The Protectors (10 page)

"I near got myself killed when I f
inally opened my front door," continues Victor. "Likely scared them to death as big as I am. They weren't expecting me and I thought they were going to shoot, but Mister Egles told them to stand down.

"'Where you come from, son?
' he asked and I told him this was my house and that my parents were dead.

"'I've seen him around,' said another man
with him. 'Good football player from what I hear.'

"'Big as he is, damn well should be,' answered
Egles. 'You okay, son?'

"I didn't know how to answer," sa
ys Victor. "Of course I wasn't okay but the fact that someone asked me that and really cared changed everything. They took me in with them and I helped patrol our neighborhood. We linked up with other groups nearby and before long we were cooperating and trading and helping each other. Our community had a water tower nearby that we shut off before it could drain. Another might have a grocery or a drug store or a home supply store. We helped each other and survived."

Victor sh
akes his head. "You have to understand that Before, the Neighborhood Watch was almost a joke. Men and women who called the police when they saw something suspicious or that they didn't like. When things turned bad at the End, the Watch fought and died and bled for those neighborhoods. They drove back the marauders. We set up barricades and took in refugees. We organized sanitation and planting and before long we weren't just a group of people hiding out and surviving. We had formed a community of people looking out for each other."

Victor look
s at Broily. "Word soon spread. Men came to join us and other communities asked us to help them. Some didn't think we should risk our lives for those we didn't know, but Mister Egles felt different. He sent us out to help other communities. Sometimes we were able to help. Sometimes those Men of the Watch never returned."

The big man look
s around at us beseechingly. "Do you understand? There is nothing special about the Watch. We're just normal people like you who decided to stand together and fight. That is the message and the gift that I bring. It is up to you to accept it. Realize that the Watch will never accept your call for aid again. It is now up to you to help others when they call on you for help."

"But how can we help others?" ask
s a small voice. "We're just women and old men. Can we even help ourselves?"

"Don't be mistaken," sa
ys Victor, "we're called Men of the Watch, but there are women amongst our number. Women can fight too, as well as men when needed. You've shown that. You are able. It is just a matter of choice."

"But we don't even know how to fight," sa
ys one of the Old Ones.

"You learn to fight by fighting," Victor answer
s. "It's as simple as that. You will defend what is yours or you will not. With any luck you won't all be raped and massacred. Maybe the next group that comes along will decide to put you and your children back in bondage. Either way, it's up to you. I sincerely wish you the very best."

Abruptly,
Victor strides out of the Meeting Room and everyone is left looking at each other in shock. The silence stretches out uncomfortably as people gaze around at each other.

"Sounds like we have some work to do," sa
ys Mother loudly in the silence.

Grandpa grasp
s her hand in his and nods. "Indeed we do."

*******

I got up early this morning, but Victor was already gone. I tried not to cry, but I did anyway. The big man might have been my friend or not, I was never sure, but I was glad I found him under that house. Simple and sweet Victor who was our salvation.

His pallet i
s folded up neatly in front of the fire with his rainmaker resting on top. I pick up the long cylinder and tilt it first one way and then the other listening to the soothing sounds of rain. Finding the seam along one end, I carefully unscrew the cylinder cap, careful not to let any of the small smooth stones fall out. I feel inside carefully. No sword. Of course not.

Yet he did leave
me a gift, and I imagine what that act might mean. That he was my friend? That he was grateful for me taking care of him, even though he didn't need that help? That I reminded him of one of his daughters? That under different circumstances he could have been my father?

Wiping the tear
s away, I pick up the rainmaker and the blankets to put them away and notice something on the bricks near the fireplace. It is a symbol drawn in burned wood ash. I recognize it and smile.

Victor
drew an eye. His message is clear to me. It is our turn to watch and protect.

Thank you for reading The Protectors. If you enjoyed this work, please go to the site below and write a review or like a review that best summarizes your opinion of the work.

http://www.amazon.com/Protectors-Ryan-King-ebook/dp/B00HFGSMF2

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