Odd Billy Todd (70 page)

“That’d be good,” Ben agreed. “For now, though, I need to get back. I want to have that hay barn ready to roof as soon as possible.”

*****

The first group of ‘trainees’ was gathered together in the shade of Billy and Rhonda’s yard. By separating into two groups, one would keep working, and keep an eye out, while the other learned to handle the military rifles taken from the National Guard armory in Columbia. Terry and George would be teaching them how to disassemble the rifles, clean and reassemble them, and then how to operate them. Lastly, they would learn to fire them.

George looked at the group in front of him, and sighed ever so slightly. This would be a long day.

*****

“That’s good work, Toby,” Terry patted the boy on the back as he finished putting his rifle back together. “Good job. But then, I expected that from you.” Toby flushed with pleasure at that.

Everyone else managed to put their rifles back together as well, though none so quickly or cleanly as Toby. George looked at them.

“Do it again,” he ordered, to a symphony of groans.

“Listen, people,” he cut their complaints off. “When you get this down, you’re going to shoot these rifles. And they had better be put together correctly, since if they aren’t, they might just blow up in your face.” That sobered everyone, and they went through the process again.

*****

George and Terry were fairly pleased with the progress. Everyone had done pretty well. Even the women at the Clifton House had learned to handle the rifles, and operate them satisfactorily. In the event they were forced to defend themselves, or the house, they would be able to do so effectively.

The same could be said for the handguns. Everyone who didn’t have a handgun had been issued a Beretta, also taken from the armory. The two had discussed, briefly, having everyone use them, so that mags and ammo could be exchanged, but decided against it. Too many people already had their own, and were not inclined to trade. In the end, all of the women at Clifton House wound up with one, every one doing better than expected at the range.

Neither man allowed himself to think this made the community safe. Safer, yes. But against forty, fifty, or more determined attackers, people who had already crossed a line in the sand, they weren’t safe.

“We need to have a fall back position,” Terry told George that night, as the two of them mulled over their progress so far.

“Got anywhere in mind?” George asked.

“Well, there’s really only two places that will work,” Terry sighed. “It’s either Billy’s place, or the Clifton House. I favor the Clifton Place, because we wouldn’t have to move all those kids, and there’s a basement to hide them in.”

“Wouldn’t want to get pinned in there,” George observed.

“We’d have to make sure we had a way out,” Terry nodded. “And somewhere to go to, if we had to abandon.”

“If we have to abandon, I don’t think we’d get far, trying to carry everyone,” George shook his head. “I think we just have to bite the bullet here, Terry, and make a stand somewhere. Clifton House is as good as any, and better than most. I say we start fortifying the place, and stocking it for a siege if it comes to that.”

“Think on it,” Terry finally agreed. “I hate the thought of using that place. But. . .we’ve got to think about so many things. That place meets all of our needs, like it or not.”

*****

Toby awoke from a dead sleep, sitting straight up in bed. He was wringing wet with sweat, despite the fan running in his room. He rubbed a hand over his face, trying to force his heart to slow down.

He had been in Franklin again, only this time things hadn’t gone so well. This was the third time he had been awakened by that dream, and it was starting to scare him. Toby didn’t like being scared.

He looked at his watch, noting that it was three in the morning. He sighed, and rolled out of bed. No sense in waiting. He wouldn’t be going back to sleep any time soon.

He showered and dressed as quietly as possible, then took his rifle and walked out onto the porch. On an impulse, he decided he’d walk down to the road, and back. There was no real reason why, it just came to him.

As he walked, his mind ran over so many things. A year ago he’d been just another lazy teenager from his lackluster generation. He didn’t like farm life, he didn’t like school, he didn’t want to do anything much. Never thought about making something of himself.

He realized that the notion of making something of himself had pretty much been taken out of his hands. So had his dislike of farming. If he wanted to eat, he had to farm. He had to grow crops, raise meat, and keep on doing it. He was learning everything he could from his father. It pained him to think that he might not have many more years with his parents. They had been up in years when he and Shelly had come along.

We must have seemed like a blessing to them, he reflected. We sure didn’t act like it though. Not until the whole world just up and went to hell.

And that bothered him too. He wanted to go back and fix all that, but he couldn’t. He knew that, of course, but it didn’t stop his regrets. How often had he left his aging father to take care of things on the farm while he watched television, played video games, and other useless stuff?

