Reinke Faces Life

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D90MQEEO0&show_article=1

Gay marriage opponents vow to fight Calif. ruling
May 16 11:21 AM US/Eastern
By LISA LEFF Associated Press Writer

***Begin Quote***

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Even as same-sex couples across California begin making plans to tie the knot, opponents are redoubling their efforts to make sure wedding bells never ring for gay couples in the nation’s most populous state.

*** and ***

With a stroke of a pen Thursday, the Republican-dominated court swept away decades of tradition and said there was no legally justifiable reason why the state should withhold the institution of marriage because of a couple’s sexual orientation.

The 4-3 opinion written by Chief Justice Ronald George said domestic partnerships that provide many of the rights and benefits of matrimony are not enough.

“In contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation,” George wrote for the majority in ringing language that delighted gay rights activists.

Gay marriage opponents, meanwhile, derided the ruling as an example of judicial overreaching in which the opinions of a few justices trumped the will of Californians.

The last time the state’s voters were asked to express their views on same-sex marriage at the ballot box was in 2000, the year after the Legislature enacted the first of a series of laws awarding spousal rights to domestic partners.

Proposition 22, which strengthened the state’s 1978 one-man, one-woman marriage law with the words “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California,” passed with 61 percent of the vote.

The Supreme Court’s ruling Thursday struck down both statutes.

***End Quote***

With all due respect to all the passions involved, the State has NO BUSINESS in the regulating of marriage!

# # # # #

Lotus Notes/Exchange
From:
Barbara Swan(Barbara@Swangroup.net)
Contact:

barbara@swangroup.net
Date:
May 14, 2008
To:
John Reinke
Category:
Expertise request
Status:
Pending

Note: You and Barbara share a mutual connection.
You and I are indirectly connected. I am a technical search firm and I have a client looking for someone who can migrate from Lotus Notes to Exchange. This includes e-mail, virus,servers. Will supply 2nd and 3rd level support Notes client support. This is a full time positon located in the Somerville, NJ area. I would welcome any ideas or anyone in this space that you think might help me network. If you send me your personal email address, I will send you the details. I do hope you have time to help me. Thank you for thinking about this. Hope to hear back.
Barbara Swan
www.swangroup.net

# - # - #

I have no more information. {Sargent Shultz says “I know nuthin, Nuting, Nothing at all”!} I put it all in the post. Writing me for more info is a waste of your time and mine.

If you’re interested, leave a blog comment with your name and email. I’ll either send you the contact info, or forward your info to them. Depending upon what they prefer. Either way, you’ll get something back from me.

Note: Don’t put your email in the comment itself unless you want spam from a trollbot. The comment form allows you to put your name, email, and website address.

You might want to include a link to a http://www.emurse.com/ resume or such similar site. I recommend making oneself easy to be found.

You might want to take time to write a short cover on it. You never know who reads these things. You might find your own lead from it (i.e., someone, looking to hire an X, finds me saying someone is looking for X, and ‘poaches’ all the people who responded.). YMMV

Good luck and good hunting.

# # # # #

RE: Looking for a Consultant
From:
Hal Dell
Date:
May 12, 2008
To:
John Reinke
Status:
Pending
Hello… Hal Dell here. I’m look for a resource to help with an interesting programming project. I need a consultant/programmer in North American that develops VB applications in ASP .NET 2.0 or greater for a Web Site Project plus the person needs to demonstrate the capability to programatically manipulate videos using the Windows Media API. For example if I have a multiple Videos I might want to to replace the audio track on every video with another track. If you don’t know of anyone directly please pass along my eMail address to your LinkedIn Network.

# - # - #

I have no more information. {Sargent Shultz says “I know nuthin, Nuting, Nothing at all”!} I put it all in the post. Writing me for more info is a waste of your time and mine.

If you’re interested, leave a blog comment with your name and email. I’ll either send you the contact info, or forward your info to them. Depending upon what they prefer. Either way, you’ll get something back from me.

Note: Don’t put your email in the comment itself unless you want spam from a trollbot. The comment form allows you to put your name, email, and website address.

You might want to include a link to a http://www.emurse.com/ resume or such similar site. I recommend making oneself easy to be found.

You might want to take time to write a short cover on it. You never know who reads these things. You might find your own lead from it (i.e., someone, looking to hire an X, finds me saying someone is looking for X, and ‘poaches’ all the people who responded.). YMMV

Good luck and good hunting.

# # # # #

It happened in Church - October 19, 1962
Chapter Forty Nine - Jeopardy Jumps

Monday 05 Nov begins

Morning ritual

Brother Kevin was up first before dawn. He was back in the reins as an old war horse. There was no doubt. He was eons younger on the Canal or Iwo, but it was like yesterday. He stripped his weapon in the quiet dark, cleaned it as a thousand times before, and reassembled it. No extra parts like a cherry. The years of praying were washed away as the killer came to the fore. He’d protect ‘his’ children. He went to the Office and asked the duty officer to get first the Staff and then everyone up. It was going to be a long day. Perhaps the Longest Day in their short lives.

Fast breakfast

Anticipation was rampant. The Classmates were jubilant. This was a big step on the road to Vermont. Some secretly harbored the belief that it was all a mistake. They’d carry that until the day they died. A child-like hope. But many in the shelter had put that notion aside. All had an undercurrent of hatred for the situation. Killing would be an outlet for that frustration. A bad one, but an outlet none the less. John and Marie served breakfast, like the other Staff, and gave quiet encouragement. “Be not afraid”, “Faith”, and “Providence” were among the messages. Finally as the mob finished up. John gull wing for their attention. “Classmates, today we take another step towards Vermont. Some of us will be out for a walk and doing some chores. Others of us will be here in the Shelter. You in the Shelter have chores to do also. First, you must pray for our safety and our success. Second, you must prepare for the upcoming recoveries and trek. Third, we don’t know if we have found ALL the shelter has hidden; so you must continue to look for the hidden treasures. Let’s all have moment of silent prayer and then some ’till we meet agains’. And, then Jeopardy will form up for the jump. Let us pray.” Saint Taq’s lines were overloaded.

John sought out Sam, Brian, and June. Marie was locked at John’s side. Roy and Jody were similarly locked. John said: “OK, Sam, you have the con. Lock the door behind us and pray. We will be back as soon as we can. So until we meet again.” Sam felt the fear in the Staff. He was afraid. Without all these powerful leaders, who was he? He now felt the weight that collapsed Brother Kevin and weighed on John. How did they do it? Sam said quietly: “You better come back. I’m no leader.” “Sam, my Shelter Brother. You can lead. You may have to lead. You will lead. If we don’t come back, you can assume we were killed in going north. Wait a week. Abandon the recovery plans. And then lead our people east and then north. Forage as you go. Move as quickly and as quietly as you can with the remaining children. Steal cars. You’ll have all but two of the driving teams. Half the rifles. And most of the atlatls. You must be in Vermont in no more than a month, before the snow falls. Be not afraid. We’ll be back before you know it. We are in His Palm and are following His Plan.” Sam didn’t feel much better. But he pretended.

Jeopardy Forms

The Jeopardy team aligned at the door. To the applause of the mob, up the stairway they went. Sam followed them up and went to the OP in the back of the Church. As Sam had planned, he was joined by all the rifles in the shelter. He was planning to watch until they turned the corner. If they engaged near the Church, he would emerge from the front doors of the Church to give them a chance to retreat. If that happened, then they were in the soup anyway.

Jeopardy Jumps

From Sam’s POV, the jump began without any fanfare. Brother Kevin had the Lurp outside before he realized it. Only the gentle sound of the door quietly opening and closing echoed through out the cavernous empty dead Church. In ten minutes it was over, and Sam was straining to see out the little window like a tourist on a bus. It was going to be the longest day in Sam’s life.

+++++

Outside at last

Lurp led off. Brother Kevin was again first thru the door! The air was refreshing. There were a few bodies on the street. At the corner, a crash. He could spend time guessing but it was a waste of time. And no diddling in a free fire zone. He knew what happened when you lost your focus. If you were lucky, it was you. If not, it was a buddy and you’d carry that for the rest of your life. Still, he did treat himself to one deep breath. He moved to and thru the line of cars parked at the curb. He signaled the L’s left and right. He pointed to his eyes and circled his finger 360. And, then to his ears. Then a five. Five minutes to observe and listen. His Paris Island DI would have been pleased he remembered the lesson.

Brother Kevin was enjoying the outside. Sunny, cool but not cold, early. He half expected to see the early commuters walking to the Subway. The quiet. The city was dead. No noise. No cars, no buses, and no people noise. It was ‘worst case’. As a vet, he was used to dead bodies on the field of battle. But this was a city with civilians. He saw things he’d only read about. Flash photographed on walls where people caught outside were forever etched shadows into concrete. Windows closed with no glass. Curtains in rags out some of them. Dead in the street; cars at crazy angles. John was right. There was no evacuation; only death.

His self imposed watching and listening time over. He heard nothing. He saw nothing. He coded Isabella ‘bring them out’. The rest of Jeopardy came out she directed them to the line of parked cars and they moved down the street along the Church. Brother Kevin gave them a hundred count to get used to it. Then he led Lurp down the line. At the head, he took Lurp across the street. Heading for the first corner.

Across the street

John and Marie were a little giddy. Like young lovers out for a stroll. Very young. And no actual carnal loving had taken place. But it might as well have. They were in each others souls. Pants were just a minor step to come. It was refreshing to be out of the Shelter. The sun on their faces.

John looked at Marie. The shelter time had not been good to her. He was used to pristine Marie of school days. Scrubbed hard clean. Joyful. With child-like innocence. Those days were long gone. John could see the first of worry lines in her face. From carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. And that weight was not to be lifted any time soon. And she was dirty. Shocking for Marie. John was sure he wasn’t much better. He hoped for her sake, they’d find showers, clean clothes, and hot chow. Before she found a mirror, and discovered the true cost of the shelter time.

She must have seen the look in his face. She was almost in tears: “Do I look that bad to you? I know I’m a mess. But I hoped it wasn’t that bad to make you not love me any more.” “Marie, silly wench, we are all a little worse for wear and tear. I love you, your soul, and your goodness. We’ll get cleaned up soon and you’ll feel better. You’ll see. And, don’t’ think you can get rid of me that easy. When we’re old and gray in Vermont, you’ll see that while beauty fades, my love for you is forever.” “Liar!” she shot back; secretly pleased at his silver tongue. She felt stirrings in her hot zones and her heart. He was the devil who could charm her pants off. Vermont couldn’t come soon enough. He always seemed to say the right thing. Even better, he did it.

