Blue Plague: Sacrifice, page 23
Bruce smiled as he stated, “You can thank Debbie for the first eleven in a row streak. For the first time ever, she was acting as my eyes and saw you every time you popped up.”
Stephanie gasped looking at Debbie, “How could you?”
“Stephanie, Steve had just proposed to Tonya and had asked me if they could move in together. The only way I was going to get Bruce to talk to me was to help him,” Debbie shot back, irritated.
“You could’ve made him quit playing,” Stephanie snapped back.
“It’s a game Stephanie!” Debbie yelled at the top of her lungs.
“This coming from the woman who stood up in the bed at 0330 last night yelling ‘If that fucker stabs me one more time. I’m getting my gun, finding his ass on this farm and capping his ass!’ What if I tell you that the person that was stabbing you was Conner,” Stephanie informed her. Debbie narrowed her eyes turning her head toward Conner. Conner tried to hide behind Susan but she kept pushing him away not wanting to get in the line of fire. “It’s just a game Debbie,” Stephanie taunted.
Looking at Conner, Debbie said, “We’ll talk later.” Then turning back to Stephanie, Debbie stated, “Well, I, for one am ashamed of you Stephanie. You didn’t join our clan on X-Box.”
Stephanie furrowed up her face and huffed, “I’m going to be mad at y’all for two hours.” Stephanie marched toward the door, leaving the hall.
“I’m going to spank her,” Danny said turning to leave.
“Freeze Danny!” Debbie shouted causing Danny to stop. Danny knew better that to argue with that tone.
Debbie walked over to Bruce and pulled his shoulder down until she could whisper in his ear. While Debbie whispered in his ear a wicked grin spread across Bruce’s face. When Debbie was finished Bruce turned to her saying, “Oh yeah, I can do that.”
“Get her stud muffin,” Debbie said. Bruce unbuckled his vest dropping it in his chair and headed for the door. When Bruce walked out, the whole family moved toward the door making Debbie yell again, causing everyone to stop. “Y’all really don’t want to see this,” Debbie informed them.
“The hell I don’t,” Danny replied, looking at her mama.
“I really do,” Angela added.
“No you don’t. It won’t be pretty. Bruce will probably have to carry her back in when he brings her back in a few minutes. When she comes back, she will say she is sorry and ask to join our X-Box clan. That will be when she can speak again, of course,” Debbie informed them of her prediction.
“That’s impossible. No woman gives in that easy,” Danny said, looking at her mama. Seeing Debbie just smile with a wicked grin, Danny started to feel sorry for Stephanie as she asked, “Daddy’s not going to hurt her is he?”
Debbie thought before she answered, making everyone nervous. “No, not really,” Debbie replied as the family sat back down.
Bruce had stormed outside looking for ‘Red Devil’. Seeing one of the three man roving guards, Bruce stopped them, “Which way did Stephanie go?” The three just looked at him like he was speaking Greek. “Knock out gorgeous, dark red head woman,” Bruce rephrased and they replied that she was heading toward the barn.
Coming around the hall, Bruce saw her halfway to the barn. Bruce took off running on his toes so she wouldn’t hear him as he closed the distance. When he was almost to her, he stopped running and walked toward her. “Stephanie!” Bruce called, making her jump and turn around.
Stephanie stomped her foot, “I told you I’m going to be mad at you for two hours,” she said as Bruce walked up to her.
Bruce grabbed her arms, pulling her towards him then wrapped his arms around her waist. Stephanie started to struggle until Bruce pressed his lips on hers. All of Stephanie’s motor functions froze with that. Then Bruce started kissing her passionately and Stephanie started getting weak in the knees. Remembering what Debbie had told him, Bruce ran his hands up her back under her ACU top then under her t-shirt caressing her back as he continued the kiss. Stephanie’s legs gave out as she threw her arms loosely around Bruce’s neck as Bruce held her body weight.
Bruce released the kiss and looked at Stephanie’s face. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was still open with her tongue moving back and forth. “Stephanie, are you still mad?” Bruce asked her.
