CH 35
After the first few times of following Joan to the school bus, the alligator figured out he wasn't going to get fed anywhere but on his side of the fence near the water. Through animal instinct, he knew where to be when to get his food. Identifying the shape of his feeder, he'd be at the proper place.
Joan took the Alligator's breakfast down to him. Like usual this past week, he was there and opened his mouth. Joan tossed his breakfast to him. Once she fed him, she watched him go to his 'sunny' spot and lie down.
Her alligator was behaving himself much better lately.
.
The wild pig population was beginning to grow again. This time they were bothering the vineyards of the Littleton family. Unlike the Lewis farm where rows could be walked in between, the vineyards were very long rows of grape arbors. Pigs didn't care about knocking the arbors down to eat at the grapes and the plants, which was causing mass devastation.
The sheriff and Mr. Littleton organized people into 'row walkers'. Carrying shotguns, they walked the rows in lines to push the pigs out to the west end of the field and into the swamps. Here, snipers with hunting rifles would be waiting to shoot pigs as they came out of the arbor filled fields. Of the Connors, Joan, Cameron, Delilah and Sonya were designated snipers. Martin and Sarah and eight other townsmen were also on the sniper teams. Bob took a arbor row as a driver. Having to gun, the shotgun he got to use was a single shot '12 gauge'. The thing was fairly light, nothing but barrel,receiver and stock. They expected the pigs would run upon seeing people, so Bob was fairly sure he wouldn't have to shoot the thing. The 3 inch long 'magnum' shells were easy to load and unload. It was a simple 'point ad shoot' gun.
To Bob's left was Jackie, she still had her pistol, and this time she was supposed to use it. To his right was JJ, to JJ's right was Peggy. Most of the high school and much of the primary school students were stretched out in a long line, adults scattered between them.
The sheriff behind the line started them all walking with a pistol shot in the air. "Make some noise!" the Sheriff yelled.
"Here, piggy, piggy!" JJ called.
Bob grinned and called, "Piggy, come see your doctor, I got an enema for you!"
Jackie called, "Come on mr. piggy, I'll give you a suntan you won't ever get again!"
JJ called over, "Jackie, no using plasma! You're supposed to shoot them."
"Johnny, you there?" Peggy called.
"Yup, I can't see you, but I can hear you."
Someone yelled out, "Come to me pig, I got a bottle of barbecue sauce with your name on it"
The line moved into the vineyards, the pigs in there did head for the other end. Three quarters of a mile long, for a while the pigs just moved deeper into the vineyard.
JJ asked, "Where's Mommy One? maybe she can kick the pigs out of here."
"Naw!" Bob said. "It's too far away to try and kick them all the way to Joan's alligator from here."
Coming to a spot where the arbor was knocked down, Peggy looked over to see JJ. "Hi Johnny!"
JJ waved back. "Hey! It's the sunshine girl!"
"Sunshine girl?" Bob asked.
"Yeah! Peggy looks like sunshine," JJ said.
"Are you flirting with her?" Bob asked.
"What?" JJ asked, "I'm just saying she kinda lights the room up."
"You're flirty." Bob stated.
"Am not!"
"Are too."
Jackie sang loudly, "JJ's flirting with Peeeegy!"
"I am not!" JJ announced. "Peggy I'm not flirting with you by saying you look like sunshine, am I?"
Peggy didn't answer. Bob said, "I bet she's blushing."
"No, why should she?" JJ asked.
"I see one!" Jackie called. "It's running away!"
"That's what they are supposed to do," Bob told her.
"I see a big pig!" Louise yelled from farther down the line.
"Let him run!" someone else called.
The echo of a rifle shot sounded.
"Someone just made pork," Bob said.
"Gator food!" Jackie announced.
"Alligators don't use guns," JJ called to her.
"There's one coming at me!" Bob said in a yelp.
"Shoot it!" JJ and Jackie said at the same time.
Bob lifted the shotgun to his shoulder. He aimed and pulled the trigger. The shotgun blast boomed out and the stock rammed into his shoulder, knocking him backwards. Bob took a step back trying to keep his balance and fell. "Owww!" he yelled.
