by Pete Thorsen
“Are the people getting paid to go out on the work details?”
“No they are doing it because they are Americans and they care about fixing our country back up again.”
“What kind of work do they do?”
“Just about everything you can imagine. Some of the work details are ideas from those in the camps and some are just obvious things that need to be done and some details are from orders we received from those in Washington.
Workers go do work that they are already trained for or that they are physically able to do. And luckily some people will do the most awful jobs because they realize that those jobs must be done.”
“What job would be so awful?”
“We have to collect and bury all the bodies for one thing. The ones doing that wear hazmat suits but they still have to handle all those people and suffer the nightmares later I would guess.
Some troopers always are on those work details but we usually switch out all the members of those work details so the same ones don’t have to do it all the time. I can not think of a worse job and yes I have done it on several occasions and hope I don’t have to ever again.”
“I think some here would like to help but are not too keen on leaving and having to stay at some camp.”
“I can understand that and think it is a common feeling. We are trying to get the fuel production and transportation system up and running so people like you guys here could have access to fuel and car pool to the work areas. This whole thing is new to everyone and we are kinda flying by the seat of our pants here.
I would guess we are making some mistakes but we are doing something and things are getting done. On one hand most everyone wants to help because everyone is in the same boat and want their old lives back. On the other hand we are having a tough time finding the right people with the expertise to do some of the things that we need done before some of the other things are done.”
“I can understand some of the difficulties you must be facing. If some here wanted to help where could we go? And do you need us right now?”
“We have a camp in West Philadelphia and one up in Parsippany-Troy Hills. Once you get to those areas you will see people and can ask directions to the exact spot where the camps are located. Do we need you now? Yes, we can always use able-bodied workers. Or I can pass the word that willing day workers are available here and crews passing through can pick up workers and drop them off on the way back to camps if there happens to be any crews going past here.
Or you can stay for awhile in the camps and work from there and come back home as you see fit. If you do come to one of the camps please bring anything you might need with you to reduce the drain on our supplies. But if you show up with just the clothes on your back that is fine too. We will take you in and feed you and put you to work if you are willing.”
“I think some of us might car pool to one of those camps and work for awhile. We have some fuel here so it would not be a hardship to drive that far and work for a few days and return here again. Any other news you could share with us?”
“I have heard that many other countries in the world are in the grips of major economic depressions due to the total stoppage of all trade or aid from the United States. Some parts of the United States are way better off than other parts but that is understandable as the less populated areas had an easier time through all of this. The east coast and west coast areas are the worst.
We did have quite a problem down along our southern border with a lot of bandits coming across to prey on our citizens during this disaster. Our Armed Forces have ended that problem and I really doubt it will spring up again anytime soon. Otherwise everything is pretty much the same all over as it is around here.”
“Thank you very much for answering all my questions. I don’t wish to keep you away from whatever task you were on your way to do.”
“You are welcome. If you need anything or wish to catch a ride to one on the camps just flag down any of our military vehicles. I’ll take my leave then and I wish all of you the best.”
The Army guys got back in their rigs and all of them left with many of them waving as they pulled away. With their departure those of us in the park huddled together and talked at length about everything we had had just heard and what the President had said during his speech. As with any topic different ideas and opinions were evident. Several of the unattached younger (and one older) guys said they were going to car pool to the camp in Philly and try to help with the rebuilding. Their plan was to stay there at least a week and see how it went.
Many others expressed a desire to work but were leery about driving all the way to the camp and maybe not being able to return or not be able to return when they wanted to do so anyway. There was a desire to work and help out for the greater good though and a few local tasks were thought of and had many volunteers.
Amy and I also wanted to help but she still did not want to go to any of the camps and asked me to stay with her instead of going off on my own to help. We said our goodbyes to the many local people we had met and started our trek back to our home.
We could have volunteered to help with the few projects in town but they had plenty of help without us. On the walk home we talked about everything and decided we would make more trips in to town to assist any way we could and when the situation changed so we go could help without staying in one of the camps we would help with the nation’s rebuilding effort at that time.
Chapter Nineteen
We still had a little of the deer meat left but decided to shoot another deer. This time we thought we would get a full sized animal because now we knew there was plenty of room in the freezer for any size deer after it was de-boned and cut up. Our second hunt went about the same as the first. This time Amy was the shooter (she insisted) and the skinning and butchering process went much smoother and faster.
