by Warren Ray
The men stood there silently as they watched the old man work the pump, within a minute he had gas coming up out of the ground and spilling on the concrete. Meeks grabbed the hose and shoved it into one of the trucks.
The old man struggled to get his creaky legs moving. Once up, he ordered Scar to take over.
He asked Winters. “So, you ex-military?”
“No sir, I’m not,” said Winters who followed him back into the store.
“How is it you’re in charge?”
Winters thought for a moment. “I keep asking myself that.”
He looked at him in surprise. “What do ya mean? Don’t you want to lead?”
“Well, it’s just I don’t think I’m the one to do it.” Winters was glad to be telling someone this. He liked talking to the old man who reminded him of his grandfather.
“What did you do before this?”
“I was a bookkeeper for a manufacturing company.”
“So, how’d ya end up in charge?” the old man asked again.
“By jumping out the back of a truck.”
He looked confused. “Excuse me?”
“Let’s just say I stumbled onto this by accident.”
He glared at Winters. “You seem to doubt yourself. What’s your first name?”
“Cole.”
“Cole, let me tell you something.” The old man put his hand on Winters’ shoulders. “Those men out there asked you to lead them for a reason. I don’t care what you think of yourself, but I don’t believe for a second, they would have asked if they didn’t see something in you. Maybe you don’t see it, but they do, and that’s what matters.”
The old man disappeared into the back office leaving Winters alone with his thoughts. He began to feel guilty again for resisting his duty. His sense of honor was important to him and as before, he thought he’d failed his friends, who now lay in a mass grave, dumped there like unwanted trash.
He drifted back outside in a mental fog.
“This one’s full, Captain,” Meeks yelled out to Winters.
Winters didn’t respond.
“Captain,” repeated Meeks.
The fog faded some. “Nate, why don’t you go and get the others,” said Winters.
“You got it, Captain.”
Nate hopped in the truck and drove away. Winters kept his eyes on Nate’s vehicle as he got back up the road, and thought how much more cooperative he’d become since Rogers's death. He tried to keep him busy with responsibilities, which seemed to help his grief.
Standing in the shade by the store, Winters’ mind wandered again to what the old man had said regarding the government being involved in these killings. It seemed logical but still, he couldn’t quite believe it or didn’t want to believe it. With everything that had happened over the past year, who would want to wake up to that reality? The Government had changed, but had it changed that much?
Some people were even accusing them of setting the dirty bombs that had gone off right before the Chinese attack. Chicago, St Louis and Kansas City had lost tens of thousands of people. The government blamed it on China to shake us up before they attack. Winters shook his head thinking about it. The truth was such a burden. No wonder so many would rather bury their heads in the sand. It was easier.
The old man came back out of the store. “You boys are more than welcome to any supplies you might need.”
He came over to Winters. “I hear you’re headed over to Wisconsin next.”
Winters didn’t answer right away. “Huh? Yeah, there’s a Patriot Center over there.”
“You best stay off the main roads, and don’t trust anyone who has anything to do with the government.”
Winters was only half paying attention.
“You all right, Cole?” asked the old man.
“Yes, I was just thinking.”
“About what?”
Winters took a long moment before answering. “Everything.”
They made more small talk while Elliott sat down with Scar and helped him work the pump. Before long, they could hear the rattle of vehicles as they noisily approached the gas station. Meeks moved and guided everyone over to where they should park. After the engines were turned off, there was, for a quick moment, complete silence. It was broken as the men got out and started talking and joking with one another.
“So, these are your men,” the old man asked.
Winters nodded.
The old man chuckled. “Little out of shape now, aren’t we?”
“Yes, but what we lack in good health, we make up in spirit.”
“Well, I hope you guys got a lot of spirits.”
Scar interrupted with a big laugh. “What do you think has been keeping us going, old man? You’re more than welcome to join us if you think you can keep up.”
“Oh, I could handle it,” he replied with a smirk on his face.
“I like this guy,” Scar said to Winters pointing at the old man.
“You should, he is giving us free stuff.”
Scar nodded.
It took over an hour to fill the tanks of all the vehicles, during which time the men found different things to do. They were more than happy to take up the old man’s offer to take anything they wanted. Some of the men took advantage of the snack cakes and soda pop, while others lounged around smoking, hard to come by cigarettes.
Winters sat at a table inside the store with Elliott, Nate, Scar, and Meeks, who had quickly become his lieutenants. Scar with his Marine experience would be their primary strategic advisor for combat situations. They looked down at a map and pinpointed where the Patriot Centers were located and mapped out a route they should take.
When it was time to go, the men gave their sincere thanks to the old man for his generosity and climbed aboard the trucks.
“Can’t thank you enough for everything,” said Winters.
“It’s been my pleasure, Cole. Remember what I told ya, okay? You just help as many people as you can, but know this, the longer you’re at it, the worse it’ll get. They’ll throw everything they can at you.” He gripped Winters’ hand firmly and held on for a few seconds.
