by AJ Newman
Bill led a team driving their ATVs, pulling wagons to the pallets, and began breaking the pallets down to be loaded on the wagons. They didn’t bother to check what was in the boxes but concentrated on getting the supplies loaded safely into the bunker. Jerry saw several cases marked High Explosives and was happy while loading those boxes into his wagon. Kate and Jackie lifted together to load their wagon and pushed Colt aside when they saw packages marked LiPo batteries. They tried to lift the heavy boxes but gladly allowed Colt to load the batteries for them.
Tom and Sam watched the team scramble around like kids on Christmas day, trying to see what had arrived without opening the boxes. Tom yelled, “You know if you stop shaking the boxes and trying to read the fine print, we’ll get back home and open the boxes much faster.”
Kate and Jackie gave Tom the bird and kept shaking boxes and reading the fine print. Kate shook a large container and was disgusted. “These three boxes have BDUs in them. BDU must mean clothing.”
Krista looked up from loading and said, “Battledress uniforms are in the boxes. The freaking government must think we want to look good while killing the creeps and thugs.”
Tom had Krista and her ladies perform an inventory of all the items when they arrived at the barn by the bunker. He looked at the list with Gil and Rick. “We didn’t get everything we wanted, but we did get thousands of 9-mm, 5.56, and 7.62. The SAW and the old M60 machine gun will come in handy. Jerry got fifty pounds of C4 and another fifty pounds of Semtex along with several boxes of blasting caps. He’s happy.”
Gil said, “The ten body armor vests with plate carriers are great, but we needed forty of them. I hope Sam can beg for more supplies.”
Tom looked over the supplies. “There must be warehouses full of the stuff with no police to outfit. We need to find the factories and stores that sold the stuff.”
Gil laughed, “That’s a great idea! We also need to find warehouses and manufacturing facilities that made guns and bullets before the lights went out.”
Tom tapped Gil on the shoulder. “I think we have enough firepower now to make it down to California to visit your friend, Eddy.”
Gil asked, “How soon?”
Tom asked, “How soon can you be ready?”
Gil replied, “Let’s choose the team today and leave after dark in three days.”
***
Jackie yelled, “Slow down. There’s a light up ahead that looks a bit wonky.”
Tom took his foot off the accelerator pedal. “Wonky? Is wonky dangerous?”
Tom wore an NVG headset and could drive at normal speeds but decided to stay below forty miles per hour to give more reaction time. Jackie and Kate had flown drones ten miles ahead of the convoy all along the route to the area they expected to find Eddy. There was also at least one drone ahead of the convoy and one behind it at all times.
Jackie replied, “Maybe. Maybe not. Stop. I think we need to send a scouting party ahead to see what the hell is going on up there. It looks like a roadblock.”
Gil had chosen Old Highway 99 to travel to the California border because several massive vehicle pile-ups were on both sides of the California border on Highway 5. The drone surveillance had shown only a few trees had fallen along Old Highway 99. The roadblock wasn’t seen.
Tom called Kate on the radio. “What the heck is up in front of us?”
“We’re looking at that now. The fire just started when you rounded the curve. It appears to be some kind of party. I know it sounds strange, but they’re dancing and appear to be drinking beer.”
“Do they have any weapons?”
Kate replied, “Tom, it’s dark. No one is waving them around. I can’t help you there.”
Tom walked back to Gil and said, “Send a small team up ahead and see why the road is blocked. Kate can’t see any weapons but be careful.”
Gil said, “Careful is my middle name.”
Gil sent Krista and three others to check out the group at the roadblock. They were gone for twenty minutes, and Krista walked back to Tom’s truck. “Tom, you won’t believe what’s up ahead.”
Tom saw the look on Krista’s face. “I won’t attempt to guess.”
Krista said, “It’s a bunch of old hippies roasting a pig and dancing naked in the moonlight. I think they tried to tell me they worship some kind of moon god. I’m not shitting you.”
