JAA Ch. 01: Aftermath

"I will inform them." The Lieutenant turned and spoke at length to his commander.

His commander's eyes grew wide with amazement at the general's audacity. He then spoke at length with the Lieutenant who just stood at attention and nodded a lot. The lieutenant turned to face the General with his Major still talking to him.

"Major Chilung wishes to extend his condolences to any and all injured and killed Americans and will need assurances that his men will be treated with respect and dignity, if and when we ever surrender."

"Tell your Major, that he and his men will be treated with the utmost dignity and respect. If they surrender now I can guarantee their safety, wherein the future it will be hard to do that. You tell him I have the power to see that they are not harmed in any way."

"But, do you have the power to repatriate us to our homeland?"

"Sorry, no. All our transport planes are either in Mexico or destroyed."

"I will tell them."

The Lieutenant turned and addressed the other officers. Nods of agreement rippled through the six. Then dejection came when they found there was no way home. The Captain and three Lieutenants turned and slowly started to walk back to their lines.

"What is going on Lieutenant?"

"They are going back to tell the men to lie down their arms and under a white flag surrender to whatever unit is in front of them."

"How bad are things for you Lieutenant?" Cappy asked.

"We are out of food and living off the land, which is not really living. Our ammunition is almost exhausted as are our troops. It's a wonder we have survived this long in the field without re-supply."

"Major, radio base, tell them to get transport trucks up here loaded with rations, C, MRE's whatever we have."

"What, sir?"

"You heard me, Major, jump to it, I want food up here ASAP, is that clear?"

"Yes, sir." He made the motion to salute and snap too but thought better of it, turned and left on the run. The Lieutenant was telling his Major what had just transpired when the Chinese Major collapsed to the ground.

"Waylon, get Linda and Dave up here as quick as you can."

"Right. Silva, Doctors to the front, hurry," yelled Waylon.

As Cappy bent over the Chinese Major, Linda and Dave came running around the base of the hill. Linda squatted down next to Major Chilung and started her examination. Dave stood on the other side of the Major ready to help.

Cappy pulled out a power bar and handed it to the Lieutenant. He also handed him his canteen. Linda poured some fresh water into a cup and held the Majors head while she placed it to his lips. He drank even though he was unconscious.

"He is extremely dehydrated and borderline malnourished."

"Will he survive?" Cappy asked.

"Yes, with proper rest and nourishment he should live a long, healthy life."

"So, then, the same as the rest of us?" Cappy asked sarcastically.

"Most likely," Linda answered quietly.

The Major opened his eyes and froze, staring up into the not un-pretty face of Linda. She smiled at him and offered him some more water. He drank then said something in Mandarin.

"He thanks you for the water Miss..."

"Doctor, Lieutenant!" Cappy corrected him softly.

"Doctor then," the Lieutenant added. He then turned and spoke to the Major whose eyes grew big as his smile grew even bigger. He said something to the Lieutenant.

"What did he say, Lieutenant?" Linda asked.

"He told me he thought you are very beautiful," the Lieutenant said softly.

"Were those, his exact words?"

"No," was all the Lieutenant said.

Linda smiled down at the Major then poured the cup of water she had in her hand in the Majors' face and rose.

"He's all yours Dave," Linda said turning and walking away. The Major yelled at the Lieutenant, who yelled back at him. The two exchanged words heatedly as Linda headed back around the hill.

"Doctor, wait. The Major apologizes for what he said and wishes you to forgive him if you can find it in your heart."

"Lieutenant," Linda yelled, turning to face the Major, "you tell the Major that forgiveness will have to be earned and I have other patients to take care of. You tell him if we see each other anymore that I will not slap him in the face if he treats women, all women with dignity and respect."

The Lieutenant turned and spoke quickly to the Major. Linda stood there staring at the Major watching his reaction to what she had said. As the Lieutenant finished the Major looked at Linda and bowed as he stood at attention.

"This is his, our, way of showing respect. He bows to show you, you are his equal."

Linda watched a second or two longer, then bowed her head slightly. She smiled at the Major, then turned and hurried around the hill.

"Sir, we're getting reports all up and down the line of Chinese soldiers laying down their arms and waving white flags."

"How many?"

"Four or five companies, maybe more."

