Outliers 8C Calvin

 

Kielly Smith was seen coming up the hill from Orting.  She was crying and running.  The sentry spotted her half way up the hill and sent the private down to investigate because she had gone down the hill with her two sisters and all of them had baskets.  Now she was by herself and had no basket.  The sentry knew something was wrong.  These girls wanted their baskets full before returning by dusk.  Now two were missing and no berries.  

As the private approached he could hear Kielly yelling, “He took our baskets!” 

The private yelled, “Are you hurt?  And where’s your sisters?” 

“A crazy man took our berries and my older sister, Paullet went after him.” Kielly said between breaths.  She was breathing hard.

“Where!” Asked the private.

“The river, by the river.” She said.

“You ran all the way from the river?” Asked the private.

“Oh, sure.” She said.  “My little sister couldn’t keep up, but she’s just down the hill.”  

She took two deep breaths and then said, “You need to send someone down there!” She pointed behind her.  

The private talked to his radio, “We may have an obduction.  We definitely have an assault.” 

The private waited.  “Okay we will wait for your younger sister and then take you up the hill.  The command has been notified and we have the sheriff on the way.  They will go after your sister.”

Keilly shook her head no, “No we need to go now!”

“Keilly, listen!  We are sentries, we don’t have the equipment to pursue anyone.”  He looked down the hill to see if the younger sister was coming.  Still nothing.  “Sit here.  I’m going to see where…” he looked at Keilly to provide the name.

“Becky.” Keilly said, not approving of this plan.

“Becky.  Okay.  Stay here.” The private said as he bolted down the hill.

A few minutes later he had Becky in tow.  A sixteen year old girl who’s face was red from running. 

As soon as Keilly saw her she yelled, “Becky!”

All three met and then started for the sentry post that was at the top of the hill.  It was considered the creepiest post as it was right next to a graveyard.  But the view was good and besides the overgrowth, you could see the road for almost a mile down the hill.

It seemed like forever, but a truck was racing from the South and it had at least six men riding in the back.  It came to a stop at the gate and they listened to Becky and Keilly’s story.  At this time Mike Jr, the group's squad leader commanded, “Lock and load, we sprint down the hill then split into two groups. I’ll take the North village and Jack, take the old town.  Nights coming fast.” With that they sprinted down the hill.  The driver turned off the truck and stayed put.  He was there to get reinforcements if needed or help his squad.  But none of that was going to happen till they knew more.  

Ten minutes, then twenty.  No radio chatter. 

About this time Alan Scott and Mike Knorack show up.  They wanted a report.  The sentry told them what they already knew.  Mike paced.  Alan just stared down into the Valley.  He stopped Mike and they walked a little distance from everyone else.  It looked like they were talking to each other, but then Alan looked up.  He was praying.  Mike too.  

“Contact!” came over the radio.  

Everyone was waiting for the next transmission.  “We have the girl!” there was a long pause, “She’s fine.  Just bruised.” 

“Mike.  Do you need the transport.” Mike asked.

“Negative.  We can walk out.  So far we only know of one perpetrator.  But I can’t tell.  No since in exposing our asset.” Mike Jr said over the radio.

There was a blur of orders all in code as to where to meet and what codes to use upon regrouping.  Then silence again.  It was well past dark when a white dress was spotted coming up the hill.  The soldiers blended in, but no doubt they were all around her. When they got to the gate it was moved so they could enter. Then closed again.  

The entire family was now at the gate.  All hugs and worried looks.  

Alan had to break up the family and ask, “We will need a statement from each of you girls.  Orting may be outside of our line, but we won’t tolerate anyone attacking our people.  So to that end we need to know what happened and who it might be.”

“It was that crazy preach guy.  He was yelling crazy passages from the bible and saying that we owed him awmage.. Or awms or something like that.” Paullet said.  

Mike asked, “Why did you follow him?” 

“It took us four hours to pick all those berries.  You know it’s late in the season and the bushes almost picked clean.  So, if we weren’t going to get them, he sure wasn’t.  I couldn’t overpower him, but I sure could spill those baskets.”

