Wilson Harp - EMP

One of the soldiers pointed at me and handed his rifle to the soldier next to him. He took off his helmet and pushed his way through the crowd.

“David!” he said.

“Frank?”

I couldn’t believe it. Frank Anderson had not only survived, he had made it back to Kenton.

We hugged in the middle of the street. Frank looked around and started picking out people in the crowd he knew.

“I was going to keep quiet and to myself,” he said. “I wasn’t sure who would be here or if I would recognize home.”

“It’s good to see you. I can’t believe you made it back.”

“Yeah, it feels weird. I mean, I heard Wilcox wasn’t in good shape, and that’s where my apartment was. So I guess this little town really is home.”

“So you’re staying?”

“Captain Davidson wants to leave some men here, so he thought it might be a good idea to include someone with local roots. My folks may be gone, but I do know quite a few people in town. Or at least I hope I do. How bad has it been?”

“Population swelled to about six thousand right at the beginning. We have about four thousand now.”

“That’s actually really good, David. Most places are under a third. Those that are alive at all. Any locals holding out on their own?”

“Ted Riggins,” I pointed to my friend. “He has about a dozen people up at his place. They are well situated and don’t really need any help. Lester Collins has about forty at his place they seem fine as well.”

Frank nodded as he looked around. “No riots recently?”

“No riots ever. Ted took control on the first day and he established a council including the mayor.”

“The captain will be pleased. I haven’t been in a town without riots. Kenton seems to be a gem of a town.”

“How long will they be here?” I asked. “What can they do to help us?”

“Well, not too much, honestly. Bring law and order, but ya’ll need it less than most. We’ll set you up with a telegraph which will allow you to communicate with other settlements. We’ll patrol roads out of here which should open some travel and trade.”

“What about milk cows? That is the big thing we are missing,”

Frank scratched his chin. “Rare. There might be some we could bring in, but it would likely be for trade.”

“What could we trade?”

“About anything. Kenton is in really good shape. I wouldn’t be surprised if the captain doesn’t send some refugees to you.”

“David,” Anne called to me as she came across the square.

I motioned her to join me and Frank.

“Anne Franklin?” he asked. “Are you two…?”

“No,” I said. “I’m married, remember?”

He shrugged and waved at her as she approached.

“Oh my goodness, Frank!” she cried as she recognized him.

“Anne, good to see you again.”

“How did you end up in the army?”

“They were looking for bodies to fill uniforms and I was in the right place at the right time.”

“You looked like you had some news, Anne,” I said.

“Yes. The Captain told Ted and the mayor they have secured the road all the way to Cape and have a solid hold on both sides of the bridge.”

“Really?” I asked. “Is that true, Frank?”

“Yeah, only known bridge that’s safe to cross from Saint Louis to Memphis. Why? Were you planning on heading across?”

“Eventually,” I said.

“Why?” Frank asked.

“His wife and daughter are up in Chicago, Frank.”

Frank turned his face away and swore under his breath. “You need to take a trip to Cape, David. You need to see what even a small city is like. Maybe Lexi and Allie got lucky.”

“Emma,” I corrected.

“Sorry. Emma. Maybe they got lucky, but… you said eventually. So something is keeping you here?”

He shot a glance at Anne. She noticed and squirmed.

“My mom,” I said. “She is struggling with her Alzheimer’s. She needs me here.”

“What about your dad?”

“July. Same day as radio contact with Cape.”

“Oh no, David. I’m so sorry. Pat was a great man.”

“Thanks,” I said. “But with him gone, I will stay with Mom. I have to keep hope I can find Lexi and Emma, but I have to be realistic as well. They are probably gone, but Mom is alive and needs someone to stay with her. After… well, afterward, we will see what I can do.”

“Okay, David,” Frank said. “I need to get back to my unit and find out what we will be doing here. We will likely be here a few days taking inventory and getting a census built up.”

“Great to see you, Frank,” I said. “I’m glad you’re okay. We’ll talk more tonight, but I got to get back to the south fields.”

“I understand, until tonight.”

Frank went back to his unit. Anne and I looked at the men in uniform as they set up a few tents. Ted and Mayor Mueller led their officers into the library. I’m sure they would want to see our maps, figure out the food situation, and ask questions about our security.

“Is today the day that everything changes?” Anne asked me.

“No,” I said. “It is a big day, though. Contact with the outside world is now more than just what Ted says Tom has been told. I can’t wait to hear what Frank has to say. I’m sure it will terrify me, but at the same time, anything outside of Kenton has seemed surreal. Maybe I’ll be able to start realizing how bad it has been for the others.”

Anne squinted into the noon-day sun. “It’s getting late. You need an extra helper in the south fields?”

“Sure, we can always use extra help. Usually you don’t volunteer for things like that.”

She shrugged. “Just want to talk, you know? You are a pretty good person to talk to, David. I want to go with you when you head to Chicago. You know that.”

“Yeah, when it comes time, you can go with me.”

“Good.”

“What do you think it will mean now the military will secure trade lines?” I asked.

“Besides more trade?” she asked back with a smile. “Probably more news and meeting new people.”

“Probably. It’s amazing how much such little news can become the talk of the day.”

“Yeah. The wedding last week brought the town to a stop,” she said. “Not the deaths, though. No one wants to talk about the deaths.”

“People need hope, Anne. Weddings, pregnancies, and births give us that hope.”

“Lester has five pregnant girls up at his place.”

“Booze and lack of self-control tends to do that. He has plenty of resources, let him use up a little more. We don’t have say over his people and they don’t bother us in town.”

“I don’t like it, but that’s the way it needs to be, I guess.”

I turned and started walking toward the south field. Anne walked alongside me.

“That is the future for Collins and his group. Weed, booze, sex and enough guns to hold it all. Ted’s place will outshine them eventually, but both groups will thrive.”

“What about Kenton, David?”

“It’s a farm town that never quite lost its roots. The land and the soil have provided food, clothing and shelter for poor people for generations. It will provide for generations more.”

“And what about you, David? What do you have?”

“Work to do,” I said with a smile. “Work and a place to rest. People that care about me and people that depend on me. I guess that’s all I really need. It’s all I’ve ever really had. I think it’s all most people ever have, if they are lucky.”

Anne walked beside me and we worked in the field until near sundown. We gathered dinner from Millie for Mom, and Anne joined us for dinner that night.

Tomorrow I would work in the fields again.