After the Republic

by Frank L. Williams

  “I’m going to check on my wife and kids,” Jim said with a sense of urgency. “We’ll plan to see y’all Saturday.” Jim hugged both Joshua and Rebecca and headed for his jeep. “We’ll talk tomorrow. If the phone networks are working.”

  Joshua plopped down on the couch. Rebecca sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. Reagan sat at his feet, still trembling. Joshua put one arm around Rebecca and ran his fingers through her straight brown hair. He used his free hand to turn on the television, but there was no satellite signal. His tablet was still working. I’m amazed this still works, he thought. Tears came to his eyes as a news website confirmed that downtown Raleigh was the location of the nuclear blast they had just witnessed.

  The anchor explained that the second wave of attacks had not been confined to Raleigh. Bombs had breached several levees in New Orleans, flooding low-lying residential areas without warning. San Jose had been hit with an electromagnetic pulse weapon, wreaking havoc on electronic devices in Silicon Valley. A dirty bomb had gone off in Cincinnati, several car bombs had detonated near crowded areas in Austin, a suicide bomber had blown himself up in a mall in Boston and there had been an explosion near the naval yard in Norfolk.

  Joshua shook his head. “This is spiraling out of control faster than I ever imagined.”

  Rebecca looked up and sniffled. “Yes it is. So what’s the plan for Saturday?”

  “Saturday…” Joshua rehashed the plan that he and Thomas had discussed the night before.

  “He’s just going to give the land to us and whoever goes with us?” she asked.

  “Not exactly, and I wouldn’t ask him to do that. It’s his land, and we shouldn’t expect something for nothing. Anyone who wants to go will have an agreement with him to provide something for his family in exchange for the use of his land. If they don’t follow through, they’re out.”

  “Sounds like a good rule, but who’ll enforce it?”

  “You remember me talking about my friend, Bob Kendall?”

  “The guy who was in the Army for so long and worked at the legislature?”

  “That’s the one. He’s going with us. And he and Thomas are meeting here tomorrow afternoon.”

  “That’ll be interesting,” Rebecca said skeptically. “Thomas is so laid back and Bob sounds like a ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ kind of guy.”

  “It’ll be definitely interesting to see how they mesh.” Joshua chuckled. “But we need them both.”

  Drew finally emerged from the bathroom, pale and looking like he could get sick again at any moment. He trudged into the living room and silently collapsed onto a vacant recliner. After a few moments Joshua broke the silence. “Drew, you mentioned that your apartment was in downtown Raleigh. Where are you staying tonight?”

  “Umm, I hadn’t thought about it yet. Don’t know.”

  Joshua glanced at Rebecca, who silently nodded her approval to the unspoken question. “You’re welcome to stay here. We have a spare bedroom.”

  “Thank you so much. Still processing what happened today. Can’t believe it hit Raleigh.”

  Rebecca showed Drew the guest room while Joshua finished reading news coverage of the second wave of attacks. After a few minutes she returned and joined him on the couch. “Josh, are you sure about this? Packing up and moving to the mountains and abandoning our farm?”

  Joshua felt a pang of guilt. “I don’t like it either, but in my gut I know it’s the right move. I love it here, but all hell is breaking loose in this country and we’re too close to too many people here. We have to get out of the line of fire while we can.”

  “Okay, Josh,” she said unconvincingly. “But I don’t like it.”

  Joshua bit his lip. “Me either, but I need you to trust my judgment on this.”

  “I do, but I still don’t like it.”

  “Thank you, Becca. That means a lot. Especially now.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Perry gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands. He drove in silence down the winding, pitch-black road toward the mushroom cloud billowing over Raleigh. Caroline sat in the passenger seat, bawling like a baby. He fought back a tear as he reached over and squeezed her hand. She squeezed back for a moment, then withdrew her hand and turned away, silently staring out the window.

