Compassionate Conservative

Caleb went to his house for supper. He had left his first "family" at the compound in two weeks and moved here to live with his new "dad". Dr. Allen James saw the intelligence and kindness in Caleb and used his power as spiritual leader of this misbegotten horde to convince the military leader that he wanted Caleb to take the place of his lost son. Caleb had lived here with a once well-known conservative author of many top sellers ever since. It was a comfortable existence; Allen requested books and materials so that Caleb could continue his studies in science. Caleb's interest in history was not so enabled; Allen James did not waste Caleb's time expecting him to read the drivel that this lot would consider historically accurate.

Allen James had been a well-liked college professor when his first book had been published; a thoughtful discussion of how changing mores were likely to affect future generations of Americans. The news media took passages out of context that made Allen look like a racist. He became the darling of the right wing and wealthier in the process. He found that all he had to do was put in a few provocative comments here and there and the idiots would buy it and stand in line to have his autograph. Allen had decided that there were all total illiterates because they seemed to never read the chapters filled with compassionate conservatism while skipping to the sound bites. Allen James had been on a book tour when the ZA hit; he had been signing books for the clueless. He always wrote his salutations in manuscript because he wasn't sure they had mastered reading cursive. Suddenly a man carrying an automatic rifle pushed through the crowd and spoke to him "Dr. James, come with me". Allen thought it was best that he went with him; he was wishing that he had not been so damn clever when he defended the Second Amendment right to bear arms. The man had dragged him through the crowd and out into a waiting Humvee before he knew it. He just had time to think of his ex-wife's comment every time she saw a Humvee, "Nobody's dick is that small" before he was inside and whisked away.

Allen thought that someone in his idiot fan club had finally read the book and decided that he was basically mocking them. They were going to take him somewhere and make him listen to tapes of far right speakers until he was sufficiently back in the fold. Or they were going to shoot him. He didn't know which he would choose; slow death by exposure to lower percentiles or a quick death. He had come to this Godforsaken state in hopes of seeing his daughter and his ex-wife who were currently living in Asheville. His ex-wife, Dr. Jamelal Davis and daughter Alyssa were spending the summer up in the mountains. His best kept secret was that he had been married to an African-American college professor more liberal than he had been conservative. She had left him years before the first book came out; he had used the proceeds from that book to ensure that Alyssa could afford her dream of becoming a doctor. His best secret was that he still loved Jamela and would until his dying breath which might come soon he thought as the Humvee careened around corners and sped down straight ways. The final joke was on Dr. Allen James, his fame as a conservative had earned him a place in his personal hell; he had been rescued and dragged up to Eagle's Nest to rot with the rest of this sorry lot. Allen had managed to rescue Allen with his sweet story of missing his son. Allen did not have a son, but he had never let truth deter him from what he wanted.

Caleb went in the house to see Allen was preparing their dinner; they had few secrets between them. Allen had had an African-American wife and daughter and hated every Nazi on this place. Caleb had been reared by a Jewish father and he hated every Nazi on this place. They played the game but secretly planned an escape. Things had gotten worse since women captives were being taken as breeding stock and Allen recognized that he was out of favor with most of the leaders. Allen was willing to risk his life to get Caleb out of here, out before his secret trips to the slave barracks were found out. He loved the boy like he was his son and thought saving Caleb would be worth dying here.

….

Carol and Ashton were ready to leave when Jo asked them to drop Ariel and Arya at their music lessons. Carol felt a rush of concern; the girls had been kept in the compound for good reason. Jo wanted to go see a friend that lived in town as well. Carol was now wishing that she hadn't agreed to go visiting with Ashton. Daryl was on a run to get materials for the new house and he didn't know that she was going. Ashton agreed and Jo jumped in the front seat with him. Carol, Arya, and Ariel were in the back seat. They had just passed Kevin and Connie's place when Carol felt the first wave of terror; she told Ashton to turn around and go back. Jo told her that it would be fine, but Ashton began slowing the car knowing that they would have to go around this curve before he could find a spot to turn around. Carol tried to relax but her heart was pounding and she felt as if she was ready to jump out of her skin. She grabbed Zak and her pistol checking the ammo. Arya and Ariel just rolled their eyes disappointed that it looked as if they were headed back to their house. There were three walkers in the road as they came around the turn. The road was too narrow to turn and the walkers were close. Carol jumped out and unsheathed Zak; she moved quickly to the first walker and buried her sword into his brain through his eye socked. She quickly removed the sword and swung it at the second walker cutting through his rotted neck and beheading him. Ashton had killed the other with a machete, and Carol stuck Zak though the rolling head to finish him off.

Carol looked around for something to wipe Zak off with; she and Ashton walked to the back of the vehicle where Ashton had a rag. They were wiping their blades and wondering where this latest batch of walkers came from when Carol felt the approach of something behind her. She turned raising Zak and saw three men coming at them fast. She was able to use Zak to kill the first one with a thrust through his eye but Ashton was not quick enough and the second man clubbed him and the third subdued Carol with a blow to the forehead. She lost consciousness and didn't see the two men order the women out and to follow them down the trail. One of the men picked up Carol commenting that she was light enough to carry to the truck. Once there the women were give a sniff of chloroform and the raiders rolled back to the Eagle's Nest. They had been on a spying expedition but couldn't resist an opportunity to bring back some trophies.

