The Shelter, Book 4: The New World

by Ira Tabankin

  “We track you so we know if you’re trying to approach the castle. By the way, Jay doesn’t ask or think about you. He’s forgotten about you. You’re nothing to him. If I were you, I’d be working a lot harder.”

  “What about my shack? When is it going to be repaired? It’s not a safe place to live.”

  “It’ll be repaired whenever you repair it. No one’s stopping you. You have the basic tools you’ll need. There’s wire and PVC pipe if you want running water, either connect your shack to one of our water pipes or dig a well. If you want electricity? Wire it to the grid. I’m sure someone who knows everything will know how to do it without killing yourself. Any other questions?”

  “When can I come home?”

  “You’re not the sharpest tool in the shed are you? This is your home. Clean it, take care of it, repair it, this is all you’re getting. That’s unless you want to try to reach your old home, here’s a compass, it will help you find your way back to Iowa. I understand you’ll be able to make a lot of new friends along the way. I hope you have fun and I never have to see you again.”

  “I told you it’s not safe out there.”

  “Shame. By the way, your crops are failing, you’re being reduced to an MRE and a half until your crops are ready for harvest.”

  “It’s not raining, nothing is growing.”

  “Dig a well and water your crops. You have a bucket. Or find a stream and carry the water.”

  “Do you have any idea how heavy water is?”

  “I do, one gallon weighs eight point three pounds, ten gallons weigh eighty-three pounds. That shouldn’t be a problem for a man like you. Have a good day. I hope you decide to leave so I can stop coming out here, maybe you’d rather I ask Tony to check on you?”

  “NO, Fred, please not Tony. He’ll kill me, or bury me in a small plot of land alive.”

  “Yes, he might. It will be fun to watch, if your performance doesn’t improve, I’ll ask Tony to visit you. I’m sure he has a lot of ideas how to motivate you.”

  Ricky stood covered in the dust kicked up by a laughing Fred, who turned around and sped off leaving Ricky standing there shaking trying to wipe the dust from his eyes and mouth. He shakes his head cursing. He looks at his shack and the small plot of land. Turning his face to the sky, he yells,

  “If you’re up there, why did you do this to me? Why aren’t you saving me? I need help over here, aren’t you supposed to help the downtrodden? Some rain would be really nice. How can I believe in you if you leave me in this situation without you coming to my aid? Send one of your angels here to show me the path to making my life easier.”

  He looks at the bright sun, without any response to his rant he kicks the dirt. Thinking, shit, if no one is going to help me, I better figure out at least how to find water. Fred must have been screwing with me, I know water’s heavy, but no way can it weigh over eight pounds a gallon, I’ve carried a few bottles of water, none was that heavy, he’s just busting my balls again. I hate him so much; I hate all of them. He’s right in that Tony scares me. That crazy SOB will torture or kill me just for the fun of it. He’s worse than the crazy terrorists.

  @@@@@

  General Arthur overlooks the battlefield below him thinking, these assholes are full of hot air and false bravado. They’re giants when they’re facing unarmed civilians. When facing an armed force, they cry like spoiled two-year-olds. They charge into our guns screaming Allah Akbar, thinking their God is going to come down here and save them. I enjoy my job sending them to hell. I think they’re going to be surprised when they find out they’re going to be torn apart by 72 demons not serviced by 72 virgins. His thoughts are interrupted by an aide.

  “Sir, we have received a message from Major Walker asking if we have located any tanker trucks.”

  “Tanker? Did he say why he’s looking for them? What type of tanker? Fuel, water, chemical?”

  “General, he said it hasn’t rained for a long time at the farm, they’re at risk of losing this season’s crops. He’s looking for tanker trucks to transport water from the river to the farm. Sir, I think we passed a private airport which had a small forest fire fighting plane. We could see if it’s flyable and could spread water over the farm.”

  “Great idea. Take a squad and check it out. We bypassed the area chasing the Islamists, be careful, we have no idea what’s around the airport. Do we have anyone who can fly? It would be good to check that first. A plane without a pilot is worthless.”

  “Yes, sir. Sir, we’re just about finished cleaning up Fort Smith. We’ve found four hundred surviving ISIS soldiers and a few thousand civilians. On the other side of the ledger, we also discovered over nine thousand bodies. The survivors we released are all malnourished, many are skin and bones, they are starving. They all show signs of being beaten. The Islamists must have worked them to death.”

  “Worked them doing what?”

  “Tearing down every church and building Mosques on the church’s location. Every religious store was burned to its foundation. The worst treatment was reserved for the Jewish population. We found temples burned with their congregation inside, they were burned alive with videos posted on the internet.”

  “Tie each of the ISIS assholes together, I want the town’s people to try them. They were tortured by the Islamists, let them pronounce their sentence. Make sure the town’s people are fed and checked by our medics, we’ll hold the mass trial tomorrow. Then we’re going to turn around and head back to Tennessee to meet the Major. I think it’s time to return the Captain’s troops to him.”