  Flashing blue lights overcame the darkness as they rounded a curve and approached a roadblock. An officer approached Perry’s truck. “Sir, you’re going to have to turn around. We can’t allow any vehicles beyond this point.”

  “I understand, but our children are there. Please let us go look for them. I realize we’ll be on our own if we go in, but we have to find them.”

  Caroline looked up at the officer through tear-filled eyes, her lower lip quivering. “Please…”

  The officer pursed his lips. “Hold on a moment, I’ll be right back.” He walked toward a vehicle surrounded by several men in suits and uniforms. Perry cocked an eyebrow as he noticed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security logo on the vehicle. They sure didn’t waste any time getting here.

  While Perry was waiting two of the officers approached the car in line ahead of him. He leaned out the window to hear what was said. He clenched his teeth as one of the officers barked out a command. “Give us your gun.”

  The driver objected loudly enough for Perry to hear. “But I have a concealed carry permit, and concealed weapons are allowed in this area.”

  “President Armando has imposed martial law and we need your gun.”

  “I am not giving it to you.”

  Perry’s heart leapt as one of the officers drew his Glock .40 on the man, who put his hands in the air and surrendered his pistol. He glanced at Caroline, who was fixated on the officers. “Honey, we have to cooperate with them or this could get ugly fast.” She sniffled and nodded.

  The officer returned to Perry’s window, accompanied by a man in a dark suit and a uniformed Homeland Security police officer. The man in the suit spoke sternly. “You need to turn around, now. We cannot allow you to enter this area.”

  “I understand, sir,” Perry calmly responded. “We’re just trying to find our children. They were supposed to be in Raleigh.”

  “Did you hear me? You need to turn around, NOW.”

  “Yes, sir.” Perry said. “We will do so.”

  “And we need your cell phones.”

  Perry’s brow furrowed. “Our cell phones?”

  “You heard me. Hand ‘em over.”

  “Why do you need our phones?”

  “You ask too many questions. Hand them over now.”

  Perry bit his lip as he looked at Caroline and handed their phones to the agent. Caroline began sobbing loudly.

  “Do you have any weapons in the vehicle?”

  “No, sir.” Perry swallowed hard.

  “Turn around and get out of here.”

  “Yes, sir.” Perry did a quick three-point turn and drove away from the roadblock. He exhaled a sigh of relief as the blue lights disappeared from his rear view mirror. “We’ll try again tomorrow, but there was no getting past those guys.”

  Caroline wiped a tear from her cheek. “Why did you tell him we don’t have any weapons?”

  Perry squeezed her hand. “The pistol is hidden, and I feel safer having it with us. I took a chance they wouldn’t do a thorough search.”

  ***

  A thick, haunting fog hung over the farm the next morning. Joshua was on the front porch with his cup of coffee perched precariously on the rail and his Bible in his lap when Rebecca finally made her way outside. She leaned over and kissed him. “Good morning. You’re up early.”

  “Hey,” he responded in a monotone voice. “A lot on my mind. So much to ponder.”

  “Me too. And I’m worried about Perry and Caroline.” Rebecca shivered as the brisk wind knifed through the yard. “It’s cold out here. I’m going inside.”

  “I’ll be in shortly.” Nearly an hour later he made his way into the house and turned on the television. “Le
t’s see if this works. I’m almost afraid to watch if it does.”

  Joshua cocked an eyebrow when the TV flared to life. The news anchor rehashed the prior day’s events. In addition, car bombs exploded in crowded areas in Detroit and Austin and a small fishing boat loaded with explosives damaged a docked U.S. Navy vessel in Norfolk. There are reports of looting and violence in some areas. Many federal government services have ceased operations due to the loss of personnel and infrastructure, and the same is likely to happen in states like North Carolina where the state capital was hit yesterday.

  British intelligence sources are privately telling us that they are still picking up a high volume of terrorist chatter and that they believe AIS is planning more attacks on U.S. soil. Analysts are warning citizens to be on the alert for potential copycat terrorists. Additionally, we are receiving reports that cargo ships, many of them transporting food and other essential items, are refusing to dock at American ports due to heightened security concerns.