Brother Kevin going by, with a grimace of strain, brought John back to reality. Time for the garage. The first big step to Vermont. Remembering interval, he moved up to where Brother Kevin had crossed. He could feel Marie nested in his hip pocket. Instinctively he looked both ways before crossing as if, in the middle of destruction, a car was going to come, but old lessons are hard to shake. He led Marie across. Almost trying to step in Brother Kevin’s exact footsteps. Like a movie actor trying to avoid mines in a war movie. It made no sense. But ww3 made no sense either.

Marie was, in one part of her mind’s eye, horrified. Her city was dead. It made John’s rantings real. She began to cry. For all the dead children. For all that would die. One of her blue ribboned boards pushed to the front and wouldn’t move out of the way. “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” (Romans 8:22)” This was getting confusing. She’d never read the bible; she was a Catholic. Actually never memorized any of it. What did the verse mean? Today was the first day. She was a proverbial Eve. It did take her mind off the Valley of Death she was in. Instinctively she moved closer to her man. She remembered now she was to be looking back. This was all too frightening for words. A large part of her wanted to return to the shelter and be safe among her Classmates. But duty called and her self-image would not allow her to run.

To the Corner

Roy was the tail end Charlie. He got to watch Jody’s butt. That would be distracting. The Jeopardy team was strung out nicely. Everyone was grim faced. He had to have his head on a swivel, while not bunching up or getting lost. It would be a focus job. But that was a nice butt. He wondered if she would ever be able to release her past and create a future with him. He’d have to be gentle and patient. Time now to get his head in the game. This wasn’t an autopilot job like toilets.

+++++

Op confirms away

Sam watched as Roy disappeared around the corner. They were beyond his help now. He closed and locked the window. The fire team was dismissed and sent to the shelter. Sam checked all the doors, except the sally port they left from, were locked. It was all over for Sam except the praying. He went down the steps to the shelter. Sadly. Left out of the action again.

Sam locks up

It was with tremendous sadness and trepidation that he walked down the stairs to the shelter. From the stairwell, he called the office and ordered the door locked. He walked slowly to the office and wrote in the book. “Lurp away. Pray. Code word to open is … NOT the anchoress. Alert staff One Red on any phone call.” He needed a project to keep himself busy. June had organized continuous rosary. The Firsts were praying now. The Seconds would be next. And so on. Many of the Classmates were just laying and listening. They all knew just how important and dangerous this mission was. Some even drifted off to sleep as the prayerful drone lulled them to peaceful sleep. Sam power walked the shelter and checked the doors. OCD? He stopped in the plant room and cried. It was fear. He composed himself and then went back into the shelter and encouraged the Classmates with listening and small jokes.

+++++

Bodies and Accidents

The Jeopardy team was confronted by accidents that slowed their progress. John assumed that blinded or panicked drivers crashed their cars into parked cars, or in some cases, stores. The team wanted to hug the buildings and move carefully. Inconspicuously. Easier said than done. They were kids. Not used to the eerie silence. Some circled the crash scenes; some went up and over. The bodies were there but not in massive numbers. It was not easy to tell what killed them or when. Those two facts would answer many questions.

+++++

June groks Decon2

Taking a break from the needs of ‘her’ children, June took a walk to Decon2. Having all those little eyes looking up to her as if she had some magic power made her nervous and strained. A break was in order. She looked at the six inch difference in the width of the wall. What could that be for? What gets stored flat? A bank of switches? She went into the Plant Room. And thought about what gets grown in a shelter. That made no sense. Maybe if they could turn out the lights in a room, they could see those hidden key holes with the red lights behind the wall. As hard as she might, she could only worry about the Jeopardy team. She went back to ‘her’ children troubled, but in a strange way refreshed.

+++++

Fifteen minute walk

It should have been a brisk fifteen minute walk. The bob and weave the lurching forward was all taking time. If everyone was dead, they should be running. But that wasn’t the plan. John just had to calm himself. Seconds to make a mistake; lifetimes of regret. He remembered the sniper movies where it took a day to get in position for a good shot.

He took time to observe the shops they were passing. What was destroyed and what was not. He could see bodies inside. He didn’t take time to inspect but was curious how they died. Would something in these stores be worth the time to recover it? Who knew?

Marie’s grabbed

The procession began to relax and just walk. Fear was overwhelmed by routine. Dead bodies in the street began to become routine. Car wrecks at intersections weren’t quite as shocking. Wrecked store fronts, not upsetting. Just milestones to be passed.

Marie was moving leapfrogging John. A hand reached out from a doorway and grabbed her left breast. “Come on sister; let’s party.” She didn’t even think. A side kick to the man’s knee and he was down. He was no longer grabbing her breast for pleasure, but now holding on for support. She linked her hands like a mallet. The upstroke dislodged the man’s grip. The downstroke hit the bridge of his nose with devastating effect. She was readying the to-be-fatal upstroke. Brother Kevin yelled to Marie: “No! STOP!”

She was in the zone. Uncle vin’s instruction in her youth had never been lost. She thought: ‘Why do men think these are handles?’

John looked on the fellow. He smelled drunk. He’d never walk right again. What to do with him was the question? He looked at the cars. The first one he looked at was unlocked, so he opened the new ‘cell’. He dragged the varmint ‘gently’ to the car and shoved.

Brother Kevin was speaking quietly with Marie. John came in on the end. “You may have to kill. But, to avoid the demons, don’t do it without a decision. I know how that Marine move ends. You drive the nose into the brain. It’s deadly.”

John asked “You OK?” Marie said: “Yeah, I don’t think this will leave a bruise.” “Good, don’t want the little classmates hurting in Vermont. I have plans for them.” “You’re disgusting.” She giggled. “You best let me know in advance what you plan. You might lose a knee.” Then she darkened. “Amazing my responses have changed dramatically. I couldn’t make the move when I was grabbed at the Church; here and now, the move made itself.”

Blind Man

After going a distance, three blocks tops, Brother Kevin signaled halt. Again John fumed. This time Brother Kevin pointed to himself, his eyes, held up one finger, and pointed to his rifle. An armed man ahead. Argh! Could anything else go wrong? Survivor or BG? Brother Kevin waved them forward. John and Marie closed up.

The man was feeling the stores with one hand and held a 1911 in the other. Every store he’d turn around and sweep the gun around the perimeter circle. Can’t leave armed BGs in the rear. Marie coded: ’something wrong another drunk’. John pointed to Brother Kevin and the roof line. One L was pointed forward; one back. John pointed to Marie’s eye and then himself. He then waked towards the man. From behind a car, he aimed his rifle over the man’s head and released the safety. The man tuned and did his sweep. He’d have to be blind to miss John with an M1 aimed at him from 50 feet away. Or, the Lurp, 75 feet away.

John slunk back behind the car and coded to Marie: ‘blind or stupid’. She shrugged her shoulders. He coded Brother Kevin: ‘join us’. He moved back to Marie and thought while he waited. His inclination was to bypass. A blind man was no threat to them if they were quiet. Brother Kevin and Marie were looking at him. He coded: ‘blind man. Safe to ignore and bypass’. Brother Kevin nodded yes. Marie nodded no. Argh! The woman would be the death of them yet. She coded: ‘Priest, Levite, or Samaritan, which are we? He will die if we leave him.’ ‘He will slow us down.’ John coded back. Brother Kevin just smiled and thought ‘yes, there will be lots of make up sex.’ She folded her arms, grimaced, stomped her foot, quietly, and closed her eyes. John knew when he was beat.

He poked her in the ribs. She opened her eyes. He coded: ‘Fine, but we can’t pick up every refugee we see. We have limited capacity and a schedule.’ Marie was obviously getting tired of his whining. She coded a few very bad words about an impossible act with a schedule. Brother Kevin took note that it was used exactly like any Marine would use it. He’d have to inquire where she picked up the potty mouth.

He returned to his post. Looked at Marie, she never took her eyes off him. He put up his imaginary umbrella and went ‘thumbs up’. She did too. John stood up from behind the car: “Hello there. I mean you no harm, but that pistol you’re waving about is pretty scary. Care to aim it down and we can talk?” The man swirled around and aimed the gun in several different directions. None of which were in John’s direction.

John quietly moved to the other end of the parked car. “Who’s there?” the man replied with false bravado. “My name’s John. I’m a thirteen year old Catholic grammar school student from Good Sheppard. Please point the gun down or I’ll have to protect myself and my friends.” “There’s more than one of you?” “Yes. From the way we’ve seen you acting, is something wrong?” “No, leave me alone. Go away.” “Well really, I’d like to, but you’re threatening. How do I know you won’t start shooting as we pass?” “You don’t; I will if you come closer.” “These are pretty bad times. People are going to have to work together to survive. Hot out here, you thirsty? I am. I’m going to take a swig out of my canteen. You keep that gun pointed down or my girl friend’s itchy trigger finger will ruin both our days.”

John made some noise with the canteen. Holding away from him over the car roof. The man never looked at it. “Boy, that was good. You must be thirsty. Don’t see any gear; so, I guess your just trying to get some stuff to survive. Hard to do when you’re blind.” With that the man slunk down in the store doorway and began to cry. They were ‘my life is over’ tears. John continued: “If you put the gun down and slide it away, I’ll come over and give you water. We can chat. OK?” “Yes. You could have killed me already.” John stood up, slung the rifle, and watched. The man put the gun down and slid it a good ten feet from him. He acted like he was resigned to dying.

John waved the Lurp up and he walked to the man. “It’s me, John. Here’s a canteen of water. If you hold out your hand I’ll pass it to you.” John was concerned about being grabbed. The man stuck out a very red hand and John put the canteen in it. The man had it open in a flash and took a long drink. Marie and Lurp arrived. Brother Kevin had the girls pointed out.