Alan broke in, “That wasn’t very smart.  He could have killed you.” Alan shook his head no.  “Okay.” He paused.  “I think we know who we're dealing with, but next time. Don’t.  A few jars of jam isn’t worth your life.”

Paullet did not back down.  She was big for a girl and she would have put up a good fight, but the preacher was an unknown.  We don’t know if he carries any weapons and we sure don’t know his state of mind.  

Mike turned to the sentry, “No one goes down that hill.  This gate is closed.”

Alan looked at Mike.  Mike turned to Junior, “You’d better patrol the edge and keep a sharp shooter here.” 

Alan shook his head yes.  

Everyone was starting to disperse.  This is over for now, but tomorrow they will go hunting.  No one was allowed to stay in the area if they were a threat to those behind the gate.  Even when they ventured out.  It was understood by those living near Graham, Hands off.

The next morning Mike and his two squads assembled at the Northeast gate.  The fog had not yet rolled out of the cemetery.  And the fog filled the valley below.  Mike sat back to watch.  He was evaluating his two new squad leaders.  They discussed how to search and keep their intervals.  Due to fog they would have to stay close.  Radio silence was the norm when out and about.  So maintaining a visual was very important.  Later in the morning when the fog burned off, they could spread out more.  But if they were lucky, they wouldn’t have to wait that long.  Mike Junior marked the location he found Paullet, so there man had to be within a mile or so of that location. 

Mike approved of the meeting and said, “Go.” 

The gate opened and sixteen men disappeared into the fog.

The sun came up.  The fog cleared and nothing was seen in the valley below.  Noon came and went.  Then Dusk and nightfall.  At this time two clicks came over the radio.  Just two clicks.

Mike snapped to attention.  He grabbed his radio and gave two quick clicks.  Then nothing.  His men had found cover and were bedding down.  They would continue in the morning.  

Alan showed up at the gate the next morning.  He had a radio and breakfast for the sentries.  They all thanked him.  They then waited.  A patrol came through around 11 am and headed Northwest along the border to the Gate on Meridian.  Then about two thirty pm the search party was spotted at the river and heading for the road that led up the hill.  They had someone in tow.  

Alan walked away from the sentries and radioed Mike.  “There coming.” 

One click came over the radio.  Moments later the truck was back.  Mike was in the passenger seat.

They all waited for the squads to make their way up the hill.  Then as they rounded the corner they heard the unmistakable voice of Calvin.  Yelling his usual curses and favorite scriptures that doomed them all.  

He was in cuffs and had a rope tied around his waste.  He was being more dragged than walking, but at least he didn’t throw himself on the ground.  

Once they got close enough, the first lieutenant stated, “He still had the baskets.” 

“They were a gift from God!” protested Calvin.

Alan looked at Mike.  

There was going to have to be a meeting, then the Elders were going to have to do something.  Alan said, “I’ll get Alison, you go get Lourance.”

“Ho?” Mike asked.

“No, Walk.” Alan answered.  

Alan looked at the ragged man standing before him. He must have dropped fifty pounds, his clothing was ripped and dirty and he didn’t seem quite there anymore. Was this an act or had Calvin gone mad.  They sort of exiled him to Everett and he made his way back to Orting.  There wasn’t much left there.  Oh they once had great farmlands, but the developers gobbled up the land and built thousands of homes.  Concrete and asphalt covered the valley now.  Even after many of the homes were burnt or crumbled due to no maintenance, the land had not broken up the thousands of acres of concrete and black asphalt yet.  That would take many more decades.   If the land had been farmable, they would have moved down into it, but they didn’t have the equipment to break up the foundations so the valley just sat there growing wild things. There were only a few fields left and those were farmed to the fullest extent possible.

Alan looked at Calvin.  He was wild now, ferial as they put it for cats.  Or just mad. 

Alan thought that Lourance would jump on this.  He could just hear it now, “How can we hold a man responsible for his actions, when his mind is gone?”

The truth is, we can’t.  Nor can we allow him to be among the populous.  And now we can’t let him roam the wild valley. Or could they.  If Calvin would stay put then they could make the valley off limits to their people.  Then what is to say that he decides to come up the hill and take what he needs.  What does he have to lose?

