The wind was still blowing as the door knob started to turn, and Linda figured that was why she hadn't heard anything. While she wasn't afraid, she figured not to take risks that she didn't have to take. The shed was large enough to hold eight or ten animals, and had been divided into different stalls. She had been near the back of the shed, and quickly moved to the one farthest from the door. Ducking down, she looked between the slats of the stalls to see what would happen next.
Two people dressed in heavy winter clothing stepped through the door and quickly closed it behind them. Standing with their backs to her, they shook off the snow, and took off their coats and hats. It was at that point she realized they were girls, about her own age. They still had their backs to her, as they began to speak.
"Are you sure we're doing the right thing?" The shorter of the two asked.
"Your old enough to know what sex is all about. Do you want to have one of those things on top of you? Do you want to have its' baby? I don't."
"I know, but what about Mom and Dad? What about Craig and Lee? They might get killed."
The taller girl sighed heavily.
"I know, but what else could we do? Mom and Dad were both talking about our patriotic duty. They weren't listening to us. Craig and Lee were more upset about no being able to have girlfriends. They didn't care about us. They thought that we were like everybody else, and wouldn't want real boy friends of our own kind. We are on our own. There isn't anyone that is going to help us. We have to take care of ourselves."
"Are you sure nobody is going to find us here, and what is this place anyway?"
"As sure as I can be. This shed used to be used when there were still cattle around here. The ranch hands would use it to keep their horses, and themselves, out of bad weather. I found it while camping a couple of years ago. The snow has covered our tracks. I don't think anyone knows we're here."
"That's not quite true." Linda said.
As expected, after the Chinese had evacuated, the Russians knew they wouldn't be able to hold their gains, without a much higher price to be paid. It was true that the American population had taken unbelievable losses, but they now had countless Chinese weapons that had been left behind. Two things they knew for certain, the surviving Americans were not like the people they had first encountered. These people were willing to stand and fight. Secondly, with trouble in the government back home was having keeping the former Soviet Republics in line, there would be no more men and material coming to their aid. Time to cut their losses and leave.
They fought a organized withdrawal, rather than letting it turn into a route. They withdrew back up the Mississippi River valley almost along the path they had taken to get as far as they had. Unlike the Chinese, they had a different plan. One that had been used by them before. The 'Scorched Earth' withdrawal left nothing behind that the victorious Americans could use. Anything that could be of use to the retreating Russians was 'liberated' and the rest destroyed. Rail road trains were blown up, and the tracks they ran on were torn up or the ties burned. Any and all food stuffs were taken. Nothing was left behind but ash and ruin.
Director Ives was surprised by the aftermath of the war. He had expected to have to run, not only from the Americans, but from the master as well. As it turned out, most of the Americans credited him with not only holding the enemy advances, but also with their survival as a people through the intervention of the creators from space. And as for the master, he had plans for Ives. Plans that meant he was needed here on Earth for a while longer. The fallen ones, or 'space brothers' as men knew them, needed his help in getting all the women to them. They didn't need problems that would come from abductions. And so far, he had done a good job of it. True there was some resistance at first, but when they followed his advice, and treated the human women gently, they were rewarded with more volunteers than they ever expected.
Yes, things were certainly turning around for Ives. But the most shocking thing of all, was when the Americans overwhelmingly called for him to become their new leader, to replace the late president. Using all of the false modesty at his command, he stood before the cameras and at first declined the offer. Then at the end he, supposedly, humbly said that if the majority of the American people still felt that his services were needed, he would accept the job. But only on a temporary basis.
The people ate it up. They claimed this proved he was the right man for the job, because he didn't want it.
"Where did you come from?" The girls demanded.
"I was here when you came in." Linda answered.
"Obviously." Said the older girl. "But why are you here."
"I could say I'm taking shelter from the weather, but from what I've heard, I'm here for the same reason you are. I don't want one of those things touching me either."
The sisters could be seen to relax slightly. Then the older one spoke again.
"Did you leave family behind too?"
Linda shook her head. "My parents, and a younger brother."
"Aren't you worried about them?" Asked the younger girl.
"Yeah, I am. But it's kind of weird. I mean my folks always told me to 'save myself for marriage' and that kind of thing. Then Dad got hurt in the war, just before those things showed up. After that, I don't know. Everything kind of changed. When the aliens started talking about 're-population' Mom got all excited and it seemed for a while she was ready to go. Then when they said they only wanted unmarried women, she couldn't wait for me to leave. Dad didn't like it, but said it was my 'duty' so I left. I just didn't tell them where I was going. I hope they are alright. What about you two?"
"Sounds like we could be sisters. Except since our Dad was a farmer, he didn't go to war. They said he had a more important job to do. But yeah, our Mom was kind of the same way." She paused for a moment. "I'm Jesse, by the way. This is my sister, Amie."
"I'm Linda. Nice to meet you."
As she moved forward to shake hands with the sisters, Lindas' Bible slipped from her bag and fell to the floor. Seeing it, Jesse remarked.
"Oh, so you're a Christian. That explains a little more why you are hiding out here."
"I can't say if I am or I'm not. I just found this a short time ago, and just started reading it. A lot of interesting things in here. I don't see why anyone who believes in it should be blamed for what is happening. I just wish there was someone who could help me understand it a little better."
Jesse and Aime looked at each other for a moment. It was like some unspoken conversation was going on. Aime shrugged her shoulders and nodded at Linda. Then Jesse said.
"Sit down. Show me what you don't understand. We'll see if we can help you."
Several people were sitting around the general store, since it had become the new gathering place. With church on Sunday, and a sort of welcoming center now taking over the community center, the store seemed the natural choice. Some of the younger folks liked the idea, since it had the only pool table in town. With no T.V. or commercial radio, the only other diversions were either cards or whatever board games were available.
Bob was putting a couple of pieces of wood into the old fashioned wood burning, 'pot-belly' stove, when the Major came in, looking for him.
"Bob. Glad I found you. Think we could have a minute?"
He had said it a little loudly, so others would hear him. As a result, three men sitting nearby got up and moved to another table, saying; "Here take this spot." leaving a private space for the two of them. Bob chuckled to himself at how these men knew when what had to be said, was for him alone.
"Well, Major. It seems we have a seat. What's on your mind?"
As they sat down, Ferguson leaned a little closer to Bob and lowered his voice before speaking.
"Bob, what are we going to do, now that the war is all but over?"
"I've been thinking about that." He reached around and started to scratch his shoulder. "I'm not to certain we should do anything just yet. Maybe not until spring. But I have been praying about it."
Ferguson smiled. "I can see that. I think you are about to wear a hole in that shirt. But have you given thought to exactly what we are facing?"
"I have, but lets' hear your thoughts."
Ferguson held up his hand and began ticking things off on his fingers.
"First off, I think just about everyone in the country is armed now. Unfortunately, most of them don't like Christians. Secondly, now that the Chinese are gone, and the Russians are pulling out, they are going to have a lot of time on their hands to find someone to blame for everything. Third, we already know that Christians have been blamed for most of the problems, and now with the aliens claiming to be our real creators, those people are even more likely to come after us. Fourth, they see us as cowards, because we didn't take part in much of the fighting. Never mind the fact that we were kicked out of the service, and being hunted at the same time. In short, sooner or later someone is going to come looking for us, and I think we need to be ready for it. Did I miss anything?"
"Not much. We do have two advantages though. First, we have The Lord, they don't. Second we have a little time. I don't think that anyone is going to be looking for us until spring. We have that long to seek out The Lord, and find out what He wants us to do."
BW, Vietnam Vet