Like the unfolding of any specific craft, reviews and habitual sharpening of the plan is essential. The amazing construction speed which only lasted for a day was caused by the push of an impulse of insurgency. In order to be safe, we must sacrifice; in order to be secure we must trade our selves wholly without any reservations. This is camaraderie and this will alone determine our fate.
Chapter 13
Keeping up on the pages of preparing oneself for the unknown is a pain sticking process. As we see our accomplishments over the weeks past, I felt the contentment of having built a secure compound due to our own collective efforts. As we go on, on a daily basis, our security system improved as ideas come and go. Sandbags are already stuffed outside as the bunker’s barrier, scrap four inch iron plates are also placed as protective shields for the observation posts. The wind turbines helped us well. It provided us some leeway in terms of energy usage. The hydroponics system has been doing good and additional tanks have been placed to accommodate fishes. The soilless garden is also good and they have been growing way beyond our expectations. This has turned the tide of our trading stocks and getting what we want is certainly a breeze. Animal feeds are stocked in sacks as well as fuel for future use.
Rodents, cougars, bobcats, raccoons, foxes and wolves are consistent visitors whose stiffened bodies and dead carcass lie just near the fence. It’s pretty easy to know it. The odor of their decaying bodies stink enough to alarm anyone to throw it far away or burry it. Occasional hawks and are often shot to the ground by our snipers. They prey on the chickens mostly on mornings. Each dead hawk will then be picked up by my German shepherd dogs who are turned retrievers in a hunt. Hawk meat tastes like chicken and Lee Guy, Steve’s wife, has found a way to translate her culinary genius and it made a sense motivation to shoot hawks down either for consumption or a barter material. Vultures are occasional visitors but we consider them as junk or worse, just leave it far outside for human scavengers to pick up.
I could still remember the vulture that I’ve shot weeks back which in effect, resulted to an early altercation killing two intruders and admitting four more personnel. It felt good that the electric fence served its purpose well. The only problem is a lot of stains have already appeared in the cyclone wires so Carl traded some of our dead hawks for gallons of anti rust paints and feeds. If only cougars and bobcats as well as wolves and foxes are made edible by American culture, we would have traded it off but sadly, it can only be given as a giveaway.
Barter has already been an effective mode of getting what we want. We do it by day. During nighttime, rotations are set on the observation posts. I have placed an interlocking alarm in all of the posts which an assignee must press if he sees eminent danger. Search lights have been doing fine and have served us well. Carl and Steve have suggesting putting some machine guns on each of the posts as a two hectare land is a tough place to guard. May be we’ll just gradually trade off for it. Shotguns and M5 assault guns have been provided for those assigned in the bunkers so having the big guns placed on a rotating tri pad stand is a far off of a luxury.
We have doing this for weeks now and certainly, upgrades have been happening every once in a while. The cyclone wired fence is now coated with anti rust paint. It’s more durable now because its rust proof so blood stains cannot oxidize its iron weaving. Noah’s backhoe is parked within the compound. Noah gets his backhoe every once in a while if he uses it and parks it back within the farm at night. He must have been working on his own security system as well. Preparing for the worse is the toughest job I have had in my entire life. With no cable television, weather reports, communication, internet, life has become primitive. We learn how to anticipate more by calculating each possible scenario on pure instinct. Sheldon has also made his own game plan. Everybody in our community is preparing hard to repel any attacks just to ensure one thing --- survival.
Our little place submerged in the ordinary Missouri suburbs has gone cold. Each time we go off for a trade, houses along the way are either burned down or devoured by highway robbers and worse, the owners of each household were killed the women, raped. It’s already becoming an uncivilized place. More like of what happened in World War II were rape is a favorite pastime. No wonder why anarchy and chaos took over the land because like me, I am the boss of my own home and property and I have to protect it no matter what the cost. Territorial defense defines our integrity and with my adequate supporting casts, it’s no longer a problem. Our collective strategic approach led us to come up with astounding ideas that made our place a great wall. The seven posts and bunkers, sturdy electric fence as well as firepower placed in strong shooting platforms made us a team to beat.