John said: “Are to tell us your name, stranger.” “David DuBois” “And how did you happen to get in such a state?” “I was looking out the windows when the bombs went off. That was the last thing I ever saw. I made my way down the stairs to the basement. And, broke into the Super’s apartment. Been there until the water ran out.” “Well, we out doing a little shopping. You’re welcome to stick with us until we get to safety.” “Can I keep my 45?” “Do you really think that’s a good idea?” “Probably not.” “Well how about if I hold on to it for now?” “OK, if you wanted to hurt me, you could have already.” “Good, Brother Kevin, would you move out as soon as we’re organized. Marie, would you ask Miss Destiny if she could help our new friend David to get to the garage. David, you’re in good hands now. Just hang in there until we get to the garage at 218th street. We’ll get you some chow then. OK?” “Sure. I appreciate the ‘lift’.” “We’ll talk more tonight when we get back to our shelter.” “OK”

Baby? Baby? Mother Marie

They began to fall into a rhythm. Akin to a drunk staggering down the block. At this pace, John figured the brisk fifteen minutes to the garage was an all day trek. He was impatient; it must have showed. Marie coded ’slow is good no blunders’. As they crossed 211th street, half-way from their destination, the saw a pack of feral dogs on a car barking and trying to get in. They had to pass close by and John was concerned about being attacked after they passed. As they drew closer, Marie coded ‘hear that’. John shook his head no. The pack was sure upset about whatever was in the car. Another dog? John called a halt by the standard fist in the air. Brother Kevin coded back ‘whatsup’. John coded ‘no leave danger in rear’. Marie coded ‘I heard something in car’. John made a decision and coded: ‘kill dogs’. Brother Kevin nodded.

He had a quick confab with the girls. Isabella and the two L’s spread out and unlimbered the atlatls. John nudged Marie pointed to her rifle and pointed towards the girls. Brother Kevin was already setup to cover the girls. Isabella pointed at herself and up at the top dog. She pointed out the left and right to the L’s. Held up two darts. The L’s did the same. She pointed around; everyone was holding thumbs up.

Isabella did the ballerina move with a little twist at the end. The characteristic spit of the atlatl ended with a shriek from the dog atop the car. The dart passed from shoulder to throat with enough force to drive the now dead dog off the car a few feet. The L’s launched a fraction later with similar deadly effect but not near the power. Two more yowls. And the pack was off for safer quarry. John advanced fearlessly. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He waved Marie in and point to Brother Kevin making a circling motion raising an umbrella. He wanted cover.

As Marie arrived at the car, John butt stroked the window behind the driver’s seat. He had the door open. It was warm in the car but not hot. He passed a baby bucket to Marie who looked like she’d just won life’s lottery. Then, he pulled out a second one. She took both and said to him “recover the car; diapers; food; anything.” She went to a doorway to examine ‘her’ findings. She coded back ‘destiny taylor come to me one red’. The sevenths came at the double. She need to get water into these two as quick as possible; she had nothing to work with but God’s tools.

She put out her blanket, broke open her crat, and pulled out her canteen. She sat down in the center of the doorway and took off her jacket. She peeled her blouse. Slid her slip and bra off her shoulders. Rolled her slip to her waist and took off her bra. Her classmates were out and ready for action. Destiny and Taylor were shocked. Probably more than dead bodies; Miss Marie was out in the street naked from the waist up. Scandalous. She grabbed the salt packet and the sugar. She put salt on each babies’ tongue. She presented each baby to a breast. “Pour the water on each very slowly.” The babes latched on and began to suckle. They were getting water. Not a lot but some. More than anything they were getting reassurance. “Put some sugar on each nipple when they release.” First one twin yawned, and Destiny sprinkled some sugar. More water. And twin number one latched back on and nursed with vigor. They repeated the process on the other one when it took a break. Destiny and Taylor used their canteens. The three gals were in their glory. Marie had never felt such stimulation. She’d become Mother Bear instead of Queen Witch. She felt sensations of completeness that she’d never felt before. The babies tickled on a very sensitive part of her body; made her giggle.

John walked up with the diaper bag, and was floored by the show. “Hey Marie, when’s my turn?” “John, you’re crude. Tell me you never seen breasts in use before.” The honest answer was ‘no’. But he said, “Not yours!” Marie was busy with her new charges. “Well you could give a girl a little privacy! We’re only betrothed.” “Betrotheds aren’t usually nursing babes.” “John, go get everything from the car. And, figure out a new plan. I’ll be here about a half hour. Deal with it.” D and T were in the diaper bag in a flash, and changing the babes while they were tight on Marie’s chest. It was like they did it every day. Later John would find out that Destiny was the oldest of the ’steps and stairs of Catholic birth control’ family — she had six younger siblings -and could change a diaper in her sleep. John walked off. He had to admit the girl had … … ’stones’, ‘huevos’, or big brass ones! In the middle of the aftermath of an atomic bomb, she can calmly sit down and save some babies. That’s stones. Bigger than I have. He went and visited Brother Kevin; maybe they could come up with something. He was worried if the dogs came back. Marie was defenseless. Again he underestimated the Queen Bee.

He walked to Brother Kevin. “We are going to be here a half hour. You’ve got guard duty. I’ll get some help from the mob. Marie has had babies. Now every girl will be loopy until the novelty wears off.” Brother Kevin was a good mud marine; nothing surprised him. John went to the rear and deployed DT1 slightly forward of the nest, DT2 slightly back, and Recovery1 across the street. “Dogs and intruders are not permitted past you at all costs.” The Rear Guard was similarly instructed, but they really didn’t have a role other than to prevent a sneak up the other side of the street. He returned his attention to the car.

The glove box had the registration. Hopefully it was the poor woman’s car. It looked OK. So he presumed she succumbed to radiation. There was no food or water in the car. Forced out of shelter too early by lack of supplies? He was guessing. Hard to listen to your babies cry as they die of dehydration or starve to death. He promised the silent corpse, that her babies would be well taken care of; Marie would see to that. The ignition yielded keys; keys opened the trunk. The trunk yielded two small suitcases and tire iron / jack combo. A real tool finally. He brought the suitcases to the nest. He could see the D and T team busily working on blankets between water pouring. Turning around, he walked backwards to the nest: “Here’s everything from the car.”

“Turn around you fool.” As ordered, Marie, a much more top heavy one, was attired in her school shirt covering her frontally with the babies obviously under her shirt. John wondered how they made that fit? “We split the back for the shirt if your wondering. Add a new shirt to you list of things you need to provide.” The water was being drizzled inside. She was glowing. “We can move in ten minutes. We need formula with baby bottles asap; these two are only going to be fooled so long. Not baby food. Men are such dolts. The liquid baby formula. It may be in a powder. Bring me what you find. The children are about a month old. I’ll be moving slower with the added load; you’ll have to protect us and provide for us. You never imagined having babies was this easy. Told you that kissing was risky. You knew I was ‘fert tile’ right?” The three women started giggling. Like he said, they’d all lost their collective minds. But he’d play along. “Queen B, I thought there was more involved - you know - some nudity, some sweating, some praying, like ‘oh my God’, some nasty things we only have heard about?” “Silly men, we’ve got a better way now. No rutting needed.” And more girlish glee. He was beaten. He did his parade rest outside the nest. The girlish chatter was unintelligible, but not inaudible. For some reason, he felt he was the joke’s butt.

+++++

Brian’s Kabuki

Brian sat at the table to organize his thoughts. ‘What do Firsts learn?’ He asked his staff. Circles and letters. So he had to design an encryption scheme that was easy. It had to be believable. Alpha substitution would be at the heart. Two strips of paper; lower one A-Z, upper one two rows: A-Z and Z-A. Given a known setting. A first message could be easily encoded using the lower A-Z with the cipher text on the top row. The next message would use the upper Z-A of the two alphabets. PI or 22/7 would have to be the key for a next message shift. 3.14159 26535 +3 -1 +4 -1 +5 -9 +2 -6 +5 -3 +5. It would drive any amateur nuts. And, the pros would have to kick the squirrel in the computer room.

He wrote: “Kabuki is a deliberate attempt to deceive the audio intelligence forces in Vermont to help, or at least not obstruct, our trek to Vermont. We will engage in overt communications designed to covertly identify ourselves, our destination, and our identities. Using plausible activities, we will slip under their suspicions. Coders will compete for one of twelve spots. Marie will train using her FFT paper’s overview. Finally John will write a letter to their boss. Our encryption will be a simple alphabetic substitution, which will shift keys with every new line of a message. Alternate alphabets by message. Shifting key every message.”

He showed June and she began teaching the Classmates the encryption scheme. It absorbed their minds, and became a game for them.

+++++

Candy bars

Well, John, now had a project. The next corner grocery store they past would have to be recovered. He wanted to dispatch baby supplies with Marie when they left for the depot. He really didn’t have a good tool other than the jack from the car. He took it. If nothing else he could heave it thru a window. Was anything going to go according to plan? He knew his neighborhood. There was a corner store about two blocks from the garage. If he could! He knew from his grandfather that most locks were always too hard to cut, but the hasps they were locked to were usually rusty or improperly tack welded. He seen trailer hitches that his grandfather was asked to opine on, literally twist off in his grandfather’s hands. He always said: “twist it off, boy”. That better be right!

He coded Lurp ‘rest at the store’. Another unanticipated stop. The grate was down. He looked at the padlocks. They looked good. But the hasps they were locking were rusty. So he took the tire iron and slipped it thru the hasp. He brought it to tension and got his foot on it. He laid on the ground and put his leg into it. The hasp broke like an egg. He went to the other side and he tried the same attack. It was not as rusty. He tried another approach. He set the jack under the hasp and started jacking. After two missteps, he got it snuggled in right. The jack did what he couldn’t twist. It didn’t break it off but he moved it good half inch. He went back to the twist attack and then it gave up its treasure. He rolled up the gate. Forced the door and he was in. Couldn’t find the light switch but it was pretty bright outside. Diapers and formula. What did he know? He pulled a dozen things that he’d have called ‘baby food’, and brought them to the queen for her approval. She shook her head in disgust at his stupidity, but picked four out as preferred. She said “Two weeks, two kids, six meals a day, I need at least 168 meals. And, the same amount of diapers. Chop, chop, boy. Show me you can provide for me, should I deign to go thru with a marriage. Impress me!” She was teasing. He’d already shown her his virtues. She knew he’d bust a gut for anything she wanted.

First thing he spotted was the two two-wheel grocery carts. That brought back memories of a simpler time and place. John used to hustle old ladies for quarters by carrying their groceries home. He had his own grocery cart and would stand outside the supermarket with the other entrepreneurs. Little old ladies would come out of the store with bags of groceries and engage a strong back / weak mind to do the carrying. At the end of the trek was a quarter or two, which could mean the movies for oneself and the honey of your choice. Or some guys, if you were loveless. John had a secret suspicion, that some of the old gals just did it for the company.

