Fire From the Sky: Trial by Fire Page 5

  “You should maybe take a look at that bunch before they drop 'em in the hole,” Clay called back suddenly. “Might know one or two of them. Be good to know who's doing what around here.”

  -

  “I saw the others come back,” Lainie noted as Clay arrived home for lunch.

  “Yep,” Clay nodded as he removed his boots at the door. “They found a group of thugs attacking a family over north of here on their patrol. Managed to take them all down and keep the family alive.”

  “Well, that's good, right?” she asked as she set a simple table for them.

  “Very good,” Clay agreed. “They did that without any losses, which is always good.”

  “Gordy was in charge?” Lainie asked.

  “And did a good job according to Jose,” Clay nodded. “He's a good leader, apparently.”

  “Must take after his Uncle,” she smiled and he chuckled.

  “Flattery over lunch,” he smiled back. “Whatever will you do next?”

  “I'm sure I can think of something,” Lainie raised an eyebrow as she sat down opposite him. “So, what's going on now?”

  “Same old story,” he told her. “Having to fight with my father over every little thing. He don't like Gordy being in charge, he don't like the boys being out on patrol, he really don't like that they 'were forced' to kill a bunch of raping, murdering thugs, and the list goes on and on. I swear I think the man just wants to argue. I wonder if he's where Alicia gets it from?”

  -

  “Hell's wrong with you?” Leon demanded as he sat down for lunch across from his grumpy looking son.

  “Hello Dad,” Gordon semi-groused. “So nice to see you.”

  “Least you can still speak, though I ain't sure that's a blessing or not,” Leon retorted as he took a bowl of stew and some cornbread from his daughter-in-law. “Thank you, Angie,” he nodded.

  “You're welcome, Pa,” Angela smiled at him. “And whatever is wrong with Grumpy, it's got something to do with Clayton. And probably the patrol that went out this morning with Gordy in charge.”

  “Gordy huh?” Leon mused. “Well, Clay said the boy was turning out to be pretty good at that sort of thing. Better for him to be in charge than someone outside the family. This is our farm after all.”

  “Clay said the same thing,” Gordon nodded. “And I agree. I just don't like them being out there like that. Not at their age.”

  “Clayton was still seventeen when he-”

  “Yes, I'm aware,” Gordon cut Leon off smoothly. “And Clay reminds me of it every time I bring it up.”

  “Well, you're hard headed,” Leon nodded sagely. “Have to keep pounding on you sometimes until something sinks in.”

  “Thanks,” Gordon's voice was almost as dry as the Sahara. “I'm honored by your good opinion of me. Willie Briars was one of the men they had the battle with this morning, by the way. I didn't know the rest. One had been shot in the head though, so there's no way to know him since he wasn't carrying any identification.”

  “Briars never was of any account,” Leon shrugged sagely. “World's a better place without him.”

  “I hate it that those boys had to do something like that,” Gordon sighed.

  “Well, I heard they did pretty good,” Leon noted. “And come back unhurt. That right there is about all I'm concerned with. Whatever they have to do to keep the wolf away from our door they got my blessing, assuming they need it.”

  Gordon didn't reply to that, mostly since he agreed. He didn't mean to be so difficult, but he was having a hard time adjusting to the new reality insofar as his grandchildren were concerned. Putting himself at risk was no problem for Gordon. He was an old man and felt it was his place to face danger for his family.

  Robert facing danger was much the same, as it was for Ronny. His oldest son and son-in-law were also family men and had their own duty to their own children. Clayton had no children of his own, but by now everyone knew that if there was even one person on the farm who could watch after himself it was Clayton. Gordon had noticed there was a reluctance even among the other former soldiers to talk overmuch about Clayton outside a normal social setting. Never any mention of how capable he was or what he was capable of. That alone should tell anyone all they needed to know about the youngest son of Gordon and Angela Sanders.

