PROJECT BlueBolt - AMERICAN GULAGS: BOOK I - AMERICAN GULAGS

by Marshall Huffman

  The first thing that Thomas noticed was that they had camouflage netting over the entire area. Guard towers were stationed in several places. A large building was positioned in the center and several smaller ones were scattered around.

  “Not bad at all,” Thomas said when they got out.

  “We are still working on it but it’s not easy to find if you don’t know where you are going. We have a pretty secure facility. There are lots of surprises if anyone tries to come up any of the hills toward the compound,” Don told them.

  “Mines?” Lincoln asked.

  “Among other things.”

  “I like it,” Lance proclaimed.

  ****

  President Clemons sat on the couch while Taylor stood facing her.

  “Tell me where are we on rounding up the rogue officers?”

  “To tell the truth, we are making very little headway. We were on the trail of General Billings but he was gone by the time we got there.”

  “Gone? Gone?”

  “We had the road covered. Maybe the chopper scared him and he ran. The bottom line is we didn’t snag him.”

  “What about the others?”

  “We are still tracking down leads,” Taylor told her.

  “In other words you don’t have squat,” she said quickly standing up.

  “Obviously they have gone to ground. It has been long enough that it is really difficult to pick up the trail.”

  “So are we wasting our time even trying to track them down?”

  He had to be very careful answering this question. He wasn’t sure what she wanted to hear.

  “I think we should keep looking but we have other important things to more effectively spend our manpower on. We need to focus on better training, getting more guns off the streets, and grabbing nonconformists. They are the major threat. These officers are spread all across the country. Most are just hiding, hoping we will just forget about them. While they may be a small threat, they are not on the same level with some of the other items we are tackling,” he told her.

  She pulled on her lip like she usually did when making a decision.

  “Alright, I’ll accept that assessment. You can pull some of your people off trying to locate the resigned officers. I want the rest of the gangs removed from every major city. I want a full out blitz put on that. Taylor, when I say full out, I mean use whatever force is necessary. I want those gangs totally eliminated. Understood?”

  “Yes ma’am. That will become our main focus.”

  “How is the limiting of gatherings going?”

  “More flack than you can even imagine. People are going nuts. A lot of groups are threating to disregard the program and go ahead and protest,” he told her.

  “And what are your plans?”

  “We intend to break up any unauthorized protests. Groups without a permit or more than the permit allows will be met with significant consequences. We will use whatever means necessary to enforce the edict,” Taylor told her.

  “Excellent. That is the law now and if anyone breaks it they are nothing more than common criminals and should be treated as such,” she told him.

  “We will,” he assured her.

  “One last thing. Congress is due to take a break. The House is getting ready to start debate on impeachment when they resume. I’m thinking of suspending the Congress indefinitely.”

  “Suspending?”

  “Yes. Closing them down.”

  “But won’t that lead to even more problems for you?”

  “What are they going to do about it? Come in and force me out of office? That won’t happen. We have the ISS to keep that from happening.”

  “Still, you are basically suspending the US Constitution in its entirety.”

  She didn’t answer for several seconds.

  “Yes, to some extent I guess that is true. Actually that’s quite correct. The Bill of Rights is pretty useless at this point in time. I don’t intend to be dislodged from the Presidency so there is some truth to that.”

  “And you don’t think this will cause a general uprising?”

  “So what? We declare Martial Law. Just like we are doing now, dissidents will be sent to internment camps.”

  “Madam President, you will need more than the ISS. You are going to need the military behind you, including the National Guard.”

  “I doubt that is going to be as big as an obstacle as you think it is. Money and power. We give them what they need to feel important and they will do as told,” she assured him.

  “But there is always a chance they may decide to take over and pull a military coup,” he replied.

  “It will never happen. They will fall into step,” she said.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Mark drove along State Road 139 wondering how people could live so far off the beaten path. It seemed like a hundred miles since he saw anything that resembled civilization. As he passed a road named Ruby he saw the first green area in a long time.

  Around the next big bend he was suddenly at Monticello, New Mexico. He knew it wasn’t going to be very big but this was nothing more than a spot in the road. He was practically all the way through town before he could slow down enough to turn around.

  He managed to learn that there was some sort of government facility just a few miles outside of Monticello on Forest Road.

  He turned right on Forest and followed the narrow two lane road He carefully drove along going very slowly. The last thing he wanted to do was come around a corner and find a roadblock. Ten miles later he came to a fork in the road. Now what? No one said anything about which way he should go. Finally he decided to take the smaller road going off to the left. The road became even more narrow and went from pavement to gravel. This couldn’t be right he thought. He had decided to turn around just as soon as he found a place wide enough. Just as he was about to try to swing the car around, a C-130 came in low overhead obviously heading for a landing area. That made no sense to him. Where could such a big plane land out here in the middle of nowhere?