"That sound about right Lieutenant?'

"There will be slightly more than that as we have a company of men around our artillery emplacements."

"Send the word Major."

"Yes, sir."

"Back to the airbase General?" Cappy asked.

"Only place we have enough room. Lieutenant, if your men get some food and water and a little rest will they be able to hike about twenty klicks due south?"

"Yes, General." He turned and informed Major Chilung of what the General had asked. The Major nodded his head as the Lieutenant spoke.

"Okay then, we'll meet you back there...I'm going to collect Michelle, Susan, Linda and Dave here and head back to the base and set them up in your infirmary."

"Good, I was hoping you and the doctors would volunteer. These men probably need a good looking over."

"We'll see you there." Cappy waved as he and Dave and the rest of his crew headed back around the hill. A squad of Marines heading the other way and four trucks came roaring up with food for the surrendering Chinese soldiers.

Three humvees rolled up loaded down with Marines who all jumped out and raced up over the hill. Cappy indicated to Waylon that they would take the first one back to the aid station. Silva came running up with his three comrades and Linda. Everyone jumped in the hummer and took off to the aid station.

After the soldiers had been given the once over by the doctors, Cappy sat in the General's office.

"What are your plans for them, Tom?" Cappy asked.

"I haven't a clue. I could just turn them loose..."

"You can't, they would be shot by the first redneck that saw them."

"I know..."

"How many groups are represented here?"

"You know the answer better than I."

"Twenty, at least, call a meeting of the leaders and we'll divide them up amongst us, including you, to keep them safe until the rest surrender or the fighting stops."

"Okay, I guess we could see how that goes. How many can you take?"

"A few, we are the smallest community represented here, ten, maybe twelve."

"Good enough."

"But we get to pick them. That Lieutenant we spoke too, I'll take him and whoever he recommends."

"Good. Now, what supplies are you going to need to go with them?"

"An M4 for each, with at least one hundred rounds of ammo. MRE's for each for a month and any clothing you might be able to spare. Boots, fifty pairs assorted sizes."

"You're not asking for much."

"I'm not greedy and besides we can take care of ourselves for a while longer."

"Fine, but I'm going to give you two hundred rounds plus sidearms and ammo for each of them. Also a deuce and a half for transport and a thousand rounds of fifty caliber ammo."

"Thank you, sir, now what can we do for you?"

"Just what you have been doing, providing doctors for our sick and wounded, you don't know what a relief it is to have them here."

"No problem General. Glad to help out."

"How long will you be staying?"

"Just until the doctors have the wounded stable enough for your medics and the few doctors you have can keep them alive."

"Good. I don't know what we would do without you guys."

"Guys!" Michelle exclaimed from the doorway.

"Begging your pardon Doctor Tomlin," the General said in way of an apology.

"We're good to go Cappy, they should be able to handle things themselves."

"All right, I'll see you out front, it will be a while before we leave. The General has offered us some useful supplies that will need to be loaded for us."

"Okay, see you out front." Michelle turned and left without further interaction with the General.

"I do hope I didn't offend her?"

"Your next physical will tell," Cappy told him, laughing.

"Crap."

Cappy stood talking to the Chinese Lieutenant as he called out names. Those he called fell in behind him. After calling nine names, he turned to the men and marched them over to the deuce and a half, parked a short distance away. Cappy followed at his own pace and arrived in time for the end of the Lieutenant's speech to his men.

"Start handing them out, Waylon."

"Are you sure about this?"

"Start handing them out."

"Right."

Waylon nodded to the Lieutenant who started calling the names once more. As Waylon handed the soldier a weapon and a bandolier of ammo, the Lieutenant spoke privately to each man. The Lieutenant then took a weapon from Waylon and joined his men.

"What's going on here?" Michelle asked as she approached the truck and their two humvees.

"We will be having guests join us for the trip back."

"Then what will they do?"

"They will be integrated into our community just like any other refugee."

"Don't you think there will be a problem when we get back to our community?"

"I would hope not. If there is, we will deal with it as soon as possible. These men are now our friends. They will fight alongside us, they will hunt alongside us, they will struggle to live alongside us. Can we ask any more from them than we would of our own countrymen?"

"Of course not...look I don't have a problem with this, nor do any of the doctors present nor do any of the marines but, there are those at home who..."

