Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Chapter 17
As the men made their way down Highway 96 they rode spaced about a quarter of a mile a part. Each had a small radio attached to their water bladder and an ear bud/mike. They picked up a transmission on their frequency saying, “Unknowns mile maker 7.1”.
They all quickly pulled off the highway and took cover not knowing where the spotter was. Ghost thought he recognized the young male teenager’s voice but could not put a name to it.
They had agreed that as the lead point man he would guide them.
He said a quick silent prayer and spoke into the mike, “Sentry ahead, it is Ghost and Sandy Bar Road folk coming to check on the conditions down river, you copy?”
After about five minutes they heard, “Approach slowly, we want to ID you. When you get to mile marker 6.8 all three of you stop. Lay down your weapons. Put your hands in the air.”
Ghost replied, “If you think we are bad guys well too bad. We are trying check on things at Orleans. We will not lay down our arms.”
After a ten-minute pause they heard, “Dang it Ghost. We thought the MZB’s laid waste to you all. Come on in to Somes Bar. Stop at the back of the store and I’ll meet you.” The voice was of Roger, Ghost’s prior landlord.
Ghost waited for the other two men to catch up with him and they rode quickly into Some Bar, went down Ishi Pishi road to behind the store. As road they past the front of the store they could see that the recently installed rolled down metal doors had somewhat protected the structure.
The modular home next to it was burned to the ground. They also saw the burnt out hulks of four or five trucks. As they rounded the bend there was Roger sitting on a quad reading his bible. The quad had a huge array of weapons on it as well as a bunch of communication equipment.
He waved them over and got off the quad. He went up to Ghost and held out his hand. He said, “Well Lonnie’s prayers must be a working overtime. Please give me a full report so I can pass it on down river.”
Ghost quickly relayed the pertinent details and asked for an update on the owners of the store. Roger replied, “Well we had a heads up from the Hoopa Tribe that those bikers were headed our way.
We evacuated the elders and kids from just before Orleans and up here, and also the Salmon River Road. We decided to not blow the bridges as we have had a hard enough time with the quake damage.
We got our militia out and made it nasty for the bad boys to try and fight it out with us. Seems that our beloved governor had been in Hoopa right as they road through the reservation.
The Yurok militia was in full force at the bridge in Weitchpec. They rode through nice as can be. We tried to warn up river folks but could not raise anyone on the CB or short wave past Dillon Creek drainage (author note: this is due to the mountainous terrain).
One of Arnold’s security honchos came in right as the gang was riding out of Orleans. He updated us on the mess on the coast and said the governor was trying to get a warning to the Happy Camp area.
He asked us what we needed and we said nothing as we had it handled pretty well. I guess the tank ole Sam bought last year was enough to deter them as well as the bodies hanging from the Forest Service compound.
After the gang made it out of Orleans they stopped at the Karuk clinic. Last week we moved all the medical gear and pharmacy down to the Head Start building due to the flood damage at the clinic. Seems it was a good plan to hide our medical clinic in a day care center. Anyway they trashed what was left of the building and took off north.”
Ghost asked if there were meds still available and Roger told him that yes there were. It seems that Arnold had sent up a container full of gear after the tribes had gotten together and asked for their share of the Indian Health Service recovery funds.
Ghost asked if they could pass on and goes into town to get the meds needed for the folks at their place. He updated them on the tragedy up river and Roger said that he had some things he and the 7th Day Adventist Church folk could spare.
Roger spoke on the short wave and radioed down river to let the sentries know that the three men were headed down river. As they rode into town the town mutt, Lavern the Karuk medicine woman, and the local sheriff deputy greeted them.
They stopped and had a quick meeting updating on what had happened and Laverne did a quick blessing over them and quietly left the group of men standing in the highway.
The sheriff deputy quickly gave them a run down on the newly updated militia plan Arnold had adopted the previous day. He asked them what kind of protection they had and then took them to his house. He escorted them into the garage/workshop behind the house and pulled open the doors.
The men’s jaws dropped as they saw the bounty within. The deputy quickly went over what was available and the men had their pick of arms and communication equipment. They were told of the upcoming militia meeting, the coordination of the county, and tribe and state roads departments on fortifying the main route through the region and were also given a large array of high-end medical gear.
They were told of an upcoming EMT/Paramedic class and the dates for the next open clinic appointments.
