Chapter 15
“Now what in the hell ya doin?” Raz asked Cody before they got out the door.
“I’m putting these away,” he answered, picking up the coins.
“What ya got there Cody?” the old man asked.
Cody told him the story about Jack, the gun, and the coins.
“Might be a good idea ta take ‘em with ya. Could come in handy later.”
“You think?” Cody said.
“I said it, didn’t I?”
Cody handed two socks to Nick, held on to the others, and with his free hand locked up his house.
As they loaded themselves into the ancient pickup Cody looked at the broken down VW bus across the street. He had seen five people die this week, including his friend Jonathan, and it was only Thursday. He and Nick dropped the sacks of coins on the pickup’s floor boards. From now on his full focus was on getting his family back.
Raz shifted his truck in gear and slowly backed out of the driveway. “Ta the high school, huh?”
Cody nodded. “Yes, that’s where they took them.”
Raz drove up the road. “They? Who the hell are they?”
“I don’t know,” Cody responded. “They. The cops, the sheriff’s
department, the Army. They!”
“And ya let ‘em take ‘em?” “I wasn’t home!” Cody yelled in defense. “I, ah…we went to find out what was going on.”
“Best hope it was one of ‘em,” Raz growled.
“What do you mean?”
“Just sayin’.”
“What the hell happened here?” Raz asked about the dozens of
vehicles smashed to the sides of the road.
Nick explained what they had seen earlier when the dump trucks
cleared the streets of abandoned cars.
“Ahh,” Raz cleared his throat. “That gun ya picked up. Ya got it
with ya?”
Cody felt the heavy revolver in his jacket pocket. “Yes.”
“Good, might just need it too.”
They turned north on Coronado Drive.
“So, Raz,” Cody broke the silence. “You have a pretty good handle
on things. How could this bad weather affect so many systems? It
seems the whole city is without power.”
“Ain’t just the city.”
“You think the whole county is down?” Fort Huachuca and the
city of Sierra Vista were secluded in the high desert of the south-
eastern portion of Cochise County. It was a huge geographical land
area, larger than the two states of Rhode Island and Connecticut
combined, although the population was barely over a hundred thou-
sand, most of it concentrated near the fort.
“Hell, boy. Don’t ya know what kind of mess we’re in?” Raz
grumbled. “It’s bigger than that. The whole damn country is un-
plugged.”
Cody and Nick stared at the old man. That was impossible. How
could a storm shut down the entire nation? They wondered. “Is that
possible?” Nick asked. “How could a storm shut down the entire
nation?”
Cody nodded. It was a farfetched explanation. One he had a hard
time believing too.
“It ain’t ‘cause of the storm, boys. That’s just an added bonus,”Raz
said.
“So what actually caused the lights to go out, and the phones to
stop working, and the cars to quit running?” Cody asked. “Oh yeah,
and tell me how is this old jalopy still running.”
“One thing at a time, sonny, ” Raz said. “First, nothin’s workin’ ‘cause of the pulse.”
“You mean like the sun rays hitting the earth?” Nick asked, remembering what poor Zeke had explained about the solar flares and rays.
Raz laughed and scratched his bearded chin. He shook his head, a
mop of unkempt white-gray hair flopping side to side. “Ya boys.
Don’t ya know nothin’? Ain’t ya been readin’ the stuff I’ve been
sendin’ ya?” He looked over at Cody.
He was referring to the tons of information about recent government activities, some overt, some very much kept under wraps, that were affecting every American citizen. Most people paid no attention to the back door antics happening in Washington, D.C. People just went to their jobs, got paid, spent their money, watched television, surfed the Internet, and got lost in Facebook.
Every day for the longest time Raz had forwarded articles to Cody’s computer via email attachments. Some were about chem-trails and poisons in the water and genetically modified food supplies. Others described how the U.S. government was incrementally erasing citizens’ rights guaranteed by the Constitution, one by one going after the Bill of Rights. Many stories emphasized the attack on people’s rights to freedom of speech and assembly and religion. Even more discussed the erosion of people’s right to bear arms. They told of FEMA internment camps and death squads and SMART grids and subversive operations against the American people, the threats of martial law, and the final takeover.
Yes, Cody had received Raz’s emails. Sometimes there were
five, ten, maybe fifteen per day. At first, Cody would read them.
Interesting articles, but to him they seemed to be nothing more than conspiracy theories. Science fiction blabbing put out there by anti-authority radicals, tax rebels, even whackos and crazies.
As time went on and Cody continued to receive even more trash
talk on his computer, he just spammed the mail into oblivion and
chalked it up to the misguided thoughts of a once brilliant man who
had basically lost it when he retreated from the world.
“Yes Raz. I read some of the things you sent,” Cody said timidly.
“Well, it’s apparent ya ain’t learned a damn thing,” Raz scolded
the young man like a fed-up teacher tired of his student not doing his
homework.
Cody sank into the truck’s bench seat feeling reprimanded.
“The sun had nothin’ ta do with what’s happenin’,” Raz began.
