Note: Just a filler post to catch things up.
Moving the dual tractor trailers was not a quiet event. Though Jason and the women managed move the double tractor trailer and place it some distance from the camp, they literally woke up the dead, namely Karl who is still anywhere near 100 percent of his senses or faculties. If he was at 65 percent, it was more than what the doctors at the medical center would give him, as they were expecting him to die by the morning and not making it this far out. Yet he manages to get yup and trudge about the area, uncertain what he was seeing but seeing enough not to bump into things.
Ruth and Joanna got Teri, La La and Li Li to sit down by Hondo’s trailer to wash, peel and cut a few vegetables. Marvin was sent to fill buckets of water and return them to fill a couple of pots and wash a few things. There was a lot to do and as promised, Joanna was making sure that they were getting them done. They she finds Karl trudging about the front of his ride. She gets Marvin to drop his load and together head off to intercept Karl. They get to him and sit on the extended bumper of his SUV. Joanna pats the side of Karl’s face.
“Karl. Karl. Talk to me...” She calls to him as she examines him and his bandages. The blood on them has long since dried the night before and he seems to be healed of any serious injuries with closed scars that look like days if not weeks old. “Karl... come on and say something!”
After a while, Karl becomes barely vocal, “Eh? Wha... Whe... Where am I?”
“At the camp.” Joanna tells him.
“Where’s... Hon... doe and Fer... nan-doe?” Karl asks.
“They are out dealing with a situation. They will be back when they can.” Joanna tells him, adding, “You stay here while I get you something to eat and we will take care of those bandages. Marvin, keep an eye on Karl. I’ll be back very soon.”
“OK Misses Joanna.” Marvin replies.
Karl looks up at Marvin, “Mister Johnson’s your owner?”
“Was. I can’t find him after the purge.” Marvin tells him.
Joanna race walks to Hondo’s trailer, where she gets in. Tonya looks at her like she barged in on her doing something in private.
“Karl is up but weak. I need to get him something to eat.” Joanna explains.
“There’s some bread and cheese, he can have a sandwich. And there is some left over soup from yesterday.” Tonya points to the refrigerator.
“OK. I’ll clean his up later. Can you do me the favor and call Fernando on the wireless and tell him that I found Karl is up and walking around, and I’m taking care of him as he asked.” Joanna explains as she sets up a small pot on the stove for the soup and begins to cut the bread and cheese.
“I’ll call him.” Tonya replies and then asks, “How is Karl?”
“He looks like he’s been through a lot, roughed up really bad.” Joanna says as she puts together a cheese sandwich and then turns off the stove.
“I see.” Tonya replies, getting up for a second and heads to the back where the door to the truck’s cab is at, in an area where some supplies and access to the water tanks, heaters and generator is at, where a CB base station is set up for inside the trailer though there was a CB radio in the truck’s dashboard. She raises the volume on the base station and picks up microphone, pressing the ‘Talk button’ on its side, “This is Tonya at the base. Fernando, you out there?” With no reply the first time, Tonya repeats herself, “This is Tonya at the base. Fernando, you out there?”
A few seconds Fernando answers, “What is it Tonya?”
“Joanna came in telling me to tell you Karl is up and walking around. He’s not in good shape but she is making something for him to eat.” Tonya explains over the radio.
“I got that.” Fernando replies over the radio, before adding, “You, Joanna and Ruth are in charge until somebody returns. Start gathering things up to make dinner with, talk to Joanna about the details. And unless it’s an emergency, do not call. We should be there in a couple of hours or less. We will talk then.”
Tonya stands there looking at the radio, flabbergasted at Fernando telling her not to call unless it is an emergency. She thinks about her reply before giving it, “OK. Talk to you later...”
Taking a breath, Tonya heads back to the living and kitchen area where Joanna was finishing up Karl’s meal and cleaning up the area. Joanna stacks up a small closed pot and the sandwich on the inverted cover before wiping down the area.
“Fernando said that we should be preparing dinner soon?” Tonya asks.
“I got the sheep girls starting that outside: soup and sandwiches to go. We may have to go shop for some bread and sandwich meat. I got this covered for everyone.” Joanna answers.
“Anything I can do?” Tonya asks.
Joanna looks around knowing that she was busy with the communication between Hondo and Fernando and the rest of them. With who knows what else Tonya might be doing on top of that, “No but thanks. I’m sure you’re busy here. I’ll be outside if you need me.”
“OK, I guess.” Tonya replies, helping her to go out of the door.
Joanna heads to Karl’s SUV, seeing him still there with Marvin standing next to him. She also finds Maribelle with Jason talking about something she was too far away to hear. She quickens her pace to get to them to deal with Karl and deal with what plans Maribelle and Jason maybe making. Getting there, she hands the pot to Marvin, “Hold onto that while I take care of Karl’s bandages.