The pig ahead of him squealed out and broke through the arbor into Jackie's row. A high pitch whine sounded. Jackie called, "Bob! how could you miss? Did you shoot yourself?'
"No this gun knocked me on my ass. That hurt!"
"Reload and try again, this pig still has most of his body left," Jackie said.
"Jackie! Use your pistol!" JJ called over.
More shooting sounded from far ahead.
"Better reload, Bob," Jackie told him.
"Jackie, let me use your pistol, this thing hurts when you shoot it," Bob said.
JJ told him, "Bob, point it away from you next time!"
"I did! It rammed back into me when I shot!"
"Next opening we switch," Jackie told him.
"Fine by me."
Shots and squealing pigs were sounding out ahead in constant noise.
"We're getting close," Peggy said nervously.
"Aim and be ready," JJ told her.
"Here comes another one!" Jackie called. her pistol fire four times then another whine came as she fire her plasma canon. "There goes another one," she announced. "This pistol is crap!"
JJ saw one coming at him. He aimed between it's eyes and shot. Another shot and it tumbled. "Aim between the eyes!" he called. The pig he shot was convulsing, but it was down.
"You got him with your pistol?" Jackie asked.
"Yes, what were you shooting at?"
"Never mind," Jackie said in a grumble.
"Shoot them between the eyes!"JJ called over.
"OK, I got it."
They came to another opened that was crushed down. JJ saw Peggy holding her pistol up. she was shaking. Her blue eyes widened. "One's coming at me!"
"Peggy, aim between it's eyes," JJ coaxed. "Calm down, you can do this! Come on, deep breath." He then barked, "Shoot!"
Peggy did. "I missed!"
JJ struggled through the broken down ardor to see the pig just ahead. He pulled up and shot then shot again. He'd blown away the left eye. The pig squealed and spun to run away. He shot again. This time it fell and flopped around.
Getting through the arbor wreckage, JJ aimed carefully and shot it just behind it's front legs. The pig's squeal spouted blood, it then settled down and died.
Peggy was holding her pistol out, shaking badly, tears were in her eyes. JJ stepped over and hugged her. "It's OK, we got it."
Peggy dropped her pistol and hugged him as she cried.
"It's Ok," JJ told her and watched up ahead for any more pigs coming their way. Up ahead, much of the arbors were knocked over, all over the place. He could still see much of his row, so he stayed in place while he held Peggy to him.
"I need to pick your gun up," he told her.
She let go. JJ picked up her pistol. "Just help me keep a watch out, K?" he asked.
She nodded.
JJ walked on, one pistol in each hand. Peggy walked behind him, holding his shoulders.
A smaller pig came racing at them, squealing. One shot and JJ downed it. Behind him, he could feel Peggy trembling. "It's OK, you're safe, just stay behind me," he coaxed.
They finally got to the end and stopped like they were supposed to. Dead pigs were all over the place. One that had gotten into the swamp squealed loudly as an alligator dragged it into the water.
"Thank you, Johnny," Peggy said meekly.
JJ turned to see she was smiling sheepishly at him. Her cheeks were pink. JJ gazed at her. She was really pretty.
Suddenly, looking at each other so close seemed serious. Thinking for something to lighten the moment, JJ smiled and told her, "Hey! We made a lot of sausage today huh?"
Peggy laughed and fell into him. He'd hug her back, but he was holding a gun in each hand.
"JJ's got a girlfriend," Bob sang grinning.
Jackie pipped up with, "Just don't use the EV, that's where Bob and Joan make out!"
Bob flushed.
.
The town had another successful pig hunt. The ones that did escape into the swamps were being hunted down by alligators. Again, they counted the carcasses, gutted them then loaded them up to be taken down into the grocery store's big cooler.
JJ walked with Peggy as they went back to her house where all the cars were parked. She had her pistol back in it's holster.
Peggy glanced at JJ and said, "We don't have a normal family."
JJ shrugged. "Does anyone? We sure don't. I tell people I got two mothers and they look at me like I came from Mars or something. I don't think anyone else has an alligator for a pet either, a sister than can shoot plasma bolts, or a living car." leaning closer he added, "I've seen what's called normal families. I think they are the weird ones."
