Ryan Westfield - Pushing On

“I’m worried about that one guy.”

“Max?”

“Yeah, the one who always has that brooding look on his face.”

“He could be trouble.”

“You picked up on it too?”

“He doesn’t trust us.”

“And should he?”

“We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.”

“You think the others will go along with it?”

“The others in the compound?”

“Yeah.”

“We’ll make them think it’s a democracy. Just as our constitution says.”

“But you and I know how to get things done, how to arrange everything just right.”

“Exactly.”

“We’re going to make a good team.”

“We already do.”

“So what’s the plan?”

Kara paused for a moment, staring out into the woods. This was the perfect spot for the compound. There was nothing around for miles. It was community-owned land, an old forgotten tract of land that had once, long ago, belonged to some railroad baron. They’d all chipped in, some of them more than others, and purchased the land about ten years ago. As the numbers of the group grew, the newcomers had chipped in more money, lowering the cost for anyone.

Not that money mattered anymore. It didn’t matter who had paid for what. At least not in the minds of many. Kara, on the other hand, thought differently. She’d earned an easy six figures year in and year out, and she’d paid more than most in their group. And she felt that she deserved to have more say in matters, rather than exist as a single voice in a democracy of dozens, each with an equal amount of power. That was where her scheming with Jeff came in. He thought along the same lines.

“You really think everyone will vote to keep them captive? Against their will?” Jeff’s voice interrupted Kara’s thoughts.

“Look, everyone’s a realist. They just don’t always admit it to themselves. That’s where we come in. There are dozens of men. I’m the only woman. We knew it was a problem all along, but no one took it seriously.”

“I think no one really thought something like the EMP would happen.”

“Exactly. We all talked like we believed it. Like we really did. But people are more comfortable just going along with normal life. We can’t continue this community with just men. It’s not going to work with me as the only woman.”

“No, it’s not.”

“I don’t know if the older one…”

“Georgia, you mean.”

“Yeah, Georgia. I don’t know if she’s of childbearing age.”

“I don’t know either. But it doesn’t hurt to try.”

“And other one is too young.”

“But in a few years, she’d make a fine mother.”

“Others might come along.”

“Good, we need more. We need to start collecting women now.”

“Collecting? I don’t think fellow members of your gender would appreciate the way you’re talking.”

Kara laughed. “I’ve never been into all that stuff. I’m a realist.”

“That’s why I like you."

“I’ll take care of the voting,” said Kara. “I’ll get the newcomers in the showers and out of the way, and I’ll hold an emergency meeting. They’ll vote for forced conscription.”

“You do have a way with words. But what about the troublesome one, Max?”

“He might try to interfere.”

“I’ve got an idea.”

“Tell me what’s cooking in that beautiful brain of yours.”

“Nothing complicated,” said Jeff. “I’ll take him out on the grounds to show him the surrounding area. I’ll make up some excuse.”

“That’s good, get him away from the others.”

“That’s just the start.”

“You’re going to put him out of commission, you mean?”

“It’ll be easy. A bullet in the back. Put him out of his own suspicious misery. He won’t feel much.”

“I’m not that concerned with his suffering.”

Dinner was over, and people were starting to exit the mess hall.

The newcomers came out.

Kara put her professional smile back on.

“You all get enough?” she said, keeping her tone pleasant.

“More than enough,” said Mandy, smiling happily.

Kara took an opportunity to take a glance at Mandy’s body. She looked healthy, with a good body. She was just the right age to bear children. She’d do well.

“Why don’t I show you all the bathing facilities again?” said Kara. “There’s a little trick to get just the right amount of hot water.”

“We’re probably filthy, aren’t we?” said Georgia’s daughter.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Kara. “You’ve been through a rough time. But you can get clean here.”

“I’m sure I stink like crazy,” said Mandy.

“Follow me,” said Kara. “We’re going to have our regular nightly meeting, and you can all get cleaned up while we’re busy with that. Just boring regulatory stuff. Who does the dishes and that sort of thing. You’ll feel like a new person once you’re clean.”

Kara started to lead them away.

“Hey Max,” said Jeff. “Can I talk to you a minute? I wanted to get your opinion on some traps we’ve set up in the forest.”

“I’d rather stay with the others,” said Max.

“Come on,” said Mandy. With a full belly, she was jovial. “We’ll be fine.”

Max hesitated, but only for a moment.

“What kind of traps?” he said, joining Jeff off to the side.

So far, the plan was going perfectly. Kara wouldn’t have to worry about Max’s suspicions much longer.

Maybe Max had been overly suspicious of the whole community. He had to admit that he felt better after eating. Who knew how long it’d been since they’d had a proper meal. Sure, it wasn’t a fancy meal. It was simple, but it had filled them, and Max felt a renewed sense of strength, despite his injuries.

His face hurt, but not as bad as his leg. He tried to walk without limping, as much as possible, so as not to worry the others. He knew they looked up to him, and he didn’t want them to lose confidence in him, lest they lose confidence in themselves and their ability to keep going.

Maybe they could spend more than a night here. Maybe they could spend a couple weeks, recuperating. Max didn’t expect it to be free, not in this new economy of pure necessity. It was an economy of survival. But Max and the others could offer their labor and skills, helping the community get up and running the way it needed to. And the community would repay them in food and shelter. Sounded fair to Max.

Later, they could move on, continuing their way to Kentucky.

Kentucky seemed so far away. And even though there were the legal papers to prove that the farmhouse existed, it was beginning to seem less and less realistic.

Supposing they got all the way there, to the farmhouse in Kentucky, years of back-breaking work awaited them. A running farm didn’t suddenly get up and running overnight.

Max realized he was starting to doubt himself. He shook it off. A few weeks here. Maximum. Then they’d move on.

Max was walking behind Jeff on the way to some small game traps that Jeff had set up.

Jeff moved slowly. He was a big, lumbering sort of guy. He looked peaceful, like he’d never hurt a fly.

“How much farther?” called Max.

“About half a mile,” said Jeff, turning around. “You doing all right with that leg?”

“Fine,” grunted Max.

The truth was, his injury was sending shooting pains through his leg. The more he walked, the more it hurt.

He did his best to ignore it.

Max had a strong sense of ethics. These people had just fed his entire group. And more than their fair share of food, too. The least Max could do was hike a mile or two and examine some animal traps. It was his way of starting to repay his debt.