Paul Kirk - Devastation Point

“That’s not necessary, Mac. If you think those cigars are important to our welfare, I trust your judgment. Use ’em however you want.”

“Thanks, Rhonda.”

She zipped her pack, nodded at Connor, and walked back to Roger. Connor re-entered the store and set the box on the table where the group had taken seats in preparation for their meeting. He smiled and slid the box toward Del Re. Instantly, Del’s eyes fixated on the box in front of him.

“Please tell me that’s full of tobacco,” he said.

Laughing out loud, Connor studied the commander whose eyes had stayed locked on the cigar box. Del repeated his inquiry.

“Connor Mac, please tell me what’s in there is what’s supposed to be in there and not anything useless like, I dunno gold… or silver.”

“Commander, don’t get your hopes up…”

The crestfallen expression on the commander’s face was a sight to see. He was a bit embarrassed at himself for developing a false hope.

“It’s not full of tobacco—”

“Damn!”

“Regrettably, there’s only a dozen fairly fresh Spanish Longesdales. We’ve dipped into them over the past few weeks, so it’s not a full box.”

Del Re opened the box and removed one of the cigars. He breathed in the scent of the cigars deeply. His eyes were closed. He moaned audibly.

“Those cigars spent some time in a humidor after the Sickness. Rhonda found them a few weeks back at an auto dealer. They’re yours, Del, in payment for feeding us.”

“I wasn’t gonna accept anything from you, Mac. I said you’re our guests and I meant it. But, I don’t think I can turn these down. You’ve hit on my one true vice.”

“I take it you’re a big cigar smoker?”

“He is,” said Christina laughing, “He’s mentioned it after practically every meal for the past three years! After every meal!” Excited for her husband, Christina offered a spot on imitation: “Oh, wouldn’t a good cigar top off this meal, Tina? Oh, would I love a cigar right now with this glass of ale.”

All laughed and unabashed, the commander laughed as well before regaining some of his impeccable composure.

“She’s been with me for twenty-eight years, Connor Mac… I must—”

“Say no more… I give these to you as a gift for your courtesy. If you require more items in payment, please let me know. We do have some silver and a few pieces of gold. We have other—”

“No. No. This is fine… more than fine. Thank you.” Commander Del Re sniffed the cigar as he slid it gently under his nose. “I shall light this after dinner this evening, my dear.” He turned and smiled at Christina.

“Del?”

“Yeah, Connor Mac?”

“If I travel back this way, I promise I’ll bring you another box or two.”

“I would be most obliged.” With effort, the commander struggled not to sound like a kid receiving that special gift he’d wanted for Christmas.

“I’d do it just to see that look again, Del.”

“Umm…”

Rhonda came into the store after overhearing the conversation. She approached near Connor seeking his attention.

“Commander, Christina, Matty, this is Rhonda. She’s an invaluable member of our team.”

Greetings were exchanged. Unobtrusively, Rhonda whispered in Connor’s ear.

“Good idea! I’ll ask,” said Connor, checking his watch.

Rhonda nodded a goodbye and attended to the boys and Gabriella who were fast making eye contact with several children their age.

“What’d Rhonda say, Connor Mac? If you don’t mind me asking?” said the commander.

“She’s always thinkin’, Del. She wants to know if you happen to have a dentist in town. We’ve got a few men with cavities and some serious mouth pain.”

“Really? You want a dentist?”

“I know it sounds somewhat off the mark with that army bearing down on this town. But, I got guys in some serious pain here. They keep it mostly to themselves, but, damn, it’d sure enhance my fighting force it they didn’t have to deal with that on a day-to-day basis. Sure, we can’t stay for long, but yeah, if you got one, we’d pay good in trade if you have someone fairly competent.”

“I see,” said the commander. He put on a serious face, as if thinking hard. He shook his head sadly. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a dentist who’s fairly competent.”

“Okay, no bother.”

The commander smiled at the firm nod he received from Connor. “Sorry, just getting you back for catching me off guard with the cigars.”

“What?”

“I said we don’t have a fairly competent dentist. We have, probably, the best endodontist alive in the States right now.”

John McLeod laughed outloud. “Touché, Mac.”

The commander continued. “Dr. Danny O’Reilly practiced in Pittsburgh before the Sickness drove him here to check on his family.”

“Wow. Excellent!” said Connor.

“How many of your men need emergency dental care?”

“Oh, three for sure. Another two if time permits.”

“I see.”

“What’s Dr. O’Reilly charge for his service?”

“Well, I guess it depends. Do you have dental insurance coverage?”

“What? Oh…”

All laughed at the reference to insurance benefits of a time gone by. Connor turned serious.

“What would Dr. O’Reilly charge?”

“I dunno his going rate. We’ve not had too many people treat with him the past year, so his business is slow. He’s kept us all up to date on our dental hygiene, though. In the meantime, he’s developed a knack for customizing fine jewelry. He says that he needs to match his transferable skills to the desires of the customer.”

“I see.”

“Funny thing is, he has a sweet tooth, himself. Always complaining about the world’s untimely demise ’cause there’s no good candy anymore. Even Big Mama’s honeydrops don’t impress him much.”

“A dentist with a sweet tooth? How funny’s that?”

“Oh, yeah. Doc Reilly likes his candy.”

“So he wants candy? He’d trade his services for candy?”

“Yeah, I’m sure he would—why? Don’t tell me that you have candy, too?”

“He like Gobstoppers?”

Commander Del Re looked quizzically at Connor. “You mean the Gobstopper candy? You… are… most certainly… shittin’ me.”

“Oh my,” said Christina, touching her husband’s arm, “Did he say Gobstoppers?”

“So he likes ’em?”

“I’ve heard them mentioned,” said the commander, still stunned.

“More than once, Italo,” said Christina, smiling.

“That’s a fact,” said Matty, shy but attentive.

Connor grinned. “Well then, we got somethin’ to trade.”

“Are you serious? You bring cigars for me and you have the one candy that Doc would probably kill for?”

“Well, we have a few other candy types, but… yeah.”

“Connor Mac, John, captain, I’m tellin’ ya, you guys are like Santa Clause here!”

“Well…”

The commander turned to his second in command and pointed to the jewelry store back door. “Matty, go find the doc. Tell him to meet us here at the command post.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Tell him he’s got dental business right now. Stay at his shop to help set up and have Tess pitch in. Keep the form of payment to yourself, you hear?”

Matty left down the back steps of the jewelry store and yelled behind him. “Yes, sir.”

“Keep real quiet about payment.”

“I will, sir.”

Christina whispered in the commander’s ear. He smiled and nodded. She turned to her guests. “I’m going to make sure that your men, women and children are fed properly, Connor Mac. It was nice meeting you all.”