The Directives by Joe Nobody Page B

certain?”
    “Yes,” Bishop responded. “I’m as sure about this as I can be of anything in this crazy world. What I didn’t see with my own eyes, I had multiple witness accounts. We’re dealing with a bunch of evil sons-ah-bitches. A group of murdering, out of control bastards.”
    “Well, at least I understand why you lost your temper with the sheriff. What you just told me about the inhumane treatment of these ranchers is about the best justification I’ve ever heard.”
    Bishop frowned, “I didn’t lose my temper, Major. I wasn’t mad at all. The sheriff’s still breathing isn’t he?”
    For a moment, Baxter wondered if all of the stories he’d heard about the Texan were actually true. After the mini-drama he’d just watched, the tall tales were suddenly more believable. Clearing those thoughts from his head, he looked up and asked, “What’s the next move?”
    “Evan thought the plant could produce product with a few weeks of work, some spare parts, and electricity. Depending on how many of his key employees were still alive, he thought it was doable.”
    “And the mayor and his crew?”
    Bishop rubbed his chin, the dilemma obvious. “We’re not invaders, Major. On one hand, we’re nothing to these people. We have no authority or right to stick our noses in. It would be easy enough to arrest the mayor and his lackeys… take them out of circulation. But then what? What if the people side with their leadership? We can’t kill the entire town.”
    “And on the other hand?”
    Bishop chose his words carefully, “On the other hand, I feel a moral authority. There’s right and wrong. We’re Americans, and that sets a precedent for freedom and liberty. What Lew and the banker are doing is wrong.”
    Baxter processed those words for a few moments before responding. “Seems straightforward enough. We have to take down the local leadership. Like you said, it’s doable.”
    Bishop stood and began pacing the room, something still troubling the Texan. “Before we go acting all high and mighty, are we sure? You don’t know how many times I’ve thought things were black and white, only to find several shades of grey in reality. Surviving in a post-apocalyptic world seems to blur the distinction between good and evil even more.”
    “I don’t understand. It all seems pretty cut and dried to me. I just asked if you were sure, and you said ‘Yes.’ Are you changing your mind?”
    Bishop stopped and grinned at his poor choice of words. “Sorry to confuse you, sir. I’m absolutely sure of what Lew and his henchmen have done. What I’m not so certain about is the true depth of the mayor’s crimes. He did feed his people. You could argue that he utilized the available resources to provide greatest benefit to the most needy. Is that really so bad? Would you or I have done anything differently?”
    “So what are you saying, Bishop?”
    “It would be easy for me and a couple of your best shooters to walk over to City Hall, spray down the security and then give Lew and his boys an injection of high velocity lead. A simple enough solution to the problem. But that would make us judge, jury, and executioner. Would we really be any better than the men we are eliminating? From what I’ve heard and seen, we would be acting in the exact same manner, killing off the few so we can help the many. It just doesn’t sit right with me.”
    Baxter was impressed. He’d originally thought Bishop nothing more than a hyped-up country boy. The man’s depth was raising the major’s level of respect.
    “I’ve got it!” Bishop declared. “Instead of killing them outright, we’ll arrest them and hold a trial. A jury of their peers. We’ll even let them have representation like the constitution allows.”
    The major brightened at the concept, relief replacing the ill feelings he was having over the thoughts of ordering his men to kill non-combatant civilians. He then had an even better idea. “A military tribunal! We