What kind of son does that? he wondered. Billy hadn’t done that, he’d bet money. And since when had Billy become so important to him? He thought back on that, and realized it was the day Billy had brought that trailer load of stuff over to them. He’d done that even after he and Shelly had been so mean to him. Never said a word about it.

Toby realized that this had been the turning point. Seeing Billy doing that, even when it might not be appreciated, had made Toby stop and think. Not just about Billy, either. It made Toby examine himself. And the teenager hadn’t liked what he’d seen.

True, Shelly was just as bad, but he couldn’t change that. And she’d done the same thing, anyway. But Toby had decided, about that time, that he could change himself. He could be a good son, a good neighbor, and learn to farm, raise stock, take care of himself, his family, and his home.

From that time forward, he’d set about proving it, too. Not to everyone else, but to himself. If others saw, that was fine. But the only person who’s opinion mattered to him was his own. He vowed he would never again look at himself in the mirror, and not like what he saw. Not like the man looking back at him.

He snorted at the thought of a ‘man’ looking back. He had only just turned eighteen as little while ago. In the society that was, he’d still be considered a kid. Unsuitable for any responsibility. He looked down at the rifle in his hands, and snorted again.

In this new society, so much like that of long ago, he was a man all right. Whether he wanted to be or not. The days of partying, playing, and acting a fool were long gone. In fact, most of the people he’d shared those activities with were gone. No, all of them were gone. As far as he knew, there wasn’t a single person left from his old circle of friends.

Sometimes he felt alone, despite being surrounded by others. There were no other boys near his age, anymore. Not around here. Danny was the closest, but even then there was four years difference. And anyway, there wasn’t much to do, anymore, except work, and watch.

He reached the road, and stopped a moment, listening to the early morning air. It would be hot again today. He could feel it already. Air was a little humid, too. Might rain. He sniffed the air, but couldn’t smell any moisture. Maybe not.

Abruptly he turned, and started back to the house. It would soon be sunup, and he’d have work to do. There was never shortage of work around here. On the return trip, he finally turned to the problem that had led him outside so early in the morning.

He had to find a way to stop those dreams. Sooner or later he was going to wake up screaming, and that would scare his mother, and maybe his sister. It would concern his father, who would give him the same look he used to give Toby when he was a boy, and Jerry thought he was into something he couldn’t handle.

Toby couldn’t stand that. He was a man grown, now, and he had to act like it. And that meant no silly ass nightmares about anything he’d seen, heard, or been a part of. He had to get rid of them, and that was that.

So intent on his thinking was Toby, he didn’t notice his father sitting on the porch until he was already up the steps.

“Mornin’, son,” Jerry said softly. To his credit Toby didn’t jump, merely looked over to where Jerry was sitting.

“Dad,” he nodded, sitting down next to him.

“Up early, ain’t ya son?” Jerry asked.

“Couldn’t sleep,” Toby shrugged. “Was gonna just sit here, and then decided I’d walk down to the road. Quiet.” Jerry nodded.

“Best time o’ the mornin’,” Jerry breathed deep. “Always did think so. Not hot yet, quiet, good time for a man to sit and think on what worries him. Don’t you think?”

“Yes, sir,” Toby nodded. “Reckon it is.”

“Y’know, when I was younger, I’d come out here, and sit, whenever I had nightmares about Vietnam.” He pronounced it vee-et-nahm. “Didn’t want to wake your mother. She didn’t know I’d been to war. I didn’t want her to know. She still don’t know, by the way.”

Toby nodded, but his mind was racing. His father had nightmares? Had been in combat? He realized that his father had just shared something very personal with him. He felt as if a circle had closed, somewhere. He didn’t know what to say, so he stayed silent. In years to come, however, Toby would look back on this moment with pride that his father had entrusted something like this to him.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love the attention she gives me,” Jerry chuckled. “But some things. . .some things a man just don’t want his women folk to know about. Ain’t proper, that’s all. Ain’t. . .right.” The word was short, and ended the sentence with a power that Toby recognized. Jerry Had Made A Point, he called it.

“Reckon that’s true,” he mused. Jerry looked at him.

“How long they been botherin’ you,” he asked calmly. Toby looked at him, then, surprising himself, answered.

“Week, I guess. Three times, so far. Tonight. . .tonight was pretty bad,” he admitted, almost ashamed.