  That is when he made his foolish mistake. Instead of turning around he decided to investigate further. He continued driving down the washed out rutted road. When he rounded a bend in the road, much to his dismay, two military vehicles were positioned there. One had a machine gun on top of it pointed right at his windshield.

  Three military men got out and walked toward his car. He thought about trying to turn around and get away but he knew there was no way that was really going to happen. His best bet would be to act like he was lost.

  The three men came up to the car. Two were aiming rifles at him, the third tapped on his window.

  “Hi. Boy am I glad to see you guys. I am so unbelievably lost. I have been trying to find a place to turn around for miles.”

  “Is that right?” the soldier said.

  “Yeah. I was beginning to give up hope of ever finding civilization again. Glad I ran across you guys.”

  “Hey guys. He is glad he found us.”

  “Yeah, right. I’ll bet.”

  “What’s going on? I don’t understand,” Mark said trying to look confused.

  “Mr. Walker, we have been expecting you for two days now. The cute little sightseeing side trip didn’t fool anyone. We knew you couldn’t resist sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong. It seems to be an occupational hazard with reporters.

  “Look you have it all wrong. I wasn’t trying to find anything. I just got lost and all I want to do is get back to civilization.”

  “Oh, that’s probably not going to happen Mr. Walker. Now get out of the car or we will shoot you where you sit. It’s up to you.”

  “Shoot me? For what?”

  “Subversive activities, domestic terrorism, and encroachment on restricted government lands just to name a few. Now this is the last time I’ll say it, get out or we shoot.”

  Mark climbed out of the car like it was on fire.

  “Hands behind your back.”

  “Guys, I’
m not violent. I’ll go with you...”

  The barrel of the M16 slammed into his stomach, causing him to double over.

  “Hands behind your back,” the man said yanking him up by his hair and spinning him around.

  The cuffs were placed on his wrists tight enough to nearly cut off circulation. They shoved him toward one of the vehicles and put him inside. Mark could see one of the others getting into his car and driving off. Where he was going he had no idea.

  A bag of some kind was placed over his head and the vehicle lurched forward. They rode along, bouncing over the rough terrain, for twenty minutes before they came to a stop. He was pulled from the vehicle and walked along for quite a distance before they told him he needed to walk up four steps.

  Once inside a building he was led to a chair and pushed down. The hood was pulled off of his head.

  There were four men in the room, all looking at him.

  “Look I don’t know what this is all about but someone has made a mistake. I’m just on vacation and got lost,” he said. No one even bothered to speak.

  “Guys, I don’t know what you think I did or was going to do but I’m telling you...”

  “Shut up Mr. Walker. We know who you are, why you are here and what you were attempting to find out. It seems you are hell bent on getting into serious trouble. The ISS warned you that you were being watched but did that deter you? Obviously not. Now look where that has landed you.”

  “But that’s the thing. I don’t even know where I am. You have it all wrong. I told the people in Colorado, I was going on vacation. I gave them the information they asked for. I was trying to find the Gila Cliff Dwellings and I guess I got lost,” Mark explained.

  The man sitting directly in front of him smiled and looked amused.

  “That is just pathetic. Surely you can do better than that. The Gila Cliff Dwellings. All I can say is that you must be the dumbest tourist in the state if this is where you ended up.”

  “Can someone give me a straight answer? Why was I really brought here and could someone loosen my handcuff’s, they are cutting my wrists.

  “Certainly. We can do both. Remove his cuffs,” the speaker told the other soldier, “As for why you are here. That isn’t all that difficult to figure out. They tell me that you’re pretty sharp so what the heck. We know you are here to snoop around and see if there is any truth to the internment camp stories floating around. We know you have been fed information about such facilities. Now here you are. Like most newspaper reporters you just can’t leave well enough alone. This is the end result of you sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong. The end result will not be pleasant I am afraid.”

  “And what is the end result.”

  “Why Mr. Walker surely you realize that you are going to be our guest for quite some time.”

  “Am I being charged with anything specific?”

  “A long list of things. You won’t believe all the things we have on you.”

  “Then I guess I need an attorney.”

  “Heavens, whatever for?”

  “What do you mean? For my defense.”

  “Defense? Mr. Walker you have already been found guilty and your sentence starts this very minute. Guard, take Mr. Walker to indoctrination and get him situated.”

  “Yes sir,” the guard said taking Mark under the elbow.

  “You can’t be serious. I haven’t had a trial.”

  “Certainly you did. You just happened to have missed it. Sorry but you were found guilty. Get him out of here,” the man ordered.

  “You can’t do this. It’s against the law,” Mark shouted as they marched him out of the room.

  ****

  Mark was taken to a large room and told to undress for a physical.

  “I’m not doing that,” he told the soldier.

  “You do it or I do it for you. One way or the other it will get done. I can guarantee it will be more pleasant if you do it.”

  Mark shook his head but started taking off his clothes. He left his shorts on but the soldier indicated he meant totally. There was something unsettling about standing there naked in front of another man fully dressed. A few minutes later two men and a woman entered.

