“You have got to be kidding me,” I state, dumbfounded.
“Kobelco CK1200G, one-hundred-twenty ton lattice crane. Two hundred foot main boom with a seventy foot jib. I found all the stats in the main cab. It’s all there, Mark. And it’s right in our backyard.”
Jaw agape, I stare in wonder. “No freaking way! This is what you need isn’t it!”
“This is what we need, Mark. It’s a track, so we have to figure out how to get that working. But, little brother, we’re bringing one of those generators down. We’re going to start generating electricity.” Paul is beaming, there is a light in is eye that could light up the darkest hour.
I smile, then laugh. I high five my brother. The people around us, our convoy escorts and a few of the locals start to chatter as word spreads of what we are going to try to do. We send a runner back to fetch Professor Dombrosky.
Within fifteen minutes a large crowd has gathered. Some are cheering and a festive mood abounds. We have to set a guard perimeter around the crane to keep the enthusiastic crowd away from our find.
Paul makes a few new friends from the college staff with various engineering degrees and plans are formulated to get the beast of a crane running again. A few naysayers bring in a bit of pessimism. Rather than arguing with them, Paul challenges them to solve problems they raise. This challenge brings many of the naysayers into his group of problem solvers. But a few walk away, thinking of us as modern day Don Quixotes. Professor Dombrosky, realizing he has something we really need, pushes for a hard bargain. I chastise him for how easily he has given up his socialistic principals.
Before our convoy heads back towards our home territory, plans are laid to have our people and their people meet the next day to begin trying to get the crane running. Significant amounts of food will be brought to the campus in return for their cooperation. If the project works, the campus will receive a monthly commission in food, and their own generator.
When we rolled onto the campus six hours earlier, we were greeted by blank stares and suspicious eyes. We leave as friends exchanging high fives and being cheered on for our efforts. Paul’s smile continues to shine on. I know inside he is thinking of his kids and grandkids, but he is doing what he can with the talents God blessed him with to make things right here and now.
Chapter 33, Go Time
Chaffe Estate
10/15
Dean and his wife are in a state of panic. Major Jeffers and his team are packing up and getting ready to leave. Dean is torn, he is sworn to secrecy. But if he doesn’t do something soon, he will be on his own, a very scary situation, because he knows what has happened to his fellow elites.
He knows that high level security compounds across the country have been overrun or are in a state of siege. Only New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii have been spared from the effects of the EMP attack. And they are in turmoil as well, especially Hawaii, being so dependent on imports to feed its people.
But the elites who have bugged out or bunkered down around the world are facing huge problems, just as he is. An ultra-secure complex outside of Houston has been overrun and has been off the air for a week. Same with similar complexes outside of Atlanta and Baltimore. A complex in Phoenix and two complexes in the Los Angeles foothills have been located and are surrounded by refugees. The complexes still standing are screaming for help. But there is no one to help them, no way for help to get there.
Several complexes built into the old missile silos in the mid-west are doing well. They are remote enough to be immune to the swarms of starving people coming out of the cities. They have even started barter systems with the local farmers. But most of the people who bought space in these silos never showed up, caught in the major cities with no way to get to their hideout, or killed in the nuclear explosions that rocked many coastal cities.
Dean also knows that there is no federal government. The last person to try and act as Commander and Chief was the Secretary of Homeland Security, who tried to institute martial law. That led to the disintegration of the military, which happened over the last two weeks, as many “Oath Keepers” in the command structure refused to order their soldiers to fire on American citizens.
Dean knows all this because he does have a secure satellite communication system that was put in place for just this type of situation. And what he has heard from that system horrifies him. The social media billionaire, Chad Devo never got out of Silicon Valley and is presumed dead. The web guru of Seattle managed to escape by boat to his Hawaiian estate but is besieged by the locals who are desperate for food. Only the remote enclaves have survived; the compounds in the Rockies and vast Midwest plains, far away from any crowds that could overwhelm them by sheer force in numbers.
A loud knock at the door brings Dean back to the here and now. “We bug out in four hours. We have a destination set, Mr. Chaffe. I recommend you come with us.”
Dean turns to his son Carl, who has been sitting with him in quiet solitude. Carl knows everything Dean knows. Carl is the electronics and computer brains that helped set up and run the clandestine communications system. He has his wife, two of three kids and four grand kids on the estate.
“I can’t leave here, Carl. My wife’s grand pap built this estate. I promised him to keep it going. I can’t leave. But I won’t bind you to that. Take those who want to go. I trust Major Jeffers. And take the secure comm system too. We don’t want that falling into the wrong hands. Tell the major what we know. That will be vital information to help you all survive.”
“No!” Carl states firmly. “If it is safe enough for you, then it is safe enough for us. We all stay, or we all go; that is it!”
Ignoring his son’s statement, he turns to the major. “I will not let my estate be overrun without a fight. Show me what you put in place and I will slow the bastards down. It will give you more time to make your way over the mountain before anyone pursues you.”
