The Shelter, Book 4: The New World

by Ira Tabankin

  “There really wasn’t anything I could do for him; he was dead before he entered the shelter. After we patch the last one up, we have to return to Jay. I don’t want to leave him in the drug induced coma very long. We’ve lost him too many times. I don’t want him slipping away while my hands are inside someone else. His heart can’t handle any more shocks. I had to place him in the coma to give his body time to rest and heal a little.”

  “Do you think you can save him? He was near death when you put him into the coma. Are you sure you can bring him around and save him?”

  “I’d better. Lacy already told me what she’d do to me if I lost him. I think she’s serious this time. Privately I’m worried about his chances. He had a bad heart to start with, the potassium caused it to stop which caused additional scar tissue to form on his valves. His aortic valve was already in bad shape. I’m not sure how much more damage his heart can sustain and continue to function. In normal times, I’d have placed him on the transplant list. We almost lost him the last time he was shot. He was already weak from his gunshot, with this poisoning, he’s weaker and his immune system is severely compromised. I’m very concerned about him having any brain damage from when his heart stopped. I told Janet to scream out if any of his vitals change.”

  “You’ve always been able to save him, Lacy’s expecting you’ll always be able to pull his ass out of the fire.”

  “I’m not sure I can this time. He may limp along in a coma for a long time. We should make plans in case he doesn’t wake. We may have bigger problems than the loss of Jay. If the attackers figure out how to get inside, we’re all going to die. It’s a question of numbers, they always have more than us. The shelter was laid out to provide us with a defensive advantage, but it all comes down to numbers.”

  “Will they be able to get in?”

  “Any door can be breached. Ours may be thicker and we may have three doors, but, yes, they can be breached. If they have enough explosives they can most likely blow the doors open.”

  “That’s not what I wanted to hear.”

  “Do you want me to lie to you?”

  The soldier they are patching up interrupts them.

  “Would the two of you mind concentrating on patching me up. I’d hate to have a zig-zag scar.”

  Doctor Basco looks down at the private,

  “If I were you, I’d hold my tongue. I could easily sew something you wouldn’t like stitched closed, like your ass or your mouth.”

  “You win. I’ll shut up and sit still.”

  “Good, now just sit still, keep quiet and don’t move, I’m in a bad enough mood as it is.”

  @@@@@

  The air is thick with a sickly sweet smell that also has a hint of lingering burnt meat. The light flickers like a bad light bulb. It’s neither hot or cold, I think I know where I am and I remember, I’m not supposed to be here. “Jay, what are you doing back here? Didn’t I tell you if you returned, I might not be able to help you? You might not be able to leave this time. Boy, you don’t listen do you?”

  “It’s not like I had a choice. Some things are out of our control. Sometimes, shit just happens. I used to think if I didn’t have bad luck, I didn’t have any, then I won the lottery. I think that was the best of times and the worst of times mixed together. Before I won, we rented a small townhouse, Lacy had a job she liked, I was semi-retired. I never wanted to be a leader. I never wanted to be responsible for forty people’s lives. There are many times I wish I didn’t win the damn thing. If I hadn’t won, there wouldn’t have been all that money. No lottery, no farm, no shelter, I wouldn’t have been responsible for people getting injured and some dying. I wouldn’t be responsible for anyone, except for Lacy. I wouldn’t have been shot, I guess this time I’m here because either my heart gave out or something else happened to me. Dad, you know I love you, it’s just, I’m getting tired of seeing you before my time. It’s still before my time isn’t it?”

  “You were poisoned.”

  “I was poisoned?”

  “Yes, by someone close to you.”

  “Can you tell me who?”

  “I’m sorry, you know I’m not permitted to tell you who poisoned you. All I can tell you is, it was someone close to you.”

  “So that’s why I’m here again. This proves my point. If I hadn’t won the lottery, I wouldn’t have the shelter, I wouldn’t have pissed someone off enough to kill me and none of this would have happened. I wouldn’t be here. See how easy the answer is? My bad luck all started when I won the lottery. Can you wind back time and let me do that day over again? Sort of like bowling, can we say it was practice? I won’t buy the ticket and life will be as it was before. I won’t be bothering you before my time and none of the natural laws will be harmed.”

  “Jay, it’s not that easy. Things aren’t always what they seem to be. There’s always a reason to why things happen. It’s how the universe works. No one can undo what is already done. There’s no practice, there’s no undoing what’s already happened. No one can go back in time and change the past. It’s the past, it’s done and over with. It isn’t done, in fact, it isn’t even talked about. It would cause too many problems. I’m sure you know the oldest time travel paradox.”

  “I thought time didn’t exist here. Why can’t you send me back a year? I won’t buy the lottery ticket. Everything will be changed for the better. I won’t be here before my time. None of this would have happened. I won’t tell anyone.”

