Ben gave a single nod. “I see. What’s going on Harry?”
“She’s showing Bryan over there how to handle a revolver.”
“I see that. I mean, why?”
Harry scratched his head. “Maybe you need to ask her.”
“I will.” Ben walked to his wife. He was torn with emotions.
When last he spoke with her, she was on the same page as he was. They were leaving America. The attack on American soil was not their problem. It was poor politics.
War solved nothing.
Guns solved nothing.
Fighting was a waste of time.
But there his wife stood, holding a gun like a pro.
“Lana,” Ben softly called her name.
She didn’t look at him, but she did stop what she was doing. She whispered something to the young man and then took a deep breath and faced Ben.
“Hey, Ben.”
“What… what’s going on?”
“I thought you were at The Tap.”
“And I thought you were sleeping.”
Lana walked over to him. “I stayed for the meeting.”
“And they did what to you? Brainwash you into being a militant?”
Lana chuckled. “Hardly.”
“Lana, put down the gun. Let’s go.” He held out his hand to her.
Lana put down the gun, but she didn’t take his hand.
“What are you doing?” Ben asked.
“Ben, listen to me.” Lana stepped up to him. “I think… I think we need to stay here. To stay put and fight, if need be.”
Ben laughed. “You’re insane. You know what we planned.”
“And I know what we need to do,” Lana whispered. “Ben, listen to me. We are at war. If we don’t bear arms when needed and stand up and defend our country, what kind of message does that send?”
“It says we’re sane,” Ben stated. “Lana, listen to me. The enemy, whoever invaded and attacked the United States, took out two whole states. You want to stay here in this little town with two hundred people and lift your guns to the air, toss some homemade bombs and hope for victory? You saw how many planes they had. You saw what they can do. They aren’t going to come into this town to take it. There’s nothing here they want. They’ll come in to this town to kill everyone. Homes can be rebuilt but they can’t be rebuilt without people. People are our best resource. They’ll take out our resources.”
“It’s not about the town, Ben,” Lana argued. “That’s not the point.”
“And what is?”
“This is our country. It’s our land. Ours, Ben. They can’t just come and take what’s ours. And we certainly can’t just let them take it without a fight.”
“A losing fight,” Ben inched up to her. “Lana, this is ridiculous. They will wipe out this town. If you stay here, and if they come, you will die.”
Lana lifted her head. “Then I’ll die fighting instead of running.”
“Why?” Ben tossed out his hands. “Why would you take that attitude?”
“Why wouldn’t you?” she argued adamantly. “They killed my family and your family, too. They destroyed everything around us that we love. That’s why we have to fight. That is what this country is founded on.”
Ben shook his head. “Was all you said to me about Canada a lie?”
“I didn’t say anything, Ben. I just agreed. I was trying to be that good wife. Trying to be that woman you loved. I was losing you before this all happened and I didn’t want to keep losing you. But… if being a good wife means giving up what I believe in, then I can’t be that good wife.”
“I see.” Ben placed his hands in his pockets and turned away.
“Ben? Where are you going?”
“Back to the science room. I’ll stay a few days, but then I am going, with or without you.”
“I wish you would consider staying and standing ground.”
“I wish you would consider leaving.”
Lana walked up to him and grabbed his hand. “If you go, Ben, then we’ll end up being what we were before the attacks.”
“Why does it have to be that way?” Ben asked. “Why is it, if I go? How about this, Lana? If you stay here, we end up being what we were before the attacks. I’m not the one who changed my mind. I’m not the one who said everything and then changed my mind. You are. And maybe… maybe four weeks ago when we filed those divorce papers, it really wasn’t a mistake.” He pulled his hand away and walked out.
It was odd to Foster, being out on the streets late at night. No streetlights whatsoever. The street barely lit by the moon.
Ten of them went out and scoured the streets. They made only a mile worth of blocks. There wasn’t much there. They did locate a general doctor’s office, a family planning clinic and a pharmacy where they might be able to find medical supplies.
Food and supplies would be easily picked from the two stores.
Foster wanted to pack up the supplies right then and there. Manny told him that wasn’t how things were done. They had to note where things were located first, then devise a plan, and only then go out and get the supplies.
Things had to be done carefully. Even though there wasn’t any indication of fighting or soldiers in the vicinity, one never knew.
Foster was a little done in and he felt useless when he returned.
He didn’t mean to wake Judith, but he was louder than he thought he was.
“If I go out there, I want to grab stuff, bring it back and not come back empty handed,” he told Judith. “I feel going out there and coming back without anything was a waste of time.”
“These people are alive because they do things a certain way. We are their guests, Jimmy.”
Foster nodded.
“Besides, did you know what to grab at the doctors’ office or pharmacy?”
“No, but if I grabbed everything…”
“Everything?” Judith spoke motherly to him. “You will be much more efficient getting what the doctor tells you to get. Manny said what? Tomorrow you’ll go out and get supplies. Tomorrow you will feel useful.” She patted him on the cheek. “Now, I know it’s late. What time is it?”
“Almost six.”
“And you haven’t slept. Get some sleep….”
The sounds of people talking, calling, moving about carried to them both.
“Something is wrong,” Judith said.
“Stay here, I’ll find out,” Foster slipped by her and into the hall.
People were running about, all in the same direction.
“Excuse me…” Foster reached for someone. They kept moving. It was frustrating. Where was everyone going?
“Hey, Foster, come on.” One of the men who had been out searching with him tugged his arm.
“What’s going on?” Foster asked.
“Planes. Come look.”
Foster froze. “Should we be going up there, then?”
“Are you kidding? Yeah! They aren’t the enemy. They’re ours.” Excitedly, the man kept up with the others and raced down the hall.
He supposed they were running to the streets to peer up at the sky.
Foster wanted to go, but at that second he couldn’t. He felt bad. Everyone was running out to ‘see.’
They were going out to see.
Everyone but Judith was. She was in that room waiting to find out what all the commotion was about.
She couldn’t see and Foster knew she was probably scared and worried.
He retreated back to the room to let her know it wasn’t anything bad. In fact, it was more than likely a good thing.
Then, if she wanted to go, he’d walk her out to join the others and he’d describe the scene. So Judith, in some sense, could see the planes as well.
Harry had gone back and forth to The Tap several times to check on Tyler. Somewhere around four A.M. Tyler had finally engrossed himself in something other than the box. He was playing a video game with a teenager.