  All that aside, when it came to even his grown grandchildren, Gordon couldn't make the same connection. He just couldn't cross that line, or at least not yet.

  Intellectually he knew that he would have to, should he live long enough. One day, Lord willing and assuming the best, his grandchildren would have families of their own. When that time came they would have to step up to protect their families, too.

  But not now. Not yet. Right now, they were supposed to be kept safe by the rest of the family. One day, yes. Of course.

  Just not today.

  -

  “Assemble your team in Building One for debrief,” Jose ordered Gordy. “Once you're finished there your time is your own. We 'll assemble at zero six hundred tomorrow and resume your training.”

  Gordy nodded and began gathering his friends and directing them to the proper building. For the next forty-five minutes the six of them were interrogated about what they had seen or heard, what they had done, why they had chosen to do it, and what they would do differently given the opportunity. Finally, Jose Juarez nodded slowly, as did Mitch and Tandi.

  “You did good, all of you. Yes, you made some mistakes, but you did good. You burned more ammo than you should have, but we all did that too,” he motioned to himself and the others. “The main thing is that now you've been in it for real. You faced two-to-one odds and came out on top. Every mistake you made was the result of inexperience. Don't let it get to you. We call it the Trial by Fire. We all made the same mistakes. Learn from them and apply what you've learned to the next mission. The next firefight. And make no mistake,” Jose's voice turned grim. “There will be a next time. This is just the beginning.”

  “Now, gather around in a circle,” he ordered. “Beverly is going to talk to you for a while. It's good for you.” The elegant counselor walked into the area around them then, having been waiting just out of ear shot until Mitchell motioned her over.

  “Answer her questions truthfully, guys,” Jose told them. “There's no right or wrong. This is about what happened to you today. So, talk to her straight. That's all I have.” With that the three soldiers left the area. Beverly took a seat with them in the circle.

  “What happened to you today has happened to millions of others through history,” she told them. “Man has been fighting wars almost since there were enough men on earth to do so. It isn't a new thing for men to kill each other. It's been happening since Cain killed Abel. But it is new to you,” her voice was soft, almost melodious.

  “I . . . I didn't get to shoot anyone,” Heath almost muttered. “I was driving.”

  “You didn't miss anything,” Corey told him softly. “It ain't like TV or video games, man.”

  “No, it ain't,” Gordy agreed.

  “Do you feel like you're less than your friends somehow, Heath?” Beverly asked. “That because you weren't able to shoot anyone that you're not equal to them?”

  “No,” Heath admitted. “I did my part. It was just different, that's all.”

  “That's right,” Beverly agreed. “Next time it might be someone else behind the wheel and you have to go outside and fight. That's what being part of a team means. You each do your assigned part and support one another.”

  “Right,” they all muttered, nodding.

  “Those of you who did kill someone,” Beverly looked at them. “Does it make you feel wrong? Do you feel like you've done something you shouldn't have?”

  “No,” Gordy's voice was firm.

  “You gave the orders, didn't you, Gordy?” Beverly turned to him.

  “Yes,” he nodded.

  “Do you think they were the right orders?”

  “Absolutely,” Gordy
's resolve was solid.

  “If you had it to do over, would you do anything differently?” she pressed slightly.

  “There was no differently,” he said simply. “They were attacking a family with three little kids. The woman looked like she had been treated pretty rough, too,” he added. “They needed killing.”

  “You feel like you should be the one to decide that?” Beverly asked. “That it's your place to decide who lives and dies?”

  “Only when they're attacking us or others,” Gordy replied evenly. “We defend. We weren't the aggressors here.”

  “Very good,” Beverly nodded. “You recognize the difference. What about the rest of you? Do you think you did the wrong thing? It doesn't matter if you agree with Gordy or not, just say what you really feel about the whole thing. Zach? What about you?”

  For almost two hours Beverly orchestrated a carefully crafted back and forth with the six teenagers, coaxing information from them so subtly that the boys never realized it. There was a tug-of-war at times, with the boys sometimes arguing over a point, though as debate rather than a real dispute. They took up for each other, castigated each other at times, stuck together when challenged. In the end, Beverly smiled at them as she stood.

