The Army Comes Calling by Darrell Maloney

smiled a knowing smile.
         Mark grabbed the stainless steel pull bar on the end of the trailer and hefted himself up. He walked down the center aisle, admiring the cargo and at the same time making sure no one was hiding behind it.
         “Wow, you really hooked us up,” he said as he saw case after case of liquor, wine, cigarettes, medical supplies, and other things some in the compound had been clamoring for.
         “I didn’t know how Debbie and David, our medical people, will feel about bringing cigarettes into the compound. Our smokers ran out months ago and had to give up the habit. Debbie and David would probably rather keep the camp smoke free.”
         “We can leave those on the truck if you want to.”
         “No. It should be a decision of the group. We’ll unload them but keep them separate from everything else. I’ll bring it up at our next tribal meeting and let the camp vote on whether to stay smoke free.”
         “Understand. Do you see a problem with anything else I’ve brought you?”
         Mark picked up a case of Snickers bars, and looked at the case of M&Ms behind it.
         “No, I think you’ve done a good job of providing something for everyone, regardless of their particular vices. But can I ask you why?”
         “Why what?”
         “Why you’re going through so much trouble to butter us up?”
         “What? I can’t bring gifts to an old friend without being suspected of trying to butter him up?”
         Mark eyed him suspiciously.
         “You don’t believe this is just a token of good will?”
         Mark continued to eye him suspiciously.
         “How about this is payback for the cattle and pigs and chickens and seeds you brought to us and to Farmer Mason?”
         Mark suspicious gaze still didn’t waiver.
         “Okay, okay. I guess I’m way too transparent. The truth is, I’ve got a major favor to ask of you and your people. And yes, I was hoping this stuff would butter them up a little bit.”
         Mark finished his inspection and jumped to the ground.
     “Well, let’s get this into the compound and get it unloaded, and then we’ll get down to business.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 18
     
         “Good evening everyone. I know that most of you are still eating, but I wanted to mention a couple of things before you started to disappear.”
         Every head in the dining room turned to look at Mark.
         “For those of you who didn’t get a chance to meet him, our friend Marty Haskins has joined us for dinner tonight. Please make a point to shake his hand before he leaves to thank him for all the goodies he brought with him.
         “Also, on a side note, Marty has asked if he could address the group on a matter of great importance. I’ve already spoken with the elders and they’ve agreed to call an emergency meeting immediately following the meal. There will be issues addressed which will require at least one, and perhaps several votes. We’ll need at least seventeen of you to have a quorum. Please stay for the meeting or give proxy to someone you trust to vote on your behalf.”
         He sat back down and most of the rest of the group went back to eating their dinner. A few, though, no longer had an appetite. The seemed to sense a dread in the air, and wanted the others to finish their meals so they could find out what was going on.
         Normal conversation ceased, replaced by hushed whispers: What’s going on? Now what kind of trouble is brewing? Haven’t we been through enough?
         Despite his desire not to, Mark had done a very effective job of ruining everyone’s dinner.
         After the last of the dinner plates had been taken to the kitchen, the kitchen staff stopped what they were doing, dried their hands, and took their seats at the empty tables in the back of the