A Change of Major (Chapter Twenty Five)

A Change of Major Chapter Twenty Five

The Final Holocaust Part One


There was no sound other than my heart beating. A steady, thumping throb in my head. I was holding Curtis' lifeless body sitting on the ground surrounded by strangers.

A crying lady was clutching a little boy who was struggling to reach for Curtis. A middle aged man had his head down and was holding a child to his chest in a death grip.

A young man was next to me, in shock, his glasses in his hand, he was trying to stop the blood from flowing from the dead body in my arms although there was no point any longer.

Silence but for my heart. Thump. Thump. Thump.

I let Curtis slide limply from my lap and I stood. I found I had a gun in my hand, I staggered over to the dead body of the monster who shot Curtis and unloaded the three remaining rounds into his still body. I looked at the empty weapon in my hand and dropped it to the ground.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

A pretty girl ran up to me her mouth was moving, but I heard no words. I walked past her and ran into a woman who tried to grab me, but I went through her arms and on to the body of the big guy who tried to impale me with the knife.

His lifeless body lay on the grass and I started kicking his head repeatedly. The guy with the eyeglasses came up behind me and tried to take my arm but I pushed him away.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Old people and young, some bleeding, others not. All shocked. Some holding weapons, some holding each other. All staring at me.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

I walked towards the gate where an old man with a rifle, helping a wounded man to his feet, was mouthing something at me while imploring me with tired old eyes. I looked away and walked towards the gate.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

I walked between the damaged vehicles and found the rifle one of the attackers had dropped. A young man holding a rifle stood and watched me carefully, but I ignored him and walked over to the closest attacker's dead body and started firing into the torso until the weapon went dry.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The film started in my head, a montage of images.

Curtis playing his video games with that bear hat on...
Holding his iPhone into my face with some stupid app blinking away...
Curtis conning the last soda away from Chuck..
Curtis goofing off with Tyler...
Curtis singing in the kitchen..
Curtis standing in the rain wearing a trash bag with a dead guy by his feet..
Curtis talking incessantly about his family who could care less if he was alive...
Curtis turning to me to say something..
Curtis dying..
Curtis dead...

Suddenly the world exploded with noise.

Delbert was walking towards me, his boots on the pavement, dressed in black, black cowboy hat, big rifle in his hand, old west gunfight, here comes Mr. Death...

My voice, faraway, shouting, "Where were you? Curtis is dead! Where were you!"

I took a swing at his unemotional,expressionless face and a large hand stopped my fist in flight while an arm wrapped around my neck.

My other arm was pulled behind my back. The arm around my neck tightened and the world went black.

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I sat up, slightly sore and shaking. Adrenaline coursed through my veins and I felt very, very tired. It was real. Curtis was dead.

All of this. The shelter. The road. The work. All for nothing. Curtis was dead. His family would never know. They would spend the rest of their lives thinking any minute he would walk through the door all the while he lay dead.

It was all my fault. We could have stayed at the farm. If I had not insisted to Celina the other day that we had to bring the campground more food, this never would have happened. Curtis would still be alive.

Curtis was my friend. He lived in the room next to me. He was my friend and I got him killed.

I looked up and saw I was in the lobby of the welcome center sitting on the floor with a blanket around my shoulders.

Ernie was standing against the counter holding his carbine.

Celina was on her haunches inches away watching me carefully.

Delbert was leaning against the nearby wall staring at me with his arms folded across his chest.

"What happened?" I asked.

"We brought you here. Sorry about the sleeper hold, Jose thought it was best considering the situation." said Delbert.

"Is that what that was? I thought one of the bad guys was still alive." I replied.

"Nope. Can you talk or do you need a few more minutes? We don't have much time, but if you can't handle it, it's cool, just let me know." said Delbert.

"Handle what? What else happened? What's going on?" I said frantically thinking someone else had died as well.

"We were attacked and it wasn't by accident. They were part of a larger gang working this area and are the same group who attacked Celina's farm the other night. But there are more of them, a lot more." replied Ernie.

"And these guys today had help, but that's not important. What is important is we have to do something and in the next 24 hours." added Celina.

"Do we get to kill more of the guys who killed Curtis? Then I'm in."

"Not like that," said Delbert. "Guys like you got us hurt in Iraq and Afghanistan. Same with 'Nam, right Ernie?

Nope, you want in on this than you forget about Curtis right now, stop feeling sorry for yourself and get your head on straight. Or I'll nail you before you set foot in the field. Got it?"

