by Steven Bird
“Well, guys,” Jim said, “it's actually a lot worse than just what you saw. I'm with the Civil Air Patrol and we've got a pretty extensive radio network.”
“HAM?” Jason interrupted.
“No, not HAM. HAM is governed by the FCC, but Civil Air Patrol radios are governed by the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA). CAP uses private DOD frequencies which can only be used by CAP members. Our radios have a range of one hundred fifty to two hundred and fifty miles and that is multiplied by a large network of repeaters. We are basically capable of relaying messages coast to coast.”
“Anyway, our guys were reporting what they were seeing all across the country. Several major metropolitan areas such as LA, Dallas, Detroit, and Boston, as well as some smaller areas in the Midwest, have had their water supplies poisoned. There have been thousands of people killed and sickened from drinking tap water. Of course that now means bottled water and water purification supplies are life and death issues and are being fought over. Bottled or purified water is the new money in a lot of the country, as people are afraid to drink from the tap.
“Also, nearly every major city has had numerous transportation system bombings, like the subways in NYC and the train lines in Chicago. There have even been Grey Hound buses explode while carrying passengers. There have been mass shootings, by what was described as jihadist type individuals, in schools and shopping malls and other crowded public places. Police departments, fire departments, and hospitals have been bombed or set on fire. Several large airplanes were stolen and used as flying bombs. A Boeing 737 was intentionally crashed into the terminal at the JFK airport, shutting it down. Power plants have been attacked and at a minimum taken offline, however, several major power plants were completely destroyed.
“The coal-fired plants had their coal stores ignited, creating outrageous fires that took the plants down for the long haul. Nearly every oil refinery in the U.S. was hit as well, ranging from harassing attacks to keep employees away, to all-out assaults. Some received only small scale damage, but others were completely destroyed. Basically, every facet of our infrastructure has been hit, and every safety net that we have had in place was damaged. The transportation, energy, fuel, food distribution, financial system... everything… everything has been hit. Gas stations that do still have gas, don't have electricity to pump it, and the ones that have generators are already out from the panic buying and there won't be any resupply any time soon. On top of that, the government is reported to have seized a majority of the remaining food and fuel stores to distribute as it sees fit, which will probably just be to itself and its supporters.
“Just think about how bad Katrina was, yet people in nearby cities and states were able to come and help. In this situation, whoever is behind this has made sure that virtually every populated area in the nation has been hit in one way or another, which means that wherever you are, no one is coming to help because they are dealing with their own problems.
“By the second day, the President basically suspended the constitution and declared martial law, which you guys witnessed. Even our CAP radio network was ordered off the air in the name of national security. Our fleet is also grounded, as the entire national airspace system has been considered a no fly zone. This is bad guys… really bad. Our financial system, which was already teetering on the edge, is simply no more. It's not that the stock market has collapsed; based on what you’re saying, you saw in New York, the stock market was destroyed. As wide spread as this is, I just don't see how we can bounce back. Some of the final chatter on the CAP radios before we were shut down was that the government was rounding up opposition groups and labeling them terrorist groups. They were ignoring the fact that most of the reports that came back were that the attacks, at least the ones that were witnessed, were jihadist or military in nature.”
Just then, Peggy burst into the garage with tears in her eyes, reflecting the light from the candle she was carrying to light her way in the dark house. “Bill didn't make it,” she said. “He was pretty much dead by the time they got to the nurse. Judith is a mess. She's having a nervous breakdown. I'm going to stay with her tonight at the nurse’s house because she refuses to leave Bill's side. I will meet you guys back down here in the morning.”
“Okay, Peggy, thank you so much for helping her,” Evan said. He and Jason both gave Peggy a hug and Evan said, “Be careful tonight, we will see you two in the morning.”
“So where is Judith going to go now?” asked Jim. “And what about you guys?”