Gil asked, “Are they dangerous?”
Krista laughed and then giggled. “They’re too high on weed to be dangerous unless you’re a bag of Fritos. We’ll keep our guns ready as you go around their pig. I’d hate to ruin their feast to the moon god.”
The convoy of three vehicles rolled past the celebration and only received peace signs and offers of beer. Tom thanked them for the offer but kept the vehicles moving past the fire pit and roasting hog.
Tom looked over at Colt by the window and his sister sitting in the middle. “It would be nice if all our encounters with folks down here were as peaceful as that was tonight.”
Colt said, “I think you might be dreaming. Thugs, perverts, and criminals were in all cities before the bombs went off. They knew how to outsurvive the law after them and will be hard to eradicate. However, they will be easier to deal with than the crooked politicians who took advantage of the EMP devastation to start their own kingdoms.”
Tom gave it some thought and replied, “Just think about how many motorcycle gangs, MS13 gangs, drug cartels, and such were in the country before the apocalypse. I agree with Colt. These plus the other power mad crooks will make life miserable for survivors.”
They continued on back roads until a few miles past the California border. They got back on Highway 5 at the Hilt Road intersection. Tom picked up the pace and drove forty-five miles per hour after consulting with Kate. The road was clear, and the only issues were cars and long-haul trucks parked on the side of the highway.
Tom couldn’t help but stop and check the cargos on several of the trucks but found nothing of value. Several had spoiled meat and vegetables. The others had designer clothes and children’s toys. They passed several trucks and trailers that looked promising but had to bypass them to keep on schedule.
The sound of the tires hitting the cracks in the pavement made Tom drowsy as the next several hours passed by without any problems. Tom said, “I’m pulling over to stretch my legs.”
He signaled to the two vehicles following and pulled off the side of the highway. Everyone was glad for the break from the monotony. Riding in the older trucks wasn’t very comfortable. The ones with the worst ride were the machine gunners riding in the back of the pickup. One of the two people manning the machine guns had to be ready to defend the convoy with little notice. The two people traded off sitting or manning the machine gun every hour to lessen the strain. Both had to stay alert and watch for any danger, as did all others in the convoy.
They’d driven through Weed and Shasta without any problems. They did see some lights come on as they passed the cities. Jackie called out. “That should be Highway 89 to McCloud. Turn here. Now go about two to three miles past McCloud and make a left turn on Pilgrim Creek Road.”
Tom asked, “Jackie, do we have to go through the heart of McCloud?”
“Pretty much. There’s not much around McCloud except the ski resort at Mount Shasta to the north.”
Tom keyed the radio. “Everybody get ready for action. We’re going through a small city.”
Tom picked up speed to get through the city as fast as possible when a loud bang came from the truck's front. Jackie said, “Gunfire! I saw a flash from the building up ahead.”
Tom yelled at the mic. “Gunfire!”
Tom’s machine gun went into action and lit up the area where the shot originated. Tom steered to the left, and the big grain truck followed him, so the chase vehicle could fire on the target. Another shot flew high and missed the trucks. The machine guns fired again, and no one shot at them again as they sped on through McCloud.
Tom turned left on Hig
hway 13 and said, “Where to next? I believe we’re going off road pretty soon.”
Jackie said, “Yes. Go about a half-mile, and there should be a right-hand curve. On the left in the curve should be a dirt road heading north. Take it and stop about two hundred feet up the road.”
Tom made the turn and stopped. Gil walked up to Tom’s side of the truck. “Pull off into the trees while Krista and I go place the message for Eddy. If my hunch is right, he already knows we’re here.”
Gil and Krista walked up the road and came to an old bridge over a dry creek. Gil had prepared the note before they’d left the ranch the other day. He climbed down the rocky creekside and walked under the bridge. A minute later, he came back and climbed back up to stand beside Krista.