  Meanwhile, President Armando has reassigned officers with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service, commonly referred to as FPS or ‘Homeland Security Police’, to help maintain order in areas victimized by looting and violence in the wake of this week’s attacks. Sources close to his administration tell us that he may enlist the military to assist as well. These Homeland Security officers were stationed throughout the country prior to this week’s attacks. President Armando has declared martial law in many areas. This move has several governors and local officials crying foul, with some voicing concerns that the federal government should assist local governments, not take the lead. One local official even went so far as to say that he worried federal police and the military would not leave once they are entrenched. The Armando administration rejected these concerns as ‘irrational fringe conspiracy theories driven by fear-mongering political extremists with selfish agendas’.

  The anchor paused for a moment, turned and looked to the side as if communicating with someone off-screen, then continued. We have breaking news that a bomb has damaged a major commercial rail line used to transport food and other critical items up and down the east coast. There are reports of accidents, traffic jams and multiple instances of road rage on major highways, especially near cities. Communication lines are down in many areas, but the nation’s wireless infrastructure seems to be holding its own. Authorities are encouraging people to stay in their homes unless travel is absolutely necessary.

  Joshua shook his head as he muted the television. “This is getting worse and worse. It’s a good thing we’re leaving tomorrow, but we’ve got a lot to do today. We need to pack everything we want to take with us so that we can do it all in one trip. I’ll work on big items from the barn, and you start packing the things we need from the house.”

  He walked toward the door. “A few more things… can you try to call Perry and Caroline and see if you can get up with them? And keep the tabs on the news? And check on Drew?”

  “Will do,” she answered. “Were you expecting anyone this morning?”

  “Not until this afternoon.”

  Rebecca pointed out the window. “Well, we’ve got company. It’s only 8:00.”

  Joshua looked out and saw a dark green GMC Yukon pulling a small, enclosed utility trailer making its way down the driveway.

  “I’m not sure who that is.” Joshua tucked his 9mm into his back pocket before stepping onto the porch. Rebecca watched from the doorway behind him and Reagan stood at his feet, barking incessantly.

  Joshua squinted, trying to discern who was driving this strange vehicle. He exhaled a sigh of relief when a familiar face emerged from the driver’s side. The new arrival was a tall, clean-cut, stocky man in his late 50s. He had short, gray hair and sported neatly pressed khaki cargo pants, dark brown boots and a long-sleeve black shirt featuring a U.S. Army logo.

  “It’s Bob Kendall.” Joshua looked back at Rebecca. “I wasn’t expecting him until later this afternoon.”

  An even taller man unfamiliar to Joshua emerged from the passenger side of the vehicle. He was slender and muscular, appeared to be around 30 years old and had blonde hair in a neatly trimmed crew cut. He looked the part of an active duty Army Infantryman or Marine who wouldn’t shy away from a bare-knuckles fight.

  “Good morning, Joshua,” Bob said. “I hope we didn’t startle you, but we thought you could use some help with your preparations.” Bob pointed in the direction of his guest. “This is Kane Martin. Martin served under my command in Operation Enduring Freedom after 9/11.” Joshua thought it odd that Bob addressed Kane by his last name.

  Kane stepped toward Joshua, stood at attention as if greeting a high-ranking officer and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir!”

  Joshua was caught off guard by the level of military formality in Kane’s greeting. “Umm, nice to meet you too.” He gestured in Rebecca’s direction. “This is my wife, Rebecca.”

  Kane extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, ma’am!”

  “Becca, you’ve heard me talk about Bob,” Joshua said. “He worked at the legislature as a sergeant at arms for a few years before retiring in 2012. Before that he was in the Army for 30 years and reached the rank of Command Sergeant Major. Oh, and he tells the best stories of anyone I know.”

  Bob let out a rare laugh. “No time for stories now. Let’s get started. Joshua, what is the plan and what do you need help with?”

