Conflicted Home (The Survivalist Book 9), A American [top android ebook reader TXT] 📗

“I’ve heard people saying that,” Michelle said. “There’s lots of talk about it.”

“Well, it wasn’t us of course. But we need the people here to know that, so we’re going to do this in public in front of everyone. Otherwise, things are going to get out of control.”

“And they’re close to that point now,” Cecil said from behind me. I turned to look at him and he continued. “People are really upset. There was a lot of folks killed. Little kids even. And they want vengeance and they’re about ready to take it into their own hands.”

“And we can’t allow that,” I replied.

“But is this the right way?” Mitch asked. “Is this the way to do it? Is he really responsible?”

I nodded. “Yes, he is. He was spotting for a mortar team. Him and another guy. The other one is dead, but we have his body here to show everyone. There were a couple other soldiers in the mortar group, but they were killed in the fight.”

“I think it’s the right thing,” Michelle said. “By doing it this way, no one can say it wasn’t proper. Everyone will see the same thing. There can be no confusion.”

Mitch thought about it for a minute. “I guess you’re right. It’s being done out in the open.” He nodded, “It’s for the best.”

I clapped him on the back and we walked around to the front of the gallows. The crowd was full of whispers and murmurs. There was the occasional finger pointed in our direction, accompanied by hushed words. The crowd was obviously on edge and it wasn’t certain where they stood on things at the moment. But we were about to find out.

I leaned in to Dalton and said, “Let’s take them up the platform.”

“Why are we going up there?” Micha asked.

“So everyone can hear what you have to say,” I replied. “And to make sure they can’t get to you.”

He obviously hadn’t considered the possibility of the crowd wanting to tear him apart. He quickly turned and headed for the steps. Dalton followed him up, with Mike and Ted bringing the two Cubans up.

The crowd began to hush as I stepped up to the edge of the platform. I looked out across the crowd, then down at Sarge. He was standing at the bottom of the steps, preventing anyone from rushing up the steps. I looked back over my shoulder at Mitch and he nodded. I nodded back and cleared my throat.

“I know there are a lot rumors going around about what happened here.” Heads bobbed and words were exchanged throughout the crowd. “But we’re here to set the record straight on what happened.”

“How are we supposed to believe you?” Someone shouted from the crowd.

“Because I’m not the one that’s going to tell you what happened.” Surprise swept over those gathered. “The men responsible for that horrible event will tell you themselves what they did.”

I nudged Micha with an elbow. He hesitated and I pushed him towards the edge of the platform. Leaning in close, I whispered, “Start talking or I’ll throw you off here and tell them what you did myself.”

Fear covered his face as he looked out across the park. But he started to speak, softly.

“My name is Micha,” he began weakly.

“We know who you are!” Someone shouted from the front of the crowd.

“Speak up! We can’t hear you!” Another voice shouted.

“Tell us what you did!” Yet another shouted.

“I was with these men, and others, who bombed the park the other day,” Micha managed to say.

The crowd erupted with shouts of why? Terrorist, and others. Micha shrank from the shouts, then a rock flew out of the crowd and hit him in the chest. He turned to shield himself as other things started to fly from the crowd. Sticks, pieces of concrete, blackened pieces of metal from the truck. The end of a mortar round with the stabilizing fins still attached.

I drew my pistol and fired two rounds into the air. “That’s enough of that shit!” I shouted as the crowd pressed away from us. I leaned over to Ted and asked for the piece of paper with the notes. He handed it to me and I stepped to the edge of the platform.

“As many of you know, the DHS ran a camp out in the forest before we kicked them out. Many atrocities were committed there. The DHS members were being sent to a prison after being captured by the Army. Micha here helped them escape. He is also the one that sprayed herbicide on our farm in attempt to deny you food. He also worked with others to plant the bomb at the park earlier this year. He consorted with the Russian and Cuban forces that currently are causing trouble. Which leads us to what happened here. Micha and another man acted as spotters for the mortar team that launched the attack on the park where so many were killed and injured.

“Which brings up another point. Some of you are starting rumors that the Army committed this crime against us. And I say us because that’s what I mean. We were here when the attack started. We lost people, both killed and wounded as well.” I looked down at Danny standing in front of the platform. “We were here handing out food for crying out loud! How could you think we were the ones to do something like this?” I paused for a moment as the crowd shared some guilty glances. “That sort of thinking is exactly what the enemies committing this violence want you to do. They want to splinter us, to separate us. Cause division. But we have to stick together!”

I stopped, trying to think of what to say next when someone shouted, “Now what?”

I looked down at Mitch. He nodded and walked up the steps. I looked out over the crowd and said, “We’ll let Judge Williams decide his fate.”

All eyes were on Mitch as