AFTERMATH

CHAPTER EIGHT


Walter stood looking out the front window of his barracks as darkness fell. Dinner was over with and it was getting too cold to hang around outside. Some of the men were playing cards; a few were at the chess board, others in the back talking. Some had already taken to their bunks. He saw Krycek walking towards the river and cross over the bridge. He could barely make out his outline but he was sitting on some boulders on the opposite side of the river – just sitting there. He had seen him do this many times before and always wondered why. Tonight he decided he'd go and ask him.

He put on his coat and knit cap that the women had knitted for everybody and went out. The night was crisp and clear, somewhere in the thirties, he'd guess. He could see his breath in front of him and Alex's as well as he neared him.

"What are you doing out here?" Alex asked. "Is everything all right?"

"Uh huh." Walter said as he took a seat on a boulder slightly below the one Alex was sitting on. "I've seen you come out here alone before. Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to come out and ask this time."

"Oh. I like to come out here and think. I like to sit here and look back across the river at all we've accomplished in two and a half years. It's amazing, considering there was absolutely nothing when we got here."

"You've done a lot." Walter agreed, looking back at the lights of their little community. "More than anyone would have believed possible."

"I never imagined we could accomplish so much. I never imagined we'd have electricity or indoor plumbing. When we first got here it was two flat rocks placed over a hole out in the woods. And believe it or not, no one complained."

"They didn't? Not even Harry?" Walter asked with a chuckle.

"Oh Harry did all right. We made him do the digging."

"How did you get him to do that? I'm shocked."

"We gave him a choice. He could bicycle into town with the rest of us for supplies or he could dig the latrines."

Walter laughed. "I'll bet he complained long and loud."

"He probably did but most of the rest of us were gone and didn’t have to listen to it."

"You know, he's not half bad to talk to. He has lots of interesting stories to tell, being a Taxi driver in NYC." Walter said.

"He's not a bad guy. In fact, I like him a lot. He's just never had to do anything in his life before except drive a cab. He's friendly, he's interesting and he gets along well with the others. And he's gotten much better these last few years. He helps unload every time we go in for supplies and he still brings in firewood. You know, that's amazing. In the beginning, he was afraid of the woods. Now he takes pride in the fact that he's been all through them gathering wood in that old supermarket shopping cart we brought in for him to use."

"He plays a good game of cards too," Walter added. "And he's a good sport if he looses. He doesn't seem to really care just as long as he gets to play."

They were silent for a while then Alex spoke. "I've been thinking, maybe we need to make another run into town."

"I thought you said we had plenty of everything. The store room is full as well as the freezers."

"I haven't got it all worked out yet, but this is what I've been thinking." Alex turned and faced Walter as he spoke. "The first Christmas we were here, we were all happy to just be inside a building and out of the cold. We had no children here at all and just kind of let it pass. Oh we sang a few Christmas Carols but that was about it. Last Christmas, we only had a few little girls and the women made them some rag dolls and stuff. This Christmas we have nineteen children here. I want to do something special for them."

"What do you have in mind, toys?" Walter asked and tucked his hands in his jacket pockets against the cold.

"Well, that was my first thought. I thought I'd just take one truck in and pile it full of toys. The more I got to thinking about it, the more the plan snowballed. If we took two trucks, we could load up on some sports equipment for the older kids. Maybe some foot ball and baseball gear. You know there are plenty of nice flat open areas over here on this side of the river. We could even put in a basketball court."

"That would be great! Even the men would love that, most of them anyway."

"And the women too, probably; at least some of them." Alex was getting excited about his idea as he told it. "And if we took the third truck with us, we could bring back some exercise equipment. After sitting around all winter, it's always hard to get started again in the spring."

"That all sounds great but where would you put all the stuff so no one would see it?"

"I figured the mine. We could unload the stuff there and leave it until Christmas Eve."

"That's a good idea. Were you planning on doing this without anyone knowing about it? I could drive one of the trucks but how would you get them out of the valley without anyone else hearing?"

"With all that loading and unloading, we're going to need some bodies. I figured three trucks, three two-man teams. That's six of us. With the trucks now being garaged in the mechanic's hut on this side of the river, they're out of sight so no one will notice they're gone."

"They'll hear them though when they start up and pull out." Walter warned.