Marvin nods his head for a second as he gets the pot with the sandwich on top. Joanna looks over Karl and inspects his injuries before deciding to take off his bandages, starting with the one on his arms. She rolls them up as she unravels them.
“Just cut them off and be done with it.” Maribelle complains.
“You don’t throw out good bandages. You roll them up and wash them in case you need to use them again.” Joanna tells her before putting the first roll she rolled up on the bumper next to Karl. She begins to work unroll the bandage from the other arm, telling Maribelle, “But you’re so used to being so rich that you could throw away things like bandages. It explains why your closet is so full of clothes you only wore once.”
“That is not true! You do not know me!” Maribelle tells her.
“I know you and your reputation, Maribelle Jenkins. We all so. It’s amazing how the mighty has fallen that we are now equals, needing the help from a man like Fernando and Hondo to rescue you from the plight you were in.” Joanna tells her.
“Wait... Fernando and Hondo rescued her?” Jason butts in.
“They rescued most of us.” Joanna explains and she unravels and rolls up another bandage, “The Slavers started a Purge and started kidnapping those they can and killing anyone who tried to stop them. They got my family and burned down our homes and farms, and they did the same to her. Then they faced off the Slavers in battle and defeated them, taking down their flying ships and central headquarters. There was something about a treaty being signed soon after, as you can see the party is still going on.”
“Where are they, I need to speak with them.” Jason says, not making the connection that he has spoken to Fernando in the least.
“They should be coming back eventually. Something is going on I do not know about.” Joanna tells him.
With his hands freed from the bandages, Joanna inspects Karl’s hand and arm injuries. She then takes the pot and sandwich from Marvin and puts on Karl’s lap. She takes the sandwich and puts it into his hand. She lifts up the cover of the pot and shows off the soup inside, “Here Karl, eat up. There will be more later. And I will take off the bandaged off your head after you eat.”
“Why are you treating this wessen like he’s a person?” Jason asks.
“Because he is. Like all wessens are persons.” Joanna tells him.
“That’s a load of bull crap.” Jason says.
“Believe it boy. I seen it with my own eyes. Fernando turned a wessen back into being a human for a while. Wessens are people who had some sort of black mojo done to them from those white coat wearing men in Lab Town.” Maribelle tells him.
Jason stands there speechless. He has heard rumors of people disappearing and coming back as wessens but it was never proven. It was always hearsay; somebody would disappear, and wessen would enter into town through some sale. It was a stretch to connect the two. Thus if Fernando had done this, who is to say that those they are looking for have been turned into wessens, and he be able to turn them back.
“You said he turned the wessen into a human for a while? Why not keep them as a person?” Jason finally asks.
“Something about the mojo being too deep into the bones to make it last forever. But there is a cure for it and turn a wessen back into a person for the rest of their life and they are looking for it.” Maribelle explains.
Jason breathes heavily, “And you seen Fernando do this? Turn a wessen into a person?”
“Just as I am standing next to you, I was standing next to him in front of many doctors at the hospital where he did it. I hear he did it two more times in front of General Jastrey.” Maribelle explains.
Jason stands there frozen in place for the moment before he darts off to his tractor trailer, probably to tell the others.
“What’s with him?” Maribelle asks.
“Who knows.” Joanna begins, “But let me tell you this. Fernando does not want to deal with those people. I don’t know nor I don’t care as to why. He told me that it is a personal matter between them and him and that is good enough for me not to ask for details. So leave it alone. In fact, I need you to help out. Take Marvin into town with you and get some bread rolls from baker and some roast beef and cheese from the butcher to make sandwiches for our next long trip tonight. It will be our meal on the road. About 20 rolls and 10 pounds of roast beef and cheese will be enough. And a case of sweet water juice bottles for us to drink. Come with me. Marvin, stay with Karl for now.”
“Where are we going?” Maribelle asks.
“My camper. I’m lending you our pull wagon.” Joanna tells her.
“Why not let Marvin carry it?” Maribelle asks.
“He’s there to make sure nothing happens to you.” Joanna tells her, throwing in, “You’re safe while in the camp. I cannot say you are safe outside the camp, Slavers are still out there snatching people – wessens and persons alike. So, nobody travels alone.”
“Alright then. What about money? I can’t buy anything without money.” Maribelle points out as they step up to Joanna’s camper.
“I’ll be back with the pull wagon and some money.” Joanna tells her. She opens the door and steps inside the camper, spending a couple of minutes as she gathers the pull wagon and some change from the money Fernando had given her to get things for Marvin and the sheep girls. She puts together around $150 in change and puts them into a small coin pouch and takes it and the wagon outside.
“Here. That should be enough to get the food. Get some onion, tomatoes and a head of lettuce with that as well.” Joanna tells her as she hands the coin pouch. She hands the handle of the pull wagon to Maribelle. “This should not take you a long time to do. I expect you to return soon.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be here soon enough.” Maribelle tells her.
NOTE: *Fixed Edit Issue*