules he’d
let go of the leash, sending the most devout of his flock to punish the
offenders in God’s name.

He was the worst kind of opportunist. His position in the
community allowed him to further his personal, sick agenda while hiding behind
the pulpit. With all eyes and ears on him, he could twist their perception in
any direction he pleased.

It wouldn’t surprise me if he confessed to all the killings
during one if his services and then had the entire congregation forgive his
transgressions. All he’d have to do was empower them with the choice of whether
or not to continue following him. He’d wax poetic about how the devil made him
do it, but the Lord had shown him the light. With a promise to lead his flock
to glory as a flawed man who has been saved, he’d win that forgiveness. He
knows the church was the last hope for many in the town. He knew they’d do
anything to keep that hope alive – even if it meant protecting a monster.

Dawn was breaking as we walked up the front steps of our
home. Complete exhaustion from the grueling hike helped my attempt to keep
Perry from confronting Rick. He could barely raise his arms to push the straps
of his pack off his shoulders. When it hit the floor in the foyer, we all
sensed something was wrong. Turning to see Doc sitting on the couch alone in
the dim light, his face proved us all right. He was a mess.

“Where’s Donna?” asked Perry, hyperventilating with fear.

“She’s gone,” replied Doc, trying to sit up. “So’s Kelly and
River. They took them last night.”

“Who took them?” asked Joey.

“Rick and several of his men from the church,” answered Doc.
“That’s where they are now.”

“Are you okay?” I asked, sitting beside him, assessing his
injuries.

“I tried to stop them,” said Doc, lowering his head. “There
were too many of them. I wasn’t strong enough.”

His white hair was tussled, encrusted with blood from a gash
on the top of his head. A lump the size of a golf ball was swelling over his
black eyes. Blood was still oozing out of cuts on his face from the punches he
suffered. He winced in pain, holding his left side as he tried to move.

“Just sit back, Doc,” I said. “Tell me what to do.”

“Nothing
you
can do, son,” said Doc. “They kicked in
a couple of my ribs. I think one may have punctured my lung. I’m going to need
my bag from the house.”

“Joey,” I said. “Go get Doc’s bag. Get all of the bags.”

As Doc labored to breath, Joey flew out the door. I went
into the kitchen to wet some rags to help clean him up. Perry returned to us
with a dry towel to put pressure on his bleeding head wound.

“Why did he take them?” asked Perry. “Why did he do this to
you?”

“I don’t know,” said Doc. “Rick came over to find out why we
weren’t at the clinic. I told him what I told the girls. I said that you guys
had caught up with the men in the hills who had attacked Kelly and River. He
became agitated, asking me a bunch of questions about what was going on. Then
he left. A couple hours later, his goons showed up. After they worked me over,
they gave me a message to give to you.”

“What’s the message?” I asked.

“He wants you to go to the church at dusk,” said Doc. “Just
you, unarmed and alone. If he sees anybody else, he’s gonna kill them. When you
get there, he’ll let the women go.”

“He knows,” I said.

“He knows what?” asked Doc.

“That we’d be coming for him,” said Perry. “Those men in the
hills were his men.”

“His men?”

“Yes,” said Perry. “He’s the one who raped Kelly and River
and burned her baby. He also murdered about a dozen drifters and buried them in
a field behind his house. He kills the men and uses up the women. He’s the
devil, Doc. And none of us saw it coming.”

“Come on, Perry,” said Doc, laying his head back on the
cushion. “We all knew. I mean, we didn’t know the details or how this would
play out, but are you truly surprised?”

“No,” said Perry. “But I am truly sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?” I asked. “You had nothing to do with
this. You couldn’t have known.”

“He’s a drifter,” said Perry. “He’s not from here and he’s
not family. I should’ve seen this coming. There was something in his eyes the
first time I met him, but he convinced me otherwise. Now my wife and daughter
are gone. They’re gone because I wasn’t smart enough to figure him out.”

“Bullshit, Uncle Perry,” I said. “Cut this crap out now.
He’s a fucking animal and he fooled everyone. None of this is your fault. I’ll
make things right, I promise.”

“How?” said Perry. “Have you seen that place? It’s not a
church, it’s a fort.”

“Fort God,” I said, smiling. “I’ve heard.”

