The Face of Freedom. Benjamin Vance
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that day. Then it was time for the walker.
He prayed and he hoped his speech would be taken as intended. He donned his pajamas and without introduction walked out into the bright of day, Teddy tagging behind until he saw Julie. He walked over and plopped down beside her without any regard for what was about to happen.
Several of the Freedom Force Rangers and two other groups stood up and started to applaud this strange man in the black pajamas. Everyone’s attention was then riveted on what they had assumed before this time would be a super human figure. No one expressed disappointment outwardly. Then his speech started with an apology, and he had their attention throughout.
They yelled, they affirmed, they cried openly for their country, and they asked questions for three hours. It didn’t rain. He didn’t drink water and he didn’t tire. He surprised even himself. When he was finished, over a thousand people with weapons or with immediate access to weapons stood and applauded. No one tried to kill him or others. They coalesced into one group at that moment. They were a mere thousand, but represented twenty thousand, and would influence, tutor or mentor thousands more.
He watched from the sidelines as they grouped and talked. Mrs. Parker took the podium then as he left to change and perhaps to get a drink of water. Teddy followed. Altrise introduced her husband, who was met with real applause only after he announced supper would be served at 6:00 p.m. He then kept his announcements and pronouncements to a minimum, and asked if a representative or two from each group present could meet with the walker in the assembly hall after supper. A wave of yells and affirmation swept over the crowd and suddenly all turned away from the podium as if on cue, to start preparing for what was to come and to elect the individual to attend the meeting after supper.
12.
An answer to the knock on the walker’s door produced Duncan Parker with a strange, almost apologetic smile on his face. He was asked to come in and caught the walker with his shirt off. The walker apologized and donned his shirt noting Duncan’s look of concern at the obvious scars on his torso. The walker explained, “Counterproductive argument with a foreign national many years ago!”
“Who won?”
“It was a draw.”
“Sorry, it’s just ... anyone would ask if they saw the scars.”
“Not anyone Duncan; only someone who cares.”
“Yeah, well they look menacing.”
Just then they heard distant thunder.
The walker said, “Sounds like Julie was right about the rain.”
“Sometimes it just goes around, and sometimes it turns to hail or snow and makes a mess out of everything. One never knows what the weather is doing up here in South Alaska.” Duncan grinned, “At least that’s what Montana feels like at times. I could hardly make it over ...” He swung his hands in the air and said, “Hell, I’m just making small talk.” Pointing at the door, “What in the world was that about out there? I’ve never felt that, and I certainly wouldn’t believe it if someone told me. Is that why those guys are here from other groups you’ve visited? You knew I lied when I said I’d heard your speech before, didn’t you.”
“Yeah ... No, no! I just wanted to believe you were unimpressed or perhaps a plant. Is that supercilious or what? I wanted to believe you heard, but were not impressed. Then when I got to know you a bit better, I assumed you were fudging the truth.”
“I lied, because I missed your speech and wished I hadn’t. I was with my girlfriend ... a girl. Some of the guys from the Utah group told me about it. When I saw the look in their eyes I was jealous.”
“Not much to be jealous about if you’re a patriot. I‘m just a man on a mission trying to help save his country. You know I‘m not going to be the one that does ... don‘t you.”
“Right now I don’t know what I believe, except I would do just about anything I can to stop this insanity we’re caught up in.”
A flash and heavier crackle of thunder, much nearer, echoed up the valley. It told everyone they’d better eat and be gone except for the ones who wanted to attend the walker’s briefing.
“My dad wants me to represent the MSA. He said he’d be there, but … .”
“Then you’re the man ... among many. There’ll be a lot of questions tonight and I’ll try to answer them all as objectively and as honestly as I can. If I step on the toes of the military or National Guard, I hope you understand my intent is not to alienate anyone, but to combine minds, forces and resolve.”
They heard the start of intermittent rain drops on the roof. As they looked at each other the murmur of voices outside proclaimed that not everyone took the thunder seriously.
The walker spoke first, “Why don’t you forget about everything else and write down the questions you want to ask tonight. There’s no limit. Think deeply and ask directly. I think yours may be the best.”
“I doubt it, but I’ll jot down a few salient points to ponder. I‘ll ask Julie and Dad if they have any input.”
“They won’t have anything you haven’t thought about. Discuss it with them though and I don’t care if they attend. It’s a free country ... at present.”
“Okay, see you at about seven. Are you and Teddy going to get something to eat?”
“I’ll come late so I won’t have to disturb people. Teddy is of the same mind.”
Smiling, he said, “See you then; sorry to bother you.”
“You didn’t. See you later Duncan.”
The walker relaxed when Duncan left and second-guessed himself about the challenge to come up with questions. Still ... he knew what Duncan could do if challenged. He’d be ready for the questions. He hoped some would be new. He’d count on Duncan for that. It began to rain in earnest. He hoped no one would get too wet and he hoped Altrise wouldn’t get stuck with too much food. As always, he prayed before his meeting.
He entered the mess hall at about 7:15 p.m. There was still a line around the inside of the dining area. He estimated about 200 people were still in the building. He hoped it would clear a bit before he started, but as soon as he was recognized people started to applaud. He raised his right hand in appreciation, nodded his head and mouthed “Thank You” several times. He knew better than to go to the back of the line so he went to his host’s table and asked to be seated. No one there had begun to eat, as was the custom with a host. He was relatively safe as long as he didn’t stray too close to the food line. He suddenly realized he was starving.
No one at the table knew where to start. It was raining, many people had not eaten and many had already headed for home. No one knew who would eat and when the food would stop. Leave it to Julie to ask the question on everyone’s mind, “If I find some fishes and some loaves, do you think you could feed us all?”
He laughed for the first time in months. It actually did hurt, but it hurt in a good way. Most at the table laughed cordially, and Julie turned a nice shade of red and found something on her plate that was very interesting for a moment. That broke the ice and although few in the noisy building overheard the comment, it lifted a dark veil and everyone started to talk and visit again.
The ladies in the kitchen were being relieved for the third time by ladies from the MSA. One in particular, with tattoos aplenty on her arms and neck caught his attention. She was serving with one hand and holding a baby on her hip with the other. She would give up neither the baby nor the mission. He loved that kind of dedication wherever he found it, even if obstinacy was the reason. He thought perhaps that penchant for stubbornness is how we won the Battle of the Bulge during WW II.
When