Gil said, “Eddy has made some technical changes. He wrote a radio channel on the underside of the bridge. Gil changed the channel on his radio. “This is Gil. I need to speak to Eddy. Over.”
Gil stuck the radio in his pocket. Krista said, “Aren’t you going to wait for a reply?”
“Nope. Eddy will check us out before he tries to meet with us,” Gil said and started walking back to the others.
Gil said, “Sorry for the Beanie Weenies and cold sandwiches, but we can’t have a fire.”
George asked, “How will this Eddy character find us if he can’t see us?”
Gil said, “I’m certain he or his crew are watching us right now. That’s why I’m standing up from time to time so he’ll recognize me. Being shot by mistake makes one just as dead as if you were shot on purpose.”
A voice pierced the still of the night. “Freeze or die. Gil, you are slipping in your old age,” then Eddy said, “Oh! Shit!”
Krista’s rifle muzzle poked Eddy in the back. Krista, Tom, and several soldiers had waited in the woods for anyone to try to attack the camp. They’d caught Eddy and his three men.”
Gil stood up and hugged Eddy. “You old fart. I see you’re still kicking.”
Eddy replied, “Getting old ain’t too bad. Staying on this side of the ground has been my main objective since the first time one of those Haji’s shot me in my butt back in the second Gulf War. What can I do for you? You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t need something.”
*
Chapter 31
Eddy’s compound
Eddy’s compound was thirteen miles southeast of where they’d camped. Eddy led them to his compound in an armored Humvee that had a turret mounted SAW. His driver wore NVG goggles and drove too fast to suit Tom. They made it safely through three checkpoints before turning into a box canyon. They stopped in front of an old Quonset hut, and Eddy walked back to them.
The old man said, “You can sleep inside tonight. The army cots aren’t like home but beat sleeping on the ground.”
Tom shook Eddy’s hand and said, “Thanks. I’m …”
Eddy said, “There’ll be time for introductions in the morning. Get some rest, and then we’ll see what Gil came here to beat me out of this time.”
The morning slapped Tom in the face with the smell of bacon being fried and coffee. Tom saw the others were stirring and got dressed. The sun was hiding beyond the hills, but there was enough daylight to walk toward the enchanting odor. He saw a building two huts away with a light on and walked in to see Eddy and Gil chewing the fat.
Gil heard the footsteps and introduced Tom to Eddy. Eddy looked Tom over. “Gil says you’re one hell of a leader even though you ain’t got no military service.”
Tom grinned. “I was raised by two veterans of the Middle East wars. My Granny B and grandfather served in three wars. The last was the one in Iran. They taught my sister and me how to survive and as much military knowledge as they could. We mostly muddled through with luck and determination.”
“Gil says you’d done more than most could have done with what you have. Drones that can shoot or bomb the enemy and building a strong and loyal team are nothing to sneeze at, my friend,” Eddy said and then filled Tom’s coffee cup.
Tom remembered finding each of the great people they’d added to the group and smiled. “Our group has been very picky about who we added. My grandfather preached every day for over twenty years, not to add anyone. He wanted us only to have close family in our group plus a few long-term trusted friends. I decided that we needed strength in numbers. My wife was one of the additions. She brought several skills to the group, including the ability to kill silently with a crossbow or compound bow.”
Sergeant Major Edward R. Ray’s gruff voice turned toward his friend Gil. “Well, it’s nut cutting time. How much trouble are you in, and what do you want from me?”
Gil said, “Just like you to get right to the point with no foreplay. I’ll bet the women love you.”
Eddy used a few curse words, and then Gil spoke. “We have a perfect storm of a Mexican cartel and the Aryan Sons fighting a turf war over our area. We need more powerful weapons and manpower. We have a dozen or so ex-military with great fighting skills and some civilians who have fought bravely, but we’re outgunned and outmanned. The drones have helped us pit them against each other so far. The Aryans have attack helicopters on the way and appear to be posed to take over the area.”
