by A J Newman
Ally replied, “Can you get me a bear rug?” Then she paused and said, “Just kidding.”
We had a group breakfast at 9:00 the next morning, brought Sam’s family up to speed on our recent history and filled them in on what Davi had told us. They told us about what happened after we bugged out and how ruthless Prescott’s black uniformed men were to the local farmers. They also told us that the regular guards and local police tried to treat everyone as well as possible, but disappeared if they crossed the line on enforcing Prescott’s laws.
We planned the mission to rescue Jacob’s family and added more support for the trek to the truck and back. Greg and Ben were both bow hunters, so we added them to the party in case we ran into the wolf pack again. I also filled some spray bottles with a 10 percent ammonia solution to spray around us if we heard the pack in hopes that would drive them off without a fight.
Sally walked up to Mike and me, handed each of us a large container of MACE and said, “I’ll bet this will discourage wild animals.”
I replied, “Damn good idea. They even make “Bear Spray” for hikers to ward off bears. I never thought we’d need this stuff in Kentucky.”
We never saw or heard any humans close by, but did hear a vehicle in the distance towards Highway 54 a couple of times; however, we were hearing wolves, coyotes and perhaps a cougar. I guess it makes sense that animals would take back their natural habitats with 50 percent of mankind dead and gone. Mike even made the point that the animals had a large human feast for months after the shit hit the fan. Dead people were everywhere for over a year. The buzzards and predators got fat and multiplied.
After the encounter with the wolves, Paul set up an archery range and we were all trying to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow. We had a dozen compound bows and several hundred arrows that we might have to depend on for protection and hunting if this catastrophe continued for several years. I urged everyone to practice because I knew that a gunshot could give our hideout away while an arrow was silent death. We would all pack a bow and quiver when outside the hideout in the future unless the plan called for maximum firepower and then only a few would pack bows.
We left the hideout a little after midnight and quickly walked the mile to the trucks. We heard some large animals following us in the brush, but a couple of squirts of the ammonia ran them off.
The plan was for Mike, Paul and I to travel by truck over to Jacob’s place while Greg, Lynn, Ally and Ben waited at the barn to assist us when we arrived back to the hideout.
I left Lynn in charge and gave her orders to watch for both human and animal threats. I told her to use the mace and ammonia to scare off any predators, and only shoot to save their lives.
***
“Hey dumbass, put that cigarette out! That glow can be seen for miles.”
“Stick it up your ass, man. I’m out here playing soldier watching an old man’s house because our dip shit leader thinks that old man is the mastermind of the resistance. That’s a load of horse shit.”
“Look, as long as we keep following orders, we keep our families fed. Where else could we get food?”
“Well, for one we could grow it except Prescott keeps taking the crops away from the farmers. When will the idiot learn that happy farmers are productive farmers?”
“Put that damned cigarette out and stop changing the subject numb nuts.”
“I’m cold, hungry and I need a smoke. Go fuck yourself.”
***
I saw the red glowing dot of a cigarette in the dark as soon as we cleared the tree line about 100 yards away from the men. Lowering my Night Vision Goggles (NVG) I could see the men hiding behind a clump of tall bushes another hundred yards from the rear of Jacob’s place.
We stayed low, made it to within 50 yards of their location and could hear their voices, but we were unable to hear what they were saying.
“Mike, sneak up on them and see what you can learn.”
“Okay General.”
Mike crawled towards them while keeping concealed by staying low and walking in a shallow ravine that ran across the back of Jacob’s property. Mike was about 50 feet from the men when he stopped to watch and listen.
There were three men, and they were arguing about being out in the cold having to watch Jacob’s place. Mike listened for ten minutes, and then headed back to the others.
“Zack, they’re just three Owensville locals drafted into Prescott’s army to keep the county people in line. They hate the work and hate Prescott even more for forcing them to watch an innocent man.”
“Then why are they out in the cold camped out behind Jacob’s house?”
“Because Prescott thinks that Jacob might be one of the leaders of the resistance, and if they don’t camp out behind Jacob’s house their families won’t receive food.
We can sneak Jacob and his family out from the house and the way they’re bitching at each other, they won’t stop bickering long enough to notice.”
I said, “I’ll go down to the road and get closer to the house using the barn to conceal me from the men then crawl across the front yard up to the front door.”
“Sounds like a plan, but I don’t think these guys would notice if you drove up in a firetruck with the lights on and sirens blasting.”
“Key the walkie talkie twice if something changes. Like maybe, they actually start watching the house. Only talk if you think the mission is in danger. As we’ve seen here, voices travel a long way.”
I went back about 50 yards towards the tree line and positioned the barn between the men and me for as long as I could. When I had to leave the security of hiding behind the barn, I noticed that if I stayed low I couldn’t see the men’s position so they couldn’t see me.
I was only a few feet from the front door when I saw the movement in the front room. Now my problem was how I get the person’s attention without being shot in the process.
