{"id":480,"date":"2009-10-20T08:37:22","date_gmt":"2009-10-20T13:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.greatsociety.org\/?p=480"},"modified":"2018-10-30T20:04:23","modified_gmt":"2018-10-31T00:04:23","slug":"finzel-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/?p=480","title":{"rendered":"Finzel, part three"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part One<\/a><\/p>\n

Part Two<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Midnight Train<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Peter Gates didn\u2019t hear the train whistle.\u00a0 He and McGavin had moved into a warehouse about a mile east of the village of Finzel along what was once called Sampson Rock Road, though you\u2019d be hard-pressed to call it a road now and, back when the world was alive, you\u2019d have to be local to actually know the name of the lonely stretch of black-top.\u00a0 They were near the firetower, their warehouse boldly sitting in view of the old road, the front a dusty parking area where decrepit trucks returned slowly to the earth.\u00a0 They\u2019d been used often in the early years, but, now, it was a full-time job just to keep the Land Rover running.<\/p>\n

Inside the warehouse, the two men had created what felt like a giant hanger-bay dorm room.\u00a0 Useless loot had been stacked everywhere, and they each kept sleeping quarters on opposite ends, converting office space into crash pads.\u00a0 Gates was deep into a bottle of homemade gin, with McGavin\u2019s help, and the two were blaring records from a hand-crank Victrola.<\/p>\n

A well-used Risk board was laid out between them and McGavin drunkenly pondered Europe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis gin\u2019s bad for us.\u201d Gates whispered.<\/p>\n

McGavin snorted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019ll go back to wine.\u00a0 Leave this rotgut for the shills.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLife among the shills!\u201d McGavin sing-songed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you going to take your turn?\u201d<\/p>\n

McGavin tapped his finger on the board, \u201cI keep thinking of my move and then forgetting it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hammering at the front shutters made Gates look up, but McGavin remained focused.\u00a0 Gates turned back with a sigh and capped the gin bottle.\u00a0 \u201cMoving?\u201d<\/p>\n

McGavin grunted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile this experiment in Alzheimer\u2019s plays out, I\u2019ll go see what our early morning visitor is after.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGunshot through the peephole!\u201d McGavin screamed as Gates moved to the shutters and placed his eye against the tiny hole he\u2019d cut in the metal.\u00a0 Shadows on shadows.<\/p>\n

\u201cPorch light\u2019s out.\u201d Gates called over his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we\u2019ve had the same president for a decade!\u201d McGavin called back.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I\u2018m going to wildly open this door and see if we both get gunned down.\u00a0 Are you game?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRock on, tiny dancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

A breathless youth stood on the flight of three concrete steps that led up to the loading dock entrance.\u00a0 The squeal of the security door, beefed up by Gates over the years, made him flinch.<\/p>\n

\u201cYoung Jacob!\u201d Gates exclaimed.\u00a0 \u201cIs there a great darkness in Amishtown?\u00a0 Is little Timmy trapped in a well?\u00a0 I hope the old mill\u2019s okay!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jacob sucked in air.\u00a0 \u201cTrain,\u201d he said softly.\u00a0 \u201cTrain\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Gates screwed up his face, then mockingly put on a thoughtful look, staring over Jacob\u2019s shoulder into the night.<\/p>\n

\u201cA train \u2013 didn\u2019t you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDude\u2026what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA train!\u00a0 Didn\u2019t you hear it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike a choo-choo train?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jacob blinked.<\/p>\n

McGavin, who had stepped up to peer at Jacob, rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cY-yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gates turned to look at McGavin, who shrugged and headed for the rolling clothes rack where they kept their coats and boots.<\/p>\n

Gates sighed deeply, then handed the bottle of gin to Jacob and trudged towards his peacoat.<\/p>\n

Dawn was still several hours away, and the night\u2019s cold sapped at his bones.\u00a0 Gates crossed his arms over his chest and listlessly followed McGavin and Jacob up the hill, through the ghost town of Finzel, and up the bridle path towards Parker\u2019s community.<\/p>\n

Everett caught up with them, his breath misting in the moonlight.\u00a0 He\u2019d put the runner sent to get his story in charge of the firetower and seemed to be on the verge of climbing a tree and howling at the moon.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaw the damn thing,\u201d he hissed between pained breaths.<\/p>\n

\u201cA train?\u201d Gates asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaw the light, heard the whistle blow.\u201d<\/p>\n

McGavin hung back and Jacob took the lead, intent on completing his mission and returning to his lord and master.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been at the gin, Everett.\u201d Gates replied, \u201cWhat\u2019s your excuse?\u201d<\/p>\n

Everett shook his head, \u201cJacob heard it.\u00a0 Everybody heard it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Gates said, \u201cbut you\u2019re all collectively insane.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were listening to music.\u201d McGavin said.<\/p>\n

Everett clicked his tongue and nodded.<\/p>\n

With just 35 people, the old farmstead\u2019s library was the perfect size to become a meeting hall.\u00a0 Warm and welcoming, Parker used it as her base of operations.\u00a0 It was judge\u2019s chambers and courtroom, it was schoolroom, and it was the nerve center of the community.\u00a0 Heads turned as Jacob led Gates, McGavin, and Everett into the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohnny\u2019s on tower duty,\u201d Everett explained as he sat down.\u00a0 Gates and McGavin flanked the door, appearing to be ready to make a run for it if need be.<\/p>\n

