Chapter 17 OH, NO!
JohnB came puffing up to the cabin with his daily "pay." I wondered why his pants and shoes were wet.
It had been so much better since he got his job. If we craved fruit, that's what he would have in his bags. OF course, it was half rotten, but we had long since quit caring about little things like that. We just learned to look at the other half and to be thankful. We were always eager to see what he had brought. When we began to look in his bag this time, he held on tight and asked Dad anxiously, "Where are Scopi, and Rooster, and Caspian. Did you send them down to meet me?"
"Yes, Rooster was so restless I told Scopi to take him down the hill to play and wait. Didn't you see them?"
"Oh, Dad, maybe that is what I heard. I was so hoping that I was wrong. While I was at the store, two policemen or soldiers came in -- you know -- with those blue hats. I could hear them talking to Mr. Thompson about looking for ‘Dissidents.’"
"What does that mean, JohnB?" Sol wanted to know.
"They were looking for people who don’t want to go along with The Plan," he explained.
"Oh."
"I was stocking shelves in the back. I hid behind the canned vegetables and began to pray, and soon the Spirit was praying for me. It was such a relief to see them give Mr. Thompson a salute and leave.
"They stood outside and talked with some of the men standing around. One of them pointed this way. When they drove off, I could see that their truck had a long trailer with a real guillotine laid down in the back. I was scared stiff."
"Did Mr. Thompson lie for you?" I asked.
"I heard him say, real casually, 'Nope, everybody around here is all signed up.’"
"That was brave of him," murmured Mom, "even if he did lie."
"Well, he didn't want to give any hint that would lead them to his wife, either," said Dad, with feeling.
JohnB continued, "I left earlier than usual. I felt all shook up. As I got near our path, I could see cars and that same trailer with the thing on it. It was standing up, about ten feet high. I thought it was Rooster's voice that said, so cheerfully, ‘That's OK with me.’ Then, I thought it might be Scopi, or you, JG, that said, ‘We‘re ready.’”
"Then a man said, 'You dumb kids. Why do you want to be so stubborn? Come on. Everybody else has."
"But it must have been Scopi. He said, 'No thanks. We've got our hope in another king who is coming soon.’"
“’Where are your parents? Who is feeding you?’ the voice demanded. But there wasn't any answer. Never mind. They‘ll show up eventually, just like you.’ Then I heard a slide, a whack, and a thump. It happened again. Men were cheering, and I heard a dog howl in pain. Oh, Dad, I think I’m going to throw up."
"JohnB, here's a wet cloth for the back of your neck. Why are you all wet?" Mom asked, with quiet dignity.
Dad cleared his throat, wiped his eyes and asked, "Honey, will you tend to Spike and the fire? I know that you are not the worrying type, but please stay here and pray for us as we go down to the river to find out."
He nodded for us to come along. We could have used a flashlight, but then other people would have been able to see us. There was no moonlight, yet the sky was shimmery.
"What is the thing -- - the thing on the trailer, JohnB?" Sol wanted to know.
"It's a neck-whacker. Do you remember how Rooster said he wouldn't be scared of getting his head chopped off? We thought it was funny and brave back then. He said it wouldn't even hurt."
I could tell that JohnB was getting Sol ready for the worst.
"But why does anybody want to?" Sol prodded.
I began to whisper since we were getting close to the river. "It's the devil and the ones on his side. The devil loves to kill, steal, and destroy. I read it in the Bible."
We could look down across the valley and see the trailers off to the left where our school used to be. There was the usual noise and banging of doors and children's voices. We could see a few cars passing each other on the highway. We could also see people and cars and lights at the dump. Was it a party? Or a meeting? People didn't usually want to be noticed hanging out around there.
The four of us hunkered down in the bushes, watching the show. We couldn't tell what was going on, but there were people talking and several lights flashing around. Finally, one by one, they drove off and all was dark.
We crept down, trying not to kick up the newly fallen leaves. When we got to the riverbank, I whispered, "Didn‘t you bring the boat across, JohnB?"
"Somebody has cut it loose," he replied.