Rolling my imagination in an afternoon rest from a quick nap made my mind journey in a different dimension. This is probably because I am just here in the farm and tending with my day to day chores as well as helping out in securing our parameters. Occasional attempts from burglars and highway robbers have proven to exist. Although most of them escaped the electrocution, many already tasted the high voltage package that we installed. With this, I must also anticipate the possibility that the existence of our line of defense will be talked about and eventually, the enemy will certainly devise some plan to break into our system. I have to outwit them first before they outwit us.
I have a nice rest in an odd Sunday afternoon. No churches because obviously it’s also burned down and there are any pastors to find either. Our lives have been just on this farm deeply enclosed but socially inclined. Kits just like inviting a whole lot of neighbors for a joint thanksgiving celebration. Everything that we have is blessing as we share the same stage of camaraderie of unconditional cooperation. A sigh accompanied my smile as my body shuffles with the soft waterbed cushion embracing my wholeness. We never felt the slightest sense of isolation because we are pretty much, by far, closer to civilization than anyone else and this is also the same reason why we are attractive to wagon robbers and thieves of all sorts. Our one stop shop farm is more than any insurance that any survivalist that would want and hope for.
I consumed the sleepiness and fatigue and have myself fully recharged from my recurring chores of checking up on all of our territory’s needs. Extended families surely paid dividends which made family life more meaningful. I sit up with my back leaned against the bed’s headboard as I stretched out some of my stiffened muscles and joints. Farah and the girls must have been tending with the chickens and other livestock. It’s a usual routine done every five o’clock in the afternoon. I must have slept long or should I say, I spent the whole time daydreaming. I washed my face with water and soap just to keep me refreshed. I just want to get rid of some post sleep dizziness. I moved out from the room and out the house to check on the field.
The afternoon view displayed the setting sun in a tug of war between night and day. The red orange skyline lit the atmosphere like fire. I gazed my eyes to imagine those times when Farah and I used to go to Ozage Beach just to catch the sun fall down. The sky still displays those green and red flashes of light; and indication of the solar flares consistency. How I wish that I can monitor the intensity of the flashes. Fox News must have probably shutdown by now so we have no choice but just stay put and wait. The red orange sky accented by the turning of the wind turbine blades defined a new style of sunset ---- symbolizing hope and ingenuity amid adversity.
My dogs roam around the façade of the farm for now but when nighttime comes, they’ll be off to their cages otherwise, they’ll be fried in seconds. Darkness started to loom the earth as the sun rests until tomorrow. I called the dogs forming my mouth as a natural whistle to lead them back to their cages. These dogs are now limited to daytime security and alarm system for now. Thanks for Farah’s patient dog training, they bark only when necessary.
“Hey! There you are, I’ve been looking all over for you,” said Farah while hooking her arms to mine. “Hi, I am happy to see you,” I said gently touching her hair. “What about it?”
“Nothing
less.” She said with a sob. “I am just wondering where Page is.”
“Page?” Yeah right!” I said while holding my chin trying to recall my memory. “Our old neighbor, Page your avid chat mate, text mate and phone pal, yeah I remember her. “Page is my best friend and I am just wondering where she is right now,” said Farah with a worried face.
Her face soured as she remembers her best friend, Page. Farah must have been so anxious of knowing her friend’s condition especially now that the world is on chaos. All we could do is hope that they are fine. If she wants to have our old neighbor to stay with us, that would be great. I have no objections about it.
“If only our communication lines aren’t dead, I’ve…”
“Don’t blame the phone lines honey,” I interrupted her easily. “We know very well that the solar flares and the EMP caused all of this. “I know,” she said. “I just hate the feeling of frustration and irony of enjoying the benefits of safety here while my dear friend is out there without me having the slightest clues of her whereabouts.” She covers her face as she gently sheds tears.
I cuddled her head to my embrace and comfort. “I’ve been thinking about her days,” said crying. “I have been trying to call her by phone but there’s no signal.”
“Alright,” I said. “I have to grab some meat loaf first, stay here we’ll check on Page. The only left for us to do is to physically check her out.” Her face lit up with a hopeful smile but along with it, both of us were aware of the dangers that we are going to face especially so that we are going off at tonight. This could only mean one thing --- danger.
