It happened in Church - October 19, 1962
Chapter Fifty - Samaritans going to Jericho
Monday 05 Nov (continues)
Depot is open?
The first team away from the Garage was not only the most dangerous; it probably would be the most challenging - mentally and physically. Everyone was quiet as the Driving Team did their work.
Miss Destiny had told her crew to look sharp. She, like Miss Marie, didn’t like being Number Two at anything. She assumed correctly that the top driving teams would get the best, or most challenging, assignments. Catholic school taught them that it was their obligation, and could even be a mortal sin, if you didn’t use all your talents to the greater glory of God. Her team was good and getting better.
Having never driven a real car, only the make-shift simulator, this was akin to riding a bicycle after having been lectured about it and practiced on a make believe one. With John watching, and Marie inside, she called: “shift to first gear, take off the parking brake, give it some gas, easy off on the clutch, helm take us out to the right!” And, she prayed silently. ‘dear saint taq, help us not make fools of ourselves. not for our own pride, but because our classmates are depending upon us. amen’. (So summoned, Saint Taq was amazed at what children were capable of. Their young bodies were sensitive to the machine’s vibrations that would give them signals. Still, they asked, so Saint Taq petitioned the Lord to give them courage.)
Miss Destiny’s prayers were answered. A smooth take off. The turn made into the right lane and they were underway. She called: “Clutch. Second. Clutch. Gas.” And they were going faster. Gaining a little more speed, she called the final shift: “Clutch, Third, Clutch, Gas. Driver call Gas to keep it at 35.” “Aye, aye, captain.” Was the response. They were all flushed with success. They were the First Driving Team now. They were the first to drive. And, they were chauffeuring the Queen Bee. Down Tenth Avenue, under the elevated subway, they proceeded. The 2,000 foot journey down Tenth just flew by. Time to make a turn. “Ready team, left turn coming at 207th, ready, clutch, second gear, clutch, easy on the gas slow us down to 15, Driver, turn as you see it.” The car gently tuned left in a slightly sloppy beginner’s manner. But, no worse than she’s seen her Dad do when he wasn’t paying attention. “OK, let’s keep it in second, at this speed. Our right turn is coming up.”
She could see her right turn was blocked by a crash. “OK a little challenge. We’ll go right at the next block and correct later.” Fifteen seemed slow. But Destiny had patience. If someone had said to her she’d be commanding a three headed driver and tooting around the city in command of a car, she have run from the psycho. “OK, right turn. Tighter than last time. Gas, slow us down. Driver, call us to 10 mph.” “15, <pause> 12, <pause> 10.” “Good, Gas hold us there. Driver, take the turn. Crisper this time. You have to hit the gap; not the parked cars.” “Aye, aye, captain!” Ever so gently, in slow motion, the car turned more sharply than last time. And, they were on the block. “Good. Now two blocks and another right. Let’s just coast at this speed. Everyone stay sharp. Stuff happens.”
At ten mphs, Marie got a chance to look at the buildings. A few bodies; windows blown out. Sad.
Miss Destiny called the turn. “OK one more right and we’re almost at the depot. Driver, take the turn as you see it. Gas, keep us at this speed.” The turn was smooth and crisp. “Depot ahead on our left. Left turn. Slower. We want to stop at the gate without hitting it. Brakeman, ready. <pause> Driver, make your turn. Gas, off. Brakes and clutch. Gear to neutral. Harder break. Parking brake. Miss Marie, we’ve arrived.”
Marie said “Bravo Zulu to all. My Dad couldn’t’ have done better. Thank you. Roy, shall we get out. Dave, can you please stay in the car? Driving Team, standby for orders. Relax, you did perfectly.” The DT’s were beaming with pride. Dave spoke up: “And how long have you been driving this way”? Miss Destiny said “This was our maiden voyage. How did we do?” Dave was impressed and told them so: “You can drive for me anytime.”
Marie and Roy surveyed the depot from the front gate. It was surrounded by 7 foot chain link fence topped with barbed wire. Roy was thinking that they could pull the car parallel to the fence and use a blanket over the wire. Marie was looking at the gate latch. It wasn’t chained shut. Looked like it was all controlled from the tower. Suddenly ‘Try it; you’ll like it’ flashed in her brain. So she gave the gate a healthy shove and it opened. Huh? Electric locks with no electricity means no locks.