“Well, our plan is to head west to Ohio to collect Jason's family and bug out vehicle, and then head south to my family's property in Tennessee to weather out the storm,” Evan explained.
“Bug out vehicle? Were you guys into that Doomsday show or something?” Jim jokingly asked.
“No, no, we were a little more subdued than that, but now I'm glad we were crazy preppers. Anyway, I don't know what Judith will do. Both of her children are thousands of miles away, and Bill was all she had. That sailboat was basically their retirement plan. Without him, she really has nothing to fall back on that I know of,” said Evan.
“Well, guys, we don't have enough food for ourselves as it is here, or we would love to take her in, but trust me, it's going to get dire around here really soon. I suggest you take her with you,” Jim said with a serious look on his face.
“Absolutely!” Jason replied. “She's part of the group now, if she wants to be, as far as we are concerned. Whether or not she follows us all the way to Tennessee is up to her, but she has a place to go if she wants it.”
“So, you say you guys are pilots?” asked Jim with a raised eyebrow.
“Yes sir, why?” responded Evan.
“Well, I may have a proposition for you. Are you familiar with a Maule?”
“The four seat bush planes? Those things are pretty cool. Quick off the ground, too, if I remember correctly,” replied Evan with a peaked interest.
Jim replied, “Well, I have a 1980 Maule M-5. It's out of annual and, technically, the engine is a tad over its recommended time before overhaul, but now that the world has fallen apart around us, that doesn't seem to be much of an issue. It's got a strong running engine with an automotive gasoline supplemental type certification. Being able to run pump gas will help a lot, with the scarcity of av-gas being what it was, even when things were good. I also had oil samples done on a regular basis, right up to the point where the annual inspection expired. There were no metal deposits or anything indicating an imminent failure. It's got a simple panel, but it all works.”
“Anyway, if Judith has no need for that boat without Bill, and if she wants to go with you, I'll trade her the boat for the plane. You guys can fit all four of you and your bags inside and low-level yourselves all the way to Ohio.”
“But didn't you say the entire airspace system was a no fly zone now?” questioned Jason.
“Well yes, technically, but if you fly at the tree tops, stay over the corn fields, and follow the terrain along the way, you should have a fairly radar-free route from here to there. Besides, I've heard of other guys going up in rural areas to survey the place and they haven't had a problem. The Feds just don't have the manpower right now to chase every little gnat in the sky. And face it, people are getting pretty darn desperate out there right now. I don't think you'd do very well traveling by land,” Jim answered.
“Well, that actually might not be a bad way to go. We have to give her a chance to get over this big change in her life, though, before we offer to trade her out of her retirement dream,” Evan said.
“What are you going to do with her boat if she says yes?” asked Jason.
“We will load it up with friends and supplies and the Mother Washington and Little Angel will be our little bug out armada. We are getting the hell out of here and heading for the islands down south. We are way too close to Philadelphia; if we stick around much longer, the people there will be spreading out in desperation and we will be right in
their path. This little town will overrun by next week at the latest.”
“Well, this might just be win-win then,” said Evan.
“Oh, and one more thing— we desperately need to get to a HAM radio. Jason and I both have HAM setups at home and our wives have always known that if something were to happen while we were away, the plan is for them to listen every morning at nine o’clock and every night at nine o’clock until we make contact.”
“Oh,” Jim said, “so that's why Jason asked if our radios were HAMs. Our official CAP radios aren't, but we have a HAM guy in the group. He lives just two streets over. I'll take you there in the morning. There is no power on his street, but he can fire up his generator for a few minutes. We will try and have you set up before 9am.”
That night, Evan and Jason stayed with the Rutherford's in their extra room. They tossed and turned all night, both excited and fearful about what they may or may not find out on the radio the next morning. Their exhaustion eventually overpowered their nerves, and they were able to get some much needed rest. When morning finally came, they were awakened to the smell of Cream of Wheat and coffee. They gathered themselves, got dressed, and proceeded to the kitchen, assuming where the food can be found, the people can be as well. As they walked into the kitchen, the found Jim’s wife, Lori, cooking breakfast and coffee on an old Coleman camp stove.
