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It was one of the longest minutes of Linda’s life before the convoy crested the far hill. The attackers kept up their fire, but as the trucks came clearly in view began to slacken as they saw the long line of trucks. Linda watched as the trucks stopped a hundred yards behind her and men and women surged out, running for the woods on each side. The firing from the attackers came to a slow halt as they realized the game had just changed. They were now on the defense, something they hadn’t expected to happen.

Linda and her team waited as the balance of the militia worked their way through the woods up beside them. When she saw they were even with them, she ordered the group to split in two and rush across the road and into the woods on both sides. “Make it fast, you’ll be exposed.”

As they quickly rushed for the woods they drew fire, but no one was hit. When they reached the trees she assessed the situation with the squad leaders.

“We have to clear this snake’s nest,” she said. “Too far to go around, and it would be just plain wrong to leave them here for the next traveler. This is basic advance and cover fighting. One group on each side, meeting at the river under the bridge. The kicker is we have to contain them, not let them take off running up or down the river. They’ll take forever to catch if we do, and too many will escape. I want every one of those sons-of-bitches dead before we leave.”

Her team nodded in silent agreement.

“Split into two even groups on each side of the highway. One group advance along the tree line to the bridge, the other angle off and take up position up and down river, about three hundred yards from the bridge, who will wait until the runners come at them and mow them down. Questions?”

“Okay, road group give the river groups half an hour to get into position. We move out in forty-five minutes. Get your troops briefed and ready.”

At the forty-five minute mark the two roadside groups began moving towards the bridge, one half of each team moved forward under covering fire, then the second half moved forward under covering fire. It was a long and difficult battle, stretched out along the roadside trees, meeting heavy resistance that was hard to dig out because of all the available cover. But when they had nearly reached the bridge, the raiders fell apart and began running. From there it was a fast, run-and-shoot operation.

It took three hours for the militia teams to reach the bridge, then turn and followed the running men until they heard gunfire from their counterparts as the retreating raiders ran into the militia ambushes.

At that point the chasing militia moved forward far more slowly, unwilling to be mistaken for raiders by the forward militia. Linda had to assume that some of the raiders managed to escape, but it wouldn’t be very many.

An hour before dark the mop up was completed and the militia had all returned to the bridge. After posting sentries Linda gathered the men and women together. They had killed thirty-eight raiders, and shot all wounded raiders on the spot, per Linda’s orders. She wouldn’t allow vermin like that to live to raid again.

The militia had lost two and had eight wounded, two seriously.

Linda told the group, “We’re going to have to stay here a few days, maybe a week. We have to tend to our wounded, and repair our trucks. Set up camp here; we have the bridge for shelter and the river for water.”

The next day Roman walked across the bridge and found two large trucks, ready to block the road.
Thought so.

Chapter 23

D
uring week three Adrian said
to Jose, “I had an idea last night for transporting our army to Del Rio. Freight train. What if we could get a locomotive into operation. The Admiral sent us six tankers of diesel. We could place one of the tankers on a flatcar behind the locomotive. It starts out as soon as possible clearing the tracks and setting the switches to Del Rio. Then it comes back and we make up a train to carry personnel and equipment.”

He leaned over the map and pointed out the route. “We use the tracks that go from here to San Antonio, then over to Del Rio from there. We can carry everyone and everything on one long train, or two shorter ones if we can get two locomotives running. I’m thinking we should be able to make the trip in thirty-six hours, give or take. It’s the cleanest and surest way of transporting. The locomotive has to be solidly reliable for this though, last thing we want to do is get everyone stranded far from the action zone.”

He looked up at Jose.

“I want you to take personal responsibility for this, see if you can find any railroaders here, find a locomotive, get it running, and clear the tracks of stalled trains. From what I understand of railroads, there should be double tracks every now and then, places where trains can wait while another train goes by. Push them onto those. We want a clear, straight run when we go…assuming you can get a locomotive going.”

“It’s brilliant! I’m on it.” Jose saluted and left on his mission.

Adrian turned then to Ryan. “You wanted to see me?”

“I do Adrian. If you have a few minutes I’d like to talk to you about something critically important.”

“Shoot.” Adrian replied.

“Let’s sit down, this is going to take a few minutes.” After they were seated in the camp chairs under the overpass, Ryan continued. “I’m a historian. I have a doctorate in history. It’s been my passion since I was a kid, and believe me when I tell you that what I’m going to say…well I’ve put a lot of thought into it. I’ve looked it over from every side and came to the same conclusion every time.”

Adrian grinned at him, “You might want to tell me what’s on your mind then. I’m listening.”

“Keep an open mind Adrian because there’s a part to this that you might not like, and I don’t want you to reject it out of hand. Keep it in mind and think about it for a few days. Watch and listen to everyone in camp and test what I’m going to tell you against their attitudes when they talk to each other. Okay?”

“Okay. What is it?” Adrian asked, wary, but curious.

“Okay, so here goes the prepared speech.”