We also made some of the meat into jerky using a recipe from one of the magazines in the house. We used the oven to make the jerky and after it was done and we tasted it we both deemed it a success.
The weather turned much colder and it snowed on a couple occasions. The snow melted off again but the second time it did so very slowly and we both knew the next time the snow would likely stay for the whole winter. We had gotten prepared though because on one trip to town we asked the people there and were directed to two thrift stores where we both got winter coats and boots along with some other clothes.
The people in town had gone into many of the houses and removed any bodies they found for burial. Where the homeowners were confirmed dead the clothing and some other items were transferred to the thrift shops for dispersal to those who needed the items rather than just have everyone loot.
As the days changed to weeks more and more vehicles were gradually seen on the highway and some of those who had gone to the camps came back to stay or just to visit. Amy and I went with on several work details where we learned how to shut off the electric power to vacant houses and we learned ways to drain out most of the water from the houses so the pipes would not freeze and burst and ruin the whole house. After we learned enough we walked far and wide in the rural areas around our house visiting every house we found and after gaining access we readied them for the long winter ahead. Other people were doing the same things all across the nation, trying to keep all existing infrastructure from suffering any harm during the cold winter months.
Before the real winter weather hit there was a major change that I instigated at our house. It started one evening after supper when I interrupted Amy as she was reading. She was sitting on one end of the couch near a lamp reading when I sat down right next to her.
“I have something I would like to talk about.”
“I hardly think you have to ask my permission to start talking to me about something.”
“Maybe I do this time. We have been living together for some time now and we are no longer staying together just because it is safer to do so anymore. I am staying with you because I want to
and not for any other reason.
We have never talked about how we might feel towards each other and lately that is bothering me. I don’t want us to ever move apart and I realized the reason for that is because I am completely in love with you………………Amy will you marry me?”
She said nothing for a few moments and had the strangest look on her face, which caused me instant worry that she did not feel towards me as did towards her. Then her face split into a huge smile and she wrapped her arms around me before she spoke.
“Yes, I will marry you! I have been waiting so long for you to say something or show some sign that you felt the same way that I do.”
There was very little talking after that for some time. We were like teenagers sitting on that couch, hugging and kissing, giggling, and telling each other how we felt. I did tell Amy I had two promises I wanted from her before the wedding.
She had to promise not to ever use her Fubar on me and also not that nasal voice she had used when we met that first batch of Army guys. Amy did promise that she would never use the Fubar but said she was holding that voice in reserve just in case she ever had trouble with me. I finally gave in to those terms as we were both laughing about it.
The next day we walked into town and learned that one of those left in town was actually a minister who immediately agreed to marry us. Neither of us wanted to wait but he said he would need a couple days to find the paper work and bible passages because it had been some time now since he had married anyone and so much had happened during that time.
So we made arrangements to meet at the nearby church in two days and left for home. I actually think there might have been some skipping, running, and a lot of laughing on the walk back home.
When we returned to the church in two days and walked inside we were shocked to see everyone from the whole town inside. Four of the women promptly took Amy away from me and two other ladies with a couple of the guys took me aside to another room.
Inside the room where I was led were three tuxedos laid out in slightly different sizes and I was told to find the one that fit the best but only after my haircut and shave from one of the local barbers. Only when things met the approval of my entourage was I allowed back into the church proper.
A few rings were tried on my finger until one was found to fit and then we just all waited for what to me seemed like hours but could honestly been most any length of time before Amy was led back in to main church. The organ started to play and wedding commenced.
To say Amy was a stunning bride could only be called an understatement. I had never seen her in a dress before and the ladies had found one that fit her to a tee and she was an amazing sight. They had done something to her hair and the sight of her almost took my breath away. I believe I heard a collective ‘ah’ from everyone in the whole church when Amy walked into the big room.
We had the best wedding anyone could ever have and it was followed with a great reception to match, that even had a wedding cake and sumptuous meal. How this all was arranged in so little time by people who were only acquaintances of ours was simply amazing. When we asked about why all the fuss we were told everyone had wanted something to celebrate after all the hardships we had all suffered.
The whole town population (what was left of it) had worked together for this event. Amy and I were touched by what everyone had done for us and we thanked them profusely. When we finally said we had to get back home before dark we were surprised again when walking outside the church there was a gaudily decorated car and driver waiting to drive us home.
It was a wedding that everyone in attendance would always remember especially the very happy newlyweds.