TomT was recovering the store. John grabbed a box of plastic grocery sacks. The Recovery team found all of the preferred baby items. And bagged them in the brown paper bags. One cart was filled with the diapers. The other with food. TomT came to him and said: “Can we take some candy for the shelter?” “Sure” Each cart then had a large box of candy. John noticed that everyone’s pockets were bulging. John took a Hershey’s bar for the Queen. He looked around and spotted some baby bottles, some pacifiers, and stuffed toys. He grabbed them.

Having looted the joint, he went back outside. Everyone was nibbling on cookies and warm soda. He passed the bag to Mother Bear; made a special presentation to the chocolate bar. She said “I’m impressed for the time being. But you’ll have to do more and better.” A small venial sin of lust was committed when he thought of what he wanted to more of. He’d do that better too with more practice. He gave the wind it up signal. And, everyone got their acts back together. The pushed off in that weird gait. At least they were moving again. He thought: ‘What’s next? An insurance salesman, a cop to charge them with theft, or a Bravo Golf.’ He sighed with the weight of the world.

At the Garage

They finally made the garage. It wasn’t high noon, but he figured it took them three hours to make a fifteen or thirty minute walk. They’d have to work fast to make up lost time. Marie looked radiant. But a little resemblance to a squirrel with stuffed cheeks. Except her stuffings were chest high. She seemed energized.

John found the key right where it was supposed to be. He pinned the doors back and clicked the light switch. Fortunately, it worked. John went down in the garage. Luck was breaking their way. First car, he went after was that new station wagon. He pulled it out and it had three quarters of a tank. He put Driving Team #2 (i.e., Miss Sarah, Miss Julia, and Miss Olivia under the direction of Miss Destiny) with chipmunk Marie, Roy, Boy Scout James, and their new friend David. The baby supplies were in the back. Marie would have time to do stuff while she was waiting. He gave her a chaste kiss and sent her to their destiny; he could only pray to see her safely at the end of the day. He was afraid for her safety.

Lurp goes to Pawn.

Next chore was to dispatch the Lurp. Brother Kevin, Isabella, Lisa, and Linda had swept the outside area as best they could. It was time for them to move on and establish surveillance of the Pawn shop. He said to Brother Kevin: “Time for you to move. We’ll take our chances. See you in an hour hopefully. Via Con Dios!” Brother Kevin was off in a heartbeat. It was only four blocks up Broadway and two over. John went over with Miss Jody and Miss Destiny how they needed to be alert and listen for rifle fire. They were both well aware that they only had Jody and John as riflemen. John gave his rifle to Miss Destiny to hold while he was running around. Jody showed her some of the finer points of aiming and shooting.

TomT & team recover the garage.

John next moved his Grandfather’s prized 57 Ford up the ramp and out into the street. At the very least, they now had wheels. As he was walking around the car. Gramp’s had instilled in him that he should look carefully at any car he drove. It was his Grandfather’s procedure to walk around the car before he locked up the garage. Gramps had added a trailer hitch. Or, was this the first time he noticed it? He took the keys with him. Waved and gave thumbs up to DT#1 and Recovery#1 as he went back down.

John quickly looked at each car in the garage from the ramp. There was Mister O’Hara’s beautiful cream caddy. Too gas guzzling. A smattering of Fords and Chevys. But he saw the largest car in the garage was someone’s VW wagon. He went and started that up and brought it around to the bottom of the ramp. Opened up all the doors and took the keys. And bounded up the ramp. Time for Recovery#1 to get to work.

John waived TomT over. “OK. TomT, it’s your time to shine. Recover the garage please. Line up all the stuff by the van and we’ll decide what we are taking.” TomT was ten feet tall. He waved his folks down and they were in heaven.

John went over to the side of the door and did a parade rest. He may have even taken a nap.

# # # # #

# # # # #

RE: Looking for a Consultant

It happened in Church - October 19, 1962
Chapter Forty Eight - Desperate Housekeeping

Sunday 04 Nov (continues)

Body Bagging

After the viewing, Brother Kevin got to work. Naturally Roy was with him. John, the big fat dope, was leading. And, surprisingly Marie was helping him. Good woman that girl. He had visions that if John was shoveling “Barbara Streisand”, she’d be next to him matching him shovel for shovel. They’d make a good couple.

Brother Kevin explained the fine art of bagging bodies to them. The body was a now empty temple of God’s handiwork. It was to be treated with respect. But it was empty. Burying the dead was one of the corporal works of mercy. So they were doing the Lord’s work. It was important to get all the big pieces in the right bag. In each bag was a tag and a pencil stub. Barely a half inch, more like lipstick than a pencil. The tag was to have the person’s name. It had a form. But that was for a battle field. Brother Kevin wasn’t sure what you’d call this. If possible, you should put the name on the tag. Then he wanted to place the bodies in a stack for another day.

That’s when he got a shock. John said: “If we stack them, I want to stack them near ‘our’ door. This way we won’t have to move them to far when we load them.” Brother Kevin exclaimed: “Load them?” “Yes,” said John, “all Classmates are going to Vermont. I’ll bury them there. In my aunt’s lower pasture, where they will be at peace.” “That’s crazy. Take 50 some odd bodies 750 miles for no good reason.” “Yup, and the reason is that they are our Classmates. I wouldn’t leave a single one. If there were a thousand and I have to make several trips. One goes; we all go.” “Marie talk to him. He’s gone over the edge.” “Brother Kevin, Love you. But he’s right. They are our spiritual sisters and brothers.” “We won’t have room.” “We’ll make room. If we have to tie them on the bumpers like deer, they’re going.”

Brother Kevin hoped that common sense would prevail. So they got to bagging and tagging. Fifty plus bodies. It took the better part of three hours. They were beat when they returned to the shelter.

The mob was waiting. And, stood and applauded.

+++++

Desecration

Brother Kevin was concerned about the desecration. He was concerned about the future. And the possible future desecrations when they left it for good. He felt he had some obligation as a religious to preserve the sanctity of the Church. He asked for Marie and John to help him figure out his responsibility and response.

They sat around the Dining Room table and kicked the ball around. Brother Kevin stated the problem: “When we leave, we’ll leave the consecrated hosts, the chalices, and platens. I’m not so concerned with the unused ones. Those we should take and sell for the children’s survival.” Marie asked the obvious question: “How can we tell the difference?” “An unused one will be sewn into a linen bag like an alb. When it’s used for the first time the alb is destroyed. There is about six in the sacristy for a visiting priest to use should he not have his own. I would suggest that we load one of the traveling cases with everything that’s used when they go to an away location, like a retreat. Anything that’s been blessed and used should be returned to the first prelate we find. The hosts should be consumed by the youngest children. The Firsts are too young to have sinned so they’d be in keeping with the Cannons. I’m on thin ice here.” John added: “It would seem that this is an exceptional circumstance. The military has an axiom ‘better to beg forgiveness than ask permission’. I’d say we do what seems appropriate to preserve the dignity of the sacraments.” Acting as the laity, in consort, and in the absence of magisterium, they decided that the hosts would be consumed, sacred objects preserved to be returned, and the unused valuables would be taken for the benefit of the children.

Little did they know that the Canons had several provisions like Canon 911 for cases of necessity, where the permission of the hierarchy may be assumed, to prevent desecration, and for all actions taken in good conscience after reflection and with appropriate decorum. June explained to the Firsts what was needed to happen. They were blissfully innocent as to what was the concern. But being told this was serious, they took it so. Together with John, the Staff, and the Eighths they held a little religious service. Prayers and then Brother Kevin used the tabernacle key to open it. The key was kept under the linen right in front of the little door. To Brother Kevin, it was very emotional. To the children, it wasn’t anything. To the unchurched, it would be unintelligible. So, he carefully, without touching the hosts, used a communion cloth to distribute the hosts to the children. There was some wine of unknown status; that too was consumed by the children. A priest’s fingers are consecrated during the bishop’s administration of Holy Orders. It would be disrespectful for him to do otherwise. It really was necessity. But it troubled him greatly. After their service, when all the consecrated items were consumed, he extinguished the ‘Presence Candle’ that notifies Catholics that the tabernacle is occupied by consecrated items.

They carefully packed anything used in the travel chest. Anything that was unused was placed separately. The bodies were stacked neatly ready for transport. They were not going to need a big truck for this. John was concerned about carrying bodies disrespectfully. Marie was concerned what the Church authorities would have to say about all of this. Brother Kevin was concerned about how the world had changed. It would trouble them all for a while. Men and Women of conscience always are concerned that they not only do the right thing for the right reasons, but do it in the right way.

+++++

Marie Groks The Shelter

Marie did what she always does when she’s upset - power walks the length of the shelter. Now she added a new wrinkle up and down the stairways and around the Church. The more she walked, the more enraged she became at the Bravo Golfs, at the desecration of ‘her’ Church, and at John. He was the ‘white knight’; wasn’t he supposed to ride in and save her. He did once. She laughed to herself … ‘but what has he done for me lately’. Crossing the center aisle, reflexively she genuflected, out of habit, the Presence was not there, but it once was. It calmed her.

She prayed silently, ‘dear saint taq, come around, i’ve lost my way and i can’t be found. not here in the church, but in life. what will become of me? of us? of the children? will we survive to vermont like that big loveable fat lug believes? he was right about worst case. help me, dear saint taq, understand the plan for my life.’ (So summoned, Saint Taq reviewed the events and found them excellent. They’d done well to preserve the dignity of the Church. They’d acted as the laity; the Lord would never let His flock stray for the Way. Now she merely needed to realize her true potential and destiny. She needed no white knight; she had power. Like the baby elephant trained to the chain, when big can be held by a thread. She too needed to just realize what threads were binding her. Taq prayed the Lord to give her wisdom. Wisdom maybe called the power to see the boundaries of our knowledge and to extend those limits.)

Marie felt a strange peace come to her heart. The partial verse ‘in whom I am well pleased’ came to mind and was suddenly written on every page in her mind. Covering everything else that was ever written. She was in awe. She was afraid. She’d lost all she knew. Suddenly, in her minds eye, a trumpet sounded, and verses began flooding over her pages. Verses she’d never committed to memory on any of her pages. “Matthew 18:19 Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 21:22 And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Luke 11:9 So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. John 15:16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” Over and over again, on every metal page. In colors and sizes unimaginable. So big and so vibrant it physically hurt. Finally, the onslaught ended. A warm feeling embraced her whole body. She felt … … safe, loved, and enclosed. One last page was writ before her inner eye in a font and style she had never seen. “James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” She swooned.

