Chapter 14
Striker was hiding. Mother warned him that Wolf was on the war path and he ducked out early and stayed away all day. Mother couldn't blame him. Wolf was livid when he discovered the things she'd been having Striker do.
"You erased Social Security records?"
"So what?" she had asked. "It's not like we're going to get pay-outs anymore."
"Birth records? Death certificates and census bureau information..." Wolf had sputtered and raged. "What the hell were you thinking?" He asked it over and over through the day, a constant litany of interrogation.
Mother sat and drank her coffee, trying to ignore Wolf's pacing. It was late at night and Striker still hadn't returned. "Don't blame him," she said again.
"This is exactly why we need to stoop low enough to have Stealth here," he spat at her. "Because you don't fucking think."
That wasn't fair and she tried to reign in her anger. "I am thinking," she said slowly and deliberately. "I am thinking ahead, just like you have told me to over and over for the past six months. I am looking for potential threats and nipping them in the bud."
Wolf scoffed. "Yeah, some geriatric pension plan is really a threat. A sharp-witted accountant could really dig into us good with that knowledge!"
Mother had enough. She had enough of his prying and anger at something that was no one's business but her own. "It's my business, so leave it be."
Wolf sighed and rubbed his temples. He was trying hard not to throttle her. "It's not your business. It stopped being your business as soon as the army caught on. Now it's everyone's business. Now it's everyones' asses on the line."
Mother felt a stab of guilt. She honestly hadn't thought her actions would be noticed. "I know that now," she admitted once again. "And it won't happen again. Now I know it's a problem, I won't do it anymore." She didn't need to, anyway. The old version of herself was gone. And after tomorrow, after she made her way to her old home and took care of a few loose ends, there would be nothing left of that person.
Wolf sat heavily in a chair. "I know you won't do it again," he said. "But you also have to stop taking down information."
"I'm not the one taking it down," she insisted.
"We'll see."
Wolf didn't believe her, and the realization was like a slap in the face. "Yes, I'm having Striker download everything we can think of. But I'm not keeping it. I'm sharing it freely with anyone who asks. We're making an archive, not erasing history. We're giving all that information a safe home before the internet stops for good. God, Wolf. I'm telling everyone I can to learn as much as possible. Why in the hell would I destroy anything that will help, huh?"
Wolf wanted to believe Mother. Hell, he did on one level. He needed to talk to Striker. As far as Mother knew, everything was simply copied. Wolf needed to get his hands on the little weasel and see just how much he was erasing without her knowledge. He opened his mouth to try and repair some of the damage when he heard the back door open and a board on the floor squeak. He gave Mother a pointed look when she went to stand, and she sat back in her chair.
"Don't kill him," Mother said, resigned. "He was just doing what I told him to."
He'd see about that. Wolf got up and moved silently through the den and up the stairs toward Striker's room. He reached the top just in time to hear the click of the door knob, and smiled to himself. This would be fun. He crept to the door and listened. When he heard the bed squeak, he threw the door open and burst in, shouting, "What in the fucking hell were you thinking, you snot nosed little shit?"
Striker jumped out of bed and could feel the blood drain from his face. "I didn't...I was just following orders! Please don't kill me!"
Wolf almost laughed. The image of the gangly kid about to piss his pants with fear almost took away the anger. Almost. He snapped his fingers and pointed to the bed, and Striker dropped like a stone. Wolf closed the door behind him and slowly and deliberately pulled the chair out from behind a desk heaped with electronics. He sat and stared at Striker until he was sure the boy was about to cry, then said simply, "Talk."
"I'm sorry. She told me...she didn't want people knowing who she was, like before. So she asked if I could erase her and, like, yeah. Come on. That's basic."
"And you thought it would be fine to hack into governmental files."
Striker snorted. "What government? The feds are dead, man. Just like the rest. They're gone. What the hell are they gonna know? Oh hell, Wolf. You gotta believe me. I didn't think it would be a problem."
"You didn't think, that's for damn sure! You should have come to me."
"I don't work for you." Striker instantly regretted the words. His eyes went wide and he was sure that would push Wolf over the edge. But facts were facts. Mother specifically went out of her way to assure him he worked for her and only her.
Wolf liked the kid's devotion. Any questions he may have had concerning Striker's loyalty were put to rest right there. The only color on the kid's face was the red from his latest round of acne, and his eyes looked sick with terror. "You do work for her," he conceded. "But I run security. And what you did puts this whole town in jeopardy. Do you understand that?"
Striker nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Because the plain truth is that there are always people watching. Always."
Striker swallowed hard. "I...I get it."
Wolf took a calming breath. "I understand you erased some birth records pertaining to Mother."
Striker nodded. "And a few other things. But only as far as her identification purposes go," he added quickly. "I swear."
Wolf believed that part. "Fine. Now tell me why you are erasing top secret military files." He watched Striker's face carefully. There was a quick play of guilt, before the boy stupidly tried lying.
"I didn't!"
Striker's voice broke. He began to sweat. His face had gone from pale to a blotchy blush. Wolf was positive the kid was lying. "Interesting. Because I've been contacted by a top level securities agent who would be more than happy to take you to the nearest army base and install you..."
"Okay!" Striker yelled, not needing to hear any more. He swallowed the terror and took a deep breath. "Okay, I erased a few things..."
"What." It wasn't a question, it was a demand.
Striker ran a hand over his face. "Just some stuff that'll help us."
"Tell me what you erased," Wolf said deliberately.
"Cache maps." Wolf quirked an eyebrow. "Uh, weapons, emergency supplies, bunkers," Striker stammered in explanation.
Wolf breathed in slowly. Was the kid saying what he thought he was saying? "Military cache maps?"
Striker nodded. "Yeah. See, there are these maps that show where all the emergency stuff is."
"I'm aware," Wolf said dryly. "What I want to know is how you think erasing them from the internet will help Newton in any way."