When Ghost told them of the impending childbirths the deputy dug through onto the growing pile of supplies and located three birthing kits. He threw another one in for good measure saying, “I know those mountain women, you can always expect a surprise at their birthings, either their babies come quick or you end up with an extra baby now and then.” he said with a warm smile.
He asked if they had enough shelter for all the new residents and when finding out they were short of space he told them he would have five yurts delivered to the home place with in two weeks. Pacific Yurts of Oregon had shipped in 20 easy to set up yurt systems as a gift to the town of Orleans. The owner had broken down in the town two summers below and found the locals friendly, helpful and willing to share their home brew. He was originally from the mid-west and he said that the Orleans folk were almost as welcoming as the citizens in his home town in Michigan.
The pile of gear was too much for the men to carry back and the deputy arranged for a local packer to deliver the bulk of the goods the next day. With the scarcity of fuel and the high cost a lot of folks were going back to the days of the gold rush and using once idle mules for packing.
As the men bedded down for the night at the elementary they spoke very little. They had survived the first of what was to become an all too common event.
They were going to have deal with the scum of California wanting to take over their neck of the woods. In the coming months would prove to be harrowing to say the least.
But for now they were safely nestled in the school yard and having been told that the warning signal for danger would be the train whistle old man Simms had installed over three years ago, they quickly went to a well earned sleep.
The next day they awoke and headed back north now knowing where the sentries were and now that they were cleared to travel they were able to quickly make their way home.
On their way up Patterson Ranch Road they negotiated the roadblocks and they realized they forgot one very important item. They needed to get a new set of padlocks for the Forest Service gates and have keys made for all the families living on their mountain.
The Forest Service has a master key for all the gates on forest service roads nationwide. If you are in possession of one, you can unlock any gate. That could prove to be a very bad thing if a scum bug were to get a hold of one.
They decided that they would address the issue at the upcoming militia meeting. Late that afternoon they were coasting down Ghost’s road and they heard a child cry out, “Halt or I will blow you nuts off”. Ghost called out, “Hey it’s us Edison!”
Six-year-old Edison came running out of the bushes and jumped into Ghost’s arms. He began sobbing. He said, “Come quick something bad is happening at the house.” Ghost said, “What?” Edison replied, “Everyone is sick and I did the guard thing cause everyone is puking up and pooping and can’t even get up. I am really scared.”
As they made their way down the road Ghost felt a still small voice in his head. With the urging of the gentle voice he heard he and the men and boy made a detour to the spring box, their main source of drinking water. They found the spring box had been torn apart and in its remains were the heads of Big and Little Sue and Bubba as well as their entrails in the box along with a huge mess of feces and a sign that said, “We will find you and we like our girls young and meek.”
Ghost had tried to shield Edison from the sight but the young boy saw it all. He started to scream. Ghost clamped a hand roughly over the boys mouth and told him “Quiet now boy!” The men quickly scanned the area and finding no blood trail and no foot prints of any kind and they wondered how long it would be before they could track and wreck vengeance on the assailants.
The men made their way down the mountain towards the home. The dogs started to bark and the cats meandered over to them as though nothing odd was happening at the homestead.
The men carefully approached the house and saw a meager wisp of smoke rising from the chimney and as they looked in the windows they saw that the carnage in the house was great.
Ghost put Edison in the Exterra and told him to hunker down in the back seat until he came back for him. There was blood splatters all over the inside of the house. They entered the house with weapons ready and after assuring that the house was clear of intruders Brant went back up the mountain to the sentry point and Joshua took his position below the house.
Ghost noticed vultures sitting on top of the outhouse roof and by the doorway to it. He went to the out house and found Mary Beth unconscious just outside the door. He carefully picked her up ignoring the stench and the dried blood on her clothes and legs. He brought her back up to the house and took her up to the loft. It was the only area not full of gore and death. He set about checking to see who was alive and who wasn’t. He kept looking to see if his beloved was among the dead. The death toll was great.
Jennie had obviously been sick and put up a struggle. Her throat had been slit and her baby had been torn from her womb.
Lincoln had been stabbed so many times that Ghost could not figure out which had been the lethal wound. He was in the shower stall with young Jim. Jim’s throat had also been slashed. The missing included 9 month old Pasty, Mike, Burly Man, Sis, John and his wife Sue, and son John John.