“We will, sir. Thank you.”
Scar grabbed the man’s hand. “You got a hell of a grip there for an old man. You sure you don’t want to join us?”
“Wish I could. Boy, I sure do wish I could.”
“Starting to think he could show us a thing or two,” said Scar with his big smile.
On any other day, this would have been a great day to meet a new friend, but as things stood, they needed to go. It was a sad reminder of their reality. The men got in their trucks and waved to the old man as they pulled out of his parking lot. Knowing, in all likelihood, they would never see him again.
Chapter 21
Western Side of Wisconsin
Winters, feeling a little overwhelmed with everything the old man had told him, leaned his head back on the seat and closed his eyes. The wound in his arm pulsated with every beat of his heart. The area around it had grown stiff and sensitive to the touch. He reached into his jacket, grabbed some aspirin, and swallowed four of them.
He had enough on his mind trying to come up with a plan but after talking to the old man, he wondered if he’d ever be done. Winters thought perhaps the old man had it right about the government. It was a hard pill to swallow because no one wanted to believe their government would do such a thing, but then they did throw out the Constitution. Perhaps they were involved, but to what end? If China has its way, there might not be an America left. What then?
How the government ever got itself in a position to lose a war on its homeland was baffling. The war out West had not been going well. Ten straight years of cuts in the military budget had left a shell of a once great fighting force. They had cut the manpower in half, and many of those remaining were not of the same quality as in the past. Morale had sunk so low that they were forced to reduce the standards to fill the ranks.
During the same period America had bee
n cutting its forces, the Chinese had continued to build theirs. Why would we allow something like that to happen?
Regardless, China saw an opportunity and simultaneously attacked San Diego and Los Angeles. American forces, unprepared, understaffed and ill-armed, collapsed and within a few days, the Chinese took out the Navy on Coronado. Then they bombed both cities for a couple of days before they sent in troops. Tens of thousands of Californians died during the bombing and the ensuing massacre. Within a month, China had conquered Southern California and headed north.
The Shadow Patriots were all alone, fighting a fight no one was even aware of. They could depend on no one but themselves. It was going to be a lonely battle with an unknown enemy.
In the past year, America had fallen down and Winters didn’t know if she would ever be able to get back up again. With little to no gasoline and limited electrical power, Americans struggled to survive. Food shortages became the norm, as did medical supplies. Most of the population in the Midwest who had not been killed or contaminated by the dirty bombs had moved south as the war started.
However, conditions were not much better in the South, especially with such a massive influx of people. Thousands died from disease, which ran rampant through the camps. Supplies, already short, ran even lower and had to be rationed. These were truly the times that tried men’s souls and America’s soul was facing a supreme challenge.
“Captain, we could intercept a truck convoy on the route we’re taking,” said Scar studying the map.
Winters turned to the back. “Can we get them to stop?”
Scar smirked. “Oh, we can get them to stop alright.”
Winters glanced over to Elliott. “What do you think?”
“Be a heck of a lot easier to deal with these guys separately.”
Winters nodded in agreement.
Elliott moved his hand from the steering wheel to the console. “You know, I’ve been thinking about this recruitment program. I remember they were offering this deal to guys our age, only here in the Midwest.”
“Surely they’re doing it on the East Coast,” said Winters
“No, not at all, not for guys our age.”
“You sure about that?” asked Winters.
“Yeah, I’ve got friends back East, and I talked to 'em about it a while back and they were surprised.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. When it first started, they only recruited younger guys, and then anyone with military experience.”
“But that was happening on the East Coast as well. I remember how people were signing up left and right,” said Winters
“Yes, but only the young guys, and once they began to run out is when they upped the age of eligibility, and then to guys our age. Only that phase wasn’t put into effect back East.”
“When did you hear from them last?”
“Just before winter.”
Winters shook his head not knowing what to think about it. Someone must hate Midwesterners that's for sure.
As they traveled further east into Wisconsin, the terrain continued to change with more trees and hills. This would be to their advantage because the steeper inclines will slow down the big transports.
“We're in luck, there’s the convoy,” said Elliott.
Winters lifted his head and focused his eyes. “I see it.” He turned around. “You guys ready back there?”
“Ready to rock and roll, Captain?” said Scar.
The three-truck convoy had just reached the peak of a big hill and would soon be out of sight. Elliott stopped the vehicle before reaching the top. All four of them got out and walked back to Nate’s pickup as he pulled up behind them.
“What are we doing, guys?” Nate asked.
“Convoy just up ahead. We’re gonna intercept it,” said Elliott.
“Yeah baby,” responded Nate enthusiastically.
They crouched down when they got to the top, where they could hear the booming engines echoing through the valley before they spied the transports starting slowly up the next hill.
Scar laughed. “They’re slower than molasses. Hell, even Meeks could run alongside them and keep up.”
Meeks returned the jibe. “Which is funny seeing how I’m always having to wait for you.”