"I didn't just erase them from the internet," Striker said with condescension in his voice. "What do you think I am, some hack newb? I copied them for us, then infected the main servers to display false information. Yeah, the army has to have physical maps printed somewhere. But I guarantee the bases don't have hard copies, and they'll have to go directly to where they're stored to physically get them. And since I corrupted the right things, and since the internet's already turning into hamburger on its own without my help, I bet most of the people in charge have no idea where those hard copies are stored. They'll go off chasing the X on the digital map and find nothing there. But we've got them. We can go get the supplies they stashed away for themselves."
There was no denying it was brilliant. Wolf hadn't thought it was possible, but with so much of the world stored digitally, it made sense that one kid on one computer in a tiny little area of the country could literally take the rug right out from under the entire army. They'd have to act quickly, but what a boon for Newton. "I can't look past the heat you're bringing down. I can't let that go, and I think you know that."
Striker swallowed and nodde
d. He knew at the time Wolf wouldn't like what he was doing, but he had Mother's permission. He decided not to mention that part to Wolf and take his lumps like a man. "Fine. What's my sentence?"
Wolf had every intention of kicking the kid out of town if he could, but the main house at the very least. He would have if the kid had just randomly screwed around in top secret files for the hell of it. But he didn't. It was clear Striker put a lot of thought into his actions, even if he couldn't see the glaring danger. Striker's assets would prove valuable if he could be contained. "Starting tomorrow you are to report to me first thing in the morning for some training."
"Training?" Striker squeaked.
"Yes. Clearly you have a mind for strategy. I like that. But you need to have a look at the bigger picture. You need to really understand what's on the line. You'll shadow me for one week, and then you and I will sit down and assemble a more professional lab."
Striker couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You're...I can stay?"
Wolf didn't want the kid for an enemy. He'd stay, but only on Wolf's terms. "This time. You follow, you listen, you keep your mouth shut and you learn. You don't see the dangers? I can teach you to see them. And you will learn and follow, or else you will be gone. I'm not talking about kicking you out with a case of food and a comfy tent, like Fred. I'm talking about you being gone." Wolf dragged a finger across his throat. "I refuse to have you as her enemy. Are we clear?"
Striker swallowed hard. What choice did he have? "Yes, sir."
"I'll start at six."
"In the morning?" At Wolf's nod, Striker groaned. "But it's already midnight!"
"Six," Wolf repeated firmly before walking out without another word. He made his way back to the kitchen.
"I don't see blood on you," Mother said, eying him warily.
"I didn't kill him, but for the record, if I did, I wouldn't be covered in blood. I'm better than that." He sat down and tented his hands on the table in front of him. "Starting tomorrow, the both of you are going to learn more about security."
Mother sighed. "But tomorrow I've got to..."
"No," he said firmly. "You always give me an excuse, and I'm not taking it anymore."
Mother frowned. "It's my town. And I can't help it if there's always something to do."
"It can wait."
Mother scoffed. "You're kidding, right?" Mother ticked off the list of things on her docket for the next day. "We're still not done stringing the fence for the new cows down on Mockingbird, there's a problem with the tomatoes that needs attention, the clean crew needs new hazmat gear so we'll have to go on another raid, the fishing group needs more salt..."
"And they can all take care of it themselves for a few days."
"Not to mention the fact that I've got about a hundred people showing up here by October," she continued, talking over him. "And now I've got to make sure double the amount of houses are clear so that I can quarantine..."
"Priorities," Wolf said simply. "It is time to make this a priority."
Mother sighed. "I carry a gun, don't I?"
"Unloaded and you still don't know how to shoot it."
"You've attacked me easily a dozen times," she pointed out.
"And in all but one I could have killed you, and even that one time you got out of it quickly was shit luck and you know it." Mother opened her mouth, but closed it again when Wolf raised an eyebrow. "I don't know why you're so resistant. You're right. You've got a hundred people coming soon, and odds are good there's at least one whacakdoo in the bunch. The army hates you. And I'll overlook my own embarrassment and point out that we had a ruthless killer right in the thick of the town for a whole week without knowing."
"Ruthless killer, huh? I think that's being harsh."
"No, it's not." His seriousness made Mother squirm. "Fortunately for us he's on our side, and the only reason I'm letting him or the geek stay here is to keep them on our side." Wolf ran a hand through his hair. "I know you don't like the thought that people out there want to hurt you." His words hit home. He could tell by her deep blush. "But that's just fact. You yourself are always saying that just because you don't like something doesn't make it untrue." He tapped the table with his finger for emphasis. "If you keep inviting trouble, that's exactly what you'll get."
Mother rolled her eyes. "So I should just stop? Tell people to go away?"
"No. That's what I'm here for. I promised to protect you and if you want to keep this going, that's exactly what I'll do. But you have to stop making me do it all by myself."
Wolf had a point, though Mother hated to admit it. The thought that anyone wanted to hurt her seemed absurd. She was helping people. Surely anyone could see that. Surely Wolf was blowing things out of proportion. And yet, Stealth got in. He waltzed right in, and while she was positive Wolf was overstating Stealth's potential danger, she knew that he could have been dangerous. Wolf had a point, as uncomfortable as the thought was. "Fine. You can teach me to shoot. I should know how to hunt, anyway."
Shoot? That was only the beginning. She needed to learn how to pull a blade and use it, become good at hand to hand combat, learn how to size up a situation and use anything in the environment as a weapon. She needed to learn how to spot trouble before it announced itself and how to head off danger before it began. Shooting was just the tip of the ice berg. "Good," he said, deciding to keep the rest to himself. "We'll start in the morning."
Mother's body ached days later when she stood in the shower, bruised and broken from Wolf's training. Once she gave him the go-ahead to teach her, he was merciless. He put her and Striker through a brutal regimen of training that only started at shooting, and swelled to include self defense, knife throwing, duck-and-cover exercises, and about a dozen other painful tips and tricks she was sure she'd never need. The worst was the sparring. Over and over he put her in headlocks, swept her legs out from underneath, ran at her so fast she didn't have time to react, and shot at her with paint balls. She went from pissed, to royally outraged, to terrified, and finally earlier that day, resigned.
"Now you're getting it," Wolf had told her that morning when instead of freaking out she simply accepted the fact that he was running at her and stepped to the side, too tired to try anything fancy, too sore for tricky maneuvers. "It's not about flash, it's just about getting out of the way. No fear. No panic. No emotion. I'm coming at you, you move. I put my arm around your neck, you hit the nearest reflex point. I go to pull a gun, your hand moves faster. It's not about anger or emotion, it's simply about action. Now, do it again."
