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Captain walked out of his cabin and stood on the porch, looking out across the snow covered landscape. He took in a deep breath of chilled air and let it out, feeling the cold expand his lungs. He had always preferred the cooler temps which is why, after retiring from the military in his 40s, he had decided to make Michigan his home.
The weak light was trying to make it through the evergreens. According to the old calendars, today was New Year’s Day. It had been agreed on by those old enough to vote at Main Camp to let go of certain observances. After the last suicide, there had been a large meeting with everyone present to call some things out in the open. Captain had just laid it out in black and white for everyone.
“Our world is different. There is absolutely no way we are ever going to see anything like what we had before. There are simply not enough people to help the global trade recover and function. We have been thrust back in time and there isn’t much we can do about it other than adapt and overcome. I’m not saying it will be easy, but I am saying that it can be done. Take a look at what we have accomplished already.
“I have heard people talk and ask what the point is in going on. Why do we keep moving forward when everything we have known has been ripped away from us? I counter those questions with one of my own: “Why did you keep moving forward before? What was the point then?” It has been many months since IT happened and yet, we are still here. Instead of focusing on mourning what was and will never be again, consider the possibilities and opportunities that are now available. There is no one to tell you that you cannot hunt or fish whenever you are hungry. There is no homeowner’s association to tell you growing food in your front yard is breaking the rules or that painting your house a certain color is not allowed. And there is no government to regulate how you live your life. We are free from so much that was just normal to us, but they were chains nonetheless.
“If you want something to look forward to or a goal to work toward, consider the fact that the United Nations isn’t laying low. They aren’t done trying to accomplish their mission to control the whole human population. They claim it is being done to ensure that humanity never does this to itself again. For myself, I will have no part of it! I choose to be the author of my own life. I decide for myself and my family, not them. I will fight against them with my dying breath, and I will die a truly free man!”
Since his speech, there hadn’t been any more suicides or any other real issues in his camp. Some minor bickering and the usual challenges of livestock in winter was the worst he had to deal with. There was worry about all sorts of things but at least he didn’t have to bury some hopeless soul on top of it. He was happy to hear the runner he had sent with his letters had made it through the storm and should be back tomorrow or the next day. With the new accumulation of snow, the going would be slower between camps. I need to get a crew on that today, he thought to himself. Though it was hard work, it helped keep people busy and would make overall travel easier between the camps. Especially for medical needs.
He thought about Amie and his first grandchild on the way. She was due in a couple of months, maybe 3 at the most. He would never admit it to her, but he was worried about the baby without there being any modern medical tests done, prenatal vitamins, or ultrasounds. He knew there was little that could be done about that. He took comfort from the fact that billions of women had given birth under the same circumstances and were just fine. Amie was young and healthy and with Holly keeping him in the loop on how things were progressing, he found himself getting excited to be a grandpa mixed with the worry.
Thinking about holding a little one got him motivated to keep working on the stroller he was fashioning out of recycled materials. One of the ladies was sewing up a liner and padding for the inside of it. He needed to get two larger wheels from somewhere that could handle going over tree roots and gravel on the trails. Heading to the workshop, he saw his nephew Tanner coming toward him and waved.
“Hi Tanner. Pretty morning, isn’t it?” He smiled at the young man and noticed how much he had filled out. “You’re going to be taller than me if you keep going the way you are. What are you now, 20? 25?”
Tanner laughed. “You’re funny, Uncle. Hey, I wanted to know if I could get in on a patrol in the next couple days. I know they aren’t going that far but I am getting serious cabin fever.”
Captain nodded. “I don’t see any issue with that. I could use a good stomp out there myself. How about you have your mom put us together on one for the next one out, ok? Let her know we will go west and south. With the snow, it will be easier to see how many people we really have out there or at least how many buildings are occupied. Make sure your snowshoes are in good shape.”
Tanner nodded and went off to the Comm Hub to relay the message. Captain went into the workshop and saw Swabbie already there working on his own projects.
“Good mornin’, Cap.” Swabbie gave a little salute to him as he always did. Captain smiled and nodded his hello before heading to his work bench. An hour passed in silence and he was lost in his work when suddenly, a gag hook attached to a fishing line landed on the bench next to him. “What the…?” He followed the line to see a grinning Swabbie on the other end.
“What do you think? You won’t be able to cast far but it will work for both ice fishing and sitting on the lake. Might be able to get a good pike or something.”
Captain took a closer look. The pole was made from a single branch that had been stripped down and smoothed out. There was no reel of course, but there was a place extra line could be looped and stored. He nodded his approval and replied, “Looks great. Especially the gag hooks. Should teach some of the youngsters how to make those, too.”
When there was no response, Captain looked up and saw Swabbie staring at him intently. The two were cut from the same cloth and Captain suddenly realized that Swabbie being here so early was no coincidence.