Gesturing to the Driving Team, they brought the sedan in and turned it head out over to the side of the lot. Marie and Roy walked in. And, closed the gate.
Roy gestured to the Driving Team to huddle up. He asked: “OK gang, let’s scout around. Stay in pairs. Don’t bunch up and stay alert. We may not be alone. Quick one pair circle left; the other right. Come back to the office when you meet up. Look for a back door we can use if we need it. Marie and James have work to do in the office. James can you bring Dave up with us. OK, stay alert. Go!”
Roy was first up the stairs. Chipmunk Marie was a slow second. James and Dave a distant third. The office looked a little like an airport tower, or at least what Marie imagined one would look like. The big clock over the window said 1145. She figured they would have at least three hours. It might be possible if thing ran far behind schedule that they might have to stay over night here. Roy had walked thru the office and opened every door. “Clear” he called to her. She went into one of the offices, closed the door, and stripped waist high. She un-chipmunked. The babies were no worse for wear and tear. She redressed; even her bra. She was after all a modest Catholic girl. She opened the door as Dave and James made their appearance. James got Dave a chair by a desk. “Mister Dave, can I impose on you to help?” “Sure, but what can I do?” ‘Silly man, just because you’re blind doesn’t mean you’re useless.’ She thought but she said: “Well can you hold the babies for me? Feel free to talk to them or whatever suits you.” “I can do that.” “Thanks it frees me to help James.” She surrendered her new found children into Dave arms. These kids were going to be spoiled being held all the time at this rate. Wait till they got to the shelter.
Roy said: “I’m at loose ends for the moment. Need anything done?” Marie said with her brightest smile: “Can the big strong man bring the baby stuff up here? There’ll be some changing and feeding to be done.” “That may work on John, but I’m immune.” He laughed. And, as he trudged away, he stage whispered: “toilets and excrement. Toilets and excrement. I gotta get a real job!”
Marie and James began to G2 the office. On one wall was big chalk board some permanent tape marking off areas: food, fuel, perishables, hival, refers, empties, and oddballs. Looking out the window they could see the sections. Someone had actually painted lines on the tarmac delineating the areas. From the office they could see trailer number on top of the trailer. The chalkboard had numbers written in the appropriate section. This was going to be easier than thought. James began to leaf through the depot’s copy of the trucks’ bills of lading; he was on the hunt for something ‘good’, whatever that was.
Roy came up with the baby stuff. Marie filled him in with the layout and the chalkboard. Roy said: “When Driving Team gets back from the patrol, after we debrief, we’ll go get the bus. It’ll take ten minutes. The city bus lot was notorious for not being fenced, secured, or even cared for. “OK, we’ll be shuffling papers until you get back.”
While they were waiting for the patrol to come back, Marie checked and found both twins in need of repair. She made quick work of that. Both diapers had minimal loads and didn’t smell exceptionally bad. Marie remembered her Mom saying to an aunt that you could tell if a baby was sick by its diaper. So, she guessed these two were OK for their experience. She dug into the food sack and found a can of formula, ready to use. God send. She had no way to warm it so the twins would have to take it cool. Roy said: “If you need a kitchen, they have a small coffee room over there.” “Great.” She scrounged up a pot of water and warmed the opened can in double boiler type of setup. She filled the two bottles. And handed one bottle and one kid to Roy and said “Input please. I already took care of the other end.” And, she said to Dave: “And you sir, get similar duty, here’s the kid. This end is up. And, placing the bottle in his hand: “You’re all set now.” Roy and Dave actually seemed to be enjoying the fun as the babies slurped and gurgled.
Dave said: “I hate to be a pain, but John said he’d feed me at the garage and, in the excitement, he forgot. Can I get some chow if you have it?” Marie was embarrassed. She’d forgotten too. “Certainly, we have crats from ww1. Maybe the Civil War. We’ve gotten used to them. I’ll open one for you.” Marie worked the little can opener and a minute she traded him for the baby. He ate like he hadn’t for days. She poured him some water without being asked. “So, when was the last time you ate?” She asked. “Two days ago. That’s what I was looking for when you found me.” “Well with us, we tend to zone in on the task at hand. You need to speak up.” “I’m already imposing.” “Nonsense.”
