Trial by Fire

Joseph came out to greet his friend as Reagan pulled up. The same bustle of people coming and going was on display.

"Our boy George is worth his weight in gold," Joseph said, shaking Reagan's hand.

"He certainly is," Reagan agreed. "Help me get this box inside, Joseph."

They lifted it down and carried it under the carport. "Is this guns?" Joseph asked.

"Yes, two M16s and a riot gun."

"Three months ago I wouldn't have had them in the house," Joseph told him. "I always despised what I called 'the gun nuts.' It's amazing what a change a little bondage and beating can make in a man."

"I can only imagine," Reagan said. "I've been around them all my life, but I can't say I like them. They do seem to deter 'bondage and beating' though."

"Well, it's not necessarily that I was against security. I just always hired it done," Joseph explained.

"I understand," Reagan agreed. "I would just as soon somebody else does it too. I doubt the violence is done, Joseph. There is going to be a lot of desperate people out there when all this hits the fan. I suspect the whole northern hemisphere is in trouble. Jason says that world temperatures are going to plummet. Europe and Russia, China, Japan. This ash is going to devastate them too and if it gets cold, crops won't grow. What's going to happen when we have food and some dictator somewhere is starving? He's going to come knocking on our door."

"I don't like to think about it," Joseph replied. "George came by and left a box of cell phones. Come and get some for the family."

"I think he just used that as an excuse to see Emma," Reagan told him. "I saw them talking earlier and he seemed pretty smitten."

They went inside and Reagan got the phones and put them in a bag. "I've been thinking, Joseph. I think we need to make a trip to St. Georges and look into things there. We need to talk to the construction people over there about materials. I also want to see about getting the older kids in the University. We could invite Prius along to grease the wheels and take the kids for a holiday. What do you say?"

"I agree. Let's take the yacht and go. How about the day after tomorrow? That will give us time to get the ball rolling over here and we can run over and get it rolling there."

"Sounds good. I'll meet you at the Ministry building at 10."

Reagan drove by Shell House on the way home and dropped off Jason's box. He and Alex were settling in.

"Dad, do you remember that you said you would marry us?" Alex reminded him.

"Sure, honey," he said. "When is the big day?"

"We're thinking a month," Jason said. "I want to make an honest woman out of her. That will give us time to settle in and see where we're at."

"I'll plan on it," Reagan said. "I don't know what the law is here but as the Captain of a ship under a United States flag I have the authority to marry people legally.

"Even if you're a fake captain," Alex teased.

"Nobody knows but you and the Lord," he replied.

"Joseph and I are going to St. Georges day after tomorrow. I want to see about getting all you kids into the University and we have some business to take care of. We'll probably stay a week. Want to tag along for a vacation?"

"Oh, yes, I love vacations." Alex was instantly excited. "Can we go Jason?"

"Definitely," he said. "I've got to get accepted into their doctoral program and you need to be accepted into the veterinarian school."

"Mason and Kierra need to enroll in the undergraduate programs too, and we need a place for you to stay while you're there. Look into a place, would you Jason? Where's Danni, by the way? Last time I saw her she was buying a motorcycle."

"A motorcycle," Alex exclaimed. "What does she need with a motorcycle? You're her Father! Why would you let her buy a motorcycle?"

"Seems like they're all the thing," he shrugged. "I think she was buying one for you guys too. Where is she?"

"She's staying with you tonight," Jason said. Alex was horrified about the motorcycles. "They're just like scooters," Jason told her.

"Oh," she said. "I was imagining Danni on a Harley or something."

"That's probably next," Reagan agreed. "It's a slippery slope with that girl. Oh, by the way, I've got your new phones in the car. Walk me out and I'll give them to you."

They walked him out and after hugs and a kiss from Alex he drove away. He dropped cases at the three Ramsey residences and then drove home and found Lanston and Danni in the pool.

"That's a scandalous bathing suit, button," he said as soon as he saw the yellow bikini.

"I know," she turned in a circle so he could get the full effect. "Don't you just love it?"

"I love you, but I'm not so sure about the suit," he frowned at her.

"But you said you like to look at me," she protested.

"That's not exactly what I said. You make me sound like an old pervert. I said you love to show off and everyone loves to look at you. I love to look at you too, but I'm just not sure this old heart can stand looking at that much of you."

