I started the meeting. "Okay gang, we know the who and where, now let’s discuss the how aspect. Ideas please."
Ed and Shane started to speak at once. Shane gave the floor to Ed. "We don't know the exact where or how many. Once again, our enemy could be a half dozen or fifty. Or more. But more is unlikely. As we know, it's hard enough to feed fifty. These people are hard cases, and it would be almost impossible to control the tempers and appetites for violence in a larger group."
He stopped to look at each person. "We learned a few important bits of data from the vigilante action we took when our people were kidnapped and from last year’s attack by that Williams character. I suggest we take a major force, say twenty-five, and pack most of the heavy weapons we have. The people we're going after are likely ex-military, and they may have gathered the same weaponry we have and possibly more of it. Once they're located, we need to go in strong and wipe them out. Members of their group have murdered four of our people and deserve no warning, and no survivors should be spared."
I looked around the table and saw consternation on the faces of Andrea and John. "Andrea, what are your thoughts?"
She appeared reluctant to speak. "I have a personal problem with saying let's go in and just murder everyone there. We know four of them committed rape and murder, but we have no proof the others are that way. I can't condone killing everyone for the actions of a few."
Morgan made as if to jump in. "Morgan, hold back until John gets his say. John, what's your opinion on our raid?"
He took a deep breath, then exhaled strongly. "Much like Andrea's I'm afraid. I don't like using guilt by association. It's too similar to genocide and racism. In my youth, and even after college, I was occasionally swept up in mass arrests because of my skin color. It still smarts, and I dread doing the same type of acts to others. However, I'll not hold the group back from seeking justice or vengeance as the case may be. I'll support you to some degree by staying in the background watching the vehicles or covering your back or shooting people shooting at us. But if some happen to be captured alive, I'll not take part in executing them."
I prompted Morgan for his turn to speak.
He leaned forward to look down the table at Andrea, then across to John. "I've known both of you long enough to know you're good people, and I respect each of you. But I disagree with you strongly. Two of the people viciously murdered, and I emphasize viciously, were my family. I lost a daughter and my daddy to that scum. Another, Josh, was a friend I thought of like family. The fourth, Marilyn, was a nice lady that I met here and liked and respected. I can't let those crimes go unpunished. No one who is worth a good God damn would willingly hang out with scum who commits rape and murder. I'll kill every damn last one of them with help or alone. But be assured they will all die, or I and mine will die trying. I'll not think less of anyone who doesn't go along, but what's left of my family has committed to doing what's right in our eyes. That's all I got to say."
Everyone appeared grim when I asked, "Anyone else?"
After long seconds, Shane said, "I'll ask everyone to decide if they want to go or stay behind to guard Deliverance. There are thirty-three members here over age sixteen. I suggest we ask for twenty-four and leave nine here to protect the children. When we find these murderers, no one will stay behind with the vehicles. We'll lock them and take the keys because we'll need everyone. Anyone who doesn't want the responsibility of this should stay behind. There'll not be repercussions for those who choose to not go along. It's a personal choice, and you're free to follow your conscience.
"We'll pull a five-by-ten cargo trailer with enough food and water for two weeks. There'll be room for bedding, extra ammo, and the heavy armament Ed wants to bring. We'll also pull a five-by-eight with several dirt bikes in it just in case they're needed. An open flatbed trailer with a five hundred-gallon tank of diesel will be needed, too. This is Tuesday night. We'll use tomorrow to get packed and ready and leave at 4 a.m. Thursday morning. Who from this group volunteers to go along?" Everyone raised a hand. I wasn't surprised that John and Andrea volunteered given the restrictions they'd stated on their actions. They wanted justice too. They simply couldn't go as far as the rest of us in being judge, jury and vigilante executioner.
Andrea stood. In a calm voice she said, "Maria, Vera, Suzie, and Vivian volunteered to have food ready when the meeting is over. Let's go eat."
Kira sat in the dining room waiting for me. She'd heard about the massacre of our friends and knew I'd be leaving soon to extract justice. She was concerned but accepted it was my duty to lead our people. After I ate, we went to our room. Paige had stayed with the twins, Tom Jr. and Dominique Jacobs. Kira was breast feeding, and the infants were hungry again. I held Dominique while Jr. suckled like a piglet. Paige knelt beside me and looked up with a serious but hesitant expression. "Mom has to stay here with the babies, so I want to take her place on Thursday."
I frowned at her, then glanced at Kira. She