Scar held his hands up in mock self-defense.
Winters rolled his eyes. He looked at Scar. “How can we get these guys to stop?”
Scar thought for a second. Why don’t we pull up beside them and flag them down; like we need to tell them something.”
“Let’s do a drive by and shoot the bastards,” said Nate.
Winters and Scar exchanged glances.
Scar responded. “No, we don’t want them crashing into each other. Think about the volunteers.”
“Okay,” Winters interrupted. “Meeks, Scar, and I will run up to them. I’ll take the last truck, the middle one’s yours, Scar, and Meeks, you go for the first one. The rest of you stay put, but as soon as Meeks gets to his, I want everyone to cover the sides.”
As he laid out this plan, Winters felt a bit more confident than before. He tried to take the old man’s advice to heart.
The men hurried back to their vehicles. They came up over the ridge where Elliott picked up speed and raced down, giving the vehicle a running start up the next steep incline. Reaching the top, they noted the convoy had started its next long climb.
“Alright everybody, keep your guns out of sight,” said Winters.
Elliott involuntarily gripped the steering wheel tighter as increased adrenaline coursed through his body. Moments later, he was right behind the transport. He moved into the other lane, got up beside it, and honked the horn. Winters waved his hand up at the driver who returned the wave. Winters motioned him to pull over. The driver let off the gas. The other two slowed down as well.
Elliott pulled back and parked behind them as the convoy came to a stop on the incline of the hill. Winters took a deep breath and reached into his jacket to give his Colt a reassuring touch. He got out and waved to the volunteers in the back. Scar and Meeks joined him as they walked to the first vehicle.
“Stay with me for a second before you go,” Winters said calmly.
He hopped up and greeted the driver. “I’ve been sent by Colonel Nunn to make sure everything is alright with the convoys, and to escort you guys in.”
“Is something wrong?” asked the driver who wore a dangling earring.
Winters turned his head and signaled the other two to go. He turned back around, reached into his jacket, pulled out his pistol and told the driver. “Don’t make a move, and everything will be alright. Keep your hands on the steering wheel.”
The confused driver asked. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, we just need to make sure you guys are who you say you are, we had that trouble down in Iowa, and so we’re just being extra careful now.”
The driver relaxed a little and sat in silence, while Scar and Meeks proceeded to the other transports. As soon as Meeks got to his, everyone came rushing out and surrounded the convoy.
“Now listen, my guys are a little jumpy, so I want you to get down nice and slow. Once we’re satisfied everything checks out, you can be on your way,” said Winters.
The driver, doing what Winters had told him to do, got out and climbed down. They searched the three drivers and moved them together to the center of the road where they asked for their papers. Meeks and Scar made a big deal of trying to sound as legitimate as possible, enjoying the moment.
Winters had the volunteers get out of the transports, and move back to the pickups so he could address them. He explained the whole story to them, and they reacted the same as the others had, surprised, shocked and angry. Two of them more than the others, because they had relatives who had come through the Center recently. Their reaction got Winters' attention because he didn't want any trouble from the two angry ones, so he decided to keep all these new volunteers here and out of harm's way.
Winters had just finishe
d briefing the volunteers when Meeks interrupted, “Captain, we need to go. Drivers said they’re on a real tight schedule and are expected to be on time.”
“Do they still think we’re Colonel Nunn’s men?” Winters asked.
“Oh yeah, they ain't very bright,” said Meeks with a hick accent. “Scar is having way too much fun with them.”
“You got their procedures upon entering the drop off point?”
“Sure do,” said Meeks.
Winters walked over to Scar, who was enjoying a cigarette one of the drivers had given him. “Thought you said you didn’t smoke.”
Scar winked at Winters. “I don’t normally, but couldn't hardly turn down a nice gesture. Didn't want to be rude, don't cha know.”
Winters shook his head. “Well, I’m glad you still have your manners at a time like this.”
He turned his attention to the drivers. “Gentlemen, I’m afraid I have some terrible news.”
“Is there something wrong? We’re who we say we are, I swear,” said the driver with the dangling earring.
“No, it’s not you, it’s us, we’re not who we said we are. Colonel Nunn didn’t send us, in fact, Colonel Nunn would love to stop us.”
The three of them looked dumbfounded as Winters went on.
“We’re the ones who burned down the train station in Iowa. Perhaps you heard about that?”
They all nodded.
“Are you going to kill us?” asked one of them.
“No! We’re not murderers, unlike you guys,” said Winters with contempt in his voice.
They hung their heads low when he said this because no matter how they justified their actions, they knew they were guilty of murder.
Wanting to hurry, Winters hustled back to the group of men who stopped chatting as he approached.
“Listen up guys, we’re headed up to the drop-off location. We’ll be back as soon as we get done there. Afterward, you guys can either join us or go home, it’s up to you.”
“Mind if we come with you?” asked someone from the back.
Two people stepped forward. “I’m Burns, and this is Murphy,” he said extending his hand.