The Crash Box Set, page 5
part #1 of EMP Crash Series
“Don't you get lonely, though?”
“We have ourselves for company, and the Lord is always with us. I find that most people who live in the city weren't really friends anyway. The place was filled with strangers and nobody seemed to be able to have a civilized conversation. Frankly, if you hadn't come along we never would have known that other people had survived this EMP, or whatever it's called.”
They walked forward a little more until they reached the well. There was a bucket resting in the well with another one sitting by the side. Tom and Harry took a bucket each and hoisted them back into the house.
“May I help?” Mack asked.
“No, it's fine, my boys have got it. We needed some more water anyway. You two need to rest. I can tell you've had a time of it out there.”
“We have indeed. Thank you for your hospitality. We are truly grateful for this.”
“Make no mention of it, we're good Christian people and we're not the type to turn away people in need.”
She led them back into the house and upstairs, where she showed them the spare room. There was only one spare room, unfortunately, but Kathryn said she was sure they could come to some sort of arrangement if the two of them wanted to spend the night. Mack and Grace were left alone for a little while as the family moved around the house, doing their chores and getting things ready for dinner.
Mack and Grace took turns bathing, and enjoyed the feeling of washing the grime of travel from their skin. They had changed their clothes occasionally, using the replacement outfits they had salvaged from luggage on the plane. This resulted in many of their clothes not fitting quite right, but they still felt dirty underneath as they hadn't wanted to use their precious water reserves for bathing. Now that they were in an actual house they had no such qualms, and both of them felt like a new person when they emerged from the warm water.
While Grace was bathing Mack took the empty bottles down and started filling them up with water. Harry was busy chopping vegetables while Tom and Kathryn were elsewhere, no doubt preparing something else for dinner.
“So, you like living in this house with your folks?” Mack began. Harry didn't even stop chopping to acknowledge the question.
“I couldn't wait to get out of the house when I was younger, but I guess in these circumstances we have to stay close to our family if we have them,” Mack continued, but again Harry didn't say anything, so Mack decided to remain silent.
“They've got a pretty good set-up here,” Mack said when he and Grace were alone again.
“Yeah, if you like being a million miles away from everyone else. This place is ridiculous. And if she had mentioned God one more time...” Grace shook her head angrily.
“Now, now, let's not be disrespectful of their beliefs, or their way of life. Frankly, they're in a better position than we are, and they've been kind enough to help us. At least we're going to be able to sleep in a proper bed tonight.”
“How long do you think we'll stay for?” Grace asked, folding her arms and chewing her bottom lip.
“You really don't like it here, do you?”
“They just creep me out. Those guys keep staring at me, and they don't say anything! Don't you find that weird? And that Kathryn...she's almost too nice. I know you're going to say that I'm just being paranoid, and I'm not used to people being nice, but I'm not an idiot. I know when something's wrong because I feel it in my gut and right now it's telling me that we should get out of here.”
“Not that I'm excusing their behavior, but don't forget you're the first woman other than Kathryn that has been around here for goodness knows how long. I'm sure you can understand they'd be a little curious. But look, if you're that uncomfortable then we'll stay the night and be on our way tomorrow.”
“I'm tempted to leave now,” Grace said.
“Don't leave,” Mack said...
Dinner…
The cry for help rang out again. Mack's trained instincts took over and he rose from the table. Grace soon followed suit, her eyes reflecting her panic as she heard the forlorn, desperate cry. Their hosts looked at each other with stern expressions on their faces, and before they could say or do anything Mack was off, striding toward the origin of the sound. He called out to let the victim know somebody was there, and made sure Grace was right behind him.
A thousand thoughts raced through his mind as he ran through the hall to the kitchen and looked at the coal cellar. He shouldn't have dismissed Grace's worries as paranoia, nor should he blindly have trusted the people just because he wanted to prove to Grace that people were still good. He should have seen the signs before. He had been trained to see these signs, to read body language and know people's secrets before they even suspected he knew they had some. Kathryn had been almost too friendly and welcoming, and there always had been someone in close proximity to them. And the way they had spoken about other people...how they had isolated themselves...that was a big warning sign that Mack had missed and now it could be too late. He'd made a mistake, and if he had led Grace into a dangerous situation he never would forgive himself.
The entrance to the coal cellar was fastened with a large bolt. Mack bent down and flung it open. His stomach growled, angry that he had abandoned the food on his plate when it was the finest meal he had had for days. Grace was by his side, breathing rapidly, asking what was going on, but he was focused on helping whomever had called out. Grace's eyes darted back and forth between Mack and the door to the kitchen. She was frightened for what may happen. Mack just was hoping he still could find a way out of this. He pulled the door open and peered down. The light from the kitchen spilled into the coal cellar. As his eyes adjusted Mack could see a man laying on the floor, tied to a chair, a desperate look in his eyes.
“Please, please help me, you gotta help me. These people are crazy!” he yelled.