Stephanie struggled to open her eyes and looked at Bruce, “What did you do to me?” she asked blinking her eyes.
“This,” Bruce said as he started kissing her again. Stephanie still had no strength in her legs but it was returning to her arms as she pulled Bruce tight as he kissed her. Releasing the kiss again Bruce asked, “Well are you still mad?”
“About what?” Stephanie asked trying to make her brain work.
“My clan fighting your clan on X-Box,” Bruce reminded her.
“Screw my clan. I’m joining yours,” Stephanie heard herself say, even though that didn’t sound right.
“You want me to kiss you again?” Bruce asked smiling.
“No, I can’t think-, wait yeah I do,” Stephanie said as her head wobbled back and forth drunkenly. Bruce kissed her again.
Releasing the kiss Bruce looked into her face. “Come on Stephanie, let’s go eat breakfast,” Bruce said.
“Okay,” Stephanie replied trying to stand on her feet without Bruce’s help. When Bruce released her, she just crumpled straight down on to the grass. Bruce just looked down at her, shaking his head. Stephanie looked up at Bruce, “Damn, you’re tall,” she stated.
Bruce bent down, picking her up in his arms and carried her back towards the hall. As he walked, Bruce had two thoughts on the event. One, he loved the way Stephanie had just lost all will power, forgetting why she was mad, even leaving her clan. Second, Bruce was unnerved that Debbie had called that play by play almost with the exact dialog. ‘I have to talk to her about that’ Bruce thought as he opened the hall door and carried Stephanie in.
The whole command table watched as Bruce carried Stephanie to her chair and sat her in it. Stephanie looked up at Bruce, grinning, with her head wobbling back and forth, “Thank you Bruce,” she said as Bruce sat down.
Danny came running over to Stephanie, “Stephanie, I’m sorry. Are you ok?”
Stephanie looked up at Danny, smiling. Reaching a hand up, Stephanie patted her face, “Hey Danny, I love you.”
Danny looked up at her Daddy as Angela and several other girls came over to check on Stephanie. “What the hell did you do to her Dad?” Danny demanded with a scowl on her face.
“Nothing sweat pea,” Bruce replied grinning.
“That’s crap! She has grass in her hair, has loose muscle tone, can’t focus her eyes and talks like she’s on drugs. You weren’t gone long enough to give her any drugs and I don’t see any marks on her,” Danny snapped, reading out her observations.
“Sweet pea, I don’t hit women until they put themselves in a man’s shoes. Just tap them,” Bruce told her, smiling.
“Well what did you do?” Danny asked.
“You really want to know?” Bruce asked.
“Yeah,” Danny replied, getting irritated.
“Fine, I’ll tell you. If you remember, your mother whispered in my ear before I left. She gave me permission to use a technique that only works on women. It has something to do with the extra organs women carry. I showed it to her once and she made me promise not to use it ever again, until today. On a woman’s back is a spot no bigger than a centimeter square. If you tap it three times in rapid succession the woman becomes like this. She forgets the last few hours and is completely placid. Chinese emperors used it on their concubines for obedience,” Bruce finished the lie with flair and a regretful expression on his face. Debbie just nodded her head with no expression on her face, knowing if she spoke she would laugh for hours.
Danny looked at Bruce like he was full of shit. Then the expression slowly slid off her face as she glared at her Daddy who had a straight face. Then she turned to Debbie and believed the tale. “Mom how could you let Daddy do that?” Danny gasped, stepping back from Bruce. Angela looked at Bruce and backed up until her back was on the wall.
“Stephanie was acting irrational. I earned those kills,” Bruce replied trying not to laugh, this was too good. The whole command table would just look at Stephanie, who was still acting like she was drunk and happy. This was just how Debbie had told them she would act.
“Mom, do you know how to do this?” Danny demanded, standing well away from Bruce.
“Of course she does. I taught her everything I know,” Bruce replied, not wanting Debbie to spoil his fun. This was fine with Debbie, as it was taking everything she had not to laugh.
