“I bet your little ones need a bath. It’s just around the bend in the road. But you must stay in the center of the road.”
They started to get to their feet and moved back towards the white stripe dividing the two lanes.
Washington approached Carol, but not too closely.
“Ma’am, please stand up. No one will hurt you if you please stand up and back away from the median barrier.”
“Do as he says, Carol,” John interjected.
Shaking, she stood up.
John looked at her, and it was as if she was a different person. That the final shreds of pride, of decency, within her had disintegrated. A woman who but six weeks back most likely had a corner office, a parking slot with her name on it, a liberal expense account, and a damn good stock option had just tried to sell her body for a place to rest for a night and a bowl of soup.
“Carol, are you all right?”
She said nothing, features almost blank, turned, and fell back into the line of refugees.
Something told him with grim certainty she would not live much longer, shattered to the point that a razor blade across the wrists would be a welcomed relief. He was tempted to call her back and he stepped over the median barrier and actually took a step towards her. “Colonel, sir.”
He looked back. It was Washington, shaking his head no. Washington turned back on the student who had fired the shot. “Was that a warning shot or were you aiming at her?” Washington said. “I’m not sure,” and her voice was near breaking.
“You were wrong on two counts,” Washington snapped, and the girl was now at attention, trembling. “That woman had not yet tried to go over the barrier. Your orders are only to shoot if they go over the barrier or try to turn on you.”
“She was getting close to Professor Mather—I mean the colonel, sir.”
“I am not sir; I am Sergeant Parker. Remember your orders and abide by them. Now the second count. Was that a warning shot or not? Remember I told all of you I am the only one to give a warning shot. If you shoot, then do it to kill. A warning shot is a wasted bullet, and we’ve got precious few of them.”
“I think I aimed at her.”
Washington snatched the gun from the girl.
“Go back up to the barrier; you can help interview the refugees. I’m sending someone who has the guts to aim right to your place.”
The girl, crestfallen, turned and walked away, her shoulders beginning to shake.
Parker shouted for one of the boys by the barrier to walk escort with refugees and John came up to his side.
“A bit hard perhaps?” Washington asked. John shook his head.
“I’ve told my girls repeatedly, if you are going to shoot, shoot to kill. But that pathetic woman did not deserve to be shot at.”
“I know,” Washington sighed. “What did she do? Offer to sleep with your
“Yes.”
“I get it twenty times a day, and it’s not because I’m good-looking,” Washington said, his attempt at a joke falling flat.
“Sick. I’m hearing more and more stories up here about rape, murder, stealing even of baby formula. It’s getting desperate on the road. You were going to offer to let her stay, weren’t you?”
“Yeah. You could see it. She’s far over the edge. I think she’ll be dead in a few more days.”
The two looked towards Carol, who was at the back of the column, staggering along.
Washington sighed.
“Yeah, God save her. You’re right. You can look at these people and tell who still just might pull through. Poor woman, she’s not one of them. No place in this world for her now, and what she has left to sell is fading.”
John lowered his head.
“Damn all this,” he sighed.
“I’m now seeing hundreds like her every day,” Washington said wearily. “Sir, we let one in beyond those that can help us all survive, we break down.”
He couldn’t reply. He thought of the piece of a candy bar in his car, a survival ration if he got stuck. He was half-tempted to go get it, but if he did, it might not be there for Jennifer when she needed it.
“Maybe she’ll get lucky,” Washington said. “Maybe some guy farther down the road will take her in.”
“God save us if we are really at this point already.”
“Sir. I saw it in Nam. Hell, nineteen-year-old GIs thought it was heaven. A piece for a couple of bucks? But you looked at those girls, and I tell you southern Asian girls are some of the most beautiful in the world, and it made you sick. Fifteen-year-old kids that should have been in school, out selling their tail to feed their parents and kid sisters and brothers.
“And now it’s come to America….”
Washington shook his head.
“Damn all war…,” he sighed.
“You wanted me down here for something?”
“Some bad rumors starting to come in this morning; I think Charlie needs to know. I’m going to head back into town shortly to tell him.”
“What is it?”
“Refugees are talking about something called the Posse taking over the interstate. They’re down in the Charlotte area. Some said they’re moving up Interstate 77 towards Statesville. Have a lot of vehicles that run.”
“The Posse? Hell, it sounds like the Wild West.”