And again and again and again until she literally dropped when Striker landed a blow on her chest with his foot. The boy had been terrified, and the memory of the look of sheer panic on his face made Mother chuckle in spite of the pain. She tipped her head up into the hot water and wondered idly if Wolf would try and launch an attack in her bathroom. She had locked the door, but doubted that would stop him. She sighed. She wouldn't put it past him. One of these days she'd be taking a shower and he'd replay the Psycho scene. I hope he waits until I rinse out the shampoo at least, she thought. She let the water run cool and then stepped out.
After she toweled off and put on fresh clothes that did not have her blood on them, Mother stepped out and almost tripped over Wolf. He was dozing on the floor of the hall outside the bathroom. It was the first time she'd ever caught him off guard, and she seized her advantage. She slowly pulled her knife out of the sheath she never forgot to wear anymore, and dropped down, crouching over him. Wolf's eyes opened as soon as the cold blade touched his throat and he simply stared at her.
She was fresh and clean from her shower and smelled like the sporty soap she was using that month. Wolf could see a bruise on her neck, and he tamped down the instant rise of guilt. He was doing what he had to do. Besides, it wasn't like his body wasn't tired and broken, too. "That's one for you," he said eventually.
Mother grinned and put the knife back in the sheath. "Ha! One for me and five billion for you."
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Wolf waited just until he was sure the blade was secured before he moved. In the blink of an eye he had her pinned under him, her wrists in his hands and her legs trapped under his. "Five billion and one," he said.
Mother sighed. "God dammit!" She wriggled, but could not break free. She took a deep breath and glared at him. "Fine. Five billion and one."
Wolf flashed a quick smile and jumped off, standing in one smooth motion and holding out his hand to help her up.
"No way I'm falling for that one again," she said, refusing his hand and standing on her own. She brushed off her pants and shirt. "I still got you," she muttered.
She had. Wolf let himself have a moment of weakness and she seized the opportunity. If she wanted to, she could have slit his throat. He couldn't let her know how proud he was of her. The very last thing he wanted was for Mother to think she passed a test, that she completed anything. There would be no completion until she either gave up the town, or died. He couldn't let her drop her guard. "Oh, yes," he said, affecting the condescending tone he knew pissed her off the most. "You sure did."
"I did!" Mother said, outraged.
"Yeah. And I totally didn't have about a dozen outs, either."
Mother snapped her mouth shut and stomped past him and up the stairs to the meeting. "I got you, whether you want to admit it or not."
They entered the kitchen and all banter stopped in front of the others. Wolf put on his mask of silence and hopped up on the counter to sit and listen and watch. Mother saw that people were already there. "Sorry my shower took so long. I'm walking a little slow today." She shot a glare at Wolf who stared back, impassive. Everyone knew she was in the middle of hard core training and felt bad for her and Striker.
"That's just fine. We can put this off another night if you want," offered Gus.
Mother shook her head. "No. I've put this off long enough." She sat and took the notebook Eve handed her. Striker was sitting in on the meeting, as he had the past couple nights, and Mother noticed her table was filling up fast. Cora, sick of looking at the little makeshift hospital room while she waited for the construction of her new bedroom to be complete, also sat at the table in her wheelchair. "We're going to need a bigger table soon," Mother said, flipping over the notebook.
"I can leave if you want," Cora offered.
Mother shook her head. "Nope. The more the merrier. I need all the input I can get for this one."
"Sounds important," Gus said, sipping his coffee. For him the best part of the nightly meetings was the coffee. The town was offered one cup in the community breakfast, but that was it for rations.
"It is. As we all know, there are nearly a hundred people coming."
"Ninety three," said Eve.
Mother glanced at her. Sometimes Eve was too efficient. "Yes. Thank you," Mother said drolly. Eve had the good grace to look embarrassed. "As I was saying, it occurred to me that these newcomers are, well, just that. New. They haven't been part of this from the beginning. They haven't grown and changed with us. They have no idea what to expect, and no clue how what we expect of them. I think it's time we make some basic laws for the town."
Gus let out a low whistle. "That's a tall order, ma'am."
Mother nodded. "Yes. I know. I know it'll go over like a fart in church, too. That's where you all come in. I've sketched out a rough idea, but I...I don't want to cross the line."
"You don't want to be a tyrant," Cora offered.
Mother gave a wry smile. "Let's not rule that out." Gus and Striker laughed. "All joking aside, yeah. I guess that's what I'm trying to say. I need to make some reasonable laws, but I don't want to take away rights."
"We've got laws," Gus said.
"And who's enforcing them? Have you seen any cops?" Mother shook her head. "I think our group would do well as is. But what about the new people? We don't know what they're coming from. Stealth seems to think that there's a new lawless attitude out there, and maybe he's right. We've got to be prepared. And while common decency and a sense of moral obligation should be enough, history has taught us that's not the case. We need laws, and we need consequences for breaking those laws."
It was true. No one at the table could disagree. "No killing," said Cora.
"That's a no brainer," Eve said.
"Write it down," Mother said. Eve wrote. "No stealing, too. Those are the biggies. What else?"
"No rape," Wolf surprised them all by saying.
"No rape," Eve confirmed with a nod of her head.
"Okay, so those are the easy ones. Now, we get into the hard stuff."
After a long couple hours of debate, basic laws for Newton were established. Aside from the basic common sense laws, there were laws of necessity that governed food, weapons, and general supplies. While everyone agreed official rules were needed, their sense of freedom and longing for a life that didn't need such restrictions made some of the laws a hard sell. Mother saw their point, but she also knew what she thought was the best for the town.
"Look, I'd love to let everyone raid and hoard all they want. But that's not a town. Cora can't raid. She can't hoard."
"What you're talking about is communism," Gus said with slow deliberation.