Eddy chewed on the new information for a while before speaking. “We kicked the Aryans out of here three months ago. The damned Mexicans use Highway 5 like their own road to move hard drugs north and marijuana south. It appears we have a common problem. Another problem is how much do the cartel and the Aryans want to keep the northwest? The cartel has almost unlimited manpower and resources. The Aryans are limited to Idaho, Oregon, and Washington in the west and have minimal resources. I know they hate brown, black, and Jews, but I’m surprised they’re attacking a vastly superior force.”
Tom frowned. “They weren’t until we stirred the pot.”
Tom went on to tell Eddy about faking the cartel attacks on the Aryans and convincing Mendoza the Aryans are a major threat. Eddy said, “That’s not a bad plan. I’d keep that up. Now, we need to deal with those pesky helicopters. The Aryans only have two or three. If we blow them to crap, they’ll think twice about bringing any remaining ones up here.”
Tom said, “Did I mention we’ve destroyed six of their airplanes? We shot two down and blew the others up on the ground."
Eddy coughed. “Damn! You do like stirring the pot. We need to capture their aircraft. No one will be manufacturing any machinery for a long time.”
Gil shrugged. “Now, you see why we came to you. We’re just big enough to wound them but not big enough to deliver a knockout punch. We need more powerful weapons, bombs, and antiaircraft missiles.”
Eddy laughed, “People in hell want ice water, too. I’ll help but give me the rest of the day to discuss this with my staff. How many more people could you support if we had some skilled folks that want to transfer north?”
Tom said, “About fifty this year and a couple of hundred next year after the fall harvest. That is if they don’t mind living in a nice cave.”
Eddy’s face scrunched up. “Tell me about this cave.”
About an hour later, several of Eddy’s men drove away in a hurry. The following day several trucks and two small busses rolled into the compound. Tom and Gil watched the men, women, and children get out of the vehicles.
Gil said, “The men and most of the women have been in or are still in the military.”
Tom squinted. “How can you tell?”
Gil laughed. “Well, for one, the BDUs and army fatigues are a tip off. The second is that every adult and the older kids all have military issued pistols and the latest model M4 rifles.”
Tom counted the people as they passed by and went into the other two huts. Gil recognized a couple of the men and women and waved. Three came over. One said, “Captain Gil, what are you doing here among these seedy characters?”
Gil shook hands with the three and introduced Tom. “Guys, we’re here seeking some help from the Sergeant Major. Where did you come from?”
The closest man said, “Most of us were hiding just north of Sacramento. Lower California is a shit hole. Eddy asked us to join his group, but we had several of the group balk going this far north. We couldn’t farm or ranch, thanks to a dozen gangs in the area. They took over all the farms as soon as they went back into operation. We were too small in number to fight them and too large to stay without a future food source.”
Tom replied, “Your group sounds like us, only we have plenty of food and crops in the field. When we make it through the fall harvest, we can start trading food for other needs. Did you decide to join Eddy’s group?”
The tall well built man said, “Something like that. I need to report in to the Sergeant Major,” and abruptly left with the other men in tow.”
Tom said, “Did I offend him?”
Gil patted Tom on the back. “OPSEC.”
Tom’s head shook. “Why OPSEC?”
Gil said, “You asked too many questions. He knows me but not you. Eddy will fill us in when we need to know. He wants us to get with Roy, his second in charge, and give him more detail on what we face up by Ashland and what resources we currently have.”
***
Roy was astounded that a bunch of civilians and a few experienced soldiers had accomplished so much. “Y’all have done well, but now the fight will get real if you don’t get them to attack each other. Tom’s idea about decapitating both groups in simultaneous attacks is great but difficult to pull off.”
Tom said, “We’ve killed over thirty of the douchebags ourselves and got them to kill approximately another forty to fifty. Mendoza is struggling to get recruits, but the Aryans just fly more in from the east.”