Through Many Fires (Strengthen What Remains) (22 page)

Again
there was silence.

Fletcher
took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You will need to explain this to the
men.”

“
Yes,”
Caden said, “As soon as we are done.”

Fletcher
and Brooks exchanged nods and then together stood to attention.

Lt.
Brooks looked Caden in the eye. “What are your orders, sir?”

From
the far end of the table, Brooks leaned over the large paper map of the county
held in place by coffee cups, staplers and a hole punch. “Do you really think
they will come through Hansen when they try to arrest Governor Monroe?”

Fletcher
rubbed his chin.

Looking
at the other two, Caden said, “I think Durant will try federal marshals or FBI
first, but if that doesn’t work he’ll try with military backup.”

“
That
doesn’t mean they’ll come through here,” Brooks said shaking his head.

“
That’s
right, Hansen is an out of the way hick town and so far that has been our
salvation. Let’s hope it continues but…” Caden traced the route of the highway
along the map, “there are only a few mountain passes and Hansen is on the
highway to one of them.”

Brooks
and Fletcher nodded.

Walking
over to the state map on the wall, Caden pointed to the joint base north of
Olympia. “If I were planning the attack for Durant, I’d want to ensure this
huge Army base is with me or eliminated as a threat. Then I’d head south from
there to arrest Monroe and control the capital.”

“
So,
you think the people here are safe?” Brooks asked. “They won’t be attacked?”

“
I
think it’s unlikely Durant’s forces will come this way, but we need to be
ready.” Caden looked at the clock on the wall.
Why do all my meetings end so
late?
He moved the cups and office equipment off the map. Glancing at Brooks
he asked, “Before I head home is there anything I should be updated on?”

“
Well…power
in the town is up and stable. One generator at the coal power plant is
operating. Unfortunately we had to cannibalize the second generator to get it
running. However with the one operating generator and the hydroelectric dam, we
have enough power for the town and surrounding community.”

Lifting
his cup, Caden took a big gulp of lukewarm coffee. Despite the taste, he
smiled. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“
We’ve
added more soldiers,” Fletcher said.

Caden
raised an eyebrow.

“
Our
muster is now sixty-three. A few are stragglers just now getting here. Others
were on leave and can’t get back to their regular units so they came here, and
two guys enlisted before the attacks, but hadn’t yet reported, so they asked if
they could report with us.”

“
Thank
you both for that good news.”
If war doesn’t come, we might just make it
through this crisis.
He rolled up the map and secured it with a rubber
band. “Start drilling the men on the rifle range early tomorrow and make a list
of necessary supplies. I need to talk to the sheriff, so I’ll be in late.”

The
next morning as the smell of breakfast drifted upstairs, Caden stumbled down
dressed in his uniform. The world was still dark, but a light was on in the
kitchen. The radio on the window sill, told of relief supplies from Canada
being distributed in Hansen.

Sitting
on the far side of the table feeding Adam, Maria looked his uniform up and
down. “You do know it’s Saturday, right?”

“
The
military isn’t really a Monday through Friday job.” He sat across from her.
“I’ve got to talk to the sheriff.”

She
frowned. “At least call and make sure he’s there before you go.”

Pouring
coffee he nodded. “Good idea.”

The
man who answered the non-emergency line assured him Hoover was in. “Do you want
to hold?”

“
No,
I’ll talk to him in person. Just tell him I’m coming.” After a quick breakfast
he went straight to the sheriff’s office, but once inside was told Hoover went
to the hospital. Caden was startled. “I just called. They said he was here. Is
he okay?”

“
Hoover’s
fine. It’s his Mom.” The deputy shook his head. “She’s not doing well.”

He
hurried out of the building.
This is not a great time to be adding worries.
Is there a good time?
As he slid into the driver’s seat, Caden knew he had
to warn the sheriff that war was possible.

Driving
toward the facility he pondered the name,
Hansen General
. A month ago he
lived in metro Washington D.C., home of giant world-class hospitals such as
Walter
Reed
and
Georgetown University
. Since a high school skiing accident,
he had not been to the old brick building that served as the community medical
facility. He had no idea how many beds were in the place, but he was certain he
could count them on his fingers.

A few
blocks down he turned the corner and was immediately confused by several modern
buildings.
A drugstore, a clinic, a medical professional building…where is
the….
Then he saw another structure partially hidden behind the others and
a line of cedar trees. Ahead a sign read, ‘hospital parking.’ He pulled into a
surprisingly full lot.

A tent
village existed along one edge of the parking area. Campers, RVs and cars
filled about half of it. Inside a group of people huddled around the front desk
where a harried worker tried to answer questions. A deputy stood to one side.

“
Where’s
Sheriff Hoover?” Caden asked.

“
I saw
him come in a little bit ago.” The deputy pointed right. “He went that way, but
I’m not sure where.”

Caden
walked in that direction and was soon lost in a maze of pastel blue
passageways. The rooms were filled and nurses hurriedly wove around cots that
dotted the halls. He would need more than fingers and toes to count the beds.
Ahead he saw a familiar face and called out. “Dr. Scott!”

“
Hello.
How are your injuries?” The doctor asked as she approached. “I meant to get
back over and see you but,” she glanced around the ward, “it’s been hectic.”

“
I can
see you’re busy. The leg is fine.”
Itches once in a while, but if I say that
you might want to examine it.

“
And
your head? Any double vision…headaches.”

“
No.
I’m fine,” He looked at the beds scattered about the hall. “Were this many
people from the area hurt?”