“He’s got over forty armed followers up there who’d shoot
you down the second you stepped foot inside. There’s no way you’re going up
there. No way, son.”

“He’ll let them go,” I said. “He wants me, not them. He’s
already taken what he needs from River. Killing her and Donna would only bring
more problems. He wants a showdown at dusk with me.”

“Why you?” asked Perry. “Why not me? He knows I’ll come
after him once Donna and River are safe.”

“Because Kelly doesn’t want you,” I said. “He needs to take
away the thing she wants. He needs to own her.  I’m sure in his twisted mind he
thinks she’ll turn to him when I’m out of the picture. Everything will go back
to normal in his world.”

“It won’t be a showdown,” said Doc. “He’s going to kill you.
You know that, right?”

“Well, I don’t plan on making it that easy for him,” I said.
“But right now, we don’t have a choice – my life for theirs. It’s that simple.”

Joey returned a few minutes later, damn near death himself
from running the entire route. Doc pulled out several items, laying them out on
the coffee table. After lying down, he started giving me instructions.

I inserted a large syringe into his left side. As I twisted a
valve on the end of a device, blood and air hissed out of the line. It was as
if someone had just punctured his tires. In an instant he began to breathe
easier.

After stitching up the gash on his head, I apologized to
him. It was going to be an ugly, crooked scar. (At least his hair would cover
it.) We cleaned up the cuts on his face as he periodically released the
pressure inside his chest cavity through the valve, allowing his lung to inflate.
Only time would tell if his body would recover from the multiple injuries.
There were many reasons why I needed to save Kelly, but her being the only
person who could save Doc was the first.

Doc faded off to sleep on the couch with Joey doing the same
in the chair beside him. Perry stood, motioning for me to walk outside to the
deck with him. I knew what he was going to say, but it was my turn to have deaf
ears.

“We’re gonna figure out another way,” said Perry. “So I
don’t want you worrying about going up there alone. I can’t let you do that.”

“Yes, you can,” I said. “You can because there’s no other
way. The people we care about the most in this fucked up world are in trouble.
My going up there will put them in a safe place. Nothing else matters.”

“There has to –”

“Stop this,” I said. “You’re not going to change my mind.
Look, I’ve only known Kelly for a short period of time, but I’ve fallen hard
for that girl. You and Donna, you’ve been married longer than I’ve been alive.

“Uncle Perry, I see how much you love her. I see the little
things you do every day to remind her of that. She’s your world and so is
River. I mean, my God, what that woman has had to endure since all this
started. She lost her husband and child, but she still has the two of you and Joey.
She deserves a chance to be happy and live a full life. I can give her that. I
can give you back your bride and give Joey back his mother. And I can do all of
that by just showing up at dusk.”

“You love her, don’t you?” asked Perry, giving me a warm smile.
“You love Kelly.”

“I do,” I said. “I never thought that would be possible
again, but here I am, feeling it. She deserves a happy and full life, too. I’m
going to give her that, even if I’m not here to be a part of it.”

“Why are you doing this for me?” asked Perry.

“Because if he wanted you instead of me,” I said, “if you
had the chance to give me a life with Kelly and save your family, you’d already
be there waiting for the sun to go down.”

He didn’t argue my point.

“We need to try to get some sleep,” I said. “We’ve got a
busy evening ahead of us.”

Walking up to my room, I sat on the corner of the bed. For a
man who had tried so hard to survive, I wondered why I was so anxious to trade
in my life. I’d soon be facing the king of cowards, unarmed and outnumbered
forty to one. I knew if anything happened to me, Uncle Perry would scorch the
earth getting to him. There was some consolation in that thought, but it wasn’t
the reason. Lying back, closing my eyes, the reasons came to me.

Her face was the first image. I hadn’t seen it since I
destroyed my parents’ home, trying desperately to suppress it. But now it was a
source of comfort. As the aroma of strawberries filled the air, I could feel
Sam close to me. This time she didn’t have to make the decision. I was doing
that on my own. I felt her hand touch mine, letting me know it was the right
thing to do.

Sam’s face was replaced with a vision of the future. I
reached back into my memory of watching Uncle Perry and his family sitting
around the dinner table, finding a way to grow closer while the world fell
apart around them. After all they’d done for me, it made me smile knowing I’d
be the reason they’d have more of those moments together.