  “Jay, remember the paradox if you went back in time and killed your grandfather, how could you go back in time? It’s the oldest time travel paradox. It’s even debated here. You’re not looking at reality from the right point of view. You’re missing one of the most important points. If you hadn’t won the lottery and bought the farm, oops, wrong term, forgive me, then built your shelter, your friends wouldn’t have survived. Do you think if you hadn’t won the lottery it would have changed the world situation? The economy would still have collapsed. The people on the farm would now be dead, your friend Tony would have been killed in a shoot-out outside his restaurant. The shootout didn’t happen because he was inside having lunch with you and Todd. His guards standing outside scared away the two would-be robbers who thought they could earn street cred for robbing Tony. I have no idea what street cred is, but it seems to be a very popular term. You’re responsible for saving them. Do you have any idea how many people you’ve saved? Do you remember giving the first refugees water? Because of you, they discovered hope, they made it to a large abandoned farm, most are happy living a simpler life. You saved them, you brought hope to them. Jay, the most difficult change if you hadn’t won is, had you stayed in Virginia, you and Lacy now would be dead. See, you winning saved your own and all those other lives. Things do happen for a reason.”

  Jay stands stunned in the bright white light which has stopped flickering, a light that doesn’t create any shadows. He looks at his father who continues.

  “You lived right outside of D.C., the evil that lives in D.C. spread out from the beltway like a black gooey ocean to engulf most of Maryland and Virginia. Hundreds of thousands died in rioting when the government checks stopped and people took to the streets. They killed, raped and burned large sections of the surrounding area. Gangs fought each other over control of a few blocks and a handful of stores. Swarms of rioters attacked everyone in their sight. People were pulled out of their cars, beaten, and killed for bottles of water. They were robbed of anything of value. Their homes were broken into. Had you stayed in Sterling, you and Lacy would be dead. You would have shot a few of the rioters when they attempted to break into your home and rob you. The first night you would have surprised them. The second night, they would have overwhelmed you. You and Lacy would have been killed. Your entire block was set on fire, it burned to the ground. Some of your neighbors were burned alive. Many of their bodies will never be recovered.”

  “I didn’t know. I only see the suffering my shelter brought to my friends. I see their depression
and their strength slip away. So many have lost hope. They aren’t soldiers, they’re farmers and good people. Can’t something be done to help them? Why can’t you help them?”

  “Jay, they may be unhappy at times, but they are alive. They’re alive because you saved them. Your shelter is going to bring all of the small towns and survivors around your farm together. Your farm is going to become the headquarters of a much larger force. They are going to use your location as the central location to bring law and order back to this part of the country. You don’t know yet how important a role you’re destined to play in the future. Lacy told you things happen for a reason, you winning the lottery was meant to be. Your lottery winnings enabled thousands of lives to be saved. Your shelter is going to be very important in the future. So many things are about to change. In fact, we’ve got a sort of office betting pool on the outcome. Your words and actions will change future history.”

  “Oh my God. I didn’t look at it like that. What the heck is future history? You’re betting on my actions? Are you betting for or against me?”

  “How could you know? You’re not supposed to know everything. Remember, time doesn’t exist here. We can see your present, past, and future. Before you ask, I can’t tell you anything. You must locate and take the right path, it’s always been your choice. We all have a choice. It’s how the universe works. Every decision generates ripples in the ocean of time. Yours have the potential to create tidal waves.” My father smiles at me. “And no, I’m not going to tell you how I bet, that wouldn’t be fair.”

  “Can you tell me anything else?”

  “Keep the faith, try to see the big picture. Don’t over react. Remember who your friends are.”

  “Am I going to stay or be returned home?”

  “It’s not been decided yet. There are some who think the timeline should be changed and keep you here, Others think you should be returned to complete your task, they think if you stay, the tidal waves of change will be too large. There is a group which thinks you know too much; it could be dangerous to return you. The debate goes back and forth. It’s a very exciting time for us. We watch, but this time, you’ve dropped right into our lap, you’re a lynchpin in the future.”

  “My task?”

  “Everyone has a task. Please don’t ask me any details. You know I’m not permitted to tell you anything about the future.”

  “When is the decision going to be made?”

  “Soon, however, remember time here is just a word, it’s different from your reality. Just wait and don’t wander. Stay here and don’t leave the room. It shouldn’t be very long before a decision is made.”

  “I’m a prisoner?”

  “Consider yourself a guest. It’s not polite for guests to wander, or be noisy. Please stay put and keep your nose out of things that don’t concern you. The more you poke around, the more evidence you give those who want to keep you. I for one want you to be returned. For once, can you try to stay out of trouble?”

  “Yes, dad.”

  @@@@@

  Sergeant Johnson checks on his men, he smiles finding them in good spirits, two of the privates nod when they see the Sergeant.