When she awoke, Lisa and Linda were shaking her. She was sitting on her butt in the main aisle out side the alter rail. Lisa said “Are you OK? We were following you on your gallop thru the shelter. You seemed upset. We saw you genuflect for a double quick heartbeat. And the next thing we knew you’d fallen backward. Like you were pushed. We grabbed you otherwise you’d have hit your head.” Linda said “Lisa, shut it. Marie say something.” “I’m OK.” She squeaked. She was still foggy. She thought: ‘What had just happened? Had she just received a gift like Saul on the road to somewhere. How did her beloved John describe it - not UPS - you can’t mistake it. But what did I just get? I don’t understand it’. She got up and looked around. The Church was empty except for her, the L’s, and the OP team. She felt different. Like she was seeing the Church through bigger eyes. She was focused.

Were all the hidden things in the shelter just tests of our faith in Him? Where did that thought come from? The last passage was still on the board in front of her mind’s eye. She could see around it. She couldn’t move it out of the way to see the other behind it. We really never asked for His help. Sure here and there. Like a poorly prepared student praying over a test; the time for prayer was weeks prior when inspiration would be granted. Then that student could do their own work. She knelt again on one knee and prayed: “Lord, please give me the wisdom I need to fulfill Your Plan.” The blocking board snapped closed. All her other boards were now viewable. They were bigger and more colorful. Certain ones had red ribbons on them. Others blue. Some had none. What did it all mean?

She looked around the Church. The L’s were afraid. “I’m OK. I’m really OK. I’m so OK; it’s scary.” She embraced Lisa and gave her a big hug. Not sexual but sisterly. “Thank you, Lisa, for being my friend.” She embraced Linda similarly. “Thank you, Linda, for being my friend.” She smiled and said “I’m truly sorry for thinking of you as the L’s; you’re each unique and beautiful women. It’s no wonder the boys are crazy for you. Those pony tails draw attention to your butts.” The L’s were speechless. Marie had to have hit her head.

Marie looked around the Church. She was aligning the shelter below with the church above. The Plant Room was directly below the crossing; she now knew the intersection where the nave and transept meet is called the crossing. Had she read that somewhere long ago? Instantly a page she never saw before flashed to the fore, it was a like a book report reference. “Design Features of Notre Dame”. That was scary. She went to rub her forehead and it was gone. As if she whisked it away.

Interesting that there was an empty space above it.

She walked over to the ‘Stock Room’. It was close to the other vestibule door. And, she never really focused on the pews. They were different some how. “Linda, Lisa, look at the pews. Are they different?” The L’s gave them the once over. “Nah, just pews.” Marie felt something calling her to the ground. She looked down the long aisle across the Church. These pews had a strip in the middle on the floor; the others don’t? This was sacred ground where her Classmates died. It felt weird to be crawling around in a crime scene. The strip had a joint in the middle and were not affixed to the floor. Strange? She pulled up on it and it ’scissored’ easily. These were retractable pews. “Quick, ladies, pull all these up.” The L’s may not be observant, but they were the fastest at following instructions. As more joins were pulled, the pews became ‘loose’. When all were up, Marie ran around to the front and pushed. They wanted to move but she needed more umph. The three of them pushed and the pews slid back exposing bare floor. (In the arms locker, unseen by anyone, a green light came on.) She giggled: “It’s an elevator. Don’t you see? That’s how they brought the CD supplies DOWN to the shelter. That’s how we will bring them up. Come the next part of the secret is in the Stock Room. Adjutant, adjutant, where are you?” Someone comes a running. “Miss Abigail, would you please have the Duty Officer to extend my compliments to the Staff and Master John. Ask them to join me in the Stock Room Two Green!” “Yes, Miss Marie.” Abigail ran to the phone. She hoped the Staff never realizes that they could call themselves.

With the bouncing pony tails that inspired lust in almost all the boys, Marie bounded down the up stairs to the stock room. The shelves had a similar strip. How could they have been so blind? They unsnapped the strips and shoved the shelves out of the way. (In the arms locker, unseen by anyone another green light came on. And a red button lit up.)

The Staff was wandering in. John came in and saw Marie was flushed. Marie thought: ‘Where would you put an elevator button? Out of the way.’ “Sam, please open the Arms locker?” Sam exclaimed: “This is different.” Marie said: “May I?” Sam said: “Sure, you found it.” Marie pushed the button, a bell rung, and the floor rose up about a foot. “Not much of an elevator’ she thought and pushed again. Another bell and the shelter room’s roof developed a hole. Splitting apart. The floor rose on a giant tube all the way up. A hydraulic elevator.

Everyone applauded. John gave her a passionate full frontal kiss. “John, this is scandalous. What will the Classmates think?” “That I’m going to marry the smartest woman on Earth!” “I don’t think that … …” was cut short by a more passionate kiss. Those buttons began to tingle and she was weak at the knees. Loss of oxygen maybe?

+++++

Lunch-less Lunch

John faced the Classmates. It wasn’t really lunch-less. Some were eating. The trick was keeping it down. One could be sitting there and have the sickening images flash back!

John, taking a leaf for June’s book, just stood there waiting expectantly. It didn’t take long.

Three classmates stood up. Roy, Andrew, and June. John had a feeling these were going to be hot grounders.

“Master Roy, you stood up first.” “It’s more of a statement, than a question. Speaking for the Men of the Eighth, unless some one objects, <pausing> we will not tolerate any boy intimidating our sisters. Yeah, that’s right. Sisters. Maybe not biological; emotionally. You mess with my sister; you mess with me. Care to comment?” “Agreed. No one ever has the right to initiate force on another human being. Any boy, who thinks differently, I’d like to talk to. Any one, who acts out that way, will get some painful remedial instruction. I don’t think that the women are so weak as to need our help. I’m more ashamed that such thinking could go on during my watch. One for all; all for one! Harm my sisters or my brothers at your peril. Not on my watch. And, if you, who ever you are, have so much time and energy, how about applying it to our opportunities? Enough said.”

“Master Andrew” “Well Mister Prophet, what’s your next prediction?” “Overlooking the scorn, we prophets know what happens in our own lands. I predict we haven’t seen the last of trouble. Jeopardy tomorrow. We’ll run thru again.”

Miss June?” “Master Speaker John: In light of all the death we’ve seen today. May we turn off the TV tonight and pray the rosary for all the people who are lost - we hope temporarily?” “Sounds like a good idea. Frankly, Brian’s jokes stink.”

“Let’s have Jeopardy drill after this.”

Everyone left laughing. The threat of rape made him mad. He wasn’t laughing. Lord of the Flies. Was civilization breaking down?

+++++

Afternoon Drill

Sam set out the chairs:

First Lurp. Brother Kevin and Isabella inside; Lisa and Linda outside.

Second, Marie and John.

Third, Driving Team #1 Master David (6), Master Brandon (6), and Master Jude (6) under the direction of Miss Taylor (7).

Fourth, Driving Team #2 - Miss Sarah (6), Miss Julia (6), and Miss Olivia (5) under the direction of Miss Destiny (7).

Fifth, Recovery #1 - Master Alexander, Miss Brianna, Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Madison under the direction of Master TomT.

Sixth, Roy and Jody with Boy Scout James always in the middle.

Sam said: “Silence is golden. First choice is the atlatl; it’s quiet. If you engage an enemy, then you must escape as best you can. Don’t lead them back to the Church. Go to the school. Hide in a classroom. Call the Shelter office. We’ll figure out how to get you. Remember you’re noise discipline. Because we all code, there should be never a reason to yell. Cover your mouth when you talk. Humans are hard coded to hear voices over distance. Think small and quiet; act big and bold. If confronted, pretend the cavalry is just over the rise. Confidence in a weak enemy creates doubt. Use it to escape.”

Sam continued: “Stick to the plan. To the garage for transport. DT#1, Marie, Roy, and James go to the depot; you’re alone the longest — use it wisely — don’t be seen — choose wisely — we may need your picks to survive in Vermont — leave your choices ready to run — we may be under fire when we come to do the pickup. Lurp goes to Pawn. TomT & team recover the garage - trade off big for distance. John, Jody, TomT & Team, and DT#2 go to pawn. Get guns and anything useful; gold will pay for a comfortable life in Vermont? Lurp moves to Radio Shack. TomT & team recover the Pawn Shop; need CBs for kabuki. Move to depot. Pick’em up and run for home.”

Sam was on a roll: “This is the most dangerous of our excursions. We have no idea what we will face. Go slow, but fast. Choose wisely; we don’t want to have to go back. You’ll be prepped to stay out over night. When you lose the light, hunker down. Try not to do that; we’ll worry.”

“OK, let go around the room a few times.”

Six times to be exact. Everyone was serious. Deadly serious.

It was almost time for dinner when they wrapped.

Sam wagged John and they gathered with the depot team. Marie, Roy, and James. John led off: “You guys have the most dangerous task, because you’re hanging out alone. You have to identify two food trucks and one fuel truck. A bus from next door. Tee them all up. You have to find us an empty truck to take with us. Now the fun part. You have two, perhaps three if we are lucky, choices. Pick wisely. I can’t tell you what to pick. Unless we hear from our friends in Vermont, you’ll have to use your gut. I have no idea what’s there. All things being equal; they never are; pick something with full tanks.” Sam had some specific advice. “Careful picking refers that are not running. They’ve probably spoiled.”

Sam, Marie, and John were just sitting. John said: “The Pawn Shop is a hidden key. I’m doing that because it’s going to be a tradeoff between time and value. I’m toying with the idea of bringing the explosives.” Marie was horrified: “What do you know about explosives?” “Nothing other than they go boom.” Marie appealed: “We need Brother Kevin.” “The guns will be in a locked rack, but unless we are incredibly lucky, the gold coins will be in the vault.” Brother Kevin, hearing his name, joined them. “Brother Kevin. This fool wants to blow up the Pawn Shop. Tell him he can’t. Please.” “Well, he probably can. If he wants Bravo Golf to know where we are. But why bother? There’s Phosphoric acid in the basement of the school.” Three people said “SO?!” “Well, assuming is a cheap safe that’s not too tight, you spill water all over the door seams, cover it with a wool blanket, put the solid block of acid in a tin cup, light the chafing candle under it, shove it under the blanket, and go have a smoke. Fifteen minutes, thirty tops, it will weaken any steel bolts in the door. Put the fire out. Let the area air out a little! Stuff’s corrosive. Go tug on the door and if your lucky, the door comes open in your hands. No noise. If it doesn’t work, then you notify the neighborhood. Better living thru chemistry. Oh, and it you breathe the stuff it’ll kill you like you drowned.” John said: “Works for me!” Marie shook her head: “You all are certified idiots. And, I’m stupid to go along.”