Peggy looked at him and asked, "Really?"
"Yeah, like Bob had a normal, I guess, family, and his Dad just left. I mean, what's up with that? If he didn't like it here, why not take his whole family with him? Seems kind of selfish to me."
Peggy clasped his hand. "So, since I have two mothers and three fathers, that doesn't bother you?"
JJ frowned. "Why would it? What your family does isn't any of my business. Does it bother you both my moms are cyborgs from the future?"
"Not at all," she said and grew a smile. "How about if I told you we were from Atlantis?"
"I don't know were that is, but what does that matter?" he asked.
In a subdued tone, Peggy said, "Some people don't like hearing ... things that they have trouble understanding."
JJ nodded. "That's true all right." He then frowned and said, "They try to keep it from me, but I know my Dad and Moms have had to fight others off. That big car accident up by our place, they were coming to cause trouble. I think Mommy Two and Christine took care of them. Things like that seem to happen a lot to us."
"They do?" she asked watching him.
"Yeah. I can see why we moved here. It's usually quiet and the people here are nice. We can see trouble coming from much farther away," JJ explained. "Plus, living right by a lake is kinda cool too. Even if Joan did find an alligator for a pet."
"That pig coming at me really scared me, but you didn't look scared," Peggy offered.
JJ winced, "I was a little scared I wouldn't stop it before it got to you."
"Really?"
JJ nodded. "But, hey, he's nothing but dinner now," he said with a grin.
"Aren't you afraid of things like alligators?" Peggy asked.
"You have to be careful around them, sure. I wouldn't say scared. If you ever see one, or a snake, walk away, don't run," JJ told her.
"I'll remember that," Peggy said as she smiled at him.
"You have a really nice smile," JJ told her.
"You really think I look like sunshine?" she asked.
JJ nodded. "I do, and when you smile, I swear it's like I could see if it was pitch black out."
"So what makes me look like sunshine?' she prodded.
"I don't know," JJ said. "I mean you're pretty, your hair is almost white like an old person, but it looks good on you, your light blue eyes makes me think of the sky on a sunny day ... just different things, I guess."
"I think you're handsome too," she said with a blush.
"I'm just me," he said with a shrug.
Peggy bumped arms with him, "Stop, if you can say I'm sunshine, then I can call you handsome."
"Trying to get back at me?" he asked with a grin.
"You're funny, too."
"I'm not funny one?"
Peggy laughed and leaned against him. Quietly, she said, "I like you, Johnny."
Before he thought, he said, "I like you too, Peggy."
"JJ, over here!" Cameron called out.
He looked up and saw his family gathering by their vehicles. Sonya called out, "You're riding with me. Kiss your girlfriend goodbye, we have to go."
JJ just then realized he was holding Peggy's hand. "I gotta go. See you in school," he offered.
"See you in school," she agreed.
JJ walked over to his family. Peggy skipped her way to the house.
.
Peggy burst into the house. Seeing two of her fathers and mothers in the living room, she beamed, "Johnny really likes me! He doesn't care about where we're from or how we live, and he saved me! I was so scared when the big pig was coming at me, but he got it and stayed with me! I can feel he really likes me, he said I look like sunshine!"
They all smiled at her. Older father said, "I am sure Johnny is a good human boy, dear. You have to remember, those people, especially the Connors, are prone to extreme violence. Johnny may be a friend to you, but that is all he can ever be."
"But, he really does care about me, he proved it today," Peggy countered.
"Dear," her shorter mother said, "What your father is saying is that they are helpful, yes. They are nice to their friends. They are also very brutal to their enemies. You do remember all that agony you felt a couple months ago? You didn't know where it was coming from? And a few weeks ago, you felt it again? How about that nightmare you had of someone being eaten alive? They are the cause of that. That is why we cannot be too close to them. The closer you are, the more you will feel."
Peggy winced. "But, those were ones who came to harm, weren't they?" she asked.
"Did that make the pain in your mind any less?" her other father asked.
"no," she said weakly.
"Then you see why we must keep to ourselves as much as possible," her other mother said. "We had a big problem here with the pigs eating and destroying all our hard work. I know you wanted to help. We let you so you could experience how ... unfriendly humans can be. Yes, the assistance they provided may well have saved us, but we cannot become too involved with them."