  “Sarge, this place is amazing. They have everything down here.”

  The second private smiles adding, “no movie theater or bowling alley, but they sure are stocked with DVDs and video games. Have you seen the cafeteria?”

  “I’m glad you’re doing well. I’m going to the radio room to call for help. There are less than forty people here, plus us seven. We need outside help to break the attacker’s backs or we’ll be down here for a very long time.”

  “Sarge, we could try to break out, make it to the castle, it will make a good place to snipe at the attackers.”

  “I don’t think you’ll make it. They have RPGs and snipers on the hill, they’d pick you off before you made it to the castle. I don’t think Jay wants his castle blown up after we just completed it.”

  “We can make it if we pop smoke.”

  “I’ll check to see how much smoke they have. Get ready to go if that will be our plan. Grab all of the ammo you can carry. The castle has food and water.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Sergeant Johnson knocks on the door frame of the radio and security room. John looks at the monitors and pulls off his headphones. Seeing the Sergeant’s reflection in the monitor, he turns in his seat to face his visitor.

  “Hi Sarge, what can I do for you?”

  “I came to call for help. I thought I’d try to contact anyone in our area.”

  “We can do that. What frequency do you want to try?”

  “I don’t remember the army’s, so I thought we’d try 243Mhz and CB channel 9. They should give us the broadest coverage.”

  “Do you think anyone will still be listening to the Guard channel? I know people are listening to channel 9.”

  “Military still uses Guard and many monitor the CB channels. I think they’re our best options.”

  “Agreed. Sit across from me. I turned the transmitters on, you’re hot, so anytime you want, go for it. I suggest you don’t broadcast the shelter’s coordinates, use the castle’s or a location close to us, there’s no need to tell anyone on the other side exactly where we’re located.”

  “I hadn’t considered that. Thanks.” Sergeant Johnson picks up the mic, he presses the talk button two times, saying,

  “Attention, attention, this is US Army Staff, Sergeant Richard Johnson, US Army ID 147471447, calling all US Military units on GUARD and CB channel nine. I’m located at 36º 59' N, 82º 21' W. We’re located underground in an improvised shelter. We’re surrounded by two large hostile groups, one of which is ISIS. We have many causalities. We have civilian women and children. We require immediate assistance. Over.”

  He repeats the call three times on GUARD and three times on CB channel nine, he receives many responses. Some want to know if he has anything to trade for support or gold to pay for assistance.

  Chapter 3

  Doctor Basco completes his medical treatment of the soldiers. He returns to Jay’s room where Janet looks up when she sees him enter the small room.

  “Two of the science aides were just here looking for you. They were very excited, they said they completed some tests and have something you need to know right away. I thought you might be in the cafeteria, which is where I sent them.”

  “I’ll locate them, thanks. How’s Jay doing?”

  “No change, he’s stable.”

  “You know where to find me if anything changes.”

  He turns to leave when two young men excitedly enter.

  “Doctor Basco, we completed our tests, our findings show Jay was poisoned with a large amount of potassium.”

  “Potassium, that explains his heart stopping. May I see your report?”

  “Gladly sir, here it is.”

  Doctor Basco reads the report while nodding his head. He frowns, his hands shake as he reads the report a second time.

  “Good work. You’re correct. I want to know who used potassium for any purpose.”

  “Sir, we thought you’d want to see that list, Jay uses it for leg cramps, as do three others.”

  “If that’s correct, then someone close to Jay is the one who most likely poisoned him. Could you please find Tony and ask him to see me?”

  “We’re on the way, we’re happy to help. It’s not often we’re given something so important to pursue. We’re happy our chemistry skills came in handy.”

  “Thank you. Please hurry.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Tony, left arm in a cast, knocks on the door frame of the medical facility.

  “Doc, you wanted to see me? Have you decided to take my cast off early? I really hope so; I’ve got an itch that’s driving me nuts.”

  “Tony I’m sorry, but I asked you here for another reason, can you spare a few minutes? It’s something very serious. I suggest you sit down and listen to me a minute.”

  Tony closes his mouth in mid-word,
he nods sitting in a chair across from the doctor.

  “What’s wrong? No one asks to see me, saying it’s important unless there’s a serious problem.”

  “Tony, we have proof someone close to Jay tried to poison him…tried to kill him.”

  “You’re one hundred percent sure of this?”

  “Yes, I can show you the analysis if that will convince you. He was given a massive dose of potassium. Potassium in high dosages causes the heart to stop, it looks like a heart attack. Jay uses potassium in low doses to treat and help prevent leg cramps. Someone got their hands on his potassium, ground it up and fed it to him in something he ate or drank. I think it had to be someone in his inner circle, maybe even one of his extended family. Someone had to be close enough to him and have unlimited access to his house in order to get their hands on the potassium. Whoever it was had to also have access to his food and drink.”