by Ron Foster
Someone around here had to walk up and down the road after a long day of running trap line and butcher the catch to prepare it for cooking and it wasn’t going to be him if he could help it. You got to use what you got and barter for what you deliver in this society. Donald had traps, the knowledge to use them, and security of his weaponry to offer to them. They had not much more than hungry mouths, empty bellies and willingness most likely now to do most anything they could to avoid starvation to assist him. Shit, might as well put the possum pens over there too and let them feed and water the animals as he brought them in. Let the old folks decide who was doing community potluck suppers when them boys delivered a portion to them and everyone’s hopes of dying from old age might just be realized.
I need to go talk to that old guy up the county highway that parks that gravel hauling looking truck up on the side of the road from me. The guy that cleared my property told me that he uses it to haul feed for his cattle on some property he owns on the county line. That contractor said he was a pretty good old guy and allowed him to dump stumps and brush on his property to use as landfill when he cleared my place, so at least we got something in common to introduce ourselves by. That is Catherine’s neighbor, well a 4 door down country mile neighbor. If he will let us local boys guard that cow herd of his some in exchange for some good beef steaks occasionally, I might just be able to get LowBuck to stick around. Myself, Michael and him could swap out cattle guard duties amongst themselves, one week on, one week off as long as the gas lasts for them to travel to work. Then we could use the two bicycles we got to swap out relieving each other for transport to and from our duty stations. If need be the three of us are a formidable force to be reckoned with and the girls could more than hold their own as a defensive force for the farmsteads particularly if Catherine would lead them as the head “mamma with a gun” if the squad was needed to take care of a situation requiring a bit more firepower if someone else organized a cattle rustling crew that threatened our benefactor or attempted a raid.
The three men could stay individually or collectively in a tent near the cow herd’s pasture and exchange their vigilance for some farmer chow daily as well as some meat to carry back and smoke for the families.
Could be this was all a pipe dream for Donald. He had added hundreds of dollars worth of commercial traps, aircraft cable snares, various baits and lures to his preps over the years for just this sort of an occasion. That damned book the Rural Ranger he had read long ago had got his mind thinking about how to approach just such a situation as he was presented with and he had bought a few 110 conibears in lieu of storage food because it made more sense to have them, than 10 bucks worth of canned goods that served no purpose after they were consumed in a few days. He had something nobody else did to acquire his next meal that would work 24/7 and also learned the trapping trade as best he could from Prepper Archeology books and other references so he became an expert in the trade of food procurement he could offer to strangers in trade for a meal that would give him the energy to replace it if he was on the move.
This state was like one big pool table about right now. There would be pockets of those that survived and thrived out here in the country and places that no matter which pocket you made it would be a scratch shot or eight ball loser if you miscalculated your luck.
Donald always hated thinking in terms of a pool game. He was busily engaged in his new game that didn’t have many rules called survival.
THE END Book 2 THE SOLITARY MAN: IN DEFENCE OF PREPPERS!
Begin Novella Book 3
The Solitary Man`s Post-Apocalyptic Grid
30 Fading Fast
“Any thoughts on what are we going to do now Donald?” Michael said as he aimlessly moved his pawn across the board of what seemed to be a never ending chess game that neither one was having much interest in. It had been raining on and off for days and this had proved to be a mixed blessing to the survivors of the geomagnetic storm that forced them to stay indoors in close quarters and boredom the past week from the depressing weather.
“Well as far as I know the wild fires are finally out, but they sure got damn close. I have no idea what they did to the town, but that’s even more homeless that’s going to be moving around. At least we got two good houses for now. Which reminds me, what’s up with them folks that moved in next to you? All they got down there is that old barn and the tents they brought. I know they are going to be suffering some after a week of bugging out of the big city and then being forced to live under those miserable conditions. Have you seen or talked to them the last few days?” Donald asked and countered Michaels move to open up his chess pieces ranks with a knight.
“I have seen them a few times but that was inbetween rain downpours and only because me or Amy was watching for them from the trailer windows. They brought boxes of supplies with them it appeared, but I haven’t socialized with them except the one brief meeting when they pulled in and after they unloaded. Apparently one of them was going to build cabin over there before the solar storm and Birmingham got to screwed up to stay in. They said the looting and riots were rampant already so they headed this way. They got lots of deer rifles but they ain’t carrying them at the moment.” Michael concluded and threatened Donald’s knight with his bishop.
“Good move there Michael!” Donald replied looking over the board with renewed interest. “I don’t particularly like leaving my house unguarded to visit you down here but if it did get raided they wouldn’t get much. Ever since I noticed all the extra folks moving into the neighborhood I have been kind of jumpy lately.” Michael said pondering the countermove Donald had come up with.
“I think everyone had relatives move in down this way and most of them younger kids appear to be Meth Heads. Somebody must have been making that shit around here because they are high when you see them and also got that bad habit of walking this road late at night.” Donald said looking over at his Mom who was looking out the front window at the rain while standing a 4 hour guard shift in case of any unwanted visitors decided to come down the driveways. LowBuck and Cat were in the backroom add on doing the same and playing crazy eights or something and depending more on their dog to alert them to any intruders.