“You didn’t teach me that!” Danny exclaimed in an injured tone.
“I haven’t taught you a lot sweet pea. You aren’t old enough yet,” Bruce informed her.
“You better not have taught the boys this,” Danny replied in a harsh tone.
“I haven’t for the same reason,” Bruce replied.
“I mean ever!” Danny yelled as Stephanie looked over her shoulder and just smiled at her, making Danny nervous.
Willie stood up declaring, “I’ll give you a blow job right here and now if you show me.”
Mike jumped up, “Sit down Willie,” then he turned to Bruce. “You show me first,” Mike demanded in a serious tone.
“Michael Collins, you shut your mouth and sit down,” Nancy yelled. Mike dropped down in his chair like someone hit him with a bat. Nancy leaned over the table, looking at Bruce as she informed everyone, “If I see any man tapping on any woman’s back, I’ll shoot ‘em.”
“Then I’ll cut their balls off,” Danny threatened.
“After that, I feed them to the gators,” Mary added.
The command group continued as Marcus and Carroll came in with several of their clan. Bruce had asked them over to coordinate the movements over the next week. They were also going to take Father Thomas back with them for a service at their farm. When they joined the table, Danny filled them in on what was happening. Neither believed any of it at first. Then looking back and forth from each person’s face at the table Marcus and Carroll saw they were convinced. They just looked back and forth from Bruce and Stephanie who was just smiling in a happy bliss.
Carroll shook her head and stared at Bruce as she replied, “Bruce, I love ya with alls my heart and sees ya as one of my own kids but if you shows Marcus that, I’ll have to cut ya.”
“I wouldn’t use it on you Carroll,” Marcus promised.
“Marcus another word about it and we goes to the floor, forget tha switches,” Carroll dictated. Marcus just chuckled as Millie set him a plate down.
Millie walked over to Bruce, “That’s disgusting Bruce,” Millie accused, looking at poor Stephanie.
“Hey Millie come here and let’s talk about you bringing this table food,” Bruce said, scooting his chair back.
Forgetting her spoon, Millie brought up both fist, “You stay away from me with that kung fu stuff. I won fair an square. Don’t you be doing them ninja hits on me,” Millie warned, backing away with her fist up.
Bruce laughed as Millie backed away. Turning away from Millie, Bruce glanced at Debbie who was sitting stone faced staring straight ahead. Bruce knew it was taking everything she had not to laugh. Carroll looked up at Bruce asking, “Why do you wants to kung fu poor Millie?”
“I don’t want her to serve us food at the command table. I think it gives the impression to others we are different and better. We made a bet and I lost so she gets to keep doing it,” Bruce related to Carroll.
“First you are different, not better. This table has to be makin’ decisions that no one else wants to and if they do’s they ain’t qualified to make ‘em. If she wants to make your life a little easier then you lets her,” Carroll informed Bruce. Bruce drew in a breath to reply as Carroll continued. “Bruce, is Millie in charge of this kitchen?” she asked.
“Yes,” Bruce answered knowing it was a mistake.
“I sees you’re sliding back. You and I had this discussion at our farm. A woman can do whatever she wants in her kitchen so you’ll let Millie,” Carroll informed him. “Don’t you agree Debbie?” Carroll asked looking at Debbie.
Debbie was just staring straight ahead clinching her jaw. To everyone, except Bruce, it looked like she was mad but he knew she was just trying not to laugh. Debbie stood up and through clenched teeth said, “I’ll be back in a minute,” as she walked out of the hall.
Carroll looked at Bruce. “She feels bad about giving me permission to do that to Stephanie. She’s going inside to cry,” Bruce explained.
“Well she should feel bad about letting you do that but it’s been done,” Carroll said as Bruce just started shoveling food into his mouth to keep from laughing.
Marcus informed them that they now had almost four hundred, three barracks finished with another two under construction. The fence now went around fifty acres and they had two underground storage areas like Bruce had with containers. They had made a huge underground area to store the cows, goats, sheep and chickens in if they had to move to Bruce’s farm to help face a horde. They were working on a water tower now and all the solar panels were up and the battery house was up and charged.
