Civilization

Chapter 2-1-2

“Excuse me, sir?” she asked as she stood in front of him.

“Yes?” he said sternly, impatiently, looking down at her.

“Doctor Harris told us what happened last night. I would like to apologize for her actions.”

“Why are you apologizing for her?”

“She is a Doctor!”

“Is that an excuse?” Murdock asked bitingly. He saw the woman back up a step.

“No, sir, she’s used to giving orders and having them obeyed. She’s used to being in demand and being able to call the shots,” the woman explained.

“So?” he responded brusquely becoming more impatient.

“I’m telling you this because there’s trouble coming your way. Doctor Harris isn’t used to being treated the way you treated her and has stirred up the others to do something about it.”

“What do you know of her treatment?”

“I didn’t see it, so I don’t know what happened, but she did say that you attacked her.”

Murdock started chuckling a little. “Is that what she said?”

“Yes, sir, she did.”

“She considers getting a bum’s rush an attack? Wonder what she considers a punch in the face?” Murdock noticed that there were three people heading toward him. “I take it you aren’t part of the elected delegation.”

“No, sir, I’m not. I just thought you should be warned.” The woman turned to leave.

“You don’t need to leave,” Murdock said placing his hand gently on her shoulder to stop her retreat. “Stick around and enjoy the fun. Just stand behind me a little.”

The woman moved to comply as the other three came over to him.

“What’s she doing here?” Ben Palmer asked roughly. “She wasn’t elected!”

Murdock stood looking at the three with a slight grin on his face. “I’d like to know who taught you your manners,” Murdock asked.

“Nobody,” Palmer responded dourly.

“Apparently,” Murdock quipped. “Maybe someone should have!”

“You better watch yourself, mister. I’m in no mood to put up with you or your mouth,” Palmer warned.

“Really?” Murdock stood there looking at Palmer with a grin. “I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that you were someone to fear or respect. That was a totally erroneous assumption on your part. I’m neither concerned with your mood or you, for that matter.” Murdock stood there with a grin and head c****d a little to the left.

Palmer drew his fist back, having had enough, and stepped forward punching where Murdock was. Faster than Palmer, or anyone, could see, Murdock moved out of the way of the ineffectual punch and gave Palmer a quick tap to the back of his head as he passed, sending the bigger man sprawling to the ground.

Palmer rolled over, his face red with anger. He scrambled to his feet and rushed headlong toward Murdock, attempting to grab the man. Again, he felt the butt of the spear on the back of his head. This time he went sprawling into the stream, face first. Palmer rolled over and backed out of the water, looking at Murdock. Murdock spun the spear several times, in a figure eight pattern, left, right, and in front of himself before stopping it and striking a fighting stance. The shocked expression on Palmer’s face made it apparent that he had finally realized he was vastly outmatched.

“Now then, shall we begin?” Murdock asked as he stood straight, asking calmly of the others who had stood there watching with gaping mouths. It took a few ticks before the others realized they had been spoken to.

“The people of the transport pod demand that you return them to Earth,” a woman stated with a whiny voice.

Murdock looked at her. She appeared to be about five foot six with blonde hair and blue eyes. “And you are?” he asked politely.

“Phylicia Cunningham,” she responded sharply, dismissively. She acted as if he should have known who she was.

“Well, Phylicia was it? I don’t care what the others demand. You’re all mistaken if you think I’m here to do anything for any of you. I am here to suggest strongly what you should be doing and give you some direction as to how to do it. If you don’t want to follow my suggestions, that is up to you. If you want to survive, you’ll do as I suggest. If not, well, it won’t concern me too much to let you all starve, or worse. There are only a few things that are required of you by me. I’ve already stated those requirements. I called this meeting to demonstrate to you that I’m not one to be trifled with.”

“All you’ve demonstrated is that you’re a bully,” Phylicia responded hotly.

“You saw that I was attacked first and did little to protect myself? What would you have me do? Stand still and let Palmer hit me?”

“We saw you attack Mister Palmer, who is unarmed, with that…that weapon,” Phylicia continued.