I said nothing but took a deep breath.

"Mike," said Ernie, "I know this is hard. We talked about this the other night and I know what you are going through.."

"No you don't old man! You didn't know Curtis! You didn't lose your mom, your dad, your sister, your friend all at once did you, huh?" I interrupted.

"No I didn't Mike," he replied calmly. "But I lost all my family and my closest friends died the same way in battle as well. It took me years to get through it, not over it, not around it, but through it. And you will too.

But today, Mike, we don't have the luxury of rubber rooms, shrinks and Prozac. We have a war to fight and we need to know if you, in the next few minutes, are going to be with us or not. Afterward, if we survive, we can all deal with the pain, but for now, we don't have that choice."

I sat there and said nothing at first.

"How are we going to fight a war? How many guys just attacked the camp ground? Ten? Twelve? Who fought back? Me? Celina? Ernie? Arturo? We lost a bunch of people in the process besides Curtis I'm sure. How's that going to work for us, huh?" I finally said.

Delbert's jumped in,

"Actually more fought than you think. Having never served, you don't know about things like force multipliers and we wouldn't expect you to. Whatever. We have some things planned which might help us.

But you are right, we are short handed so we need all hands on deck including you, if you're up for it and you can keep your head on straight," said Delbert.

"Tell you what, why don't you take it easy for a few minutes while we wait outside. someone wants to talk to you anyway." said Celina standing up.


The three left the office and Brenda came in with her arms folded. I stood and let the blanket fall to the ground at my feet.

"You okay?" she asked in a quiet voice.

"Yeah. I guess I looked like a real dork out there." I said looking down.

"No, not at all. I'm sorry about Curtis. I didn't know him very well, but he seemed like a good person. He saved that little boy's life you know."

She paused, and then said "We really don't have much time. Today, maybe in the next hour we have to go to.. well Delbert will give you the details about where, I talked to Chuck and he said that you and he.. well, this sounds stupid, but Mike, we don't have a lot of time."

Brenda stood up straight and got right in my face,

"Curtis is dead. You or I may be dead in a few hours too. I want you to know what ever happens, Mike Brewer, I am glad I met you. I am glad you came into my life when you did and, mom is going to kill me for this, Mike I love you. And I don't want to lose you and..."

My turn.

I went to Brenda and kissed her. I kissed her to make all the hate, the despair, the sadness and hopelessness of the world go away for two people for just a few moments. For that time, the world was normal and right and maybe, just maybe, it would be later for Brenda and I.

We had to. We had to for Curtis and all the rest.

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I stepped outside holding Brenda's hand and saw several people looking at us, and then turning away to what they were doing. And there was plenty going on.

The tow truck was pulling the damaged car from the gate and the hood was up with two men, Arturo and some old guy from the camp ground looking inside.

A shot out tire on the other attackers truck was being changed for the spare while all the attackers weapon's and ammunition was being collected and stacked on the picnic tables near the central fire pit.

George was sitting on a folding chair while Mrs. Cooper cleaned his shoulder wound with a bottle of hydrogen peroxide.

A group of people, mostly the older folks from the campers and motor homes, but also a fair number of younger and middle aged people from the tents and mobile homes were standing nearby in groups.

Everyone was carrying some sort of firearm and showing them one at a time to Ernie, Jose or Delbert. While a few weapons were useless due to age, condition or lack of ammo, the rest would all be put to use with the operator, regardless of training or ability, behind them.

I was about to say something to Brenda when I looked up and saw sitting on the ground tied to a stunted tree a few yards away, Holland. Needless to say, I was shocked.

He was dirty, his jacket torn and his face showed the results of a servere beating. He was looking down at the ground and trying very hard to be invisible from what I could tell. It was a long way from the pompous arrogant jerk I remembered from a few days ago.

"Where did he come from?" I asked.

"He was with the attackers. We followed the trail of the guys who hit the camp and found him tied up in the trunk of another car just over the hill there." said Brenda.

"He brought them here." I stated coldly. Holland caused Curtis' death.

"Mike, don't," said Brenda grabbing my arm, "Delbert is going to take care of it. Trust me."

Maybe I was too tired, maybe I had seen enough, but I let it go. For now.

Mr. Hartman walked over and said,

"I think this is yours." it was the .25 pistol I had dropped near Curtis.

