BW

The next morning, Bob was the last one to awaken. Nobody wanted to do anything to disturb his sleep. They knew he would sometimes receive dreams or visions, and no one wanted to disturb him. When Bob finally did get up, it was clear he was in a much better mood than the night before.

"So Bob, are you going to tell us, or do we have to drag it out of you?" Kathy said, with a smile on her face.

"That obvious, is it?"

"Yes. When Michael comes for a visit, you become very calm. What did he say this time?"

"Actually, it wasn't Michael. It was a dream. I was shown that we aren't to leave here yet. There are others coming, and we need to be here when they arrive. However, we need to do a couple of things before they get here. Tim? Could you come here for a minute?"

"What do you need?"

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't there some mouse traps over in the store?"

"I think so. Why, are you having midnight callers?"

"Not that kind. Could you get a few of them for me?"

"Sure. Sam, come with me."

The two of them headed towards the store.

"Mouse traps? What do you have in mind, Bob?"

"Watch and learn young lady, watch and learn. Alex."

"Yeah Dad?"

"I need to go to the truck. Would you take the other side of the building I'm next to, and make sure I don't have any surprises."

"You got it."

Bob turned and headed off to his truck. In the back, he had a hodge podge of different items, many of which seemed to make no sense. But when something was needed, he always had something that would do the job. As he turned the corner, he was brought up short by what looked to him like a sewer pipe pointed right at his nose. A female voice quietly ordered him;

"Quiet, and DON'T move."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Who are you people, and how did you get here?"

"We're refugees, trying to hide from the military patrolling the cities." He looked over the barrel of the shotgun, and saw a woman, about his own age. She was handsome, rather than beautiful. With a face that was starting to show the usual signs of age. Her eyes were a deep brown, like her hair.

"Why did you come here? This place is in the middle of nowhere."

"That's why we came here. A lot less likely that anyone is going to be looking out here. Look ma'am, if we are trespassing on your property, we will be happy to move to another part of town. We truly mean you no harm."

"Sure you don't. How can I believe that?"

"By this. Alex, put the gun down."

"You don't really expect me to fall for that old one, do you?"

From behind her the woman heard the familiar

whack-whack of a shotgun.

"Old, but true." Alex said.

"Alex, I told you, put it down. Obviously this lady lives here. We are in her town. Besides, if you do anything, I think the young lady behind you would be VERY unhappy."

Alex felt the muzzle of a weapon in the small of his back.

"Yes, I would."

"O.K. I get the point." Alex lowered the weapon, but still held on to it.

"Ma'am, there is no reason for this to end badly. We really have no intention of hurting anyone."

The shotgun Bob was staring into lowered.

"You certainly are a polite one. Well, we'll give you a chance. How many are you?"

"There's eight of us in all, two aren't yet teenagers. Please let us show you our good intentions. we still have some things left over from breakfast, would you like to eat?"

"We could stand to have a meal."

"Then please, come with me."

"Alright. You can keep your weapons, but both of you walk in front of us."

"Mom?" The girl questioned.

"We can't carry them all, and besides this way everything looks normal."

"If you say so."

Bob was starting to like this woman. She thought much like he did. Slowly Bob turned, and called Alex to walk beside him, which he did. As they moved towards the adobe house, Tim and Sam were just returning from the store, a half dozen mouse traps in hand.

"I found them Bob. Whoa! What's going on?"

"Take it easy Tim. We are going to see about breakfast for our visitors. Bring those, and come along. And Tim, don't make any sudden moves please. It could be hazardous to my health."

Tim and Sam also turned and started walking to the house. As they got near to it, Tim called to his wife.

"Kathy. We have company."

Kathy looked out the window, and saw the two women with Bob and Alex. She smiled.

"About time some other women showed up. I was starting to get a little frustrated not having someone to talk to about you guys."

It wasn't long before Maria and her daughter, Michelle, Mike to her friends, were sitting down, both eating, and chatting with Kathy, as if the were old friends. Their shotgun and pistol having been set aside. Bob didn't know if it was her years as a dentist, or just natural charm, but she had that affect on people. She could put anyone at ease in record time. Soon the subject Bob had been dreading came up.

"When we left here a month ago, one of our friends decided to remain behind, to kind of keep an eye on things. You haven't seen anything of him have you? His name is Todd."

Lacking the words, Bob pulled the will from his pocket and gave it to Maria. After reading it, Maria sighed, and said.

"I would have never believed something like this would happen to him. He was one tough old bird. It's a shame."

Michelle, took the paper and read it. She too sighed and handed it back to Bob, while saying nothing.

Tim cleared his throat to break the silence, and asked,

"Bob why did you want these things." and held up the package of traps.

"Ah yes, I was about to do something about that when our friends showed up. Wait here."

He left the room, but returned shortly, carrying distress flares, used by boaters, a small spool of wire, pliers, and a knife. Taking one of the traps, he care full cut a hole in it, just the right size to hold one of the flare shells. Then he took some of the wire and wound it around the bar the would slap down trapping a mouse. He pulled back the bar, slide the flare under it, and gently lowered it again.

"What is that?" asked Kathy.

"Our early warning system. Or at least part of it. What we do, is attach this trap to a tree, or rock, with the flare pointing up. Set the trap, and run a trip wire across the road, or trail. Something hits the wire, sets off the trap. The piece of wire I wrapped around the bar, will act like a firing pin, and that sets off the flare, letting us know that someone is coming, and from which direction. As we all know, there aren't enough of us to defend this town, but if we can find out what they look like before they get close to us, the better chance we have to decide if we should stand, or bug out."

"What happens if we make the holes in these traps too big?"

"A little of that white paste kids use in school should hold them in place. Lets go ahead and set this one on the main road into town. Not on this close ridge, but the next one out. We'll need as much time as possible."

Bob picked up the trap, and headed for the door, with Tim following close behind. Once they were outside Bob waved Alex over to him. Speaking quietly he told him;

"Son, I want you and Tom to take the 4X4 and check the dirt road that leads up into the hills around here. If we have to leave, I want to use the road that offers the most cover. Drive out for one hour, then come back. Get an idea of what's up that way. When you get back, rest a while, then do the same with the dirt road that leaves the other side of town. Understand?"

Alex nodded, and left to find Tom.

"Why not just ask Maria?" Tim asked.

"She has just joined us. She doesn't entirely trust us yet. And I don't entirely trust her either. As you know, trust is earned, never given. What if there is something out there that she doesn't want us to see? She could send us in the completely wrong direction. Best we check it for ourselves. Besides, with the way Alex was looking at Michelle, I thought it a good idea to separate them for a while."


BW, Vietnam Vet