"I know," Mother admitted. "But right now, there isn't a surplus. If we peck and scratch and ignore the neighbors that need help, then what's the point of a having a town in the first place?" Mother shook her head. She knew it would be tough to get the town to feel comfortable having these concepts turn into basic law, but she hadn't thought her core group would fight it so hard. "I'm not saying this is permanent. In fact, I hope to hell it's not. My job is to make a place where people can heal, learn, and grow and wait for the country to decide it's rebuilding again. I will gladly follow the laws of the land when we have a land once more. I can't wait for that day! But we're not there yet, not even close. In the mean time, I'm just saying that I don't see any other way. Can you?"
Mother looked at each person in turn, giving them the opportunity to speak up with a brilliant plan. When no one spoke, she let their silence speak volumes. "We need to work together. We need to share supplies. We need to keep helping each other through, and we can't do that if there's a free-for-all attitude."
"What if people won't stand for it?"
"Then they will get a case of food, a tent, and I'll wish them well," Mother said firmly.
Gus sighed heavily. "It just doesn't feel right. I fought in the military against this kind of government."
"But it's not a government," Mother insisted. "It's a stop gap. It's a temporary situation that I can't see how to avoid. I just don't have the resources for a full police force. I don't have the resources to make up for the lack if someone decides to keep what they raid. America is on hold, and until it's back, this is how it has to be here." Mother felt defensive tears rise and was instantly pissed at herself for getting emotional. "God dammit, Gus! Don't you think I know how this is going to go over? Don't you think I've been racking my brain for months to think of a different way? If I let people take and keep and hoard and load up on weapons, then I can't protect anyone. I can't help anyone. I'm not a fucking government, I'm just a woman who's opened her home to people who need it. I have to make these laws, Gus. I have to. And if someone doesn't like it, then they can leave."
After a long moment of silence Gus let out a long breath. "Christ. If you've already got it decided, what do you need us here for?"
"To tell me the line so I won't be caught off guard when I cross it."
They made their laws, and sketched out a rough guideline for punishments. Towards the end of the meeting, Gus, who had been mostly silent after her outburst, finally piped up. "I see the need, you know. It's not like I don't. Hell even some of our own people are getting antsy and starting to do stupid shit. But you have to make them feel like you're not taking anything away."
"How?"
"A town council," Cora said.
Eve chewed the end of her pen for a second, then nodded. "That's a
good idea."
"I've already got all of you," Mother said.
Cora shook her head. "No, people that get elected. Instead of us. That way people can feel like they have a say."
Mother laughed. "We don't have enough people for an election!"
Cora shrugged. "It only takes a few."
The idea had its merits. "But I value your opinions. Good god, what if they elect Blaze?"
Eve snorted. "Not likely."
"If they do, then they do," Cora said, lifting her shoulder. "So what? No one says you have to follow their suggestions."
Mother looked to Gus. If he was sold on the idea, the rest of the town would follow. "Gus?"
"If you don't listen, then what's the point?"
"The point is that people will still have their say. They'll do what we do," Cora pointed out.
"I think it's a good idea," said Striker.
"You think everything is a good idea," said Eve.
"And you just want to disagree with everyone."
"Not everyone," Eve said. "Only idiots."
"Kids," Mother warned absently, studying Gus and waiting for his response. Come on, Gus. I've given on so much. Just bend a little.
"Would you actually consider the suggestions a council puts before you?" Gus asked, stroking his Santa beard.
"I always do," Mother said firmly. "I've listened every step of the way and I'll keep listening."
Gus knew she did. He knew she took too much to heart at times, too. He wasn't sure himself which was worse. "Well, then, I think that might work. I'll feel it out, hint around. You'll have some people dead set against."
"Then let them know they are welcome to leave with my warm wishes for a happy future. I'm not forcing anything on anyone, here, guys," she said to the whole group. "I said from the beginning, I won't make people stay who don't want to, and I won't. I never, ever will. Anyone is free to leave at any time, all of you included. If people don't like this," she said, motioning to the list of laws that now sat in the middle of the table, "then I'll understand. I'll get it. And I won't hold a grudge. While you're feeling the town out and hinting at what's to come, take a minute to make that clear, too."
The meeting broke up and Mother fell heavily into bed. One weight was off her shoulders, while another took its place. She had been worried about laws and rules for awhile now. There had been a few minor scuffles, one or two incidents of hoarding supplies. Wolf had been hammering home the need for some sort of weapons policy, especially with hunting season approaching. They didn't know how many deer were left, but already they had seen prints around the ripening berry bushes. It felt good to make the decision and take the plunge and make some laws.
And yet, that weight was quickly replaced by the knowledge that people would be resistant. Communism. Gus wasn't the first to throw out the word, and he wouldn't be the last, especially with the way things were heading. But damned if she could see another way. It was her town, as Wolf drilled in her head time and time again. It was her town, her call. She wasn't after making a new nation. That was for someone else. The army, maybe. Or some place larger, some city that had enough people to spare. She didn't have that luxury. She just wanted to make sure that the people who lived in her town had food, shelter, and the opportunity for life. That's all. Let someone else decide what kind of nation they'd have when they were finally ready. She wouldn't stop them, wouldn't get in their way. But for now, she had to think of the people in her care. If that was communism, she'd just have to accept it.
The next morning before the communal breakfast, Mother sat and drank her coffee, looking over the list. Gus said he'd feel people out and report back to her, and that didn't really sit right. It was her town, her call. She got up and rummaged around until she found some clean blank paper and a marker. She carefully listed off the laws in bold, mostly neat handwriting.
Laws of Newton
1. No killing.
2. No stealing.
3. No rape.
4. Every home will be issued one long gun to share. Any other firearms will be turned over to the Newton Armory immediately.
5. Any newly discovered food supplies will be turned over to the Community Store immediately to be rationed equally among all citizens.
6. Unauthorized consumption of alcohol or medical drugs, or any use of recreational drugs is forbidden. All found alcohol, drugs, or medicines will be turned over to the Community Store.
7. Scavenged clothing, jewelry, furnishings, and other non-essential items may be retained by the finder and traded freely with other citizens.
Anyone suspected of violating these laws will be brought before a jury. If found guilty, the offender will be punished in accordance with recommendations of the Newton Town Council.