Before I drifted off to sleep, the last face to come to me
was Kelly’s. The single regret I had was that I might be seeing it in this
world only one more time.

I woke up trembling.

It wasn’t because I was nervous or scared; it was because I
was freezing. When I fell asleep, the temperature outside was in the high
eighties. But a couple hours later, a cold draft was pouring over me through
the open window. After putting on warmer clothes, I looked at my pocket watch.
I had three hours until dusk.

Taking my time getting ready, I was pleased to feel the warm
water hit my face in the shower. (The drastic temperature drop had been so
sudden that the water hadn’t had time to cool down inside the tank.) I’m not
sure why, but I wanted to look my best, shaving and running a comb through my
hair. After a final inspection in the mirror, I went downstairs to check on
Doc.

Perry was awake in the chair beside him. Joey was sleeping
on the floor next to the couch a few feet away. I watched as Perry leaned over
to listen to Doc’s breathing. I realized they were taking shifts, releasing the
pressure in his chest cavity as he slept. It may have been because I was facing
a desperate challenge, but I smiled, thinking about how vigilant, sincere, and
selfless my family and friends were. These were the best people I knew.

“How is he?” I whispered, kneeling beside Perry.

“He talks in his sleep,” said Perry, smiling. “Says the
damndest things. That’s when I can tell he’s having trouble breathing. I just
twist that knob, and he drifts off again. I’m worried about him.”

“Yeah, me, too,” I said. “We need to spring Kelly so she can
help him.”

“I’m worried about you,” said Perry, turning to look me in
the eyes. “I’ve been going over it in my head. I can’t figure a way out of
this. Have you come up with anything?”

“No,” I said. “I was too busy sleeping like a baby.”

“This ain’t right,” whispered Perry, standing. “I should be
there with you.”

“Crazy weather, huh?” I asked, changing the subject.

“It is,” said Perry, allowing the change. “When it drops
like this, it usually means somethin’s comin’.”

“
Something wicked this way comes
,” I said.

“What’s that?”

“A book,” I said. “I read it when I was a kid. Scared the
shit out of me, but I finished it anyway.”

“That sounds like you,” said Perry. “You like to finish
things, don’t you? You’re not one to run and hide, are you?”

“Oh, no, Uncle,” I said. “There are plenty of times I want
to run and hide. It’s the reason why I ended up here. But the thing is, it
always finds you. Mr. Dark will always find you. No, it’s better to just face
it and get it over with. I’d rather die fighting than live running.”

“Mr. Dark, is that a character in that book?”

“It is,” I said. “He collected people. Most freely sold
their souls for a promise of everlasting youth, but ended up being slaves to
him for the rest of their lives. Mr. Dark ran a carnival that traveled from
town to town collecting those souls.”

“Sounds like Pastor Jenkins is your Mr. Dark,” said Perry.

“He’s
our
Mr. Dark,” I said.

“What happened to him?” asked Perry. “This character in your
book.”

“He was defeated by kindness and love,” I said. “Kinda
hokey, huh?”

“Not at all,” said Perry. “I think that’s how it’s done.”

Doc started mumbling. Joey woke with puffy eyes, trying to
bring us into focus. Perry reached over and twisted the valve, putting Doc back
into a quiet sleep when the hissing stopped.

“I’ll take over, dad,” said Joey, stretching.

“Okay, son,” said Perry. “Your cousin and I need to head
into town now. I want to stop by the museum to see Bruce. He’s got a nice
collection of antique instruments. He’s pretty good at predicting bad weather.
I think somethin’ wicked is comin’.”

“Huh?” asked Joey.

“Take care of Doc, son,” said Perry. “Kelly and your mother
will be here soon to help tend to him.”

“Hey, brother,” said Joey, standing, giving me a hug.
“You’ll sort this out. I know you will. I’ll see you later tonight, okay? We’ll
polish off that jar.”

“That sounds good,” I said, returning the hug.

As we were walking into town, we both stopped at the same
time. We felt something, but had no idea what it was. I stretched my jaw,
reaching up for my ears after they popped from a sudden change in the air
pressure. It was as if we were driving up a mountainside road.