Brother Kevin said: “I’ll make a quick run into the basement for the acid. I know exactly where it is and I have Brother Prefect’s key. Fifteen minutes tops.” Sam said: “I don’t like it. We haven’t practiced it. John said: “Risk reward? If I can open the safe silently, that’s a big reward!” Sam added: “But it may not work.” John said: “We gotta go for it. What will make you happy?” Sam though a minute and said: “You with a shotgun and me with a rifle, we cover him.” John said: “Let’s go. Marie can you cover the Church entrance?” “No! We’ve been very lucky so far. You cowboys running off half cocked isn’t right. Let take a few minutes and do it right. Bring two full fire teams. One to cover the Church side; one for the basement side. Then you cowboys can get the acid. I insist!” With a little stomp of her foot. That settled that. You might debate with her ticked off fingers, but the foot, never! She was probably even right.

John went to the office and summoned: Kayla, Linda, Lisa, Michael, Taylor, and Tyler. They quickly went over the plan. Brother Kevin would lead the team down. After a quiet time, the cowboys would split off. They’d roll up the same way. John asked: “Marie OK?” “Yes” was the quick curt reply.

They rolled it out just like it was planned. The acid was right in the caretaker’s office. The cowboys were tempted to look around, but Marie’s caution had the desired effect so they ran home with tails between their legs.

Marie was pleased. That’s all John cared about.

+++++

Dinner

The Classmates were sad and glad. Sad that it was ‘worse case’; glad that things were moving forward. Tomorrow was Jeopardy. The pace was picking up. Rumors abounded about the school raid.

+++++

No TV

June led the rosary. It was sad. There were tears. There was peace. There was hope.

+++++

Staff Meeting

Master John opened with a quick summary: “Did the Church; I thought it went well. Did a quick run for the acid; I thought it went well. I pray Jeopardy does as well.” Centurion Sam reported: “We’ll lock up until you get home.” CoS Brother Kevin explained: “We have to keep things moving so the Classmates don’t have time to be afraid. I’m terrified. And, anyone who isn’t is either a fool or stupid!” G1 Personal Marie reported: “This groking stuff works; that’s how I found the elevator.” G2 Intelligence Brian added: “I’ll have the kabuiki file ready tomorrow; my staff came up with the encryption scheme.” G3 Training Roy said: “We bagged 52 Classmates and three faculty; sad to report. I am afraid to guess why so few faculty.” G4 Logistics Jody repeated her refrain: “I have no way yet to move the water.” G5 Morale June said: “The mural is in effect done; we’ll bless it and be gone when the time comes. And, it’s near.”

+++++

Time with Marie

It was John’s favorite time of the day. He said: “You’re beautiful when you stamp your foot. It’s like when you play with your fingers.” She was pensive: “Will there ever come a time when we are on the same page?” “Does it matter as long as we’re together?” “Guess not.” They walked some more.

The Queen’s Corner was the anchor of the women’s dorm. The Eighth’s two lines - gals and guys - were getting closer. Tonight you could still tell the difference; tomorrow it would be one. There was no doubt what it said. There are standards that we believe in. There are standards that we will enforce. There are standards that are worth killing and dying for.

Marie made the ‘bed’. She demurely sat down and gestured him to join her. She held his hand and looked him right in the eye. “John, my dear, if tomorrow something happens to one of us, the other must go on. Just know, that tonight, I feel fully alive. A woman filled with love for you. Waiting for the priest is a my joy. It allows me a glimpse of what may be His Plan for us. If it’s not to be, it just means something better is. I saw the dead today and felt they were at peace. I received a gift today that I still can’t even describe. Let’s get to Vermont; the joy will only carry me so far.” John said “Let’s get some sleep; tomorrow’s going to be a long day. Promise me you won’t take any chances. I can imagine going on without you. Don’t let that happen.” They nestled. Quietly. Faithful to their vows of chastity. Silently. Aware of the possible bad things to come. Secure in their faith; filled with the belief in His Providence.

One doubt did slip into Marie’s mind, perhaps she should be taking a bit of John so that he’d leave a little something behind of himself for her. She didn’t know what was right. She knew if she waved her little classmates at him, he couldn’t control himself any longer. Was this the boundary of her knowledge? She prayed silently: ‘dear saint taq, james 1:5, should i? is it time for me to have john’s baby? what if he dies? a scared little girl’ (So summoned, Saint Taq reviewed the fact of the cases, these children were finding their stride. Those boys, who were tempted to rape, had no idea the ramifications of their sin. They’d find out when called to account. They’d put their ugly idea in Marie’s beautiful mind. She was presuming God’s Plan. He prayed the Lord to give her the Grace of Wisdom. Again.) As Marie prayed, a smaller gentler version of her experience today occurred. Warmth enveloped her. The giant white wall appeared again, blocked her view of all her pages, and there writ again in the strange script was “”But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lusts. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” James 1 : 14 - 15″ She was at peace. But confused, she never memorized Bible verses. She’d never even read the Bible. She slept.

# # # # #

# # # # #

Entertaining problem. Did Jasper Jottings this week as usual. Just under one hour. New issue up and pushed. Checked the JasperJottings website. New index is up. Click on this week’s link and get last week’s issue. Argh!

First thought is to blame Microsoft Word. Check the site’s web page the link is correct.

Second thought is it had to be 1and1’s problem. Call tech support. Got right through. Who has problems on Sunday morning. Nice lady confirms my stuff is right. (That’s a relief!)

She does some stuff. And, comes back to tell me my week 19 upload actually has week 18 in it. Huh?

So, very embarrassed, I ring off.

Word again?

So I cut ‘n’ paste to a new document. Upload.

Shazam, problem solved.

Elapsed time one hour!

Great productivity tool, Microsoft. Great one.

# # # # #

FROM A FORUM EXCHANGE

You probably want to believe in the FEMA myth too. It would be comforting. “I’m from the gooferment and I’m here to help” — help screw up your life worse than it already is.

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

I really do believe that, at the root of all human problems, our belief in government, the force that we give it and it wields against our fellow man, is our downfall as human beings. Like a mental disease. Like a parasite. Like a desert mirage.

When challenged, I always ask “Name one government program that is a success?” Bear in mind that buying a hammer for 5k$ is not a success. Effectiveness and efficiency. I have yet to hear of one.

Disclaimer: I stole this idea from the Free Talk Live podcast.

Arghhhhhh?

# # # # #

FROM AN EMAIL TO A TURKEY

It’s a new reality; jobs don’t stay around long. Every employee has to realize they are just a consultant, with a gig of undetermined length, without a contract or an agreement.

# # # # #

It happened in Church - October 19, 1962
Chapter Forty Seven - Push into the Church

Sunday 04 Nov begins

Men Rally To The Gals

Jody woke and found that she had a surprise in store when she looked around. A respectful ten feet from the ’shelter sweeties’ line there was another line. The Eighth males had formed up obviously after dark and were paired back to back sleeping at parade rest. There was a line of folding chairs folded flat on the floor in the spaces. Somehow, the males detected their upset, came up with a plan, and actioned it. How could they have known? Was living for two weeks in close quarters with unrelated males without sex causing ‘brother - sister’ ‘identical twins’ mental telepathy? She walked to the ‘outside line’. The nearest male to her was Roy backed up with Sam. While she wanted to kiss him, she needed to chat first. She nudged him with her foot. He snapped to wakefulness and was looking for a target. Sheepishly, he looked up. She said “You might as well stand up. The view isn’t going to change.” She put her hand down to give him a boost. He rocked back and said “Sam, awake?” “Yup, I had to let Jody sneak up on you.”

Roy used Jody’s offered hand. He stretched and slung the rifle. He just waited. He always went very slowly so as not to spook her. She was skittish. “What’s this?” Jody said pointing to the chairs. Other Eighths were rising as well. “Seemed like there was some ‘misunderstanding’ about what conduct the men of the Eighth would accept. So we decided to make a statement! Some of the knuckle heads think that we’re going to die today and need to leave a little part of themselves to posterity. I think I may have mentioned that they hadn’t demonstrated they were worth saving. Seemed like a good idea to make point of what we’d consider acceptable behavior.” Jody looked deeply in this man’s eyes. She could see the character of his soul. “Thanks. Some of the younger ones were afraid.” “Sorry, that happened.” Jody gave him a hug and a peck. “We’ll have to see where your goodness leads us.” “It will only lead where you want it to and when you want it to. Jody, I’m here for the long haul.” What did Marie say ‘boys talk; men do’!

+++++

Today’s Meter Reading

Brother Kevin was up early. He was on a mission. The Fire Team unlocked the door and one went out to watch for his signal. He went up a few stairs. Instant reading. About .3 whatevers. So, Brother Kevin quckstepped back down, signaled the door to be locked, and tugged on it as a test. Today!

“Adjutant!” “Yes, Brother Kevin” “Please run and inform the Office. My complements to all the Staff. If they would please meet me at the stairwell. Priority One Green. On the double.” “Yes, Brother Kevin” The adjutants didn’t run ever since the phone numbers were discovered, so he called it in and the Office dispatched runners.

+++++

Staff Meeting Impromptu

The Staff assembled. Brother Kevin reported. “This is the second day in a row of identical readings. We can push to the Church according to our plan. Or we can wait and follow the schedule.” John said “Brother Kevin seems to have summed it up.” Marie chimed in “Seems obvious but waiting will make everyone nervous.” Roy added “Boss, I’m not happy with our ability to control some of the young Sixths and Fifths that have interesting notions of acceptable sexual behavior. If we go now, that’ll give them something else to focus on.” Brian chipped in “Going today gets us to Vermont a day quicker. We may be rushed, but what’s the expression ‘better a good plan executed today, rather than a perfect plan executed tomorrow’. John said “Other comments? Any one in favor of waiting? <pause> OK, when. I’d say before we feed them. If it’s what I’m expecting, then there will be some upchucking.” Brother Kevin “Now!” John “OK let’s get them up and formed. Just like last night.”

Marie went to John. “John, yesterday, we all agreed you’re leading the lifeboat fire team.” “The hell I am.” “You are the only one who’s gone thru a door under fire. Staff decided. Brother Kevin leads the real effort; you lead the Life Boat. Sorry but you’ve been NOCed.” The Classmates, anxious for resolution, were up and moving. John saw the wisdom and took his place. As usual, working back to front. “Life boat fire team ready” yelled John. “Life boat ready” yelled June. “Fire wall ready” yelled Marie. “OP G2″ ready yelled Jody. “Vestibule ready” yelled Roy. “Far door ready” yelled Sam. “Lurp ready” yelled Brother Kevin. “Miss Marie, Open the door, please. And may God have mercy on our souls.”