Mother stared at the list. Though she agreed to feel things out first, in the light of day she felt this was the right decision. In for a penny, in for a pound, she thought. She'd post it on the barn door after an announcement and it would be done. Time to make up her mind and move on to the next problem, no matter how scary that thought was.
Mother looked up at the clock. It was a little after six, and there was still no sign of Wolf. She smiled at the memory of pinning him the night before. He could say whatever he wanted, but she had him dead to rights. Once, to his hundreds, maybe thousands. What was it? Oh, yes, she thought, sipping her coffee. Five billion and one times. A win was a win nonetheless, and it had taken her six months to score on him. Maybe she was learning after all.
Mother sighed at that thought. Of course she was learning. She was learning far more than she ever thought she'd need to know, doubled. And still the list of things she still had left to learn was staggering. Every time she checked one off, someone would approach her with a new problem and five more things would go on the list. She wondered if other people in charge had the same challenges. Did the president torture himself late at night panicking about all he didn't know?
Well, that was a little silly, wasn't it? Presidents had tons of people around them. They didn't have to know everything, just act like they did. It had been a couple hundred years since a president had to know how to plow a field, or stitch up a wound, or settle fights between neighbors. Maybe that last one, she had to concede, only the neighbors were countries and they probably never fought over whose tomatoes were whose when the beds spread out and overgrew their marked plots.
She glanced at the clock again, then to the stairs. Not only was there no Wolf in the kitchen, but no one at all was up in her house yet at all. It looked like she had a whole house full of lazies that morning. She couldn't remember the last time she was able to sit somewhere all by herself and not be taking either a shit or a shower. The clock ticked, the refrigerator hummed, and she sipped her coffee in the early morning sun not really knowing what to do with herself. She got up and checked the fridge, seeing if Eve had prepared anything ahead for breakfast. They were quickly running out of oatmeal, and she had put that or some other hot grain cereal on the list of things for people to look for on raids. Eve had taken to making a hodgepodge of the stuff the night before, then frying the cooled lumps to give people more fat and calories with less oatmeal. Mother saw the trays of cooled oatmeal and took them out. It had been months since she cooked, and the mundane task actually felt good.
Instead of just scooping it into blobs and frying them, Mother cut the cooled meal in rectangles, then dusted them with some powdered cinnamon. She pressed the squares into cracker crumbs and hummed to herself as she heated oil in four pans on one stove, while laying out draining racks on the other new stove that Mack had installed. She had to admit, it was much easier to make a meal for almost fifty people with the extra space. While the first batches bubbled in the hot oil, Mother got out the large cans of fruit cocktail they had found in a school cafeteria a few weeks back and began to open them.
By the time Wolf finally made his way upstairs, his back killing him from the training, the kitchen smelled great, Mother was humming and tapping her
spatula to the beat that played through her head, and it was nearly seven o'clock. Wolf stopped in the doorway and watched Mother, caught by her playfulness at such a simple task. She actually made cooking look fun. He shook his head and sighed. "Hey," he said.
Mother finished her ditty with a flourish, holding the note and whirling her spatula in the air, not caring that it splattered little droplets of oil around the kitchen. "Coffee's hot. We're out of powdered creamer."
Wolf nodded and poured a cup. He winced at the awful brew. Mother might be able to cook, but he had yet to taste a decent cup of coffee when she was making it. "Where's Eve?" he asked, his grumpy mood returning with the bitter taste in his mouth.
Mother smiled at him. "It's awful, I know. There's still brown sugar if you want to take the edge off."
Wolf sat at the table and sipped his terrible coffee. He'd be damned if he couldn't make it through a simple cup of coffee like a man. "You're in a good mood."
Mother stopped and tilted her head, like she was actually considering it. "I guess I am." She turned back to cooking and kept the humming down. Wolf did not seem to be in a mood for humming, no matter how terrific she was at the chorus.
Wolf looked at the sheet of paper on the table. He grabbed it and read over the laws. "You're doing it today?"
"Yep."
"You don't want to wait and get opinions?"
"Nope."
Wolf liked her sure tone of voice and hoped it wasn't just bravado. "What about this council idea?"
Mother scooped out some golden brown oatmeal cakes, then added fresh ones to the pan. "I want Gus. Eve is not on the council, but she is my...assistant? Shit. That sounds lame, doesn't it? Secretary?"
"Resident know-it-all?" Wolf suggested.
"Har har," she said, rolling her eyes at him. "Whatever she is, she's outside the council and I won't hold meetings without her. And maybe Gus could be my appointed council leader. I was thinking for a town this size, maybe three council members the others elect."
"Maybe?"
Mother pressed her lips together. "No, definitely. Three outside of Gus. That seems more than fair, and should still be enough when the others move in. Of course, I suppose they'll want some of their people."
Wolf noticed that Mother wasn't asking him, she was telling, and he smiled into his cup. Atta girl. He wondered if she even realized she was doing it. She probably couldn't see the changes in herself. She was overcoming her insecurities and truly beginning to rise to the challenge. He hoped some of it was because of him. It didn't matter, not really. But still, something in him really wanted to believe he helped her get there.
Eve came running in, twisting her static snarled hair into a bun. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to sleep so late."
"It's no biggie," Mother assured her.
"I'll start...breakfast." Her words trailed off as she looked at the bowls of fruit cocktail that lined the counter waiting to be picked up by the townspeople who helped serve the meals, and the trays of yummy smelling fried squares. "Well. I guess breakfast is taken care of."
"You could make a fresh pot of coffee," Wolf said hopefully.
Eve glanced at the coffee pot. "It's almost full."
Wolf glared into his cup and stewed.
Mother pointed her spatula towards the oatmeal cakes. "Go ahead and try one." When Eve eyed the fried cakes suspiciously, Mother sighed. "Oh, for heaven's sake. I have been known to cook, you know. Just because I don't doesn't mean I can't."
Eve took one and tried it. "Wow. It's not bad."
Mother made a little bow and offered one to Wolf. In a perfect world, Wolf wouldn't ever have to eat anything to do with oatmeal again. Since this world was far from perfect, and he'd be on the go all day, he took a cake and chewed it quickly, then washed it down with the horrid coffee. He ate the whole thing, and Mother knew that was as close to a compliment as she was going to get from him.