Dean sees a look of hesitancy in the major’s eyes. “Major, I was an infantry lieutenant in Vietnam. That was many years ago, but I can do what I need to do. I can give you extra time to save my family.”
The major looks at the man before him, sees the determination is his face, and nods. “We’ll do everything we can to save your family. I’ll show you the surprises we have set up, but we have to move fast.”
The next four hours is controlled chaos as the wealthy family and its staff prepare to bug out. Arguments rage about what to take and what to leave. They have to follow a very lean protocol as they will be on foot and only have a dozen horses and two wagons available, and they will have to follow steep old logging roads to make it over the mountain.
Family heirlooms have to be discarded. The mercenaries assigned to help them insist that items needed to help them survive the arduous journey and keep them safe, like weapons and ammunition, have to be a priority. Family portraits must be left behind to make room for valuable working communications systems and other working electronic equipment. Photo albums are left behind to make room for chainsaws, winches and other useful gear. Dean finally lays down the law, the security team has the final say on what goes and what stays.
Two groups will leave the mountain enclave at two in the morning, from two different remote porticos. They will travel separately to a rally point where two logging roads meet near the crest of Laurel Mountain. From there they will make their way to the gravel roads that will get them to the outpost on Hickory Flats Road. Including the security men and the Chaffes’ staff, over one hundred people will be moving out of the complex, trying to be as silent as possible, on a cold dark night.
* * *
Eight people refuse to leave the large manor. They are mostly staff who have worked for the Chaffes for years. Several are veterans and know what they face. They are briefed on the defensive systems set in place.
“They are going to realize the compound has been abandoned and they will come after you,” Major Jeffers tells the small group. “They may figure it out tonight, or it may take them
three days, I don’t know. But with what we have set up, what I just showed you, you can hold them off for several hours.” He turns to Dean. “We will do our best to keep your people safe. Any extra time you can give us will be a few more miles between us and the bad guys.”
“I know what we are doing is what needs to be done,” Dean states quietly. “Keep my family safe. I am at peace with the Lord. I have led a good life. Now go.” The major turns reverently and leaves, heading out the long tunnel to where they will exit the estate and make their way over the mountain.
Chapter 34 Ain’t Workin’
Davidsville Area
10/15
David Jones’ belly aches as he walks through the eight foot tall stalks of corn, plump ears ripe and ready to pick. His security man stops him. “What we are missing is just ahead.” The security man whispers. Through the last few rows of corn, David sees an old Ford tractor pulling a John Deere forage harvester through the vast corn field, ears of corn shooting out into the farm wagon that four strong horses pull alongside it.
“Why aren’t we harvesting corn like that?” David exclaims. “What’s wrong with our farmers? Why are we harvesting corn by hand? That’s how we should be doing it. That will give us food to feed the cows and pigs through the winter. The way we are doing it, most of the animals will starve, which mean we will starve.”
Dean’s security man abruptly takes David to the ground and covers his mouth. Fear exudes from David’s eyes as he thinks he is about to be over thrown by some palace coup. But his guard whispers in his ear. “Shoosh, their security team is coming by.” They lay quietly for several minutes and listen as a foot patrol walks by, just ten yards away.
Several minutes after the last footfalls are heard, the guard grabs David by the sleeve and leads him away from Lucas Thomas’ farm. This is the independent farm that took back their land. They are doing well, with good security and working machinery.
As soon as they are far enough away from the Thomas farm to speak openly, David lets loose with a flood of questions.
* * *
Two weeks ago, he worked a deal with Mark Mays, the stumped legged general. David would hold Davidsville and the surrounding farms as his own commune so long as he allowed the local populace to reclaim their homes and farms. He was sure he was well on his way to becoming a king in this new world. Then, because he didn’t watch his western border, the Thomas family reclaimed their large farm, which David blamed on Mark Mays and his militia. Since then, his socialist paradise has been cut off from trading for the resources his free trading neighbors could supply.
Now he is realizing that trying to stand on his own, despite controlling a sizable area of farmland, was a bad mistake. He tried making deals with Big Paulie in Johnstown for things he needed, but he didn’t have the ability to provide his end of the trade, so Big Paulie has turned a cold shoulder to him.
During the brief period of peace, many farmers returned to work their land. He is trying to treat them well and they are doing the best they can, but they are out of fuel for the farm machines and generators. The production of his farms is barely able to keep up with feeding his people, let alone the livestock, and putting up silage for the winter. Now he is looking at the stark reality of winter coming soon, and he has no good plan.
“We can harvest the same way as them, but our farmers have no fuel.” His guide states. “We are isolated, boss. We need to open trade with someone. We can’t make it isolated like this. We need fuel for the farmer’s tractors and our generators. And if we get that fuel, we need to use it sparingly.”
David knows that is a jab directly at him. He and his new lady had a porch party that lasted well into the morning hours, and the house generator ran all night long to provide music and lights. He knows that was foolish, but oh how the lady treated him when the lights went out!
