Kyle Pratt - Through Many Fires

In the basement David showed him an ancient coal furnace with no coal and a modern backup generator that was low on diesel fuel.

Ammo, food and fuel. He sighed inwardly. I need to get more of just about everything. Fumbling in his jacket he pulled out a small notebook and wrote several notes to himself.

As they walked back toward their office, Brooks suddenly turned to his left and opened one side of a double door. “We can cut across the gym. It’s shorter.”

Walking into the large room, the sound of their footsteps echoed off the old hardwood floor and bounced off the wooden walls and bleachers. Large windows high above on one side provided light that cast the old gymnasium in a yellow glow.

“Assemble the men in…” Caden glanced at his watch. Almost noon. “one hour, 1300. We’ll do the change of command and I’ll speak to the soldiers at that time.”

When they arrived at the office, Brooks sent two privates to make preparations for the assembly.

“Where is the first sergeant?” Caden asked, “I’d like to talk with him before the change of command.”

“He’s with second squad guarding the North Road Bridge over the Cowlitz River.”

Caden nodded. “You mentioned we had two squads out?”

“Third squad is east of town along the highway. A few days ago we had four squads deployed guarding the north and east perimeter of the town, but things are quieter to the east.”

“The north road isn’t secure?”

“There is a large unofficial refugee camp just across the Cowlitz River Bridge.”

“When you say large, what do you mean?”

“I’d estimate a thousand individuals.”

“I can understand us not wanting another thousand mouths to feed, but why don’t we let them pass through, maybe in small, manageable, groups?”

“Most of them stopped there because they were either low on gas or out of it. They can’t go anywhere and now they’re out of food and getting desperate. I’ve seen fights, riots really, and heard gunshots but, thankfully we are able to keep those problems on the other side of the river.”

“How?”

“The river is running high and fast and the bridge is barricaded.”

Caden nodded thinking of his father, brother and sister-in-law who were all on the wrong side of the river. When my leg is better I’m going to need to go up that road and try to find them. He continued to his office where he strained to concentrate on the reports and assess the readiness of his command. Not very ready. As he tried to come up with a plan, the lights went out.

From the next office he heard David moan. “We have been experiencing more brown outs and power failures with each passing day.”

Caden nodded to no one and continued to read by the light of a window behind him, but after a couple of minutes he gave up and leaned back in the chair. Even though it was barely afternoon, he was tired, his leg ached and the dim light strained his eyes. He stood and hobbled to the window. Gray clouds covered much of the sky casting the valley and town below in shadow.

It’s going to be a long hard winter no matter what the weather is like. I’m fortunate to be home…to even have a home to go to. He thought of the people he had seen walking along the highways. At that moment he wanted desperately to be with his family at the farmhouse. He realized that once again he had included Maria and even little Adam in his mental image of family.

A shiver passed through him. The farmhouse has a fireplace and woodstove, but how many don’t have that ? Again he shivered. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but it already seemed cooler in the room. He reached out and touched an ancient radiator beside the window. It was cold. No coal for the boiler.

Brooks stepped into the office holding two cups of coffee and handed one to Caden. “We might as well drink it while it is still hot.”

“What causes the power to go out more each day?”

Brooks shrugged.

“Why doesn’t the backup generator come on when the main power goes out?”

“We’re so short of fuel I’m only using it at night.”

Caden nodded. All I need is more food, fuel, ammo and soldiers, and this command will be ready for anything. He grinned and Brooks gave him a quizzical look, but he ignored it and sipped his coffee.

David did the same and then said, “I hope we can get people back home and get the economy moving. If we don’t and the power fails for a long period of time…well, just imagine, heat, communication, refrigeration, cooking, it’s all electric.”

“If we don’t find or grow a lot more food in the next month or two most of us won’t need to worry about electricity.”

Static crackled over the radio and Caden glanced that direction and then at the still dark lights.

David smiled at his confusion. “The radio has battery backup.”

They both returned to their coffee.

Forty minutes later Caden stood in a darkened hallway still considering what to say. As he did he stared at the backs of those assembled in the gym. About forty soldiers stood in formation waiting for him to enter. Behind them were about ten civilians, mostly women, and about as many children. A podium stood at the far end with Brooks to the right of it.

He took a deep breath and marched into the room.

“Company, attention,” Brooks announced.

“At ease,” Caden responded. As he walked up to the podium he still had only a vague idea of what he wanted to say. Give them a sense of purpose, a mission and direction.

After reading his orders aloud, Caden scanned the faces of the assembled soldiers. Taking a deep breath he proceeded. “I was in Washington D.C. on that terrible day. I know the horror and the pain of loss that many of you have experienced.

“I traveled with Governor Monroe back to Washington State. From the moment I met him he has been striving to solve problems brought on by the terrorist attacks. He is working hard to get people home and the economy up and running. Food and fuel are being distributed. Power is being…will be restored.

“We are going to be a part of that process. The road ahead will not be easy, but each of us has a role in the restoration of this nation.”

The lights blinked, came on for a moment then died. Caden sighed and continued. “Our orders are to assist local authorities in maintaining law and order and help provide aid. Together with Sherriff Hoover we are going to secure Hansen, the farms around it and outlying communities. The army already has secured the freeway. It is open to travel, both to the north and south. We are going to clear the state highway from Hansen to the on ramp so that the town can be supplied.” He looked up at the darkened ceiling, “The lights will come back on. The day will come when you can go home.”

Looking out at those before him, Caden could see emotions ranging from hopefulness to despair.

“Finally, Lieutenant Brooks has done an outstanding job. I concur with his decision to move families into the armory. We are going to keep our loved ones safe while we do our job.”

A murmur of approval swept the gym.

That seems like a good note to end this on. Caden stepped away from the podium and said, “Lieutenant Brooks, dismiss the men.” Walking quickly through the ranks of soldiers he exited the gym.

From the hallway he heard, “Company attention. Dismissed.”

Back at the office Caden sat staring out the window. He could barely detect the position of the sun through the gray clouds that cast the world in shadow. He felt the cold now on his nose and ears. A few snowflakes flitted through the air outside.

“Excuse me sir.”

It was Brooks’ voice. Still looking out the window Caden said, “Yes?”