Apocalypse Coming

by William Dunaway

Carmen came running out first and put her arms around Brandy and Kim followed right behind her.

  Brandy looked at Carmen and quit crying for a moment, “Mrs. Jones, that sweet old lady, it looks like someone raped her,” and she burst into tears again.

  Wit threw his helmet across the yard, “Mr. Jones had his throat cut, and there was a bash on his face like he had been “butt stroked”. Mrs. Jones was laid out on the bed naked, and her throat was also cut.”

  Jake had seen Wit and Brandy fly by on his motorcycle and could tell something was up. He had jumped on his tractor and was just pulling into the driveway and we told him what had happened.

  I’ve never heard Jake curse before, but he yelled out, “DAMN IT!”

  Mia and Angela had made it out by then and joined in on comforting Brandy.

  Wit said in a heartbroken voice, “We checked on the Simpsons, they’re fine. I told them what happened and Jim said he’d go over and bury them, so I told him we’d send someone down to help shortly.”

  I immediately started barking orders.

  “From now on, no one goes outside unless they’re armed. I don’t care if you’re only walking five feet, you better have at least a handgun on your side. Angela that means you too.”

  I barely glanced at her when I said it. I didn’t care what her reaction was, “If you’re going outside the yard, I want you heavily armed. That means a rifle or shotgun, your handgun, and spare magazines or ammunition and no one goes anywhere except in teams of two or more.

  Mike, I want roadblocks set up at both intersections before the sun goes down. Use a notched arrowhead roadblock as you suggested. We’ll pull the vehicles up to you using the tractors.”

  I looked at Jake for his ok as he’d have to use his tractor to pull vehicles as well. He nodded his head agreeing.

  A notched arrowhead roadblock is when you use three vehicles to block a road or intersection. You place two vehicles front ends facing towards the center of the road but at a 45-degree angle pointing out from your perimeter. Then you leave just enough space between them to drive whatever vehicle you may want to drive through it. In our case, the width of my John Deere tractor as it had a little wider wheelbase than the jeep did.

  Then you use the third vehicle to block that entrance. When you need to drive through, you push the third vehicle over far enough to drive through, then push it back.

  “Red, Tag, you guys get armed and then run up to the Akers and tell them what happened and that we’ll be setting up the roadblocks right away, so be prepared to help man them and we’ll need at least one of their vehicles for the roadblock.

  Paul and I will start pulling up the truck and Kim’s Fusion. Jake, can you and Ben handle the other end? I’d suggest using the Jones’ two vehicles and one of the Simpsons if they don’t care.”

  Jake said, “Will do.”

  “Mike, what do you have?”

  Mike announced, “After we’ve set everything up, we’ll immediately start 4-hour shifts. I’ll give everyone their schedule shortly. Until we can meet, that’s it for now. Let’s change our clothes and get to it.”

  Jake took off to pick up Ben and start on the eastern roadblock.

  We had all changed and were getting ready to walk out of the house when we heard the familiar sound of the Ford truck approaching. This time, it was coming straight down our road.

  Mike ran around the house with his .308 and was able to slip into one the spider holes, without the occupants of the truck seeing him.

  The truck stopped in front of the house. There were two men in the cab and two standing on the flatbed, both armed. One had an AR-15 and the other with what looked like a shotgun. The driver then honked the truck's horn, and they sat there. Mo had grabbed the M-16, and he moved to the southeast corner of the house.

  Wit, Tag, and I glanced out the front window and Wit spotted a large Bowie Knife on the belt of one of the men on the back.

  With anger, Wit said, “That’s too much of a coincidence. That’s about the size of knife that it would’ve taken to do what was done to the Jones.” He grabbed his rifle like he was going to charge outside.

  I grabbed him by the shoulder, “Wit! Listen to me. First of all, we don’t know for sure they’re the ones that did it, but even if they were, we need to play dumb. We don’t know about the Jones.”

  He gave me a puzzled look, “What?”

