The Weak Shall Die: Complete Collection (Four Volume Set)

by Taylor Michaels

  "What's up, John?" said Simca.

  Before John could answer, noise pounded on his ears, pieces of people and cars flew in all directions and the light was blinding. Smoke and fire filled the area and John could barely see anything. He and Binky and Simca jumped under the tractor and saw and heard all manner of things hitting the ground and the tractor. John thought he saw a hand drop from above just in front of him, then be blown away. He quickly recalled the episode back at the bunker when Charles set off a giant explosion. As he looked around the tractor, he saw five men moving slowly. One was raising his rifle. John already had his revolver in his hand and he instinctively pulled the trigger three times, until that one fell. Shots from the lodge dropped two more. Binky and Simca stood up behind the tractor and fired. Two more fell.

  "You're right, John. Things like this do end badly. So sad, really. I was hoping you'd be able to invite more people to your dinners and hear more interesting life stories. It would liven up your dinners. So sorry."

  "Simca, when you read a novel, do you read the beginning then immediately turn to the back to see how things end? You seem like a beginning and ending sort of person. Skip the boring stuff in the middle."

  "We aren't going to live forever, John. It just doesn't pay to waste time with minor details."

  "For a Brit, you aren't bad with a gun."

  "Or anything else, of course."

  The corner of John's mouth upturned. "Yes, true."

  John's radio squawked and Fred's voice said, "Everything alright? Need some more backup?"

  John pushed the button and said, "You've done well, young Skywalker. Everything is fine. Give me a few minutes and I'll check." John went from man to man and checked pulses. One man was still alive and his lips were moving. Blood ran down his shirt. John grabbed the man's gun, propped him up against what was left of one of the barrier fence vehicles and tried to make him comfortable. "We didn't know you men lived around here. Where did you come from?"

  "Like he said, the carrier. We volunteered. We knew we'd be facing the virus. They told us the vaccine had a twenty percent chance of protecting us. We've been on short rations for a month. It was this or starve. We found some food at the Army base. We didn't know you would be so …"

  "Belligerent. Touchy. Fearless."

  "Yes. I don't understand it. We're all in this together. I didn't want to bring the guns. They said we had to. Everybody has to pay taxes. You know that."

  "Do you pay taxes?"

  "No, but …"

  "Then, everybody doesn't have to pay taxes, do they? If everybody doesn't pay taxes, then why should we?"

  The man coughed. "More will come. You can't stop it. The flattop and the rest of the convoy are almost out of food. Four thousand men and women are hungry."

  "Our food wouldn't feed them for a day. They are going to starve. I can't prevent that. I'm sorry, but it's not my fault. I'm trying to keep myself and my friends alive. That's all. I'm not asking for any more than that."

  "You -- are all going to die."

  The man coughed again and blood spewed from his mouth. The man fell over limp. John checked his pulse, turned toward Binky and Simca and shook his head. He pulled his radio out and pushed the button. "Fred, it's over. But, it's just the beginning. The beginning of the end, I'm afraid. Unless we do something. Something big."

  John drove the tractor while Binky and Simca trudged up the long winding drive to the lodge. Everyone was standing on the porch, waiting for an update. John spent five minutes recounting the events at the fence and then asked, "Where did you find the explosives, Fred?"

  "Charles' backup supply. I found it in one of the supply cabins a week ago. He never told me about it. I figured that the last few attacks started with people at the gate. So, that was the best place to put it. George set up the remote detonator. I suppose that tomorrow, I'll bring out the fork lift and fix the fence."

  "Don't be in a hurry. We'll talk about it."

  * * *

  After a solemn dinner, John asked everyone to join him in the living room to discuss the latest events. He wasn't looking forward to it, but it had to be done.

  The fire in the living room fireplace was low. George stoked the embers and laid another log on. It crackled and popped and the yellow flames began to grow. John motioned for them all to sit while he slid into his recliner.

  "The problem we now face is that these people are backed up by four thousand hungry people on a ship in the ocean. Probably more. They know we're here and we're the biggest operation in two hundred miles. So, from their point of view, we're hard to overlook. They must think our inventory is more than it is. But to four thousand hungry people, anything is better than nothing, regardless of property rights."

  "You're the military strategist, John. What do we do? How do we prevail?" said Masako, her voice quivering. "You always know the answer. You always save us. What is that you always say? It's better to know what a thousand successful people did in a thousand previous battles than to try to figure it out for yourself each time."

  John closed his eyes and gulped in some air. "Something like that. To directly answer your question, they would get outta Dodge. But, I've also said something else before. I'm not the only person here. We need input from everybody. My latest idea is to split up. We can use the Dark Demon to transfer the food. We can check out those houses near Bugs' house. If we split into groups of three or four and make an alternate bug-out site for each group, that would reduce the chance of problems."

  "Maybe," said Masako, "But if those ten guys had come to a house with three of us, they would have just walked in and taken everything. I vote for something better. Another choice. That isn't good enough."

  "What's better?" said Fred. "That group of ten was the biggest we could take on. Now that the explosives are gone, it's better than the best. Remember that some time ago, John said that a group in a fixed installation could defend against a force three times as large. With twelve fighters, that means we could defend against thirty-six, but we would lose up to half, if I understand the numbers. Right John?"