Ghost went outside and vomited until he thought he’d pass out. Edison called out “Ghost, where is my Mommy? Where is my Papa?”
Ghost quietly replied, “Your Papa is not here. Did you see what happened?”
From the Exterra Edison said, “No, everybody started to get sick and Momma told me to go up to the guard spot and be a big boy and wait. I did not have my breakfast. I was so hungry. She made oatmeal for everybody who was here. She told me she’d make me a berry pie as soon as she could. She gave me the gun and told me to be quiet like Papa had taught me.” She said not to come back until I was with you or Daddy.”
“Where did your Daddy go?” Ghost replied.
“He an Sis an Big John an John John and Sue went somewhere with Pasty yesterday. We were hearing shots and then a funny looking man came to the house. After the man left they took off saying they was going to check on Bubba‘s place. Plus Pasty was really sick. I am scared and want my Momma and Papa.” Edison sobbed out in the most pitiful voice Ghost had ever heard.
Ghost opened the door to the SUV and pulled out Edison. He keyed his mike and said, “Wild Man loose, three down, 6 MIA. Check perimeter. Watch for traps, check caches, look for blood trails.” Brant and Joshua clicked their mikes three times to affirm receipt of the transmission.
Ghost told Edison, “Son, you and I have a big job to do. I know you can help me. Mary Beth is really sick and I want you to be my helper. I am going to carry you into the house. I want you to close your eyes cause there is some icky things on the floor. Ok?”
Edison solemnly nodded his head yes.
Ghost continued in a tender soft voice, “And I am going to close the loft curtain. Your job is to hold Mary Beth’s hand and talk to her while I fix up something for her to drink. She is really sick from the flu. And Edison, our family has been hurt really bad. A bad guy has hurt your Momma and your brother. You have to stay in the loft until I can get them ready for your to see ok?”
“OK,” Edison quietly replied. He closed his eyes and Ghost slid open the door and quickly carried Edison up the stairs.
He kept Edison’s face pressed to his shoulder and after reaching the loft he placed Edison on the bed next to Mary Beth. She was moaning and rolled onto her back. Ghost rolled her into the standard recovery position Sis had insisted he practice.
He went to the sink in the corner of the room and started to turn on the tap. He quickly realized his mistake and he turned and said to Edison to not touch the sink or use the water. He has a horrible feeling that more than dead bodies contaminated the water supply.
He opened up the cabinet and pulled out a box of baby wipes. He handed them to Edison. He instructed the boy to start washing off Mary Beth’s faced and legs below her knees. He checked her pulse and it was very weak and thready. He reminded Edison not to come down stairs and that he would be back up in a while with some beef broth.
He then went down the stairs and went to his desk and pulled out his Polaroid camera. He decided that he needed to record this horrific scene to pass on to the deputy.
There had to be some clue has to who the murderer was and he was not a cop. He could not leave in the house those who had died there. For Edison’s sake he needed to clean up the mess and find some way to move and store the bodies until he could get more help.
He prayed that the pig that had done this terrible harm was far away. His mind became numb as he carefully laid victims onto sheets and carefully tied them into the flannel burial cocoon. He carefully drug each of them out of the house and into the cooler garage. After securing the door to the garage he went back into the house.
Little Edison called out, “Who is there?” in a soft frightened voice.
“It’s me Ghost. It will be a while longer before I bring up the soup.” Ghost called back. He heard Edison softly talking to Mary Beth. He could not quite make out his words but he became overwhelmed by the healing balm little Edison’s tone of voice as it washed over him from above.
Ghost began to wipe up the large pools of blood and had to fight gagging as he cleaned up the carnage. He had an odd thought as he washed the walls and floors. Sis had insisted on enamel wall paint and vinyl floors. She said it made cleaning up the pesky mountain clay tracked into the house every time Ghost came in just a tad easier. He thought, “Ah, she was right once again.”
It took four hours for him to get the majority of the clotted blood cleaned up. He was totally filthy and he took a garbage bag with him into the bathroom and he put his clothes in the bag and then showered. He came out of the shower and saw that he had missed a few areas of blood in the bathroom and used the towels there to clean it up.
After putting the gory mess into the garbage bags he set it outside the front door and went and got some clothes to put on out of the laundry hanging on the line outside. As he stood outside bare rear naked he realized he had not heard from the other men.
