“Yes, sergeant, I’d like to speak with the leaders of the refugee camp.”
“Yes, sir. Come with me. The area around the med tent has become a meeting place. They should be near there or we can ask the doctor.”
With the squad leader, Caden proceeded to the bulldozer and sandbag barricade. There the sergeant ordered two more soldiers to follow them as they continued across the bridge to the field hospital.
Beyond the medical tent was a sea of cars and people. Smoke rose into the gray February sky from several fires. He recalled that this was a park, complete with a ball field. Just above the people, cars and campers he could see the top of the backstop. The grass that should have covered the area had been trampled into the cold earth until all that remained was brown dirt and mud. Those around him moved with a listlessness that reminded him of old zombie movies. The scene was complete with dirty gray clothes and blank expressions, but he knew that it was not some life sucking disease; hunger was killing these people. He scanned the crowd once again looking for a familiar face, then turned toward the tent.
Neil Young, the big man he had meet on the bridge two days earlier, stood before him. “Well Caden, have you come to see how we are doing?”
“Actually, I’m looking for you.”
Caden considered the crowd of desperate faces that encircled them. If I mention the word food here there could be a riot. “Is there any kind of formal leadership of this camp?”
“Kind of informal, but yes, me and one other.”
“I’d like to meet with both of you back on the other side of the barricade as soon as possible.”
A murmuring crowd gathered as Caden and his soldiers headed back onto the bridge and toward the barricade. When he crossed over the sandbags Caden looked back at a growing crowd around the med tent. A couple of minutes later the mob surged forward behind Neil.
This could get ugly--fast.
The soldiers on either side of him fidgeted with their weapons.
About halfway across the bridge, Neil stopped. “Everyone please listen. I have no idea what the army wants to talk with us about, but if you continue toward the barricade someone could get shot. Please wait here and I promise I’ll tell you what is going on.”
Caden sighed with relief as Neil and a woman continued toward the barrier alone.
Once on the other side of the blockade, Neil introduced Theresa and asked, “What did you need to talk about?”
“I’ve got a truck full of food and another with gasoline up on the hill.”
Their expressions brightened immediately.
“I’m going to use the food and fuel to clear this camp.”
Theresa frowned. “Who are you to decide how food gets distributed?”
Caden ignored the question. “If you stay in this camp you will die. The town cannot support any more refugees and there is only enough food in the truck for a day. Eat the food and use the gas to get to a better place, either back home or to the FEMA camp.”
“How do we know the FEMA camp will be better?” she asked.
Caden glanced over the barricade. The crowd moved forward like a slow motion mob. “I’m told that food is tightly rationed at the camp, but there is food. You’re starving to death here.”
Theresa and Neil nodded. “How do you propose to do this distribution?” he asked.
The entire squad now stood behind the sandbags with rifles ready.
After more discussion the three of them shook hands and climbed onto the treads of the dozer. Caden held up his hand, signaling for quiet. “We will distribute food and fuel from the north end of the camp.” There was an audible gasp at the mention of food and word was quickly, and loudly, relayed to those out of earshot. For many seconds Caden could not continue because of the crowd noise. Again he signaled for quiet. “We will provide one meal per person and five gallons of gas for each car with the stipulation that you leave this place. You can return home or go to the FEMA camp south of Longview.”
It was dark before Caden returned to the armory and plopped exhausted into his office chair. He rubbed his throbbing leg as he thought of the hundreds of people who left the area, and those who remained. A few stayed because their cars wouldn’t start, others remained because of sick family members either in the town hospital or the field station. The doctor remained behind to treat them and Neil helped fix cars. I’ll keep the blockade in place, but we can use the road now and check out the old coal power plant. Resting his head in his hands he continued to think about all that had transpired when there was a knock at the door. “Come.”
Brooks stepped in holding two cups of coffee. He handed a cup to Caden and sat down. “It’s been a long day, but I think a good one. All the food that we took into town was distributed and, I think, eaten on the spot.”
Caden took a long slow drink. “Yeah, that’s what happened at the refugee camp too. North Road should be clear by tomorrow. Send a squad out to the coal power plant and start looking for people who can operate it. Offer the civilians food, medicine, protection, whatever it takes to get the plant running.”
“Do we have enough food and medicine to be spreading it around?”
“No, but I’ll work on that. You just get the plant running, if it’s possible.”
“I’ll send the men out in the morning.”
The next evening as the sun bent low over the hills west of Hansen, Caden sat at his desk. Dark shadows spread across the room and instinctively he turned the knob of the lamp on his desk. He was surprised by the glow of the lamp. We have power! Good. For a moment he wondered if the men out at the coal plant had it running. Brooks had led a squad out at first light and later in the day brought out several civilians who had worked in the plant, but it was too early for them to have it up and running. He scribbled a reminder to get a progress report on Monday.
He picked up the next paper that required his attention. I had hoped for a slow day yesterday and received it today. He grinned. The tedium of paperwork is a nice change.
There was a knock at the door. “Come,” he called, still reading.
“You’re late for supper.”
Startled at the sound of Maria’s voice, he looked up and grinned at the sight of her leaning against the doorframe holding a basket. “What have you got there?”
“Let’s see,” she said and pulled out a bottle. “Blackberry wine, made right here in town.”
“Nice.”
“I’ve also got bread, butter, cheese and crackers. Now all I need is someone to help me eat them.”
“I think I can assist you with that.” Caden stood and moved toward Maria, but as he did he could see the staff in the outer office. “Let’s find somewhere private.” As they stepped into the hallway, Brooks and Lisa approached. “Let me guess,” Caden whispered to Maria. “This was Lisa’s idea.”
“She might have mentioned it, but I didn’t object.”
“Lieutenant Brooks,” Caden said as they passed, “I’m going to have dinner with this lovely young lady. Keep an eye on things for the next hour or so.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ten minutes later Caden and Maria found an uninhabited storeroom and borrowed an old wooden table and two mismatched chairs from the barracks for their dinner.
The last rays of the sun cast long shadows across the brown crates and green ammo boxes that took up much of the room. Caden started to turn on a light, but then noticed a candle left by the door of the room. “We haven’t had much time alone or much time to talk.” He lit the candle and set it in the middle of the table.
She pulled two wine glasses from the basket. “That is why I thought it would be a good idea to come here.”