"But Johnny is only part human," Peggy said weakly.
"That is true. The Connors call themselves cyborgs, part machine, part human. They do that to keep others calm and not afraid. Their machine part is called Terminator. They were designed to kill. They do that very well, with no remorse. Peggy, you cannot be involved with beings made to kill."
"Johnny's different," Peggy insisted.
"No dear, he's just not fully grown yet. He is still innocent. When he grows up, he won't be."
.
Going to school the next day, Eddie got JJ's attention. He motioned to an empty place in the hallway by the wall and in a serious tone, told JJ. "You have to leave my sister alone."
"I haven't done anything with your sister," JJ replied.
"Just... leave her alone." Eddie stated.
JJ frowned at him. "What are you talking about?"
"During that pig hunt ... you hugged her."
JJ raised his eyebrows. "Wow, bad me for hugging a crying girl who looked like she really needed some comfort! You got a sister complex or something?"
"You told her she looked like sunshine!" Eddie said in an accusing tone.
"Yes, that was really terrible of me," JJ replied in a sarcastic tone.
"Eddie, what are you doing?" Peggy asked as she came over to them.
"Making sure Johnny here know he can't ever be close to you," Eddie said firmly.
"Wow, just a little prejudiced are we?" JJ asked. "So, what, are you part of the great Aryan race or something? Do you say "Seig Heil?"
"I don't want to see Peggy hurt!" Eddie insisted.
"From talking to someone like me, right?" JJ asked.
"Yes!"
JJ let out a huff and said, "Then I guess we have to hold off on marriage and having kids for a few years." He walked away as both Eddie and Peggy flushed, for different reasons.
Jackie also heard the conversation. she came over to the two pale haired siblings as Peggy said, "I can't believe you said that to Johnny!"
"He needs to know he is not fit for you." Eddie told her firmly.
"I don't think you have anything to say about it," Jackie said staring blankly at Eddie.
Both siblings move away from her. They felt aggression from her.
"You think you're better than us?" Jackie asked.
"no," Eddie said weakly.
"It is YOU who will leave JJ alone," Jackie stated in a hard tone as she stared Eddie down. "Corner him again, and we will be having a talk outside, and it will not be pleasant."
Eddie swallowed. Anger and malevolence was coming off Jackie in waves. "I'm sorry," he offered.
"You should be," Jackie stated and went on her way.
Peggy shook her head and went into the classroom. Eddie followed slower.
.
Billy looked up where Driftwood was. In the wine country of Texas, it was a small town, only a few hundred residents. He guessed they were all rich and spoiled. There was one sheriff's office, from what he could find it was a the sheriff and one part-time deputy. The main road ran through the town, two other east and west only went to lakes, the only roads to those lakes. Easily shocked and manipulated, these soft people would be good pickings. He'd gave them grovelling at his feet to save their lives.
Money had come in from their goods donated by pillaged places. Selling other people's stuff was very profitable. Besides his group, he was able to afford to hire some local gang members also. He almost felt sorry for the town. Him and his thugs would ransack that place and find out who there was killing protesters, or they would all die. They had no idea what was coming.
.
Now the boat was done, Sonya found the grocery store needed help, mostly with butchering all the pigs they got in the last pig hunt. She missed being at the garage near Mark, but at end of the day, she was still staying with him at his house. After work they worked on the house together. Not structure, but refining some of Mark's furniture.
Mark had made all his furniture with wood. That was fine, it was good and study. It was also all squared off lumber that was just nailed an screwed together.
His 'easy' chair was the first to have the cushions pulled off and dragged outside to 'fancy' it up. He rounded the edges with a belt sander while Sonya carefully carved designs into it. The back top 2X6 that stuck a little above the cushions, she carved an eagle in it with it' s wings spread out. Using a darker stain, she filled in where she carved, making it stand out more. Simple designs repeating down the sides of the back, then a more native American deign along the 2X8 base, got the same treatment. Once the chair was done, it was coated with polyurethane and polished, then a light coat of wax turned his simple chair into a fancy one that looked great. It was still the same sturdy chair.