"It's seven thirty. Go on out and ring the bell and I'll bring Cora a plate." Mother fixed some cakes and fruit cocktail on a plate, grabbed a spoon, and headed to Cora's room. Mack had assured her that Cora's permanent room would be ready within the week, and she looked forward to the woman having a real place of her own. "Knock knock," she said, easing her foot into the cracked open door and swinging it slowly in case Cora was out of bed.
"Good morning," Cora said, sitting on her bed and rubbing her stump. "It's going to rain later. I'm sure of it."
The stump had healed to the point where it no longer needed bandaging, and Cora often let it stick out from her skirts to air. Mother had a hard time looking without being transported back to that horrendous night, but she did her best to simply try to avoid seeing it. She would never tell Cora it had to be covered. "Breakfast."
"I thought I smelled cinnamon. Eve's getting fancy."
"Eve's getting lazy," Mother corrected. "I made this." She nodded her head towards Cora's stump. "You need meds?"
Cora had long ago learned that it was foolish to try and will away the pain with sheer stubbornness. Still, she hated the heavy medications that took away the pain. A weather front was moving in, she was sure of it, and her wound had throbbed all night in warning. "If I do, I won't be stubborn."
It was the best Mother was going to get, and she let it drop. Cora was an adult, it was her call. "Well enjoy your breakfast in bed, madam," Mother said with a deep bow. Cora giggled, as Mother wanted her to. "I am off to bring some justice and order to this lawless town."
Cora quirked an eyebrow. "You're announcing the laws? Don't you want to get..."
"Nope," Mother said, cutting her off. "You won't talk me out of this. Rip off the band aid all at once, right? Right."
"Just watch yourself," Cora called, when Mother turned and left.
Mother waved a hand over her shoulder and then waited in the kitchen while the trays and bowls were brought out to the barn. She clipped a walkie on her belt, telling Wolf to shut up when he shot her a self satisfied, smug smile, then grabbed the paper off the table. She rummaged in a drawer of junk until she found a box of thumbtacks, stuck it in her coat pocket, and stood at the door, waiting for Wolf to be ready. She took a bracing breath and headed out.
"May I have your attention, please?" Mother called from the center of the barn. People stopped eating and looked her way. When everyone was quiet, she began the speech she only half planned. "As you all know, in just a few months our numbers will triple. We'll become an ever larger community, and that will open us up to potential trouble. We are accepting these strangers, just as I accepted all of you, and I have every faith that you will all open your arms and welcome them with respect, patience, and understanding." The crowd generally agreed.
"However, it would be short-sighted of us to continue the way we've been running and just expect people to know how we operate, how we function as a cohesive community, and what we need from them. And not just this first batch. Hopefully we'll grow, and as we do, we need to protect ourselves, our neighbors, and our future." She tried to gauge the mood of the crowd. People seemed curious, but so far with her. She took a deep breath.
"With all of this in mind, I have come up with a two stage plan. The first is to implement a set of standard laws for the town of Newton." People began to murmur. "And the second is to hold an election for Newton's first official Town Council." The murmurs turned to outright talking and Mother caught bits of speculation and worry in the conversations. She held her hand up and waited for the people to settle down. "Every town has laws, they just do. And I guarantee that there's nothing in the rule books that's any different from how we're living now."
"Then why do we need it?"
Mother had no idea who shouted out and didn't care. She was prepared. "Because of all the other people coming in. Because if we want to be a legitimate town, if we want to be taken seriously by the emerging world, then we have to keep law and order."
Mack stood up. "'Scuse me, but I didn't vote on no laws."
Mother shook her head. "No. A
nd you won't. Not here."
Wolf moved his hand to his belt, knowing there could be real trouble. His eyes scanned the crowd and he saw several unhappy citizens turning angry.
"I live in the United States of America..."
"No," Mother said firmly, cutting him off. "You don't. What you knew as America is gone. I'm sorry," she said to the rest of the group when they murmured. "I'm just as sorry as the rest of you. I was a good citizen, a hard working citizen, a law abiding, tax paying citizen just like the rest of you and it royally sucks to have to admit it's gone. But look around. We have no politicians. There isn't a president to guide us. I said it before, and I'll keep saying it until everyone understands our situation. We are it. Until the country can pull together and start again, we are it. We have to hold the reins. We have to take control for ourselves. And we have to have law and order or we've got no future."
Mother spun around and looked at the people. They were now utterly silent, and while she didn't know if that was good or bad, she just had to press ahead and hope. She read the laws off one by one, in a clear voice that brokered no argument. When she was done, she walked over to the barn door and tacked the paper in place for all to read when she was finished, then returned to the center of the barn. "I invited you all here to help me build something great. And if anyone would like to step away from all we've accomplished, I will not stop you. I'll give you a case of food and a tent, and I will honestly wish you well." She pointed to the list of laws, the white paper almost glowing in the morning sun against the red barn door. "But this is my town, and those are my laws, and if they are not obeyed, there will be consequences."
Before anyone could react, Mother changed tactics. "Now that all that heavy stuff is out of the way, I'd like to talk about the second part of my plan." She made her voice bright and light and hoped it would work to calm tempers and soothe fears. "I can't lead by myself, and I'm honestly not trying to. I have always taken your suggestions to heart, and I value the knowledge that each of you can bring to the table. In order to go forward, I need the continued input you all provide. And I believe the best way to make sure your concerns are voiced and heard is through the Town Council I mentioned earlier. One week from today, we will hold an election for three community members to join the Town Council. Gus will be the representative I select, since he has been key in many of the successful aspects of Newton, and you will choose the other three. Those who wish to run may campaign, but I will not put up with any strong-arm tactics." She turned and gave Blaze a comically exaggerated stare, and there were some laughs from the group.
"I want Newton to set the example for the rest. I want us to be successful on every level. And it's time we start to take this town and make it something everyone wants. That starts with law, that starts with order, and most importantly, that starts with your voices and concerns." She held a finger up, knowing it was time to bow out and let the bees buzz over the news. "One week from today, and we'll take the next critical step to making Newton be that place!" She turned and swiftly walked out, ignoring the people calling questions.