“Alright. Out with it then. What’s on your mind?” Captain went back to his workbench and began tinkering, letting Swabbie gather his thoughts.
“You know we’re a big target, right? The U.N. comes through, we are going to be like a bullseye for them. The way it sounds out there, we are their worst nightmare. A group of people who banded together and survived. Not only that, we rebuilt our own little community here and have managed to thrive. All without any assistance or guidance from any governmental authority. That will be a thorn the size of a baseball bat in their side. They don’t want people to think they can make it without being told what to do.
“I don’t think they will be interested in taking any of us, well maybe the women and younger kids, but no one else. We would be a threat inside their camps, too. People like us won’t just blindly accept whatever they say, do hard labor and then thank them for what they have done for us. Not many sheeple in our camps….”
Captain grunted in reply. He had been thinking the same thing for a few weeks now. The three camps would be more of a threat than an asset to the United Nations. From what he could tell, they were just on a clean up crew to get the last of the ‘trash’ taken care of so they could then rebuild their little government controlled population. He glanced up at Swabbie and saw him working on another gag hook.
“So, what do you suggest? You know what the letters said I sent out. It’s a real bind. If we run and hide, we will be dead this winter because nothing was planted or harvested, let alone preserved. If we stay put and keep going as we have been, you’re right – we are a target. Where is the balance?”
“The balance is what you make it out to be in this one,” replied Swabbie. “Just like Jimmy did with the Idlewild people and that other camp, we can’t be RE-active. We need to be PRO-active. Plant the food, keep the livestock, etc. But get people further out on patrols when the thaw starts. I would say by March or so, we need to be on high alert and watching not only for U.N. movement, but also for the Liberty Teeth people who say they are coming up to help with a resistance. Not sure what I make of it yet but it has to be better than rolling over and just letting them win.”
Both men worked in silence for awhile. Captain mulled how to give them the best chance. They were on the southern edge of what was considered ‘the valley’ and would be the first one the U.N. came across. It was also the largest camp. If they had drones as the rumors claimed, the evidence of activity would easily be seen from the air. He took a deep breath.
“Seems the best course of action is to scout out places people can run to if needed and have supplies cached for them if needed. We continue on as we have been with patrols out further starting in February or as the conditions allow. In March though, we will need to ramp things up. Hopefully we will hear from the resistance people and see what their plan is but in the meantime, we implement our own plans.”
Swabbie stood up from his workbench and stretched with a grin. “Exactly what I was thinking. Taking action without freaking out. That’s why you’re a good leader, Cap.” With that, Swabbie saluted and went outside.
*************
Jason looked around to make sure no one was watching him as he came out of the food storage area. He turned and made it look like he was closing the door but left it unlatched.
It had been a week since he was first shown where they kept their food and was impressed with how much they had managed to stash away. It wasn’t enough for everyone to get full on all the time but it would keep them from starving. He had taken a handful of rice here and beans there so it wouldn’t be obvious at first. This time, he broke a bag open and allowed a few grains to spill out. With the door opened a little, it wouldn’t take long for some animal to get in there and work their magic.
That’ll make them desperate enough to go on a raid and when we do, I’ll finally have my justice! He tried not to giggle to himself as he imagined the looks on their faces when he showed up with his own group and took what they needed. Maybe we could even take over! Why bother with coming back here? He would have to point that out somehow. He enjoyed the dance of deception he was playing while trying to prove himself trustworthy and reliable.
Heading back in, he put the container filled with provisions on the kitchen counter. Alana came over and checked them, nodding and said, “I want to try out some ice fishing. We only have enough for maybe two more meals. Do you know anything about smoking fish?”
Jason nodded. “Oh yeah. It’s easy to do and sounds really good. Do we have any tackle for fishing? At least hooks?”
Alana went to her pack and pulled out a small plastic container. When she opened it, there were easily 30 treble hooks in two sizes inside. “I want to put out half a dozen lines and let them sit. There is a hoe in the shed that can help to break the ice and a shovel to remove it. Will you go set the lines?”
Jason’s face registered surprise before nodding. “Sure but what do we have for bait? Just putting a hook in the water won’t do much.”
Alana reached into her pack again, this time coming out with a small baggie of dried corn kernels. She took out 6 kernels and passed them along with the hooks to Jason. “The dehydrated corn will rehydrate in the water and hang down from the weight, hopefully. Two people will go with you to help with the work and keeping eyes out for trouble, ok?”