“Not this time anyway. It’s one of ‘em god-damn EMPs that got
us. That’s why everythin’ is wiped out. The whole continental United
States of America has been hit.’”
Nick spoke up. “But if the EMP wasn’t caused by the sun, then
what caused it?”
“For bein’ so damn educated ya boys are dumber than two sticks,”
Raz jumped on them. “This electromagnetic pulse was intentional.
Somebody done this on purpose. They’re tryin’ ta take us out, and so
far they’re doin’ a damn good job of it.”
“You really think so?” one of the men asked.
“Ain’t ya been listenin’, boy?” Raz loudly grumbled. “We’re
under god-damn attack.”
No one in the truck said another word for a minute or two.
Raz tried to explain. “Someone, or some group, or some country exploded a nuclear bomb hundreds of miles above our nation somewhere. Most likely over the central states. Better coverage that way. The radiation won’t kill ya. Not quick, anyway. The pulse spreads at the speed of light. Ya don’t see it and ya don’t feel it. But it’s there alright. Ya can see part of what it does right in front of ya eyes.”
Nick looked at Cody and rolled his eyes. Another Zeke.
“Lots of countries have the capability ta launch such a weapon. Hell, ya know for damn sure we do. Then there’s the commies, China and Russia. They’d love ta take us out. That lunatic in North Korea would do it too if he had the chance. Then there’s the sand people in the Middle East. Ya can’t trust ‘em son-of-a-bitches. Ya don’t think they want ta git rid of us? Hell, that’s their damn mission in life.”
If what Raz had proposed were true, Cody thought, what would happen next? A
ll hell would break loose. What if all that crap that Raz was sending him was really happening? Martial law. Gathering up citizens. Confiscating guns. Selling America. Gradually making it easy for a take over. Was Raz really crazy or was he smart enough to know the difference?
Cody’s mind began churning a million miles a minute. Too many questions were rattling inside his brain. Visions of old war movies and brutal documentaries dominated his thoughts. Past history lessons sprung up in their gruesome scenes. Pictures of his family passed by
too. Robin. Jeffrey. Jennifer. He was completely lost in thought and was close to the point of not knowing what to believe.
The pickup ran over a large piece of metal on the road and the sound jarred Cody back to the moment. He looked around to see where he was and remembered. Raz was glaring at the roadway. Nick was quietly sitting in the middle, most likely thinking the same thoughts as Cody.
“Step on it,” Cody said to Raz. “We need to get to the high school fast.”
“Goin’ as fast as we can, son. I’ll getcha’ there alright.”
As they got closer to the main street, known as Fry Boulevard, Raz glanced into the Safeway Plaza. “Somethin’s brewin’ over there, boys.”
He slowed down to watch. Crowds of people were smashing the huge windows in several of the stores. They were crawling over each other attempting to get inside. Safeway and Walgreens were being inundated. Some of the mob was pushing grocery carts filled with food items out the door and toward the street. It was obvious the darkened stores had been closed, if not for the blackout, at least for the holiday. No police cars were in sight. It was just a mad horde looting and rioting in the grim daylight.
Cody said, “We saw someone get killed there earlier today.”
“It’s startin’ pretty quick,” Raz advised.
“What?” Nick asked.
“The bedlam,” Raz answered. “In just one day ya see what can happen,” the old man commented. Suddenly the men in the truck saw two school buses racing east on the main road in the direction of the high school.
“See, see,” Cody yelled. “They’re taking them to the school just like Robin said.”
“I see ‘em, boy. I might be old, but I ain’t blind yet.”
Cody thought for a second and asked, “Raz, if this EMP thing destroys every modern electrical and computerized component, then why are those buses running?”
“Old vehicles like this one ain’t affected on account of it ain’t got no computer devices. Just like that beat up Volkswagen van ya was tryin’ ta drive. But those buses have been protected,” Raz said.
He began to explain how it works.
“There’s a thing called a Faraday cage. It’s a pretty simple contraption, easy ta make and use. It’s really just a shield, generally
made with metal screenin’ or even common chain link fencin’. The cage blocks external electrical fields by channelin’ electrical pulses through the conductive mesh or screen, makin’ it a protective cage. It protects electronic equipment from the dangers of an EMP. Microwave ovens and MRI machines do the same thing, only in reverse. They keep the energy inside the cage instead of keepin’ it out.”
Cody nodded, understanding what Raz was saying.
“Every damn thing is run by computers these days. I sent ya information ‘bout ‘em, but I don’t suppose ya got around to readin’ it. I have some cages set up at my place. I suspect whoever is runnin’ this show did the same with ‘em buses. Wouldn’t be too surprised if they had more vehicles of sorts on the road as well.”
Nick had a question. “But why wouldn’t the cops have this type of equipment? Cody and I went to the police station. None of their cruisers were running. Wouldn’t you think they’d have this cage protector on their cruisers and radios? It almost seemed as if they were lost for answers too.”
“Hell, Nick,” Raz growled. “The local cops ain’t part of this thing. At least not in this small city. They’re like everyone else. They don’t have a clue ‘bout what’s happenin’. If they did, don’t ya think ya’d see flashin’ lights all over the place? Every cop on the force would be patrolin’ the streets. Sure as hell that shit goin’ on in ‘em stores wouldn’t be happenin’.”