After he dressed he heard the radio squelch out a few lines of an old stripper tune. He almost smiled and then saw the bags of debris from his home.
He quietly went inside to the kitchen and he put pot onto the stove and lit the propane burner. He opened up a couple of cans of beef broth. He heated it up and put it in mugs. In Edison’s cup he put a sleeping tablet from Sis’s stash of meds. He slowly went up the stairs and found Edison curled up on the bed singing to Mary Beth she was still unconscious. He noticed that there was a pool of blood under her and he guessed that she had lost her baby. Edison looked up and silently took the cup of broth and quickly drank it down. He watched Ghost try and spoon broth into Mary Beth’s mouth. She choked on it and Edison said, “Try a straw that is how my Momma would do it.” Ghost shook his head yes, went back down to the kitchen, got a straw and then went back up and he carefully fed her the broth. In her delirium she still had the will and strength to swallow the rich fluid.
He was exhausted. As he lay next to Mary Beth and Edison the radio came alive. “We’ve got the MIA’s coming down the road.” Brant quietly relayed. Ghost replied, “Intercept them. Give them the update. Tread carefully.”
Ghost was at a loss for thoughts and words. He was overwhelmed by the losses of the day. He did not know how he would be able to face showing the survivors the dead. He began to silently weep.
Edison looked up to him and said, “You know Ghost I wasn’t scarred after the lady took me to the hiding spot. She was the same one who told us to come here. She told me that my Momma and Lincoln loved me and they would be waiting for me in our new home. The funny looking man came walking right by me and she stood up and told him that he should walk on by and that he could not see me. I don’t know how, but he did not see me sitting right there. And I fell asleep. I woke up when I heard you coming. She had left and I don’t know where she went. Is my Papa coming home soon?”
Ghost said, “Yes, let’s go meet them on the road.”
He took Edison by the hand and they went out the door to meet the rag tag group making their way down the road. He quickly walked up to Sis and pulled her into his arms and he began to sob. The Burly Man scooped Edison up and the rest of the newly formed family gathered around them and laid hands on them and began to pray. They heard on the radio Brant and Joshua quietly joining in the fervent prayers for protection, healing and wisdom. After each person said amen the group solemnly walked to the garage and Ghost opened the door. They went into the garage and sat down by the beloved slain family and began to weep. Burly Man gently moved the flannel sheet exposing only his wife’s face and he told Edison that his Mamma and the new baby were with Lincoln and Jesus now. Edison silently kissed his Momma and said, “Good night Mamma and Baby.” Next Burly uncovered his son Lincoln’s face and Edison began to cry in earnest. Burly turned away from the bodies and picked up his son and left the garage.
As the night deepened the sounds of weeping were heard and in the dark a lone figure stood watching. He stifled a giggle and he made his plans. He had not realized that there was more prey to be had. It had not been hard for him to cover his tracks. He doubted anyone would find the bodies of the first three he had killed. He knew where Brant and Joshua were. He had actually stood a mere few feet behind Joshua when Brant had called in his report.
He decided that he had a taste for baby and young meat. He knew he could not eat those already dead. The poison he had spiked the well with was most likely in their meat. He would wait. He had all the time in the world.
He knew that he had some green horns that would freak out and probably continue to do the stupid little security dance they did each day.
As he made his way to his hidey-hole he decided to wait and watch. He would enjoy this group for as long as possible. He knew he had other prey on this mountain and he would get each and evry one.
In the house the family talked over the tragedy. Ghost told Burly about giving Edison a sleeping pill and Burly soon had a deeply sleeping son curled in his lap. As Edison slept the group made their own plans. Early the next day Brant and Joshua were replaced by Burly and Ghost. Sis quietly told them what was found at Bubba's place. Brant became stony faced and said he would stay with them for the time being. They decided that they were not dealing with a normal man or group of killers.
That the warfare to be played out would take more than human understanding and cunning. As the group knelt in prayer the lone figure watched them and he laughed. Great he thought. I am dealing with a bunch of bible thumpers.
Ah, such easy prey. He retreated back up the mountain to sleep the day away. He had work to do that night. He was confident that he indeed would once again be victorious.
He did not notice the woman watching him. Her calm steady gaze was unseen by him. He felt a slight breeze as he hiked away. He felt a chill and shrugged it off. Little did he know that he was in battle with more than human spirit, but with a Holy Spirit far stronger than he.