After getting back to his headquarters, as sparse portions are served for their evening meal, David decides he needs to rethink his position with the one legged general.
* * *
Dinner of stewed tomatoes with beef roast and cornbread is being served at the Thomas farm. Lucas looks at the big old grandfather clock as it chimes eight o’clock.
“Time for you to head out, Uncle Jimmy. Take two trucks and four men, we got a full load for them. Take it slow, our guys saw some of Davey’s guys scoping us out today.”
Uncle Jimmy makes his way over the back roads to Jennerstown with his two security trucks and the improvised five thousand gallon milk tank transport. They deliver their load and get their trade in fuel, ammunition and salt in return. The next barter is set to occur in two days.
Chapter 35, Bug Out
Western side of Laurel Mountain
10/16
Major Jeffers’ scouts have returned and the news is good, the coast is clear out to five hundred yards from both porticos. A quick check with Dean, back at the main house, lets him know that there seems to be a big party going on at the main encampment of the refugee siege crew, which accounts for the lax security around his expansive property.
The evacuation of over one hundred people from the Chaffe’s secure bunker begins. The security detail has night vision assets and good communications. But, they are trying to shepherd too many people through a rugged forest on bad logging roads in pitch black darkness. The cloud cover is heavy; there is no light from the moon and stars to help guide them.
Two groups of evacuees set out. The security details make sure that each person is holding on to a long rope that extends the length of the group. It is reiterated that they must keep hold of the rope and follow along quietly or they may get lost or worse yet, be discovered. The security team knows the next few hours are the most dangerous. Once they hit the gravel road at the crest of the ridge, they will be much safer. But the two miles they need to travel up steep and dangerous terrain to get there will be difficult.
There are ten security specialists for each team. Six, with the best military grade night vision optics, range the flanks of their column. Four guards are assigned to each group to keep the two columns of civilians moving along. The ages of these formerly privileged refugees ranges from ten months to seventy-five. The children have been paired with an adult; in most cases their parent or an aunt or uncle.
A double tug on the line is felt within fifteen minutes of leaving the remote portico. That is the designated stop signal. The entire group stops and takes a knee as ordered. The security team sweeps the entire line and finds that someone stumbled, causing the double tug. A single tug alerts them all to rise and continue on.
For two hours both groups continue along the old logging roads that precariously ascend the steep terrain. A half mile from the crest of the hill, a sharp sudden double pull comes from the front of the line. All other halts had come from behind. The security detail has been informed by the flankers that there is danger ahead. Both crews stop and everyone takes a knee.
Both groups sit quietly as the threat is accessed. One of the flankers has spotted an encampment just off the crest of the mountain. A dozen people have established a hunting camp, and it now being only an hour till dawn, the camp is active as they cook breakfast and make plans for their hunt.
Major Jeffers quickly determines that group two can keep moving to the crest of the hill; they are in a small draw that will keep them hidden. Group two moves out and keeps heading up the hill towards safety. He decides to move group one a quarter mile north, away from the hunters encampment. This mean moving fifty people through thick mountain terrain. They had been following a logging road. Now they will have to take a large group of unskilled civilians a quarter mile through the tangled bush, and do it quietly.
The rope chain that has kept everyone in line has to be given up to travel cross country. The major leaves three scouts to watch the hunting camp while he organizes the necessary change to their path forward.
They are almost to the crest of the mountain as they prepare for this change of route, where the mountain is
the steepest. The dead leaves lay thick and the footing is unstable. He breaks his column into smaller groups, each group having one of his trained men as a guide to make the last part of the rugged trek to the next logging road, a quarter of a mile away.
They begin the trek as quickly as possible. The going is tough. Each person must grab hand holds of roots and rock to skirt the steep hillside. Hands are guided to each grasp point in the pitch black night. The going is slow as briars cut at arms and legs, foot holds erode causing slips and falls. The group had moved fairly quietly when following the old logging road. Now, branches break, leaves are heavily rustled, and there is the muffled cries of pain from the bruises and scrapes incurred by the travelers.
Major Jeffers is bringing up the rear of this disjointed movement. Red, part of group one, is already on the logging road that leads to safety. He reports that the first group has reached him. The major breathes as sigh of relief as the realignment of their path seems to be starting to work.
Encouraged that the movement is going well, he prods his group along.
“Sidney, where is Sidney!” He hears shouted from the middle of the column. “She was with us, Sidney!” The major hears shouted again. His good vibes cease, and a chill runs up his spine. He hears “Sidney” screamed by an hysterical mother only a few hundred yards ahead
In his earpiece the major hears four ominous words from one of his scouts watching the hunting camp. “The gig is up.”
“Tell me what you see lima one.” The major asks.
“The camp is in full blown movement. I heard that shout, so our bogeys did too. Wait one while I scope this some more.”
Ahead of him, the distraught mother calls for her child several more times before she is finally muffled.
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