The only piece of furniture they never quite got to was the 2X8 framed bed that had 2x4 cross members and a plywood base for the very large mattress to fit on. Somehow, whenever they got to it, they always ended up in it, and the only work being done was trying to make a baby. OH well, they'd get the bed done some time in the future.
Sonya was loving living with Mark.
.
The sixth grade was going on a field trip to Austin. Miss Winters sent requests for chaperones for the trip to see the state capitol buildings. Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Connor - Delilah, and Mrs. Richards volunteered to come. All the kids were to bring their lunches with them.
At the end of the day, Miss Winters eagerly told the class about the trip, and the guided tour they were going to get. On their way out Peggy ran up beside JJ.
"There's going to be many normal people there," she said quietly.
JJ cast her a grin. "Don't worry, stay be me. We'll be OK."
"Promise?" she asked with a grin.
"Promise," he said firmly. Looking to the side, he noted Eddie was watching them. "We'll be fine, Mommy Two is coming. She won't let anything happen to us, all right? You better go, your brother is looking nervous."
Peggy nodded. She really liked Johnny's confidence. "You will stay with me, won't you?" she asked.
JJ grinned. "Unless a tow truck drags me away. Then I will fight it for all I'm worth," he told her.
Peggy beamed him a smile, kissed his cheek then went over to her brother and got on their bus with him.
They got seated. "You shouldn't be talking to him," Eddie stated.
Peggy didn't answer. She help her own feelings wrapped tight. She knew Eddie was concerned. He didn't have to be, Johnny was only watching out for her.
"Did you hear me?" Edie asked.
Peggy glanced at him. "I'm trying not to."
.
It was on a Wednesday when they loaded up on the big bus to go on their field trip. JJ got on and took a window seat partway back. When Peggy got on, she didn't sit with her brother, but sat down by JJ. She knew that irritated her brother, and he'd tell their parents. She'd be talked to at length tonight, but if she had to endure it anyway, then she was going to enjoy today. The adults took the front seats. Jackie got the seat in front of JJ to herself. Louise got the seat behind them. Once everyone was on they started out.
JJ let out a fake grumble. "Oh no, I'm surrounded by girls!"
Louise popped him in the back of the head. "We are going to make sure you behave yourself!"
"Right," Jackie agreed. "No making out on the bus."
JJ rolled his eyes. "See what I have to put up with?" he asked Peggy.
Peggy giggled. She knew his sisters were only playing with him. Her brother across the isle was getting nervous. He had to learn better adapt to being around others. Living isolated with only their family was very comfortable, but they could not stay at home forever.
"I hope this isn't going to be a long trip," Jackie said with a sigh.
"A few hours. That's not real long," JJ told her. "It's not like we're going back to California. That was a long trip."
"That was a whole week of travel," Louise agreed. "I got real sick of riding."
"No kidding," Jackie agreed.
JJ asked Peggy, "When your family moved here, was that a long trip?"
"It was! I got so bored, I slept as much as I could," she agreed.
"Me too, but I got to ride with Dad in the truck." JJ said.
"You can wake me up when we get there," Jackie stated and laid on the seat. JJ looked over the seat at her. "We just got up a few hours ago. How can you be tired?"
"I want to get there quicker."
"You laying about isn't going to make the bus go faster," JJ told her.
"For me it will."
"Naw, you'll just be tired and cranky all day."
Jackie curled herself up and ignored him.
JJ began singing, "Jackie is a lazy bum, do da, do da, Jackie is a lazy bum all the do da day..."
"Will you let me sleep?" she asked.
"Nope." he then sang, "Do da do da dootade do! I have got a puzzle for you.."
"JJ stop!" Jackie complained.
"Do da do da dotade de! If you are wise you will listen to me..."
Jackie put her hands over her ears.
"What do you get when you sleep all the day? A big fat butt and your hair disarrayed..."
"Will you stop it, please?" Jackie moaned.
Peggy laughed at him.
"You get a pain in the neck and an IQ of three!.."
"All right, just stop singing, you suck a it!" Jackie cried and sat up.
"What? I was trying to sing you to sleep," JJ said with a grin.
Jackie glowered at him. "You failed horribly."
