OK, both you men step onto the deck but move no
further.
The men finish tying the rope around the corner post and pull the
rowboat close, putting one leg each onto the deck and heaving up.
Finegans directs,
You, oarsman, take that tie off your arm and
tie your partner’s hands behind him.
Both men from the rowboat look at each other hesitantly. Then the
sentry shrugs and puts his hands behind his back to be tied. Finegan
says,
OK, both you men sit down on the deck and face
out toward the water. And you, oarsman, put
your hands behind your back. . . Joey, check
the tie on the first man and tie the second.
Tie ‘em tight.
70
As Joey is coming forward with some pieces of rope in his hands,
Finegan steps out from behind the boxes, to be close at hand in case a
scuffle results. The sentry says,
Can we come with you? If I go back with you
holding the gun, there’ll be hell to pay.
Finegan asks,
From who?
And the sentry responds,
President Collins.
______________________________
Both prisoners are now seated on the floor of the house. Their feet are
now tied together as well. Joey is perched on top of some boxes, his
feet under him and in a crouch, holding his pistol loosely in his hand,
dropped wrist, pointing the gun downward. He is at ease. Barney is
tense, sensing the tension in the air, and growling now and then,
circling the seated men on stiff legs, sniffing them. Finegan is seated
on a stool by the table where he has rested his rifle and the rifle
retrieved from the rowboat.
Now explain . . President Collins.
Both the sentry and the oarsman start talking at once. The sentry says,
Former Senator from our parts, Mississippi, but
when it hit and he figured every place else was
wiped out, he said he had to be the new
president, considering the US government had to
be represented and all . .
While the oarsman says,
The guy’s nuts, I think. Holds these cabinet
meetings with his family and claims he has
executive authority because we must be at war
or something. Commandeered all the supplies in
the area too . .
They both stop and look at each other, then both start talking again,
each expecting the other to shut up. The sentry says,
No radio response so everyone else must be dead
While the oarsman says,
Now he’s starting to raid the neighbors . .
They both stop and look at each other again, then at Finegan, falling
silent. Finegan says,
Well, I’m taking you up along the shore a ways,
if its safe, and dropping you off. I’m a trader
but this is no place . . I’d be trading my
freedom . .
71
Finegan looks at Joey.
You stand guard here so’s they don’t move.
Finegan motions out toward the front of the boat, pointing toward the
island city.
Any more like you, snipers?
The sentry says,
This was my post. The rest are inland with
President Collins on raids.
______________________________
Finegan has moored the houseboat at an open spot along the shoreline,
gangplank in place. He is marching the men across the plank ahead of
him. He has untied their feet but their hands are still tied. Joey is
on the roof, standing guard with the pistol in one of his hands,
pointing down at his side. There hear shouting and argument from over
the hill. The sentry and oarsman turn and try to bolt back onto the
houseboat, but Finegan, who is still carrying the rifle, blocks their
way with the rifle across his chest like a board.
I have a better idea. Get up behind those
bushes over there.
Finegan motions for Joey to duck into the house and follows the men
into the bushes. The three men are peeking out of the bushes.
What is that, a raid?
Both the sentry and oarsman start talking at once, again. The sentry
says,
Senator Collins goes out with them, ‘cause
they’d know his face and all . .
And the oarsman says,
They call it taxes, like money ain’t no good no
more so it’s gotta be food.
Both men stop and look at each other again, falling silent. Finally
Finegan says,
I got the picture. So you want out of this, eh?
What do you propose we do with Mr. Collins?
The two prisoners look at each other, then back at Finegan.
______________________________
Finegan has untied his two prisoners and armed the sentry with his
rifle, now trusting them. The oarsman holds a club. Finegan
nevertheless stays behind his two prisoners, just in case they get a
sudden change of heart. They are creeping along the bushes, out of
sight, toward the arguments.
72
What they see is a confrontation between Collins and a local survival
community. Collins is pot bellied and short, somewhat red in the face
and balding. He is standing with two other men who have guns. All three
of them have red cloth tied around their upper right arms, their
insignia. Finegan asks,
You know those men?
The sentry and oarsman look at each other, not wanting to speak at the
same time. The oarsman says,
You first.
The sentry says,
They only act loyal. Everyone is afraid to
stand up to Mr. Collins. Everyone is afraid of
being first, ya know, and thrown in the brig.
Finegans says,
Well, you’re going to be first.
The sentry gulps, then takes a deep breath, cups his hands around his
mouth and yells.
Collins! You’re not in charge anymore! No more
robbing people. You’re a fraud! You’re not the
government, never were!
The sentry is finally venting. Finegan and the oarsman look at him, a
little aghast, their mouths open.
You’re not in power, ass hole! You fat pig! Who
put you in charge, eh? You did. And you don’t
get to say, you piece of crap.
Finegan puts his hand over the man’s mouth, seeing that the rant will