“It’s probably them SOBs up on the left but there is no telling. I am with you though they either brought it with them or a neighbor is supplying. Them rapscallion neighbors of yours were out on the road talking to some of them freaks the other night but didn’t stay out long. Still it was 2am and misting rain so something was up. You in “Check” Donald. “ Michael said grinning and not thinking that Donald could get out from under the threat to his king.
“I don’t think there is any hope for any of them speed freaks. One thing for sure is I don’t want to be worrying about them every minute which is why we are having this little meeting. I saw old Max’s grandson out on the road last night and kind of screwed up by introducing myself to him and later his girlfriend. The boy was buzzed and I kind of friendly like interrogated him as to who is who around here. He didn’t say a lot but I got what I needed. There are a lot more meth freaks around here than I thought. I am pretty sure one or both of those houses running a generator on this road has them a meth lab. We could run the creeks on both sides of the road to figure out maybe which one it is, but I bet both creeks will be so polluted now with chemicals ,whether from them or from that chemical plant that burned up the road that we need to be moving on.” Donald said ominously and checkmated Michael’s king.
“Damn boy, you distracted me.” Michael said looking for any way out of the fix he was in that would end the chess game.
“Donald, exactly what do you mean by moving on? I ain`t letting them son of a bitches run us off. I already told you, if you didn’t have the heart to dispose of the problem I would…” Michael said looking stern.
“I second that!” LowBuck said suddenly appearing in the doorway. “That’s a solution guys, but it don’t solve the problem. Our water supply is probably contaminated w
ith some shit that my filters won’t remove like heavy metals or something. I am still on stored water, no telling what is in this rain we got falling on us and the crops and don’t forget about that damn nuke plant down the road. I ain’t comfortable with the possibilities they got that thing shutdown or not already. Besides, Bernie already shot two folks for shooting one of his dogs and that sucker is even getting crazy eyed if I mention much about the problems to come. We going to get back to him later, but right now, let’s consider an option I came up with. I know where there is an old youth camp up at the lake that is vacant and was for sale before the SHTF. It’s got plenty of room for everyone and also has its own 8 acre stocked fish pond. The thing is a dream come true for us, it has everything you would think one of those places has, like canoes, docks, chow hall, cabins etc. It was being sold as is with the bush hog tractors etc. so we got garden equipment already on sight and better than we got here that doesn’t need to be shared. “Donald said excitedly trying to win his friends over and give them the jest of what he thought was a fine proposal.
“How far and how big is this lake you talking about? Wait a minute, it has a pond and a lake on the property?” said a befuddled LowBuck.
“Yea, Man, remember I showed it to you on the internet. I said if we won the lotto or I closed that mega deal I was working on that it would be a great place to have to run prepper conferences or teaching retreats at. Donald said referring to past plots and schemes they had had over the years.
“ Oh yea. That big place built like a steel ready built school with the cabins surrounding it.” Bubba began. “Hang on Donald and Bubba, You never mentioned this before. Bring me up to speed. This was some kind of summer camp in the past? A recreational facility of sorts?” Michael said waving a finger at Amy to still keep watch no matter how interesting this conversation was getting. Donald had no luck doing the same with his mother and instead moved to the same lookout window as hers and carried on the conversation from across the room.
“It was a project that me Goat Hollow and LowBuck discussed awhile back. It has a huge commercial kitchen run on a giant propane tank. Probably still has some fuel in it, horse trails and stables, no horses though. Very few neighbors, craft classrooms, bunks you know like a little rich boys summer camp. I say we move there and the hell with this place and whoever is now living here.” Donald said anticipating compliance in the group.
“You think it’s still vacant then?” Michael asked pointedly at Donald. “Should be, it wasn’t sold, but gentleman and ladies.. If it’s not … we got to take it because we will be out of gas and out of options by the time we arrive.” Donald said searching the faces of his survivors group for recognition of the realization that he was proposing something pretty possibly dangerous and nasty.
“You mean to tell me that if the place is occupied we just kick the residents out?” LowBuck said confused that his normally peaceful friend would propose such an operation.
“Sorry to say that’s exactly what I mean. I ain’t staying in the woods fulltime being sweet and nice looking for a vacant house while being within sight of my target stranded. Cold hard fact, they join us, fight us, or leave. I say its vacant still, if not, get your war face on and we give an ultimatum. I am not advocating going in guns a blazing but there be smoke on the water if we get the wrong answer. We got a lot to offer someone if they want to ally themselves and I don’t see a reasonable alternative do you?” Donald said in that strange matter of fact voice he got into when threatened with over whelming odds.
“Shit we can take it!” Michael said already committed before the hen party of ladies started objections of “What if there were children? What if there were mothers etc.?”
“My Truck will be loaded with at least ¾ of a ton of our supplies and I might even start to run out of gas before we get there. If I break down on their doorstep what do you think I should be doing? Not like I can walk up and ask them to call Triple A to send a wrecker to rescue me. We got enough gas in all vehicles to get there and have a little bit, a very little bit, leftover to move to another area or end up basically dying in place without our destinations resources and shelter. I would actually welcome them receiving us with open arms and being and becoming a defensible community but who knows who or what types of people we find there? Think about it, the two other camps I know of in the area are about 50 miles apart and one is for retarded kids and the other is Youth offender schools, oh and a hospice. It is going to be vacant I tell you and the only people we are liable to trip across is locals searching it for food.” Donald said adamantly.
