The World of Tom Stafford by D.A. Sanford - HTML preview

Chapter 9: Meeting of leaders

Knowing what we have learned and the urgency of this mission, we drove the main road to the town to try to have a meeting with the leader of the wanderers. I attached a white

flag to our car made out of a bed sheet attached to a metal pipe. Taking the main road, it was only a few hours’ drive.

We arrived at the town. This must have been the initial route that Sadie took because we passed the junkyard that she said she parked her son’s car in. Turning on the main street we stopped at the only burnt down house. This must have been her house.

Figuring that they found out that she was back that time, I knew that they would be around somewhere close. While parked, I sounded my horn for three long blasts.

Waited a few minutes then repeated the horn blasts.

On the third time there came a few cars and around thirteen people got out. The leader was just like Sadie described him. A man barely out of his teens. Slim but trying to act tough. He dresses like a stereotypical tough guy. From his torn jeans to the cigarette pack rolled up in the sleave of his tee shirt he is dressing like one. He even wears a leather motorcycle vest with colors though I would be willing to bet he has never ridden one.

“What they hell are you doing in my territory creating such a racket! This better be good or you will not like what would be in store for you.”

I take the high ground “My name is Tom Stafford. I’m the leader of a group to the south.

I came here to discuss a situation that has implications for both of our groups. Can we have a meeting now? Time is of the essence.”

Acting tough while piquing his interest, “Name’s Marvin Wilson. So, what’s so urgent?

We can talk here.”

“Thanks, the reason for my wanting to meet is twofold one to establish territory boundaries. That will prevent any of those rumored massacre’s the wanderers are famous for”

“Those rumors are damn convenient. We have no trouble hunting for food that way but, looking at you and the bold move to come here, rumors don’t fly with your group.”

“You’d be correct in thinking that but that is why I’m here. To set up a deal. That is a mutual understanding that you don’t pee in my pool and I won’t pee in yours.”

“I can agree with that.”

“We are around a hundred miles south of here. Let’s set the boundary at 50 mile south.

Everything north of is yours, everything south is mine.”

“Sounds good to me, I’ll agree. Now what is the real reason that you are here? It is not for what we just settled. What is it?”

“This is going to sound weird but maybe not. The people that went into the water, have your group seen any of them reappearing in the water?”

“Those damn sightings are hallucinations, false hopes, nothing else!” Marvin almost shouts.

Astonished at his response “It sounds like you are having some problems.”

“Problems, you don’t know the half of it. Our goal is re-population but every time one of our girls becomes pregnant, she goes into the river never to be seen again.”

That is when one of the girls present speaks up

“That is not really true and you know it. You have been told that those girls that went into the water have come back to the surface when another of us gets pregnant. They have told us that we need to return to our origin. They said that the surface needs us to go home.”

He flies into a rage “That’s bullshit! They are all dead. They drowned!”

“If that’s the case,” I ask “where are the bodies? Surely some should be washed up.”

Marvin could not answer that. I made him an offer.

“There is a town that two of my members were from. They went there just recently and met the last man there. They talked to him then watched as his friend came and got him. Both the man and his friend disappeared below the water. They are going to go under in a few days. We have an agreement that they are going to call for someone to come but even if no one shows, they both agree to resurface after a suitable time to show they are alive. I would like you to come and observe. Are you willing?”

“If it will put that ridiculous idea to rest, I’ll be there”

The girl that spoke said that she would be there also.

“It sounds good. There is a small park by the river where the train tracks were. That is where they said it took place. That is where they said they will go in. My wife and I will drive back and then drive them there. You think you can find the place?”

Marvin says that he knows where I am talking about and will be there the day after tomorrow. We part and drive back to Thornton.

When we got back to Thornton, Nadean and I talked to the council along with Brian and Reba.

“We met with their leader, Marvin Wilson. I now feel that the mass murder rumors are just that rumors. It appeared that they no longer have the capacity to be a threat to us.

Nadean, you observed the members that were there, what is your view on them in total?”

“I saw a group that is barely hanging on together,” She says. “At best they are a rag tag outfit that is using the rumors to their advantage. If we were to fight them, we would only need the two ATVs. They are losing people what could be daily.”

