“OK,” proposed John in a reserved and steady tone. “We need to regroup and learn from what happened here. This is only the beginning, I’m afraid.”
At the Ranch, people were muddling about after hearing the gunshots. Some thought it was just some hunters, but others knew it was the start of their new life.
Mac had just got the water pump to start up when he heard the shots. “The Lord giveth and taketh away,” he said as he flipped the switch to power on the pump. It started up like it had just been turned off yesterday. “Take that, you Commie bastards!” he shouted.
Sharon headed down to the Pavilion with Karl and tried to calm the group down. She told them not to speculate until we heard some news. Some were crying, others angry, and some looked bored.
She looked up to see John and Bill walking up the road. “Where’s the fire truck?” she asked. “It’s best to leave it there for now,” replied Bill.
“Let’s get everyone together for a meeting,” John said to all within earshot. “We will meet here at the Pavilion in one hour… This meeting is mandatory,” he added.
Samuel passed right by the Ranch to deliver the bad news to his people.
In exactly an hour John stood atop the balcony of the Pavilion, overlooking the lily pond and all of his people. “Thank you all for being here,” he announced in a loud commanding voice. “Is anyone missing?”
“No Sir. All are accounted for except for a few of the old-timers who have trouble getting around,” came a shout from the back.
“OK, then let’s begin.
“As many of you no doubt heard, there were gunshots at the southern end of our Valley a few hours ago. There were multiple casualties on both sides and we lost Leonard and two of Samuel’s men from down the Valley. Leonard was brave, served his group, and he will be missed. He was not married and had no children, as did the two men Samuel lost today.
“This is the start. This is the first blood. Mark my words, there will be more.
“It is time we all prepare for what’s coming. There will be fights, and maybe even a war, on our soil and we must defend our community and our Valley. God is with us and in Him we can trust.
“This carnage will not last forever but must be dealt with over the next weeks and months.
“We will protect our women and children at all costs. If there is anyone who is not ready to defend this Valley with their blood, step forward now.”
To John’s surprise several men stepped forward. One spoke for the rest as their families gathered around. One of the men spoke. “We mean no disrespect, but we have agreed to take our families into the mountains to wait this crisis out. We feel that staying here will make us a target and we would like to leave with your blessing.”
“Anyone else?” asked John, with a kind, compassionate tone. No one else came forward.
“OK, then let it be, but do not come back here if you don’t like what you find out there.
“There will be a shift change in two days,” he added.
* * * * * * *
Chapter Thirteen ~ McKinney, Texas
Joy had been monitoring the radios, sharing the task with two other women from the neighborhood, each on eight-hour shifts. Mostly there was nothing but some faint chatter of what sounded like amateur radio men trying to connect with other radio operators.
Today was different. At exactly 12 noon, according to the broadcast, there was to be an announcement by the Vice President…
“This is Joe Biden, your Vice President of these United States,” he said. “Quiet!” yelled Joy to the others in the room. “It’s the Vice President.”
He continued: “As my fellow Americans must have assuredly realized by now, things in our great land have changed.
“Our great country was attacked by North Korea, using a high-altitude, low-yield nuclear bomb dropped from a satellite over the central part of the U.S., specifically over central Kansas.
“This attack was a small nuclear bomb that produced something called an EMP, or electromagnetic pulse, that disabled each of our three electric grids. To be clear, there is no electricity in 49 of our 50 states. Hawaii has thus far been spared due to its geographic location.
“We are working closely with FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security to provide aid to as many of our citizens as possible over the next days, weeks, and possibly months.
“As our law enforcement has been without vital recourse since the event, our President is declaring Martial Law, effective immediately in all 49 states affected by this act of war.
“We have reached out to our allies for humanitarian aid and military support and are awaiting ships with supplies in the next days and weeks.
“Our adversary responsible for this ruthless attack will be dealt with accordingly in the coming days.
“The President and his family are safe and our Government is intact. He will address the nation in the next few days. We hope to have this remedied as soon as possible.
“We strongly advise that each citizen bond with their families and neighbors during this crisis. Those who are seeking to cause harm or take advantage of another citizen will be dealt with harshly when power is restored.
“We are all in this together and we will overcome and prosper once again.
“God bless you and God bless the United States of America.”
“Bullshit” came the response from a few of the neighbors around Joy. “Hey!” she yelled. “Not around the children!”
“Sorry,” came a few voices back, “but this is complete cra… I mean, it’s just not true.”
“Let’s discuss this outside on the back porch,” suggested Joy.