Murdock dropped the spear. “Would you like Palmer to try again? Do you think he would fare any better?” Murdock looked to the others. He did lock his gaze on Palmer for a second. Palmer looked away as Murdock locked eyes with him. “No? Glad we got that settled. Now then, I think we should start over with introductions all ‘round and let’s see if we can demonstrate, for those without manners. Let’s start with…you.” Murdock indicated the brunette practical nurse, which offended Ms. Cunningham no end, which pleased Murdock no end.

“Annie Cooper, sir,” the brunette responded with a little curtsy. The curtsy made points with Murdock. He had thought no one knew what a curtsy was.

“Ben Palmer,” Palmer said when Murdock had indicated him. The little brunette walked over and slapped Palmer’s upper arm. “Sir,” Palmer added.

“Phylicia Cunningham, of the Cape Cod Cunninghams,” Phylicia responded haughtily.

“Declan Griffen, sir,” the tallish man responded with a shallow bow. Murdock’s heart began pounding. Was he related to Rose? He tried to contain himself.

“I am Murdock,” Murdock said indicating himself by touching his chest with his right palm and then extending his right arm and bowing slightly. “Now, isn’t that better than fighting or making demands? But, honestly, Phyl! You need to drop the arrogance. No one cares anymore for such nonsense, at least, they shouldn’t.” Murdock waited for someone to say something. “Good. We all know the restrictions. Everyone should be clear on the restrictions and I’ll hold you all responsible for anyone who doesn’t know them. I told the outdoorsmen to leave the bears alone and so should everyone. Don’t feed them. Don’t hunt them. Basically, if you see a bear, go the other way. I think that should pretty well cover everything. Do you have any questions?”

They all started to ask something at the same time, except Griffen. Murdock held up his hands until all were quiet.

“You have a question, Griffen?” Murdock asked. That brought several attempts to dominate the conversation by the others. “Everyone should open a can of ‘Shut the Hell Up’ and wait your turn!” He waited for quiet before indicating Griffen.

“How many survived from the first pod?” he asked politely.

“Two, my wife and I. Next?” Murdock saw Palmer trying to be noticed. “Mister Palmer?”

“Who gave you the right to tell us what to do?” Palmer asked with venom.

“Sorry, I’m a trifle deaf in that ear. Speak louder next time. Next?” Palmer was not happy with being put off. Murdock saw Phylicia and recognized her.

“The others have demanded that you stand trial,” Phylicia stated with arrogance.

“This is a time for questions, not demands. Next?” No one else had a question, or if they did, they kept it to themselves. “Glad we had this meeting. It would seem that we have worked out everything. Only one more thing remains. When I show up here again, only those I send for or the three that the rest have selected will be allowed to approach. You’re all dismissed.” Murdock watched as the others began leaving. He stopped Annie Cooper from leaving.

“Phylicia wasn’t joking about having you stand trial,” she said once the others were out of earshot. “Everyone has been asking about the first pod. It was obvious that you were on it and everyone expected to be met by most of the people. To now be told that you and your wife are all that’s left,” Annie shook her head slightly, “let’s say it isn’t going to be good.”

“Why is that? They just want to hold someone responsible for the misfortunes, or stupidity, of others. I, for one, refuse to accept responsibility for other people’s stupidity. I told them and they refused to listen. What more can be said?”

“There is a probability that someone on this pod is related to someone on the first pod,” Annie offered. “They are going to want answers.”

I’d say it’s a certainty, Murdock thought. “Would you be interested in helping with my wife’s delivery?” Murdock asked, changing the subject.

“Sure, but I don’t know what I can do. You should really have the doctor look at her.”

“The doctor is more concerned with lining her own pockets than caring for patients. I have no use for someone like that.” Murdock made no effort to hide his disgust for Doctor Harris.

“That is what she said last night. She did say that you and yours would come around to her way of thinking sooner or later.”

“Not likely,” Murdock responded loudly. “We’ve gotten along for the last five years without a doctor, so we can get along without her!”

“So, what do you expect from me?” she asked after a pause.

“I expect confidentiality, professionalism, and honesty,” Murdock responded somewhat calmly. “For that, I will pay for your services with food and housing.”

“That seems reasonable to me,” Annie said honestly.

“It didn’t seem reasonable to Doctor Harris,” Murdock sneered. “Everyone in this transport pod needs to realize that this is not a safe place. You can die in a second, if you aren’t careful.”