I take over

“There was one girl that confirmed that. When one of the girls gets pregnant, they disappear”

I hesitate then say

“Into the water. She said that they would be visited by someone from the water She told us that, and I quote her ‘They have told us that we need to return to our origin. They said that the surface needs us to go home.’

Jim questions “Return to our origin? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Reba explains

“What I believe is that we may have been from the water and somehow lost our way on land. Since then, we have done everything to the surface to make it inhospitable.

By going home to the water, we will halt the destruction of the surface. Nature will restore the balance. I feel that my family is waiting.”

With that I say,

“I am almost convinced that if is entirely possible that everyone that went into the water is alive. It is we, the ones that did not answer the call that are the lost ones not the missing. Nadean and I will drive Brian and Reba to the river park.

Marvin will be there and I figure that more of his group will come. If what I think is going to happen happens, all that we were worried about will seem like wasted time. We all will have to come to our own decisions.”

The room fell silent. It seemed that for them to hear me say that, it actually hit home. We talked to the two and said goodbyes. I arrange with them a time that we would leave.

The morning of their departure arrived. All the town members came to give them a teary good bye. There were a few that asked them to come to the surface if others were to come to the water and call for their help. They promised to do that then we set off.

We were entirely silent for the drive there. We pulled into the very spot that the two parked in. Brian and Reba sat on the bench that the old man sat on and looked at the river. They held each other’s hands. I have never seen two people with such a content look. They were truly at peace.

Around a half an hour the wanderers showed up. All that were present at the meeting came. Marvin led the way.

“I’m here,” he said “Let’s get this farce over with.”

I explained our agreement to the assembled.

“We are going to wait here at the fence while Brian and Reba enter the water. We are not going to stop them. They will call for someone to come to them. Even if no one comes they will go under. They will come back after a period of time to show that they are alive. Then they will go.”

The two got up and went to the river’s edge. They waved to us, kissed each other, then, hand in hand, they walked into the water to their waist.

“Mom, please come and get us.” Reba yells.

After five minutes, they are about to go under when two people break the surface. A man and a woman. Reba starts crying

“Mom, thank God it’s you.”

“Welcome home daughter. I’ll show you the way. We will wait below. Brian, you’ll come with us.”

The three vanish below the water.

The man introduces himself as one of the merfolk.

“My name is something that you cannot pronounce above water so I won’t bother trying.

The four kingdoms decided that it was time to put the world at peace. We merfolk were the ones that are responsible for the satellite doing what it did.”

“It was secretly changed to emit a signal to your genetic code that was needed to bring you children home. All over the world there are only a handful of scattered groups left on the surface.”

“We will not force any one of you to come but we will welcome you if you call out. We know that you want these two to come back to show you that they are okay. We will comply with that wish. My challenge to you is then, when they surface, any of you that want to come with us, we will welcome you home with those two.”

He goes under. After what seemed a very long time but could be no longer than fifteen twenty minutes, the four broke the surface. Brian and Reba told us that it was beautiful.

It was absolute peace. Then Brian, Reba and her mother went back down.

“You have seen with your own eyes that this is the truth”

Marvin interrupts

“You have tanks or something down there. This is not real”

The merman finished “Believe what you will believe. Anyone that wants to come, please join us.” He beckons with both hands. One thing that I did not notice before, his hands are webbed.

I call out “Look at his hands!”

With that he spread his fingers wide.

In an instant, almost to a person, the wanderers were in the water and diving below the surface. I looked at Nadean and said that we needed to report what we have seen. She reluctantly agrees.

Sensing our intentions the man told us

“I can tell that you have something you need to do before you both come home. I ask you both to talk to the remaining couples and convince them to come. I will come to lead you. Call out and I will be here.” He then disappears.

Left standing on the river bank are only five of all those that were here. Turning to Marvin I say,

“Nadean and I will be going back to Thornton. I can tell you that in the not too distant future, you will be able to have that town and all its possessions. I’ll even leave the map of the traps. The locks will be unlocked.”

“That is not real! I refuse to ever entertain that you can live under water.”