The man opened the door, walked out on the porch to the side and relieved himself.
I whispered, “Jacob this is Zack.”
“Zack who?”
“Your friend Zack.”
“Oh, I’m Ira, Jacob’s son. Slowly come out of the shadows with your hands up.”
I complied with his instructions, and he instantly recognized me and lowered his rifle.
“Zack, the whole county thinks you and your family died in the fire.”
“That’s what we wanted them to believe. Wake up your dad. We need to get your family out of here and safely to our hideout.”
We went into the house, Ira walked into his dad’s room and they came back quickly.
Jacob saw me, shook his head and gave me a hug while saying, “We thought you were dead.”
“We made it look like we were dead so Prescott wouldn’t search for us. He tried to kill my family and me earlier that day and had guards watching us for weeks before.”
“How did you get in here? Prescott has men watching us right now.”
“I know. They are back behind the house about a hundred yards.”
“I don’t know about them, but there are two across the road in the trees. They don’t know that we made them the other day.”
“Are they locals or the men in the black uniforms?”
“They have the black uniforms.”
“Damn, then they probably know I’m in here. I need to warn the others. We have a secure hideout with plenty of food and warm housing not far from here.”
I keyed my walkie talkie and said, “There are two more across the street from the house. They are the real deal. Hold while I check them out with my NVGs.”
Mike replied with two clicks.
I peered out the front window and saw a man in the woods facing the house. I watched for a few minutes and saw another man switch positions with him. My only guess was that they didn’t have NVG equipment or they would be attacking us right now.
I keyed my walkie talkie again, and said, “Meet me on the west side of the barn in ten minutes. We have to take th
em out.”
I turned to Jacob and said, “Have your family ready to travel in twenty minutes. We have a truck stashed about a half mile back in the woods then we’ll have to walk another mile when we get closer to our hideout. Travel light.”
I stopped twice to watch the men as I moved back to the barn and could see that they had not spotted us. What the hell, maybe we could pull this off.
I carefully slipped behind the barn to wait for Mike and Paul to arrive. I could still faintly hear the guards behind the house bickering.
Then I heard, “Zack.”
I whispered, “Here, behind the tractor.”
They joined me and I laid my plan on them. Then we moved closer to surveil their position.
Mike said, “It should work, but we need some way to distract them when we have to cross that open spot about 50 yards out from them.”
“I could shoot a couple of arrows over them to fall behind their position. That should make enough noise to distract the guards.”
“Good thinkin’, Paul. How close do you have to be to kill these assholes?”
“I’d like to be within a hundred feet to make sure, but, if they have body armor, I’ll have to go for head shots and would need to be inside 50 feet to have the best chance to hit them.”
“Shit, that’s too close. Mike and I will get close enough to charge in and slit their throats when you fire the arrows over them. Close in and help us if you can.”
“Zack, you don’t have to shelter me from these assholes. I want them dead as much as you do.”
“I know son, but Mike and I have done a lot of this lately. You’re new at this, and if you freeze, we could all die.”
“Okay, I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.”
I smiled and said, “Good man, Paul.”
I patted both on the back and said, “Let’s go.”
Mike and I were stationed on opposite sides of their position only a few feet from them when we heard the arrows arch over their heads. They turned to see what was sneaking up on them when Paul launched another arrow. That was our cue to charge the men and put them down.
I heard a sound of something travelling very fast going past my ear and then heard a thunk sound causing one of the men to fall. There was another swishing sound accompanied by another thunk as the second man fell to the ground.
Mike and I ran and saw them lying on the ground with arrows sticking in the backs of their skull. Both bodies were still twitching on the ground. Their bodies did not yet know they were dead.
Good shootin’, ya’ done good. You scared the shit out of me, but ya’ done good.”
“All right, let’s strip their weapons, ammo and body armor then get the hell out of here.”
I spray painted, PATRIOTS and our symbol on the door as we left.
Jacob’s family marched the half mile to the truck and we made tracks for home.
We were a few hundred yards from the barn when we saw several flashes and gunfire. Our team was under attack.
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Chapter 4
Lions and Tigers and Wolves – Oh My
The pack had 38 members and would add 20 -30 pups in the spring. All of the females were still hunting with the pack since none was pregnant yet.
As winter progressed, the breeding season would start and later the pregnant females would go to their dens to deliver their pups. The females avoid the territorial fights with other packs to deliver in safety.
These wolves had entered Kentucky from Indiana heading south to find game. The readily available human carcasses had dried up by the end of summer so they had to go back to hunting deer and other game. The predator population had grown dramatically as their human predators declined. The availability of human bodies that either were buried improperly, or just left to rot in the sun were now becoming rare.
The pack was hungry, and winter was approaching. This made them extremely dangerous since they no longer feared man and man had become an easily taken food source.