“
Many
are locals who were injured during the panic and looting along the freeway and
in town before the blockade. Some have chronic illnesses like diabetes and HIV.
They can’t get medicine now, so they come here. Others drove away from Seattle
looking for medical care and found this place. We’re overwhelmed, but we try
and help.”

A
nurse called to her.

“
I’ve
got to go.”

“
Oh,
before you do. I need to find Sheriff Hoover. Do you know….”

She
pointed. “Down this hallway and take the first left. Ask at the nurse’s
station.”

As soon
as he turned the corner, Caden saw the sheriff’s tan uniform at the end of the
hall. As he approached he saw Hoover staring through a large window into a
room. Inside a gray-haired woman lay in a bed surrounded by people. “They told
me you were here to see your mother. Is she okay?”

Hoover
glanced in Caden’s direction, shook his head, then returned his gaze to the
room. “She had a heart attack the day of the Seattle blast and has barely hung
on since. Some people have lost the will to live. I’m afraid she is one of
them. Half of those in the senior home are dead from shock, stroke, heart
attack, neglect or….” He shrugged.

“
Your
mom isn’t that old and she has family.” He gestured toward those in the room
and was suddenly embarrassed. Hoover knew his relatives, but Caden wasn’t sure
who these people were. “They’re family—right?”

“
Yeah,”
he pointed, “Dad, my uncle Jim, Aunt Carrie and,” he gestured toward a woman
coming down the hall, “you remember my sister.”

Caden
turned. “Debra?” It had been ten years since he had last seen her, but instead
of the slender high school girl he remembered, a much heavier woman stood
before him. But the surprise came from more than that. There was too much
makeup, too much jewelry, and
way too much
cheap perfume.

“
Well,
hello,” she said and popped her gum. “I heard you were back in town.”

Caden
smiled. “Hello, it’s nice to see you again.” He glanced at the sheriff and knew
there would never be a way to express it, but he was now, and would forever be,
grateful that Hoover had arrested them that night at the graduation party
before anything happened.

Small
talk ensued for a minute then Caden said to the sheriff, “I need to discuss
something with you. Together they moved to a corner next to a storage closet.

“
There
is no easy way to say this so here it is, I think civil war is coming to
America.”

Hoover
blinked and stared off into the distance for several moments. “Does this have
to do with the Chinese and that treaty? I heard about that on the radio.”

“
Yes,
and the fight might come to Hansen.”

The
sheriff banged his fist on the wall, and cursed. “Aren’t there enough
problems?”

“
We
don’t want this fight. Durant is the one forcing it.”

“
Tell
me Mr. Military, what is going to happen here if your war breaks out?”

“
It’s
not my war. Hansen might be fine—I don’t know, but I’ve been ordered to stop
any units loyal to Durant.”

Hoover
shook his head. “And just how do you plan on doing that?”

A
nurse hurried by.

“
I
can’t provide details here. Come up to the armory this afternoon and I’ll explain
what I can.”

*
              
*
              
*

Three
vehicles pulled to a stop in front of a small diner on a quiet Olympia street.
Stepping from the middle vehicle Caden thought about home.
Considering that
a war might be coming, be grateful that I had a few hours off
. That was
what he had told Maria when, right after church, he had left for the armory and
then straight on to Olympia, but the look on her face was not one of
gratefulness.

“
I’m
surprised there are any restaurants open in Olympia,” General Collins said.

“
Aren’t
there any around the joint base?” Governor Monroe asked.

“
One,
but you pay a first-rate price for a third-rate meal and I have no idea where
they get their food.”

A
guard hurried from the lead jeep and opened the door as the trailing vehicle
parked behind.

Stepping
in, the Governor said, “This will be a decent meal for a five-star price. The
family that runs this place purchases their food from local farms. They’re
still able to do that, but they tell me that the cost is steep and rising.”

Caden
noticed David Weston seated at a long table near the rear of the diner. He
still had a bandage across his nose and bruises under his eyes, but thanks to
the video and two area TV stations getting back on the air, he was now a local
celebrity.

Three
men sat across from David. When they turned, he recognized the state treasurer,
secretary of state and the chief of the state patrol. After everyone shook
hands, Governor Monroe sat next to Weston. Generals Collins and Harwich sat
across from each other with Caden at the end of the table between them.

The
restaurant was empty except for a man in a business suit sitting in the corner.
His hair was dark with silver sprinkled throughout. Caden thought he might be
part of the protection for the governor, but within moments of their arrival,
he paid his bill and departed.

The
waiter was soon at their table.

“
Do
you have coffee?” Weston asked.

“
No,
sorry, we ran out a few days ago.”

Recalling
that he had some with breakfast Saturday, Caden wondered how much his dad had
stashed away.

The
waiter put on a big smile. Tonight we have chicken roasted with Herbs de
Provence, garlic, onions and olive oil….”

Chicken
or nothing. Well, it sounds like they tried to do something nice with it.

“…
and
we have new potatoes steamed with mint.”

Good.

“
For
vegetables,” he said in an excited voice, “we have corn or broccoli.”

Caden
recalled how President Bush had banned broccoli from the White House. He had
similar feelings.
Corn it is. I’ll bet it’s canned.
He was amused that
despite the limited options it took longer for orders to be decided. He knew he
was one of the lucky ones. Early on he had been able to buy enough food, water
and gas. Now he lived on a farm surrounded by other farms. Selection might be
limited, but he and his family would eat.

While
the discussion continued, two of the soldiers came in and sat at a table near
the door. One had a pistol and the other an M4. Caden assumed the other two
were with the jeeps outside. He patted his holster. No one expected trouble
tonight, but caution was prudent.

When
the waiter had everyone’s order, Governor Monroe pointed to the soldiers by the
door. “Get them whatever they would like.”