After grabbing some meat loaves for my “dinner on the go,” I picked up some guns and ammo; one shotgun, one M 16 Rifle and two Glock pistols locked and fully loaded. I hope this is enough for our safety. Carl looks at me. “What’s with the sick load Ryan,” he asks scratching the scalp of his head. “Oh, this is nothing,” I said. “Farah and I will go out a bit to check up on a neighbor just a few blocks from here.”
Okay, he said. “Be safe.” Before Carl went off to his RV, I caught his shoulders to a stop. I must have forgotten something. “Buddy, I said. “Take this shotgun and shoot anything suspicious. Make sure to alert the man assigned in the posts and bunkers. We’ll be back in a flash,” my speech quiver while handling the firearm to him. Carl accepted the shotgun and left carrying my instructions.
“Farah,” I called her. Let’s use the Expedition because the Excursion is still under Carl’s repair. I’ll drive.” Farah gave her car keys to me as we walked to the vehicle. I opened the trucks door then opened the front passenger door for Farah to hop in. I loaded the guns at the back seat while saving one Glock pistol for me and one for Farah. I started of the ignition and pressed on the gas and off we go. We saw Nick and Herb on the two observation posts stationed at the gates. Nick opened the gate for us.
“We’ll be back in a while Nick,” I said. “be safe.” Nick just offered a nod of approval so off we go. I pressed on the electronic window lock fully closed then turn the truck’s air conditioner for comfort. We have no choice so I turned on the headlights so that I can see the road. It’s been a month since we left the farm and set ourselves on the outside community. Who knows what will happen? The blind uneven curves as the bumpy road would reveal gave us discomfort. The serene fast lanes has so many hidden corners where someone might pop out and shoot us or worse we might meet some of the band robbers. Our paranoia is probably getting worse. I can tell to that as Farah’s hands sweat in ice cold temperatures along with mine. I never felt so scared before. The bumpy road ran into our demise as each time we tread on uneven road surfaces makes the Expedition squeak. This might alert highway robbers more.
“Don’t forget to get hold with your gun, I said. ”If anything pops up in the middle of the road, you know what to do.” Farah just held her grip to her gun without saying a single word. She must have been paranoid too bet we have no choice, we must go on to give Page a visit.
the far edge of the town still shows rage and chaos. It is very noticeable that many houses are burned down for no reason. I slowed down just to take a clear view of a once known jolly town turned a war wreck place. I just can’t seem to muster why people burn houses if they have nothing to sleep on. Mostly, fenceless houses were burned down after being robbed. Dead bodies are scattered on the streets, naked female bodies of rape victims scatter on the road like flies. A black man, armed with a pick ax popped and was about to slam its sharp blades against the hood of Farah’s Expedition but before he could it though, Farah shot him instantly causing the body to splatter on the ground. I stopped, shocked with the turn of events. A groan floats and Farah heard it. The man is still alive. I hit on reverse gear then shifted to the first gear; I stepped on the gas and rammed the Expedition’s wheels against the man. The vehicles stride could picture out the crushing of the man’s anatomical features. Breaking every bone, the wheel passed over him until something broke like a fishbowl full of water. That dull sound of breakage alarmed Farah to look over. Blood spilled on the road gushing its way to the pavement. It must have been his head, yes his head busted like a balloon but no matter how hideous as it gets, we only did the right thing.
I continued driving down the road desperately looking for any signs of life or any sign of page but there was nothing.
“There’s Page’s pad!” she said pointing her fingers on the said direction. “You stay here.” I said while gripping my gun by my right and a flashlight on to my left. I note was ticked on the door. As I coursed the light through the words, it reads:
“I am safe. I am at my daughter’s house.”
“Farah,” I said. “Page is not here. She is with her daughter. There’s a note stapled at her door.”
“She’s with Vivian?” Farah clarifies. “Yes,” I said, she is with her daughter, Vivian.”
“Then we’ll go to Vivian’s house, I know where it is.” Farah said. “Yes, sure we will,” I replied. “But before we go to Vivian’s place, let’s visit Trader Brother’s Feed store first.
I went back inside the truck and made a quick turn to the Trader Brother’s Store.
To Be Continue…
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