"Let's forget about keeping dry," said Dad. We waded into the river quietly -- - pants, shoes and all. Sol is usually the first one anywhere. When he climbed up the riverbank, he headed for the place where we had seen the people.
I’ll never forget the sound of his gasp and muffled cry. He came running back and threw his arms around my waist, burying his head into my belt and sobbing. I got him to give me his hand, but he wouldn't lead me. He just sat down and bawled, as quietly as possible. No wonder. As it turned out, he had lost in one night both his wrestling buddy and his dog his two best friends.
Dad, too, turned back with his hands over his eyes. He dropped to the ground, face down. He had stumbled over one small body and could see the other nearby.
The terminator trailer had been pulled in where the cars came to the dump. It had done its dirty work and then gone on down the highway. We had heard all this threatened on the government radio, if people didn't comply with the new order, this is what they would get. This New World President was showing that he had a very dark side. What sort of monster would chop off the heads of two boys?
I wanted to find someone to punch, or to jerk up a tree by the roots, or throw something big in the river. I was sick of all that peace talk. I wanted to fight.
Taking the lead, I crept toward the scene, stepping very carefully. I came to a sudden stop; a shaggy lump was at my feet. We hadn't been strict about haircuts. I didn't want to touch it, but someone would have to do it. When I grasped the hair and turned it over, I was stunned to see the face of our Rooster with an absolute smile and eyes wide open. It scared me out of a year's growth.
Holding tight by reflex, I went back to Dad and fell down on the ground too. We didn't know if we could take it.
"Oh, God our Father, help us, help us," Dad moaned. We joined in with our own words and noises, feeling like we were all alone on an island of misery with no comforters coming.
Finally, Dad rose and said, "Now, we've got to do it. Come on, sons. God will help us." We farmed out, searching the dark ground with trembling knees. It was my luck to be first. I picked up Rooster's shell in my arms and started back toward the river. Dad and JohnB got Scopi by the feet and shoulders. I didn't think Sol could help, but he did, he got both hands full of hair and held on tight, blinded by tears.
"It‘s good there are four of us," he noted.
At the river, we waded back across. Who cared about wet clothes? Who cared about anything? What was the use?
That trip up the steep hillside was a sad and heroic climb. We could only take a few steps then stop and rest. I guess I just showed my rebellious side when we got about halfway up; I yelled for Mom. Why be quiet? I yelled as loud as I could, over and over.
"Mom! Mom! We're coming, Mom." And then I found that I was sobbing too. What kind of crazy world was this? Would somebody please stop the train and let me get off?
When we got to the top, Mom met us at the path. There were Rooster's threadbare tennis shoes, his patched jeans, his red and blue striped T-shirt and -- nothing. Mom retched, taking a few steps to a nearby bush. In a few moments, she turned back to us, her face chalk-white. I thought she might be having a heart attack.
JohnB broke the silence. "We found them, Mom." She said quietly, "Lay down your burdens, dear ones. Sol, please look in the cabin and bring back two of our good blankets."
In the awesome moments after he returned, Dad got us all around the shoulders, lik
e a football huddle, and either he comforted us or we comforted him. It was wonderful to have each other.
All that Mom really said was, "It won't be long now. I am so proud of being the mother of two believers who have graduated, and so thankful to have some left to squeeze. Let's have a cup of tea." She put on the kettle and gave us each along, hard hug. Spike slept on. Babies have it easy.
She and Dad held hands while we took turns digging the holes, side by side. We were glad that we didn't hit rock. We wrapped our brothers in the blankets, gently laid them in their new beds, and covered them over with black dirt. That part was the hardest thing you could ever imagine.
Dad said some Bible verses and had a real good prayer. He started with Mom and then he hugged each of us. We took his lead and each hugged the other. Slowly, we headed to our own beds. What else was there to do?
As I lay there, staring up at the misty sky, my imagination began to go wild. How would it be to sail around the stars, checking out the angels? Would my brothers know each other? Would they see other people that we knew? Would the streets be gold?
"Have fun, boys. Tell God 'Hi' for me."