"Lanston likes it, don't you?" She turned to him for support.

"Don't get me involved in this," he said. "This is between you and Dad, but yes I do like it."

"Well, that's a big surprise," Reagan pretended to be shocked. "You can wear it here or at your house at the pool or to the beach if we're by ourselves," he told her. "But I forbid you to wear it around the house or if we have company. The black one was bad enough. I don't know what your mother is going to say when she sees it, but you can tell her what I said and I'll deal with her."

She jumped out of her chair and hugged him. "You're the best Dad in the world," she told him.

"Let me go," he told her. "You're wet and you're going to make me have a heart attack." He swatted one bare cheek.

She giggled and went back to stretch out on the longue beside Lanston, wiggling her bare butt provocatively.

"You've got a handful there son," Reagan shook his head. "Well, that came out wrong, but she's going to lead you a merry chase. You'll never be bored, that's for sure."

"I know, isn't she perfect?"

Reagan snorted and went back inside to get something to drink.

"Lanston, do you really think I'm perfect?" She crawled onto his longue and put one leg over his and lay half across him with her cheek on his shoulder..

"No, sprite, I just said that to tease Dad. You're too naughty to be perfect. I love it." He stroked her wet back, oily with suntan lotion, with one hand and squeezed one firm cheek with the other. "I never get tired of doing that," he licked her earlobe.

She rubbed the little triangle of cloth between her legs against his thigh in response. "I never get tired of doing that," she whispered as a little shudder ran through her frame. "Let's go up and lie in a hammock and take a nap,"

She wrapped herself in a big beach towel and they climbed the stairs to the veranda and collapsed into a hammock in the shade. She arranged herself comfortably on with one leg across him and her head tucked under his chin and closed her eyes.

"You guys want some limeade?" Reagan poked his head out the door.

"I would love some," she said. She checked, "Lanston wants some too. Did you know we are famous for limes?" she asked Lanston.

"How would you know, sprite?"

"Because I'm smarter than you," she told him. "But really I looked it up on the internet. That's how you get smart; you find stuff out. You should try it sometime."

"One smart person in a family is enough," he told her. "I'm too lazy to be smart. I'll just settle for being good looking."

"Oh, you are beautiful," she assured him. "I love to look at you. But I'm perfect. You said so. To be perfect you have to be beautiful and smart."

"That describes you perfectly, button," Reagan said as he walked up with their limeade and overheard her last remark.

"Don't you think Lanston is beautiful?"

Reagan eyed his hugely muscled son dubiously. "Yes, I suppose he is." Lanston choked on his limeade and Reagan laughed until he could hardly stand.

"See, I'm funny too. I made Dad laugh."

"How would you like to go on a little vacation?"

"Oh, yes, I love vacations," she took a sip of her drink. "Can we go, Lanston? This limeade is delicious, Dad."

"You are very like your sister," Reagan commented. "That's exactly what she said. Well, how 'bout it buddy? Care for a trip to St. Georges?"

"Sure, Dad, I'm down. How long will we stay?"

"Maybe a week. The older kids need to see about getting into the University and we could look into the shipping offices and see if anyone needs tug services. An owner/operator should be able to get a pretty sweet deal."

"When will we begin to go?" Danni asked.

"What a quaint way of putting it," Reagan said. "We will 'begin to go' day after tomorrow, but maybe you better 'begin' today. That way you'll be ready."

"Oh, I'll be ready," she assured him. "Now kiss me and go away. We're taking a nap."

He pressed his lips to her forehead. "Rest well, button," he said.

Chapter Twenty

In the northern hemisphere the situation was becoming worse by the day. La Garita showed no signs of slumber. Ash continued to billow 30 miles into the atmosphere and the acid rain continued. Temperatures plunged to below freezing in the Midwest and snow fell in the Gulf States though it was early August.

The ash plume was sweeping across Europe and air traffic was paralyzed. The collapse of the US dollar was devastating to the world economy. Lacking the 'full faith and credit' of the American Government, dollars were a worthless piece of paper. The collapse of the world's largest economy and the world's largest importer of goods left economies reeling and in ruins.