Jim saw them enter the room and stood up. “Good morning, gentlemen. The coffee is ready and the food is simple, but it’s hot.”
“Sorry, guys,” Lori said. “It's just Cream of Wheat, no toast or anything; all of the fresh stuff is already gone.”
“Oh, don't worry, ma'am. These days any morning you wake up alive to eat breakfast at all makes it a good breakfast,” Jason said with a smile.
After they ate, Jim said, “Well, gentlemen, I’m sure you want to get a move on so we are at Bruce’s place before 9 am. Lori will be here while we are gone, just in case Peggy and Judith come by. We had better get a move on.”
Evan and Jason were both anxious to get going, so the three men set out on foot to Bruce Thomas's place to see about using the HAM radio. “We pretty much walk everywhere right now,” Jim said as they walked down the main road in town. “Gas is too hard to come by to burn up going somewhere you can get for free. Most people around here only have what’s in their tank, and when it’s gone, who knows when there will be a chance to get more.”
“I guess America is about to lose a lot of weight then,” chuckled Jason.
“And a lot of the population,” replied Jim in a somber manner.
A few minutes later, they reached the home of Bruce Thomas and his family. Bruce was a retired school teacher who became interested in the Civil Air Patrol from his HAM radio usage. He wasn't a pilot, but figured he could help out with the CAP in the communications field. He had been a loyal CAP member for over eleven years and grew to become a good and trusted friend of Jim Rutherford.
Once inside the home, Jim introduced everyone, and they quickly got down to business. Bruce had heard about them and was excited to be able to help. “Come on in. Please make yourselves at home,” Bruce said as he ushered them in the door. “We don't usually have the lights on, but I fired the generator up to get the radio all warmed up for you. It’s this way, just down this hall.”
As they entered the room, they were impressed by Bruce’s radio station as well as the military memorabilia that he had displayed all over the room. “Now, who are we calling first?” asked Bruce.
Jason pulled his small notebook out of his pocket and flipped through the pages to find the frequency he needed in order to contact his wife in Zanesville. “Do you mind if I go first?” Jason said, looking at Evan.
“No man, of course not. Go for it,” Evan replied.
Jason sat down at the radio and watched the clock tick by. It was currently 8:55am. It seemed like the next five minutes lasted an eternity. At exactly 9:00am, just as he was about to key up the microphone, he heard, “JJ220… are you there?” It was his wife, Sarah.
Jason stood up from the seat in excitement and grabbed the microphone as he broke down in tears. “Yes baby, yes, I'm here, oh thank God you’re there! How are you how are the kids?”
“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” came across the radio next.
Bruce, Jim, and Evan stepped out of the room for a moment to give him some time to talk to his family in private. When they came back in, Jason was all smiles. He said, “Have you heard from Molly?”
“Yes,” Sarah said. “We talk every day on here. She contacted me shortly after it all started and we have been keeping each other up-to-date ever since. She said that Griff and his family have joined up with them on the Homefront, and that with the extra security they are providing, everything is secure.”
Evan wiped a tear of joy from his eyes as he heard the good news. “I owe you the beer now, Griff,” he said aloud.
“How are things in Ohio?” Jason asked.
“Not so good. There is no electricity and it's starting to get really cold at night. Crime and looting have been getting worse and worse. From what I hear, the masses are starting to leave Columbus in search of food and water. They are hitting and looting the outlying towns and neighborhoods pretty hard. I've been afraid to drink the water after all that has happened, so the boys and I have been filtering the rain barrel water and using it. We are doing fine, but we really need you get here soon, before the city rats, as Evan so eloquently puts it, make it as far as Zanesville.”