When most of the adults gathered outside Joy started. “OK, this radio announcement is really what we already know. It’s not a shock that North Korea used an EMP against us. We all watched the missile tests over the past few years, where they were shot straight up in the sky at 300 miles before they were detonated, and CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and even occasionally Fox News called them failed tests. Three hundred miles straight up is the exact elevation for a ballistic missile armed with a small nuke used to deliver an EMP. They just made it easier apparently and dropped it right off a satellite.
“Kim Jong Un has been preparing for years in the open to do exactly what he did. That is why Lance and I started preparing a few years ago for this very scenario.”
“Why didn’t they tell us?” asked a lady from down the street.
“They did in their subtle way,” replied Joy. “Most people just didn’t want to believe it. I can guarantee you it was not a shock for Vice President Biden or President Obama. They of course are safe in one of their many underground bunkers, as well as the Congress, Senate and their families.
“We are on our own, for a while at least, like it or not.”
Ringo sighed loudly and got a few laughs from the group. “We can learn from Ringo,” Joy quipped. “Just keep everything simple and move forward.”
“I hope the guys are OK,” said Lonnie’s wife to no one in particular. “I’m sure they are fine,” replied Joy. “They are on an important venture that will change our future if they can complete it. We are going to need all the help we can get to make it safely to Colorado. Let’s pray for our guys.”
Without hesitation she spoke:
Dear Lord, thank you for keeping us safe during this difficult time. We ask you to watch over the men in our group heading to Plano now. We ask that you watch over all of us and help us to make good decisions in the coming days.
Please, Lord, bring our men home safe and help them to fulfill their mission, so that we may carry on your will in this new world.
In your name we pray. Amen.
“Amen,” came a chorus from the group.
“OK, let’s get lunch!”
* * * * * * *
Chapter Fourteen ~ McKinney, Texas
We got an early start to Plano at 10:30.
We decided that Lonnie would drive, since
he had driven a police car for years and was good at maneuvering when he had to.
Steve wanted to ride up front since it was his truck. That left Mike, Jake and me to ride in the bed of the old truck with no shocks. It was going to be a bumpy ride for sure.
We agreed to keep the speed to a minimum to avoid an ambush or any other surprises along the way. At 10-20 miles per hour, we could be in Plano in an hour if all went well.
Between the five of us we had Lonnie’s two shotguns, three AR15s (all in the back), and everyone had 9mms or a 40 Caliber pistol.
Lonnie took a right out of our neighborhood and it was peacefully quiet. My mind wandered off to the little girls we had saved on our way home. I had promised them we would try to find their mother and father, but we couldn’t get enough information to know where to start. I told Jake to keep an eye out for the car we pulled them out of, since it would be on our way. I wanted to see if my note to their mom was still there.
“Eyes all around, guys,” yelled Lonnie from the cab. “It’s just too quiet out here,” he added.
We were steady at 15 miles per hour according to the speedometer, which I could see through the back window.
“Hear that?” Mike asked me. A buzzing sound was coming from a ways off to the east. “Yeah,” I acknowledged. “Sounds like a plane or helicopter.” The sound was getting steadily louder as a red biplane came across the sky, flying low and slow.
“What do you think, guys?” Jake asked. “Is it a threat?”
“I doubt it,” I replied, “but we want to be careful.”
“Man, I wish we all had a big plane. We could be in Colorado in less than a day!” exclaimed Jake.
The plane was headed straight in our direction and was getting closer.
“About a mile out,” yelled Mike, “and coming straight in.” Just as he said that, the plane made a sharp right turn just before automatic gun fire erupted just below it.
Lonnie slammed on the brakes, and we all watched as the plane was riddled with bullets no more than 800 yards ahead. The pilot was trying to straighten the plane but was not able to straighten out the turn. Fire and smoke were coming off the back as it fell to the ground.
“That’s why we can’t take a plane,” exclaimed Mike.
“Well shit!” announced Lonnie. “We need to take a detour before those shooters spot us!”
“Get off over there on the left,” I called from the back. “There’s a farm road through the fields I used to ride my dirt bike on last year. It goes for about four miles right through the middle of the city. We need to keep an eye out for farmers, though. But it should be safer than the highway.”
Lonnie hit the dirt road without a reply. He slowed the speed to ten miles an hour down the deserted farm road. Everyone kept their eyes open, scanning in all directions.
A couple of farm dogs popped out of the field and flanked the truck. “Up ahead!” yelled Lonnie. “Looks like some kind of roadblock.”
“Just slow way down,” I yelled into the cab, “but don’t turn around.”
I could see the problem up ahead. The road was blocked by three large tractors and there were a few guys with rifles behind them.
“Stop here,” I yelled to Lonnie when we were about 100 yards out.