Marie ordered the board op in the office to unlock the door.

+++++

Going Thru Doors

Brother Kevin heard the lock click. Hefted his rifle into forward ready. Nodded his head and the Tail End Charlie Isabella opened and held the door. ‘Here goes!’ he thought. Up the steps, his fire team strung out on the stairs. Brother Kevin pushed the door at the top of the stairs open. And was greeted by the all too familiar smell of decades ago. “Bodies” he said to the space behind him. That answered one question. This was no mistake.

That word rippled down the line. Many illusions were crushed. When John heard it, he was not surprised. But mildly thankful, he wasn’t a loon. There were universal teary eyes. Some sobbing. Not all from the girls or the lower grades. Miss Marie was bawling her eyes out. John sensed it and walked from his spot thru the office to her firewall. He gave her a full frontal hug. “Marie, now is not the time. Close that book. We’ll grieve when we really know something. The Classmates are depending up you.” Those were the exact right words. He could see ‘broken leg’ Marie emerge. God help the next Bravo Golf she found that needed legs broke. She was good stock. One always does one’s duty.

John walked among the Classmates. “We don’t know for sure anything other than no one in two weeks policed up the bodies. Don’t borrow tomorrow’s trouble today. This is not the time or place for this. We just don’t know anything for sure. Brace up. Your Classmates are depending upon each of us to do our jobs. Even if your job is just to survive and tell the story, it’s your job to do just that.”

After that, John felt better about being ‘left out’ of the action. Maybe his staff did right to NOC him over to this duty. He did seem to have a visible effect on the Classmates. His fire team had the look of grim determination. They might go down, but not cheaply. As John half knelt at the ready, he was thinking about Kabuki. Funny how one’s mind worked. He was writing his letter to the CO of the S2 they were trying to trick.

+++++

Brother Kevin’s vestibule

Brother Kevin pushed open the door to the shelter. The smell wasn’t as bad as he remembered it. His first duty was to secure the landing. He locked the door to the street. He probably should have done that on Church Day. He’d put it on his checklist for the next time he was in an atomic war. He then went and locked the door into the Church. He passed the word down the stairwell ‘locked’. His fire team joined him on the landing. Clearly, they’d never seen decaying dead people before. He wished he could take the time to be sensitive. He slung his shot gun in the upside down manner he’d been taught a lifetime ago.

It is possible to accurately trigger a shot gun from upside down position if you’ve practiced. You never slung your weapon in a free fire zone; you never daydreamed either. That’s what got Brother Prefect killed. That slinging piece of advice from a DI had saved his butt on Iwo when an infiltrator surprised him in the can on Iwo. Amazing what you can do when sitting on the can. But that long ago DI had instilled in them that their enemy could pop up, drop in, or spring out when least expected. So, he was in that can, doing his business, anxious to get back to the safety of his hole. The Jap opened the door with his shooting hand. Brother Kevin triggered the shot gun without literally moving an inch. They were both surprised.

With the landing secure, he began to drag and stack cordwood. He’d rest between each drag, by rifling pockets. He threw the contents on the floor. Eight bodies. Wonder who tallied what. Not that it matters. Always nice to know what you’ll face when you have to justify your life on Judgment Day.

Housekeeping being done. Brother Kevin yelled down “bump me”.

+++++

Sam bumps BK

Sam’s fire team came up to the landing. More green at the gills ‘cherries’. Sam too. Quite different from what you see on the Silver Screen. Everyone looks dashing and handsome; even in death. The reality was something different. Sam deployed his team. Kayla with her back to the street door ready to aim at the Church door as soon as Lurp jumped off. Taylor lying on the stairs to the shelter aiming at ceiling over the Church door. You only point it at what your ready to destroy. Good students. Too easy to have an accident. Just read the score during hunting season: Hunters - 500, Deers 5. Tough if you are one of the five.

Sam said quietly “landing ready.” Brother Kevin said “lurp ready”. Everyone was praying for an empty Church. Tail End of the Lurp, Linda this time, held the door as Brother Kevin went first. Sam said to Tayor “Pass along: ‘Lurp away’”. It took seconds for it to reach John. He was tense. This is where the fun would begin. If there was to be a shooting war, this is when it would start in his crystal ball.

Andrew edged up to John and said: “Is this a good time to tell you about an idea I just thought of?” John’s immediate reply “Sure” thinking ’sure ww3 is about to break out, but it’s a good distraction’. Andrew continued: “I was sad to hear the ‘bodies’ message cause that meant you were right. You never talked much about it, but if it was worst case, we’re alone in the world’s biggest graveyard. My Mom, Dad, and family are all dead. I was sad, but strangely relieved to have a fact we can hang our hats on. I was thinking how much pleasure my Mom and Dad got last spring when they bought a brand new Chevy. Glad they got that pleasure before … … I was thinking of that darn Chevy. My Dad paid cash for it. They scrimped and saved for it. They paid extra for one of the new automatic transmissions so my Mom could drive it. She had a bum left leg and couldn’t operate a clutch. Then it hit me ‘Automatic Transmission’! I don’t know if trucks have it; doubt it. But, couldn’t scout#2, rear#2, and the bus be specified as automatic. Even if the bus is stick, which I don’t think so. They’ve been automatic for a few years. That gives us, at least another car, or maybe another truck to take to Vermont. And, I know you want to take the 57 Ford, but couldn’t Scout#1, Scout#2, and Readr#2 be station wagons and we get the extra storage space? Just an idea.” John was thrilled with the idea. Just showed you have to be open. “Great idea, Andrew, a little more practical than my prayers for a magic carpet. We’ll have to take what we can get, but all things being equal your right. But, I’d love to spread the peanut butter one truck thinner. Keep thinking. And, I am sorry about all our families. I’ve been just putting those thoughts in a jar for when we get to Vermont. Maybe we’ll be surprised.” “Thanks, John, but you and I both know the truth.” “No we don’t KNOW it. We suspect it. No evidence yet. Don’t borrow tomorrow’s trouble today. Back to your troop. Help them keep their spirits up.” “Yes, Boss.”

At that time Lurp leapt into the Church. Brother Kevin sent Linda down the long side aisle, and Lisa across the alter rail. Dang those girls were fast. All he saw was pony tails. Isabella was left at the door looking for something to hurl a dart at. The 240 yards diagonal across the Church was out of her range. But with the ballerina move, maybe not. Besides, if you had told him on Iwo that one day he’d be clearing a big Church with three grammar school girls, two rifles that they had never fired, and one with a stone age version of David’s sling, he have thought you certifiable. But still, it was kinda of Marine Corps logical, you use what you have, period. Wishing didn’t win battles. And it prevented you from improvising. Like using cocoanuts and rocks on Iwo, dropped into holes to see if they were ‘occupied’. To save using valuable grenades on empty holes. Drop either a nut or rock into a hole, it ‘felt’ like a grenade and would draw fire. Then you could use one of those valuable grenades. As the L’s sprinted on their routes, he did a version of a tightrope walker diagonally across the pews. Up to the halfway mark, if a Bravo Golf popped behind him, then Isabella could nail him. It was some comfort. The girls were waiting for him, laughing at his gait, when he arrived at the opposite corner he went and locked the three big Church front doors. He coded to Isabella ‘next team’. She opened the door and said ‘bump me’. Sam passed ‘bump me’ down the line. In a minute, John knew the war was over for the moment. Not yet time to relax, but everyone could take a breath. They had all been holding theirs since Lurp jumped off.

+++++

Roy bumps Sam to other side door

Roy brought Michael and Tyler up the stairs. Tyler took Taylor’s position. Michael took Kayla’s. Roy took Sam’s. They all had to get used to the smell and the view. Roy and team went thru the door to Isabella. The last movement was now on. Sam took his team across to the other vestibule. Isabella went around the back of the altar and looked in the Sacristy. Force of habit, Sam stopped to genuflect at the main aisle. That thinking could get someone killed. They went to their doorway and locked the door to the outside. The Church was secured. Isabella finished her circuit. Everyone gave thumbs up. Isabella opened the door and said “all secure”. That word sped thru the formations.

Brother Kevin policed up the bad guy bodies. Brother Prefect and Mother Superior would take a little more fortitude. And, he couldn’t even look at all the dead children. It wasn’t a thousand. But it was more than fifty. That made him sick.

+++++

Jody and OP; Brian G2’s

At the ‘all secure’ signal, Jody, Brian, Sarah, and Zachary were up the stairs in a few heartbeats. Jody and the OPers headed for their window. Brian quickly began looking at the dead guy’s stuff. At the window, Sara did a Marie tuck, Jody did a deep knee bend, Zachary steadied the pyramid, and up Sara went on Jody’s shoulders. Jody said: “Remember Sarah. Slowly.” Sara undid the lever clip and the window went ajar. Ever so gently she pushed the window open a crack. Then a little more. Till finally she could see out. She whispered “Dead bodies, wrecked cars, and no people!” Jody told Zachary “Code Isabella ‘worst case’ now.” That word went along like wild fire.

Brother Kevin went and knelt by his former Boss. He said “Brother Prefect: You were right. You were so right. They had potential. We were standing in their way. They need challenges; like plants need sun, air, and water. These kids are wonderful. You’d have been pleased at how they performed. You never had a better infantry company. I’m sorry I couldn’t see what you saw. I’m sorry you weren’t here to see. I’m just a sorry excuse for your replacement. But, I will live up to your expectations.” With that, he took Brother Prefect’s rosary with the master key; he never let it go. He opened one of the side rooms in the Church lobby and dragged out a table. Zachary helped him set it up. Sarah stepped on to it and continued her observation. Brother Kevin walked over to the corned and picked up the house phone. He dialed 86001, and said “Benedict here. Miss Marie please. … … Miss Marie, Brother Kevin, pass the word ‘all secure; stand down’, and all Staff to the Church. And, bring about a hundred body bags.” Marie started to cry and said “We’ll be right there.” She went to the Stock Room door and told June “stand down”. By that time John was there and said “What’s wrong?” “Worst case is pretty bad. Brother Kevin said to bring body bags. About a hundred.” John wasn’t surprised. “At least, it’s not a thousand.” “Should we feed the troops?” John said: “Let’s wait in case any want to see the Church.” The Seventh’s and Eighths took over. June’s ’sheep herders’ - Kaitlyn, Morgan, Sten, & Timothy - went to get the body bags.