The Driving Team came up the stairs with the enthusiasm of youth. Miss Destiny reported: “We made the circuit. All the refers, but three, have run out of gas. The three, that are still running, are actually supported from an auxiliary unit and the building’s auxiliary generator. The units are locked and we left them that way. There’s a load of cattle and load of pigs that are all dead. They stink. It’s sad.” Roy said” “OK! Our plan is to go get the bus. Then we’ll tee up the empty truck.” Marie added: “We’ll try and determine what’s in those three trailers.” Destiny said: “The three that are running are marked ‘becton dickenson’ if that’s any help.” Dave chimed up from the back: “They make insulin. You may be sitting on three trailers of insulin. It’s worthless if it gets hot and degraded if it gets warm. Just a guess on my part?” Roy whistled and Marie was excited. This may be that ‘high value’ thing they were looking for. Roy took the team to get the bus and arrange the vehicles.
James was pawing madly thru papers. “Here it is!” He exclaimed. “Three trailers of insulin. One N-type, one R, and one mixed. Destined for … … Bentonville Arkansas. Premium handling prepaid. This was fat contract, no wonder they had it double, maybe triple, protected.” Marie wanted this for the Vermont trip. “James, think carefully, what can we do to ensure that it’s still good for another two weeks?” “Well, when we use the yard donkey to fill the trucks we want to take, we can fill everything in sight connected to them.” Marie gently prodded: “For us girls, what’s a ‘yard donkey’, pray tell?” “It a kind of mini tanker that the yardmen drive around a fuel tractors from. They can use it to move unloaded trailers and such. I think these trailers are actually triple protected. They are currently running off the building’s backup generator. We have no lights because someone switched all the circuits off the backup to ensure those trailers got what they needed. There’s probably a donkey connected to all three idling in case the building fails. And if the building and the donkey fail, the trailer’s own refer will kick in until it runs out of diesel. So we make sure that all three tanks are as full as we can make it.” “You have to explain all this to Roy. We need these cargos.”
Dave chimed in: “Miss Marie, if you can use another driver, I can drive. Can’t see but I can drive. Maybe you only need to lend me some eyes.” Marie said “Don’t laugh, but eyes, we have a lot of.” She was giddy with success.
From the office window, Marie could see a bus pulling up to the gate. Roy was out in a flash and had the gate open. The bus pulled in and circled. And lined up by the station wagon. The team out and running for the empty trucks. They were full of youthful enthusiasm. Halfway to them a pack of four strays came out aggressively running towards them. Without hesitation, the four deployed their atlatls and launched four darts. It was hard to tell who was off first. Marie knew they were frightened. They actually hurled a second round at the dead and dying dogs. Luckily the atlatls were deadly and the children were accurate. She looked back at Roy and he was rifle ready to finish any dog that survived or was missed. They were lucky that time. The team slowly approached the empty tractor trailers and took the nearest one. In a flash, they had it moving to the assembly area.
“James, go down and brief Roy. If you can get everything fueled, we’re done and just have to wait for our ride.” She went over and sat with Dave. They each held one of the now sleeping babes. And, they were lost in their thoughts.
+++++
Lurp covers Pawn
Brother Kevin and Lurp covered the distance in less than a half hour. Without the train holding them back, they moved quickly. By design, he held them at the corner as he went down the Pawn street block. He had a vague feeling that there was danger here. The Pawn shop was well known in the neighborhood and had an unsavory clientele. He went down one side and back up the other. He was really hoping to draw fire.
Then he left the L’s behind, and he and Isabella went down the street. Before they left and in the presence of all three girls, he said to Isabella: “Can you tart it up a little? You know, advertise so some unsavory people might not be thinking clearly.” The girls giggled; Brother Kevin turned red. “Coming right up Brother.” She turned back to the L’s. She rolled her skirt up to ‘reprimand’ length. And each L worked on a breast. She turned back around and said: “Was this what you had in mind?” Her skirt was at her navel or so it seemed, her shirt was opened by two buttons, and her breasts were literally overflowing the exposed bra. “Scandalous. But in this case, it should draw some interest. If we get company, you girls, nail them. Shooting Bravo Golfs in the back is fine with me. Isabella can you run like that.” “Brother, Sure. It’s just me tucked and folded to attract the boy’s and their little weenies.” The girls were giggling again.
