Jon Smith

by Richard Proctor

  “Is this whole ordeal ever going to go our way? He then smiled as he thought about the devious card he was about to play. Yes it may yet.

  Several hours later a relief squad with some medics arrived at the blown out warehouse site, only to find two burned out APCs and the remains of what had been twenty troopers. News of this ordeal was never given to the urban people and the loss of the troopers was ultimately reported to their families that they died in the bloody cause in Africa.

  Chapter 13

  Jon, Chris and Amanda were in the library relaxing and reading. Jon looked over at his children and began to think that he was quite proud of them. They were busy pouring over books and truly learning or at least enjoying. Amanda was still finishing up Tarzan of the Apes and Chris had decided that he needed to understand his father’s love of his favorite book. One day Chris had asked his father about the Lord of the Rings and had wondered if he could begin the story.

  “Son, to begin you have to start with another book called The Hobbit.” said Jon

  So it was that Chris began to read the first of JRR Tolkien’s classics.

  Catherine was in the bedroom relaxing on the bed enjoying a cup of tea. While her condition had not worsened, she did not seem to be able to sustain much of the day and was forced to spend several times a day resting. Jon tended to all of her needs and as such she was at least comforted.

  It was this day that the peace of the Smith house was interrupted. At once a truck pulled up and soon there was a knock at the door. Jon opened the door to see Riley and Angus standing there with a strange look on their face.

  “Well come on in travelers, what brings you to our homely house?” said Jon.

  Riley did not have a smile on his face but at once began to speak.

  “Jon, turn on that I and see what is going on. Angus was looking to try to catch some news and boy did he ever.”

  At this point Chris and Amanda came in.

  “What is going on Angus?” asked Chris.

  “Get the I up and you will see.” said Angus.

  Chris powered up the PC and began to go through the steps to get the I up when there was another knock at the door. Jon opened the door to see Doc standing there.

  “Doc seems a busy day, what brings you here?” said Jon.

  “I thought it best that I check in on you and uh.”

  “What, what is wrong.” said Jon.

  “Well I tried to raise Dick and I can’t get him to answer. I think something is wrong.”

  “You bet something is wrong, just watch.” said Riley.

  Jon settled down in a chair to watch the screen of the PC as Chris brought it on line. The I channel was brought up and it began to talk about on going news in regards to productivity and consumer satisfaction.

  “Ok, so what is the big deal? Seems more socialist drivel from the bureaucracy.” said Jon.

  “Hold on, it will come up.” said Riley.

  Then at once the story changed and a correspondent came on.

  “The continued exercise of the government is producing results when it comes to the stopping of the outlier black market economy. Governor Tarl, what do you think is the loss that our Socio economic society suffers from this?”

  “I believe it is in the millions. The fact is we cannot have a separate group of peoples that do not adhere to our common goals. It is the duty of all citizens of the world to contribute to our cause. To that effect I have brought in military help to set up road blocks to shut down this illegal trade. It is vital that we bring all of this to a halt and stop these people in order to continue our plans for social justice and equality.”

  “As it happens, this reporter was embedded with a group that was manning a road block that ran into just such a situation. As we hailed this vehicle to stop, the passenger popped out of the top of this militia vehicle and began to fire on our brave troopers. As you can see from the video our excellent troops returned fire and in the end took out the vehicle and terminated the felons. We got a chance to look at the cargo and it was filled with contraband food and clothing. What was most interesting was a package that appeared to be filled with drugs.”

  “Yes, we intercepted this package and it seemed to have outlawed drugs from old Mexico.” said Governor Tarl.

  Jon gripped the sides of the chair he was in and began to show a rising degree of concern. Doc looked over in his direction fearful of what this could be.

  “The package had an address on it which we later sent a group to investigate but we will get to that in a minute. The package was intended for a person with the initials J.S. We now believe that this was drugs intended for a Mr. Jon Smith.”

  The screen then showed the picture of Jon when he was taken on surveillance in the city when getting Catherine.

  “We believe this man to be the leader of an outlier separatist group that was responsible for blowing up a security headquarters and killing over thirty men.”

  Jon was visibly shaken with this. He knew that the package was the drugs for Catherine and with the loss of them he lost any hope of saving her. As he welled in anger he stood up and stormed to the back of the house and then outside on the back porch. Between the anger tears welled in his eyes and he felt a rage rise within him. Jon was for the most part a calm man but when he was angered he was the type of man you would avoid.

  Doc came out on the back porch and stopped a moment. He watched Jon to make sure that he was ok and then began to speak.

  “Now Jon, that was bad and I don’t know what to do from here but just remember though, there were no guarantees that the drugs would work.” said Doc.

  “I know Doc, but at least it gave us a chance. Now we don’t have any chance and Catherine is going to die.”

  Doc came over and put his hand on Jon’s shoulder.