Nick just shook his head and eyed Cody.
“Tell ya one thing, though,” Raz continued. “Someone’s got themselves workin’ communications. Can’t run an operation this big without communications. CB radios like the truckers have. They work okay. Got one back at my place. Git lots of good information from fellas around. Walkie-talkie radios too. They ain’t affected by the pulse either, but they only work short range.”
“Follow those buses, Raz,” Cody said anxiously.
Raz grunted again. “That’s ‘xactly what we’re doin’, boy.”
Chapter 16
Raz was right. There were more vehicles out there in excellent running condition. In fact, there was an entire fleet of them. It wasn’t only the buses used to evacuate the residents that were working. There were armored troop carriers as well. Forty of them had been assigned to this local operation. They were essential in accomplishing Phase Two of the grand design. It was called Operation Clean Sweep, because that’s exactly what it was intended to do.
The army green fortified military Humvees idled in the high school parking lot, clouds of smoke and vapor escaping their exhaust pipes. Each vehicle had a two-man team, an American leader and a foreign troop. They were assigned similar streets and neighborhood routes through the city just as the rescue buses had. Each team was to sweep the rescued areas as soon as the buses returned to HQ.
As scheduled, the first Humvees entered their designated positions. The soldiers weren’t looking for stragglers or late comers. Some missing residents may have found their way home after the buses had left. A few may even have hidden in their premises, feeling safer in their own homes rather than being saved by the police. Neither really mattered to the two-man units. They weren’t combing the neighborhoods for survivors. In fact, according to the plan, there would be no survivors once they had completed their clean sweep.
Front doors with a red X signified they had been cleared of all personnel by the bus squads. A white X indicated no one was found in the property, no live persons, anyway. Those were the houses where the Humvee soldiers would have to be more cautious. Empty houses could be dangerous should owners unexpectedly return, or come out from hiding places, and find themselves face to face with armed intruders.
An Army vehicle stopped at the corner of Cody’s street and the men exited. The American soldier let the Chinese trooper force his way through the Robinson’s red scarred front door. He hated working with these illiterate, ignorant, foreign mercenaries, but they were good for the grunt work. Their first move was to ensure no people were in the houses. Their task was comparable to that of a tactical search and destroy mission. Many people remained unaccounted for during the evacuation attempt, and if found they were to be dealt with. Husbands stuck in stalled highway traffic. Families traveling for the holiday. College students returning home for the long weekend. Loose ends.
If anything, the soldiers’ duties were very specific. They were to search and seize anything of value from the vacant homes. Money, coins, jewelry, gems, silverware. And of course, guns. Wars were expensive and an influx of viable funds was needed to feed the hungry monster. Each team carried a black canvas duffel bag to collect the loot. The American in this unit instructed the Chinaman to carry it, but he would keep a close eye on the bag and its contents. The foreign soldiers couldn’t be trusted. And when finished, the team leader would be accountable for the booty upon reporting back to Lt. Col. Fielding.
Cash money was the easiest pickings for the troops. Americans kept their money in obvious places at home. Purses, wallets, desk drawers, cookie jars, kid’s piggy banks. There were a few problems with cash, however. These days most Americans carried very little cash with them or in their houses. Debit cards, credit cards, and bank checks were the preferred means of b
uying things. On line too. Cash had almost become an inconvenience. Even coffee drinkers used plastic to buy their four dollar cappuccinos. So, the overall cash taken
from this operation could be relatively meager when compared to other valuables found.
The ultimate concern with the American dollar was its vulnerability in the world market. For generations it had been the favored medium of exchange. Backed by the almighty United States
government, the dollar, and the strength of the nation’s economy, American greenbacks were used and unconditionally accepted for all commerce in every market, every bank, every transaction within the confines of the nation and in most other countries.
That would change over night.
Within one day after the event had begun, two days tops, every country in the world would recognize the devastating effects set upon the United States. Its central government would cease to exist, at least for the time being. Its monetary system would instantly collapse. Its worldwide trade would come to a complete and sudden halt. In effect, there would no longer be a United States government. Which meant the dollar would be essentially worthless.
But, there was a positive side to collecting cash, at least for the ones in charge of these massive operations. The Humvee soldiers were told they could keep all the cash they found. Sort of a bonus for their good work. All other valuables were to be turned into the HQ commander, ultimately to be used to further fund the effort, if not the commander’s personal needs. The soldiers thought this was terrific. They would be very motivated to scour the properties for everything of value in return for their special incentives. But they had absolutely no sense of financial intricacies and would soon learn of their valueless booty.
All confiscated silver and gold, including coins and jewelry, were to be collected. Large and bulky items, such as valuable paintings and sculptures, if there actually were any to be found in this modest income city, were to be left behind or discarded. It was at the troopers’ discretion to destroy them or not during their raids. All types of sidearms and rifles were to be removed from the premises so no one else could have access to them.
Treasonous Behavior- in the Beginning Page 11