Once Calvin was taken back to the commons.  He was cleaned up and given new clothes.  He was then given some food, not much.  It might make him sick.  The man ate like an animal.  Shoveling the food in as fast as he could.  He lifted the empty plate as to ask for more, but no word came. Doc shook his head no, “Not right now.” 

Calvin protested. But the guards made sure he didn’t do something stupid.  Calvin ended up in the corner of the cell, shrunken up in the fetal position.  

Alan could not help but think this an act.  He was getting exactly what he wanted, food and shelter. If he kept this up, maybe, just maybe someone would take pity on him and he would be able to survive the winter.  A winter that Mike warned him about.  

Alison spoke with him.  Another doctor and then Lourance.  His behavior was very convincing.  

They met afterwards and the consensus was that he was on the verge of insanity.  Too long left alone, malnourished and no one to convince him to not give in to the delusions.  The biggest problem was that there was no way of knowing if he could recover.  It was possible, but at what cost.  He couldn’t work.  No one needed to hear his ramblings and there was just no way of knowing if he could become violent.  

Lourance was not looking for another mouth to feed, he still had Tiffany he was trying to rehabilitate to our new circumstances.  Walk, shook his head no. He was far too busy with the food prep, storage and health related issues that always needed someone's attention.  Allison was always too busy with the school and helping to educate young parents.    

That’s when Ho and Lopez walked in.  Ho asked Alan, “Why wasn’t I informed of this?”

“My friend.” Alan said, “Because we didn’t know what this is yet.”

Ho backed down.  He was interrupting and now he just wanted information.  

Alan took him aside and filled him in.  He didn’t mention any possible solutions as they had not really had a chance to discuss that.

Once Ho was happy with the information given they joined the rest.  Lopez just watched and listened.  He was an elder, but didn’t have much to offer here.  His expertise was agriculture and the prisoner was in no shape to help him or visa-versa.  

After about two hours of discussion this is all that they agreed on.  One: Calvin's crimes did not amount to anything that could justify corporal punishment.  Two: exile did not seem to work.  Three: The risk of putting him out on the peninsula was too great for a man that seemed hell bent on living in the valley below.  And Four: No one had a place for him.  

The council adjourned and agreed to meet in three days.  Each would look at possibilities and stop in to see Calvin's progress.  If the madness was only temporary then maybe the man would emerge sane again after a few days of food and rest.  

By day three Calvin’s disposition did change.  He was more like a man than an animal.  He ate with utensils and drank water without it running down his face.  

Alan watched him.  He looked normal.  Someone had given him a razor and he shaved his face.  He looked old.  Maybe in his fifties or sixties.  What good was he?  

Alan stood there for ten minutes.  Thinking of any way to keep Calvin around and give him something useful to do.  And if that couldn’t be found, then what are they going to do with this man?  Somehow this felt like a test.  A test of their system.  A test of their humanity.  What they came up with would resonate far into the future.  Alan walked out.  He started walking away from the commons.  No specific direction, just away.  For some reason he headed east. Maybe if he walked far enough and overlooked the Ortin valley he might get an idea.  He turned right at the old highway and kept walking. He finally ended up on the old power line road.  It was the life blood of power from the two dams on the nisqually river.  Then it hit him.  The old man could walk the length of their power lines and inspect them and report on whether anyone has tampered with them.  They would resupply him at the dam and then he could walk back.  He could yell whatever he wanted to the trees and still be of use to them. It was a long walk, but if Calvin had proven anything, he definitely proved that walking great distances was not a problem for him.  He had his seclusion and they would have eyes on their lines and reports on everything from vegetation growth, tower conditions and the existence of people in the area.  Now the question was;  would Calvin or the council agree to this.  It would be yet another burden on their system.  But a necessary one.  

Alan looked around.  He realised that he had walked close to ten miles out of town and that his hip was not complaining about it.  He could call for the security guys to come pick him up, but somehow that didn’t seem right.  He had gotten himself into this issue, now he needed to get himself out.  He went to a farm owned by Mr and Mrs Stuguard.  As he approached he announced himself.  Mrs Stuguard opened the door with her rifle in hand.  

