Heckel Casey (25 page)

"Deal."

After we finished cleaning up, Sela went to take care of Tempest and Hope. I went into the tent to start packing up some of our clothes.

"Hello, anyone in there?" I heard Jackson ask.

"Yeah, I'll be right out." After inching my way out of the tent, I quickly looked around to see if Jerky was nearby. But she wasn't in sight and I figured she had gone with Sela.

"Good morning, Jackson. How ya doin'?"

"Never better. I came by to thank you again for letting me join up."

"No problem. Glad to have you. You've fit in very well."

I sat down across from him and put a few small branches on the fire to stop it from smoldering so much. "How's Bobby doing?"

Jackson moved to another log to get away from the smoke. "I swear smoke has a way of following me."

I laughed and blew on the logs. The smoke abated and gave way to flames.

"Bobby's ankle seems to be fine now. He's been really enjoying Vonnie and all the affection she gives him. It's nice to see him laugh."

"Yes, we all need to laugh more."

After a few minutes of awkward silence, I asked, "So, Jackson Steele, tell me about yourself." He laughed and poked the fire.

"Well, there's not much to say," he answered nonchalantly.

"I like short stories," I said, trying to lighten the mood and get him to open up. I could tell he was a bit uneasy and reticent to say anything, so I was about to change the subject when he started his story.

"I was just in high school when everything was going south as they say."

"I was teaching high school at about that same time," I said, encouraging him.

"Yeah, it was difficult to go to school each day. I mean, there were fights, drugs, killings, not the most conducive environment for learning. Teachers and students slowly stopped going to class. Hell, they were killing each other over a pencil. Right before my senior year, my father and mother were killed in one of those church war shit storms. Remember that crap?"

"Sadly, yes, I do."

"I think it was about a year after Bloody Super Bowl Sunday that various churches collided in a bloody war," Jackson recounted. "The idea of religious tolerance became a thing of the past.

"Unfortunately, our history is peppered with clashes between religions," I added, putting a larger log on the fire. "There were the Catholics and the Protestants fighting each other, the Muslims and the Catholics and on and on. Remember all those terrorist attacks linked to the Muslim extremists?"

"Of course, the intolerance started with small verbal attacks from one church to another in our own country. The Mormon war was probably the bloodiest."

"Yeah, there was a news commentator who coined the expression, 'My God can beat up Your God,'" I added, recalling another of the tragic episodes leading to more of our collapse.

"The day my parents died I was at our church when they were slaughtered. I had gone out to the car to get my mother's purse, where she had her offering envelope. While I was getting it, I saw a large group of attackers barricade all the doors. Men and women threw gasoline on all the sides of the church. They were laughing and praying as they did it. A single match was thrown at the church. I can still hear the explosive sound when the gasoline ignited, and see the door being pounded from people desperate to get out. The screams from the inside were deafening. The stained-glass windows were broken and people started to crawl out. The attackers threw bottles filled with more gas onto the would-be escapees and into the broken windows, causing the fire to erupt more inside. Within minutes, there were no further screams. I cowered in fear as I watched."

A steady stream of tears flowed down Jackson's cheek and a lump filled the back of my throat.

After a few minutes, he continued. "The violence among religions got so out of hand. Every Sunday morning, you'd hear about some congregation being attacked. Lots of innocent people lost their lives in the name of religion."

"It was so contrary to what religion tries to preach," I said. "We were supposed to love thy neighbor."

"Yah, only if they were in the same 'club,'" Jackson said as he made invisible quotation marks.

"If my memory serves me correctly, didn't the National Guard start patrolling the streets on Sunday mornings?"

"Yes, they did. I believe Madeline ordered a token effort to try to stop the bloodshed. It was pretty ineffective. In the end, though, people just stopped going to services. They lost their faith with all the violence."

Remembering all about the church wars made me ill. We lost so many virtues along the road to the collapse, respect and tolerance probably being at the top of the list. Respect for authority. Respect for other religions. Respect for each other, to name a few. Our penchant toward violence emerged from each one of us to the point of epidemic proportions and our potential destruction. And Madeline started it all!

"I'm so sorry for your loss," I said quietly to Jackson.

He remained silent, staring into the burning embers. At one point, he picked up a branch and stoked the coals.

"What did you do after you lost your parents?"

"I stuffed my backpack and just started walking, trying to stay out of trouble and away from people."

"I know what you mean. At a certain point, it was better to withdraw."

"But now is the time to try to come together…for better or worse," he said with a slightly derisive sneer. His facial appearance was a little faded and distorted from a sudden plume of smoke covering him. It frightened me. From behind, I heard a familiar hiss and saw Jerky near a bush. She looked like a Halloween cat with the classic arched back.

"I need to get going," Jackson said abruptly as he spotted the cat.

Before I could even move, Jackson stood up and bolted away from the campfire. "See you later," I yelled.

He gave a weak, dismissive wave.
What made him so nervous? Maybe his emotions got the best of him…or was it Jerky?

Chapter 22

"Would you like some more oatmeal, Bobby?" Vonnie asked as she took the bowl.

"Yes, ma'am. That's the best oats I've ever had. I really like the brown sugar and you put some dried apples on it. You are the best cook ever."

"Well, Bobby, thank you. You're a good boy," Vonnie said spooning more cereal into his bowl.

Suddenly, Bobby's insides twisted and knotted up. What was wrong? Then he remembered what Madeline had given him, the twisty-looking knife, and what she wanted him to do with it. She said he'd be a hero and get lots of presents. Bobby stared ahead into empty space, wondering if he really wanted to be a hero.

