PROJECT BlueBolt - BOOK II - THE GULAG JOURNAL: BOOK II - The Gulag Journal

by Marshall Huffman

  “So it was faulty intelligence, is that what you are saying? Why didn’t you sent people in beforehand to ensure that it was the correct area instead of wasting valuable resources doing nothing more than blowing up a mountain?”

  “I’m sure you haven’t forgotten our last meeting. You do remember saying that Taylor’s intel should be sufficient since they had been watching them for quite some time. I said then that there was not enough time for us to insert a team. Obviously as Commander-in-Chief, if Spears’ word is good enough for you, then I am not about to try to countermand that.”

  “Oh, that’s good, that’s very good. You would make a great politician, General. So you are basically pushing it back on my desk.”

  “As I understand it, that’s where the buck stops,” he replied stonily.

  “I see. Well in some ways I guess you are right. You did say you thought Taylor may not be the best at being in charge of the military. Obviously he has a lot to learn about gathering intel. He hasn’t done very well in tracking down the rogue officers either. He has his strong points, but he has a lot of weaknesses as well.”

  “As we all do,” the General pointed out.

  “My, you are frisky today, General Douglas,” she said clasping her hands.

  “No, just stating the facts. We all relied on a civilian to do what the military does best. I certainly hope you have decided not to have us answer to the ISS. They obviously should be a branch of the military that we can use for civil police actions, not the other way around.”

  “Perhaps. I am still deliberating on that. I do see merit in having them be a part of the military.”

  ***

  - THE WHITE HOUSE OVAL OFFICE –

  “Have a seat Taylor. I need to discuss something important with you,” Clemons told him.

  He was tense. He had been in the middle of a meeting when he was summoned immediately to the White House. By now he had heard all about the attack on the empty mountain and the death of the twenty teenagers having a party where the militia had been based. He had checked with his people and none of them reported anything unusual except for a higher than normal number of semi-trucks. There had been no real suspicious activity. Now he was sitting across from the President and she had a scowl on her face.

  “Taylor, I’m sure you have read the report by General Douglas. We managed to kill twenty teenagers and some wildlife. Not a very impressive showing.”

  “No.”

  “The thing is, I am responsible for what happened. I told the General that he could rely on your intel and he did exactly that.”

  “He could have checked. In fact he should have.”

  “Yes, well you see, I am the one who vouched for you. He couldn’t very well say I was full of it could he? No. I should have insisted that you be absolutely sure they were still where your people indicated they were. I should have pressed you harder and I didn’t so it is my failure as well.”

  “This is why the military should be under our control. I could have insisted that he make his own assessment,” Taylor replied.

  “That is not going to happen. Taylor, you have done a very good job of keeping the civilian population under control. You have had close to eighty thousand trouble makers, gun-nuts and general dissidents hauled off to internment camps. Our gang situation is much better, maybe not eliminated like I had hoped but it is a far cry from what it was. All in all, there has been an impressive amount of change taking place. You have done very well in those areas.”

  “But?”

  “Yes. But gathering intelligence is not been your forté. The officers who refused to sign the oath to this office are still running around loose. Yes, I know they have done a good job of hiding their tracks but we are not making any progress at all. By now they could be anywhere in the world or right here in our own back yard stirring up trouble. The point is, others are better at gathering intelligence and acting on it.”

  “Then let us use the military for that. Put them under my control and we will have those officers locked away before the month is out.”

  “Yes, I understand your point but that is not going to happen, Taylor. I am placing the ISS under General Douglas. You will answer to him. He will be your direct superior, starting today.”

  “Madam President…”

  “Taylor. There is no use arguing about this. I have given this a great deal of thought and that is the way I want it. I feel this will be the best solution. Your position is safe. The General cannot dismiss you without my written approval. I am not unhappy with what you have accomplished; it is just that I believe this is the best way to streamline the entire operation and make it the most efficient,” she told him.

  He sighed deeply.

  “I know you are disappointed, but Taylor this is the best thing. You can concentrate on the areas that you know best and the General can do the other dirty work. It is not a demotion. It is more of a lateral transfer of power. No one will even know unless you tell them. The General knows that all orders that pertain to the ISS must be issued by you and he is to tell no one that he is now your superior,” she told Taylor.

  “I see that I have no choice. It appears to be a done deal,” he replied.

  “Of course you have a choice.”

  “What? Do as you say or resign and be hauled off to an internment camp. Some choice.”

  “Taylor. I would never do that to you. You have been a loyal and supportive director. Give me a little more credit than that.”

  “I’ll stay. I don’t like it one bit but I’ll do the job.”

  “Good. I would prefer that you did stay on. I need people like you.”

  “Is there anything else Madam President?”

  “No. I think that about convers it,” she said, smiling.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Day 73 Journal Entry

  We began loading the derrick on the special trucks they brought in this morning. Each piece had a specific place it went along with the tools. It was back breaking. They had a small crane on a couple of the trucks to pick up the really heavy pieces like the traveling block, cables and top cap. The derrick itself was bolted to a special truck that had the ability to lower the various sections vertically.