“No shame in having bad dreams, son,” Jerry told him firmly, but gently. “Ain’t somethin’ you can have no control over. It’s a manifestation of what you’ve seen.”

“What did I see, pa?” Toby shrugged.

“You saw the underbelly o’ the beast, boy,” Jerry’s voice came back firm. “I’d hoped you’d never have to. Made this place, kept it like I did, thinkin’ it would protect you. You and your sister.” The older man shook his head.

“Ain’t no way to protect you from what’s happened, Toby. It saddens me you had to grow up like this. If I had my way, you’d still be innocent. Tryin’ to get outta work, playin’ them games o’ yer’s, and workin’ to get around me and yer ma.”

“I don’t want that,” Toby shook his head. “Not anymore. I’m happy with the way I am now. I’m not lazy no more, and I don’t hate what I see when I look in the mirror. I growed up some. And I needed it.”

“Maybe so, but not like this,” Jerry said sadly. “I been where you are, right now, Toby. It scares you. Don’t seem manly enough. Makes you feel weak.” He leaned forward.

“But you ain’t, boy. Hear me? You ain’t weak, and you ain’t soft. You’re a man, but just a man. No more, no less.” He leaned back then.

“And you ain’t no less a man for bein’ afraid. I wager was you to talk to Pete, Terry, or George they’d tell you the same thing. And, if they was willin’ to admit it, they have nightmares too.”

The two of them sat together like that, quiet and thoughtful, for a good long time after they fell silent. Dawn was beginning to top the trees to the east, when Toby spoke again.

“Thanks, Pa.”

CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE

Billy woke with a start. Something was wrong. He lay very still, working to keep his breathing steady, as he tried to gather his wits. He could hear Pete breathing softly not too far away. He also recognized Branch’s light snoring. What he didn’t hear was. . . .

Billy shot up, looking around him. Carroll was gone.

“Pete, wake up!” Billy called urgently. Instantly both Pete and Branch were awake.

“Carroll’s gone,” Billy informed them both. “Check your gear. Then we need to be movin’.”

“Little piss ant,” Branch swore softly. “Cowardly little. . . .”

“We can worry over that later,” Pete chided softly. “Right now, we got to move. Shoulda never trusted him.” The three of them checked things over quickly. It was soon apparent what Carroll had done.

“He took my canteen, and the last of my MRE’s,” Pete swore.

“Same here,” Billy nodded.

“Well, I didn’t have anything,” Branch shrugged. “He didn’t take the rifle I took from the guards.”

“He’s tryin’ ta git home, I reckon,” Billy drawled. “But he ain’t like to make it, which means he’ll wind up back in their hands.”

“Hope they eat’im,” Branch muttered.

“Ain’t the problem I’m lookin’ at,” Billy shook his head. “He’ll try and trade us for his own sorry hide. And he’s like to tell’em ‘bout your sister, too.” Branch’s eyes widened at that.

“Son of . . . .”

“We can worry on that later,” Pete said again. “It’s time we moved. We need to resupply. Site Five, Billy?” he asked. Billy nodded after a moment’s pause.

“Yeah, I guess. We need to get him some ammo for that rifle, and there’s mags there. He might can wear my clothes we got there too.” Billy rose, and gathered his own gear.

“How many places like that you have?” Branch asked, then shook his head. “Never mind. That’s need to know, and I don’t. Lead on, and I’ll follow. I don’t want him sellin’ out my sister.”

“Billy, you ready?”

“Just a minute,” Billy called. Pete couldn’t see what he was doing. Finally Billy stood and nodded.

“What’d you do?”

“Left a surprise for our little friend,” Billy replied. “You know, sort of a welcome gift,” he grinned.

The three of them exited the building quickly and cleanly, moving with caution. It was nearing daylight, but wasn’t quite there, making their movement easier to hide. It was a twenty minute hike to Site Five, a four story building on the very edge of the area of town controlled by the misfits in charge.

Once inside, it was the work of just a few minutes to get Branch cleaned up and into some fresh clothes.

“Little big on me, but I lost some weight of late,” he smiled. “Thanks, Billy.”

“Welcome,” Billy nodded. “Let’s go on up to the roof,” he suggested. “Might be able to see somethin’ o’ value.” He and Pete replenished their food supply, and provided one for Branch, and each picked up two quarts of water.

“You guys think ahead, I’ll give ya that,” Branch complimented.

“Well, we planned on bein’ here a while,” Billy shrugged.

