Kyle Pratt - Through Many Fires

“Understand?” Hoover shook his head. “How can you….” He paused and looked Caden in the eye. “You were in Washington D.C., right?”

Caden nodded.

“We saw it on TV. A lot of people were scared, but by the next morning, when L.A. was hit, people panicked. Everyone wanted out of Seattle and Tacoma as fast as possible. Many fled south toward us. While they had money the refugees bought everything and anything they thought they might need. Many took what they wanted. Stores didn’t take checks, the ATM system failed, people got desperate. Along the freeway looting was widespread. When there was nothing left many of the refugees got mad. They destroyed and burned…. I’ve never imagined fear on that scale. The scared…the injured…the dying…. I did my best. You said I kept this place safe, but I was elected sheriff of the entire county, and over a quarter of it has been looted and burned and two of my deputies are dead.”

Caden shook his head. “An army couldn’t have saved the area along the freeway. I think the blockade was the right thing to do.”

“That was your father’s idea.” Hoover remained silent for a several moments and then with a sigh continued. “Two stupid kids tried to ram the North Road blockade while shooting at it with pistols. The guards returned fire, but it was the crash that killed them. I hung the bodies there as a warning to others not to be stupid and to stay away.”

“What about the bodies at the other blockades?”

“There were five others. Three were looters and two were the men who killed my deputies. I shot them all.”

Caden limped back toward his car wondering what to do now that Hoover had confirmed he killed those men. Well, blackmail is always a possibility. He smiled, but shook his head. Three weeks ago I was working for Senator Stevens and enjoying the good life in D.C. and then the first bomb went off and changed my life. He fumbled in his pocket for the car keys. The bombs changed everyone’s life. In the last two weeks I’ve killed one man, Maria shot another and Lisa may have run down three. Did any of us do wrong? Did Hoover do wrong? Legally he knew the answer might be yes, but morally he found it hard to condemn the actions of Hoover or his family.

Family. He had included Maria in his thought about family. A smile spread across his face. Thinking of her that way felt good. I need to take some time and sort out my own feelings about Maria and Becky. When, in this crazy world, will there be time to sit alone and think? Come on, you know what you feel about Maria. He sighed deeply. This is all so quick, so crazy. But still he could not deny his growing feelings for Maria. You definitely need to get Maria something for Valentine’s Day.

As he slid the key in the lock, he glanced across the street to the century old building that served as the county offices. I still need to talk to the commissioners and head of emergency management. Pulling out the key he headed across the street.

Ten steps led up from the sidewalk to the county offices. Caden remembered taking them two or three at a time as a child. Now, with his hurt leg, they were a formidable barrier.

Reaching the top, he found the large wooden doors locked. He considered going around the building to try each of the four entrances, but his leg pleaded for some other solution. As he stood considering his options two police cars sped past with lights flashing and sirens blaring.

Maybe Hoover can answer my questions. With a sigh he hobbled back toward the Sheriff’s office. As he entered, Caden asked the deputy on guard, “Who is the emergency Manager?”

“Sheriff Hoover is the head of that office, but he left on a call a couple of minutes ago. He’s also the local head of Homeland Security.”

Inwardly Caden groaned, but tried not to show it. He’s head of Homeland Security too? What does the governor want me to do if Hoover is in charge of everything?

“The Emergency Management office is at the end of the hall. The lady there handles all the day-to-day stuff.”

Caden stepped in that direction.

“Oh, but the LEPC is meeting in the county office building right now.

“LEPC?”

“Local Emergency Planning Committee or something like that. The back door of the building should be open. They’re meeting on the first floor, but I can’t remember the room number.”

By the time Caden found the location his leg felt like it was on fire. Ten people sat around a conference table as he hobbled in. “Hello, I’m Major Westmore, the new commander of the Hansen armory.”

A gray haired woman said, “You’re looking better this morning?”

Caden was confused.

“This is Trevor’s boy,” she said walking over to him “I’m Dr. Scott. I bandaged your leg last night.” She shook his hand. “It is good to see you conscious, but you really should be at home in bed.”

A man across the table pointed a pen at the doctor and said, “Don’t lecture the man. I know you’ve been working 18 hour days since the Seattle blast.”

Dr. Scott smiled at him then turned to Caden. “Perhaps we should both sit down.”

That was a welcome suggestion. As soon as Caden sat the pain faded to a dull throb.

They took turns around the table introducing themselves to Caden. Dr. Scott was there representing the local hospital. The mayor of Hansen was next along with delegates from the fire department, civil defense, health department, city utilities, a county commissioner, a city police officer, the Emergency Manager from the sheriff’s office and someone from the Salvation Army.

“We run the local food bank,” the church member said.

“Do you still have food?” Caden asked.

He shook his head. “Even with rationing we ran out days ago. People are going hungry.”

With that everyone looked at Caden. He was tempted, just for a moment to repeat the old Ronald Reagan line, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help,’ but decided against it. “Well, as I said I’m the new C.O. of the armory. Governor Monroe wants me to help maintain law and order in this area and assess local needs.”

“Need?” The Emergency Manager said cupping her hands before her and leaning forward as if in prayer. “We have refugees from the west end of the county along the freeway. We put some up in the motel and others are at the campground. We might have a three day supply of MREs for our police and firefighters but after that…. In this county I mainly coordinated with FEMA during floods, but we can’t make long distance calls and the Internet is down. I can’t….”

“Okay,” Caden interrupted, “I’ll try and get some communication restored. Meanwhile, make me a list of what you need.”

The county commissioner said, “We need everything.”

With feverish intensity the civil defense coordinator took up the litany, “We’ve done everything we could, no one in the county plans for nuclear bombs. I’ve attended every meeting, done everything according to regulation but….” He shook his head. “It’s not my fault.”

In a much calmer voice the man from the food bank stated, “Many are already going hungry.”

Another said, “The drugstore pharmacy was robbed. Three thugs tried to raid the hospital pharmacy, but….”

Annoyed, Caden interrupted, “People are hungry. The hospital must be short of medicines, but what I need is a list of critical supplies that will keep people alive.”

“I’ll get you a list of medical supplies,” Dr. Scott said.

“In a voice barely above a whisper the Emergency Manager said, “I’ll get you a list.”

Caden’s emotions were mixed as he left the office. If he alleviated some of the shortage it would be a big help to the community, but the need was huge and growing. He feared people would die before life returned to something reassembling normal.