“Oh, I believe you,” Annie responded. “I feel like we have been dropped in the middle of nowhere!”

“A word of advice, don’t get involved with the political machinations that are sure to show themselves.”

“What do you mean?” Annie asked innocently. “Am I not to have a political opinion?”

“You can, just keep it out of your medical practice. I’d guess that two of those three elected officials will do their best to consolidate their perceived power. Most people don’t realize that politicians only have power because the masses turn it over to them. What the masses don’t realize is that the vast majority of politicians only serve themselves.”

“That seems to be a rather negative outlook,” Annie said with a shocked look.

“Not negative, just realistic. If any of the others give you too much grief, just remember that they need you more than you need them. Would you ask Griffen to come to talk to me?”

“Of course,” Annie said, sensing that her discussion with Murdock was at an end, for the time being. “When did you want me to look at your wife?”

“I’ll be heading home early tomorrow. Be ready to leave about daybreak.”

“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

Murdock watched as Annie Cooper returned to the transport pod. He figured that she would be given a very thorough interrogation by the leaders. He caught and cleaned a fish and sat on the ground while it cooked.

“Rose’s relative was in the pod,” Murdock flashed to Mei Lee.

“I didn’t know Rose had any relatives,” Mei Lee responded. “She never said anything to me.”

“She told me once that she had two brothers and a sister, but I think she didn’t want to think about them,” Murdock added.

“Probably because she resigned herself to never seeing them again,” Mei Lee responded.

As Murdock watched over the cooking fish, and while he was telepathically communicating with Mei Lee, he saw Declan Griffen making his way to the campfire.

“Sit, sit,” Murdock said while smiling at the younger man. He was taller than Murdock and, when he filled out again, would probably outweigh him by quite a bit.

“What did you want to see me about?” Griffen asked as he sat across the fire from Murdock. “Shouldn’t the other elected delegates be here?”

“No, this is something personal. I’m not trying to pry, but your last name is familiar to me.”

Griffen’s eyes narrowed suspiciously: “You don’t look familiar to me, sir. How would my name be familiar?”

“Did you have a sister?” Murdock asked.

“Two of them, actually,” Declan responded.

Murdock could see the man tense and become more suspicious.

“Was one of them named Rose?” Murdock asked as he adjusted the fish on the fire.

“Rosa Lea, but she prefers Rose. How do you know all this?”

“Sorry to say this, but I have some bad news for you. Your sister was on the first transport pod,” Murdock said as quickly and as softly as he could manage. He could feel himself choking up at the thought of her.

It didn’t take Declan long to add two and two together. He stood when he calculated and then recalculated and still didn’t like the answer. “She’s dead, then?” he asked.

“Please, sit,” Murdock insisted. “Yes, she is,” he said softly. “She was my wife.”

Declan sat again. “How did she die?” he managed after some time.

“Murdered,” Murdock said softly. “She was protecting an innocent.”

“Sounds like her,” Declan said sadly. Murdock could see tears starting to well in the younger man’s eyes. “Is she buried somewhere that I can visit?” he asked after a long pause.

“She is entombed, yes, and I will take you to her, if you wish. She and I had a son, your nephew, Andrew.” A tear ran down Murdock’s cheek.

“Was she happy?” Declan asked after a few seconds.

“She often said that she was never as happy as she was here,” Murdock said quietly.

“That’s all anyone can ask. Which one of the people in the first pod murdered her?” Declan asked.

“A man named Whittier.”

“He’s dead then?”

“Very!”

“Did you kill him?”

“I wasn’t close enough to do it. I would have without hesitation.”

“I believe you, Murdock.”

The two men sat quietly for a few minutes. Each was lost in his own thoughts and memories.

“Hungry?” Murdock asked finally, offering the younger man some of the fish. Declan took some and was absentmindedly nibbling on it while watching the flames.

Both men ate in silence. After a while, Murdock offered Declan his waterskin.

“Was that all you wanted?” Declan asked quietly after eating.

“I don’t know who else might be related to someone on the first pod, so I would suggest keeping the information private.” The younger man nodded that he understood. “Let me know when you’re ready and I’ll take you to see your sister’s tomb.” Again, Declan nodded.

Murdock watched as the younger man walked slowly back to the transport pod.