As the men made their way down Highway 96 they rode spaced about a quarter of a mile a part. Each had a small radio attached to their water bladder and an ear bud/mike. They picked up a transmission on their frequency saying, “Unknowns mile maker 7.1”.
They all quickly pulled off the highway and took cover not knowing where the spotter was. Ghost thought he recognized the young male teenager’s voice but could not put a name to it.
They had agreed that as the lead point man he would guide them.
He said a quick silent prayer and spoke into the mike, “Sentry ahead, it is Ghost and Sandy Bar Road folk coming to check on the conditions down river, you copy?”
After about five minutes they heard, “Approach slowly, we want to ID you. When you get to mile marker 6.8 all three of you stop. Lay down your weapons. Put your hands in the air.”
Ghost replied, “If you think we are bad guys well too bad. We are trying check on things at Orleans. We will not lay down our arms.”
After a ten-minute pause they heard, “Dang it Ghost. We thought the MZB’s laid waste to you all. Come on in to Somes Bar. Stop at the back of the store and I’ll meet you.” The voice was of Roger, Ghost’s prior landlord.
Ghost waited for the other two men to catch up with him and they rode quickly into Some Bar, went down Ishi Pishi road to behind the store. As road they past the front of the store they could see that the recently installed rolled down metal doors had somewhat protected the structure.
The modular home next to it was burned to the ground. They also saw the burnt out hulks of four or five trucks. As they rounded the bend there was Roger sitting on a quad reading his bible. The quad had a huge array of weapons on it as well as a bunch of communication equipment.
He waved them over and got off the quad. He went up to Ghost and held out his hand. He said, “Well Lonnie’s prayers must be a working overtime. Please give me a full report so I can pass it on down river.”
Ghost quickly relayed the pertinent details and asked for an update on the owners of the store. Roger replied, “Well we had a heads up from the Hoopa Tribe that those bikers were headed our way.
We evacuated the elders and kids from just before Orleans and up here, and also the Salmon River Road. We decided to not blow the bridges as we have had a hard enough time with the quake damage.
We got our militia out and made it nasty for the bad boys to try and fight it out with us. Seems that our beloved governor had been in Hoopa right as they road through the reservation.
The Yurok militia was in full force at the bridge in Weitchpec. They rode through nice as can be. We tried to warn up river folks but could not raise anyone on the CB or short wave past Dillon Creek drainage (author note: this is due to the mountainous terrain).
One of Arnold’s security honchos came in right as the gang was riding out of Orleans. He updated us on the mess on the coast and said the governor was trying to get a warning to the Happy Camp area.
He asked us what we needed and we said nothing as we had it handled pretty well. I guess the tank ole Sam bought last year was enough to deter them as well as the bodies hanging from the Forest Service compound.
After the gang made it out of Orleans they stopped at the Karuk clinic. Last week we moved all the medical gear and pharmacy down to the Head Start building due to the flood damage at the clinic. Seems it was a good plan to hide our medical clinic in a day care center. Anyway they trashed what was left of the building and took off north.”
Ghost asked if there were meds still available and Roger told him that yes there were. It seems that Arnold had sent up a container full of gear after the tribes had gotten together and asked for their share of the Indian Health Service recovery funds.
Ghost asked if they could pass on and goes into town to get the meds needed for the folks at their place. He updated them on the tragedy up river and Roger said that he had some things he and the 7th Day Adventist Church folk could spare.
Roger spoke on the short wave and radioed down river to let the sentries know that the three men were headed down river. As they rode into town the town mutt, Lavern the Karuk medicine woman, and the local sheriff deputy greeted them.
They stopped and had a quick meeting updating on what had happened and Laverne did a quick blessing over them and quietly left the group of men standing in the highway.
The sheriff deputy quickly gave them a run down on the newly updated militia plan Arnold had adopted the previous day. He asked them what kind of protection they had and then took them to his house. He escorted them into the garage/workshop behind the house and pulled open the doors.
The men’s jaws dropped as they saw the bounty within. The deputy quickly went over what was available and the men had their pick of arms and communication equipment. They were told of the upcoming militia meeting, the coordination of the county, and tribe and state roads departments on fortifying the main route through the region and were also given a large array of high-end medical gear.
They were told of an upcoming EMT/Paramedic class and the dates for the next open clinic appointments.