“Did you feel that?” I asked.

“I did,” said Perry. “It’s getting colder, too.”

We walked into the museum to find Bruce and Parker hovering
over a book on the desk. Neither one turned as we walked up behind them. Bruce
kept tapping a barometer as Parker spewed out numbers.

“I thought the damn thing was broken,” said Bruce, turning
around after he finished his reading. “But it ain’t.”

“What are you babbling about?” asked Perry.

“We’ve been keeping track of the barometric pressure for
over a month,” said Parker. “It’s never gotten this low. Hell, I can’t find a
reading this low in any of our almanacs.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Bruce. “I watched
it drop off the scale.”

“So a storm is coming?”

“Not just a storm, Perry,” said Bruce. “A hurricane. A big
one.”

“Is that possible?” I asked.

“We’re gonna find out soon,” said Parker. “Best head home
and get ready for this thing, whatever it is.”

When neither of us moved, Parker closed the almanac and
stared at us. He knew there was something weighing heavy on our minds. He
cleared his throat.

“What’s the problem, fellas?” asked Parker. “You should be
haulin’ ass home to your family.”

“My family’s at the church,” said Perry. “That’s where we’re
going,”

“I didn’t think your people were church goin’ folk,” said
Bruce.

“They’re not,” said Perry. “At least not that church.”

“He’s got Kelly, too, doesn’t he?” asked Parker.

“You’re a very perceptive man,” I said.

“You don’t live as long as I have being stupid, son” said
Parker. “What’s that oddball want?”

“Me,” I said. “He wants me for them.”

“Can’t say I didn’t see this coming,” said Parker. “As soon
as she took a shine to you, he turned cold. He tried to hide it, but I always
knew he was lookin’ to have her.”

“You got a plan?” asked Bruce. “I mean, you’re not just
gonna walk in that compound, are you?”

“That’s the plan,” I said.

“He’s gonna kill you, boy,” said Parker.

“I suspect he’s going to try,” I said. “But it doesn’t
matter as long as I see the girls walk out of there in one piece. After that,
I’ll figure something out.”

“It’ll be too late then,” said Parker. “Oh, well, at least
I’ll have another shot at her with you out of the picture.”

“Parker, you’re about the meanest sonofabitch I’ve ever
met,” said Bruce. “How could you say that to this man?”

“Well, hell, Bruce,” said Parker. “If he’s just gonna give
up like that, what’s the harm?”

“He’s not giving up,” said Perry, staring him down.

“Okay,” said Parker. “You want me to go with you and whoop
his ass? ‘Cause that’s what I’d do.”

“I appreciate the offer and the pep talk, Parker,” I said.
“But we need to get moving. I hope to see you guys later.”

We walked out of the museum, looking up at the sky as we
stood in the road. There wasn’t a cloud in sight. A light breeze pushed cold
air across our faces, but there were no other indications that foul weather was
approaching.

“This is as far as you go, Uncle. If he sees anyone else
with me, he’ll hurt them.”

“I know I’ve said it a bunch, but this ain’t right,” said
Perry. “How can you be so calm?”

“Go home, Perry,” I said. “Wait for them. And don’t even
think about telling me goodbye. You know I’m not going down without a fight.
He’ll make a mistake. But right now I need you to go home.”

“Thank you,” said Perry. “Can I at least say thank you?”

“You just did,” I said. “And you’re welcome.”

After one of his bear hugs, we parted ways. I walked to the
edge of town and stopped at the tree line. I turned to see my uncle disappear
around the bend that would take him back home. I waited a few minutes before
returning to the museum. I had to make sure Uncle Perry was gone.

“I hate to ask this of both of you,” I said after closing
the door, “but I need your help.”

“If I remember correctly,” said Bruce, “I owe you one.”

“You don’t owe me anything. What I’m asking of you is for
Kelly, my family, and this town.”

“I knew you had somethin’ up your sleeve,” said Parker, standing.
“You don’t seem the type that quits.”

“It’s a long shot and I don’t know if there’s enough time to
make this work, but you’re the only two that can do it. If you can’t, I’ll
understand. It’s crazy and it’s dangerous.”

“So am I,” said Parker.

“Is there a chance this old goat could die a horrible
death?” asked Bruce, pointing at Parker.

