Nathan Jones - First Winter

Of course, two soldiers were assigned to watch them in the meantime, and he had a feeling leaving their seats in the side-by-side would provoke a less than friendly response. Still, anything that boosted their image when it came time to plead Aspen Hill’s case could only be a good thing.

From what Chauncey and the veterans had told them during the brief time they’d had while preparing to leave, Colonel Grimes was in charge of the camp and nominally in charge of the entire military remaining in this area, although he had frequent contact with Generals Lassiter and Erikson about coordination and major issues. He was definitely the person to go to about resolving the town’s problem with Rogers, if he could be persuaded to intervene.

Then again, it would probably be hard to get a meeting with a man dealing with the logistics of hundreds of thousands of refugees and thousands of troops, as well as guarding the borders of the limited but expanding territory the US held around the Rocky Mountains.

At least their position was fairly simple and straightforward. When various noncoms and junior officers came around to ask the purpose of their visit, Lucas could explain in just a few words that their town was having a serious dispute with the coordinator of the nearby refugee camp, and they needed someone to intervene and arbitrate.

It was the sort of urgent but low priority situation that guaranteed they’d eventually get somewhere, if they were patient. So it was a pleasant surprise when after only an hour or so a lieutenant who identified himself as Colonel Grimes’s aide invited the Aspen Hill delegation to come with him.

The junior officer led them to a newly constructed building, plain but relatively large and well made, that served as the military headquarters. It was a beehive of activity as senior officers and their staff coordinated the management and defense of the entire area and hundreds of thousands of people.

They were led through a few main rooms full of logistics personnel and into a waiting room outside an office, where the aide had them wait a few minutes before a word from the far door had him ushering them on through.

The office beyond was small and spare, full of bookshelves nearly overflowing with hastily but neatly filed documents. Aside from a stowed away cot in one corner and a few framed pictures on the desk stacked high with pending reports, the most personal items in the room were the colonel’s combat gear stowed near the desk where it could be quickly retrieved, and an assortment of crowd control, personal defense, and standard combat weapons ready for use.

Grimes himself fit his office well. His uniform was surprisingly clean under the circumstances, and he was clean-shaven with his silver hair trimmed short. He was one of the tallest people in a room full of tall men, with the solid build of someone who didn’t spend all his time behind a desk. Even without the rank insignia on his uniform he would command attention, and Ed noticed Carrie start to salute as a conditioned response and then freeze and sheepishly lower her hand.

Lucas took the lead in introducing the group as the senior officer shook hands all around. “Aspen Hill’s defenders held the area on the eastern front just south of the area you were holding along Highway 6, Colonel,” he said to conclude. “We know you by reputation and we’ve met some of your men in the field, but none of us have had the honor of meeting you in person.”

That seemed to remind Grimes of why they were here. “Yes, I was in your neck of the woods,” he said, sounding weary as he dropped into his seat behind the battered desk. His voice hardened. “But I’ve got to warn you that most of what I’ve heard about your town, little as that’s been, isn’t great.”

Ed fought to keep his expression neutral. So Rogers had been poisoning the well against them. Figured.

“Would you allow us to give our side of the situation?” Scott asked politely. He looked a bit irked that they hadn’t been offered seats, even though there were enough to accommodate them. Most of that worry was probably for Lucas, since the man’s mostly-healed leg still pained him even two months after breaking it in the blockhead ambush in Aspen Hill Canyon.

Lucas seemed to be holding up all right, at least enough not to make an issue of it as far as Ed was concerned. There were more important things to worry about at the moment.

“Of course I will, that’s why you’re in my office,” Grimes said impatiently. “But I’ll warn you that Major Rogers seems to have a solid case. As I see it he’s acted from the best intentions. He wanted you to take in women and children. He demanded you return excess food you were given in error so it could be distributed to those who desperately need it. The town’s own intentions don’t seem so honorable.”

Ed heard a few quiet noises of disbelief from his friends. He himself was doing his best to control his temper. But he kept quiet and let Lucas defend their position.

“Begging your pardon, Colonel, but to clear up misrepresentations about the town’s intentions is the reason we’re here. As for Rogers’s own, it’s wise to look at results, not what he intended. Do you believe it’s possible for a man with even the best intentions to produce evil outcomes?”

Grimes hesitated. “As it stands I’ve only heard Rogers’s side of this issue, which hasn’t seemed intended to paint you in a very good light,” he admitted. He glanced down at the reports on his desk, then sighed and pushed them away, leaning back. “My time is limited and I’d like you to be brief, but take as much time as you feel you need. I’ll hear you out.”

After a glance at the others to confirm that the ball was still in his court, Lucas took a breath and started from the beginning. For this issue that was with Corporal Bryant delivering food to the town and requesting they take in veterans, and stressing that someone in the military chain of command deliberately saw to it they received a surplus, perhaps in gratitude for their contributions fighting the blockheads.

He also briefly outlined the reasoning behind the town recruiting refugees with skills they needed, and allowing in families as well. Finally he gave a thorough rundown of their encounters with Rogers, including honestly admitting that the town had been willing to fight to prevent the given surplus from being taken back.

To his credit Grimes listened patiently the entire way through, only interrupting a few times to ask for clarification or further details. One such was near the beginning. “You say you willingly took in wounded and crippled soldiers? Can you confirm this?”

Ed was glad they’d brought Carrie along then. The scarred young woman immediately spoke up. “I’m one of those they took in, Colonel,” she said, face raised as if to highlight her eyepatch and scars. “I came with 27 others, and Aspen Hill greeted us with incredible hospitality and kindness. Just as importantly, they didn’t treat us like dead weight and gave us the chance to immediately pitch in and help out as best we were able given our infirmities, as full members of the community.”

The colonel gave her a respectful nod. “I appreciate the sacrifice all of you made, and I’m glad you ended up in good circumstances. The fact that these people took you in is a strong point in their favor.” He nodded to Lucas to continue.

Ed thought his old friend did a good job of honestly laying out the facts. When Lucas was done he finished quietly but firmly. “We’re proud of what we’ve created in Aspen Hill. We don’t want to lose it.”

“And what have you created?” Grimes asked, leaning forward. “What is your town’s vision of an ideal society?”

Lucas paused in thought. “An ideal society is impossible in an imperfect world,” he admitted. “But if we want to get as close as we can, it has to start with everyone honestly taking responsibility for their own actions and wellbeing. No entitlement, no distorted view of reality. A place where everyone works hard to improve themselves and the community, and are allowed to do so without unnecessary intervention, is bound to prosper. And those who’ve lifted themselves up will then be free to extend a hand to those who need it.”