  “We need to get some intel from them. Let’s let them talk, so we can maybe find out what they’ve been up to. Ok? Just let me carry on all the conversations with them; just like the old days.

  The rest of you stay out of sight. Even if things go to hell and I mean gunfire, you can slide up the screens and shoot out of them. Tag, Wit, you just back me up.”

  I got on the radio and told Mike to stay in place that we’d keep them in his line of sight. I also told Mo to stay hidden out of sight but be prepared to come out to us when I called him over.

  The three of us walked out the front door and cautiously walked to the edge of the yard, that was about 4 feet above the road itself. As we approached, we could see the scarred face of one of the younger men on the back of the truck. I heard Tag whisper, “Oh my God!”

  Wit in a very low voice replied, “That boy was cooked. He almost looks like a Napalm victim.”

  “What can we do for you?” I said loudly.

  The man in the passenger seat said, “Hello there,” and climbed out of the cab of the truck.

  The driver then climbed out of the cab and walked around the front of the truck and stood next to him. The two younger men stayed on the flatbed, keeping their hands on their weapons but leaving them laying on the top of the cab.

  “My name is Orville Lebowski, and this is my associate Avery Dunson. Oh, and the two boys on the truck are my sons Billy and Thatcher.”

  I shook hands with Lebowski and Avery and nodded at the two on the truck. I could see a hateful look coming from the young man with the scarred face.

  Orville was a large man, about my height, which is 6’3” tall but he outweighed me by quite a bit. I estimated him to be about 250 lbs. Avery was probably about 6 feet even, but I’d be surprised if he was even 175 lbs.

  I could see by the bulge on their right side, that they both had concealed weapons under their shirts and looked up at the two on the truck, which had them also. Even though I was sure the guys had seen them, I gave a sign to them, by patting my holster with my hand. I wanted to make sure Mike knew also.

  “We were just admiring your set up here. You have a really nice garden, and it looks like you have a few mouths to feed.”

  “Thank you. Yeah, the garden is doing well.” Was my only response.

  “Well, I’d like to talk to you about some things, but do you mind if we go inside? It’s hot out here in the sun, plus my knees just can’t take too much standing.”

  “Oh, I can get us a few chairs, if that’s what you need. Mo, can you bring us three chairs please?”

  Orville gave a momentary sour look as obviously, he wanted to see what and who we had on the inside.

  Mo came out from behind the tree he was at and grabbed three folding yard chairs and brought them to us.

  “Thank you, Mo.” I set two down for them, where the house’s shadow was blocking the sun and one down for me, facing them.

  “There you go. A place to sit, in the shade.”

  Tag, Wit, and Mo immediately stood side by side behind me, about 3 feet apart from one another and all three had their rifles in the ready position but pointing down towards the ground.

  Orville, obviously feeling intimidated said, “Boy’s, give yourself a rest and come down here.”

  They jumped down off the truck, and the minute they touched the ground, I yelled, “Without your rifles.”

  Both of them stopped and glared at me and Orville also gave me an evil glare.

  He then smiled again and asked, “What’s with all the suspicion? I just wanted my boys to get out of the sun. I noticed you’re not tellin
g your people to put their guns down. Now, don’t you think we all should have an equal footing?”

  Not taking my eyes off his, I responded, “Nope. You see Orville; we didn’t come to see you, you came to see us, without an invitation. Now the last couple of weeks have turned things a little upside down, wouldn’t you say? So, why don’t you just get to saying whatever you have to say.”

  The one with the scarred face said, “Fuck him!” and started walking towards us.

  Suddenly a shot rang out from my left and dirt flew next to the young man’s feet, stopping him in his tracks. Mike was obviously on the ball.

  Tag, Wit, and Mo immediately raised their rifles, ready to fire.

  Both Orville and Avery almost jumped out of their skin and then Orville looked back to see that Billy was ok. He then screamed out in a panicked voice, “Billy, you alright?”

  “Yeah!”