The pack stalked a small group of humans. They hoped to dine well tonight.
***
I left Lynn in charge of the group and cautioned her to make sure they kept on guard for Prescott’s men and any dangerous animals. I warned her to use the mace, ammonia and bows if needed to ward off any predators.
The barn had a large sliding door on each end plus a couple of standard man doors. The sliding door on the north end of the barn had fallen away from the barn leaving it vulnerable.
She posted a guard at each end of the barn and planned to rotate that duty through the night, until the rescue team rejoined them.
Lynn was firm as she posted the guards, “Remember, no smoking or talking, above a whisper. Listen for vehicles and any unusual sounds coming from the woods. We don’t need anyone sneaking up on us.
Greg, you and Ally take the first turn at guard duty. Ben and I will relieve you in half an hour. We’ll rotate every half hour until our team gets back.”
“Yes mom, we chillun will keep a sharp eye out for the lions and tigers and bears.”
“Look Greg, I know you are just joking, but if you do what I tell you to do, every time I tell you to do something, you might just stay alive and maybe help keep the rest of us alive.”
Ben replied, “He’s just having trouble taking orders from a woman. Greg, shut the fuck up, and do what she tells you. She has proven her combat skills, and that is something you have yet to do. Now get your head out of your ass and do as you are told. I’m warning you, she can, and will, kick your ass.”
Realizing that he had just been told the truth, Greg almost whispered, “I apologize, ma’am. I’ll do what I’m told. I know that was stupid. It will never happen again.”
Trying to hide her smile, Lynn said, “Okay, stud, see that it doesn’t, ‘cause he’s right, I can, and will, kick your ass in front of God and everybody if this happens again.”
“Yes, ma’am, I gotcha. Can we move on now?”
“What you think, Ben, you want to add anything else?”
“Oh, hell no.”
Lynn and Ben passed the time by telling their life’s story while eating a couple of sandwiches and guzzling tea.
Ben had served in the Army with two tours in the Middle East. He told Lynn that his brother Greg had never served, but thought he was a tough guy who could handle himself.
“Ben, Greg may be tough, but until a gun is stuck in your face, or you see friends dying around you, you don’t know how you will react.”
“Been there, done that. I was in several firefights with the Taliban and wounded twice. I lost several friends during my last tour. I’ll work with Greg to tone him down and get him to fit in with our team.”
“Thanks, I don’t want him challenging Zack’s authority. It would not end well.”
“Me neither. Zack and the rest of you have saved our asses several times, and my family is grateful for the help. We owe all y’all.”
They continued to take turns on guard duty for several hours. Greg and Ally were on duty when they first heard the soft rustle of grass that signaled that they were being stalked. Ally was the first to catch a glimpse of a shadow crossing between bushes. Before she said a word, Greg saw something lurking in the shadow of the barn in the faint moonlight.
“Lynn, I just saw something out there. It might be a big dog or a deer.”
“Hey, I just saw a shadow about 15 yards away. I don’t like this,” Greg added.
“Spray the ammonia as far as it will stream in all directions.”
Lynn joined Ally and Ben went to his brother’s side.
“Use the mace if you need it, but don’t shoot your guns unless we’re attacked.”
“Lynn, look! I can see several eyes in the bushes. The ammonia isn’t working.”
“Spray some more out there. Animals hate the smell.”
They sprayed most of the ammonia to no avail. Several shadows ran very close to the open doors.
Lynn
said, “Close and lock your door and join us down here. We don’t need to split our forces.”
She no sooner got the words out of her mouth before three large wolves crashed into them.
Ally pulled her bayonet and stabbed the one on top of her, then rolled over and stabbed one that had Lynn’s ankle in its mouth while Lynn wrestled with the third. She had the wolf by his neck doing her best to keep it from biting her face when it went limp and fell off her with an arrow in its back.
“Thanks for killing that big bastard. Get the mace ready. Shit, shoot some out in the air to run these wolves off.”
Before Ally could spray the mace, a dozen wolves charged the door. Ally drew her 9mm and started shooting. The others joined in and killed all, but two that had tackled Greg and Ally. They stabbed the last two wolves and grabbed their ARs to finish off any that continued the attack.
***
We saw the flashes and gunfire just as we were about to pull off the road.
“Mike and Paul, follow me. They are under attack,” I yelled.
We ran to the end of the barn and saw the wolves’ running back into the woods.
Mike called out, “It’s Mike. Are y’all okay? We’re coming around the barn.
Ally replied, “Come on in.”
We came around the other end of the barn to see dead and dying wolves’ lying around the entrance to the barn. Ally ran up, hugged me and held me tightly as she trembled.
“Zack, I know we weren’t supposed to shoot, but the ammonia and mace just pissed them off. They charged the first time and we killed three with our knives and an arrow. There were a dozen in the next charge and they would have over whelmed us. I shot five of the monsters myself.”