Epilogue
Our wedding was the start of a whole new life for Amy and me. It was also happened to be the start of a whole new life for the United States too. That winter was a rough time for many Americans. There was not enough food and not enough heating fuels in the northern areas. The whole country breathed a sigh of relief when spring finally came. With the spring came renewed hope for our nation and we were more than ready to jump to work.
Native oil had been pumped to refineries over winter and those refineries had been manned and fired up to produce all the fuel that this country needed to run. Truckers saw to it that the fuel was delivered all around the nation. The nation’s farmers had the fuel, seeds, and fertilizer they needed for planting and even Mother Nature chipped in by providing an easy spring with no severe weather.
Crops were produced and hauled to canneries and packagers so we all would have all the food we would need to get through until the next batch of produce the following year. By the end of summer the whole nation was perking along and things were getting back towards the old normal. Phones, radios, and TV were back up and running again, though maybe not to the extent they were before but that was fine too.
Everybody was basically working now because there was still work to do and the nation’s population had been severely reduced though at this point there had been no census taken. Our son Bart was born in September at our home with the help of a mid-wife. There were hospitals open now but Amy wanted it done this way and she pretty much always gets her way!
The election was held a month early so the weather would be warmer (and our acting President wanted out of that position I think). There were some temporary changes due to not knowing the current population of each state. Each state elected two Senators the same as before but each state also only elected two Representatives this time. This had been decided by what was left of the old Congress and by the following year if populations warranted it added Representatives would be elected at that time in each state as dictated. So we ended up with all new people elected to Washington. And they had quite a lot of work to do.
All the finances for the government, for companies, and for individuals was all messed up and had to be straightened out. There were thousands of basically now un-owned houses and businesses around the country due to the reduced population and ownership of those places were in question.
Along with all the debt that was on the books for the government, for companies, and for individuals. It was all a mess and no one had a good answer for what to do about all of it. Basically all the nation’s banks were bankrupt and dissolved and that meant something had to done about the savings accounts for those still alive. I think it will be argued for quite some time before it gets ironed out (if it ever does).
We are using the same money though for awhile there was talk of a new currency. I am working but no longer as a banker though that is rapidly becoming a possibility again. Right now I am a construction worker at least that is what I call myself. I am in reality more of a handy man worker, just like most everyone now days as we all do whatever job that needs to be done.
Amy was working for awhile then gradually worked out less and less while she was pregnant. She had a very large garden to work on at home and I spent a lot of time away from home working out that summer. The advantage with being gone working in different areas allowed me to get quite a bunch of baby stuff for Bart. Even though things are looking up and people are working again there are still shortages of many things.
Food is available but many things we took for granted before are now in short supply though every week sees improvements.
The United States of America is being rebuilt and I have no doubts that it will emerge much stronger than it ever was in the past.
The End
Cruel End
To a
Great Country
Pete Thorsen
Originally Released on Kindle
November 2014
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br /> Prologue
The man with the scoped rifle watched concealed on the small hill as the person below must have thought he was sneaking along the small road even though it was broad daylight. The sneaker was not walking on the road itself but instead in the thin brush along side which did little to hide him, especially from the slightly elevated position of the rifleman.
The sneaker was in a semi crouched posture obviously thinking that would somehow hide him but instead it just drew attention to him. Where if he would have been walking upright and on the road itself he would have blended in as just another armed person with a backpack walking to an unknown destination.
When the sneaking man turned into the driveway of the man with the scoped rifle he signed his own death warrant. The man centered the scope’s crosshair on the sneaking man’s head and when the sneaker paused for a moment he gently squeezed the trigger causing a very loud bang. The sneaking man crumpled to the ground and did not move again.
After watching the still form below him looking for any sign of movement including just the rise and fall of the fallen man’s chest and seeing none the rifleman took the time to put another loaded round in the rifle to top off the magazine, took a drink of water from his water bottle, and settled down to wait for any more sneaking men.
He idly wondered what he might find on the fallen man that might have some value. The visible gun and any ammunition for it would always have some value so there was that at least and the backpack would likely yield something of value.
Chapter One
Arthur Peterson had a mundane job but was happy enough with it. He made enough money to get by and even had some money in a savings account which was becoming more of a rarity among the working class . He had never been to college and had no intentions of going there. Oh he was intelligent enough and after his short stint in the Army he could have the government pay for some of his college but he still had no desire to go there and saw no reason to further his meager education.