Survivors

by Alex Isaacs

  It did not take Ann long to catch on driving the tractor, her corners needed to get better in the fields, but I decided to make the turns for her to save time. My dad came to find us, saying we would have some help at the farm with the hay, a few people wanted to do something while they waited for materials. Jenny and I were happy to see the support; it gave us extra time in the fields removing the hay. As we drove by the equipment making the cement walls, I stopped to look at it. They could make four sections at a time. The electric heaters would cut the drying time down; the solar panels were going up on the roof of the barn. We got more of the fields cut; the barn was getting full. My dad suggested that we fill the other barns in the valley; they were sitting empty. Using the other barns would cut down our time. The dump trucks were now working for the roadwork department; they were happy to have the new trucks.

  After dinner, Jenny said she was heading to bed; she was tired from the day's work. Ann and Mandy headed to bed as well; they said they were feeling tired and wanted to sleep in their beds tonight. My mother scolded me for working them so hard; Rose laughed, saying it will do them some good. Tuesday morning, we did not have many farms left to cut hay on, I asked my dad if we should still cut the grass in the fields out the north entrance. My dad thought for a minute, saying yes, if we have extra hay, we could sell it to the other farmers that need it this fall and winter.

  The four of us got into the north fields, and after lunch, we heard that the roads department ran into a little sand pocket. My dad and Simon got the two trucks to join in bringing in the free sand. I took the four girls to the quarry, Simon giving me a message to give to the people working there. They were to make room for the sand coming in on the trucks, stacking it up as high as they could in the new area that the engineers were making from the rock they were taking off the extended cliff of the quarry to the south entrance. When we came back to the center road to go to the north field, there was a trailer heading out of the valley.

  On our second trip to drop off the hay, we saw the second machine from our old farm set up to produce the cement for the buildings. Simon was taking advantage of the free sand and stone. The power from the solar panels ran the electric generators. The cement panels were drying faster; now, they had enough materials to make twice as many. After we finished our day haying, I drove around to see the work on the cliff face. The engineers were clearing a lot away. They would be close to going towards the south entrance in a day.

  After dinner, Simon and the General were talking about the area above the lake with my dad. Since there is all this free sand coming in, they were thinking of security up near the stream. I asked to go with them as they headed to look the area over. The General stopped to get a couple of engineers to come with us. I told them of the road near the north entrance that went to the east and the west. We drove up to it and followed it as far as we could. The road was inside the rock-cut that led out of the valley. We had to park, walking the rest of the distance to the stream that feeds our lake. The General said he would get some satellite pictures for us to see more. The stream ran down from a nearly flat section to the lake and back up into the ridge that rose out of the valley.

  The engineers asked the General what he had in mind. Security is the first thing we need to keep the valley a secret, the General told them. The cliffs around the edge of the valley can only go so far; we need to keep this water supply coming into the valley, another water supply would help us out immensely. The engineers said they would work on an idea tonight, then asked the General how many soldiers will be staying in the valley to help with security. The engineers already knew they are limited to building on the valley floor. As we were heading back, my dad headed over to the east entrance, driving out to the concession to follow the stream on that side back northward. We found where it was coming down the side of the ridge, it was on our property, inside the concession roads. It was getting late; my dad said we should see where that is coming from up on the ridge tomorrow. I said I would walk to find out; the General said one of the engineers would go with you to get the coordinates.

  My dad dropped the others off; then we headed home. Dad said that Peter and David might have passed their driving tests for the dump trucks that would help Simon out for a few weeks. When we got into the house, everyone was heading to bed, so my dad and I did the same.

  The next morning after the chores, Simon showed up to get my dad; he wanted to talk to George to clear the railway lines. My dad was busy getting the cattle separated for expanding the herd. My dad asked me to take Simon in to see George. We drove in finding George getting empty railway cars out of the way for the new railway cars coming into the yard. Simon asked about getting the railway lines clear for shipments coming to the valley. George was a little hesitant, Simon said in return for the work, he would take the empty, useless railway cars off his hands. George asked when did he want the work started. Simon asked if he could start today. Simon took out his phone, talking for a few minutes, then he wrote down some information, then he hung up. He handed Geroge an address to send the railway cars to, saying to make out a bill for him for sending them. George asked how many cars could he send, Simon said as many as he could get away with, without getting in trouble.

  As we got in the truck to drive back to the valley, I asked Simon what he is going to do with all those railway cars. Simon said they would take the steel out of them, making rebar and other materials to use up here in the valley and the town's complex. We got back to find one of the drivers talking with the General; he said that they could only work until noon on Friday, one of the places taking the sand in as well did not work past that time. Simon told the driver to ask if the trucks could run Friday all day if they have a spot to bring all the sand to that day. The General then went to make sure the rock cliff was moving along at a good pace; they might need the room for this new sand.