+++++

Bag Bodies

John led them up the stairway. The smell was bad. Last time, he’s smelled anything this bad was at the slaughterhouse where his aunt and her neighbor took some lambs to make lamb chops. Actually the slaughterhouse smelled worse. He didn’t eat meat for about three months after that experience.

Marie was a trouper; he suggested that this might be a job best left to the men. Marie said “It can’t be worse than changing diapers.” She was wrong.

John was walking past the dead Bravo Golfs heading for the Church. She said “John!”. He turned quickly. “Something wrong?” “What about those?” “The Bravo Golfs?” “Yes, they were God’s children as well. Bad children, but His children.” “Marie!” “John!!” She stomped her foot and said: “We are better than that. Aren’t we?” He knew he wasn’t going to win this argument so they started bagging with the Bravo Golfs. Many decades later, he’d understand her reasoning. But as a true passive aggressive, he had two bodies placed in one bag.

+++++

Staff meets in Church

The Staff gathered in the center of the Church. John led off with: “Bravo Zulu to all hands. I thinking before we police up the Church, we give any Classmate that wants it a chance to see the bodies. They may need to know we are not lying.” Marie said: “I agree but we should try to dissuade them. It will give them a chance to get out of the shelter. If they want, who are we to say they can’t.” John summed it up quickly: “We’re agreed offer, but discourage. Brother Kevin, would you please tell the Office to order everyone to stand down and everyone to the Dining Ares?” “Done!” Marie and John headed back to address the group.

+++++

Stand down the life boat

June told everyone to ’stand down’ again and head for the Dining Room. She saw in their faces, that they were scared again. How could they be reassured?

She pulled John and Marie aside as people were getting organized. “Guys the crowd is really on edge. If you can reassure them or if you have a magic bullet, now is the time to use it. I know you can’t do a comedy act. But you have to do something different.”

John did his gull wing with Marie beside him. “My Classmates, we have achieved one of our milestones. We have control of the Church. It’s pretty horrific. About fifty of our fellow Classmates are dead upstairs and there’s seventy some odd here in the Shelter, that means that many more 800 are elsewhere. When I talked to you a long while ago, seems like ages, I said that we find ourselves here. We still don’t know if there was an evacuation. Your Staff and I made a plan. We’re still on that plan.”

Marie picked up: “It is terrible upstairs. I recommend that you say here and have breakfast while the Eighths clean it up. The Staff felt that, if you feel you must see it before it’s cleaned up to satisfy your own mind, you should have that opportunity. Now’s your chance. Any one who wants to see it should form up at the door. We’ll go up the stair way once around the Church and down the other stair way in to the stock room. Again, I recommend that you not go. No one will say anything to anyone who stays below or goes up.”

John went to the office and ordered all doors unlocked. Marie went to the stairwell to dissuade.

She might as well have not bothered. The Classmates, to a person, lined up to go up. Maybe everyone had grown up. One of the first on the line was a pair of Firsts - Miss Hailey holding hands with Master Steven. Marie said to them: “Are you sure?” Miss Hailey was quick to respond: “Oh yes, Miss Marie. Trust but verify; trust but verify. We’re not children anymore.” Master Steven added: “Where my shelter sister goes, so do I. We need to close off the old ideas, empty of heads of illusions, and make room for the new reality. ‘tea spills when the cup is full’ This will empty our cups.” She’d have to talk to John about the monsters he was creating.

It wasn’t pleasant. There was bravado; that was quickly turned to nausea. There were tears; not as many as you would have thought. There was realization; soon supplanted by motivation.

+++++

Late Breakfast

After the ‘tour’, most ate something. There was sharing. The mood was somber. The conversations were of Vermont. There was even some spontaneous prayer.

# # # # #

It happened in Church - October 19, 1962
Chapter Forty Six - Good woman gets the pic

Saturday 03 Nov (continues)

Slave Driver

‘Miss Marie was a slave driver. A very nice one, but’, Brother Kevin thought, ’she would have made an excellent Marine Corp Drill Instructor. In the 120 minutes since the staff meeting, she had spoken to him by phone no less than 6 times. She never ordered, merely stated, “Could she please have a status check on this activity or that?” He quickly realized that where John would wander around; she was delegating. Little did Brother Kevin realize what a task master they had?

+++++

Agenda Setting

“Adjutant Miss Abigail, would you please have the Duty Officer to extend my compliments to Master Sam and inquire if he could meet with me at 15 before lunch and extend my compliments to Master Brian and inquire if he could meet with me at 30 before lunch. And, invite all Sixths and Master Brian to meet with me immediately after lunch.” “Yes, Miss Marie. I am studying you. You’re a model.” “Thank you dear, that’s a nice thing to say, but I’m just warming John’s seat.” “No, Miss Marie, I don’t think so.”

+++++

Put Brian In Motion

Brian arrived a few moments early. He knew Marie’s hot button about precise time. In the old days, before he saw her cry over an imaginary dead cat, he thought her just selfish of her own time. Now he could see her trying to control her imagination by strict limits. Brian was beginning to love his Classmates. Not sexually, although he had to admit she was hotter than he’d realized, but like the sister he never had.

“Yeah, Boss Lady Toots, what can I do to put us in Vermont?” “Don’t call me Toots! Would you please go and pull the ten stacks we made. (They had sorted the profile sheets into the four major piles and the six singles.) I want to get us some help with the map problem.” “As good as done, comrade temporary speaker toots.” “And don’t call me toots.”

+++++

Get Sam Planning

Sam arrived at the appointed time with Isabella grafted to his hip. For a guy who trying to emulate a homosexual, he’d made a remarkable change. But Marie saw how some conversation with Isabella would do that.

“Bon Jour, Miss Marie.” Isabella said. “Hi Boss, what can I do more to put us at Vermont’s door?” “Well now that you mention it. Here’s what I need from you. And showed him her ‘clouds’ picture.” Brian liked lists. She had drawn clouds connected with arrows. Each cloud was labeled: Exit Day / Church, Jeopardy, Connected, OPs. 6 Individual, 4 site, trek. “Kool! You drew the sequence and itemized.” “Yes, can you start bullet pointing the ones I don’t know and as my second activity after lunch, let’s work it together. Here’s what I have on Kabuki. After we do what I call the main line. If we can still see, we’ll do more.” “No, no, Miss Marie,” Isabella giggled “That you fee mism is mine, I told Sam when we get to Vermont, he will learn some French, and when he answers John’s question I’m going to **** *** ***** his eyes glaze over and if he could still see, I’d *** ** ** * *** ***** ** **** ****************** so he couldn’t see.” Marie started singing ‘Marie had a little lamb’ (Yeah her Mom never liked Mom’s real name Mary that why she was Marie!). “Very good, dear. I’m sure Sam is very motivated. But could you do me a favor, I’m busy here. The technical details distract me. And, John’s not available to distract me, so put a cork in sister, or I’ll put a cork ** **** **** *** **** ***! So far up, you’ll need a ******* *** and a ***** to get them out! Thank you Sam!” Interesting. He didn’t know that Marie had mining experience and had served with the Sixth Fleet. That expression was one they had in their ‘bawdy unit history book’. Marie would certainly ‘break legs’ when she needed to. He better get the outlines done before she switched from legs to curtain rods. Sam had plans for his. Big plans.

+++++

Six Minutes Free

Her morning done. She had six minutes until lunch. Clean sweep of her mental list. Her afternoon was free of all but one administrivia item. She was going to work Sam until his curtain rod shrunk. And she had to organize a drill. She allowed her self a minute to be worried about John. She ran over her remarks on the mental page. Then her wonderful mind presented her with a picture. Isabella without make up. Make up after two weeks in the Shelter. Isabella had make up in Church. Where did she hide it? When Marie cattily stripped Isabella of the makeup in that picture. She looked like a drab little Sixth. And, Isabella’s hair it wasn’t frumpy like all the other girls. Isabella had a brush in Church. And, now Marie smelled a rat. She was dominantly visual, but that doesn’t mean the other senses are dead. Just that a person relies mostly on their dominant one; use it the most, is most attuned to it, and prefers it. Marie had just smelled a very tiny hint of perfume. She looked at the clock, it was 1301 and thought ‘dear saint taq, i’m going to be late. help me be on time. marie’ (So summoned, Saint Taq reviewed the events of the day. He was mildly amused. Marie didn’t pray for John, her Classmates, or herself. She prayed to be on time. And, she had found one of the deeply hidden silver bullets. A foul mouthed broken bird who had … well you know. He petitioned the Lord to open Marie’s ears like the deaf man in the Bible.)

+++++

Lunch-less Lunch

Marie stood up in front of the restless lunch-less lunch crowd. “Dearest Classmates, if it suits you, I have some modest news, an observation, and will take your questions.” It suited. They were quiet and attentive as soon as she started moving to the front. “Thank you. Your Staff has elected me as the Temporary Speaker. The vote was 6 for 1 against. I was against it. So when Miss June creates the NOC wall in the Latrine, this decision should be duly noted. (laughter) I don’t think I am much of a leader in these things I know little about. Please help me if you see me making a mistake, overlooking something, or know a better way. After all, I’m just a girl; what can I know?” (There was general laughter and people figuratively feeling for their wallets. Anyone who under estimated Marie didn’t know her ‘break your leg’ for the ‘broken leg medal’ ethic. They were assured that stuff would be done.) “I see that though we all agreed that carrying our weapons was a good idea, some of us, even leadership, has been remiss. Perhaps a turn at toilet duty might spark memories.” (Compliance was 100% after that.) “I think were ready for the three questions.” Three individuals stood up. Kayla, Kaitlyn, and Morgan. All her fellow Eighths. First looked agitated, second was fidgety, and the third looked merely upset. Marie could see why John didn’t like this duty. “Thank you Classmates for being so economical. Since “Miss Kayla looks the most aggrieved, you probably want me to start with her.”

“Miss Marie, some of our fellow Eighths think that we will … we should … you know … with them before we go to fight because we will die without ever … you know. That’s not right. What should we do?” “I’ll pray on that and get back to you. OK, done. My uncle vin told me that ‘boys talk; men do’. Since the beginning of time boys have tried to convince girls to have sex with them. Unfortunately, boys don’t understand that women don’t have sex for fun. It’s fun. Or so I am told and I think I believe it. Women have sex to make babies, families, and homes. We are the well-spring of the future. We’ve been taught, and I believe that, in marriage, the love of a man and women is the closest thing we have next to God’s love. Love