Ryan took a deep breath and dove in.

“There’s a desperate need to return to a society of law and order. We came from that society, although it had been rapidly getting to the point where there was too much law and order. It had gotten to the point that no one could get through a day without breaking ten laws. Sorry, I drifted there for a second. The point is now we have no law and order anywhere except maybe in a few, very few, villages such as your Fort Brazos. These people here are the salt of the earth, the absolute best of the best of our society. But there are a lot more people out there that are just plain criminals. They steal and kill without fear because there is no one, no group, to fear.”

“I’m with you so far,” said Adrian.

Ryan continued. “Right now we have the best opportunity that will come for decades to build a new society based on law again. There are people from every region of the state here right now. Once this war is over and everyone scatters to go home it will be too late; it will be near impossible to gather everyone all together again, not unless another invasion threatens. In order to pull ourselves together, a leader will have to emerge. You are the only real choice for that leader. I don’t have to go into what a celebrity you’ve become. I know it was never your intention, but there it is. I know you don’t want to take center stage, stand in the spot light, or become a political leader. But you must. You absolutely must.”

Adrian raised his hand up, palm out, to stop Ryan from saying more. Before Adrian could speak, Ryan went on.

“Please let me finish, this is too important for quick reactions. You’ve heard the old saying that some people are born to greatness where others have greatness thrust upon them. You’re in the second category. From a historian’s view, this time, this place, these circumstances, are all working together to thrust you into the front. Just think what you rescued the girls from. They had been there for years and none of the neighboring people did anything about it. You know why they didn’t? Because they didn’t have a leader, because there weren’t any laws, because they didn’t think of banding together to do it. But if there had been a bona-fide authority to go to, you can bet someone would have gone to them. It’s the same all over the country Adrian. People living without hope of getting any help when the bad guys come. And the bad guys come, Adrian, every day. Right now there are probably several hundred bad guys tearing up good guys, destroying lives Adrian, tearing down what others have built. You’ve told me about Colonel Fremont’s difficulties in getting here, that’s going on all over the state right now.”

“But right here, right now, we have an opportunity to do something about it. We gather the volunteers, organize them into regional caucuses, have them vote a representative to attend a constitutional convention. They’ll agree on a constitution; Perry has one ready to go from what you’ve told me. We lawfully agree on and sign the constitution and we create a government. These men go home then and spread the word. This new government, with you as its leader, organizes roaming law enforcement groups. They go wherever there is a need and restore law and order. It’ll start small and somewhat rough—a little like the Old West, perhaps—but it’ll grow over time. This is a watershed moment Adrian. Exactly the kind of moment I’ve told you about. Either we take advantage of this rare opportunity, or we fail to and everyone suffers.”

Ryan fell silent, looking at Adrian with anticipation mixed with trepidation. He was afraid Adrian would reject it out of hand. Adrian looked at Ryan intently, but Ryan couldn’t read his face.

“Why does it have to be me Ryan. Why not you, it’s your idea. Why not somebody else?”

“That’s false modesty Adrian. These people, people all across the country need and want leadership. They crave a stable social arrangement but they don’t know how to launch it. Imagine a family that’s homesteading far from others. Most people are in that situation. How do they go about starting a country? They can’t, they just can’t, and you know it. It takes a spark and it takes kindling. You’re the spark. Everyone admires and respects you. Everyone knows you; you’re the one and only natural leader on the horizon. I’ve heard a lot of talk about just such things among the volunteers. You listen and you will, too. They are the kindling, all together here in one bunch, ready to burst into flame if you will just provide the spark.”

Watching Adrian’s face as he talked, Ryan didn’t see outright rejection, more of a tired acceptance creeping in. It was time to close the deal.

“With your leave I’ll arrange a camp-wide meeting for tonight. I’ll propose to them what I’ve proposed to you. You watch their reactions, and if they don’t want this, then you won’t have to do it. But they will. I guarantee they’ll be ecstatic about the idea.”

“So what is it you’re proposing exactly?”

“No one out there will go along with restarting the United States. Not one. The only way we can restore a civilized society is to start a new government entirely. I’m proposing we restart the Republic of Texas, but under a new constitution. Later on, other states like Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico will hear about this new republic and how it’s putting things in order. People will start moving to Texas from all over the country when they hear how well it’s working. Then other states will begin organizing along the same model. Within a handful of years there’ll be a movement towards organizing into a coalition of the new republics. It’ll spread, Adrian. The need is great and an example of a working model will encourage others to move in the same direction.”

“For the time being it’ll not take any of your time. After the war it’ll take a little of your time. We need you, Adrian. You have a widespread reputation like Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett had, and that reputation and you’re willingness, mixed with the need of these people will make it happen. Nowhere else in America is there an opportunity like this to help people. It would be an absolute crime not to do this.”

Adrian sighed. “Call your meeting then. If you’re right I’ll go along with it, for now. But if we don’t win this war it won’t matter. Let’s get your meeting over with and get back to the real business we have at hand.”