  I took the engineer up to the northeast area to look it over to find the stream that came down outside the valley. The engineer was using a satellite tracking device to show where we were, plus he put notes into the machine. We found where the stream headed down to the road; the engineer said if we could clear an area, they could run underground pipes from this small pond to the valley where we had come from a couple of minutes ago. We walked back to the truck; then back to see the General and Simon. A couple more of the engineers showed up, bringing out some plans of what they would like to do. Simon asked me to get my father. I found my dad; he was going in for a coffee. I took him to see Simon, who showed him the plans, then asked his permission to do this new work after explaining why they needed it for security reasons. My dad agreed after hearing that Simon is including everyone in the valley in his plans.

  Simon and the engineers started on the plans for the northeast and the northwest areas above the valley floor. I drove my dad back to the farm. I got the girls, heading out to get more of the hay into the rest of the barns. When we filled them all, we stopped by the new farm, the hole now ready to build the complex. Crushed stone was in the bottom floor area; the cement forms were already dry. The portable cement plant was making the cement to pour the floor. My two brothers were bringing the stone and sand over for the cement. A water truck brought the water from the lake. My dad asked them to get the water from the stream outside the east entrance; it would not take away from the valley’s water supply. The premade forms were now piling up to go into the complex.

  Since my parents were still in their farm, Simon did have the old farmhouse taken down. The basement now ready to be poured. Simon made the house larger to accommodate more rooms for our whole family. Simon was using forms for the basement walls; he would be using them for all the small farmhouses. There were cement floors made, especially for the houses; they were piled up near the house as well. I heard that the engineers were busy on Peter’s farm, a new larger building for raising chickens and egg-laying. After dinner, I drove over to have a look at the work on Peter’s farm. The old farmhouse was down; I could see two holes f
or basements, one having a small complex under it, this one not as large as the one on the main farm, but bigger than a regular house. Both were now ready for the basement floors to have cement put into them. I drove over to the farm that David was going to have; the old farmhouse was down; it also ready to have the cement poured for the basement.

  I got back to our farm, finding my dad. We began to talk about everything that is going on in the valley. My dad told me that Simon is saying a little more to him, asking if I knew about everything. I said yes, but I could not say anything more without knowing what I could say to him. My dad said he understands it is a big secret, especially since two barracks are going in on the ridges. My dad said he is working with Simon and the General to make the valley self-sufficient. I told my dad I had said a couple of ideas for that to happen, saying you would want it that way. My dad said good, the new barn for the milking cows will be larger, the needs for the people in the valley come first, then he will sell the excess. The herd of cows that Simon is bringing in will also feed the people. I wanted to tell my dad more about the reason for the larger herds but would leave that to Simon.

  We went to sleep, we had a lot more busy days ahead of us, plus we still needed to do the chores. After the chores and breakfast, we went to the valley to find Simon. He was with the General at the south entrance. The cliff was complete from the west to the south entrance. Simon asked my dad if it is okay to start on the areas in the northeast and the northwest. My dad said yes. The General then instructed the crew to start making it a cliff from the north to the east to this point on the map.

  George was in clearing the railway line with his crew. George came over and asked my dad what was going on in the valley, my dad looking at Simon. Simon began to tell George that he and my dad were working together, Simon would build new houses for my dad in exchange for using his quarry and storing goods for his work on the old farm for the town. Simon then asked about the railway cars, George said he sent a dozen already to the address. Simon said, great, keep sending them as long as you do not get in trouble. George thanked Simon, then went back to his work crew. It was not going to take that long for George to clear the track in the whole of the valley.

  After George was gone, Simon asked my dad about putting in a building here at the south entrance. They could make it a gas station for the fuel to come to for the whole valley, maybe a garage to fix vehicles and the farm equipment. My dad knew it was also going to be for security reasons; he asked who will be running the garage. Simon smiled, saying it would be for security reasons. My dad said it would not affect the valley farms, so a garage or some business could be built. Simon told the General, they would have to make up something for the other entrances, my dad going along with the ideas, suggesting that signs could go up, saying the roads closed.

  The General then asked my dad if he could widen the street from the north entrance, it would not affect any of the farms, but it would help with us moving our farm equipment to the fields outside the north entrance. My dad said okay, not asking any questions about the new road. I thought a more extensive road would be suitable for moving the farm equipment.

  A couple of transports showed up with building materials, Simon getting one of the engineers to take him to Peter’s farm. We drove to my parent's farm; the floors were dry. The cement walls are now going up in the complex. They fit right on the footings, secured, then the cement floor panels put on top. There is a space for an elevator and stairs. The bottom floor was in place, the outside cement pieces now having a spray barrier applied. More panels are ready to go up; I guess they waited for the tar spray to dry, then they could backfill the walls to make it safer. The house is a different story; the cement had to dry; they would put the floors on the walls on Friday, then pour the main floor walls. Sunday, the second-floor walls put in. Simon told my dad he has doors, windows, and the roofing materials coming up in another shipment. There would be enough for the five houses.