  @@@@@

  Thirteen states have formally agreed to accept and use the coin-currency plan now referred to as the Huntsville plan. Armored cars used to transport currency are used to distribute the coins and fractional coins across the states. The armored cars are escorted by Bradley fighting vehicles and LAVs. A few of the initial convoys were attacked by gangs thinking they could easily get rich, their bodies hung from trees until they rotted or were eaten by animals. After the message got around there are no trials, the militia guardians killed every attacker by hanging them. They leave them hanging in the wind for everyone to see. The bodies have signs around their necks saying, “Thief.” Once the militia started posting videos of the hangings, the attacks quickly stopped. No one wanted to mess with the militia who operated with only one rule, stop any robberies by any means possible.

  As each state adopted the Huntsville plan, they watched their economies begin to pick up, their people became happier, crime rates decreased. Part of the decrease in crime was also twenty states adopting open carry rules to deter crime. Criminals didn’t want to mess with people who are openly carrying on their hips, waists or slung over their shoulders. The author Robert Heinlein wrote, “An armed society is a polite society.” His words are being proven in the new South. As the South is getting stronger, worry and dread fill the politicians in D.C. who worry they are beginning to lose control of the country. The President holds a rare press conference to announce the use of gold and silver coins is considered counterfeiting. The White House reporter for the Washington Times raises his hand,

  “Mr. President, if they’re using coins minted by the US Mint, how is that counterfeiting? I have a Sliver Eagle coin right here, it says, “the United States, One Dollar. The coins are legal tender.”

  “You’re correct if they are being used for the amount listed on the coin. Silver Eagles say they are one dollar coins; Gold Eagles say they are five dollar coins. As long as they are being used as one and five dollars there’s no problem. We all know that’s not what’s happening. These rogue states and banks are saying that one ounce of silver is worth thirty dollars and an ounce of gold is worth two thousand dollars. How can anyone believe this little coin.” He holds up a Gold Eagle, “Is worth two thousand dollars? These bankers are getting rich on the people’s suffering. They are worse than the old robber barons. They aren’t rebuilding their economies, they’re taking advantage of the economic downturn the
y and their Republican friends caused. Isn’t it funny that the Right caused the current turmoil, then they propose a solution to the problem they caused?”

  He takes a new one-dollar bill out of his pocket, can you imagine anyone giving me thirty dollars for this dollar bill? Of course not! Yet, that’s what’s happening in the South. I have to advise every law-abiding citizen to stay away from the South, these bankers have no heart. We can easily break their spirit by not selling them the products they need. If every business owner refused to accept these coins at the values the so-called Huntsville plan lists, this madness would stop. We could be a country with a unified currency again. My plan is to break the backs of these bankers, who may I remind everyone, are breaking the law because they’re not supposed to be holding silver and gold. We, the people need all of the reserves to buy Hawaii back from China. The evil Chinese are holding our people hostage. I’m going to send the secret service to stop the counterfeit coins from being used. I’m giving the twelve states one week to forward their silver and gold to the IRS and cease using any currency except for that issued by the Federal Reserve. If I have to, I’ll send the Army to stop the illegal currency. My first duty is to protect the people of America. I can’t sit in the White House and watch “fat-cat” bankers steal from the good people of America.”

  The President looks into the camera, he laughs, holding up a Silver Eagle and three new ten dollar bills, he says,

  “I’ll trade anyone a one-dollar coin for three tens. Don’t be foolish, read what’s on the coins. Thank you and good night.”

  Even the liberal media poke fun at the President, many offer the President three and a few four ten dollars for one Silver Eagle. The media’s ‘talking heads’ mock the President, many support the Huntsville plan saying it will stabilize the currency and enable the country to begin pulling itself out of the depression it currently finds itself in.

  The reaction in the South is laughter at the President. The local media mocks and makes fun of him, they blame him for the country’s economic problems. Adding fuel to the fire and support to the Huntsville plan, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and Australia announce they are accepting the plan and will accept any county’s silver or gold coins at the rates set in Huntsville. Two days later, Israel also announces their acceptance of the Huntsville plan. The President announces he will cut diplomatic relationships with any country that accepts the Huntsville plan versus the official American currency.

  Jay listens to the President’s speech frowning, he knows the speech will accelerate the secession movement. Lacy looks at him,

  “Honey, is everything alright? You should be happy. We’re sitting on hundreds of pounds of gold and silver. It’s worth more now than when we bought it. We still have the bank accounts with the new currency in them too.”

  “They’re not worth very much. I think we should convert whatever is left to the new coins. We’ll be protected from any additional losses. I’ll reach out to the bank in the morning.”

  “Why not call him tonight? I’m sure our banker will be happy to hear from you. You’re a very well-known figure in the South.”

  “Too well known.”

  “Honey, what are we going to do if it doesn’t rain soon? Are we going to starve?”

