Part 2: The Independence Day Sermon of Jasper Theriot

They made it back to the square with a dozen barrels of sweet wine and corn whiskey. Some powerful fireworks. Some drugs and pharmacy items. The captain also donated some tools and textiles to the town, mostly linens and baskets, some mosquito repellent, freon, a few guns, motors, basic items they could keep or trade.

“Any trouble?” asked Mr. Rex.

“Just tardiness” replied Andre.

“Why did he say he was late?”

“Said he fought some picaroons at Old Delta.”

“He get any?”

“A few. He said they could tell something was up. Probably felt the pressure in their ears. He also said some fellas from Empire came up to the boat looking to trade some old nets and machine parts.”

“What did they look like?”

“Skin and bones.”

“And the town?”

“Said it was smaller. Some of the out buildings sunk a little more. Nobody living in them anymore. No women or kids. A few old men and less of them than last time.”

Rex thought for a second. Empire was his first camp in the free country. Back before he was appointed the title of Mr. Rex in Care Forgot. Even though he wasn’t born there. Nobody cared that he about that. What they cared most for was wits and soul and he was full f both. Most in the settlement now were dissidents rather than natives. Gave up on the other side and settled themselves instead of the land.

Rex was familiar with the drillers down there. They sustained themselves on fishing, farming, trapping and trade from their long levied islands. Since he went North the farms had gone from flooding every Summer and Spring to flooding all the time. And the stubborn people sdown there either scattered or suffered. So much animosity had built up between them and the real country that staying was the only option they felt they had.

“Ghosts,” Mr. Rex said. “…after all they have seen. After what they have gone through. It’s man against God down there now. Their levees are undermined and breaking apart. Their houseboats floating away. They are ghosts and perhaps soon we will be too.”

Andre knew Rex meant the storm. All the instruments and the satellite feeds suggested a surge higher than the levees, pushing up the old dead river, over the levees and, into the fortification.

“It’s Independence day chief. Let’s have a drink” he said.