“Jake, you come with me,” I called to the group. “We need to go up unarmed with our hands held out. You guys cover us. And if it goes bad, get the hell out of here. There are too many people back at the house that can’t afford to lose all of us.”
Jake and I walked up slow, being careful not to make any sudden movements.
The men behind the tractors were in better view now. “I count six men with two kids,” I whispered to Jake.
“Yep, that’s what I got,” he added. “All armed and serious.”
“Hello,” I called out when we were in shouting distance. “We are unarmed and are not looking for any trouble here. We’re just passing through.”
The men behind the tractors didn’t say a word.
“Well shit,” I told Jake in a low voice. “What now?”
“Let’s just keep moving and hopefully they don’t shoot,” Jake replied.
“That’s far enough,” yelled one of the men, appearing to be some kind of leader.
Jake and I stopped and three of the men began walking toward us, guns pointed just over our heads.
As they approached, the lead man appeared to be in his late 60s or early 70s. His tan, wrinkled skin and stern jaw reminded me of that movie with Billy Crystal called City Slickers… The main cowboy, Curly, played by Jack Palance, could have been this guy’s brother. It was clear people didn’t fuck with this man.
“Name’s Jessup and you’re on my property.”
I knew we were technically on a county road owned by the state but thought it may be best not to point that out now.
“Hello, Jessup,” I said. “I’m Lance and this is Jake. We’re just passing through and we’re not looking for any kind of trouble.”
“Well that’s too bad! You found trouble, all right,” yelled another man from behind the tractor.
“Shut up, Barry,” barked Jessup, without turning around. “Damn son-in-law don’t have a lot of sense,” he confided in a low voice.
“Why are you boys out here and how many are in the truck?” he asked. “We’re headed to Plano,” I stated, not wanting to go into more detail than I had to.
“There are a few guys back in the truck. We got detoured out on the highway. There was an incident with a plane…”
“I saw,” said Jessup. “That wasn’t you guys done that, was it?”
“No Sir, we just didn’t want to stick around on the road is all.”
“Yeah, I don’t guess as I blame you. There was a bit of gunfire before that thing went down.”
“Do you know what’s going on, Mr. Jessup?” I hoped that was his last name, not wanting to be rude.
“Well, I suppose I do,” he confessed. “We’ve been preparing for an EMP since the early 50s, but back then this here ranch was quite a ways out of town. Now we’re surrounded by apartment complexes, freeways and damn Walmarts… It won’t be long, I reckon, until we’re overrun by the city folk trying to get out of Dodge.”
“I understand,” I sympathized, still not wanting to say too much. “We’re a small but growing group trying to head west to the mountains before things get really bad.”
“You men have anything to trade?” asked Jessup. “We have a fair bit of freeze-dried meat and vegetables, as well as some homegrown honey.”
“We may. Can I ask what you are looking for?” Jake asked. “Well, we’re a bit short on rifles and ammo,” said Jessup. “I think we are going to have a hell of a fight on our hands soon enough, just to keep what we do have.”
I liked this old farmer and didn’t see any bullshit from him. “We’re headed into Plano to try and secure more firearms and ammo. I think it’s clear we may have a bit of trouble getting there. You have anything still running around here?”
“Ha,” he laughed, followed by a cough typical of a lifelong smoker. “We got seven tractors right now running perfect, and plenty of fuel. We can clear a road block in about five minutes, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Can you give us a minute to talk it over with our friends in the truck?”
“Sure. I’ll be right here,” he replied.
As we turned to walk back to the truck, Barry yelled out, “Yeah, you better run, pussies.”
“Sorry about that idiot,” confided Jessup. “Never understood what my daughter saw in him.”
We talked it over with Lonnie and the rest of the guys. We all agreed we needed some more muscle power to get to Lonnie’s friend’s shop.
“Let’s make a deal for protection and their goods they have offered, in exchange for some guns and ammo,” I suggested.
“What if my buddy’s not there or they don’t want to come,” asked Lonnie.
“I’ll see what we can negotiate,” I replied. Jake and
I walked back up to where Jessup was standing, still by himself.
“OK,” I began, wanting to shoot straight. “We need your help. We are heading to my buddy’s friend’s gun shop in Plano. We are hoping he will join our group and bring his inventory with him.
“If you help us get there, we will trade fairly a small amount of what he has for a small amount of what you have, plus the protection to and from Plano. If he is not agreeable, then this is a wash for all of us. In that scenario I would be willing to give you two AR-15s with 200 rounds of .223 ammo for your protection and trouble.”
Next World Series (Vol. 1): Families First Page 14