Bruce told them of the plans at the farm and asked if they could send someone over on Friday evenings to join their meetings. Whoever they sent over could stay the night and head back in the morning to go over with their command group then work out the details on Sunday. Marcus said he and Carroll would come since they were more or less bosses and teachers. When Bruce objected to them traveling back and forth Marcus laughed.
“Bruce, if something can get us in that Stryker vehicle, it can get us at our farm. When Carroll was showed how to shoot that gun, I ain’t heard her laugh like that in a long time,” Marcus informed Bruce.
Carroll replied smiling, “That thang is fun.”
Debbie returned with a tear blotched face that Bruce knew was from laughing but everyone else thought was from her being mad at herself. As Debbie sat down Carroll grabbed her hand. “You let that go Debbie,” Carroll told her. Debbie just nodded as she sat down trying not to laugh.
Father Thomas came over and asked if he could start the service and Bruce nodded his head. After the service Bruce went to the front. Only he would be speaking today.
Stepping behind the podium Bruce started. “Hello everyone. I hope everyone had a good Christmas and enjoyed their presents,” Bruce said, just wanting to break the ice but he received a standing ovation. Bruce’s shaved head turned red as he motioned for everyone to sit down and stop but they continued. When everyone sat down, Bruce said, “I was just starting up the meeting. I really didn’t want the applause.”
“Well, you and this family saved everyone here. If we want to thank you we can!” someone shouted from the back. This caused another round of applause.
When it died down, Bruce stated, “Will you please stop. I can only blush so much in a day and I’m over quota.”
Joe yelled out, “But you’re so cute when you blush!” making the room laugh.
Bruce went over the work schedules and the new ID bands which some people didn’t like at all. Pausing Bruce explained that it was necessary to keep track of who was working out, showing up for work, trying to eat more than their share and most important. They would be used to identify a non-clan person if a gang tried to get someone inside to look around before they hit. Bruce explained there were, now, way too many people to remember by sight and they were bringing back more if they wanted to join the clan.
For the new people, Bruce went over the rules of the clan. Some had started referring to the rules as the clan commandments. No stealing. Clan rules for each area were to be followed. Your word is your bond; don’t give it unless you mean it. Everyone works; that is how you are judged and rewarded. Everyone fights. Your family is your business until it becomes clan business. Respect others in the clan. Follow command group orders without hesitation. Everyone had to learn until they died and finally no laziness would be tolerated.
Just to clarify Bruce let everyone know Marcus’ clan was part of this clan and was to be treated as such. Then he added that Marcus and Carroll were part of the command group. Anyone not following their orders, Bruce would just unleash Carroll on them.
Looking around at the new people, who were easy to find because of how thin they were, Bruce told them they were being put on a light duty schedule and explained why. Several voiced their displeasure with this. Bruce reminded them that they had to follow the orders. Then he explained that they would be moved up to full work in a week or two, when their bodies could handle it. They accepted that and Bruce moved on, telling Omega team they were training after lunch but would have tomorrow morning off, when they had to sight in new rifles.
Bruce reminded everyone that his students were having class Wednesday and Friday this week and they would teach the first forty that signed up. Only those not currently scheduled to work or have classes could sign up. A young teenaged boy upfront asked if someone could teach a class on Sunday afternoon so he could sign up.
Thinking about it for a minute, Bruce informed the young man if his students didn’t teach the class, then four members of Omega team would. This got a lot of applause. Then Bruce told the crowd that only thirty-nine could sign up because this young man already had a slot. That was when Joe yelled out that he wanted Bruce to have one afternoon a week if Bruce did not get his Monday ‘alone’ time. The clan voted unanimously for it, Jenny Green and her group didn’t vote.
Wrapping up the meeting Bruce walked Marcus and Carroll to their Stryker followed by Father Thomas. Father Thomas said he was going to stay over for a few days and Nancy said it would be fine since Debbie still wasn’t talking to anyone.