"Are bigoted, prejudice rednecks, I know all that but, the majority of our community will give them the benefit of the doubt and those against will not oppose the majority, yet.

"We have two days on how to present this to the community, so you doctors along with the Marines are tasked with coming up with a slant that will please everyone. Work with Lieutenant Chung and any of the men he feels will be able to offer any insight into their predicament."

"What?"

"You heard me, Michelle. Come up with a solution for me."

"Humpf," she grunted turning and walking to the first humvee in the line.

"Lieutenant, you heard what I said to her?"

"Yes, Cappy."

"Good, load your men into the deuce and a half and come up with some things to offer to her at our stopping point tonight."

"Yes, Cappy."

Cappy walked to the first humvee and standing beside the vehicle looked back at the other vehicles. He waved his hand in the air and all three started their engines. Cappy climbed in the passenger seat and closed the door.

"Head 'em out Waylon."

Chapter 23

The flash of lightning lit the landscape for an instant. Dark figures moved across the field slowly. Another flash and a glimpse of figures poised as statues across the empty field, then pitch black as the sky overhead was dark once more.

"Did you get a count?" Cappy whispered to Waylon who lie next to him on the hillock.

"Yeah, twenty-five," Waylon replied.

"Whose closer, Falcon or Eagle?"

"Eagle is on the ridge just to the north of the field."

"Fire some flares and let's see what happens."

Waylon gave the signal, four loud pops came from behind him. The brilliant white light of the flares illuminated the field below. Twenty-five bodies froze in their tracks. Two of the bodies up front stood stock still, raised their weapons above their head.

"We have no quarrel with you," the one closest to Cappy yelled.

"Who are you?" The question came from the hillside to the north of them.

"We are an advanced group of refugees from up north. We are looking for a valley run by John Abernathy."

"Why?"

"We have been told by several persons that it's a good place to raise kids and a nice place to settle down."

"What if they aren't looking for any more settlers?" Waylon yelled from beside Cappy.

Then men in the field below seemed startled to hear a voice coming from the other flank. Little did they know that there were only three men to their south.

"There was an empty valley to the east that we came through, we'll settle there."

Cappy stood, Waylon, followed suit. Cappy started walking down the hillside as more flares burst into brilliance above them.

"Eagle, maintain position, Com, bring up the humvee, I want lights down here now," Cappy said into his radio as he approached the man who had been talking.

"I'm Cappy," Cappy said holding out his hand.

"Cappy, I'm...they call me Lonny," the man said taking Cappy's hand.

A humvee raced up just as the last of the flares petered out. The lights on the hummer came to life and lit up the tableau.

"This monster behind me is Waylon, my second in command."

"Then you are John Abernathy?"

"No, I'm Cappy, there is no John Abernathy. He's a figment of someone's imagination.

"His men are closing in on your position," a voice whispered in Cappy and Waylon's ear.

"Have your men stay back, please?" Cappy asked.

"Tell the men to stay where they are, Griffin," Lonny spoke to the man now behind him.

"You're well equipped," Cappy stated.

"So are you."

"I thought it prudent under the circumstances." Cappy smiled. "What's your whole name, Lonny?"

"Colonel Harry L. Winciwitz, USMC."

"Sir, Major Waylon G. Franklin, USMC retired."

Lonny snapped to attention, threw Waylon a perfect salute, and held it until Waylon dropped his hand from his forehead.

"Always a pleasure to meet a Medal of Honor holder," the colonel said holding his salute to Waylon.

"Thank you, sir," Waylon saluted him back.

"You know Waylon, Colonel?"

"Only by reputation."

"Cappy, if the Colonel is leading this outfit they are alright by me?"

"Thank you, Major."

"Colonel, are all you men Marines?"

"Yes and their families. We have been traveling for three months now, ever since Norfolk started to freeze over. By now it's probably under ten feet of ice."

"More."

"There are about two hundred men, women, and children to your east. We have eyes on."

"Right."

"Right what?" the Colonel asked.

"My men now have eyes on your dependants and the rest of your men."

"Who are you?" The Colonel was confused and slightly worried.

"Tell him Cappy, we can always kill him later," Waylon said with a wide smile.