Mack nodded and entered the coal cellar while Grace stayed outside. She helped him down and told him to hurry, even though there wasn't a sight of the family yet. Mack walked down the narrow steps and felt his feet crunch against the floor. The smell of coal filled his nostrils and he almost gagged at the stench of it. The light was dim, and he had to hunch to avoid bumping his head on the ceiling. His heart was racing but he had been in dangerous situations like this before. It was no different than having to extract a hostage.
“Thank you, thank you so much,” the man in the chair said.
Mack leaned down to twist away the tight knots that were digging into the man's skin. He was of Latino descent. One of his eyes had been bruised, while the other side of his face was covered in soot from having been pressed against the floor. A soaked gag was resting around his neck. Evidently he had managed to pry it off of himself, enabling him to cry for help. Mack worked diligently, quickly untying the knots and freeing the man, then helped him up. He was limping a little and was shaken, and his limbs had been numb from having been tied down for so long. He slung an arm around Mack, who supported him up the stairs.
“It's okay, I've got you,” Mack said.
But he was worried about how they were going to get out of there alive. Kathryn had lied about this prisoner; why did they capture him, and was the same fate awaiting him and Grace? Mack had dealt with tense situations like these before, but not with ordinary people, and not in a situation where the rules of the world had changed. He wasn't represented a government and he didn't have the threat of the American military as a backup. The only things he had to rely on were his wits and his skills, skills he had used to excel in his job, skills that meant he was a highly-valued asset to the military, skills that meant his superiors had begged him to reconsider his retirement even when he was adamant that he was done.
But he wasn't done.
“Mack,” he heard Grace cry, her voice trembling with worry.
He emerged from the coal cellar trailing soot on his feet, supporting this man who had been held against his will, to find Grace's face stricken with fright as Kathryn, Tom, and Harry stood at the kitchen entrance. The matriarch had a disappointed look on her face while the two men were impassive as usual, but Tom had a gun pointed straight at them. As Mack stared down the barrel his mind whirled with all the tactical situations he had been thrust into during his career. Then he slowed his breathing as he prepared to try dealing with this family who, while living in the middle of nowhere, posed a great threat to their lives.
Chapter 7
Mack was aware that the next move he made was going to be a decisive one. He ran through different possibilities, eyes shifting slowly between his adversaries. He could feel the hostage trembling against him, and knew that Grace was doing the same, too. She had moved slightly behind him, wanting him to protect her. The isolated family stared implacably at the three of them. There were only a few ways in which events were going to proceed. Either Tom would shoot them all then and there, and this whole ordeal would be over, or they would hold them all hostage. And, at some point, they could try escaping, or Mack would be able to talk to Kathryn and they could work out some kind of deal.
Outside the sun had set a long time ago. Inside the candles burned throughout the house, causing the temperature to rise. Mack's temples were beaded with sweat but he ignored it. On the table in between the two groups lay the knife that had been used to chop vegetables. It didn't look to be in the best condition but it still would do damage, and if Mack had been on his own he would have been tempted to make a grab for it.
Although the gun was imposing he assumed Tom hadn't had much cause to practice with it over the years, since they were so isolated. If he moved quickly enough he probably could evade the first shot at least and dive for cover. However, he had Grace and the other man to think of and he had to play it carefully. Kathryn was standing by the doorway that led to the garden while Harry and Tom were blocking the exit to the rest of the house. Mack knew that if they made it outside they could slip into the darkness and escape. All they had to do was stop Kathryn from giving the order to shoot.
A lot of people would have pleaded directly to the man with the gun, assuming he had the power to end their lives. But Mack knew the hierarchy in this house and it wasn't Tom who was at the top. He wouldn't shoot unless Kathryn gave the order, and it was she who Mack had to deal with. He exhaled deeply and raised his hands, indicating to his companions that they should remain silent while also showing Kathryn that he respected the situation and her superiority. Later, he would chastise himself harshly for his actions leading up to this moment because it shouldn't have been so easy to fall into their trap. But at the present moment he needed to focus on getting the three of them out alive.
While Kathryn was in charge, Tom and Harry still were intimidating figures. They were both burly men who snarled more than they spoke, and Mack wondered about the events that led to Kathryn and Tom meeting and falling in love, for they seemed quite opposite. Harry evidently took more after his father than his mother, which was a good thing for Mack. The two men seemed simple, straight-shooters, and if it had been only the two of them Mack had to deal with, things would have gone much easier, but Kathryn was a bit of a wild card. She clearly had a strong idea of right and wrong, and it wasn't going to mesh with Mack's. The trained military negotiator looked at the steely gleam in her eye and remembered everything she had said over the course of their stay. He thought it likely they had come to this remote location because Kathryn knew their beliefs would not have been agreed with in the city. He thought about the coal cellar again, and wondered how many wandering travelers looking for shelter had been locked in there, lost to the world.
Usually there were two ways to play this kind of situation. If his opposite showed signs of nervousness then the best thing to do was act aggressively and grasp the power away, but Kathryn showed no signs of this. She was supremely self-confident and clearly felt righteous in what she was doing. So Mack had to show her respect and acknowledge that she had the power, and then hope he would be able to turn the situation to his advantage as they spoke more, if Kathryn was willing to hold off on shooting them. He tilted his head down, and noticed that Grace and the man by his side had followed his lead. A wry smile played upon Kathryn's lips as she enjoyed her superior position, and Mack watched her carefully, hoping to spot any sign of weakness.