  “Yes, she might but you must continue on. You are the rock for all of us.” said Doc.

  Jon stared off toward the woods as the late afternoon sun reflected off the snow. He began to think of hunting and the joy it always brought him to be in the woods. The peace and serenity of the forest while he was out in it was a moment that calmed Jon.

  “What I can’t understand Jon is why is the New Order so cruel. I mean they are supposed to be some peace loving socialist group.” said Doc

  Returning to the political thought, Jon had the clear answer.

  “Doc, they are politicians and as such all that is important to them is power. They also believe that they are so much smarter than everyone else that they can’t stand people like us. People like us are free thinkers that do not conform like the rest of the cattle there in those urban prisons. Years ago the politicians stopped listening to the people and it has only gotten worse.”

  “Well I am glad we don’t live in that world.” said Doc.

  “Don’t we though? Isn’t the peaceful world we tried to create now being influenced by those people? Doc, if these road blocks continue we will not be able to survive here. Yes we can provide meat but without other food stuffs we will starve. Fact is I am not really sure why the New Order is planning some kind of military action against us as all they really need to do is blockade us until we starve.”

  “Jon, I think you are right. I didn’t think about that as these years we have just always assumed the trade would continue.”

  The late afternoon sun began to fade and though spring was approaching, the cold was still present. Jon looked over toward the fireplace and decided it was time for an outdoor fire and a drink. The pleasure of those things always brought comfort to Jon and right now he needed that.

  “Doc, I am going to get us a fire going and get something to drink. What would you like?”

  Doc promptly replied. “How about a beer?”

  “Ok, and why don’t you stay over for dinner? I will ask Riley and Angus as well. I think it might be a good night for little get toget
her.”

  Jon went into the house and announced his plans to all. Riley and Angus were glad for the invitation and along with Chris came out to the back to enjoy the warm fire and libations. Amanda and Catherine joined as well. Catherine sat in a chair close to the fire, wrapped in blankets and enjoyed a glass of red wine. For some reason this day she felt stronger than she had the last few and she relished in the moment. As the fire cheered the group and the effects of the drink made its way into them the conversation turned to happier times. Riley began a story of when they all first came to the valley.

  “Yea, I remember there weren’t a lot of us here. Doc, the Johnson’s, and a few more of us were pretty much it. So Jon and Chris show up and we figured Jon was tough and all but he needed some more education in the woods.”

  “Yes going camping and hunting a few times a year in no way gets you prepared for living here full time.” said Jon.

  “But Dad, you all seem to live in a lot of comfort here. I mean the house is very comfortable and warm.” said Amanda.

  “Oh, it seems that way now but the first six months of living here Chris and I lived in a canvas tent. We always had a rifle ready for anything and spent many a day working on this place. Thank goodness for Doc, Mort and Riley for helping us get this place built.” said Jon.

  “And don’t forget Mrs. Johnson for all that wonderful food and pies.” said Chris.

  “Yea, those did keep us going. But you know in the end, all the hard work paid off and now we have a great place to live. It was also a great example of community and that is why as more families moved in we pitched in to get them set up. Self reliance is great but you sometimes need friends to help you through.”

  “Hey Jon, why don’t you go into the city and ask the Grand Governor if he will help you out.” joked Riley.

  Jon had a half smile on his face and shook his head.

  “No, they would demand of me that I fill out some form and then sign up at the local bureau. Then I would have to give up most everything I own and settle for just enough to make me happy. That is what they call Social Justice and equality.”

  “Jon, you always have a great answer for anything political don’t you?” said Catherine.

  “Honey, I was raised with politics and it has never left my blood.”

  Jon began to think back to when he was a boy growing up in the South Eastern part of the country. He thought of dinner time and the discussions around the table. It was always politics or business. The former always seemed to take the primary role since in that part of the country during that time there were really only three topics of discussions, politics, business, or College football. Of course when the group was all men then the discussion was about women. Presently he returned to the current world.

  “Well, it is getting later and we need to get dinner ready. Chris, let’s get some meat out for the fire. Guys, all we have is potatoes, I hope that will do as this time of year we start to run short of greens.” said Jon.

  “Sounds fine” said Doc.

  Forty five minutes later they were all sitting at the table enjoying dinner and continuing conversation. Ten minutes into the meal Catherine put down her fork.

  “If you all will excuse me I am going to the bedroom to lie down for a while.”

  Jon stood up with an anxious look on his face.

  “Anything I can do for you?” asked Doc.

  “No, I am ok, just tired from the day.” said Catherine.

  Catherine headed toward the bedroom and shut the door. She took off her shoes and her clothes and climbed into a warm robe. Pulling back the covers of the bed she crawled in and set her head back on the pillow. She had no appetite and felt extremely tired. Half closing her eyes she began to think of Jon and the kids. The thought brought a smile to her face and then a few tears ran down her cheek. She knew she would miss them.