They moved down the street as two man team. Two thirds of the way down the block, both L’s saw movement at a second floor window. They setup and aimed at the doorway. Didn’t take a moment. Two Bravo Golfs came storming out after the ‘bait’. Couldn’t tell who fired first, but both went down. Brother Kevin was shocked at the sound. He’d thought he was just imagining. Good that his senses from the Canal and Iwo were back.
Brother Kevin ran back to the Bravo Golfs. One was dead; the other dying. He took the weapons. The one guy said: “Why’d you kill us?” “What were you going to do to this little girl?” The Bravo Golf laughed. “Not half what the Boss is gonna do when he catches you.” “Big deal; I’m shaking. We’ll take him like we took you.” “Nah, he’s smart. Smart as all the books in that library.” “Want some water?” “Please” Brother Kevin gave him some. He knew it would make the dying faster. It did. He dragged the bodies into the back of the hall. By then the L’s had come up and Isabella had transformed back from slut to saint. “Good job, ladies. “You all go up to the roof and keep an eye out. I’m going to the second floor to see what I can G2.” And they were off. No one gave their ‘first strike’ a second thought. That was scary.
Brother Kevin found the pig sty overlooking the Pawn Shop. He wished he knew when to expect their relief. Did they have any signals or signs? Maybe they’d be gone by then. He went back down kicked open a first floor apartment and dragged the bodies in and closed it. That may buy them a few minutes?
Times Up at the Garage
John heard two shots from the direction of the Pawn shop. That was either very good or very bad. Time to finish up here. “Get ready!” he said to the Driving Team. He jogged down the ramp. “TomT, times up; let’s see what you got and decide what to take.”
Two bolt cutters, hydraulic jack, 22 gas cans, two copper pipes, a length heater hose, box of mixed auto fuses, 16 flashlights, 42 jugs of water, 8 gallons antifreeze, fifteen rolls duct tape in pile #1. A 22, m1, a 45 and some ammo - all very illegal in New York - in pile #2. Ten tire irons, 85 rolls of quarters, 3 boxes of railroad flares in pile #3. Some spare tires in pile #4.
“Good job, Classmates. Let’s take everything but #4. We won’t have time to change tires. Let’s load and mount up.” They made the crat races look slow. John got behind the wheel and fired the beast up. Up the ramp they went.
Jody took the coffin corner seat from TomT. As she did, John said “Be ready Miss Jody, we maybe driving into trouble. If so, run to the depot.” She nodded grimly. The driving Team took the wheel. John and TomT ran to the 57 Ford. John handed TomT the rifle. “Bullets come out the end with hole.” He joked. TomT nodded seriously.
+++++
Tension at the shelter
The funny clock made it seem much later than it was. And getting later. Sam was sweating bullets. To hide his concern he power walked the shelter. He took some Firsts with him.
As they came to Decon2, he had an idea. He ran his hand over the wall from waste to head. He was feeling for air flow thru an invisible keyhole. Like the arms closet. He had that key. He felt something about eye level. It looked at it closely. Maybe. He stuck the key in and, sure enough, it opened.
A panel of circuit breakers. Had to be a hundred. He called the office for Brian to come and G2 it.
+++++
Fear at the Depot
Marie and everyone heard the shots. Something hadn’t gone exactly to plan. She prayed. Roy and she made an executive decision to move everybody and the papers to the vehicles. More shots and they might run for the Church.
+++++
Garage to Pawn
John pushed the Ford. Twice he drove on the sidewalk to get around a wreck. He was in no mood for detours. He had to remind himself to go slow so the other car could keep up. On the pawn shop block, he didn’t see anything so he pulled up in front.
Were was ‘his’ lurp? And why were their shots “fired’?
He was standing outside the Pawn Shop as the second wagon pulled up. Brother Kevin arrived at about the same time.
“Bravo Golfs had this place under observation. We took care of it. Don’t know how long we have before their relief shows up?”