  Orville then ordered in a commanding voice, “Both of you, do what you're told. Lay your rifles on the bed of the truck and get up here.” Both Billy and Thatcher obeyed.

  He turned to me with a hateful look, “You’re just a hard case, aren’t you?”

  I smiled at him, “Why don’t you just get to it.”

  You could see the anger and frustration building up in Orville. Obviously, he wasn’t used to someone else being in charge.

  Avery, in a frustrated voice, spoke up, “Listen, we’ve all got off on the wrong foot. Orville, we’re here to talk, so why don’t you get to it.”

  Orville turned to Avery and gave him an angry look, then calmed down immediately and nodded his head yes.

  Orville turned, with a forced smile, “I apologize for my boys. You know how kids are. They don’t seem to have any self-control nowadays.”

  I grinned at him sarcastically and nodded my head and then gave a sign to the guys to lower their weapons.

  “Anyway, I’m the mayor of Pine City now, and we’ve decided that it’s best that everyone contributes their food and we all have joint meals together. You know, the community coming together to make it through this rough spell until they fix the power problem. We’re following the example set forth by President Prescott, where no one is excluded and everyone gets taken care of. It’s working out quite well.”

  He just looked at me, like I was supposed to compliment him or something.

  “Mayor huh? I didn’t think Pine City was big enough to have a mayor.”

  He formed a big smile, “Well the people decided that due to the circumstances we needed a community leader, so they pretty well appointed me. They insisted, so I just felt like I couldn’t turn down the request; they needed me.”

  I could’ve thrown up. The man was talking like he was a savior. I looked at him and asked with skepticism, “So in the last week or so, the town voted on you being mayor, and you got all this set up? Well, if that’s what the people want in Pine City, good for all of you.”

  Like a politician would, he smiled, “Well, I’m glad to hear you say that.”

  “So, what’s all this have to do with us?”

  “Well, we’ve decided that we need to bring in everyone from outside the city limits and make them part of our community. As I said, you guys have a fine garden, and that would really contribute to helping others. So, we all had a vote and decided to kind of annex the surrounding areas and that way everyone can bring whatever food supplies they have into to town and join us for community meals.”

  I laughed out loud at that point, “Really. Well, I don’t remember there being a vote.”

  He didn’t like my laugh but forced another smile and replied, “Well to be honest, as the community leader, I decided that it’s best for everyone involved,” he then looked around the garden and yard, “Many didn’t get to store up much food, which is a shame. But now that all of this has happened, we need to be able to take care of those folks. No one should have more than anyone else.”

  I shook my head and scoffed, “Well, I don’t think we’ll be interested in being part of your community. We have our own little community pretty well set up around here.”

  He acted a little shocked, “I just don’t think you understand. The decision had been made. Maybe I’m not making myself clear, but the people have spoken. If you're worried about everyone being treated the same” and looked up at Mo, “everyone will be treated equally. Everyone will eat at the same table,” he then looked at Mo again with a disgusted look, “Everyone.”

  I really wanted to shoot this guy, right in the head. Why not? Eliminate the problem now. I already knew we’d have to sooner than later. I held my temper though and glanced at Mo, “Mo, did you hear that? He’s saying you’ll get to eat with us white folk. I guess you won’t have to eat with the horses any longer.”

  Mo glared at him and then got a big exaggerated smile and said in a stereotype southern black accent from the 1800’s, “Mr. Orville. We sure does thank you. Me and mine sure does thank you for that.”

  Orville then had an evil look come over him. “Johnson, I’m completely serious. How many do you have here? 6, 7, and some women. Do you really think you can stand up to the entire town? When we get back and tell them about the big party you had earlier, and then you tell us you’re not willing to share with them, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold them back. I’ve also heard rumors that your little alliance is getting weaker.” he said with a slight smile, “You know, once the power is turned back on, President Prescott is going to order the states to take retribution out on people that didn’t work for the community.”

  Wit, completely out of the norm, said, “Let’s just shoot these bastards.”