“Yeah, I got that.” The three men made their way to the roof. Staying low, they crawled to the edge of the roof, where they could see down into a large part of the area the others made their homes and headquarters in.

“Looks quiet so far,” Pete said, after looking things over with the spotting scope. “No guards visible, and no one out that we can see from here.” He turned to Billy. “You want to take a shot or two from here later?”

“Might’s well,” Billy nodded. “Might get a shot at the big bull hisself, this mornin’.”

“Might at that,” Pete agreed. “If we take him down, there might be a power struggle among those left. That might be a good time to see about freeing the others.”

“Works for me,” Billy nodded, setting his rifle up.

“Holy shit,” Branch whoofed. “No wonder you been makin’ such a mess!”

“Yeah, it tends ta do that,” Billy agreed, settling in. “Reckon we’ll try and make one this mornin’.”

“I. . .I need to get my sister,” Branch said. “But. . .well, I hate to leave anyone in their hands if I can help it. I ain’t gonna baby’em any, but we can at least get them free. After that, they can make their own way, I guess.”

“‘Bout what we figured,” Billy agreed.

“We don’t have any way to take care of so many,” Pete told Branch with a shrug. “You and your sister, though, we could take. We need more guys who can fight.”

“You well enough to do that you can take two more mouths to feed?” Branch asked, clearly skeptical. “Food’s hard to come by, anymore.”

“I imagine we can feed two more,” Pete nodded, and saw Billy suppress a grin. “Thing is, we’re a small bunch. Lotta work to be done, too. But we eat good. Got plenty of clean water, even some power. Sound like a place you’d want your sister to live?”

“Beats hell outta this place,” Branch nodded. “And sounds better than we had it at home, too.”

“You were a soldier,” Pete reminded him. “Are you willing to soldier for us? To defend the place?”

“Hell yes!” Branch nodded. “So long as my sister has a safe place to live, then I’m your man.”

“Then the two of you go with us when we leave,” Pete promised. “Meanwhile, we’ll need your help to make sure we get to leave. Deal?”

“No doubt,” Branch agreed, and took Pete’s hand.

“Well, now that that’s all worked out,” Billy drawled, “guess who’s comin’ to breakfast?”

*****

“You killed four o’ my men,” Big John said grimly.

“No, no I didn’t!” Carroll stammered. “I’ve never killed anyone in my life! I swear! It was. . .it was those others! The Shooter! And his helper! They killed the guards, and made me go with them!”

“Uh huh,” John grunted. “And you went with them as a prisoner, right?”

“It was go with them or be shot!” Carroll stammered. “What kind of choice is that? But. . .I escaped as soon as they went to sleep. Them and the other prisoner! When they went to sleep, I took their food and water, and I ran!”

“But you wasn’t coming back here, were you?” John grinned, but it wasn’t pleasant.

“I was trying to, but I was lost!” Carroll tried to keep up. “I got turned around when they took me with them. I’ve never been in this town before, and I don’t know my way around! They took me a long way out of town!”

“Long way, huh?” John mused.

*****

“He’s spillin’ his guts,” Billy muttered. “I'ma take him, right now.”

“Wait,” Pete said softly, hand on Billy’s arm. “He might agree to try and lead them to where we spent the night. If he does, then we might use that time to free the others.” Billy paused for a moment, considering. Finally, he nodded.

He would wait.

*****

“And I suppose you’d be willin’ to take us there, was we to free you, yeah?” John asked. Carroll smiled immediately.

“Why. . .why sure! That sounds fair!”

“Well, why don’t you just do that, then,” John nodded, motioning to his two remaining Lieutenants. “You show us where the Shooter is, and then you can just be on your merry!” John smiled.

*****

“Looks like you called it, Pete,” Billy said softly. “He’s gonna try to lead’em back to our hole from last night.”

“And he’s takin’ a whole lotta his ‘gang’ with’im,” Branch nodded. “I count twenty-four, five, twenty-seven men, plus old Big John. That’s a good helpin’ o’ what he keeps in town, right there.”

“How many do you think are left?” Pete asked, calculating the odds.

“There’ll be at least five in the jail, and should be four, plus some women guards, at the hotel,” Branch said. “They don’t usually keep any sort of lookouts. That might have changed since you two started shootin’ the place up, but I haven’t noticed.”

