or handgun. She had her handgun strapped and secured under her baggy denim shirt.
“The meeting can now come to order,” said the fat man. He looked over the few people in the room. “First, I just want to say that I think this blockade of St. Victor is a waste of time. I say we should go along with the government. We can’t win with guns. We can’t win against the government.”
Some people muttered quietly. Their look questioning.
The fat man continued. “I know, I know, you all want to fight, but we can’t win.”
Rita was confused, she stood to her feet without thinking. “Why can’t we win?”
He looked at her. “Do I know you? You don’t live here do you?”
“Karen Blake is my sister. I live here now.”
“What’s your name?”
“Rita Royale. What’s yours?” Rita could here snickering from a few people.
“I’m Peter Brown. I was chosen to preside over this meeting.”
“Well Peter Brown, I don’t agree with you.”
“You can speak when I open the meeting to questions.”
A tall man, mid thirties, stood to his feet. “I don’t agree with you either, Pillsbury.”
“I don’t like being called that, Tom.”
He glared at the fat man. “I don’t care what you like. Pillsbury.”
Peter Brown looked at him, averted his eyes. Looked at Rita. “You can speak in a few minutes.”
Rita said nothing, nodded slightly, sat down on the metal chair with the wooden seat.
Tom James studied the fat man. “We’re going after them tomorrow night.”
He opened his eyes wide. “You can’t be serious?”
“Dead serious.” He stared at Peter Brown. “You’re still on the town Council in Assiniboia, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. So?”
“So I think that maybe you and the muzzies are cooking up a deal.”
“I am not. I have nothing to do with them.”
Tom raised his rifle and pointed it at Peter Brown’s face. “I think you are. I’ve always thought you’re nothing but a fat chicken shit politician.” He held his aim. “And a coward.”
“So you’re going to shoot me? You’re crazy if you think that.”
“And I think you know the names of the savages trying to take over.”
“How would I know that?”
“Because you’re government. And government supports the little savages.”
Peter was sweating lightly. He stared at the rifle. “I don’t have to stand here and be threatened by you, Tom James.”
Tom lowered his aim slightly, fired his weapon, removing the top part of the fat man’s shoulder, the retort loud as it echoed throughout the hall. Peter Brown fell to one knee, grabbed his bloody shoulder cursing and swearing at Tom.
Tom James walked up to him, pressed the end of the barrel against his forehead. “I want the names. Don’t lie to me or I’ll finish you off right now.”
“You’re insane.”
Tom quickly levered another round into the chamber of his rifle. “The names, Pillsbury.”
“I don’t know the names.”
Tom took the butt end of the rifle and slammed it into the face of Peter Brown hitting him squarely on the jaw knocking him unconscious. He looked at everyone in the room. Their eyes wide. “Anyone else want to surrender to the savages?”
They all shook their heads in the negative. Rita decided she liked this man.
“Good.” He looked at Rita. A quick smile crossed his face. Looked at another man. “When this sack of shit wakes up, I’ll get those names. And the number of cops in Assiniboia.”
The man nodded. “I heard them Allah kids are having another meeting at the civic center tomorrow night. They’re planning a midnight march through town. The older people are terrified of these thugs.”
“I know. Its all coming together. They’re in for a surprise tomorrow night. Not just in Assiniboia either.”
Rita blurted out the words. “I’d like to go.”
He smiled. Studied her face for a few seconds. “Alright. I’ll pick you up tomorrow sometime. This ain’t no game.”
Rita looked at him. “I know it isn’t.”
He looked at her for a few more seconds, smiled, glanced down at Peter Brown now regaining consciousness, a look of fear coming to his face. Tom James ordered everyone out of the hall except for one other person. As Rita walked back in to Karen’s yard she heard the gunshot from inside the community hall. At least she assumed the shot came from there. Probably.
She walked into the house, stripped naked and walked into the shower. Stood still letting the hot water clean her body and calm her nerves. Rita had her blood up. She equated what was happening to a game of poker. Usually when someone bet with aggression they had a weak hand. She believed if they killed a few of the savages the rest would think twice about dressing in black and chanting death to the Jews. Hell, most of those idiot kids had probably never even met a Jew.
After her shower she sat naked on the darkened porch sipping a beer, the evening still hot as hell. She doubted anyone walking by could see her in the darkness. She thought about Tom James. She liked real men. She hoped Bill would be a part of this too. She liked Bill and he had the serious weapons.
A half hour later Karen walked onto the deck. She looked at her naked sister. “Rita. You can’t sit naked out here.”
“No one can see me. Its hot.”
“Any more beer left?”
“I think there’s still two in the fridge.”
Karen walked into the house, soon returned with the last two bottles, handed one to her naked sister. “What happened at the meeting?”
“I’m not sure. I think there’s one less person living in St. Victor now.”
“Who?”
“Peter Brown.”
“Peter?”
“He wanted us all to surrender. Agree with the government. A man called Tom James didn’t share his opinion.”
“Tom killed Peter?”
Rita nodded. “I think so. I wonder if he got the information he wanted?”
“What information?”
“I’m going into Assiniboia tomorrow night. I’m not sure what’s going to happen there.”
Karen just looked at her. “Peter’s wife will freak out, I think.”
“He had a wife?”
Karen thought for a moment. “Well, maybe she won’t be freaked after all. He treated her like dirt. She’s better off without him. Still, it will come as a shock I’m sure.”
Rita sipped her beer. “Is Tom James married?”
“He was. His wife left him a few months ago I think. He was pretty devastated.”
“Why did she leave?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know him well. He’s involved with others in some militia or something. That’s all I know.”
“So he’s single.”
“You