The ash umbrella spread over North America and smothered life. The entire northern hemisphere had not seen the sun for more than 90 days. Temperatures in Europe fell by 15 degrees. Crops stunted by the lack of sunshine and withered by the acid rain perished and the wheat harvest failed in Russia. The millions of tons normally exported from the US and Canada, were buried in ash with the farmers fled or dead.

Rice in China failed to produce a crop and a hemisphere-wide starving time began. The wealthy and wise fled south and a flood of starving refugees 2 billion strong flooded their more fortunate southern counterparts like a swarm of locusts, devouring everything in their path.

One such refugee was to make a large impact on the Thayers life. Senator Stephen Johnson, formerly of the commonwealth of Kentucky, was put ashore in Caracas, Venezuela. His first order of business was to call on the charge d'Affaires at the US embassy, Peter Ludlow.

The staff was caught off guard by his arrival and scrambled to accommodate him. They had been overwhelmed by a flood of displaced persons, working or traveling in the country and now unable to return home. They had claimed, and received refugee status for themselves and the hundreds of people who were now homeless. A refugee camp had been set up in a soccer stadium and although the Senator objected to being assigned to the camp as if he were a common citizen, he soon discovered its advantages. He immediately set about to better his situation by organizing a government of sorts among the refugees. He managed to appoint himself as their representative and devised a plan of action. The sheer number of the people in the camp, with more arriving every day, coupled with the Senator's credentials as a duly elected representative and the ranking member of government in the country soon overcame all resistance at the embassy and they became a rubber stamp for his decisions.

Suspecting that the state of the country was unstable, the Senator began to research a permanent home to set up a government in exile. He contacted other South American embassies and his web of power grew.

The islands of Trinidad and Tobago caught his eye almost at once. Its industrial based economy, relative wealth and representative government spoke to the Senator of long-term stability and security. He determined to relocate and set the wheels in motion. The Senator was back in his element and on a roll. He wondered what had become of the Thayers. Someday he hoped to encounter them again and then, justice would be swift and sure.

Chapter Twenty-One

Mason and Alex sat in the registrar's office at St. Georges University. They had a frustrating day. Lacking records of their courses of study in the States had proved to be a major obstacle. It had required the intervention of the honorable Senator Prius to get them accepted. Jason and Kierra were off with advisors and Jason had been accepted into the doctoral program with the Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation and given a professorship with the climate change department.

Danni had accompanied them but soon grew bored and disappeared into the student union with a group of students who were intensely interested in a refugee from the disaster to the North. She was exactly where she wanted to be, surrounded by people that hung on her every word.

At their request she recounted an encounter for them. She thought back to the night they had been attacked by Senator Johnson. She described Mason's bravery and how the pirates had been driven off. A newspaper reporter was in the crowd and he interviewed Danni and took some pictures.

Thinking about Mason made her a little lonely feeling, even in the crowd, and she excused herself and went looking for him. Lanston and Reagan had gone to the port to enquire about work for the tug and she missed him.

She located Alex and Mason in the registrar's office. They were sitting on a small sofa.

"Hey kid, been having fun?" he asked.

"Oh yes," she said. "Everyone is so nice here. They got me to tell them a story and I told them about how brave you were back on the river, Mason. Thinking about that made me a little scared so I came to look for you. Scoot over so I can set by you."

Mason obliged and she squirmed up against him and took his arm and put it around her. He pulled her close and did the same with Alex on his other side. They both laid their cheeks on his chest.

"Look at us," Danni said. "It's Goliath and the midgets."

"I'm confused," he said. "Are you Goliath, or Alex? I don't like being called a midget, sis."

She giggled. "You are a giant, Mason," she told him. She ran her fingers through his beard. "You're the giant Red Beard. Have you ever thought about becoming a pirate?"

"Arrg," he growled. "Dying from sunburn before he gets his treasure buried is an ignominious death for a pirate."

"Oh, I like that," she laughed. "Say it again."

"No, kid, I'm not Lanston. I don't do everything you say. You're my little sister and I boss you around. You don't get to boss me around like you do him."

"I don't boss Lanston around," she protested. "He likes to do things for me."

"Ha, you boss everyone around," Alex told her.