“Let's stay calm and not do anything stupid,” he said, keeping his voice soft and even.
“Oh Mack, you've already done that,” Kathryn replied in a withering tone.
“We all were enjoying a nice dinner and you had to go and ruin it. Didn't your parents ever teach you that it was rude to leave the table before you've finished your meal? And without even asking no less.” She shook her head and sighed.
“I remember a time when manners were expected, but it seems in this day and age it's more of a surprise when people behave correctly. Seems like things haven't changed much since we left the city. I'd have expected it from her, she seems the type to make trouble, but not you. You seemed like a decent sort.”
“Kathryn, I'm sure you can understand why I left the table before we finished. How about we all go back to the table and continue? I know I still could go for some more roast potatoes. They were the best I've tasted in a long time. They reminded me of my mother's.”
“You are a sweet one, but that kind of talk isn't going to work on me, young man.”
“I'm sorry. Forgive me for saying so, but I think getting up from the table isn't as bad as keeping someone locked up against their will. How long was he down there?”
“Just a couple of days, he's not as strong as we thought he'd be. Figured he'd be able to take more before he cracked.”
“So is this why you moved away from the city? So you could be away from the police?”
Kathryn snorted derisively. She stepped forward and placed her hands on the edge of the counter, leaning forward.
“I left the city because people were going to hell, and they seemed happy about it. Everywhere I looked I saw good, old-fashioned values being torn down and cast aside, and nobody seemed to give a damn about it. This country used to stand for something, but we all lost our way. So yes, we left to start our own lives out here. We don't need anyone else. We don't need no laws or anything like that. We have the word of God to live by and that's all we need. He's kept us safe so far and he'll continue to watch over us.”
“And you think that he's okay with you capturing innocent people? Is he the first?”
“What makes you think he's so innocent?” Kathryn said, and following this remark Tom and Harry chortled.
“You hear about it all the time, all those Mexicans running across our borders, infesting our lands, taking over our jobs and homes and everything. There's a war going on, Mister, only nobody seems to be fighting it. You got everything going on now. Even those homosexuals are allowed to be married, and it just ain't right. I'm not going to stand for it, and if you do then you are on the side of the damned.”
“So you feel threatened by these people?”
“Of course I feel threatened! The whole country should be! I remember a time when it was safe to walk down the streets and you didn't have to worry about seeing drugs and sex everywhere you went. There are some things that should be kept behind closed doors, but everything exploded. You know what I think it was? I think it was the day JFK got shot. The world just went crazy then, and the country lost its mind. They say people grieve in different ways. Well, the whole country had to grieve. Then we had crazy things like men going to the Moon, and it all just went downhill from there. The kids who were raised then grew up and had all these wacky ideas and they strayed from the word of God. All I want is for us to go back to being a good Christian nation, is that so wrong?”
“Of course not, but you have to admit that locking up someone in a coal cellar doesn't seem very hospitable. Is he the first?”
“No. People come wandering through here all the time. They think they can just walk through the forest without any danger, like the whole world is theirs. Well, they soon know that when they come on our property. We try to be nice to them, but some of them deserve what they get.”
“Is that what you were going to do with us?”
Kathryn chewed her bottom lip. “No, I don't think so. You seemed like a good sort at first. If she had been on her own,” Kathryn tossed her head toward Grace, “then maybe. She's got that look about her, but I figured if she was with you then you could set her on the straight and narrow, but now I can't let you leave. You might get some foolish idea of bringing people back. Maybe you even want this house to yourself.”
“I can assure you that won't happen. Like I said, the world has ended. The only people we know are across the country. As for the house, it's yours. I'm not the kind to trespass on another person's property. All I want is to get out of here still breathing. Surely we can work out something?”
“Let's just shoot them! All this talking is giving me a headache,” Harry said, rolling back and forth on his heels with an excited look on his face. Grace's hand reached up and squeezed Mack's arm. Kathryn's neck snapped around and she glared at her son.
“Keep quiet and let me do the talking. If you had done your job properly we wouldn't even be in this mess. All you had to do was tie him up and gag him properly but you couldn't even do that, could you? You're a disappointment. You always have been. So just stand there and don't say another word.” Her tone was vicious and Harry's head instantly dropped, shoulders slumping as well. Despite the tension between the two groups Mack felt a little sympathy for Kathryn's son.
“I see you're a woman who has high standards.”
“I think people should do their best, but that was another thing lost as the world changed.”
“So you feel like you don't belong anymore?”
Mack's way of talking made Kathryn somewhat uneasy, but she continued sharing things about herself. Mack was using a technique called empathy statements, which he had used many times to get people to open up about themselves. The key was focusing on what the other person was saying, then responding with one of these statements that showed you understood how they were feeling without simply repeating it. It led them to continue talking about their feelings. Because if there was one truth that Mack had learned over the years, it was that people loved talking about themselves.