John was in no mood for more fighting. He took, out of the trunk, his gramps’ 2 ton tow chain. Laced it thru the grill of the pawn shop twice and hooked to the 57’s frame. Just like he’d seen his grandfather do. Chased everyone out of the way. Eased the Ford forward to take up the slack. Put the accelerator to the floor and popped the clutch. That grate didn’t stand a chance. It’ came down like Jericho’s Walls.
He pulled it a few feet a way and cleaned up his toys. Brother Kevin kicked the door in and went right for the safe. He set up the chafing dish and lit it. Pulled the safe door out. It showed some space. Perfect. He poured water in the cracks. Took a swig and spit some in the crack under pressure. Put the solid acid block in the cup and placed over the low flame. Smoke started to come off immediately. He covered the Rube Goldberg with his blanket and put some junk on it to hold it in place. He looked at his wrist as he would have on Iwo and missed it.
The plan called for him to take the Lurp to the Radio Shack. John and he decided that they need to ‘amend’ the plan. They need Lurp to keep their eyes on their backsides.
John moved quickly to the gun rack. Four racks all locked. Before he’d use brawn, he went to the cash register. In the back was a key ring. He went and unlocked all four racks. Recovery #1 was waiting and he started handing them out in fours and fives. They ran them to the wagon.
He spotted some binoculars; those were next. A case of knives was raided. And, some bows and arrows. The atlatls’ competition. Maybe they could have a shoot off.
Brother Kevin was getting itchy. On Iwo, he’d developed a finely tuned sense when he’d ‘hung around’ a spot too long. He was getting that feeling now. John came in with a five pound sledge. Did that Ford have everything on the Swiss Family Robinson’s ship? They pulled the blanket away and moved away briskly. Maybe the flame was too hot cause the acid block was gone. The smoke moved slowly to the floor. Brother Kevin tried the safe. It moved but not a lot. John said: “Hold the wheel.” And, he hauled off and rapped the other spoke on the opposite side. There was an audible crack. (The acid had eaten away at the tiny locking fingers.) And, the door opened. It wasn’t a large safe but it took a full twelve trips to move all the gold bullion and numismatics to the van. They’d hit the jackpot. John’s rough count was about 3200 ounces of bullion and 1600 ounces of numismatics.
They wasted no time exiting the scene of the crime.
They were about an hour ahead of the Bravo Golfs.
Lurp to Radio Shack
John was feeling the tension and stress. They had probably over scheduled this run. Too late to do anything about it now.
On the way to Radio Shack, he saw a uhaul sign. He pulled in and liberated a covered trailer. He had it on the 57 Ford in a flash and had just tripled their capacity. Good thing. The VW was stuffed to the gills. The Driving team was sitting on trays of gold coins.
The Lurp was actually riding on the VW’s roof rack. No good plan is executed unchanged. They’d never figured on the Lurp riding until they got to the bus at the depot.
Recover Radio Shack
John was in the zone. He literally thru the jack thru the window. No finesse now. He was tired and scared.
In the store, he directed Recovery #1 to what he wanted. The Grundig so they could get some news. 15 CB radios and 15 Code keys for Kabuki and communications. Watches, finally they could tell time. Batteries - all shapes and sizes. Some more binoculars. Some wire and a repair kit. A voltmeter. And some other odds and ends.
He was literally done there in less than 15 minutes. In the past, he would spend hours there ‘taking inventory’ and asking dumb questions.
Recovery #1 and the Driving Team moved some stuff into the UHaul. While they were waiting, they made for some more room. And, Lurp didn’t have to ride on the roof.
John moved them out for the depot asap.
To the Depot
John pulled up to the depot. He was pleased to see that Roy and Marie were safe. He was more pleased to see Marie code: ‘ready to go. bk drives the bus.’ He sent Brother Kevin running for the bus. He turned on the lights to indicate he was ready and out they went. John closed the gate and jumped in the 57. He was tail end for this run. He was impressed with the time they made across 207th to Seaman Avenue. Of course, it nice when you don’t stop for lights. Right turn on Seaman; right on Isham. They were at the school. Brother Kevin parked the buss in the loading dock. He relieved the truck’s driving team and slid it in next to it. John parked the Ford in front of both and locked it up. They focused on the curb in front of the door they’d sallied from. John went and started hot wiring the first car that was open. Isabella got the idea, picked up her skirt, and extracted a slim jim from her hem. She had every car open in the time it took to walk down the block She could hot wire two to John’s one. ‘Interesting girl’, John thought.