Mother was shaking inside and needed to get some space, some time to think. She was planning on returning to the house, but turned at the last second and hopped into the passenger's seat of the jeep. Wolf followed her lead, glad she was giving the town a little cool down. "Where to?"
Mother shrugged. "Tahiti."
Wolf started the jeep and revved the engine. "Yes, ma'am!"
Mother sighed. "The lake I guess. Anywhere. Just go before they start yammering." Before she was done talking, the jeep lurched forward and kicked up a spray of gravel as Wolf peeled out down the hill. Mother took a deep breath, loving the feel of the warm air rushing through her hair. Space. She just needed a little space. She took a deep breath, then another.
They pulled up to the lake. Gus would have his fishing crew down casting out their lines later, but for the moment, nothing moved but a duck, paddling in the shallows looking for a morning snack. Mother climbed up on the big rock by the edge of the water and leaned back, letting the warm sun bleach out her fears. "I think it went well," she said eventually.
Wolf hopped up on the rock next to her and lit a cigarette. "Not everyone thinks that."
"I know," Mother admitted. "But at least they didn't boo. And I really think they liked the part about the council."
She handled that shift well. Wolf had seen many polished politicians fail to get a crowd back under control once they started to get upset. "That look you shot at Blaze was good."
Mother smiled, her eyes still closed in the bright sunshine. "I feel bad singling him out, but I thought I better do something they could laugh at." She suddenly frowned. "You think we'll be paying out any cases and tents?"
Wolf had no idea if any of them would leave. He personally hoped they would. "It'd make my job easier."
"I hope they don't." Mother sat up and looked across the lake. The duck had paddled out to deeper waters and sent ripples across the otherwise placid surface. It stopped still for a second before flipping it's rear end in the air and kicking its feet. When it righted itself again, it had a small fish in its bill for a split second before it tipped its head back and swallowed its prey. Satisfied, it shook the water droplets off its head feathers, ruffled its wings, and then took off. Mother watched the ripple line it left in its wake spread and thin until everything was still. A puff of smoke from Wolf's cigarette wafted across her view and she frowned.
"Must you blow that in my direction?"
Wolf didn't answer. He knew she wasn't expecting him to, anyway. They'd had the same conversation before, and he'd simply tell her now what he told her then. He had two vices in a very hard life: he drank coffee and he smoked cigarettes, neither of which he did in front of the general population. If it was asking too much to enjoy them in their rare moments alone, well, then... And always, she would just roll her eyes and wave a hand and concede. By now, he figured it was just a game she played.
"I wonder how Stealth's holding up in quarantine," Mother said eventually.
Wolf exhaled slowly on a sigh. It was another attempt by her to find out details that neither he nor Stealth would want her to know about their pasts. She wouldn't ask directly, of course. But she'd hint and hope he'd share a little too much. In the days since Stealth appeared, she'd tried to start several conversations along those lines, and each time, Wolf was able to head them off. There were things he never wanted her to know. Hell, he wished he could forget them himself. "I'm sure he's fine."
"Why do you hate him?"
Wolf's eyebrow shot up. Okay, so maybe she would ask directly. "Been eating at you, has it?"
Mother gave him a bland look. "It's a valid question."
"I thought you didn't pry."
Mother waved a hand in dismissal. "I don't. With them. But come on, you know it's different with us."
Wolf's hand froze on the way to his mouth, the cigarette smoke curling up into his eyes. He was annoyed to find his heart start to beat faster, and forced himself to act like they weren't about to enter dangerous territory. "Yeah. I get to see just what a pain in the ass you really are," he said, wishing he had managed to make his voice sound light.
"Har har," Mother said drolly. "And that goes both ways, you know."
Wolf shrugged, his mind searching for a way to steer the conversation in another direction. He would not talk about what kind of relationship they had. If he was pressed, he would have to hurt her. He would have to tell her she was just a job, and though he'd never had any problem doing that in the past, his tight chest told him that this time, he would.
"I'm talking about us." She waved a hand toward the town behind them. "All of us in the house."
The relief rolled through Wolf. All of them in the house. It wasn't a personal statement, not one on one anyway. She meant they all shared a closeness. While that thought had its own discomforts, at least he could handle it.
"As much as I like to say every person in Newton
is as important to me as the next, you know you can't live with people, share the same space and not form different attachments." Wolf gave a noncommittal shrug. "I know more about Eve and Cora and even Striker than I know about any of the others. And I know more about you than probably all of them combined."
"That a fact?" Wolf was amused. He never spoke about anything from his before life. Ever. He was curious to know what she thought she knew about him. "Please, tell me all about myself then."
Mother looked at Wolf. He was laughing at her. Though he didn't so much as smile, his eyes showed how amused he was by her statement. "Let's see. I know you hate oatmeal and only humored me this morning by eating it."
"Hard-hitting stuff," he said blandly.
"You like to wear that trench coat because it looks all bad ass."
"Intimidation."
"You like to torture poor women and geeks for your own sadistic pleasures."
Wolf flashed a rare grin. "You know it."
"You like to act big, but you're not tough enough to take drinking my coffee like a man."
Wolf scoffed. "What you make is not coffee. It's brown paint thinner."
"I know you used to be some sort of agent. I know you used to protect people, powerful people." Wolf's good humor evaporated, but Mother continued. "I know you take your job seriously, too seriously sometimes, and I know you honestly just push me to keep me safe. I know you sit outside my bathroom door when I take my showers in case I need you, and I know it's you who comes in and sits in my room when I'm having bad dreams."
Wolf felt the unfamiliar sensation of embarrassment creep up his neck and burn his cheeks. She never made any sign she knew he was there. He'd have to stop. He'd have to send Eve in or something. He had to put distance between them. And most importantly, he had to get her to shut up before he was completely undone. He cleared his throat. "You're...observant."
Mother noticed the blush and was surprised. She was making him uncomfortable and the idea was intriguing. She considered pressing the issue, but the way he was puffing on that cigarette was too much. She didn't want him to get cancer all in one day. She decided to let him off the hook, for now. "And I know that you hate Stealth. And yet, you agreed to let him into town, so even though you hate him, we need him. You can't blame me for being curious as to why."