  The rest of the family and friends continued on with their meal. They were a bit more silent and pensive but still trying to keep the conversation lively.

  “Well, I will tell you that I am looking forward to some warmer weather.” said Riley.

  “Yea, it will be nice to get into some streams and do some fishing.” said Chris.

  Jon looked over at Doc, not wanting to remind them that warmer weather would bring an Urban Storm Trooper force and with it a raging battle.

  “Yep, we are going to be hunting this spring, but unfortunately the prey will be shooting back.” said Jon.

  “Yea, kind of forgot about what is coming.” said Riley.

  “Speaking of that, I think in a day or so we need another muster of the men to go through some more training. Also I think that you guys, Mort and JT and I need to get together to finalize our battle plan.” said Jon.

  “I think you are right. We are not that many weeks away from the roads clearing and we better be ready.” said Doc.

  “Got that right.” said Riley as they all finished up their dinner.

  As the valley quieted down for the evening no one noticed a helicopter, running silent, passing about five miles west of the valley. The pilot had the blades on silent run and was looking for an adequate spot to drop his payload. Circling over a small clearing the chopper hovered and three drop lines came out toward the ground. Then three commandos, dressed in white, repelled down the lines and landed. Following the men came a large gear bag that landed quietly in the field. The three commandos ran toward the bag and retrieved packs, radios, ammunition and their machine guns. Readying their equipment two of the men muttered something in Russian to one another eliciting a response from the commander.

  “Hey you Spetznatz pukes, we are on soil that we speak English on. We may be a World Order but I would prefer the Kings.” said the commander

  “Yes sir”

  The three man group then put on their night vision and headed out toward their first target. The valley of Jon Smith would never be the same.

  Chapter 14

  The elevator opened on the 40th floor of Colonel James’ building. He slowly walked down the hall realizing this would be the last night that he would see his wife and daughter for a while since the Brigade was to prepare for mobilization over the next week and he needed to be with them. Major Jeffers had been adequate in helping with command but James did not trust him and his political aspirations.

  “Men need a military leader, not a political puke to lead.” he muttered as he walked down the hall.

  He opened the door to find Caroline sitting on the coach with a glass of wine, staring at the synthetic fire in the fire place.

  “Well welcome home soldier, can I get you a drink?”

  “You bet you can. In fact I may just drink up our entire supply of wine tonight as I ship with the Brigade tomorrow.”

  “Well I figured so and why don’t you. I also have a big surprise for you.” said Caroline.

  “Surprise, what could it be?”

  “Well I have a few connections and landed some contraband just for you.”

  “Caroline, what?”

  “Well with what you have to do in the next few weeks I don’t see why my soldier cannot enjoy the things that soldiers should. Beyond some really good wine I was able to make connections to get you a real sirloin steak. That is right; you will have real meat tonight. I also got you something else that you used to enjoy that has been banned.”

  Colonel James looked at his wife waiting for the answer.”

  “I managed to get you a fine cigar.”

  “A cigar? But where how?”

  “Don’t you worry, you just enjoy tonight.”

  “Oh you bet I will. But I can’t smoke that thing in here as I am sure a neighbor will turn us in to the health police.”

  “Dear, it is a windy night, after dinner go out on the porch.”

  “Capital suggestion Caroline, capital.”

  The James’ enjo
yed a fine meal of steak and wine and then moved to the outdoors porch. There was a good cold breeze blowing which would dissipate the smoke. The use of tobacco had been eliminated in 2015 with the passing of the final parts of universal health care. The anti tobacco crowd had gotten their way but to there detriment they initially lost all of the tax revenues that had been flowing in from tobacco purchases. When the currency was eliminated a year later and government credits were now the new currency, the need for tax dollars ended as all revenue to the government was obtained directly up front. After that the only tobacco use was by people off the grid and away from the New Order.

  “Well, how is that cigar dear?”

  “Wonderful as I had forgotten how good bad things were.”

  “Well I figured I wouldn’t see you for about a month so I thought I would send you out happy.”

  Colonel James looked toward the mountains as he took a drink of wine and a puff of the cigar. He began again to think that what he was facing in the next few weeks would not make him happy. Fighting a bunch of fellow Americans that maybe right now were enjoying wine and cigars did not bring a smile to his face. He even thought of Jon Smith, a man that the Colonel would probably be friends with in a normal world.

  “You are not looking forward to this job are you Thomas?”

  “No I am not. Caroline, when this is over I want to move from all this and go to Northern New Mexico as we had talked about. I just can’t take this world any more. I just can’t take answering to these bureaucrats and their sniveling ways.”

  Caroline reached out and grabbed her husband’s hand.

  “You just take care of yourself in this last job and then the three of us will leave.”