Parchman, стр. 43

‘Rose?’ he said.

‘No, it’s me, Logan,’ said Logan, walking through the door.

‘Did you see anyone out in the corridor?’ said Nathaniel.

‘No. Why?’ said Logan to his father.

‘No reason.’CHAPTER NINETEEN

As each day passed more and more of the community arrived at the prison,having been collected using the prison vehicles, along with a lotof Jackal’shelp and supplies. Most were on the edge of starvation, but thankfully witha decent meal in their stomachs the damage was short lived.

Logan and the others made the journey back and forth from the prison untileveryone was safely housed at Parchman. At first the community who were hungry and tired were unsure about joining the inmates, having nevermet them before. But having heard the stories of the fight against theCommander General they soon warmed to them. How could they not? Theinmates had long left behind their former lives and in fact both groups hadmore in common than they first thought.

Hod’s small group who had escaped the clutches of Renouf were adifferent bag altogether. Having been in captivity for as long as they hadthey were even more nervous of these tattooed and surly ex-prisoners. Thetransition was ongoing, but they were happy to follow Hod wherever hewent whether he liked it or not. Quite often Hod would try to find somesmall hiding place to get drunk only to be joined by one, two, three thenall of Renouf’s escapees. But underneath it all he quite liked the idolizationand before long he welcomed their company. Most were youngsters andhe enjoyed being the father figure and giving them advice.

Everyone pitched in with ensuring the prison was restored to how it wasbefore the fighting began. The bodies of the fallen were collected andburied along with the soldiers they had fought against. Logan had insistedon this as the soldiers were also victims of the Commander General.

Logan and his father stood looking at the mass of graves outside the prison.How many people had died as a result of the Commander General theythought?Nathaniel put a hand on Logan’s shoulder. The rest of the community slowly joined the pair of them. Chuck, Xander, Scott and Sethcame to support their friend who had led them to victory, albeit at the costof hundreds of lives.

The remaining inmates burnt paper ornaments as a mark of respect to IsaacMendez and Professor Clarence Brittle, the men who not only helped toreinvent the prison but died saving it as well.Jackal’s gang gave hiscomrades the kind of sendoff only Jackal knew how with copious amountsof alcohol.

Nathaniel stepped forward. ‘This world, in whatever state, is much biggerthan any of us. Not one man can make a decision so important that it should affect another to the point of war. Talking, compromise, forgiveness,’ helooked to McGregor. ‘These are all traits that we must now embrace in thisnew world order. We must band together to make life, not what it was, butwhat it will be. Together.’

Tallulah stepped forward and joined Nathaniel. ‘We say a prayer for thoseburied before us who are no longer with us in this life. They didn’t fightfor survival. They fought to preserve the life that others had given them asa gift. They still look over us, protecting us, even now. They have earnttheir place in the afterlife by making the choice to give their lives forsomething bigger than them.’

Logan stepped forward. ‘Bravery.’

‘Friendship,’ said Scott and Seth together.

‘Sacrifice,’ said Hod.

‘Trust,’ said McGregor, looking at Tallulah.

‘Before we say goodbye to our comrades, our amigos, friends, family, wehave a decision to make before we move forward,’ said Logan. ‘With theProfessor and Isaac gone we need to put a structure in place to ensure thatwe can continue what they started.’

Jose stepped forward. ‘Logan, what you have done for us. We cannot repayyou. We are all aware that we never chose to come to Parchman by choice,but we did chose to stay here to follow Clarence and Isaac. They saw inyou something that we all saw when you first broke intoour home,’ helaughed. ‘But more so when you and your friends chose to stay and fightto save our home even when your own family were in danger. We oweyou our lives and our gratitude for that. It is true that we looked up toClarence and Isaac as our leaders and mentors, but they knew when theysacrificed their own lives that they were leaving us in good hands. In yourhands Logan. I speak on behalf of everyone from Parchman,’ he looked toHod, who nodded approvingly. ‘We would like you to lead us into thefuture. We want you to take over Parchman.’

Embarrassed,Logan stepped forward and clasped Jose’s outstretched handin his. ‘Thank you my friend. After such a speech I cannot refuse youroffer, but I will not do this alone. Jose, you will speak for Parchman alongwith Hod. My father And Tallulah will hold court for the community.Jackal, you will always have a home here with your family and as long asyou do you will have a place on this board.’

Tallulah took Logan’s hand. ‘Now we celebrate the future that thesefriends gave their lives for. Please head inside the prison where we will alleat together as a community and as a family.’

The people turned and headed back to where a veritable feast was waitingfor them, but Logan, Tallulah and Nathaniel hung back with McGregorand Jackal.

‘Well said,’ said McGregor. ‘I think this “community” is going to doalright with you at the helm.’

‘You’re not staying?’ Tallulah replied.

‘I think I wore out my welcome a long time ago,’ he said, looking atNathaniel. ‘Thank you Tallulah. Thankyou for trusting me when I wasn’tsure I trusted myself.’ He looked back to Logan and Nathaniel Mathers.‘I’m truly sorry