  I held up my hand, meaning, “Wait.”

  Wit felt guilty for saying anything as his training had taught him not to, but he was filled with hatred as it was obvious to him, that Orville had just admitted to being involved in the Jones’ murder.

  I thought to myself, “Wit is right, but they were spying on us earlier today. They’re up to more than this, and I need to find out what.”

  But my anger took over, so I looked at him directly in the eyes, “That sounds like a threat Lebowski.”

  He looked at Wit with hate and then me again and said very aggressively, “You take it how you want. I’m just saying, I’m not going to be able to control my town when they hear your response, and if you’re willing to take the chance of facing whatever penalties the government comes up with afterward, then that’s all on you.”

  I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and squeezed tightly. When I did, Avery started to grab my arms and Billy and Thatcher started grabbing for their handguns, which were under their shirts. Mo hit Avery across the chin, with the butt of the M-16, while Wit and Tag raised the muzzle of their weapons up to the son’s faces; they both immediately froze; they’ll never know how close Mike was to pulling the trigger on his .308.

  “Listen, you bigoted backwoods son of a bitch! President Prescott is dead. Our federal government is dead. Even those in the Pentagon are dead.”

  He looked at me with a shocked looked, and Billy yelled, “Liar!”

  Avery holding his chin, “Where did you get that?”

  I continued to stare at Orville, “Over the shortwave radio. Washington, D.C. was nuked at the same time the attacker apparently set off an EMP. That’s why there is no power, and there won’t be for a long time.”

  Orville, with a strained voice, asked, “What’s an EMP?”

  I looked at him reluctantly and said, “A big boom that causes the lights to go out.” I shoved him backward while releasing his collar.

  I then reached out and pulled up his shirt and pulled out his handgun, which was a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum. I looked at him and smiled, “Nice gun,” and put it in my belt, “Take their guns,” I told the guys. Orville tried grabbing his back, but I hit him in the mouth with my elbow.

  Mo, Tag, and Wit started taking the handguns off the other three. When Mo reached for Billy’s gun and knife, he resisted, “You’re not taking my gun n
igger.”

  Mo smiled and then backhanded him hard enough, it knocked him to the ground.

  Wit walked over to the truck and grabbed the rifle and shotgun, and also looked through the cab of the truck checking for any other weapons.

  Avery started yelling, “You have NO right to do this.”

  I looked at him and said, “Send me a bill.”

  “You’re going to pay for this you bastard, and sooner than you think,” Orville yelled.

  I pulled out my Glock 22 and put it against his forehead, “Maybe my men are right. Maybe we ought to just blow you away right now.”

  Orville got the fear of God on his face and said with panic, “All I was trying to say is, the law will be back soon, and they won’t tolerate theft like this. That’s all.”

  “You just don’t get it, do you? Get the hell out of here, and I mean on foot. You can send me a bill for the truck as well. Just take off across Aker’s field, and you’ll be back home real soon. Just don’t let Aker’s see you or he may just blow you away. If we ever see you on this road or in these fields again, I won’t be so kind-hearted. Now go!”

  They backed out of the yard, then turned around and took off running across the Aker’s soybean field.

  We moved their truck out of the road, and Mike climbed up on the tower to scope the four of them, to check on their progress across the field. After they had walked out of sight, I told everyone what a good job they had done. I looked at Mike, “I halfway expected you to drop them when they started going for their guns.”

  He chuckled, “A split second longer, and they would have been laying on the yard, permanently.”

  “You should have dropped them.” Wit said as he stormed into the house. Everyone had been listening.

  Brandy asked, “Did I hear that right? Did he admit that they killed the Jones?”

  “You’re damn right they did.” Wit said in a loud voice.

  “No, he didn’t. Don’t misunderstand, I’m convinced they did it, but we couldn’t just mow them down.” Mo remarked.

  “Why the hell not? We’re going to end up shooting them anyway. Why didn’t we just get it over with and maybe prevent the whole thing we know is coming?” Wit asked.