“Who goes there?” She shouted.

“Alan Scott.” Alan responded.

“Alan?” She said back.

“Yeah. Was out for a walk and ended up here.” Alan said.

“You're a long way from home.” She stated.

“Yeah.” Alan said with a sigh.

“Jeffs in the barn.” She said lowering the rifle.

“Thanks.” Alan said and walked to the bar with a slight limp.

Jeff heard his wife and came to the door.  He saw Alan and walked up to him. “How can I help you?” He looked around to see if anyone else was there.  For Alan to be this far from Graham and not have an escort was a bit uncommon.

“I, uh, well I walked a bit too far and.. Need some help getting back.” Alan said.

Jeff looked at Alan, “Getting old sucks.” 

Both men shook their heads yes.  “Well if you help me put some grease on the axles we can put the wagon back together in no time, then I can help you get back to town.” Jeff said with a rag in his hand. 

“I can do that.” Alan said.

“Good.” Jeff said.

They worked for about an hour putting the rear wheels on the wagon, then Jeff hitched his horse to it and they climbed on.

Jeff wasn’t a man of many words, but he was hard working and had six kids that all worked the farms around him.  He was a blessed man.  

Once they arrived back at the commons Alan climbed down and thanked Jeff, “Come by and sip some brandy with me some time.” 

“How about some tea.  I hear you brew a great cup of licorice tea.” Jeff asked.

“Yes I do.  And you can stop by any morning.” Alan repeated his invitation.
“Sunday, then.” Jeff said.

“Sunday.” Alan 

“Yay!” said Jeff and he was gone.

Once in the commons Alan met up with Lorance.  They talked about the plan and how to train Calvin to fulfill his missions.  Walk joined in. He was an administrator over a dozen kitchens, distilleries and food preparation homes.  So he would have the simplest way for Calvin to report his findings and keep track of his supplies.  Now all they needed was a place for him to stay when he was not on the road.  Ho ended up providing that.  He had a shack that could be straightened up and made livable.  Calvin would only spend a few days there and then back on the road.  Back and forth. 

Alan had to find out just how far Calvin could walk each day.  How to train him and what the compensation was going to be.  For this he was going to have to talk with Calvin.  And that didn’t go quite as planned.  Calvin first refused the offer.  Alan just stood there and was trying to figure out how to get through to this mad man that he wasn’t going to get a better deal.  This was it.  Alan said as much but Calvin just sat there.  This time it wasn’t a yes, but as least it wasn't a no.  Alan walked away and went to have lunch in the commons.  Maybe some time to think about it would change Calvin's mind.  

Half way through his lunch a deputy found him and said that Calvin wanted to talk.  Alan didn’t get up, “Tell him I’ll get back to him when I can.” 

The deputy nodded his head and left.  

About 3 o'clock Alan finally went back in.  This time Calvin agreed way too quickly.  Alan explained that he was to turn in reports about each section of the path.  Tree heights, Tower conditions, proof of others in the area.  This would be a real job.  

Calvin shook his head in agreement, but said nothing.

“Calvin, no reports and you don’t get any food.” Alan wanted him to understand this was a real job.

“I can do that.” Calvin finally said.

“Calvin, you are going to have to stay alert.  If anyone is out there and they are hostile, we can’t help you.  You will have to evade them and report back to us.” Alan wanted to make sure he understood everything.

“I’ve been doing that ever since the fall.” Calvin said smugly.

“That you have.” Alan agreed. “Training begins tomorrow.” 

Outliers is book 8 of the Remnant Series.  Please visit us on Amazon.com to purchase more books in this series.

    Book 1-3: (All in one) Graham Heights. Available in Paperback or kindle 

    Book 4: The Grey Abyss.  Available in Paperback or kindle 

    Book 5: Choas.  Coming Summer of 2026

    Book 6: Tarinish and the Obsidian Arrows (In Editing)

    Book 7: Gama (In Editing)

    Book 8: See blog

    Book 9: God of our Fathers

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RA Legg

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