Compass Call: Survival & Awakening (The Gatekeeper Book 3) (53 page)

While Pete was directing traffic, Jeff sidled up to John and said, “I don’t know how to say this, but . . . I don’t get you?” said Jeff.

“What do you mean?” asked John in reply.

“I saw you at two neighborhood meetings, the first one with the fight, and the one today, and each time you had something to say. But before we left your house, when I was dealing with Ross, you didn’t say one word. It’s as if you’ve given up . . . like you don’t want to be in charge anymore.”

John nodded slowly and looked at Jeff. He was impressed with Jeff’s powers of observation and knew he deserved the truth, so he said, “I wouldn’t call it giving up. I never planned to lead the neighborhood. Besides, when I listened to you dealing with Ross, I knew then that you were the right man for the job.”

Jeff shook his head left to right and said, “You’re the one with the credentials to lead, not me.”

“Credentials are overrated. Leadership is more about character than anything. Besides, we’re leaving.”

Jeff stiffened and said, “What? You’re leaving? Why? When?”

“For lots of reasons, but I would appreciate it if you kept that to yourself.”

“Is it because of Tony?”

“Nope. We decided to leave before he was a problem, though he did help push it along a little. Actually, we’re leaving because I want to find higher ground,” said John. He felt it was the perfect explanation for their leaving, even though his answer carried a very strong reference to his spiritual desires.

“The mountains?” asked Jeff.

“Something like that,” answered John. “We’re hoping for a quiet exit, probably leave tonight.”

Jeff nodded again, but this time up and down. He was silent for a moment and said, “That’s why you let me talk.”

“I let you talk because you’re good at it, and you’re smart and capable. I can’t think of a better man to lead the neighborhood through the survival period than you.” John could tell Jeff wanted to say something. He could practically see Jeff’s many questions floating in the air around his head, but he knew well enough to stay quiet and let the man think. Some people needed time to think. John saw Pete walking toward him while making pumping motions with his fist in the air. John knew that to mean ‘increase speed,’ when dismounted, so John said, “Looks like Pete’s ready to go.”

Jeff said, “I still don’t understand why you’re leaving, but I appreciate you telling me. I respect that kind of honesty. I won’t say a word to anyone.”

“I appreciate it,” said John, and they climbed back into the truck.

Once Pete was settled with a tap on the roof, Jeff released the parking brake, put the truck into gear, and pulled away. “Tonight?” he asked.

“If everything goes according to plan,” answered John.

“That’s earlier than I thought. So you have been planning this for a while.”

“Since the ash started to fall,” said John.

“Can we talk about your plans more, later? If you’re leaving, I really want to pick your brain,” said Jeff.

“It’s Pete’s brain you really want to pick, but yes, we can meet privately before we go. In fact, I want to leave my house in your care,” added John.

“I’m happy in my house, thanks. I’d rather you keep it and stay,” replied Jeff.

John nodded and said, “I understand your concern, but you’re well on your way to making it through this mess. Depending on what we find on the train, the few surviving cattle we collect, and my house with solar power and a well, plus some smart actions on your part to collect rain water, gardening and defense, the neighborhood could easily survive under your leadership.”

Jeff sighed and said, “I’m glad you believe in me, but it would be easier for you, than for me.”

“I’ve dealt with a lot of leaders during my career. A few of them get it right, but most of them just think they’re getting it right. You have the qualities of a good leader, Jeff. Really, you’re the right man for the job, and I’m not just saying that to blow wind up your skirt. I’d follow you. You’re fair, reasonable, willing to listen, and, most importantly, willing to sacrifice yourself. It’s your neighborhood now, and we both know it.”

“You’re just saying that because you’re leaving,” said Jeff.

John chuckled and said, “You won’t like what I’m about to say, but it’s because of you that I finally feel comfortable enough to leave.”

“Oh, great. Just don’t tell anyone that . . . please. I’m not the only one who was counting on your leading us through this mess.”

They made their way to the edge of the woods and Pete tapped the roof to have Jeff stop. He told them he didn’t want to get to the area where they saw the trail of smoke. When Jeff stopped the truck,
Pete jumped down and stood at his open window. “I think this is close enough. We’ll walk the rest of the way from here, but I need you to get the trucks out of sight . . . can you back them into the trees?”

“Sure,” said Jeff.

John jumped out and looked at the sky. The line of smoke rose into the air a few hundred feet, but then suddenly bent over like it was being cut with a scythe. John reasoned the low inversion layer meant there was an approaching front. He scanned the horizon and saw dark clouds forming. John hollers to Pete, “I think we’ve got five, maybe six hours before the weather turns ugly.”

“Ugly . . . as in rain?” asked Jeff.

“Rain for sure,” said John, “Possibly even hail. There’s a big system forming to the southwest. We’ll need to pick up our pace if we want to be safely home before it gets wet.” He turned to Pete and asked, “Plans to approach the camp?”

“We walk from here. You, me, Jeff, and Adam, will approach the camp in pairs. The rest of the guys will stay here and guard the trucks, and come running if we signal or get into trouble,” said Pete.

“Jeff goes with you?” asked John.

“I think that’s best. You know how hard it is to control Adam,” said Pete, with a wink.

“Hey! I heard that,” yelled Adam.

“Keep your voice down,” growled Pete. He looked briefly at Adam and said, “You know I was only kidding. Anyway, I’ll take Jeff, and we’ll provide overwatch as you approach. Are you comfortable with making initial contact?”

“I am,” said John.

“Excellent. Let’s go,” said Pete.