“We are working on that baby; we might be there sooner than you think. I can't give details now, but just know we are on our way. I’m not sure when the next time we can get to a radio will be. Keep checking just in case, but cut your frequency down to just the morning call,” Jason said as he wiped another tear from his eyes. “I love you, Sarah! I love you, boys! Take care of Mommy. Daddy will be home soon.” With that, he signed off.
After Jason was done, Evan made his call and, right on schedule, Molly was right there waiting. They also shared a special, emotional moment. She let him talk to their kids and then she caught him up on the situation in Tennessee. She explained what had happened prior to the Vandergriffs arriving, and how the extra security had really helped take the burden off of her. Evan then updated her on the fact that they were, indeed, going to retrieve Jason's family from Ohio and would be heading south very soon. After a very emotional few minutes to say goodbye, he signed off as well, and regained his composure. “Oh, thank the Lord they are all okay,” he said.
They thanked Bruce over and over for letting them use his radio, then Jim, Evan, and Jason got on their way back to Jim's house to see if Peggy and Judith had returned. Evan and Jason both walked with a little extra spring in their steps, knowing that both of their families were doing well.
Upon arriving at the Rutherford home, they found Peggy, Judith, and Lori sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of tea. The mood was somber due to Judith’s loss, so Evan and Jason kept their happiness subdued out of respect for Judith. She looked as if she had been up crying all night. Her eyes were swollen and red, but the expression on her face showed that she was trying to be strong and keep herself going.
Before Evan or Jason could say a word, Peggy burst out with, “Judith his coming with us. I told her she can stay with me and Zack when we get to Cincinnati.”
With a smile, Evan responded, “Well, that makes it easy then. We were just about to try and convince her to come along.”
Judith smiled for the first time since they met her. “I prayed for angels, and oh, how the Lord sent me my angels.”
After lunch, Evan and Jason caught Peggy and Judith up on their contact with home and they solidified their plan to head, initially for Zanesville, and then on to Cincinnati before heading south to Tennessee. Jim took advantage of this moment and made his offer to Judith to trade the airplane for her boat and she graciously accepted.
“Please, use the boat. Please let it take another family to safety like it delivered me to
my angels. I have no doubt that Bill and I would have died in Norfolk if we didn't have our Little Angel to whisk us away. And my poor Bill died because of his efforts to get me to safety. Just take good care of her, and don't change her name.”
“Yes, ma'am. I will take great care of her, and since she will be taking care of us as well, she will be our Little Angel too,” Jim said as she gave him a warm hug.
The next morning, several dozen people from the town gathered to perform a ceremony for both Damon and Bill. The pastor of the church that the Rutherford family regularly attended presided over the simple, yet fittingly beautiful, ceremony. Judith said her final goodbyes, and Evan and Jason both thanked the Rutherford family publicly for having been led out of New York by Damon. To them, he was truly their hero.
The next day, Evan, Jason, Peggy, and Judith gathered their things and began to prepare for the next leg of their journey. Lori gave them each two packets of instant oatmeal and a packet of instant Cream of Wheat and said, “I'm sorry it's not much to help get you on your way, but it's all we can spare. Everything else we have is going on the boats with us.”
Peggy and Judith both told her apologizing was nonsense, and that they were thankful to get anything at all. They explained that they felt as if they already owed the Rutherford family a debt that they could never repay, and that they appreciated all of the help they had received.
Jim looked at Evan and Jason. “The plane is out at a little make-shift grass strip at a friend's farm. It's only about a thousand feet long, but the Maule is good for that.”
“Are there any trees or obstacles at the end?” asked Evan.
“No, just a fence. There are some trees along the side, but nothing to worry about,” he replied. “We will need to drive out to the farm. It's about twenty miles from here, so it’s a little out of our walking range. We can take my crew cab F250 pickup. Your bags can go in the back and we will all fit up front. You guys need to be armed up, though. We may have our little town fairly secure as the townsmen have banded together to do security patrols...”