The Last Invasion
Chapter Three
One evening, still before the winter cold set in, after working the gardens and continuing to prepare the soil for next years crops, Martin and Laura had a little time together alone.
“I am so worried about Marci and Ken,” Laura said.
“Yes, I am too. And the group-home. I’m sure they are just trying to get beyond this somehow, just as we are,” said Martin.
“Marty, we have had no outside news about what is happening since all this began. Being cut off like this is really pushing me into a feeling of hopelessness and the pain in my feet is getting nearly unbearable, working hard on them every day. This is becoming intolerable. All this is really scaring me. If I get so I can’t work... Is there some way we can find out something... anything... somewhere?”
“I don’t know Laura, but this is really disturbing me too. Maybe there is some way. Perhaps someone near us has a short-wave radio. That would be the best option. We might be able to hear something from some other part of the world if no hams are still broadcasting in the U.S. I will try to find out.”
“It is so dangerous,” she said, “if we are not very careful...”
“I know,” said Martin, “even trying to find out simple information puts our lives at risk. But... its either that or languish and die of despair, and that to me is no option.”
“Then what can we do? How do we go about this? Do you know any of our neighbors that might have a short-wave?"
“If anyone has one it will certainly be well hidden away.”
“What if the Reds are already listening and have pinpointed any short-wave radios that are being used?”
“Good question. So far, they haven’t been doing any sweeps that we know about, so if they are already aware of something like that, it must be to find out about anyone trying to organize resistance.”
Laura sighed and closed her eyes. “So, if the Reds are already listening... or, perhaps the authorities really don’t care. I have never heard of anyone being disintegrated for that. Have you?”
“No. But... I wouldn’t put it past them. I don’t know. I don’t know... but I am going to find out.”
Laura’s eyes and wrinkled brow projected her inner turmoil. She just nodded.
Martin smiled trying to cheer her up. “But maybe something will present itself.”
“Maybe it will. We just need to be...”
“Of course.”
The next morning they both rose just before dawn when the call horn sounded. They had taken to sleeping in the living room near the fireplace which was the only heat they had. Although it was not yet unbearably cold, they had to wear their coats when they slept at night. They had sleeping bags and warm blankets laid out on the living room floor. All washing and going to the bathroom had to be done by bucket. The neighborhood sanitation crew had dug a latrine out back.
Laura put a pot of water on the grate over the fire and they had tea. They each ate a piece of cornbread and the last of the dried plums. They had learned to get along with far less food. Some staples were being offered by the Reds but those were in short supply.
They didn’t talk to each other any more at all that morning and were ready and waiting out front when the motor cart came around to pick them up for work. They were taken a few miles to their regular work-site where they joined several others.
Martin helped a crew clear a new garden area while Laura took a rototiller and began working cow manure into the soil on another field. The pain in her feet had been nearly killing her ever since she started. For her out-of-shape body this was heavy manual labor. She just had to swallow the pain and go on. There was no choice.
The agony was much more than physical and she began having the old recurring flashback. Daddy... I’ll never forget... you woke us up at three in the morning and there we went... up that winding road to Truchas with no lights... the Chinese Reds might see us, you said... mama was drunk and kept screaming at you...
Her rototiller hit a root with a loud metalic bang and she quickly switched it off. The Cadre was watching her. She was so tired, but pulled the heavy machine to unjam it, then turned it over upside down to inspect the blade to see if it had broken. She sat on the ground to see it closer. Both feet felt as if they were emersed in boiling water. The blade wasn’t broken but she couldn’t get back up. As she struggled, her friend Cathy came over and helped her up. It was like standing on nails. She thanked Cathy and switched the tiller back on and continued her job, leaning on the machine for support. The Cadre stared at them and patted his beam weapon. They didn’t tolerate slakers. Up to the isolated mountains of New Mexico... you were so scared... ever since you got back from Korea.
“Get back to work!” the Cadre shouted at Cathy who wasn’t moving fast enough but was still watching Laura to see if she would need any more help. Cathy immediately returned to her job.
Laura threw up on the ground as she stumbled along behind the tiller in a daze, but didn’t pause. no... please daddy... I don’t want to pull the trigger with that gun to my head...
Martin hadn’t witnessed the event, which was probably for the best. If he had, it might have been too much for him and his impulsive reaction gotten them all killed. As he finished cutting up some large branches to be hauled off, from a distance he saw the Cadre over at one side disciplining a worker and the guard Cadre at the other end of the field sitting under a tree smoking a cigarette, so he softy said to his neighbor Bill, “Laura and I have just got to know what is going on. We have had no information for nearly six weeks now. I need to find out what has happened to my daughter and her husband and the condition of my people at work. Laura is not only a disabled person but almost heart broken, being totally cut off like this, and I can certainly understand because I feel the same way.”
“You know where I live, don’t you Martin?”
“Just a couple of blocks over from us, I think.”
“Right. 2012 Oster. Drop by between work and curfew for a few minutes. It would probably be best to avoid any Red neighborhood patrols. Your okay walking down the street before curfew but I’d rather them not know where you are headed.”
“I understand,” said Martin, “I’ll see you then.”
The ball was now rolling. Something was going to change. That night, when Laura told him what had happened to her, he became more determined than ever to take whatever chance he could to alleviate this terrible situation. Amidst his broken heart and worry, he would now find out if his life had really meant anything or not.
Chapter Four
Chp. 1 : Chp. 2 : Chp. 3 : Chp. 4 : Chp. 5 : Chp. 6 : Chp. 7 : Chp. 8 : Chp. 9 : Chp. 10 :
Chp. 11 : Chp. 12 : Chp. 13 : Chp. 14 : Chp. 15 : Chp. 16 : Chp. 17 : Chp. 18 : Chp. 19 :