  Reagan followed them at a distance, warily eyeing Bob and Kane as they walked to the barn.

  “Well, Bob, given your military background I was hoping you could help me figure that out. Let me start by telling you where we’re going. A friend of mine has land in the mountains, west of Asheville. He is going to let us set up and stay there.”

  “Who is this friend?” Bob asked.

  “Thomas Page.”

  Bob lit up a cigar. “What is his background? Do you trust him?”

  “I’ve known Thomas for years. Yes, I trust him. As a matter of fact, he built this house and barn for us.”

  “How secure is the property in question?”

  “I don’t really know. I haven’t seen it yet. It’s near the Fontana Dam. Pretty remote area.”

  “I know the area. That is away from population centers and major highways. Good.”

  “I’m going there under the assumption that we will be there indefinitely,” Joshua explained. “We need to take everything we need to be able to make do. What do you think should be on the list?”

  “First, you need protection,” Bob puffed on his cigar. “Second, provisions for food. Third, shelter.”

  Joshua’s brow furrowed. “What specific items do you think we need to take on Saturday?”

  Bob rattled off what sounded like a checklist in a survivalist handbook: “Guns. Ammunition – as much as you can get. Other weapons if you have them, such as bows or crossbows. Knives. Matches and other ways to start a fire. Cooking utensils. A portable grill, if you have it. Blankets and sleeping bags. Flashlights and all the batteries you can get your hands on. Rope. Twine. Canteens or jugs to store water. Warm clothes and boots. Sleeping bags. Fishing gear, given that we’ll be near a lake. Tools, including saws and axes to cut wood. Machetes. Binoculars or a telescope. Work gloves. Any and all non-perishable food items. Anything that can be traded and bartered for other things we may need.”

  Joshua furiously scribbled every item Bob mentioned onto a piece of scrap paper he found in the barn. “Anything else?”

  “Every bit of cash you can get your hands on, although it may not be worth anything soon. Let’s take a look around your barn and see if we need to take anything else you have.”

  The sound of frantic cackling filled the barn as they approached a small, caged area near the back. Bob pointed at the chickens. “They go, and we’ll need wire to build a coop.”

  “I’m assuming we should we take the cows, too?” Joshua asked.

  “Yes. Correct. And we’ll need fencing for them.”

>   Joshua scribbled on his list as Bob went into to the next room. Kane silently followed them while Reagan explored the barn.

  “What are these?” Bob pointed at small, dust-covered paper pouches stacked on shelving along the wall.

  “Seeds,” Joshua answered. “Sweet corn. Cucumbers. Tomatoes. Watermelon. Green beans. Peas--”

  “They all go,” Bob said. “And if you have it, we’ll need a way to preserve food, even if we do not have electricity.”

  “You mean like canning supplies?”

  “Affirmative. How do you plan to transport all of this?”

  “That’s a good question,” Joshua answered. “We’ll be stuffing our personal items into Rebecca’s SUV and pulling our trailer behind it. We could take my old farm truck if I had someone to drive it, but I’m not leaving Rebecca alone in the SUV.”

  Bob turned to Kane. “Martin, you’re driving Mr. Winston’s farm truck and pulling his cattle trailer. Get started loading the truck.”

  “Yes, sir!” Kane immediately began loading the truck, not muttering a word as he worked.

  “Let’s talk logistics,” Bob said. “We need to get from here to there undetected. And once we get there, we need to stay off the grid. The fewer people who know where we are, the better. Speaking of people, who is going with us?”

  “Six families and one individual in addition to you, Kane, Rebecca and me.”

  “How do you know these people?”

  “Some through work, some through politics, others through church. And some indirectly through others who are going.”

  “Who are they?”

  “Thomas, who owns the property, and his wife and kids.”

  “What does he do?”

  “A little bit of everything. He grew up on a farm and has been involved in everything from construction to real estate to land development.”

  “Who else?”