“I am in, the hell with this place” Michael said reaching for his AK and going to make the houses perimeter rounds.
“I will be back.” Amy said grabbing the SKS and following Mike to talk about in private the decision that sounded like it was already made.
“Can we recon it without too much trouble?” LowBuck said watching the pair start to go out on roving guard.
“It looks like it from the pictures but pictures been known to lie.” Donald said admittedly
“Sweetie, we in?” Bubba said to a worried Cat that was sitting with and consoling Donald’s distraught Mother. “I don’t want nobody hurt, Donald it sounds safe enough. We won’t be required to do anything too bad will we if we are forced to take that camp I hope ?” Cat said patting his mom’s hand to consoler herself as the elderly women.
“I certainly hope not. It’s all going to depend on just who it is that might be there. It shouldn’t be too hard to scare off a few people if they were assured they could go in peace. The place is big enough for all of us if they want to stay. We will approach anyone we meet friendly enough and try to have a parlay. It’s all going to depend on how desperate their conditions are, or that they think they are. The pond and lake have plenty of fish so they shouldn’t be totally starving. But like I said it should be vacant. “Donald said diplomatically so as not to alarm anyone further of his intentions.
“Unless they are locals and hunters, I doubt they would have more than a few pistols.” Michael said giving his assessment.
“You are probably right Mike. There might be a few 22 rifles still there. That place has a small marksmanship range as I remember. Whether the rifles would still be around or how they are secured is debatable. I say they are gone because it would take a ATF license to transfer them to a new owner unless you somehow made it just a private sale, but most people would be bank financing the property and including them in a mortgage would be too big of a hassle for too little money I would suspect.” Donald concluded.
“Is there any other building or houses in that area that might be suitable, say if for whatever reason that place isn’t feasible to occupy once we get there? That’s a big risk you are asking us to take Donald. What if when we get there and the place is burned down like probably half of town is by now? Then what?” Amy said accusingly
“Good point Amy. That hadn’t crossed my mind yet. We would be up the creek that far out without a paddle to get back. Ok, we should see signs of wildfire long before we get there if there is a problem, so we would get some warning on whether or not to go on to our destination. Shit, I don’t know that area well, no readily available objectives or destinations other than that come to mind. That lake has 750 miles of coastline so we divert and go looking for a vacant vacation cabin somewhere is all I can come up with…” Donald replied pondering what he might be getting himself and his friends into if his former bright idea was inaccessible for any reason.
“That still leaves forcing ourselves on another community as squatters or occupiers and if we going to have us a little war of wills I just soon have it on the ground around here I know versus someone else’s backyard. You know what I mean Donald.” Michael said going to go have a peek at the unwatched window that covered the woods in back of the house.
“We a tribe now folks, that’s what tribal people do is have disputes with other tribes over resources. This has been going on for millions of years and th
e veil of civilized society right now has got a lot thinner. If we got to run around like a pack of dogs to get by we will, but even dogs respect each other’s boundaries to some extent. The reasoning behind that is not based on some human concept of morality and respect; it is based on animal commonsense. If an animal gets hurt in a fight it can’t hunt as well and its chances of survival are diminished, so you avoid fights or you get into it for dominance with minimal injuries with another animal because you both know the whole point of it is to make the other animal move out of your territory. They don’t fight to kill or maim usually, they fight until one backs down and is allowed to leave. We won’t be cornering anyone, routes for unfettered escape will always be available unless it’s a do or die situation. Then its Katy bar the door and let hell come out and play.” Donald said trying to express his logic.
“ Well either I got to get them folks next door to me in agreement on mutually acceptable terms or drive them off is that what you are saying?” Michael said irritably.
“Brother, I respect you and pretty soon me and you need to start teaching our tribe some basic infantry tactics but we aren’t at war with anyone in particular and we need alliances for mutual defense. I was sort of half ass thinking of bringing them with us on this little road trip if they seemed civilized and useful after we had some more conversations.’ Donald said carefully studying everyone’s reactions.
“Screw that, we already had this conversation on the need to keep our own supplies for ourselves. If we need an extra gun or two if we staying around here that’s one thing, otherwise I say we go with what we got.” Michael replied getting agitated.
“Just a suggestion, but like we said before, its best to be the club owner that teaches his bouncers to talk patrons out versus beat them out. I am adverse about taking in anything other than a stray dog maybe at the moment to increase my security, because at least with them you know where their loyalties lay somewhat. Hell, applying the same principle of evaluating the expense and care of a dog in terms of food out of our mouths don’t make sense, so neither does taking on an extra warrior or two or three doesn’t either. That is unless he or she can provide their own food. That’s also my point, those folks been hunting deer their whole lives based upon the way you described their guns when they settled in. let them hunt for us and protect the clan and in return we feed them until we get settled?” Donald stated so the room listeners could consider this wisdom.