The Driving Teams moved the cars to simulated accident positions which just so happened to block the street. The Bus and the VW were parked in front.
Hopefully no one would notice.
John went in the door and dialed the office. “Saint Zita here. We’re home. Open up.”
The door released.
Knock knock we’re home
John and Brother Kevin accounted for each one. Marie with her two charges. Miss Destiny with Dave. And Recovery #1 with their candy bars.
They entered the shelter to the applause of their comrades.
Sam said: “We thought you wouldn’t come until tomorrow.” John said: “What?” Sam pointed to the clock. It said 2100. “Sam, something’s wrong, it’s still light out.” John looked at his new stolen watch and said: “It’s 1610 in the real world.”
John was right. All the girls, cooing over the babies. All the boys, over the tales of adventure.
Brother Kevin was in a corner thanking the Lord for their luck.
Dinner
John introduced Dave as the newest member of their Class. John said: “He’s Ninth Grader!” Everyone laughed.
+++++
Back at the Pawn Shop
The Bravo Golf relief showed up and took one look at the Pawn Shop and knew the Boss was not going to be pleased. They did rocks, paper, scissors. The loser ran back to the library to tell him. The winner looked for the guys they were supposed to relieve.
It took the better part of an hour for the boss to arrive. They were on foot. He was in a foul mood. He kept slapping the two naked ten year old girls he had on a leash. If Brother Kevin had been really thinking, then he could have stayed and ended this with one well placed shot.
Sometimes, you have to think like a cold-blooded killer.
He walked thru the shop to the safe that he wanted. He saw the rifle rack empty; he’d wanted that too. He looked at the grate; pulled like a giant from the door.
He was angry. He had one ten year old pleasure him; while he beat the other one. He wanted to find these upstarts. He knew nothing about them but he’d find them.
He was one sick dude. Mad angry. And just mad crazy.
+++++
Recount Day’s Events
After diner, the Jeopardy team took turns narrating what they had done.
Staff Meeting
Master John opened with: “We’ll start with Brother Kevin because he has some significant observations.”
CoS Brother Kevin some what chagrinned: “Well we are definitely facing an organized opposition force that now knows we exist. Upon reflection, I should have kept the Lurp out and observed what happened. I suspect they are headquartered at the Library. I suspect they are immobile and on foot. My thinking is perhaps we should have passed on the Pawn Shop to keep our existence a secret.”
Centurion Sam continued: “Perhaps we should launch a preemptive strike? We found the circuit breakers and now know the clock is messed up.
G1 Personal Marie said: “The Depot team located three trailers of Insulin. It’s our opinion they are ‘high value’. We need to question Isabella; she has secrets. We need to restack our driving plan; Dave can drive if we give him eyes.”
G2 Intelligence Brian reported: “I have the Kabuki plan.”
G3 Training Roy reflected: “We had a close call with a two packs of dogs today. We need to pass the word.”
G4 Logistics Jody sighed: “I still can’t move the water.”
G5 Morale June nagged: “Waiting was very hard. We all need some time out of the Shelter. Everyone knows Kabuki’s encryption. The Firsts are a mad as wet hens about being told not to code.”
John summarized: “Today we got a lot of ’stuff’. I want to accelerate all our plans to leave. Bravo Golfs scare me; one or more organized groups scares me more. I had thought we could ‘work a day, rest a day’. I was concerned about mistakes; not now. As I see it: Recover the connected; Kabuki setup; Recover Individual #1 and #2; Kabuki Part #1, Recover Individual #3 and #4, Kabuki #2, Recover Individual #5 and #6, Kabuki #3, Abandon the Shelter, Site West, Site North, Site South, Site West, Depot, and Vermont. We could be gone in as little as a week. I was originally thinking three. We don’t have that luxury.”
John let that sink in.