  “You've all done well,” she told them. “You faced something very difficult and you did so under terrible circumstances. And you triumphed. You did what you had to do, no more and no less. You're right not to feel that you've done something you shouldn't have or something wrong.”

  “I'm proud of you,” she told them. “We all are. And we all appreciate your helping keep us safe, too.”

  “You're welcome,” all of them chorused. When they did something like that it reminded you that they were technically still school children. Seniors in high school.

  Now men grown, every one.

  -

  “So, what is it that we're all gathering for?” Robert asked. The Sanders family was trooping into Angela's outdoor kitchen in the middle of the afternoon at the request of Angela herself.

  “Wait until everyone is here,” his mother replied evenly. “Won't be long, dear.”

  Clay, Lainie and Gordy were the last three to troop in. Brick and Janice had delivered Leon and then stepped away to leave the family to their business. As everyone settled into their seats, Alicia was still standing, Ronny by her side.

  “Hey, are you cooking us a feast to apologize for something again?” Gordy asked excitedly.

  “No, Gordy,” Alicia semi-laughed even though it was the last thing she felt like doing. “I just have a little announcement to make.”

  “Oh,” Gordy looked crestfallen, but winked at his aunt so she'd know he wasn't serious. Well, mostly not serious.

  “No, I wanted to tell everyone at once that. . .that. . .well…” she trailed off, her face red for some reason.

  “We're going to be parents,” Ronny smiled at everyone, taking up the slack.

  “Uh, aren't you already parents?” Clay asked, confused.

  “Yes,” Leon and Leanne replied at once. In unison of course.

  “Stop doing that!” Leon hissed his almost pro forma complaint.

  “Shut up, all of you!” Angela snapped and instant quiet settled on the table. No one wanted to argue with the best cook on the farm, or be on her bad side.

  “I'm pregnant,” Alicia told them. “Patricia thinks about seven weeks. We're going to have a baby.”

  Quiet settled over the group at that, no one speaking or moving for a bit as they digested that news. Finally, typically, it was Leon the Elder who spoke first.

  “I told you these cold, dark nights without electricity or television would lead to more mouths to feed,” he told the table, mirth clear in his voice despite his words. “How 'bout the rest o' ya?” he looked around the table. “Any more on the way yet?” His gaze settled on Lainie and the redhead's face matched her hair.

  “No!” she retorted. “And stop raining on Alicia's parade you old fart!”

  General laughter at Leon's expense rolled through the kitchen building, even Alicia chuckling at the joke.

  “So, we're going to be grandparents again,” Angela looked overly pleased with the news. “That's wonderful!”

  “Congratulations!” Lainie added her enthusiasm and even Abigail offered well wishes. Abigail had been difficult of late but the winter seemed to have settled her at least a bit. Time would tell, and it would take a lot of time for her to repair the damage she had done to her reputation. Right now, no one much liked her or wanted her around.

  For her part Alicia wanted to be excited, but was also scared. She had tried for years to become pregnant again and had honestly given up hope. Now, with the world turned on its ear and modern medicine a thing of the past for the most part, she found herself getting her fondest dream fulfilled.

  Better late than never? She wasn't sure. Not yet. She wouldn't know until things ran their course. For now, she would try to be happy as well as excited. Her husband was thrilled of course and she was glad. Many men would not be so happy at the news they were becoming a father again at his age even in the best of times. Factor in the technological apocalypse they had endured and a man in his forties was unlikely to thank a wife who had conceived.

  Ronny had been nothing but supportive and looked and acted nothing less than thrilled. No matter what else, she could be thankful to have him to fall back on when her own calm was damaged.

