The Militia by Mike Sheridan

Author:Mike Sheridan [Sheridan, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-25T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

Kohler stood by the porch door of the ranch house, staring out into the yard. A lot had changed since he’d grown up here, including the original family home, which had been replaced by the dormer-style ranch house his brother had built. Wrapped in an impressive stone facade, it had a cedar shake roof and two redbrick columns that led to the screened porch where he now stood. Though not close, he and his brother Martin had shared similar tastes, and while he’d hated growing up here as a child, it felt strangely pleasing to be back.

In the yard, Everson and his men were assembling the Bar K’s previous occupiers. Earlier, Phil Sparrow had written out his list, giving Kohler the information he required. Sparrow made a far better collaborator than Campbell, who in Kohler’s mind would always be part of the resistance. He’d briefly toyed with the notion of executing him but held off for now. For Lew Anton’s sake more than his own. Anton’s complicity in the execution of the girl’s father was hardly an ideal step in the wooing process.

Everson jogged over to him and handed him Sparrow’s list. “All present and correct, Commander. Other than for the dead, that is.”

Kohler stepped off the porch to where thirty-two people stood before him in four rows. His soldiers stood around the yard, rifles at the ready.

“As you probably are now all aware,” he said in a crisp, dispassionate tone, “the Bar K has been my family’s home for several generations. That makes each and every one of you a trespasser on my land, something your previous leader, Saul Campbell, has a hard time getting his head around. Thankfully, your new leader Phil Sparrow is a more practical man. He understands that these are extraordinary times, and that in order to survive them, an effective and sustainable partnership needs to be forged between our two groups. With that in mind, we have negotiated terms whereby you may continue to remain on my land.

“My terms, which I will outline for you, are reasonable. We are military people. As such, the Bar K is now under martial law. You must obey my soldiers at all times. Their orders come directly from me, with the sole purpose of maintaining security and ensuring that the farm operates efficiently. This is in all our interests. To make myself perfectly clear, no civil disobedience will be tolerated. Ever.”

Kohler paused briefly before continuing. “Now, the first thing we must do is to split you into groups, each with a designated purpose. As I call out your name, please raise your hand.”

Kohler began reading out the names from Sparrow’s list, mentioning their ages to allow his soldiers to sort them into three groups. Men and women under the age of seventy formed one group; women under the age of thirty-five were shunted into another, while the remaining men and women over seventy remained in what became a third category.

When all the names had been called out, Kohler walked over to the group of men and women under seventy.

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