  The complex with the new barn was larger then I expected, but since they could not go down that far, they made it a little wider. Simon also said they are putting in smaller complexes as needed, like the one at Peter’s farm. We went to Peter’s farm, the building for the chickens was going up now. It would have two levels; the cement floor was in, they put that in since I was last over there. These people in the battalion, they moved quickly to where they were needed. The one job at the complex on hold, waiting for the tar to dry, they move to put up the chicken building. I went to look at the other work that was going on; people were clearing the road into both northeast and northwest areas from the north entrance. These old roads looked neglected, an easy job for them to do now.

  I decided to go back to the house to see what was going on there. My mom was packing things up for the move to the new house. Ann and Mandy were online, getting their books set aside for the next courses. I got on my laptop, making sure I had all my books as well. After, I came out to see my mom and Rose talking. They told me the funerals would be on Monday the fifth of August, the day we started our next semester. My mom told me she is coming down with the two girls. The General has been setting everything up. I told my mom about the new chicken building going up on Peter’s farm, my mom said already, I then told her about the house and the complex. Rose said great; she could not wait to have it up and running.

  I went out to find the girls; mom said they wanted to go swimming again. I found Jenny and Marie riding the horses; I put the horses away after telling them we were going swimming. Jenny said she would tell the other two girls. We saw David in the dump truck taking sand to the complex. He loved driving, so we did not stop him. We had a nice swim, and as supper approached, we started to go back to the farm. After dinner, David asked if anyone wanted to go swimming, we laughed saying we already were swimming. I asked David if they were stocking up on the sand for the complex, he said they were starting to put it in the hole, they might want to put the next walls up while there is still light. The tar must be drying quickly in the heat, which is good for the buildings.

  Mandy said she would go swimming again, so Jenny said she would go. I drove the three over; then, I went to look at the complex. The sand was in, the next set of walls were in place. They had to stop; they ran out of floor pieces. The tar was now on the outer walls; then, more sand could go in tomorrow after the tar is dry. I drove to Peter’s farm; they were still building the chicken building. The roof was the last to go now. I saw Simon and the General; they were both on their phones. The General waved me over, asking if my dad would mind a couple of army vehicles in the valley to help move people and equipment around. I said it should be okay. The General told a person at the other end to move this special cargo, along with most of the weapons on the trucks to the warehouse, putting them inside the shipping containers. The vehicles could go on the special train, along with the order of Simon’s coming her to us now.

  Simon hung up at the same time that the General did, then Simon told me that they were getting more solar panels, wind turbines, plus the equipment for the valley from California. I could tell my dad that. The other special cargo is to remain a secret for the time being, but it has to do with what we are working towards for the group. The General then told me he is also working on things for Mandy and Marie. I went to get David and the girls from swimming. Jenny was shaking her head, saying she is glad these two are getting along. I asked Jenny if she would be staying with Marie for the next while, or staying back down in Florida. Jenny said she would be staying with Marie to make sure she is okay, then the General will decide. I got the two out of the water; then we drove home. That night I let my dad know what I could, saying I said it would be okay for the army vehicles.

  The next morning after the chores and breakfast, we drove to see what was going on in the valley. The first floor walls had cement in them at our farm. The machinery was going to make more cement walls and floors. At Peter’s, the walls had cement in them; they were moving over to do David’s farm. Simon told us the train fro
m California is on its way. There is another train bringing cattle and chickens from the farm in Florida. Simon asked to see how George was doing, making sure he could send more of the empty railway cars every day. I think Simon knew that if my dad said that to George, George would have no problem sending them.

  We found George, his crew now on the east-west line. The north-south line was clear and ready to use. George said there is not much work needed on the lines; we are lucky. My dad told George of the railway cars, George saying not to tell anyone else, no one in the yard knows what is going on with the cars. George said he would personally move any fright into the valley, Simon might like to know that. I think he would, the fewer people knowing, the better. We went back to see Simon, filling him in on what George said. Simon asked my dad if four more tractors would be sufficient for the valley. My dad said yes, then, he asked about attachments for the tractors. Simon said there would be the regular attachments for the tractors. My dad asked for blowers for snow removal; the county would not be able to get in to do our roads if they are blocked off. Simon asked my dad to take him to see about the blowers at the local farm supply store. My dad said there is no store within fifty to one hundred miles of the valley. The General said maybe we could have one now at the south entrance. Simon said he would look into it.

  The rest of the day, we watched as the crews were clearing out the areas on the upper levels. The sand kept coming in from the roadwork; they were happy to be able to work now on Fridays and Saturdays. The General kept his crews working on making the cement walls and floors. Saturday morning, the new chicken building now has power. The inside set up for the new chickens. The second floor was on, with the third going up on the complex. The top would be the roof, which would be visible to see. It is enormous. My dad suggested that our barn after it is empty could come down for use on the new barn. In the afternoon, I got my things ready to return to school.