Parker took a deep breath, looked down at her boots, then stood and paced over to the old secretary beneath the shuttered window.\u00a0 She leaned against it and turned to Sarah Bowman, who had run to the Hen House sign to check on Ken and Chris.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey just heard it,\u201d Sarah said.\u00a0 \u201cFour blows from a whistle.\u00a0 No sign of any other activity.\u00a0 Chris is heading out to the old overpass just in case.<\/p>\n

Parker nodded.\u00a0 \u201cEverett?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHeard and saw.\u00a0 Heading north.\u00a0 Couldn\u2019t have been much of a train or I would have heard the cars, too.\u00a0 Maybe just an engine.\u00a0 I\u2019m thinking they were clearing the tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt 3am?\u201d Thais asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t no reason for anybody to be doing anything out there at 3am, to be frank.\u201d Everett replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo good reason.\u201d Gates muttered.<\/p>\n

Parker glanced at him, but spoke to Everett, \u201cYou\u2019re sure you didn\u2019t hear any cars?\u00a0 Nothing but the whistle?\u201d<\/p>\n

Everett shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI was inside.\u00a0 Frozen to the damn spot.\u00a0 Been ten years since I last heard a train whistle\u2026\u00a0 Coulda missed it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you thinking?\u201d McGavin asked.\u00a0 \u201cIt was a shipment of Beamers heading up to Pittsburgh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what to think.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murray Walter stood up, turning to face the group, \u201cI say we find out.\u00a0 Head out to the tracks at first light.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd do what?\u201d Thais asked.\u00a0 Follow them in which direction?\u00a0 Look for what?\u00a0 Do what when we find it?\u201d<\/p>\n

McGavin coughed, \u201cWe\u2019ll find it fast.\u00a0 No way those tracks are clear for any serious length.\u00a0 And no way they could have been cleared or repaired without us noticing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have a choice\u2014\u201c Walter started, but Parker launched to her feet and cleared her throat.\u00a0 Walter \u2018s mouth snapped shut and he spun around, alarmed.\u00a0 McGavin glanced at Gates, who shook his head with disgust.<\/p>\n

Parker weaved around the room, pacing past most of her people.\u00a0 All eyes followed her as she chewed her lip, eyes downcast.\u00a0 She ended up near McGavin, and looked up, her back to him, to address the community.\u00a0 \u201cI know what this means, but we\u2019ve got to be careful.\u00a0 We\u2019ve all seen what happened.\u00a0 We\u2019ve lived through it.\u00a0 Even if civilization has begun again somewhere out there, it may not be suited for us.\u00a0 Our natural tendency is towards dictatorship, the cult of fascism.\u00a0\u00a0 Chances are that\u2019s what formed out of the ashes.\u00a0 We\u2019re the lucky ones.\u00a0 The smart ones.\u00a0 We sealed ourselves away and have worked the land, built a community.\u00a0 But you know full well the sort that are out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can carry this paranoia even further,\u201d Gates interrupted.\u00a0 \u201cWhat if the train people are hunting for us?\u00a0 Trying to draw us out?\u201d\u00a0 He made a frightened face and waved his hands in front of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to know one way or the other.\u201d Walter replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to stay put. \u201c Thais, from the other end of the room, spoke softly, but her voice carried.\u00a0 A few nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about Gates and I just check it out.\u00a0 Business as usual?\u201d McGavin offered.\u00a0 \u201cWe were planning on heading out in a few days, anyway.\u00a0 Let\u2019s bump it up to first light.\u00a0 We hit the tracks and recon a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to find the train,\u201d Walter insisted. \u201cWhat are the tracks going to show us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they\u2019ve been properly cleared,\u201d McGavin said, \u201cthen we know we\u2019re up against something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we up against it, Lance?\u201d Parker asked over her shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cMeredith, you know Gates and I aren\u2019t always on board with your social vision.\u00a0 But on this one, I agree with you.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got a good position here.\u00a0 Food, fresh water, livestock, security.\u00a0 Those luxuries are not out there anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parker turned to face him, \u201cI want you to take a couple others with you.\u00a0 Jacob and \u2013\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cMe,\u201d Walter said.<\/p>\n

Parker shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cIf you wish.\u00a0 This is reconnaissance.\u201d\u00a0 She put a hand on McGavin\u2019s shoulder, \u201cNo contact, no matter what.\u00a0 You come back here first.\u00a0 We decide what to do as a community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gates sniffed.\u00a0 \u201cDawn in a few hours. You boys better get what you need and come meet us at the warehouse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walter Murray nodded, but young Jacob looked scared.\u00a0 For him, this would be his first trip out of the community in ten years.\u00a0 He glanced at Parker, who saw and moved closer to him, but then his eyes moved to Gates, who was also watching him.\u00a0\u00a0 He didn\u2019t move, except to duck out the door as soon as people started to file out.<\/p>\n

Parker knelt down in front of Jacob\u2019s chair and took his hands.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll be okay.\u00a0 I need someone young out there.\u00a0 Someone fast.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Your priority is to protect yourself, and make sure you get back here.\u201d\u00a0 She leaned close, and he instinctively pressed back in the chair.\u00a0 \u201cAnd don\u2019t trust the others. You\u2019re my eyes and ears.\u00a0 My representative from this community.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part One Part Two<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[126,129],"class_list":["post-480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-serials","tag-finzel","tag-series"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=480"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":787,"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/480\/revisions\/787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}