Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love by Thomas A. Tarrants

Author:Thomas A. Tarrants
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2019-06-22T16:00:00+00:00

12

MAXIMUM SECURITY—AGAIN

News of my prison escape was quickly picked up by the news media around the Southeast, and instantly flashed to Meridian, where police chief Roy Gunn “freaked out,” according to his friends. Fearing I was on a mission of personal retribution and revenge against him, Chief Gunn activated the entire city police force. He assigned half of the officers to protect his house around the clock.

The Roberts brothers, Raymond and Alton Wayne, who had set me up to be ambushed by the Meridian police, asked Chief Gunn for police protection, but he replied that he didn’t have the manpower. So both of the Roberts brothers went into hiding.

Our hideout was an old, unoccupied farmhouse and barn on a large tract of land situated in a heavily wooded area about two miles from the Jackson municipal airport, known as Hawkins Field. Because the barn was farther from the road, we set up operations there. It was an old structure with straw scattered around the floor. A faint smell of old hay hung in the air. In some spots you could see daylight between the wooden siding boards.

We unloaded all our gear and weapons into the barn. Our rescuers left, returning the next night with hot food and more supplies. Louis, Malcolm, and I each took turns standing watch while the others slept.

When day broke, we prepared some breakfast. We had ample supplies of surplus army C rations and smokeless cooking fuel. I scouted out the general area to determine the proximity of roads, houses, water supplies, and so forth. The remainder of the day was uneventful, and when not standing watch, we slept or discussed the next phase of the escape. Louis would go to California and Malcolm would go to New Orleans. I wanted to immediately resume my activities for the Cause, but I would have to go into hiding for a while somewhere far away.

That night, one of our accomplices brought us some hot food. He was accompanied by a woman I had never seen before. I wasn’t happy. It was an inexcusable breach of security.

“Who is this woman? Why did you bring her here?” I demanded.

“She’s my fiancée, and she’s totally trustworthy. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine,” he replied.

I was furious. I had a very bad feeling about the “fiancée.” But there was nothing more I could say.

We got down to the business at hand. We discussed arrangements to get Malcolm and Louis on their respective ways. With them gone, I would feel much better. Then I would be able to make plans for my own departure. As I listened to the radio, I smiled. Each radio news broadcast had less to say about our escape.

The next morning was the third day since our escape from Parchman. The sweltering summer heat and humidity continued. We had no running water, no showers or toilets. I was feeling grubby from not bathing. I was worn-out from lack of sleep. We decided to move out of the barn and set up a tent in some heavy underbrush nearby.

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