  “We can eat the new currency. On a serious note, the militia is looking for tanker trucks, we’re going to try to siphon lake and river water to irrigate the remaining crops. I talked to Fred, he told me he can’t remember a year like this. We survived so many attacks and battles only to lose the war because of a lack of rain.”

  “Do you think they’ll find enough water to save the crops?”

  “We know where the water is, it’s how to get it here which is the problem. We need trucks to transport the water to the crops, twelve hundred acres requires a lot of water. Water that Mother Nature has withheld from us. The worst is, we need more to plant thousands of more acres.”

  “I’m sure it will rain soon, it has to. This area is usually drenched with spring thunderstorms.”

  “I’d give real money, gold coins, for a couple of large thunderstorms. We need more than one. The ground is so hard from a lack of rain the first heavy rain we get will run off, it’ll be the second rain which soaks in and feeds the plants. Although I think the damage is already done. I think we’ve lost much of this spring’s crops.”

  “Can’t we change the crops to something that doesn’t need so much water?”

  “Every crop needs water. I can’t believe it hasn’t rained for two-plus months. I wish dad would have warned me about this.”

  “Honey, what’s with you talking about your dad? Why do you always wonder why your father didn’t warn you about something when he’s been dead for over fifteen years?”

  “I’m not sure I’m ready to talk about it. Do you mind if we postpone that part of the discussion?”

  “What are you too scared to talk to me about? What happened to you in the coma that has scared you so much?”

  “Lacy, I love you. Please believe me, I want to talk to you about it, but I just can’t. I’m hoping the day comes soon when I can talk to you about it.”

  Chapter 24

  Jay closes his computer, leaning back in his chair he closes eyes, hoping a little silent time will enable him to think about which path to take. He thinks, dad, why didn’t you tell me about the drought or about the push for a new confederacy. How am I going to feed over one thousand people without rain? Is the dark side playing games? Are they trying to break me? I don’t know why it’s raining in all of the other areas of the state except for here. Is there something I can do to make it rain, have I offended the powers in charge somehow? Is there a penance you want from me? Please, just tell me what you want, I’ll pay it, I’ll pay whatever you want in order to save these people. They haven’t done anything wrong. They’re the definition of an innocent bystander. Shit, I remember one of my college law professors asking us if we knew what the definition of an innocent bystander was, I’ll never forget his answer, ‘someone too stupid to get out of the way.’ Is this how you see the town’s people? Damn it, Dad, can’t you help me? What can I do to make this right?

  Jay sits in the dark for hours. Finally, he sighs opening his laptop, I might as well review Fred’s latest spreadsheet. I thought when I retired I was done with project spreadsheets and the dreaded PowerPoint presentation. He studies the spreadsheet for thirty minutes, leaning back in his chair he clicks on a couple of the cells to check Fred’s math. Damn, I wish he would have been wrong. We’ve got to find tankers, or it has to rain in the next couple of days or we’re going to be looking at a thousand hungry people and it’ll be my fault.

  He’s interrupted by a knocking at his door, he turns around seeing Tony standing in his doorway.

  “Come on it. Make yourself comfortable. What’s on your mind?”

  “We received a report from the Major, they found two tankers, neither works. They’re trying to repair them so they can bring us water. They should know by morning if they can repair them.”

  “Well, that’s a little bit of good news. Anything else I should know?”

  Tony smiles while nodding, “We also received a message from General Arthur, he asked if any of us are pilots.”

  “Like fly airplane pilots?”

  “Yup, he found a fire plane that was used to drop water on forest fires, they got the motor started, but none of them can fly it.”

  “You know; this is getting worse than the tale of the ‘Ancient Mariner. Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. That’s us, a fire department plane and no pilot. Broken tanker trucks, a lake within three miles full of water which we can’t move. We’re the ‘Ancient Mariners.’ We’re stuck. If I see an albatross land on the farm, I’ll know we’re damned. Damn it, there has to be a way out of this mess. There has to be a solution that’s right under my nose, something staring at us which I’m overlooking.”

  Tony looks at the ceiling; he notices some small holes above Jay’
s chair.

  “Throwing pencils up into the ceiling again? You know if Lacy catches you, she’s going to cut them off don’t you?”

  Jay smiles, “She has to catch me first.”

  “Man, you like to live dangerously. Not me. I like playing it safe.”

  “Since when? Who are you? What have you done to Tony?”

  Both men laugh.

  Tony looks at Jay,

  “Seriously, what do you think about a bucket brigade? We can line up people from the lake, each hands the other a bucket of water, we continue until we fill a small pond which we can use to pump into the fields.”

  “The lake is just past three miles, it will take more people than we have, plus, each time the bucket is moved, some will spill, by the time the bucket reaches the farm, there won’t be anything in them. We need to find another way. Even if we had a three-mile-long hose, we don’t have a powerful enough pump. We need to move the water from the lake here. The only way I can think of doing so is tanker trucks.”