"Mike, I am sorry about Curtis. He went straight to heaven, I know it. He saved Tyler's life and we will never forget him or what he did."

"Thanks, Mr. Hartman. I.. Curtis was good. Better than me..." I trailed off.

I removed the spent magazine and replaced it with the only other one I had left in my pocket. I may not need the little gun again, but it came in handy all the same.

Delbert walked over and seeing the little gun in my hand, shook his head.

"You got lucky with that piece of s**t before, don't put your life in it's hands anymore."

He walked over to the table and picked up a medium frame revolver with a three inch barrel.

"This is a .38, ever fired one before?" he asked.

"Sure, I had a friend whose dad had one. We took it to the range a few times." I replied.

"Good. Find somewhere to stick it and keep it close in case your shotty goes dry or missing."

I took the pistol and carefully opened the cylinder and found it was empty. I looked at Delbert and he wordlessly handed me a dozen rounds and turned away.

I loaded the gun, checked the safety and stuffed it in my right coat pocket.

I had to do something to help out so Brenda and I went over to the tow truck and checked out her AK and reloaded the two magazines she went through in the firefight. I discovered that she and Tracy had matching rifles and Baretta nine milimeter handguns as well. I don't know why that is even important now, but it's something you remember. In another time, they probably had matching Easter dresses, now its guns. Welcome to the new world.

Tracy had been with Celina during the battle and I did not even ask Brenda how she was, but I saw her over at her mom's truck unloading the food into the welcome center.

Jose appeared shortly afterward driving the Mustang which he parked just outside the gate before he opened the trunk with Delbert and Ernie standing nearby.

Jose pulled a wicked looking long weapon out with two legs folded beneath the barrel. I walked over and watched as he handed the gun to Delbert and then pulled two long belts of ammunition from a box in the trunk.

Delbert saw me and said,

"I told you about force multipliers, meet one."

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's an M60," said Ernie. "We used them in Vietnam and up until you were a young man. It's a good weapon in the right hands."

"And those hands would be yours, pops." said Delbert.

"OK, let's get over to the tables and get this worked out." said Delbert.

A Change of Major (Chapter Twenty Four)

We rolled up to the gate and Ernie greeted us with the other guy who wore the USS Enterprise hat, George. Both were happy to see us as were most of the others who came down to the gate. Most excited of all was little Tyler who ran right up to Curtis screaming,

"Curtis! Curtis! Here I am! What did you bring me?"

Curtis jumped down from the tow truck and picked up Tyler,

"What's up little dude? Have I got something cool for you."

Curtis went back to the truck and came back holding a yellow ball of fuzz in his hands.

"Here you go, buddy. Your very own chicken. What do you think about that?"

Tyler's eyes opened wide,

"Wow. Is that real? Can I keep it?"

'Careful little guy, he can still break. He's like you, only smaller and yellow and eats bugs, but he's just like you." said Curtis gently handing the chick to Tyler.

"When he, or she grows up, she can make eggs for your breakfast. Pretty cool, huh? But you got to promise me you won't hurt it and make sure it eats lots of bugs and junk, kay?" said Curtis

"I will Curtis, I promise. Mom! Dad! I gotta chicken! Lookit, lookit!"

Everyone laughed at the little kid running around with the chick in his hands. I was sure a few were wondering how big it would get, whether or not there would be eggs and if not, what a nice chicken dinner would taste like. I hope they don't tell little Tyler.

I looked back at Brenda who was standing behind the tow truck cab holding her AK. She then pulled off her stocking cap and sunglasses, which was unusual, and gave me a big smile. Ernie picked up on it because he was on me like flies on a cow patty.

"Well, looks like farm life agrees with you, Mike. How are you doing anyway? Keeping busy?" he asked

"Busy enough Ernie, how are things here?"

"Better now that Holland is gone and the walls have come down. Everyone is pitching in with water and wood and other stuff. Someone figured to set up a trot line in the wider part of the creek and wouldn't you know it, we have actually been catching some fish. Other than that, it's been pretty quiet around here, but..." he trailed off.

"What is it Ernie?" I asked.

"Something doesn't feel right. Like we are being watched. It reminds me of 'Nam and knowing there were VC just beyond the wire waiting for you to make a mistake. Maybe I am getting paranoid in my old age, but I just can't shake this feeling." he admitted.

I subconsiously checked my shotgun as Celina had warned me to and made sure it was ready and spare shells were where I expected them to be. After the last few days, paranoia was an old and constant friend.