"No I don't," Danni said. "People just like me. I do everything Lanston tells me. I'm going to the cafeteria. You two meanies can stay here. Can I have some money, Mason? I forgot to bring any."

"No, he said, "I'm feeling too mean."

"You're not really mean, I was just teasing." She ran her fingers through his beard. "Please Mason? I'm really hungry. I'm really glad you're my brother too. You just hug me and I don't feel scared anymore."

He gave her a few bills and she scurried off.

"You know, she really is a very good girl," Mason told Alex.

"She worships you," Alex said, "and I've never seen her like this with anyone besides Lanston. She starts to do something ridiculous and all I have to do is tell her that Lanston wouldn't like it and she instantly stops. It's always Lanston likes this or he doesn't like that and that is the end of it so far as she is concerned."

"I know," he said. "She can get Dad to let her do anything she wants, but if Lanston so much as frowns at her she's instantly apologizing. She'd set the world on fire if she thought that was what he wanted. It's a good thing he's so levelheaded. How in the world did you ever keep her on a leash before?"

"She was never like this before. She was kind of quiet and shy back home. After our parents were killed we all kind of went into a shell except Andy. He always made us laugh and kind of kept us involved. She only began to break out of that shell when we met you guys. When you guys showed her how much you loved her and with Lanston loving her, she just blossomed. The Thayers have been very good for the Brooks."

"You're a sweet heart, Alex. If it weren't for Kierra, Jason would have to watch his back."

She laughed. "You're like the twin I never had, Mason. We're only two months apart, you know."

He squeezed her. "Dude, how long are these people going to take?"

It turned out that they didn't take much longer. By the time Danni returned with a little mustard on her chin, they had been given schedules and advisors and they were ready to go."

He cleaned Danni up with his thumb. She licked it and the mustard problem was gone. "That's just gross, kid. Who knows where this thumb has been," he told her.

"Oh no, Mason, I love your thumb," she said. "It tastes like mustard."

He gave her a swat and she squealed. "Lanston wouldn't like you going around licking people's thumbs," he winked at Alex.

"Do you really think so?" She looked up at him. "I won't do it then. I'm sorry Mason."

"No, brat, I was just kidding. You can lick my thumb if you want."

"See, I told you," Alex said.

"I'm not a brat," Danni said. "I'm perfect. Dad told me so."

"Oh my God," he exclaimed! "I've got to have a talk with that man."

"Don't you think I'm just a little perfect, Mason?"

"Yes, I guess I do," he mused. "You're a perfect brat."

She stopped and looked up at him. Her big brown eyes slowly filled with tears that trickled down her little brown cheeks.

"God, I'm sorry Danni. I was just teasing. I didn't mean to make you cry." He took her in his arms and hugged her tight. "You aren't a brat, kid. I was just teasing. I love you just the way you are, now don't cry."

She looked up at him and brushed away her tears and smiled. "Did you like that? I've been practicing. I just think about being away from Lanston and it makes me sad and I cry."

"Danni! You rogue! You're the most impossible girl I've ever met. Here I'm falling all over myself apologizing and you were faking it?"

"Yes," she agreed. "It was perfect."

Sara and Joseph were house shopping. Joseph liked a space-age looking villa in St. Georges and Sara was impressed as well. It was still under construction and Sara thought they needed a property that might be available right away, since the start of the college semester was less than month away.

Joseph thought the kids could live in hotels until the property was ready, but Sara dragged him reluctantly away to see another property. Villa Zanzibar was located in Fort Jeudy, about 15 minutes from the airport and the University. It had six bedrooms and five baths, three living and sitting rooms and was more than 6000 square feet of floor space. It even had a maid's flat should they need more room.

"This is perfect, Joseph. The kids won't need this much space, but you can stay here too when you or any of your people need to be in Grenada, and the other kids and Reagan and I can visit and stay here when we need to."

The additional three bedrooms loomed heavy on his mind and he agreed that it was perfect. He negotiated a little and signed the contract that afternoon. The house was completely furnished and only needed supplies and domestic help to be ready to be occupied right away.

George was contacted and given instructions. "I'll make the arrangements right away." His usual answer didn't surprise them.

It so happened that George's family extended to Grenada as well and he was able to locate suitable people for the positions of maid, cook and gardener. They agreed to report for work the following week.