The Last Day

Part II

The Last Day

Part II

 

 

            Steve made his way through the orderly streets of Hope on his way to the two long buildings bordering the east side of the village that were used as warehouses. Normally they would be packed floor to ceiling with vegetables, baskets of grains, and racks of smoked meats, but this year's harvest was shaping up to be significantly less than the three before it. A small laugh curled the corner of Steve's lips as he realized how little the harvest meant now. 

            He had kept the meeting with the elders short. They all knew this day would come and were well aware of what each of their responsibilities were. Following a quick prayer led by Elder Steve, they had filed out in small groups with quiet resolution and grim-faced determination to attend to their appointed tasks.

            Steve's wife, Anna had forgone the meeting to begin preparations in the infirmary and now the village leader was on his way to see how things were progressing. Rounding the corner of one of the simple but sturdy homes that lined most of the streets in Hope, Steve was nearly bowled over by Aaron Trig and the twenty members of his longbow unit.

            While not the tallest man in the village at a rugged five foot four, Aaron was second to only Abe and Joseph when it came to survival skills and providing wild game for Hope. Hardened by his ten years of service as a Marine Corps sniper and another eighteen of self-imposed isolation in the Rocky Mountains, Aaron had heard the call of the Lord and had initially denied it; thinking he was going mad from the hardships of his life. It wasn't until the archangel Gabriel had come to Aaron's cabin that the dour warrior accepted what he was feeling as the truth and made his way to Hope.

            A smile crept on Steve's face as he remembered the day Aaron had arrived at the walls of Hope, filthy from his time in the mountains and the weeks on the road. With his trade mark carrot hair pulled tight in a gritty ponytail, a worn recurve bow slung over one shoulder and an old hunting spear grasped solidly in his right hand; the old marine looked more a warrior from Irish legends than the retired soldier he was. Patiently Aaron had waited for someone to greet him while his clear emerald eyes scanned the high stone walls that enclosed Hope protectively within its secret valley.

            Many of the villagers had protested when Steve lowered the drawbridge over the ravine that stretched across the valley's opening, and had the gates cracked open wide enough for him to slip through. But he had stated plainly that they could not turn any of the Lord's flock away before stepping out to meet the veteran.

            Not a day went by that Steve didn't give thanks to the Lord for bringing Aaron Trigg to Hope. The sniper turned survivalist had been a blessing, bringing in nearly as much fresh game as Abe and Joseph and sharing his military training to create a militia to protect Hope and its inhabitants. Aaron had even created a squad of archers whose purpose was to defend the walls and keep watch for the inevitable coming of Lucifer and his minions. The villagers had started calling the group "Shepherds" as they were always watching over the Lord's flock. The name had stuck and now they were marching to the wall to join their brothers that had been on watch when the Dark Army had been spotted.

             "Aaron," Steve said in way of greeting, nodding his head at the shorter man.

            "Pastor Steve," the stocky ex-marine returned the greeting with his own nod. "Checking on the preparations?"

            "Honestly," Steve began sheepishly. "I was heading over to the infirmary to check on my wife." He gave Aaron a self-conscious smile.