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Up on the hill, Cranes eyes opened wider and a wicked grin spread across his face.

"Look at that fine piece that just showed up down there," he whispered to Jimmie while eying Brenda.

"And look at the vehicles. They got stuff and more guns. Glad we waited. Scoot back and tell the rest to get ready. And remember what to do. Take out the guys first and then you can have that chick, but don't screw it up, got it?" said Jimmie.

"Rafe will be happy with this haul," thought Jimmie.

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We rolled into the camp ground while Arturo, one of Celina's numerous cousins and driving the tow truck and Chuy, who was riding shotgun, turned the truck aroud to face the entrance like Jose had done with the Mustang the first time I met them. Arturo opened the door and stood behind it holding an AR pattern rifle aimed through the door jamb. Chuy sat low in the front seat cradling an AK.

Chuck, Curtis and I went to work unloading the carrots and other vegetables we had brought over along with some of the beef from the Bakers. All of it paid for with the gold jewelry I had given Celina and which I was happy to get rid of and put to good use. We had brought enough for the community for several meals, most of it put together like beef stew or soup, using the foods they had when combined with ours. I also brought enough flour for bread to be had at least once a day or so I hoped.

Everything seemed to be going well unti two things happened.

First, the noise of a rattling car engine punctuated the air and being so alien these days, I knew instantly it was not one of ours.

Next, was the sound of a buzzing insect that traveled past the left side of my head and left a gray streak in the air as it went by.

Then things slowed way down...

A beat up 60's era Ford came rolling around the bend from the left of the campground road and hurdled towards the open gate. There were at least two gunmen hanging out the rear windows rapidly firing rifles in our direction. I saw George grab his left shoulder before letting out an audible "Umph!" and falling to the grass.

Ernie dropped to the ground and rolled to his right while yelling "Down! Down! Everybody down!"

Cutis and Chuck were no longer by my side. Chuck was on the ground crawling towards the door of the welcome center while Curtis disappeared behind me. Then came the short barking sounds of Brenda's AK. Simultaneously, a pickup came rolling from the right hand side of the road towards the tow truck and Brenda. Three individuals were leaning over the cab firing long guns at the tow truck and us.

Ernie was firing spaced even shots at the first car, his .30 caliber rounds peppering the windshield. It veered to the right and slammed into the front gate post easily doing thirty miles per hour and tossing one of the backseat shooters against the door post and knocking his rifle to the ground. I had a clear shot and put a blast of buckshot through his torso sending him back into the car with his head smacking the post on the way down.

The driver stumbled out with blood on his face and Celina's sawed off barked twice with a firey muzzle and sent him backwards as well. She broke her weapon to reload and then tossed it aside and pulled a Colt Python from her holster and started firing at the other vehicle which was now stopped about ten yards from the tow truck and unleashing a torrent of rounds in its direction. I could not see Brenda standing any longer in the back of the truck.

Instinctive stupidness took over and I was about to jump up and run to her aid when a high pitched scream came from behind me. I rolled over and turned to see some of the people from the campers and motor homes running down the hill and being follwed by at least three or four scruffy men who were firing indiscriminately at them. I got up and started back their way seeing as the residents were all unarmed and in a panic.

A woman I did not recognize ran towards me screeching and tried to grab me. I pushed her to my left and tried to get a clear field of fire on any of the attackers, but there were too many camp ground residents in the way. I watched that nice old guy Cooper step out of his camper and start firing a revolver from only a few feet at the closest attacker hitting his target forcing him to grab his stomach and fall to the ground, his rifle firing wild rounds into the air.

One of the attackers broke off to his right and was heading directly towards the tent area. I thought I saw Hartman pushing his wife down while dragging one of their other kids along side.

"Where was Jose and Delbert?" my mind screamed. "We are getting killed here!"

It was then I heard the little voice scream, "My chicken! Come back chicken!" and saw little Tyler running across the open ground directly in the field of the oncoming attacker. Mr and Mrs Hartman were screaming. The air was a confusing cacophony of gunfire and shouts. Tyler and the gunman were mere feet away from each other and the murderer was moving as a demonic killing machine on auto pilot, firing, firing and firing. Then I heard Curtis shouting,

"I got you little buddy, I got you...!"


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"Now" said Delbert from his vantage point on the nearby hill.

Jose's Remington 700 chambered in 30.06 boomed. The bolt worked and fired again. Down in front of the camp, the head of one of the attackers in the second vehicle exploded.