"Not if we do it during meal time. There is always so much commotion going on in the cafeteria at meal time, not many will be paying any attention. I'm thinking we'll pick our team from the soldiers. They have stayed in the best physical shape with all their calisthenics every morning and they all know how to work the doors to the tunnel. We could sneak the trucks out during the evening meal and the next morning a few of us could slip out at a time. I figured we'd get back in the same way. Do you think that would work?"

"Sounds good." Walter agreed. "It just might work. What about taking along a woman or two with us? Could we manage that without arousing too much suspicion? It would be great to have them along and they could come up with ideas for gifts for the women. Stuff we'd never think of."

"There would be room in the trucks for them. I don't know why we couldn't slip a few out. I'm thinking we'd only be gone for the morning. We'd leave right after breakfast, an hour there, take maybe two hours there to load up and an hour back. We'd be back in plenty of time for lunch. We could leave the trucks in the mine and unload them after dark."

"Then get them back to the garage during the next dinner. I like it. I think it will work." Walter said.

"I'll speak with Peterson tomorrow and let him pick the teams. I think the women should be Marcia and Maddie. I'll get with them tomorrow too." Alex said as he hopped down from the boulder and brushed his jeans off.

Walter stood up and did the same. "You really care about all these people, don't you?"

"I do! They've become … I don't know, the family that I never had I guess. I don't know how we got so lucky but everyone here seems to like everyone else and is more than willing to do their fair share of the work. I actually expected more fights, squabbles among them but if there have been any, I haven't heard about it."

"They're a good group. And every time someone new comes in, they seem to blend right in with no trouble at all." Walter said then added, "You've really done a good thing here, Alex. I'm proud that you asked me to be a part of it."

"I couldn't stand the thought of you being locked up like some common criminal, Walter. I just couldn't stand it. Within an hour of finding your name on that list, I was on my motorcycle and out of here."

"I want you to know I appreciate it; I appreciate you and all that you've done for me as well as all these people."

Alex stared at him for a few moments then said, "You don't hate me any more then?"

"I didn't hate you, Alex; I hated all the things that you were doing." Walter said then caught himself. "That's a lie. Yes, I hated you. I hated you more than I hated anyone I ever knew. And what I hated most was that you left the Bureau to join up with the likes of Cancer man."

"I was young and naïve and stupid, Walter. He fed me a line about saving the world and I fell for it hook, line and sinker. By the time I realized what the hell was going on, I was in too deep to get out. I hated everybody then. I hated Spender for getting me into this mess; I hated the Bureau for letting that son of a bitch roam freely around the Hoover. Shit, Walter, I thought he had some position there, I saw him there so often. I hated you most of all because you never even noticed me, if you did, you looked right through me."

"There's enough blame to go around, Alex. I guess we all let each other down. We all had our reasons. I did notice you though and that was a problem in itself and the reason I tried to stay as far away from you as possible."

"What do you mean?"

"You were exactly what I wanted and what I knew I couldn't have. I was still married when you came on board. You were forbidden fruit to me."

Alex stared at him unable to speak for a moment. "I didn't know, God, I wish I had known!"

"It wouldn't have changed anything. The Bureau rules were there was to be no intimate relationships between supervisors and those below them."

"Fuck the rules!" Alex said.

"I agree. We can say that now while we're here and there are no rules to follow. But at the time …"

That was all he got out. Alex was in his arms then and warm lips were pressing against his. He pulled Alex in closer and kissed back, his hands holding onto either side of Alex's head, finger tips caressing cold ears though neither of them felt the cold at that moment.

Just then the night was pierced by a loud scream coming from the women's barracks. They broke apart and ran across the bridge and over to where the crowd had assembled and were coming back out the door laughing.

"What is it? What happened?" Alex asked.

"It's Keesha. She lost a tooth." They all left, shaking their heads as they headed back to their barracks. Walter and Alex went on inside and found Keesha being held and rocked gently by her momma while the other women gathered around and tried to convince the weeping child that another tooth would soon replace the one she lost.

"Jesus! Jesus!" Keesha ran to Alex and flung herself into his arms. "My teeth are coming out; I won't be able to eat any more!"

"Oh, honey." He picked her up and wiped her tears with his finger tips. "I remember feeling the same way when I started loosing my teeth."

"You lost all your teeth too?" She asked in amazement.

"Sweetheart, they don't all come out at once. Just one or two at a time and they grow back in bigger and better and stronger than ever. I promise you, you will be able to eat everything that you do now."

