Jesse closed the door quietly behind his son, and waved Seth to the chair before the desk. As he circled the desk and took a seat himself, he could feel the tension in the air. He paused thoughtfully before speaking.
"Seth, today is the occasion of your fifteenth birthday, and our traditions speak to us that today you are reaching manhood. For five generations now father has spoken to child in exactly these words, and now I am fulfilling my duty to you and to my country, God keep her safe."
Seth forced himself to breathe normally. He had already known the opening words to his traditional coming-of-age message from the talk of older friends, but from here forward the message, while following certain guidelines, would be personal, from father to son.
"First, and most importantly," Jesse went on, "I want you to know how proud I am to be able to call you my son. I’ve never been good at showing my feelings. Your mother, God rest her soul, knew how much I loved you and your brothers and sisters, and told you for me, but on this occasion I have to tell you myself. I love you, Seth, I always have and I always will."
Jesse stopped to blink back a glistening in his eyes, and Seth found himself doing the same. They smiled at each other.
"Thanks, dad," Seth said softly, "I love you, too."
"Seth, the occasion of your fifteenth birthday calls for the traditional oral history of how our country came to this state. Some of what I’m to relate to you, you will have already heard, some will be new. You may ask any questions you like, some I’ll be able to answer, some not. From now forward your life will be shaped by how you respond to what you hear from me today."
"Many years ago our great land was known as the United States of America. This nation reigned over a vast period of time and area and did a great deal of good. Unfortunately, as you will find out in much greater detail in the future, bad decisions were made by the populace of that time, and the nation eventually ground down into collapse. For decades this nation barely eked out subsistence, and the rest of the world fared no better. One day long ago one man stepped in and made a difference."
"Brian MacLeod came of age in a time almost primitive compared to the living we enjoy today. Between oral histories similar to this and written records he found close to his hometown, Brian had a vision of what this nation could again become. Slowly, and at first by himself, he began to bring this vision to life."
"He began traveling about the country on horseback, working out his living from town to town, observing and listening and learning. In every town he sought out those men and women respected by everyone as honest and fair and God-fearing. These men and women settled local disputes and reasoned out clashes between neighbors. He’d talk with these people, and in turn they would both teach and learn from him. He found common threads of ideas that bound these people who didn’t even know each other."
"He collected books and pictures where he could find them, and sent these treasures with messengers back to his hometown to await his return. Most were given to him by these same respected men and women when he shared his vision with them."
"It was during this period he was attacked by highwaymen, robbed, and beaten almost to death. This incident prompted his study of weapons, self-defense and military strategies that is legendary, and what, in the minds of criminals, is the most fearsome aspect of the MacLeods today."
"When Brian returned to his hometown, with some twenty men and women he had enlisted from across the country, he created an organization he called ‘MacLeod’s Law School’ - we just call the graduates ‘MacLeods.’ Their charter was to bring civilization back to the land, and to create a professional community of ethical law that would be respected from border to border, and eventually beyond."
"You’ve heard men say ‘Don’t touch a MacLeod.’ I’m going to tell you now what prompts that warning, and you will tell no one else until the time comes to pass the message along to your own children."
Seth was all ears. He had indeed heard the warning, and knew the story behind it was a tightly guarded secret. Apparently all adults knew it, and learning the story was very much a part of the passage to manhood.
"Some time ago, many miles from here, fifty criminals, men and women both, took over a town and set it up as their own. They ran off most of the townspeople and killed those who resisted, but there weren’t many who chose to stay and die. The band used this town as a base from which to raid the countryside."
"The MacLeods numbered about three hundred then, and were educated in all aspects of the law and ethics. Three of the MacLeods rode into town, under a white flag of peace, to try to persuade the criminals to disassemble and move on separately. The three men were tortured for hours and then killed."
Jesse paused while Seth swallowed at the enormity of the crime. Seth could not remember any incident like this happening in his lifetime. Jesse continued.
"There have been no more incidents like that because of what happened next," Jesse said, anticipating Seth’s thoughts.
"Three days after the MacLeods were reported killed, Brian’s troop went into action. Under cover of darkness, ten MacLeods slipped into town and slit the throats of every man and woman there. The next morning, at both ends of town, the road was lined with poles sporting the heads of all fifty criminals who had been living there just the day before."
Jesse smiled wryly at the look on Seth’s face.
"We know there were ten MacLeods because they tell us there were ten MacLeods. Every MacLeod knows the names of the ten men who revenged their comrades, but only the MacLeods know who they were. That incident is what the warning is all about, and is why criminals head the other direction when a MacLeod rides into town."
Jesse let Seth digest this story before he continued his narrative.
"Now, son, you’re aware the MacLeods stand for far more than just bloodthirsty revenge. It was Brian’s intent all along to create a reputation for the MacLeods. The MacLeods were to be known as a civilizing influence. Any and all questions of law can be taken to a MacLeod for a hearing, and both sides of any dispute know they’ll be treated fairly. Every MacLeod commits to the highest standard of ethics and integrity, and will do all in his power, even to his death, to stand for and uphold that reputation. Both men and women are recruited to the organization, and then the teaching, training and testing begins."
"This schooling takes place at the MacLeod compound, three hundred fifty miles west of here. You’re aware of the place?"
Seth nodded. Everyone knew where the MacLeods called home, even when they lived in the towns.
"No one knows exactly how many MacLeods there are, except for themselves, of course," Jesse continued. "It’s just a guess, but I believe there are still less than a thousand in the whole country. Their growth is very small, and for a very good reason."
Seth found himself leaning forward in anticipation.
"Brian himself set up the selection process, and the MacLeods themselves, in all of their ethics and integrity, have found no reason to change it. Every year, local civic leaders select the best and brightest from their towns. The MacLeods compile a list from each town’s names, and begin to look over each prospective candidate in secret. From these candidates all over the country, only two hundred men and women are selected. These men and women are invited to come to the MacLeod academy."
This was all news to Seth. Until now he had no inkling of how the MacLeods recruited their new members.
"Difficult doesn’t begin to describe the training. Physical, mental and spiritual exercises are pounded into the recruits. Make no mistake about it, the five years spent in MacLeod training are grueling. The curriculum includes ethics and the law, medicine, philosophy, military training, intense Bible study and prayer, even agricultural and industrial training. Fortunately, the initial selection process, for the most part, prevents the invitation of someone who will not accomplish the training as required. This does not, however, result in the group of two hundred swelling the ranks of the MacLeods."
Seth straightened in his seat.
"All two hundred don’t make it?" he asked.
"No," his father replied, "there is another screening. The plan all along is to take into membership only the top five per cent of the class, ten men and women. No matter how good they are, one hundred ninety men and women will return to the outside world."
"That’s it? That’s all they get for their five years?" Seth asked.
"No, not by a long shot," Jesse replied. "Those men and women get to take the benefits of their training back to their home towns. They become the most able administrators, the best leaders, the most successful businessmen, the most effective teachers. They excel at the tasks they take up because they have the highest vision of what a man or woman can achieve when they follow the right path. Governor Lake, our own Mayor Thompson, and some of your teachers have gone through the MacLeod training, and you know how well respected they are."
Seth nodded.
Jesse looked him in the eye.
"Governor Lake came to see me yesterday. It’s been over twenty years since a young man or woman has been selected from our town to go to the MacLeod school. Until now."