Then another.

The remaining attacker in the second vehicle turned to look behind him in the direction of the new firing before his body began to spasm uncontrollably as Arturo fired round after round of 7.62mm tearing his body apart.

Brenda looked over the cab of the truck and seeing it was reasonably clear, snapped a half dozen rounds off at the other crashed vehicle taking out all the glass on both sides and winging the only remaining gunman left in the car.

Crane rose and stood from behind the car, glass shards falling from his hair, his teeth pulled back in a snarl, he started to say some filthy expletive to Brenda when a .357 round from Celina's Python tore through his open mouth and out the back of his head. His body collapsed like a stringless marionette and fell to the ground.

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I ran forward, tunnel vision on the gunman near the tents. He had stopped and I could see the action of his rifle back and open. He reached methodically for a new magazine before looking up with bloodshot, souless eyes at me coming. He pulled back the bolt and was about to raise the rifle when my shotgun fired and cut him in half. I worked the action and fired a second round into his head before it hit the ground.

I was about to go to Tyler when I heard a scream behind me. I turned and was lifted off my feet by a huge bear of a man flashing something in his right hand. I hit the ground with a thud and being on a slight incline, we both rolled a few feet before stopping. I saw stars and felt his knee dig into my chest as he raised his right arm, a nasty butcher knife clutched in his dirty hand. His left hand was pushing my right shoulder into the ground pinning my upper arm.

I shouted, "No!" and raised my left arm and managed to grab his massive forearm in my hand and hold it barely, but he weighed much more than me. My right hand was trapped partially under my body and as I wiggled it out, it passed my back pocket where I felt a bulge. It was the .25 I had picked off dead Red a hundred years ago.

I yanked it free and thumbed off the safety, the mans dirty arm now pushing down the knife inches from my face. He took his left hand off my shoulder and put on the back of his right hand for one final push to bring the blade home into my head.

I raised the little hand gun over my hip and pulled the trigger resulting in subdued pop. The attacker grabbed his left side and stopped pushing long enough for me to fire once more, this time hitting his head by the left eye socket. His remaining eye rolled back and he fell on to my left side.

I kicked him off me while clutching the handgun tightly. I looked to my right and saw one more of the attackers falling backwards with multiple gunshot wounds. There were sporadic shots being fired, but they were fewer. Then it died down entirely.

I heard moans, screams and crying as I stood there my chest hitching. I was about to go back to the gate and Brenda when I heard Mrs. Hartman scream,

"No! Oh God, no!"

I stumbled around and saw Curtis and Tyler both laying in a tangle on the ground a near the body of the gunman. Mrs Hartman and Mr Hartman were kneeling on the ground nearby and trying to crawl their way to where their tiny son and my friend lay.

I hurried over and grabbed Curtis' shoulder.

"Curtis! Is Tyler okay? Move over and let me see..."

I flipped Curtis over thinking he was merely playing or something. It was then I saw the blood and first thought it was Tyler, but I was wrong. The little boy looked up at me as I moved Curtis and he started bawling his eyes out.

"Mommy! Mommy!" he cried. Mrs. Hartman grabbed Tyler and pulled him into her chest, her eyes flowing with tears.

It gave me the time to see Curtis. His chest was a bloody mess and dark blood pumped out with each breath he gasped. I shoved my finger into the wound trying to staunch the ghastly flow.

"Hang in there buddy.. hold on. We are going to get you all better, just be still.." I whispered.

"Mike, is that you Mike?" Curtis gasped.

"I'm here, hang on don't talk, We are going to.. do something.. get help... Celina is coming she'll know what to do.." I gasped

I heard foot steps and Chuck slid to the ground on the other side of Curits.

"Curtis? Oh cr*p. Curtis, lay still. We have to stop the bleeding" Chuck said whether to me or Curtis, I don't know.

"Mike?" Curtis gasped, "Can we go home now? I want to see my family. They don't know where to find me. They'll think I let them down again. Oh, God, Mike, I have to go home.."

"You haven't let anyone down Curtis. Nobody. You are the best son anyone could ask for. Your family is so proud of you right now." I said, my face inches from his.

"Mike? My family? Where are they?" his voice barely audible.

"We are right here Curtis. Right here. You're never been alone.. we've always been with you.. always" I said.

Curtis smiled and then his eyes rolled back and a final rattling breath escaped his lungs.


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Next The Final Holocaust