"When you fail, you're supposed to try again," JJ told her.
"No!" Jackie said, pointing a finger at him.
Louise cracked up this time.
Peggy giggled so hard she fell against him. She was having a good time here just listening to Johnny.
"You really should stay awake, You're making this trip fun," JJ told Jackie.
"For you. Are you set on picking on me?" Jackie asked.
"I can remember a couple times you were set on picking on me," JJ replied.
Jackie grew a grin. "I get it, you're showing off for your girlfriend."
JJ gaped at her briefly. "What? I am not."
"Are too."
"Am not!"
"Are too," Louise said from behind.
JJ turned to frown at her. I thought you were on my side?"
"It's girls against boys, and you're surrounded!" Louise stated with an evil grin.
"Uh oh," Peggy said in a giggle, "They turned it around on you, Johnny."
"That's not fair," JJ complained.
"IS too," Jackie told him.
"Is not!"
"Yup it is," Louise said.
The happy feeling Peggy had faded when she got a feeling of a growing malicious feeling.
"Peggy!" Eddie called out, "Stop laughing, trouble's in front of us!"
Peggy sat straight up, up ahead it looked like a car accident. Delilah stood up to look at the scene then told the driver. "Stop."
"It looks like we can get around it," the driver said.
"No, stop back up and go back to town," Delilah said firmly.
From the sides, SUV's appeared and drove towards them. Guns were pointing out the windows. Seeing this the bus driver stopped.
"Damn," Delilah spat, then raced back to Jackie and JJ. "Kids, do nothing until I do! Jackie, no canon until I say, understood?"
Peggy shrunk back against JJ. "What... who are they?"
"Everyone stay seated and stay calm," Delilah told them. Ahead the traffic accident broke up. A moving van drove towards them. Delilah went back to the front.
A single man carrying an AK47 walked to the bus and knocked at the doors. The driver opened them.
The man with a mask over his face said, "Disobey and we shoot everyone on the bus. Turn the bus off, leave the keys, Everyone get off and into that truck. Now." the man commanded.
"Johnny?" Peggy asked fearfully.
Delilah walked to stand in the doorway. "You need to reconsider your actions," she said firmly.
"You want these kids to die?" he asked in a rough tone. "Off the bus everyone, NOW!"
Delilah stepped off the bus scanning around, blank faced. "You will regret this." she stated.
"Get on the truck, NOW!" he snapped.
.
On the bus, Jackie said, "Mom can't act yet, they have guns on us. Wherever they take us, stay together."
"Johnny..." Peggy whimpered.
"You'll be OK, I promise," JJ said and put an arm around her. "Stay directly behind me."
They were herded off the bus and into the back of the moving van. Men with face covering masks and guns were all around them now. One of the men closed the overhead door and locked it down. They started moving again. The truck was bouncing. instead of a fun trip, they were now prisoners of angry men. Peggy sat huddled tight against JJ, who held her close.
.
Billy and two of his men walked into the sheriff's office and pointed their guns at him.
"We have kidnapped a bus load of kids," Billy stated, "Anyone does anything we don't tell them to do, and we start shooting them. Put your gun on the desk!"
The sheriff did.
Billy had one of his men pick it up. "Now, we know whoever has been making protesters disappear, lives around here. You will tell me where they are."
"Can't tell you what I don't know," the Sheriff said flatly.
"One an hour," Billy stated. "Every hour you don't know, one child is executed. Tell me you still don't know."
"No matter what you threaten, I still don't know," the Sheriff stated.
"You don't get it!" Billy spat, "In fifty five minutes, one child will die!"
"Then you'll be a murderer."
"You will be the cause unless you speak!" Billy spat.
"No, you will be. Give yourselves up now, before anyone gets hurt, it will go easier on you."
Billy motioned to one of his men. "Put him in a jail cell and watch him. You just killed a child, Sheriff!"
"Anyone that dies, is on your head," the Sheriff replied. He got up and walked back to the cells.
Billy strode out to the waiting cars and barked orders. "You, got to the other end of town. No one in, no one out! You take this end. Duke, go lock down the high school. Hatchet, bring your boys and follow me, we're headed for the rendezvous."