When Ghost told them of the impending childbirths the deputy dug through onto the growing pile of supplies and located three birthing kits. He threw another one in for good measure saying, “I know those mountain women, you can always expect a surprise at their birthings, either their babies come quick or you end up with an extra baby now and then.” he said with a warm smile.
He asked if they had enough shelter for all the new residents and when finding out they were short of space he told them he would have five yurts delivered to the home place with in two weeks. Pacific Yurts of Oregon had shipped in 20 easy to set up yurt systems as a gift to the town of Orleans. The owner had broken down in the town two summers below and found the locals friendly, helpful and willing to share their home brew. He was originally from the mid-west and he said that the Orleans folk were almost as welcoming as the citizens in his home town in Michigan.
The pile of gear was too much for the men to carry back and the deputy arranged for a local packer to deliver the bulk of the goods the next day. With the scarcity of fuel and the high cost a lot of folks were going back to the days of the gold rush and using once idle mules for packing.
As the men bedded down for the night at the elementary they spoke very little. They had survived the first of what was to become an all too common event.
They were going to have deal with the scum of California wanting to take over their neck of the woods. In the coming months would prove to be harrowing to say the least.
But for now they were safely nestled in the school yard and having been told that the warning signal for danger would be the train whistle old man Simms had installed over three years ago, they quickly went to a well earned sleep.
The next day they awoke and headed back north now knowing where the sentries were and now that they were cleared to travel they were able to quickly make their way home.
On their way up Patterson Ranch Road they negotiated the roadblocks and they realized they forgot one very important item. They needed to get a new set of padlocks for the Forest Service gates and have keys made for all the families living on their mountain.
The Forest Service has a master key for all the gates on forest service roads nationwide. If you are in possession of one, you can unlock any gate. That could prove to be a very bad thing if a scum bug were to get a hold of one.
They decided that they would address the issue at the upcoming militia meeting. Late that afternoon they were coasting down Ghost’s road and they heard a child cry out, “Halt or I will blow you nuts off”. Ghost called out, “Hey it’s us Edison!”
Six-year-old Edison came running out of the bushes and jumped into Ghost’s arms. He began sobbing. He said, “Come quick something bad is happening at the house.” Ghost said, “What?” Edison replied, “Everyone is sick and I did the guard thing cause everyone is puking up and pooping and can’t even get up. I am really scared.”
As they made their way down the road Ghost felt a still small voice in his head. With the urging of the gentle voice he heard he and the men and boy made a detour to the spring box, their main source of drinking water. They found the spring box had been torn apart and in its remains were the heads of Big and Little Sue and Bubba as well as their entrails in the box along with a huge mess of feces and a sign that said, “We will find you and we like our girls young and meek.”
Ghost had tried to shield Edison from the sight but the young boy saw it all. He started to scream. Ghost clamped a hand roughly over the boys mouth and told him “Quiet now boy!” The men quickly scanned the area and finding no blood trail and no foot prints of any kind and they wondered how long it would be before they could track and wreck vengeance on the assailants.
The men made their way down the mountain towards the home. The dogs started to bark and the cats meandered over to them as though nothing odd was happening at the homestead.
The men carefully approached the house and saw a meager wisp of smoke rising from the chimney and as they looked in the windows they saw that the carnage in the house was great.
Ghost put Edison in the Exterra and told him to hunker down in the back seat until he came back for him. There was blood splatters all over the inside of the house. They entered the house with weapons ready and after assuring that the house was clear of intruders Brant went back up the mountain to the sentry point and Joshua took his position below the house.
Ghost noticed vultures sitting on top of the outhouse roof and by the doorway to it. He went to the out house and found Mary Beth unconscious just outside the door. He carefully picked her up ignoring the stench and the dried blood on her clothes and legs. He brought her back up to the house and took her up to the loft. It was the only area not full of gore and death. He set about checking to see who was alive and who wasn’t. He kept looking to see if his beloved was among the dead. The death toll was great.
Jennie had obviously been sick and put up a struggle. Her throat had been slit and her baby had been torn from her womb.
Lincoln had been stabbed so many times that Ghost could not figure out which had been the lethal wound. He was in the shower stall with young Jim. Jim’s throat had also been slashed. The missing included 9 month old Pasty, Mike, Burly Man, Sis, John and his wife Sue, and son John John.