  The twins had reacted with a bit less enthusiasm but were still happy for their mother, assuming she was happy. They were old enough not to feel threatened by a new arrival and young enough to be supportive and to lend a hand caring for their new brother or sister. Or both, in the event that Alicia had twins again. That suggestion had rattled Alicia almost as much as finding out she was pregnant to start with!

  Since there was no way to know until much later on, she preferred to believe that she would have only one child this time. She had no cause to complain about the twins she already had, but going through that again was not something to look forward to.

  Tonight, she decided to simply enjoy her family's support and their happy reaction to her 'good' news. There would plenty of time to worry tomorrow.

  -

  “Do you want children?”

  Lainie's eyes grew wide at that question. She and Clay were walking home when he asked her.

  “Where did that come from out of the blue?” she blurted, caught completely off-guard.

  “I just saw how you reacted to Leon asking you,” Clay shrugged. “I couldn't tell if you were shocked at that thought or just that he would ask in front of everyone like that,” he chuckled. “If that were the case then you should know better.”

  “True,” she laughed. “But no, that was it. Well, partly it was just to needle him a bit, but mostly that he would up and say that. And it doesn't matter what I want for the next little while,” she admitted. “I have a IUD that still has two years on it,” she told him with a shrug.

  “A what?”

  “A birth control implant,” Lainie's face heated slightly.

  “Oh,” Clay nodded once, pretending he understood. She pretended to believe him rather than keep talking about it.

  “Well, implant or not, do you?” Clay asked after a minute.

  “Do I what?” Lainie looked at him. “Want kids?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I honestly never thought about it,” she told him. “I never expected to meet someone I'd be willing to run away with,” she smiled shyly. “Let alone have a family. I don't know.”

  “I never thought about it,” Clay admitted. “I never expected to come home,” he shrugged. “I always figured my folks would get a letter one day with a folded flag, a few medals and a 'we regret to inform you' and that would be it for me. Learning about the Event turned all that upside down and I came home but then I was busy getting ready for a nuclear strike, I thought, and finding any kind of romance wasn't a part of that. Or at least it wasn't supposed to be,” he laughed lig
htly and she joined him.

  “Well, I'm glad you came home,” Lainie took his hand and lay her head on his shoulder. “I'd miss you if you hadn't.”

  “You can't miss what you never had,” he objected with another laugh. “If I hadn't come home you'd never have met me.”

  “And I'd still be lonely and more or less alone,” she nodded, serious despite his levity. “But since you came home, and came with Leon that day to meet me, I'm not. I have you. We have one another to share this life with. So…I'm glad you came home.”

  “Me too,” he grew serious at that himself. “Me too.”

  They walked the rest of the way in silence.

  -

  Morning dawned cool and clear. 'Chinook' or no, it was still technically winter and mornings were cold. Clay dressed warmly and stepped outside into the growing light of dawn. The smell of wood smoke drifted to him, telling that others were up as well.

  He went to the barn and saddled a horse, one of the small group he used for farm work, and headed out to check over the cattle. It would be nice to have them all nearby, and for now they were closer than usual because of winter and the cows need for hay, but so many cattle needed a lot of land to graze on come summer. That meant moving the herds further and further from home, which increased to likelihood that some would be lost to predators. Two and four legged alike.

  So, many hours were spent just like this; riding and looking.

  As he rode his mind worked over problems he still had and was likely to continue having for the foreseeable future. He and his father would most likely continue to clash, for instance. His niece Abigail was most likely to continue being a problem. Having so many new people to care for was likely to continue to be a strain on their resources. The list went on and on and while some problems might have simple solutions, simple rarely meant 'easy' these days.

  In the two hours it took Clay to check the cattle, he had solved exactly none of the problems, and had in fact encountered another; a dead calf that had obviously been mauled by animals. He examined the carcass in the growing light, noting it had to have been more than one animal which at least ruled out a bear. It was uncommon to see bear in this immediate area but by no means rare. Wild hogs were a more common problem than bear, and with things the way they were wild dogs might become a problem unless people had taken to eating them.