  "That's right, Fred. And no offense to any of you, but that also assumes everyone is good with a rifle. I know you've all been practicing, but we're all not that good. Perhaps six of us are good enough. So, we'd be lucky to defend against eighteen. We only have one sniper rifle. They could pin us down if they had several. The first time we heard from the government, they sent one guy with one backup. Then, six forest rangers. Now ten sailors. Maybe the government will decide those all died from the plague and they won't bother us for a while, but I doubt it. That last guy said the Navy was nearly out of food and they were on short rations. I'd be surprised if they don't visit within a week, probably less. And, they will have more than ten fighters. Twenty, thirty, fifty. I don't know. But a lot."

  "John, You're just trying to scare us," said Simca. "You couldn't possibly think that your own government is going to attack us or you."

  "That is exactly what he's saying and thinking," Iris said. "And all the rest of us too. To be open and honest, I'm surprised it hasn't happened already."

  John nodded. "Iris is right. That is what I think, Simca. I didn't know you could be scared. I wouldn't hold it against you, if the four of you decided to hop on your bicycles and ride. If you went south first, you would have warm weather most of the way to California. Maybe you could even contact your boat and they could pick you up somewhere on the Gulf coast. You could be there in a week by bicycle."

  "Are you trying to run us off, John?" said Binky.

  "No, of course not. I just want everybody to consider all their options. It might not be necessary to abandon the lodge. Just move out most of our stores to other locations. If we only had a week's rations when they came, that's all we could lose."

  "You are overlooking the most valuable item you could lose, John."

  "What's that, Binky?"

  "Your freedom. Since you are immune to the virus, they would conscript you. It is not likely
they would walk in, take half your food and walk out. They would conscript all of you and your house and your food. That's what I would do and that's what you would do. You know I'm right."

  John didn't have to think long to know that Binky was telling the trueth. Maybe he was a genius. No, never. But this time, he was right. "I wouldn't cooperate."

  "Then you would go to prison and starve there. As well as anybody with you," Binky said, looking at Masako and then Simca.

  Masako watched Binky and then gave Simca a hard look.

  Simca shrugged and said, "Maybe John is right. Maybe we should leave. I can contact the boat. We could be back onboard no later than next week, as John says. No problem with food on the boat. What do you say, Binky?"

  "Sounds like running away to me. We Brits don't run away. We fight for what is right."

  "Fight and run away. Live to fight another day. Didn't someone say that once? It doesn't make sense to be killed defending someone else's property in some other country," said Zack. "Time to move on."

  Binky and Zack looked at Joan, who smiled and looked at Simca.

  "Sounds like one for, one against and one on the fence. In spite of what John thinks about me, I'd rather not fight. Especially against heavy odds. So, we'll be off in the morning. Thanks for everything John, and everybody else."

  ***

  The next morning, George filled the tank of one of the government vehicles and put the bicycles on the roof. As Binky, Joan, Zack and Simca walked into the barn, George said, "This will take you most of the way to the coast. I put some maps in the SUV. You could make it close to the coast today. I heard Simca sayin' the boat was in Louisiana and headin' back east. Nice knowin' you folks. Good luck."

  Simca hugged George as did Joan. Binky and Zack shook his hand.

  "Where's John and everybody else?" said Simca.

  "Mostly, getting ready to bug out. Pierre is in the attic keeping watch. Marceau is cleaning up from breakfast. The others started looking for a new location late last night. John is really worried. Doesn't believe he'll survive another visit by the government. Thinks they will come in force next time. Can't blame him. They must be really pissed at us by now. We've killed seventeen of their people."

  Chapter 78 - A New Idea

  John, Little John and Masako arrived in the Dark Dart at the railroad siding where Bugs lived to check out the nearby houses that Bugs told them about. The couples had been alternating days of taking care of Little John and this was their turn. John thought this trip would give Little John some experience with the Dart train.

  "What did you think of the ride?" Masako said, helping the boy out of the second car.

  "Not as fast as a car, but it was more fun." His face beamed with excitement. " Can I drive next time?"

  "We'll see," said John. "If you behave."

  "John, you said that since everybody had a brain, everybody was responsible for contributing ideas to help the group, right?"

  "Of course. What's your idea?"

  "We could live in a cave, couldn't we? People lived in caves many years ago. People have lived in caves for eons."

  John surveyed the area, searching for any unwanted guests before answering. "Sure. A little restricted. Most caves are small. The one behind the lodge where Sarah was living had one small room. Maybe enough space for two or three people. I never found it when I was young and exploring the area. The government might not find it."

  "We wouldn't freeze," said Little John. "They told us about caves in school. The temperature in caves around here is fifty-five degrees. It'd be cool, but we would never freeze to death."

  Masako patted Little John on the head. "Thanks for helping. Good information."

  John cast a wry smile in their direction before saying, "I didn't know we had many caves in this part of the country." With a wave of his hand, he continued, "This way."

  Masako walked abreast John, with Little John skipping ahead.