"That's what momma said. Are you sure?" She sniffled.

"Positive. It's all a part of growing up. It happens to everyone." Alex assured her and handed her back over to her mother. "And my name is Alex; not Jesus!"

The little girl giggled and snuggled back into her mothers comforting arms.


The two of them walked back towards the men's barracks and stopped in front of Walter's. "I'm glad you came out tonight and talked with me. I've been hoping that you would." Alex said.

"I wish I'd known that, I'd have come out sooner." Walter said as he stood there with both hands jammed down inside his jacket pockets.

"You know it now. Will you come out with me again tomorrow?" When he didn't get an immediate answer he added, "We need to discuss our plans for our Christmas run."

"I'll come out." Walter said.

"Good, I'll see you tomorrow then and we'll talk more." Alex said and reached out and squeezed Walter's arm and walked on to his barracks.

Walter went inside and got ready for sleep. He lay in his bunk a good long while thinking about things. He liked the idea of the Christmas surprise and felt like they could pull it off easily enough. There was enough activity going on all the time that he thought no one would notice if a half dozen people or so, left for a few hours. Lastly he thought about the kiss. His tongue ran around his lips and he thought he could still taste Alex. He went to sleep a happy man.

The next morning was a buzz of activity. They all heard the gun shots but knew they came from within the woods. They hoped the farmers had managed to snag one of the elk they had seen signs of. Thanksgiving was two days away and now they would have some fresh meat for the meal. Several people were pacing around at the edge of the woods, hoping for good news. Soon the men came out of the woods and they did a little victory dance in celebration. Half a dozen men went back in with them to carve the meat while the women hurried to the kitchen in search of cook books and recipes. The planning for Thanksgiving dinner had begun in earnest.

After dinner that night, Walter stood by the window and waited until he saw Alex pass by and head for the bridge. He waited until Alex was on the other side of the river before he put his jacket on and headed out. A light snow had started to fall but the moon was still bright and visibility was good as he joined Alex across the river.

"I talked with Peterson and Marcia and they are both excited about the idea. I also spoke with the three mechanics. They're all for it." Alex said.

"Good. I figured they would be." Walter said as he sat down beside Alex.

"I think we need to put the plan in action tomorrow. Move the trucks into the mine tomorrow at dinner time, and leave the next morning. Are you Ok with that?"

"Sounds good to me. Did you get a lot of snow here last winter?"

"We did; about five or six feet deep over at the camp site. On this side, it was a lot deeper.

"It's good we're going now then before it starts piling up." Walter said.

"It is."

"It'll be a chore carrying everything over there without using the trucks."

"I figured we'd hitch the horses up to the old wagons and have them haul stuff over. That should be quiet enough. We'll have to wait until everyone else is asleep then we can haul it all over and get it set up in the cafeteria." Alex said.

"I think this is going to work out great. I can't see any flaw in the plan." Walter said.

"I hope so." Alex said. "I want to make this a Christmas they'll always remember."

"I'm sure they will. I know I will." Walter reached for him then and Alex came into his arms. They stayed like that for only a few moments before heading back to the warmth of their barracks.

The next evening went like clockwork. Alex and Walter had dinner with the others as usual so no one would suspect anything. The mechanics took the trucks and parked them in the mine then hurried on in to dinner. People were accustomed to seeing them come in late as they were usually working on the trucks and didn't want to quit until they were finished.

The next morning, one or two at a time, they walked across the bridge. They slipped into the mine and when they were all there, they left for town. It was bitterly cold and a light snow was falling but with all the activity in camp preparing for the Thanksgiving dinner, or just staying in out of the cold, no one was missed.

The drive went well as the ground was frozen in most places and easier to drive on than when it was moist and soft. They made it into town and went right to Sears. They parked around back at the loading dock and began their loading. One team went for the exercise equipment as it was the heaviest and some was put in each of the trucks. Then they hit the sports section. Portable basketball backboards were loaded in and boxes and boxes of bats, balls, gloves, nets and rackets for tennis and badminton, every sports items they could find. Then they loaded the trucks the rest of the way with toys.

The women were thrilled to death at the shopping spree and had spent the day before making lists of everything they wanted to get. Huge bags of items were carried out and stuffed into the trucks.

"Uh oh. Here's something we need." Walter said as they were carrying a load out through the warehouse.

"What?" Alex said and came over to where Walter was standing and looking at a huge box taller than he was.