Solid ground. There was solid ground under Wolf's feet again. He ran a hand through his hair and rolled his neck, feeling the crack of tension release. Security. Comfort. Safe. "I can't do this alone. Not with you spreading out and pissing people off." Mother opened her mouth, but he wouldn't let her argue. "No, I do not want excuses, and after the past few days of training, I'm surprised you're even bothering pretending you don't understand anymore."
Mother frowned. "For your information I was actually going to concede. But now I should fight just to keep you from getting an even bigger ego!"
Wolf flashed a quick grin. "Won't work. You already admitted it. You can't take it back."
Mother looked back across the lake. "You really do think we'll have more trouble?"
"Yup."
"Trouble enough to have the help of your worst enemy?"
Wolf rubbed his chin for a second, gathering his thoughts. "Two things. First, yes, that level of trouble. I'm fucking great at what I do."
"And so modest, too."
"It's true. I'm great at what I do, but what I do is keeping you safe. I can't focus on you and the town, and I'm pretty sure you'll be upset if someone hurts your loyal subjects."
Mother winced. "I hate it when you call them that."
Wolf shrugged. "You'd be pissed if any of them got hurt. Or raped. Or robbed. I can protect you, but I can't and, frankly, won't protect all of them. It would divide my focus."
Mother was surprised he was admitting a weakness. "I can't believe the big, bad Wolf is asking for help."
Wolf took no offense. "The number one most important thing in life is knowing your own limits. If you don't know your own line, you put lives at risk. Sometimes a team really is necessary. I can't be in a dozen places at once."
Mother knew that feeling first hand. The idea of the Town Council took such a weight off her shoulders the more she thought about it. Let them settle the petty shit. It would free up her time to take on the five dozen other tasks she'd been stretched too thin to accomplish. "Okay, I can see that."
"Good. And secondly, Stealth is not my worst enemy."
Mother laughed. "If lightning bolts could shoot out of your eyes, they would have."
"He's not my worst enemy. I would never, ever let my worst enemy anywhere near you."
The fierceness in Wolf's voice stopped Mother's laughter. "I didn't mean..."
"He will not hurt you. I'm certain of that. We have different goals," he said carefully. "We always will. And we have different methods of operation. I don't like his, he doesn't like mine. But I've never seen him take a job and double deal. As much as he personally grates on my last nerve, he won't stab you in the back, and he'll put all of his effort into accomplishing whatever task you give him."
Mother felt there was more. "But?"
"But," Wolf said, lighting another cigarette. After a long moment of thought, he continued. "You have to be very clear on what you want. If there is a job you need doing and you care about the way it's done, you have to spell it out."
Mother gave a small laugh. "You make him sound like a moron."
"No," Wolf said quickly and firmly. "Don't mistake what I'm saying. He's the exact opposite. He's brilliant, and if you ever tell him I said that, you and I are going to have a problem." It killed a part of him to admit out loud that Stealth was intelligent, that there were redeeming qualities about the man. "I'm not saying he's stupid. I'm saying that if you want things done on the up-and-up, you need to directly instruct him."
"Is he really a killer, then?"
He refused to sugar coat it. "Yes, in the right situation."
"You keep telling me that in the right situation, everyone is a killer."
"Yup, and I mean that. But his line...it's different than yours. It's different than mine." Wolf pointed across the lake with his cigarette. "Stealth will take the most direct route to solve a problem, and if someone gets in his way, the quickest and easiest thing is to get rid of that person."
Mother's eyes widened and she turned to look across the lake again, trying to absorb it all, trying to decide how she felt about it. "And yet you let him in here," she said eventually.
"Yes. We need him."
"We don't need a killer."
"We need a problem solver. You won't find anyone more capable of working out a defense system for this town. Well, other than me, that is, and I'm already employed."
Mother knew the last bit was said to try and lighten the heavy moment, but she ignored his humor. "One weight off, and other ten in its place," she said quietly.
"I've been trying to tell you for months what you're opening yourself up to," Wolf said.
Mother sighed heavily. "Yeah, I know. I'm listening."
Wolf watched her and really hoped it was true. He knew that honest, deep understanding would only come with experience, and that thought terrified him. It drove him. It's what made him push Mother until she was bruised and broken and exhausted. There was always the chance that the experience would come when he wasn't there, and if he didn't pound the lessons into her head, almost literally, then she wouldn't be ready. As scary as Stealth was on one level, Wolf was mentally ticking down the hours until Stealth was free from quarantine and could help, too. They had until October to design a defensive structure for the town. Between farming, then harvesting, preparing for winter and hunting, there wouldn't be much time to make that happen. He needed all the help he could get, even if that help would no doubt drive him nuts.
Mother took an enormous step that day. He'd watched the crowd. While some people bristled, he doubted there would be any real trouble. These people had been living under the same laws for months, even if they
were unspoken. The rest of the world, that's where the trouble lay in wait, and she was inviting it in. He knew she'd worry about Stealth and what was under the polished, charismatic surface. Good, let her worry. He wanted her to know she had to tread lightly. Stealth wouldn't hurt her, but there would come the day when he scared her, and if she saw it coming she could handle it.
They sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, Mother knew they had to get back to town. They had to see if there would be any fallout, complaints, or deserters who didn't want the structure she demanded out of the blue. Mother still couldn't believe she did that on one level. I really drew a line in the sand, she thought to herself. Just a few months ago, she would have done what Gus and Cora had suggested and waited for the result of the poll to move forward. Maybe she was finally growing the balls Wolf seemed to think she needed.
"I guess we better get back," she said when the sun had risen high enough to threaten to burn. "Our Tahitian vacation is over."
Wolf flicked his cigarette and hopped off the rock. "Doesn't have to end," he pointed out, making the offer to take her and split yet again.
"You're right," Mother said, tilting her head. "Why do the good times have to end? Let's say we're still on vacation all day." Wolf quirked an eyebrow in her direction, wondering what she was getting at. "Yes, a terrific idea, Mr. Wolf!" She thumped him on the back. "That settles it, no training today."
Wolf bit back the smile. He had to hand it to her, she was clever. "Nice try."