  After a few steps, she said, "The closest large caves are two hundred miles north in western Virginia and eastern West Virginia. The biggest cave is in Kentucky, Mammoth Cave. It's giant. They have tours for over a hundred people at a time. Many other large caves are in that area, too."

  When John didn't respond immediately, Masako grabbed John's arm and pulled him toward her. "Why is that such a bad idea?"

  John let out a frustrated breath of air. "It probably isn't unless somebody else has thought of it already. Somebody with guns. I don't like the idea of a cave closer to Washington. But Kentucky wouldn't be a bad choice. The weather isn't much worse than here. If we went to a cave and somebody was already living in the cave, we would probably end up in a gunfight. But if we found an empty cave and moved in, it would be easy to defend."

  "Are you saying you gave up on it because there was a chance it might not work?"

  "I gave up on it because it probably wouldn't work." He let out another gasp of air. "I'm tired of killing people. This new lawless world is draining my soul. I don't feel like any of myself is left. It's become ruthless and dangerous. Every week, people come to us and try to kill us. Chung was complaining about how the world has changed and I agree. And now you want to go kill someone and take their home. Just like people tried to do to us. That's not right in my mind. I really don't like it." He turned and walked on, but not before yelling at Little John to slow down.

  "Oh come on John. You're being melodramatic. We must leave and you heard what your brother said."

  "Half-brother," he said slowly.

  "No matter. The caves are big. Many people could live there. Together. Out of sight of the government. It could be the start of a new civilization. That new world we keep talking about. Where people cooperate and help each other. Why not?"

  "You want to take the dart gasifier train to Kentucky to talk to the people in the caves? To see if we can make a deal to move there and live?"

  "Sure. Why not?"

  John closed his eyes briefly. "I don't know. We have so much stuff. A ton of furniture. Nearly a hundred solar panels. Batteries. Our barrier fence could never be moved."

  "You're just making excuses. We wouldn't need the barrier fence if we were in a cave. But, if we did need it, we could rebuild it. A smaller one this time. Last night, I talked to George about a move. He said enough diesel fuel is available to take an eighteen wheeler full of our stuff to Kentucky. Maybe two trucks. That would include a lot of furniture, the gasifier and solar panels."

  "What about the greenhouse?"

  Masako threw her hands up in frustration. "I can't answer all the questions. You said we have to leave. If we must leave, then we must make sacrifices. That's the way it is. We are bugging out to avoid the government. That requires sacrifice. Moving anywhere will mean we'll spend time setting up. But with enough food to survive until we're self sufficient, it is possible. With the gasifier, we can make electricity and heat. You guys said, as long as we can make electricity, we can make anything else because we can use power tools. Right?"

  John stopped in front of a house. "This is one of the houses Bugs mentioned, Masako. Should we examine it together or separately?"

  "You're avoiding my question. We can make anything else since we have those power tools, right?"

  "If I must. You listen too much. And remember too much. You're using my logic against me. My father always said women did that."

  Little John looked up at John and said, "He's my father, too. Will you tell me about him? I'd like to know."

  John saw that he was outnumbered. "Sure, he was a nice man. I'll tell you more as time passes. Plenty of time will be available this winter."

  "I'm using your logic the way it was supposed to be used, logically. Think about it. Talk to the others. Find out their opinions. And if we were underground, those infrared satellites wouldn't see us. Right?"

  "I suppose not." John looked at Masako and at Little John. Their world was changing. His original plans worked for six months. He had asked everyone else to leave the world where they we
re comfortable and come to his world. Now, he would have to show the same strength and leave his world. But, where he was going, he wasn't sure.

  John, Masako and Little John looked at four houses with the detailed information that Bugs' had given them. They were all adequate and would support the idea of a distributed living quarters. But John couldn't stop thinking that splitting up was not the answer. Masako was right. This whole episode in his life began with gathering enough people to survive. And this episode wasn't over. This was just the second phase of it. Lawlessness was still the law of the land. Their lives were still at risk. He would do what he had to do -- for a long time to come.

  * * *

  In John's mind, the trip back to the lodge was shorter than the trip going to the houses. His mind was filled with the ideas he and Masako had discussed. That prompted John to bring everybody together to discuss Masako's cave idea, but little discussion took place. They had all become used to the idea of bugging out, again. Of moving, again. Of rebuilding, again. It was only John who was cautious. It was decided that a small delegation would travel to Kentucky to check out the cave situation. John looked through all the books they borrowed from the local public library and found a guide book for Kentucky. It listed a number of caves with maps showing the locations. The developed a plan where John and Masako would take the gasifier Dart train to Kentucky to negotiate with any residents they found at any of the large caves. John thought it was a waste of time, but since they had to move, he agreed. He would try to find a cave with no current owners. If that wasn't possible, Plan B said they would scout out a small settlement where they could live.

  Meanwhile, the plan called for Fred and George to begin disassembling the gasifier generator and the solar panels at the house and putting them all into an eighteen wheeler to be obtained by Chung and Pierre. Sufficient diesel fuel was available in barrels for a one-way trip. They would also look into finding enough fuel for a second semi. If further trips had to be made, other eighteen wheelers would be found locally.