"A pool table. What do you think? Will the trailer carry it or is it too heavy?"

"Well it comes in five boxes. The slate is in four separate boxes and the rest of the table in the other. Let's get Peterson in here and see what he thinks."

"See what Peterson thinks about what?" Peterson said walking up to them.

"A pool table. Heavier than hell but we still have some room in the trailers. You think they would hold it?"

"You haven't seen the trailers after the women came out with their load and they went back in. They're not finished yet."

"Isn't most of their stuff in bags?" Alex asked.

"Uh huh," Peterson answered.

"Well, let's see if we can just cram them in with the other stuff." Alex suggested.

It took them an extra hour of unloading and reloading but they managed to get it all in and headed out. Everyone excited about their little secret.

Alex and Walter had their own private secret as well. They met every night, in the woods or across the river; sometimes in the garage, sometimes in the stables. They varied their meeting locations. They never stayed very long, it was too cold but what time they were alone together, they made good use of. They wasted not a minute.

Their first time together was in the stables in the hay. Half frozen hands caressed heated bodies while their lips scattered kisses where ever a bit of skin was available. They rolled in the hay until their passion waned and then they lay in each other's arms for a time.

They never talked about the old times, it was as though they had just met and fallen for each other. Walter was shocked that at the age of fifty five, he could be so totally carried away by this new-born relationship and Alex had never really had time for relationships before so loving someone and being loved in return was all new to him. Together their happiness soared.

They thought their relationship was a private thing that no one knew about but every one in camp either knew about it or suspected it. There was no teasing though, no nasty comments. They respected Alex and his choice of mates too much. Everyone simply just let them be.

Thanksgiving dinner was a huge success with roasted Elk and vegetables from their own fields. There was fresh baked bread and several different kinds of pie.

One of the women led them in a Thanksgiving prayer of thanks and each person in turn said a few words of thanks. Most were of thanks for their survival, thanks for getting them out of the camps, thanks for finding friends and family. The kids were saying thanks for the pies and cookies they saw waiting on the desert table. The families were giving thanks for being together when so many were less fortunate. Alex gave thanks for finding new friends as well as old. Walter gave thanks for his survival and the expertise of the good doctor Kim who had managed to save his leg and restore his health. Bernie gave thanks for his new set of teeth the dentist had made for him and the new strings for his banjo. Lauren gave thanks for finding friends and a home for herself and her girls where she never expected to. Even Harry had some nice words to say. Everyone was moved by the mini speeches but was just as glad when they were all over with so they could dive into the food. They all had so much to be thankful for – they were alive, they were among friends, and they weren't in a camp somewhere starving and freezing half to death. It was a day none of them would ever forget.

And Christmas was every bit as wonderful and unforgettable. Those who were in on the surprise had scurried back and forth into the mine and managed to gift wrap and tag all the gifts and on Christmas Eve, they loaded everything up in the wagons and snuck it all over into the cafeteria. The room was stacked with gaily wrapped presents everywhere, around and under the huge Christmas tree they had set up and decorated in one corner.

They had promised everyone a Christmas morning surprise and warned that the cafeteria wouldn't be opened until they all showed up at once. By 7am they were all huddled at the front door waiting for Alex to unlock it and let everyone in. First all the colored lights came on, and then they heard the music. Christmas carols filled the air as the doors were opened and every one flooded in.

The children screamed and screamed and jumped around, the women were all crying and even a few of the men were wiping tears away as inconspicuously as they could. Santa (Skinner) greeted everyone with a great big "Ho, ho, ho and a Merry Christmas to you all!" He sat in a chair that had been specially decorated for him and began handing out gifts to the children, who were beside themselves with excitement.

The day was everything and more than Alex had dreamed it would be – a cherished memory that he would carry with him always. Walter made sure of that later when they slipped out to the stables for some private time while everyone was celebrating. They had their own little celebration.

Walter had snuck blankets and candles out and even a small battery powered heater. He strung some left over Christmas decorations around one of the empty stalls and spread some hay out. The blanket tossed across it made a perfect bed. He made Alex wait until he slipped inside the stall, turned the heater on and lit the candles then called him in.

Alex was stunned. Never had anyone ever done anything like this for him before. So as the horses nickered in stalls across the way, with the smell of hay in their nostrils, and the sounds of celebration from across the river, they spent their first Christmas night together wrapped in one another's arms.