  We were fortunate that the weather cooperated to some extent. It was -20 degrees but with hardly any wind. Of course we had to work without gloves a good deal of the time taking out bolts and such. my hands became numb after a few minutes and I dropped a lot of the parts. I guess that is normal since no one made an issue of it.

  After the evening meal we will be told who stays and who goes with the rig. Those staying will be setting up a pumping station and starting work on a pipeline that will eventually cross all of Alaska. I don’t know how all that works but I guess some of us are about to find out. I wasn’t too keen on going with the rig again.

  I found out once again that life isn’t fair. I am to move with the rig. That means a new home and starting the drilling process from scratch. I guess I should look at this as a career opportunity. Right. Anyway, we leave the day after tomorrow. We will be given tomorrow off which is certainly welcome. The only problem is that when you aren’t working all you can do is think about food. What they serve us isn’t slop but it isn’t enough and it certainly isn’t gourmet by any stretch of the imagination. Hell, I would settle for a hamburger at this point, maybe with some fries. Yes, well only in my dreams, unfortunately.

  ***

  Day 74 Journal Entry

  Not much to write about. We packed our few possessions and lay around until meal times. I slept off and on. I was thinking that when we got here the rig was already in place and the drilling operation started. I guess I was about to learn what it was like from day one.

  Those of us going on the move sat around and speculated as to where we were going to be relocated. One ‘authority’ said he had heard some of the crew talking and that they mentioned Barrow’s Point. I have to admit, I have never heard of the place so it meant nothing to me. As long as it was
south I didn’t care.

  ***

  Day 75 Journal Entry

  Okay, we are going to Barrow’s Point. As bad as that news was, I was really upset to learn that it was the northern most city in America. It sits right on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. We won’t actually be located at Barrow’s City but some twenty-five miles out in the boonies. They are telling us that it will take us three days to get there if the weather holds.

  That makes me wonder what the heck happens if it turns bad? I mean from what I understand, there is nothing out where we are going. Even the roads are mostly ice and hard packed snow.

  I am extremely apprehensive about this move but there isn’t a thing I can do about it.

  ***

  Day 76 Journal Entry

  Snow and ice, then more snow and more ice, that’s all that goes on for miles and miles. To live here contentedly would take a very different person than I am. I mean, who in their right mind would want to be so far from anything? We had only been here a short time and I was absolutely sick of the cold and snow, a wind that never stops blowing, and a sun that hardly ever shines. Talk about depressing.

  We slept in the trucks. What a treat. It was colder than hell and was really rank smelling, like dirty feet, dirty clothes, and unbrushed teeth. That’s all I can say about the entire day.

  ***

  Day 77 Journal Entry

  Oh joy, oh joy. It started snowing about mid-morning, as if it wasn’t already hard enough to stay on the road. It didn’t seem to bother the truck driver but I wasn’t too sure how sane he was in the first place. We were going fifty-five miles an hour on an ice and snow road pulling a fifty-six foot flatbed trailer with who knows how many tons of steel rigging. I could only close my eyes and pray for the best. It was out of my hands.

  We didn’t stop until midnight. When we finally got settled it was closer to 1:00 a.m. I finally fell asleep to the howling of gale force winds that rocked the rig. How nice.

  ***

  Day 78 Journal Entry

  According to the driver, we should arrive at our destination around noon tomorrow if the weather doesn’t get any worse. He seemed to think this was just dandy. I think he is crazier than a bed bug. You can’t see out the windshield about forty percent of the time, with the snow blowing across the roads.

  He seems to be navigating by these tall poles stuck in the ground on either side of the road. Try as I might, I can’t see them half the time but it doesn’t faze him one bit. He just keeps his foot on the gas. It would really suck to die here in the middle of nowhere and have to be buried here. Maybe they don’t bother. Maybe they just lay you by the side of the road and wait for the snow to cover you. All I know is I don’t want to find out.

  ***

  Day 79 Journal Entry

  The morning was the usual death defying trip. I swear I will never climb in one of these things again. The driver is a nice enough guy but totally nuts.

  We finally arrived at a place with only a few rough barracks. They didn’t look like they would keep out much in the way of weather. This did not look good.

  A guy named Sam Reynolds came to meet us and to show us where we were going to sleep. As I suspected, it wasn’t much. An old potbelly stove dominated the center of the room. Nice. So where would we find wood in this barren place? He took us over to the mess hall, if you can call it that. It was a large room with a few kitchen appliances and picnic tables. They did have a cook and that was good. I was afraid we would have to cook for ourselves and I do not cook. Well I guess I would learn if I got hungry enough so I shouldn’t say that.