  Mark covered his crotch immediately.

  “Ah, Mr. Walker. I just read your medical chart. You seem to be in pretty good physical condition. Going to need glasses pretty soon but 20/50 isn’t too bad. Is your knee still giving you trouble?”

  “Could I have some clothes?”

  “After the physical. Stand on the scales please.”

  Mark decided the hell with it. If they wanted to see him butt naked he would just let them. He walked to the scales and got on. The nurse came over and read off the numbers.

  “Put on a little weight have we Mr. Walker? Your license is off considerably as well. Height?” he asked the nurse and she pulled up the rod and took the measurement.

  “Hummm. Shrunk just a tad as well. Most people lie about those sort of things.”

  “Have a seat.”

  Mark sat as the nurse pulled up a chair next to him. She wrapped the blood pressure band around his arm and pumped up the bladder. She called out the reading. 144 over 87.”

  “Pretty high but that isn’t unusual in these circumstances. I’m sure it will come down once you accept your fate. Almost everyone’s does.”

  Mark didn’t say a word as they poked and probed him and gave him a complete physical. They drew blood. He was thankful that they didn’t want a urine simple while he was standing there.

  When it was over they gave him a set of dungarees, a blue long sleeve work shirt, socks, and black shoes along with several sets of undergarments.

  “A new set of dungarees will be issued every Monday morning,” he was told.

  “What about a coat? It gets damn cold at night.”

  “You will find one in your living space. There is a locker that already has your name on it. You are now 12125. You no longer have a name while you are here,” he was told.

  The doctor called for the guard and he was taken to a huge barracks. He could see row after row of them as he was marched to the third one and taken inside.

  It was just one gigantic room with bunk beds three high. Pilasters were in place as load bearing support along the length of the building.

  “Bathrooms are on each end of the building,” he was told as he was led to a bunk bed.

  His was the middle one and he couldn’t believe it but his number was already stenciled in place. There were small lockers at the end of the beds and his was the middle one. The same number was stenciled on it.

  “This is where you sleep. This is your locker. A coat and a pair of boots are inside. Anything else you can get in is fine as long as it is considered legal to have.”

  “What is legal?”

  “You will find that out at your next stop. For your information, this is building G. It is your assigned building. This is the only building you are allowed to enter without special permission.”

  “I guess I will find out about that at the indoctrination too,” he muttered but the guard didn’t say anything if he did hear him.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Mark was taken to a smaller building more or less in the center of the complex. Inside he saw a large movie screen and two more people waiting for him. They were dressed as civilians but had a definite military look about them.

  “Ah, here you are Mr. Walker. Welcome to our version of orientation.”

  “I thought it was called indoctrination,” Mark quipped.

  “That sounds so harsh. We like to think of it as more of a learning experience.”

  “Fine. So what is it I need to learn?”

  “Please have a seat. I’m Doctor Miller and this is my associate Doctor Jenkins. It is our understanding that you were a newspaper reporter prior to your conviction for crimes against the government.”

  “I get it. That’s a joke right? My conviction during a trial that I wasn’t even present at? Crimes
that I don’t even understand? My conviction, what a joke,” Mark said bitterly.

  “Obviously you do not have a grasp of the reality of your situation. You are here. This is an internment camp. To be here you must have been found guilty. Ergo, you are a criminal of the state,” the doctor said as if he were an idiot.

  “Let’s just get on with this farce,” Mark shot back.

  “Mr. Walker, if you intend to survive here I suggest you take this seriously. Your life depends on it. There are no second chances for breaking the rules here.”

  “Alright, what do I need to know?”

  Mark sat for the next hour and a half as they spelled out the various rules and regulations. Over half of them were considered capital crimes if violated and would result in termination as they liked to put it. A few resulted in solitary confinement which could also result in a death sentence under certain circumstances. One such punishment was being locked in an iron box in the middle of the compound under the hot sun for up to a week. Few actually lived that long depending on the time of year and the temperature. By the time they were finished spelling out all the rules and punishments, Mark was convinced that this was pretty much a death camp. It was so easy to break a minor rule and be punished in an extremely harsh manner.

  “You will be assigned to work on the road crew until we do a full assessment of your abilities.”

  “Road crew? I’m a writer. I don’t know a thing about working on roads.”

  “Oh don’t worry, we have an excellent on the job training program. Believe me, in just a few days you will know more than you ever wanted to know about the work of the road crews. Besides, it will build character and gets you out in this fresh New Mexico air,” he was told.”

  “Does everyone get such treatment?”

  “Just special people, the ones the government feels are particularly repugnant.”

  “I see,” was all Mark replied.

  ****

  Cheryl Morse from the Vice President’s staff was walking to her car when a black SUV pulled up.

  “Mrs. Morse, Mr. Spears would like a word with you.”

  “Oh, can we do this tomorrow? I have a doctor’s appoint and I just barely have enough time to make it.”