"Colonel, I lied to you earlier. I am John "Cappy" Abernathy. And the next valley to the west is ours. Call your people in, you have found yourselves a home."

"Thank god. Griffin, tell them to come on over."

"I have sir."

"Falcon, make sure they get here safe and sound."

"Aye, sir."

"Eagle, you have our flanks. Colonel, can all your people make the walk, two klicks?"

"The adults can, it's the children I worry about."

"Me too. Waylon, get some transport up here ASAP."

"Sure thing," Waylon replied.

"Colonel, have your men come over to the hummer here."

"Colonel, Artie says he's made contact with the leader of the team they have escorting our people. He says he knows him. He served with him in Iraq."

"Colonel, it may be old home week for some of your men and mine."

"You have a lot of Marines here?"

"Yes. But we also have Air Force, Army, and Navy."

"Well I'm glad we finally found you, we were about to run out of everything."

"Waylon get a med team up here on the double and transport for everyone. Why walk when we can ride."

"Sure thing Cappy, Michelle, and Susan are on their way already. George and Mark are bringing up the buses. Four deuce and a halfs' are on the way."

A humvee roared up to a stop next to the command hummer and Susan and Michelle jumped out. They ran up to Cappy.

"Who needs us?" Susan asked.

"No one really, about two hundred people should be here any minute. They'll need to be checked out."

The sky lit up with the brilliant burst of lightning again. The image it left on the retina was that of a mass of dark statues walking across the field. Another burst of lightning and those statues had moved closer to the group around the hummers. Raindrops started to fall from the dark sky. Flares popped into existence, shining their pure white light down on the mass of bodies walking through the field. A baby was crying in the distance. Two dogs went running past the smaller group toward the large group, searching for the baby.

"Whoa," the Colonel yelled as the dogs brushed past him.

"Don't worry, they won't hurt anyone. They're just concerned for the child that's crying. They love kids and protect them at all costs."

Michelle and Susan went running out into the field after the dogs. Four trucks pulled up in line with the hummers, their lights shining across the field, illuminating the scene. The rain was coming down harder. The dogs had found the child who was crying and were walking along with the mother, watching and guarding. Susan and Michelle were the only people allowed near mother and child by the dogs. Two buses pulled up on the offside of the hummers and the doors popped open disgorging several more doctors.

"Let's get the women and children on the buses, the men can ride in the trucks. You can put one man on each bus if you want. Only Waylon, the doctors and I will be returning to camp. The two teams we have out here with us are staying out here."

"That will be fine, Griffin, make it happen."

"Aye-aye sir."

"Falcon, Eagle, set a perimeter until we leave," Waylon said into his mic.

"Falcon, roger."

"Eagle, roger."

"Cappy, perimeter set."

"Good, good, now let's get these people back to base, fed and into some nice warm beds and out of this cold rain."

The buses were loaded and the men climbed in the trucks. Cappy and Waylon, along with the Colonel climbed into the humvee and drove off into the night. Twenty-seven shadows dispersed into the darkness.

It took two hours to get everyone fed and assigned quarters, even if only temporary. It was not until mid-night that everyone was quartered and hopefully sleeping.

The next morning the mess hall was more crowded than it had been in a long time. Michelle and Susan made the rounds while everyone was eating. They examined the children and wives of the marines who were waiting outside until there was room in the hall for them. So far, everyone looked to be in really good shape after having spent months trekking from up north.

Cappy and Waylon came walking up the path to the mess hall and noticed the line of marines outside.

"Colonel, why are you and your men waiting out here? There should be plenty of room for you inside."

"With all your people in there and our dependants there really isn't."

"My people?" Cappy looked at Waylon who shrugged his shoulders. "I guess we need to look into this?"

"Sure do?"

Cappy and Waylon entered the hall and stood in the door looking around. The scowl on Cappy's face was not pretty. Waylon just stood there shaking his head. Michelle and Susan shrugged as they went about examining people.

"Waylon," Cappy said quietly.

"Listen up," Waylon shouted. Silence filled the hall.

"All you who live here...get the fuck out!" Cappy shouted.

Silence hung in the air. Nobody moved. Cappy drew his pistol and pointed at the ceiling. Everyone who lived in the valley stood up and left by the nearest exit. Cappy snagged Bill Rossetti as he hurried by.