  Sam seemed like a pretty nice guy. He said the geologists had done all of the survey work and we would start setting up to drill the first thing tomorrow. He also told us that there would be wood delivered each week and we were to use that in the stove to keep the barracks warm. He let us know that there were three blankets on each bed. I felt a little better after hearing that bit of news.

  After they fed us we were free to go grab a bunk and start a fire. I hadn’t noticed the pile of wood in a rack at the end of the barracks. I hustled over pretty quickly and grabbed the bunk nearest the stove. I figured the further away, the colder you would be. Others who were fairly sharp figured this out as well and only the slow ones were way down the line. You snooze you lose.

  ***

  Day 80 Journal Entry

  I have no idea what time we were rousted out. All I know is that I didn’t feel like I had had much sleep. A different bed is always like that. When we dressed and stepped outside it was not only bitter cold but the wind was blowing at a good twenty miles an hour or more. It was all I could do to make my way to the trucks where we were to start unloading.

  We were told that the land had to be leveled first. Fortunately there was a bulldozer on site and it immediately went to work while we unloaded the main parts of the rig. Once the land was level the dozer dug a rectangular area they called the cellar. That is where the actual drilling would take place. Then the arduous process of putting the mud screen, machinery, pumps, lines, and electrical started.

  It would have been hard work in normal conditions but with the wind cutting you to the bone, it was ten times harder.

  ***

  Day 81 Journal Entry

  We continued to work on getting the rig set up. A lot goes into it. I didn’t realize how much because it was already in place when we got to the previous drilling site. All I have to say about the day is that no one was seriously hurt and the wind dropped down a few miles an hour. I have noticed that I am starting to get a sore throat and my right ear is feeling kind of itchy.

  From the looks of this place, this is not where you want to come down sick. The ‘doctor’ on site is just a guy that had some medical training provided by the drilling company they work for.

  ***

  Day 82 Journal Entry

  My throat is on fire and I have an earache. Going out into the cold was incredibly painful. I stuffed toilet paper in my ears and wrapped them but it doesn’t do much for the cold. I told the medical guy and he gave me some aspirin. Somehow I don’t think that is going to fix my problem. It did help some and of course when you are working it is less noticeable.

  By the time we were finished for the day and went to eat I could hardly swallow. They did have soup and that seemed to make it a little better but I was going to need more than aspirin to get over whatever I was coming down with.

  ***

  Day 83 Journal Entry

  I could hardly get out of bed this morning. I had a raging fever and I couldn’t hold my head up straight. It hurt to even breathe. I staggered around for a while before the doctor sent me back to bed. He said he would check on me a little later.

  Honestly I don’t remember much about the day. I do remember him showing up and telling me his name was Tim and that I was going to need medical attention, more than he could offer. I wondered what that meant but right now I just don’t care. I don’t know when I have ever felt this sick before. My head is pounding, my throat feels like I swallowed sandpaper that was on fire, and my ear ached so badly that I wanted to cry.

  Aspirin was a joke at this point. Tim said he didn’t have anything stronger that we was allowed to give me. They had other drugs but he was only allowed to give them out under specific guidelines.

  I have to stop now. I can hardly focus on the page. I need to try to sleep.

  CHAPTER THRITY-ONE

  Day 86 Journal Entry

  I am told that I have been pretty much out of my head for the past three days. I haven’t even been of my bed and have only eaten a small amount. I believe it because I am starved. My ear and throat feel much better.

  Evidently Tim decided to break the company rules and gave me a shot of penicillin. This is the second time someone has stepped forward to help keep me alive. I honestly don’t know what I have done to deserve this kind of help.

  Tim came by to check on me after work. His name is Tim Roberts and he is the company electr
ician and pump repairman along with other things. He is an interesting guy and for some reason we seem to hit it off. He is from Indiana and is a graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

  How do you thank someone who has essentially stepped up and saved your life? I don’t want to sound overly dramatic, but that is what he did. He told me I should be okay to work tomorrow but to keep my ears covered and to keep something over my nose or I would come down sick again.

  Tim Roberts and prisoner 642, whose real name I have learned was Damon Lee James. I owe my life to these two men.

  ***

  Day 87 Journal Entry

  As strange as it seems, I was actually glad to get up and get back to work. I felt pretty good overall. The platform base was in place and I saw Tim connecting up the pumps. I went over and offered to help and he showed me what had to be done.

  It was nice to have someone to talk to. I learned that he was going to be a mechanical engineer and graduated with that degree but a job in the oil fields came along and he thought it would be good experience not to mention a way to get enough money to pay off his student loans.

  Seven years later he was still in the fields but was saving money to start his own drilling operation. He said the startup cost was extremely expensive and you had to have a lot of money or someone to back your operation in case you didn’t hit oil or gas right away.

  I guess it’s a little like farming with a lot of upfront expense and then you are at the mercy of the weather more often than not. Both are high risk businesses. He said he had also been working on his own version of a mud pump that would eliminate some of the complexities of the current ones and be a lot more reliable.