“Okay, we need to hit the jail first,” Pete said decisively. When Branch started to object, Pete cut him off. “We need the diversion they’ll create, even if none of them fights a lick.” Branch nodded at that, and settled down.

“Billy, I want you to stay put. We may need you to cover us.”

“I can do that,” Billy agreed. “Watch yourself, Pete. If things get hot, you high tail it with them. I’ll catch up somehow, when it cools off.”

“That’s not happening,” Pete shook his head.

“You never know,” Billy shrugged. “I’ll make out. Just make sure you get clear. Good luck.” Billy offered his hand. Pete took it, suddenly worried.

“Billy, don’t do anything silly, now,” he warned.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Billy shook his head. “Just do like I said. We’ll meet up somewhere. Sooner or later,” he added, grinning. “Now ya’ll better move,” he ordered, taking out his radio. “Put your ear bud in. I’ll warn ya if I see anything.” Pete had already done that, and now switched it on. “And don’t use that door, if you come back, without knockin’, and waitin’ for me to yell okay.”

“Let’s go,” Pete ordered.

******

Big John had gathered every person he could lay hands on, including most of the women who weren’t actually on guard, and started out with the prisoner to where he had left the Shooter behind.

What a dip, John thought to himself. How stupid did this goofball have to be to think that John would let him go? John wondered if maybe his acting skills were the cause. Maybe he really had sold the idiot a bill of goods.

Either way, this was a prime chance to get a line on the man, men he knew now, who had made his life so miserable of late, and cost him so many people and vehicles.

There was a niggling at the back of his neck, though, and Big John didn’t like that. No sir, he didn’t like that at all. But try as he might, he couldn’t figure out what it was. Finally, he wrote it off as concern that they were walking into the scope of a man who could kill from a distance.

Yeah, that was probably it.

*****

Pete affixed the suppressor to his pistol, and handed his rifle to Branch. They had to be as quiet as possible, for as long as possible. Stealth was their only advantage. The two men had worked their way around the large group Carroll was leading to their hiding spot, and made their way to the main entrance of the jail without being seen.

This was going too fast, and Pete didn’t like it. He wasn’t Terry, or even George. Pete had never thought of himself as a leader, or a planner. He was a soldier. A warrior, descended from warriors. He was out of his league, here, and he knew it. But this was the best chance they were going to get to free these people, and make life even harder for this bunch.

He looked at Branch, who nodded. Pete took a deep breath, and pushed the door open, and the two slipped inside.

*****

Billy had waited for the other two men to exit, then took a grenade from his bag, and some fishing line. He taped the grenade to a mason jar filled with Jerry’s moonshine, with some added ingredients of his own. Careful to leave the spoon clear, he then used the tape to fix the jar on a pipe near the door.

Next he tied the fishing line to the pin of the grenade, and ran the string over to the door knob, where he tied the line off. Whoever opened that door would be in for a surprise.

That done, he looked for a solid place on the roof to tie off to, and lowered a rope to the ground. He had wondered if he was wasting his time lugging that rope around, but now it would allow him to escape, if his position was found. Seeing that the rope would reach the ground, he pulled it back up so no one would happen on it, revealing his presence.

Settling back in behind his rifle, he was just in time to see Pete and Branch enter the only jail door he could see from where he was. He wasn’t in an ideal position to provide cover, but it was a good position to watch their backs. And if that bunch came running back, then Billy could put a dent in their enthusiasm, he figured.

As he lay there behind his rifle, Billy thought about Rhonda and the kids. He was gambling here, and knew it. If he wasn’t able to get to the Hummer, Pete and the others would leave out. He would be on his own. The thought didn’t bother him, but his absence would upset Rhonda, and he didn’t like that.

Billy didn’t like to upset Rhonda. When she was unhappy, he was unhappy. He wanted her to be happy. More than once he wondered if she could really be happy with him in the long run. He hoped she could, because the thought of being without her scared him. Almost as much as the thought of something happening to her.

Which was one reason he was willing to help Branch get his sister, and help release the others. He wanted to believe that if Rhonda was over there in that hotel, that someone would help her, if he couldn’t.

Billy hadn’t said much to Pete since yesterday, because Pete knew him pretty well, but Billy had felt a long, slow anger building in him over the last two, or three days. Anger that the world was like it was, anger at people like this bunch who were hurting people for their own greed, killing people, even kids, without regard, and. . .well, the other. Pete’s people had the right idea about that, Billy figured. It was too much to allow.