Carol woke up in the bed of a truck. She, Jo, Arya, and Ariel were tied in to a metal rod and hidden from view by the truck's topper. She remembered killing walkers and cleaning Zak; she had taken a raider out but the next one had hit her. She pressed her hands against where she believed that her baby rested safe within her; somehow she would survive this. Daryl would come for her and hell would fall upon these assholes when he did. "Hold on, Michael, Daddy will find a way to bring us home".

It wasn't long before they were at the gatehouse that Michonne had described and speeding up a hill. The truck stopped in front of a steel building and they were jerked out of the truck and into a small room. They waited for an hour and then were dragged to a larger room filled with men. Each of them was given a seat in front of the room. There was a tall man with a commanding presence watching them from the front row. He had dead eyes and Carol found herself shuddering when his eyes passed over her and the others.

They were inspected for a while but not touched. Carol had time to notice a tall blond boy and a slightly shorter man with weary eyes. The boy looked familiar and she found herself watching him; he seemed to be as cold and calculating as the others. Finally, the man with dead eyes got up. It seemed that they were to be divvied up among the men.

The tall man chose Jo to go to the slave barracks; she was too old for breeding he thought. Carol thought she would be there too. The tall man motioned her to stand, and she spent a few minutes thinking about washing laundry in the prison. That should do it; she was slave barracks bound for sure with that look on her face. The man with the weary eyes spoke, "I want her". One of the raiders spoke up, "She killed Adam; we should execute her". Damn, Carol thought, she had only been defending herself. "Nonsense", said Weary Eyes, "She has spirit, there is life in this one, and she reminds me of my wife. I have never claimed any other woman and I want this one. And Caleb wants the older girl; he's sixteen and ready to father lots of children for this Motherland. Look at him, his children will be pure specimens of the Aryan race. The little one is too young but she can stay at my house until she is ready to breed, then you can give her out as you see fit". Tall Man stared at Weary Eyes but didn't choose to oppose him. Tall Man stood in front of them and ordered them to stand. "You have been chosen to bear children for this new world in which the master race will exterminate all the mud races. You will be expected to obey your new husbands and if you break the rules of this compound you will be stripped naked and sent out to be eaten by the dead. Do you understand?' They nodded yes, and they were untied.

Weary Eyes and the blond boy moved in front of them. They swore an oath to use these women to further the might of the Master Race. Weary Eyes stood in front of Carol and slapped her on the face, "You are my possession. If you disobey me, try to deny me my rights to possess you, or do anything harmful to our cause I will kill you myself". He stood back and the blond boy slapped Ariel and said the same thing to her. The women were led away and given clothes, toiletries, and a shower. Carol had read too many stories of concentration camp showers to relax in this one. She had decided that Weary Eyes and Blond Boy might be the best of the lot; she just had to stay alive until Daryl found a way to rescue her.

Eventually they were marched to large house on the end of a street; Weary Eyes and Blond Boy waited in the yard. Their guards released them and they filed in the house and Weary Eyes and Blond Boy followed them in and closed the door behind them.

Once inside Weary Eyes said that his name was Allen and the Blond Boy was Caleb. Allen and Caleb fed them sandwiches and stared at them. The house had three bedrooms and two bathrooms and they were moved down the hall to their bedrooms after they had finished the food. Carol was surprisingly calm; she had endured too many years of Ed to be destroyed by this.

Arya was given a bedroom by herself; she shared a bathroom with Caleb and Ariel. Ariel had cried until they got here and she was now robotic. Carol tried to give her a reassuring smile; the girl could survive this and they could get home someday. Allen took her on down the hallway to the master suite. It was a large room and the accompanying bath was luxurious. Allen insisted that she take another shower and that he would be joining her shortly.

Carol took a few minutes to remind herself that it is always better to stay alive than give up. She took her clothes off and climbed into the shower. She heard Allen open the door and the shower door opened. Allen was still dressed and he eyed her for a moment taking in the scars and her humiliation. He quickly stripped off his clothes and joined her in the shower. He pulled her close to him and whispered in her ear, "What's your name?" "Carol" she whispered back. Allen rubbed her shoulders and said, "I have heard that they tape some of the first breedings to make sure that the women put out. How good are you at faking sex?"

Carol thought of Ed and whispered back, "I can make it believable". Allen looked at her scars and all and said, "If you ever want to make it real let me know." Soon they were in bed, Allen was noisy and he came with way too much theater she thought. Allen told her that the first time was so good for him that he wanted a repeat and he kissed her and they rolled around the bed some more and he went for much longer this time like a good lover. He finally came for their listeners and pulled her to him. Allen wanted to know all about the rest of the world and they whispered in each other's ear until he fell asleep cuddled next to her. She moved away from him and went to the window. Somewhere Daryl was dealing with her being gone; he would find a way to get them; she would have to keep him from killing Allen though.