Eliot Strange and the Prince of the Resistance

4) A New Home

About mid-morning we finally arrive at Marla's grandmother's old house and farm on the outskirts of Dobson. We make camp.

"My gramma died a few weeks after the EMP. She was on oxygen and insulin. We had a generator and some insulin, but we were getting short, and I think she was just so scared," explains Marla.

"Same thing happened to my Nana," says Tommy. "Only, it was no chemo meds. And we couldn't get to Winston. She died too."

"My baby sister killed herself. Ran out of her depression and anxiety medication," says one of the new women. We say nothing for a minute because what do you say to that?

"My Nana is gone too," says Steven who breaks the silence and pats the hand of the new woman to comfort her. "She was shot."

"Bravest woman I ever saw," adds Clay, "A true hero. She saved us all at the library battle. Hell of a woman."

"Language," says Cindy.

"Sorry," says Clay and then adds, "Sorry Ma'am."

"It's ok," says Cindy who I am thinking by now has a God-given talent for changing a sad mood. "I saw Steven's Nana shoot. She was a hell of a woman."

Clay laughs and soon we are all laughing. God bless Cindy Lou Who.

We are beaten down and sad, but then Marla reveals a surprise that changes the mood quickly. She leads us to the basement where her gramma kept a decades old secret.

"Great grandpa built it," explains Marla as she goes behind a wall that is not a wall at all. Behind it there's a door that is painted the same color as the false wall. Marla pushes open the door and cuts on an overhanging light powered by what must be a very strong battery because the dark room becomes a sunshiny paradise.

"Gramma said her dad built it in the fifties. When everybody was afraid the Russians were going to nuke us. He wanted to be prepared for when the end came," says Marla. There's a pause before she adds, "Guess he was right after all. The end did come."

We all look around amazed. No one says anything because we are stunned by the bounty. Food. Rows and rows of canned food in Mason jars. Shelves are filled with what looks like a summer garden organized by color. There is the green of green beans and okra and pickles of all varieties. Yellow squash and orange and red canned tomatoes and soups and spaghetti sauces and jellies and preserves and peaches, ah the glorious peaches.

Our new friends, who haven't been eating as good as we have recently, look like they are in shock. One of the previously inconsolable women reaches out a hand to touch the peaches. She holds off as if what she is seeing might be a dream and will disappear if she actually touches what is before her eyes.

More than half of our stash of food went with the children who evacuated days ago, so the Resistance has been on half rations. We are hungry, but these new people are starving.

Steven, as always, is the first to say something about other people who have suffered. "Help others" is rule one.

"I think our new friends should take at least one jar a piece so that they can get their strength back. They need to recuperate and get stronger if they are going to join the fight."

Their leader, Bob, looks at our leader Torin who nods in agreement. The new people quickly grab a jar a piece as if they are afraid the offer will be revoked.

Leia, the official leader of the Resistance before Torin, who has been fighting the enemy a long time and knows about these things says, "Don't eat too fast, just a little at a time, let your stomachs get used to eating again, or you'll throw up."

"Yes," says Torin. "Eat a little, and we will rest. Maybe cook a hot meal."

"My gramma has a wood stove. I know how to use it. She has sugar and cinnamon. I make a killer peach cobbler," says Marla. "It's my gramma's recipe."

"I love peaches," says Cindy Lou. "Love, love, love pie."

"Great," says Torin and then he starts ordering people around like he has done it all his life, which I guess he has:

"Bob, take your group to the house. Get some rest. Eliot, you and Cindy Lou help Marla. Steven, you and Tommy and Hellman set up a perimeter. Take a few of our soldiers with you. Keep your eyes open. Shoot twice in the air if it looks like trouble. Clay, you and Leia join me in the barn in about thirty minutes. We need to make some plans."

Everyone starts to scurry around like a bunch of worker ants. I am, of course, annoyed. I have just been regulated to the kitchen like I am the hired help. I am not the maid. I am a fighter and part of the Resistance now. I can shoot lights out. I am brave. Some would call me fearless. I am not the cook.

I give a look to Torin that is meant to convey that I am perturbed, but he doesn't seem to notice, or maybe, he is ignoring me. I am so mad and flustered that when Marla hands me a can of peaches, I drop them and say, "Well, Shit."

"There goes your pie, potty mouth," says Cindy Lou.