Ghost went outside and vomited until he thought he’d pass out. Edison called out “Ghost, where is my Mommy? Where is my Papa?”
Ghost quietly replied, “Your Papa is not here. Did you see what happened?”
From the Exterra Edison said, “No, everybody started to get sick and Momma told me to go up to the guard spot and be a big boy and wait. I did not have my breakfast. I was so hungry. She made oatmeal for everybody who was here. She told me she’d make me a berry pie as soon as she could. She gave me the gun and told me to be quiet like Papa had taught me.” She said not to come back until I was with you or Daddy.”
“Where did your Daddy go?” Ghost replied.
“He an Sis an Big John an John John and Sue went somewhere with Pasty yesterday. We were hearing shots and then a funny looking man came to the house. After the man left they took off saying they was going to check on Bubba‘s place. Plus Pasty was really sick. I am scared and want my Momma and Papa.” Edison sobbed out in the most pitiful voice Ghost had ever heard.
Ghost opened the door to the SUV and pulled out Edison. He keyed his mike and said, “Wild Man loose, three down, 6 MIA. Check perimeter. Watch for traps, check caches, look for blood trails.” Brant and Joshua clicked their mikes three times to affirm receipt of the transmission.
Ghost told Edison, “Son, you and I have a big job to do. I know you can help me. Mary Beth is really sick and I want you to be my helper. I am going to carry you into the house. I want you to close your eyes cause there is some icky things on the floor. Ok?”
Edison solemnly nodded his head yes.
Ghost continued in a tender soft voice, “And I am going to close the loft curtain. Your job is to hold Mary Beth’s hand and talk to her while I fix up something for her to drink. She is really sick from the flu. And Edison, our family has been hurt really bad. A bad guy has hurt your Momma and your brother. You have to stay in the loft until I can get them ready for your to see ok?”
“OK,” Edison quietly replied. He closed his eyes and Ghost slid open the door and quickly carried Edison up the stairs.
He kept Edison’s face pressed to his shoulder and after reaching the loft he placed Edison on the bed next to Mary Beth. She was moaning and rolled onto her back. Ghost rolled her into the standard recovery position Sis had insisted he practice.
He went to the sink in the corner of the room and started to turn on the tap. He quickly realized his mistake and he turned and said to Edison to not touch the sink or use the water. He has a horrible feeling that more than dead bodies contaminated the water supply.
He opened up the cabinet and pulled out a box of baby wipes. He handed them to Edison. He instructed the boy to start washing off Mary Beth’s faced and legs below her knees. He checked her pulse and it was very weak and thready. He reminded Edison not to come down stairs and that he would be back up in a while with some beef broth.
He then went down the stairs and went to his desk and pulled out his Polaroid camera. He decided that he needed to record this horrific scene to pass on to the deputy.
There had to be some clue has to who the murderer was and he was not a cop. He could not leave in the house those who had died there. For Edison’s sake he needed to clean up the mess and find some way to move and store the bodies until he could get more help.
He prayed that the pig that had done this terrible harm was far away. His mind became numb as he carefully laid victims onto sheets and carefully tied them into the flannel burial cocoon. He carefully drug each of them out of the house and into the cooler garage. After securing the door to the garage he went back into the house.
Little Edison called out, “Who is there?” in a soft frightened voice.
“It’s me Ghost. It will be a while longer before I bring up the soup.” Ghost called back. He heard Edison softly talking to Mary Beth. He could not quite make out his words but he became overwhelmed by the healing balm little Edison’s tone of voice as it washed over him from above.
Ghost began to wipe up the large pools of blood and had to fight gagging as he cleaned up the carnage. He had an odd thought as he washed the walls and floors. Sis had insisted on enamel wall paint and vinyl floors. She said it made cleaning up the pesky mountain clay tracked into the house every time Ghost came in just a tad easier. He thought, “Ah, she was right once again.”
It took four hours for him to get the majority of the clotted blood cleaned up. He was totally filthy and he took a garbage bag with him into the bathroom and he put his clothes in the bag and then showered. He came out of the shower and saw that he had missed a few areas of blood in the bathroom and used the towels there to clean it up.
After putting the gory mess into the garbage bags he set it outside the front door and went and got some clothes to put on out of the laundry hanging on the line outside. As he stood outside bare rear naked he realized he had not heard from the other men.
