Nathan Jones - First Winter

They spent the hours until full dark setting up camps. The refugees complained, some of them bitterly, about the situation in general as well as the reception they’d received from Aspen Hill. Trev thought most of that was shattered hope, likely even more crushing after the year these men had to have been through.

The townspeople set up their tents on the ridge right where they were. It was uncomfortable with the elevation and no shelter from the wind blowing almost constantly from the northwest, but it gave them a good defensive position over the refugees setting up on the road below. Trev approved Matt’s decision.

Most of the time was spent gathering firewood and setting up fires. Nobody from Aspen Hill wanted to risk going in among the refugees, even in large groups, so they simply deposited enough firewood to accommodate a thousand men at the edge of the ramshackle camp, along with precious matches and other firestarting tools.

The refugees begged, whined, demanded, and even threatened for food and other supplies from the townspeople, but everything they said was met with polite refusal and a not so subtle display of enough firepower to gun them all down where they stood, if things turned violent. Eventually the ragged men resigned themselves to their situation and did their best to set up camp with what they had.

Trev couldn’t help but notice that the refugees built massive fires, which wasn’t a huge problem since they’d been given plenty of wood. Still, he couldn’t help but think of that old quote he’d heard so often on camping trips as a kid, the one about building large fires. With so little camping gear the refugees might’ve been better off huddling close to small fires, rather than sitting several feet away from a bonfire getting broiled in front with their backs to the frigid night air.

He set a strong watch around both camps that night, ensuring dozens of his people got poor sleep but they would all be forewarned if anything happened. Although he didn’t consider the refugees enemies and had no desire for violence, hard experience had made him cautious.

Luckily the night passed uneventfully, aside from sentries and even people who’d been in sleeping bags in their tents all night complaining about the cold wind the next morning. With his better gear Trev had barely even noticed while sleeping, although since he’d taken a watch he could definitely sympathize.

As planned, as soon as the sun started warming things up Matt had everyone gather up in their lines again, and he came down to politely but firmly insist that it was time for the refugees to turn back for the camp.

There was a lot of grumbling from the ragged men at that, and more than a few curses and angry shouts. But the truth was that the refugees were hungry and only going to get hungrier, and with it clear they wouldn’t be getting anything from Aspen Hill most reluctantly started back down the road.

A few groups broke off and disappeared into the surrounding countryside, though. Either they didn’t think they’d be welcome back in camp, or they thought they had good enough supplies to strike off on their own. That seemed like a recipe for potential banditry, and anyway the men might’ve had more nefarious reasons for heading off into the hills, so as Matt got the townspeople ready to return home Trev had a team of volunteers follow each group. He also split more defenders off to jog home at a faster pace and start patrolling the area around Aspen Hill. Last of all he assigned Trent to take twenty people and shadow the refugees to make sure they kept going back to Rogers’s camp, or report in if any of them did anything else.

Just before they left Lewis approached him and Matt, his expression suggesting he’d thought of something. “What is it?” Trev asked.

His cousin gave him a serious look. “I’d like to head to the refugee camp and see what I can learn there.”

That got their attention. “Are you crazy?” Matt demanded. “If Rogers’s people find out you’re from Aspen Hill they’ll arrest you.”

Trev agreed with the risk, although he could also see the merits of the idea. “Sounds good. Let’s get a team together and we’ll go.”

Lewis shook his head. “I’d prefer to go alone. More people means more attention, and Matt’s right that it’s dangerous. I’ll be more comfortable if I only have myself to worry about.” Before Trev could feel insulted by that his cousin continued. “Besides, you’ve got to focus on the town’s defenses.”

Matt nodded and gave Trev a stern look. “ In town, by the way,” he added. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but no more being out on patrols and leaving a leadership gap during a crisis.”

Trev felt his face flush. He and Deb had been going out of their way to be where the other wasn’t since agreeing to take some time apart. Including, he guessed, her staying back in town to protect it while he was out here.

Still, his friend was right that he’d dropped the ball when it came to the sudden appearance of these refugees. He should’ve been there helping organize the townspeople to come out and meet the approaching mob in force. Gutierrez had done a good job, but it was a job he shouldn’t have had to do in the first place. “Right.”

Lewis cut in. “I’ll be going, then. I’d like to hurry, get around the refugees and get to the camp before them.”

Trev reluctantly nodded. “You sure you want to go alone? Not even someone to hang around outside the camp as backup in case something goes wrong?”

His cousin shook his head. “Things would be just as likely to go wrong for him as for me. Nah, I’ll be fine.”

Matt clapped Lewis on the shoulder. “Be careful, then. And if you can try to keep your eye out for any information Chauncey or your dad could use to help our cause, over the radio or with Grimes.”

Lewis patted his pocket. “I brought my phone to record this confrontation, in case we need to prove we aren’t at fault. I’ll see if I can get us something.”

Trev couldn’t believe his cousin had thought of that in all the confusion. And yet it was the sort of thing that could really save their bacon if the town was accused of misconduct.

The low tech existence they currently lived in made those sorts of precautions difficult, but he determined to charge his own phone, currently gathering dust in a plastic bin with so many of the family’s other high-tech relics of the past, and have it handy for the same reason. He’d also get more of the defenders to do the same.

After some hasty goodbyes from Gutierrez, Rick, and a few others Lewis clapped Trev on the upper arm. “Let Jane know I’ll be home by tomorrow morning if I can manage it.” With no more than that he turned and trotted off down the ridge, taking a path that would let him swing wide around the departing refugees below.

Trev joined the remaining townspeople in heading back, feeling a sense of foreboding. He had a lot of people out tracking a lot of potential problems, and there was plenty of danger to them if they encountered those problems. His defenders were careful, and he’d instructed them to make getting away safely and reporting in a priority, but he still worried for them.

He hoped they’d all be careful, Lewis included. Although if there was one thing he could trust, it was that his cousin was always cautious.

One person could travel faster than a thousand people on foot at the best of times, and in the shape Lewis was in he had no trouble reaching Rogers’s camp hours ahead of the refugees.

Even getting in without attracting notice from the soldiers guarding the camp and keeping the peace wasn’t especially difficult, since there were plenty of people coming and going on various tasks, or arriving from elsewhere seeking aid and refuge. It took Lewis less than a half hour to join up with a group of foragers gathering grass for some purpose, maybe to make mattresses or comforters, and return to camp with them chatting about mundane complaints like hunger and aches and pains.