“Almost guaranteed,” I replied.

“Then I’m in,” said Bruce. “What do you need?”

*****

After leaving Bruce and Parker to their work, it was a short
walk to the compound. Tucker wasn’t exaggerating when he called it Fort God.
There were two towers flanking an eight-foot wooden gate. I imagined the wall
stretched around the entire perimeter. In each tower was a man with a rifle.
Both were aimed at me as I approached. The only structure I could see above the
wall was a massive steeple. Another rifle was sticking out of a window near the
top. I followed the instructions being yelled down from the tower, removing my
jacket and proving I wasn’t carrying a weapon. I was greeted by a small army
when the gates swung open.

Four men approached me as six others were lined up behind
them with fingers on their triggers. After a vigorous and thorough search for
anything I could use against their leader, they tied my hands behind my back.
It was another first for me, and I didn’t like it at all.

As the gates closed behind me, I had a clear view of all the
structures within Fort God. Several small, identical homes lined the fence to
my left, and the church itself took up all the space on the right. Near the
back wall there were two large buildings, one open and one enclosed, that they
probably used for community meals and meetings. In the middle of the compound
was a raised platform with a wooden post. My stomach sank when I saw the chains
dangling on its sides. I had a feeling that was made special for me.

I saw shadowy faces in every window, but only men with guns
out in the open. There were twenty-foot towers on each corner of the compound and
all were occupied by shooters. Every building was brilliant white with a green
tin roof, except the church. Its roof was red. Matching flower boxes were
underneath most of the windows, and each small yard was meticulous and
manicured. If I hadn’t known who ran the compound, I would’ve described it as
painfully beautiful and serene.

As we approached the steps leading up to the doors of the
church, all of my escorts stopped, turning their eyes upward. I followed their
gaze as a thin layer of clouds in a perfectly straight line painted the fading
blue sky, blood red.

When they opened the doors, I saw Rick behind the elevated
pulpit at the far end of the church. I also saw the backs of three heads that
were sitting in the front row of pews. They didn’t turn to look at me until I
was standing at the altar. When my escorts allowed me to turn, I took a deep
breath and smiled.

“You stupid, stupid, man,” said Kelly, trying to fight back
tears.

“There’s no need for those restraints,” said Rick, exerting
his power. “Free his hands. This man is harmless.”

His goons complied. I rubbed my wrists, turning my gaze up
to him. I wondered how many bullets I could take in my back before I got to
him. The only problem was that the women were still there. I’d do whatever he
said until I knew they were safe. I had to play his game just a little longer.

“Can they go now?” I asked.

“Of course,” said Rick. “I’m a man of my word as you seem to
be.”

“Thank you.”

“Ladies, you may rise,” said Rick, lifting his hands.
“You’re free to go.”

“Remember your promise,” said Kelly, staring at Rick. “And
I’ll keep mine.”

River and Donna hugged me, kissing my cheek. I told them I
was going to be fine and I’d be home for dinner. Neither one of them believed
me. I wasn’t quite sure either.

As they walked down the aisle to the front doors – and
freedom – Kelly came to me. She stood silent, squeezing her eyes shut, biting
her lip. I couldn’t tell if she was angry at me or sad. When she opened them,
tears began to stream down her face.

“You’re willing to die for me?”

“That’s not my plan,” I said, forcing a smile. “I’d rather
live for you.”

“Then do whatever he says. Don’t argue, don’t fight. Just do
what he says. Promise me.”

“I promise I’ll try.”

“Don’t do this,” said Kelly. “Don’t come into my life like a
storm, making me fall for you against my will, and then get yourself killed.
Just do what he says.”

“Was it really against your will?”

“Stop talking now,” said Kelly, reaching up for my face,
pressing her lips into mine. “I love you, sweet boy.”

“I’ll be seeing you soon,” I said. “I love you, too.”

I watched the doors of the church close behind them. After a
moment, I turned to face Rick. There was no expression on his face.

“I bet that hurt, didn’t it?” I said.

“Not as much as you’ll be hurting,” said Rick.

“You know you’re about to die, right?” I said. “Just thought
you should know that before you get started on me.”

“Defiant to the end,” said Rick. “That’s admirable.”

“Fuck you.”