"Is something wrong, Bobby?"

"No, just thinking."

"Are they happy thoughts?" she asked as she set a pot of water on the fire to heat up to wash dishes.

"Yeah," Bobby mumbled.

After breakfast, he thanked Vonnie and ran off to play with some of the other kids. He really enjoyed the friends he had made since joining up with Heckel and the rest. As he raced out to meet up with a small group of boys, Bobby spotted Jackson out near the edge of the field. A sharp staccato whistle and a quick arm wave from Jackson clearly sent a signal to Bobby that he was needed. Bobby put his head down and walked slowly over, all the while thinking—
Oh great, I wonder what he wants
?
I don't think I like him. Madeline sure does.

"Hey, Bobby, how ya doin'?" Jackson said putting his arm around the boy's shoulder.

"Good," Bobby answered. He hoped he didn't get into trouble for lying so much.

"Did you have a good breakfast?" Jackson asked as he led Bobby behind a tall, wide bush.

"Yup."

"Do you remember what we have to do?"

Bobby looked down and remained silent; he hated thinking of the twisty knife.

Suddenly, Jackson grabbed Bobby by the back of the shirt and pulled him close. He shook Bobby hard and slapped him behind the head.

"You dumbass kid. I asked you a question."

"What?" the young boy asked timidly.

"You heard me," Jackson said, now twisting Bobby's arm.

"Ouch, let go of me."

Jackson glowered, waiting for Bobby to respond to his question. He then twisted Bobby's arm harder.

"Okaaaay, I know what to do."

"Is the knife safe?" Jackson asked with a calmer voice. His piercing eyes stared like they would bore a hole into Bobby.

"Yes, it's in my backpack. Um…what if I changed my mind?" Bobby asked sheepishly.

Jackson laughed a weird high-pitched laugh that reminded Bobby of a girl he knew when he was in school. It was a bit weird that his laugh lasted a long time. The more that stupid laugh went on, the more afraid Bobby got.

Bending down to look Bobby in the eyes, Jackson finally said matter-of-factly, "That's not gonna happen, my little friend. You made a promise to Madeline and you're going to honor it."

"Why don't you do it?"

Another girly laugh.
Boy, was that irritating,
Bobby thought.

"Because, apparently, that's not how it works. For some bizarre reason, it has to be you. Madeline said something about the innocents or some crap like that."

Jackson stood up, twisted Bobby's arm more and shook him. "Look, you little shit, when we get to the border of Arizona and California, we will be crossing the Colorado River. That night when we are camped, you will sneak into Heckel's tent and…"

"I know. I know. You don't have to say it."

Jackson's face was all red and sweaty. His eyes looked heavily bloodshot and huge like fake Halloween monster eyes had replaced his normal squinty ones.

"Fine. You understand?"

"Yes," Bobby said softly. "Please, let go of my arm."

"What? I didn't hear you," Jackson said, twisting the small arm harder and farther up the boy's back.

"Ouch! Yes, I understand everything."

"All is settled. You be ready when I come to get you that night. Do you hear me?"

"Yes."

Jackson twisted Bobby's arm one last time, ruffled his hair and then shoved him away.

"Have fun playing," he yelled as Bobby took off running. At one point, Bobby turned to look for him and tripped on a rock. He wanted to start crying, but anger took over instead. He didn't like the man.

Bobby didn't find his friends. Playing was the last thing on his mind. Instead, he walked along the stream until he found a wide pool, a perfect place for throwing stones. There was a sizable pile of boulders jutting out into the water. After grabbing a large handful of stones, he climbed up onto one of the larger boulders and sat down.

Bobby stared at the water for the longest time, doing nothing. His mind was a million miles away in a place where he thought he was safe, but it was yanked back when the image of that twisty black knife crept into his mind. He threw a stone at the water really hard, making a good-sized splash. Anger flared inside him every time that knife appeared in his mind's eye and he tried to appease it by pitching another rock into the water.

Slowly, the face of Vonnie replaced the image of the repulsive, evil-looking knife. She made him feel good inside again.
Maybe if I told her what Madeline wants me to do, she could tell me if I have to do it or not,
he thought.
Jackson would be really mad at me, though, and he'd probably tell Madeline. She'd be very upset with me. I just don't want to do it. Even though Madeline said she'd be helping guide my hand.
Thinking about Madeline made him scared. He hurled another stone at the water as hard as he could.

"Nice arm."

Bobby spun around. Heckel was standing there. A lump formed in his throat and it was difficult to speak. Bobby dropped his head and stared at his feet, hoping they would sprout wings.

"Can I join you?" Heckel asked softly.

Bobby nodded his head slowly and lobbed a stone into the water. Finally after what felt like an hour, he got his mouth to work. First he muttered, "Thanks." As Heckel moved closer, he said louder with more confidence, "Sure, you can join me."

"This is a good spot. I bet it'd be a fun place to swim or take a bath," Heckel remarked as he sat down on the large boulder.

"I think it's probably really cold," Bobby mumbled, watching out of the corner of his eye as Heckel tossed a stone into the pool
. I really don't know this man, but he seems like a friendly guy. Why would anyone want to hurt him?

"It looks like it's going to be a nice day to travel," Heckel tossed another stone in the water. "Are you all packed and ready to go?"

"Yup. Vonnie helped me pack my bag."

"She really likes you."

"I like her a lot too. She makes great food."

Heckel continued to pitch stones into the pool. Thinking of Vonnie made Bobby remember his mother. "I miss my mom," he said with a quiver to his voice.