Brother Kevin spoke up: “John, throughout this adventure, you’ve been right and ahead of most of us by leaps and bounds. You have to lay this plan out in little steps. Most of us barely comprehend Kabuki and you have it in four pieces. And, have had it that way for days. We can’t read your mind and when you jump ahead it’s unintelligible and scary.”
John admitted: “You’re right. I have a sense of urgency now after our day today, that I didn’t have this morning. Frankly, I’m tired. Should we lead off with that tomorrow?” “OK” and affirmative nods.
John continued: “After we recover the connected buildings. I want to tune the ‘parking lot’. It’s my plan that we will put the recovered ’stuff’ we’re taking directly into the truck. Also, we need OPs because we are sitting ducks here. I want all activity in and out of the school as misdirection. We know the ground so we have a defensive advantage. Sam, if we’re attacked how will we defend? I want the trailer cleared out and the sacred stuff, not so sacred stuff, and the bodies in it. Brother Kevin, when we have to work outside I want Lurp up on the roof watching over us. I have some ideas how we can use the CBs with out upsetting Kabuki. I feel we are really close to Vermont. I fell we are walking a tightrope. I feel we are in a race with the devil. Brother Kevin in your spare time, how can we recon the Library? Sam, what would a first strike entail? June, I know you have the hardest job. It’s easy to do; it harder to support. I need you to keep the home fires burning and the Classmates calm, informed, and engaged. You’ll be rewarded in Heaven.”
John paused.
They were stunned. Tired. And, secretly jubilant at being so close to Vermont.
John was just afraid!
John closed: “OK, folks, busy day tomorrow. Let’s get some sleep. Adjourned.”
Time with Marie
Marie collected her new children from the L’s. Interesting that only a few Classmates were interested in the Staff Meetings. Marie thought ‘best not to see sausage being made’. The babies were clean and fed in their baby buckets. As the group broke up, John came to her and gave her a peck. She handed him a kid! The started to walk to the Queen’s Corner. She asked: “What should we name them?” John didn’t understand the question: “What’s wrong with their names?” “Silly, everyone needs a name.” “But they have them.” “Yeah, but only their dead mom knows what they are.” “Well, I’d guess then the Luke and Olivia on the blankets mustn’t be a clue.” Marie was shocked. She had never looked at the blankets. John was good for something. “I knew that” she lied. “Liar, liar, pants on fire.” He teased. She blushed. “I know! It’s part of that ‘I just fib; you lie’ thing.” “John?” “OK in light of your outstanding job at the depot, I’ll give you a pass on that one.”
At the corner, they lay down together. She was feeling really needy. She said: “I was afraid when we were apart today. And, when we heard the shots, I was petrified.” “Me too. But we have to push through.” She started kissing. To petting. To heavy making out.
Were they going to slip?
Fortunately for their chastity, the Lord’s plan had babies needing diaper changes. Ah yes, the Lord’s birth control, a crying child with a dirty diaper. They each did one. Togetherness.
Three of the four souls were sound asleep. John prayed out loud: “Saint Taq, help us! Help my new little family survive.” (So summoned, Saint Taq reviewed their day. While it would have been nice for Brother Kevin to send the Bravo Golf Leader to his final ‘reward’ - what did Marines say - God loves the Marines; we keep heaven full of fresh souls. The Boss was one soul that needed attention. Not that Taq would ever question the Lord’s Plan. Still, they had two silver bullets they needed to find. Taq petitioned the Lord to give them all Wisdom.)
John slept peacefully.
For four hours, until Luke needed a refill. Marie slept thru the wake up call. Surprising. John dug out the bottle and fed the babe while reciting the letter he was going to write for Kabuki Step #4. Luke, or was it Olivia, was happy with the letter. Gurgled approval and went back to sleep. John put both babies between him and Marie. That would eliminate any sexual sinning for sure. John slept.
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At the Library
The Bravo Golf leader, Boss Craig, was abusing everyone in sight. More than just his ten year old pets. He wanted his adversary found. He wanted ‘his’ gold and guns back. He wanted fresh meat for his perversions. He wanted their supplies. He had six henchmen leading 15 dirtbags and threatened to kill them himself, all of them, at end of day tomorrow if he didn’t have some answers.
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