They quickly prepared for their walk, deciding to take only weapons, ammunition, radios, and one bottle of water each. Pete also carried a flashlight and a small tactical first aid kit. Before they left, he gave instruction to the guards on how to secure the area, and included contingency plans on how they were to respond to any call for assistance.
He didn’t like dividing his force yet again, but there was no better way to handle the mission. He was just glad he came with twelve people. And he was confident he wouldn’t have to divide the group any further. Regardless of the math, one thing was absolute for Pete, he left with twelve men, and he would return with twelve men. He was confident they could accomplish the mission and easily satisfy his personal objective.

They walked to within a few hundred meters of the campsite, and Pete had everyone take a knee just inside the edge of the trees before they split up. He wasn’t happy about approaching the camp without first having scoped it out, so he looked at John and asked him if he could, “Scan the area.”

John looked at Pete and saw that he was serious. He then looked at Adam and Jeff, and saw their curious and questioning expressions. Then, without a word, John sat back on his butt and slowly rolled onto his back while keeping his knees bent and pointed up. He then draped his arm over his eyes and calmed himself.

John didn’t see Pete hold an index finger to his lips, as a sign for Adam and Jeff to remain quiet, but he doubted it would have hindered his separation even if they did decide to talk. He was getting better at separating, quicker even, but he still had to clear his mind.

John separated and looked down at his reclining body, which was something he always did when he separated. It was his way of calibrating his separation, like marking where “home” was. He also looked at the other men. It was interesting to see their different light signatures. Pete’s light was a soft red, and spiked, as if he was a distant star shinning on a clear night. Adam’s was yellow, and hazy, like he was shrouded in a thin, protective layer of mist. Jeff’s was a shade of green, almost teal in color, and spiky, like Pete’s. Because he didn’t understand what they meant, auras were little more than a distraction to him. He was also interested in the other light signatures that flowed through and around the body, but again, he wasn’t ready to know what they all meant.

Focusing on the mission at hand, John looked at the smoke and jumped to the camp. He saw two men sitting under a tarp playing cards. He had seen them before, but something about him being closer to them allowed him to understand them more fully. Their life stories flowed into his mind, unrestricted, and he filtered through the details to extract the most pertinent information. Roger Burke, age forty-four; married; three kids; lives in Wichita, Kansas; conductor for the BNSF for twelve years. John looked at the other man, Terry Freeman, age forty-seven; married; four kids; also lives in Wichita; engineer with the BNSF for eight years. They were comfortable and confident, worried about their families, but unsure about what to do, thinking someone from the railroad would be along any day to pick them up.

The two men sat patiently, waiting, yet unwilling to abandon their responsibility over concern for their families, or the world around them. They were good, hardworking, loyal men, and obedient to their employer. Burke had a pistol, a 1911, with a full magazine but nothing chambered. He wasn’t comfortable with the pistol, and only loaded it when he was ready to shoot. If the company knew he had a pistol, they would fire him. Terry knew about the pistol, and he was fine with it, especially now that it was their only form of defense.

The two men were more than co-workers, they were good friends. They’d been together, as a two-man team, for almost seven years. Freeman was also armed, but with a utility knife, and a heavy steel breaker bar. They were relaxed and unafraid, and had managed to remain unmolested in this spot since the disaster struck, since their engines were shut down by dispatch and they were left to sit on the line for a week. They knew something bad happened, but not how bad, or how extensive. They had many questions, but with no way to communicate, were in the dark. All that was about to change for them.

John lifted himself high into the air, above the smoke, and scanned the area around him. He saw the neighborhood water tower off in the distance, and knew that Pete had lead them on the most direct route to the train. The camp was four cars back from the engines, in a small
clearing rigged with a tarp for overhead cover. The remaining cars were stretched out along tracks that twisted lazily along the shallow and slow moving river at the base of the bluff.

John couldn’t have picked a better spot to hide a train if he planned it for himself; it lay virtually hidden along the quiet valley floor. The closest road to the tracks was a dirt service road, and that was more of a path than a road. The nearest railroad crossing, in either direction, was several miles from the engines on either end.

John returned to his body and sat up. He looked at Pete, nodded, and said, “It looks safe. Should be no trouble.”

“That’s it?” asked Pete.

“Well, I could give you more details, but you’ll get that soon enough. There’s just two men, the engineer and the conductor. One is Roger, he’s got a pistol. The other is Terry. They want to go home. They’re worried about their families,” said John.

Jeff shook his head and said, “What . . . what the hell just happened?”

John looked at Adam. His son stared back at him with eyes filled with curiosity and wonder. John looked at Jeff and said, “Let’s just say I’m able to see things with my mind’s eye.”

“What does that mean . . . your mind’s eye?” asked Jeff.

“I saw their camp. I saw the two men sitting in their camp,” answered John.

“You did all that in less than a minute . . . from right here? Are you some kind of . . . wizard, or something?”

John snorted mildly, momentarily distracted by Jeff’s silly reference, and said, “Why do people always think such things are witchcraft and wizardry? I mean really, you’ve never heard of people who can see things other people can’t . . . you know, like psychics?” asked John.

“That’s all hooey,” answered Jeff.

“You’re right, it is hooey, especially for those who can’t imagine it,” said John, as he began to rise to his feet with Pete’s help. “Psychics are another explanation for the . . .”

“Unnatural?” interrupted Jeff.

“I was going to say, unexplained, but if unnatural works for you then that’s fine by me. But do you believe me . . . believe what I tell you I saw?” asked John.

“I don’t know. I didn’t see you do anything but take a little nap,” replied Jeff, easing back into his normal demeanor.

“Well then,” offered John, “let’s go meet Roger and Terry . . . shall we?”

“Let’s,” said Pete.

“Yeah, let’s,” replied Jeff.

“I’m ready,” said Adam. Jeff and Pete looked at Adam and chuckled.

Apparently offended at being the brunt of some unknown joke, Adam responded by asking, “What? What’d I say that’s so funny?”