Wilson Harp - EMP

Mayor Mueller picked up a clipboard from the table and pulled a pen out of his pocket.

“Those crops are genetically modified, I’m sure. And I saw pesticides being used in those gardens,” she said.

Sharon turned away from the mayor and stormed toward the doorway. I stepped out of her way, but apparently a small crowd had gathered behind me and she was forced to shove her way out of the meeting room.

The mayor shook his head as she left, then he turned to me.

“David, good to see you. Ted has something he wants some help with. He told me to grab you or Anne when you came in.”

“Sounds like he needs a horse more than me or Anne,” I said.

The mayor laughed. “Most likely so. He rode in today himself, so it probably is about a horse.”

“I came in a little early today, mayor. I need to report something to the council.”

“What is it, David?”

“We had a death last night in the south section.”

“What happened?”

“Not sure. Wanda Cummings. Looks like she died in her sleep.”

Mayor Mueller nodded. “Wanda and Kevin go to my church over in Low Springs. I can’t imagine what he is going through.”

“Luke went and looked at her. He said they would let Kevin have the day, then prepare and bury her tonight.”

“Good. I knew there would be deaths, I was just hoping they wouldn’t start so soon.”

“There were others?”

“Yes, two others have been reported. One in town and one to the east. Both elderly.”

“Stress?” I asked

“I think so. Ted was telling me this yesterday. He said as people accepted the situation, they would start to give up. Having no hope is a horrible stress to the system.”

“That’s right,” a voice from behind me said.

I turned to see Ted standing behind me. He had a rifle slung over his shoulder. A canteen shared space on his heavy belt with a holstered pistol and a long handled knife.

“You—you wanted to see me Ted?” I stuttered as I took in the sight of him. He hadn’t openly carried weapons since that first day in the square, and I was unsure what had prompted him to start today.

“You know how to shoot, David?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, but it’s been quite a while. If you are looking for a hunter, there are plenty better candidates. I can ask Anne if she will loan them Clyde if you need a shooter on a horse. Or Anne herself might be a good one to choose.”

“I don’t need a hunter, David. Just someone who can shoot if we get in a jam. I’m going out to see Lester and if things go well, I’ll need the extra horse to bring back some stuff. If things go bad, I don’t want to take anyone out who doesn’t have at least a passing familiarity with a long gun.”

“Lester Collins?” I asked.

“You know him?”

I shook my head. “No, but my dad and Luke mentioned him when this first started. Said he and you were both survivalists that…” I let my words drift out as I tried to make it less offensive.

“…that were derided and mocked?” Ted finished.

He was serious. There was no smile or edge of humor in his face. He could have eased the tension, but he didn’t. He just left me to twist in the wind and choke on my words.

“Yes. They said most folks thought of you two as Chicken Littles, always proclaiming that the end was near.”

Ted looked away and walked over to the mayor. “Carl, would you say that is a fair assessment of how me and Lester were viewed in this town?”

Mayor Mueller nodded. His grasp of diplomacy was better than mine and he kept his lips firmly shut.

“What do you think now, David? Was it just dumb luck or foresight that allowed me to prepare?”

“I think you are probably one of those people who always think the worst is going to happen and put faith in your pessimism.”

Ted nodded. “Good enough. Let’s mount up.”

“You could ask Buck Fredrickson, I’ll give him my horse if you need someone.”

“Do you not want to go, David?” Ted asked.

“No, I just thought you would want the right man for the job.”

Ted looked at me for a few seconds. He locked his eyes on mine. I felt like looking away, but I held firm.

“Buck and his guys are out hunting. They brought down two deer the first day, but now they are only bringing in a couple of rabbits and squirrels. And they are good hunters. Very good.”

He stepped closer to me.

“Do you have any idea why the bigger game has suddenly disappeared from the area?” he asked.

“No,” I said. “I wouldn’t have a clue.”

“Buck doesn’t know either, but he is still out searching for meat for the town. I need him out there doing that, and I need you for this job. Besides, Buck and Lester hate each other and I would have a shoot-out on my hands if I took him. We’ll leave when you are ready.”

He walked out of the meeting room without another word.

“Deputy McDaniels still doesn’t trust him and I don’t know if I do fully,” Mayor Mueller said. “But I do know he has a plan and that’s better than the rest of us.”

“That’s what Dad says, too.” I said as I looked at the doorway long after Ted had left.

“It’s a shame your dad turned down a position on the council. I know Ted really wanted him on board once he heard the south section had already uncapped wells and were preparing wood ash for latrines and graves,” said the mayor. “Ted doesn’t seem to be impressed easily, but your dad sure impressed him.”

“My mom… she needs my dad to be with her as much as possible.”

“You better get out there. Don’t want to make Ted impatient.”

I left the library and was mounting up on Clyde when Ted came around the side of the library mounted on his own horse. He reined in close to me and handed me a rifle.

“You ever use one of those before?”

It was an older Winchester. Lever action. Thirty caliber. My dad had one like it when I was a kid.

“Yeah, I’ve shot a rifle like this a few times.”

“Okay, just a quick refresher from Colonel Cooper. All guns are loaded. Even when you know they aren’t. Never cover anything with the barrel you don’t want to destroy. Never put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to fire. Never fire until you are sure what is behind your target. Keep those rules in mind and there will be no gun accidents.”

I nodded as I slung the rifle over my neck and shoulder. “I’ll remember. Just don’t do anything that will make me have to use this.”

Ted rode forward and I urged Clyde to follow. Several people stared at us as we rode out of town, but no one seemed too distraught over having a couple of armed men ride past them. What a difference a week made.

When we turned north on Line Ave, I heard the sound of a lawnmower. I smiled and rode up next to Ted. I pointed at the two boys watching a man mow his yard.

“Yeah,” Ted said. “I guess most people are still amazed at what is working.”

We rode north until we left town, and then turned down a small drive to the east. It wasn’t anywhere I was familiar with, and I wondered who lived out this way. Never found out. Ted rode off the drive and out into a field between some twisted sections of barbed wire fencing that no longer created an effective barrier to travel.

“Hey!”

I turned in my saddle and brought Clyde to a stop with the reins. I heard Ted do the same with his mount. I looked back to see where the call had come from, but the trees were too heavy to see far.

Anne came out of the tree line and trotted over to us on Bonnie.

“I didn’t expect you to head off the road,” Anne said as she approached. “What are you doing with rifles?”

“We’re heading to see Lester,” Ted answered.