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<title>Darmageddon (The Living Dead Series Book 3)</title>
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<h1 class="western8" id="calibre_pb_46"><a id="CHAPTER39_1"></a> <span class="c6"><a href="tmp_258233da8d53407bfef4d1cfdf2cef57_9rjpq3.ch.fixed.fc.tidied.stylehacked.xfixed_split_004.html#ref_TOC">Chapter 39</a></span></h1>
<p class="western5"> <br class="calibre1"/></p>
<p class="c7">Two weeks had passed and Townsend felt pleased with
the progress he and his Chinese troops had made. The troops spread
themselves around the camp, making sure to keep an eye on the Amish
as they went about their business. The people themselves were
complicit with his rule, and he soon came to realize that the use
of the armed Chinese troops had become overkill. Even the girl—the
ghost—had not given him any attitude or put up a fight. Since
discovering her identity, however, he'd been reluctant to let her
out of his sight. In fact he put her up in the spare bedroom of his
small cottage, assuring the elders of his moral purity.</p>
<p class="western5">The Chinese troops became more comfortable
as the days passed, even going so far as to try and communicate
with the members of the community. But although they remained civil
and polite, he noticed that the Amish kept a psychic distance from
the soldiers. He chalked this up to their isolationist tendencies.
A mutual coexistence developed between the two groups and yet the
groups remained separate.</p>
<p class="western5">Two inches of snow blanketed the ground. He
hoped winter would be mild and pass quickly, because he was eager
to get back on the road. Military history had taught him the
dangers of trying to wage war during the winter. No, he would wait
until spring to journey west. His troops would be well rested and
fed, and their morale would be boosted by the presence of the
ghost. Some of the older Amish kids had been assigned to teach
English to the Chinese. It had been going so well that he found he
could begin to communicate with them on a basic level. The children
had been eager to teach English to the Chinese, and the Chinese
were such good students that he made these lessons mandatory each
day. He found he could survey the community on his own, taking the
ghost girl along with him for long walks. She proved useful in
pointing out the various individuals and what they did, identifying
them by name and occupation. By the second week he could recall the
name of every member of the community.</p>
<p class="western5">The cold struck with a vengeance and the
snow began to fall harder and more frequently. He watched as the
Amish scuttled about, getting everything ready for the long winter
months, primarily gathering firewood and fuel. Every family had a
shovel to dig out from the storms. The Chinese had everything they
needed in the barn, including a large potbelly stove to keep warm.
His own home had been well stocked with firewood and pickled
vegetables. He felt as optimistic about the future as he had in a
long time, and knew in his heart that he wouldn't miss this simple,
protected life. That the Amish would suffer from such terrible
migraines in the ghost's absence only briefly crossed his mind. It
was their price to pay to save this great nation.</p>
<p class="western5"> <br class="calibre1"/></p>
<p class="c2">* * *</p>
<p class="western5"> <br class="calibre1"/></p>
<p class="western5">The adolescents met well after midnight in a
grove of trees clear across the other side of the camp. They snuck
out of their rooms at night and quietly traipsed in the pitch black
of night to their secret meeting place. Once there, Ezekiel, the
leader of the group, pulled out his flashlight and called the
meeting to order.</p>
<p class="western5">&#8220;Everything has gone according to plan. All
of you have done a wonderful job tutoring the Chinese soldiers in
learning to speak English, as well as being deferential to that
asshole Townsend. We have them just where we want them.&#8221;</p>
<p class="western5">&#8220;I hope you don't make us kill the soldiers,
Ezekiel. I kind of like those Chinese boys. Some are only a little
older than ourselves,&#8221; Irene said.</p>
<p class="western5">&#8220;I'm hoping it won't come to that, Irene,
but if push comes to shove we may need to use force in order to
protect our way of life. Are all of you prepared to kill if
necessary?&#8221;</p>
<p class="western5">The kids nodded in agreement.</p>
<p class="western5">&#8220;If you can't do it, I suggest you leave the
group now. You saw what happened when Dar and the others were here.
They put their lives on the line for us and saved our community. We
should have been the ones doing that. It's about time we stand up
for ourselves rather then walk to our own slaughter.&#8221;</p>
<p class="western5">&#8220;But what about Cephas and the elders? They
would have a fit if they knew what we were up to,&#8221; a boy named Tom
said.</p>
<p class="western5">&#8220;It's Rumspringa time, warriors. It's time
we spread our wings and fly. Only this time instead of having fun
we're going to save our community from destruction and ruin.&#8221;
Ezekiel gazed around at the other kids, both girls and boys alike.
&#8220;The soldiers' lives we will spare if at all possible, but Townsend
must surely die.&#8221;</p>
<p class="western5">&#8220;But how will he die, Ezekiel, and who will
kill him?&#8221;</p>
<p class="western5">&#8220;He will die the same way he sentenced the
others to die. It says as much in the Bible: an eye for an
eye.&#8221;</p>
<p class="western5">&#8220;You will let the dead eat him?&#8221; another
small boy named Jacob asked.</p>
<p class="western5">&#8220;I will let the dead do with him what the
dead do naturally. Tomorrow night we will act. Do nothing that will
give our intentions away. You will need to be brave and strong. Put
your hands in the middle so we can pray to God for His wisdom and
infinite strength.&#8221;</p>
<p class="western5">They put their hands in the middle and
Ezekiel led them in prayer. Once they had wrapped up the meeting he
shut off the flashlight and they dispersed back to their homes.</p>
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