After he dressed he heard the radio squelch out a few lines of an old stripper tune. He almost smiled and then saw the bags of debris from his home.
He quietly went inside to the kitchen and he put pot onto the stove and lit the propane burner. He opened up a couple of cans of beef broth. He heated it up and put it in mugs. In Edison’s cup he put a sleeping tablet from Sis’s stash of meds. He slowly went up the stairs and found Edison curled up on the bed singing to Mary Beth she was still unconscious. He noticed that there was a pool of blood under her and he guessed that she had lost her baby. Edison looked up and silently took the cup of broth and quickly drank it down. He watched Ghost try and spoon broth into Mary Beth’s mouth. She choked on it and Edison said, “Try a straw that is how my Momma would do it.” Ghost shook his head yes, went back down to the kitchen, got a straw and then went back up and he carefully fed her the broth. In her delirium she still had the will and strength to swallow the rich fluid.
He was exhausted. As he lay next to Mary Beth and Edison the radio came alive. “We’ve got the MIA’s coming down the road.” Brant quietly relayed. Ghost replied, “Intercept them. Give them the update. Tread carefully.”
Ghost was at a loss for thoughts and words. He was overwhelmed by the losses of the day. He did not know how he would be able to face showing the survivors the dead. He began to silently weep.
Edison looked up to him and said, “You know Ghost I wasn’t scarred after the lady took me to the hiding spot. She was the same one who told us to come here. She told me that my Momma and Lincoln loved me and they would be waiting for me in our new home. The funny looking man came walking right by me and she stood up and told him that he should walk on by and that he could not see me. I don’t know how, but he did not see me sitting right there. And I fell asleep. I woke up when I heard you coming. She had left and I don’t know where she went. Is my Papa coming home soon?”
Ghost said, “Yes, let’s go meet them on the road.”
He took Edison by the hand and they went out the door to meet the rag tag group making their way down the road. He quickly walked up to Sis and pulled her into his arms and he began to sob. The Burly Man scooped Edison up and the rest of the newly formed family gathered around them and laid hands on them and began to pray. They heard on the radio Brant and Joshua quietly joining in the fervent prayers for protection, healing and wisdom. After each person said amen the group solemnly walked to the garage and Ghost opened the door. They went into the garage and sat down by the beloved slain family and began to weep. Burly Man gently moved the flannel sheet exposing only his wife’s face and he told Edison that his Mamma and the new baby were with Lincoln and Jesus now. Edison silently kissed his Momma and said, “Good night Mamma and Baby.” Next Burly uncovered his son Lincoln’s face and Edison began to cry in earnest. Burly turned away from the bodies and picked up his son and left the garage.
As the night deepened the sounds of weeping were heard and in the dark a lone figure stood watching. He stifled a giggle and he made his plans. He had not realized that there was more prey to be had. It had not been hard for him to cover his tracks. He doubted anyone would find the bodies of the first three he had killed. He knew where Brant and Joshua were. He had actually stood a mere few feet behind Joshua when Brant had called in his report.
He decided that he had a taste for baby and young meat. He knew he could not eat those already dead. The poison he had spiked the well with was most likely in their meat. He would wait. He had all the time in the world.
He knew that he had some green horns that would freak out and probably continue to do the stupid little security dance they did each day.
As he made his way to his hidey-hole he decided to wait and watch. He would enjoy this group for as long as possible. He knew he had other prey on this mountain and he would get each and evry one.
In the house the family talked over the tragedy. Ghost told Burly about giving Edison a sleeping pill and Burly soon had a deeply sleeping son curled in his lap. As Edison slept the group made their own plans. Early the next day Brant and Joshua were replaced by Burly and Ghost. Sis quietly told them what was found at Bubba's place. Brant became stony faced and said he would stay with them for the time being. They decided that they were not dealing with a normal man or group of killers.
That the warfare to be played out would take more than human understanding and cunning. As the group knelt in prayer the lone figure watched them and he laughed. Great he thought. I am dealing with a bunch of bible thumpers.
Ah, such easy prey. He retreated back up the mountain to sleep the day away. He had work to do that night. He was confident that he indeed would once again be victorious.
He did not notice the woman watching him. Her calm steady gaze was unseen by him. He felt a slight breeze as he hiked away. He felt a chill and shrugged it off. Little did he know that he was in battle with more than human spirit, but with a Holy Spirit far stronger than he.