Jason didn’t like being told what to do much, especially by someone he didn’t really respect but saw the advantages going along with the request would have. He nodded and took the items from her, stashing them away in his own pack. Someone had retrieved it after the fire where his wife had killed herself or was murdered. There would never been any closure for him on that front. There was no one alive who knew what really happened that day. Regardless, Jason was going to have his day and it would be sooner rather than later. He glanced out the window and noted the high wispy clouds. It was bright out and seemed like it might last a few days. “We will head out tomorrow and set them in the morning, check them before sunfall. OK?”
Alana nodded. They talked about making the smoker, how it worked and what was needed. She would send out another group to see if they could find more salt they would need for bringing and general preservation, not to mention flavor. Storing food in winter was easier but when spring came around and temps started heating up, food would spoil quickly from being partially thawed and refrozen.
Alana smiled and said, “Thank you for all you’ve been doing around here, Jason. Things have gone smoother with your skills to help.”
Jason returned the smile and nodded. “Thank you for taking me in and trusting me.” He turned away before she could see the gleeful look in his eyes. I got ya now!
*************
Mister woke up and jumped out of bed. Today, finally, he would be able to be in the Comm Shack and start practicing on the radio. It took weeks of effort, badgering people to get information on the system and the rules a licensed HAM operator used to have to follow. He had to put on an Academy Award performance to keep from showing his frustration with these people. He learned Morse code faster than anyone else had, spending hours practicing until he was almost as fast as Byron.
There had been no new messages from the U.N. but there were reports of the resistance spreading out and making it further north. He was hopeful he would start learning more instead of what the ‘leaders’ decided to tell everyone. There is no way they tell us absolutely everything. Mister had taken to planting little seeds of doubt and discord here and there so that when the time came, it would be easier to shatter not only this camp but all of them.
Getting his boots on and heading outside, he saw it was going to be sunny which made him even happier because that meant there would be plenty enough juice for the radio to run at least half the day. He waved to a couple kids who were heading to The Hall for their morning school lessons when one of them broke off and came over to him holding a wooden box. He stopped, feeling cornered though he was out in the open. Mister had never been big on kids. They were loud, usually spoiled, and annoying. He pasted a little smile on his face as the girl of about 8 came up and held out the box.
“I made this for you. It’s a box to put a snare in for catching rabbits. You didn’t get a Christmas present and it made me sad. Everyone should have a present at Christmas.” She looked at him shyly and Mister was frozen in shock. He didn’t know how to handle this situation. Give him a room full of drugged up gangster thugs and he was in his element. A little girl giving him a present was new territory. He saw her looking at him intently and realized he was just standing there staring. Get on your game, man!
Reaching down, he smiled more widely at her and said, “Thank you Brianne. It is perfect and will help me catch many rabbits. I will be sure to give you a foot for good luck when I get one, ok?”
Her face split into two with delight and she lunged forward without warning and gave him a hug around the waist before running off to join the rest of the kids.
He stood there, looking down at the box in his hands and back to Brianne as she walked inside The Hall. He couldn’t remember the last time he had gotten a hug from anyone, let alone a kid. He swallowed a couple times, trying to get his thoughts in order when he heard someone giggling behind him.
“Little buggers, aren’t they?” He turned around and saw Jessica leaning against a post in front of the Comm Shack.
“What?”
“Kids. They will do stuff like that when you least expect it. They skip off and leave a pile of goo behind, having no idea the little thing they did has such a huge effect.” She smiled at him and he felt his face get hot from embarrassment.
“Uhh….yeah. Little buggers.”
Jessica laughed again and motioned him to go inside. They got settled and Jessica started testing him to see what he had learned so far. She was impressed with his grasp of Morse code and told him that it had been Byron who had fast tracked him to get on the waves, or at least know enough to be able to serve as a back up.
“Okay, go ahead and put on the headphones and just listen in to the chatter for a few minutes. I’ll be back in a few.” She got up and put her jacket on while Mister tried not to show his eagerness to get his hands on the set up. She walked out to use the outhouse just as the first crackle of sound came over the headphones.
“….risk too much by contacting us, Maple Leaf. We are happy to know there are people in Canada who are willing to join the cause but you’re no help if you get caught, over.”
“Copy that. We understand the risk and will be moving quickly from the location but wanted to let you know there are more of us out here than just in the United States. We need to work together as the continent of North America to be rid of the United Nations. Just wanted to make ourselves known. Maple Leaf, out.”
Mister’s mind began racing as this new information registered. People from Canada, too? I wonder if the U.N. really hears all of these transmissions. He waited a minute or two and reached up to change the frequency. There really wasn’t much out there which surprised Mister. He expected there to be a lot of activity and was disappointed by the lack of news. Definitely not the same as the Internet, he thought to himself as he turned to the sound of the door opening. Jessica stepped in and smiled at him.
“Anything exciting out there? It’s been pretty quiet overall the last couple of months. Fuel has run out, not as much light for solar power, not to mention people being worried about being overheard. Except the resistance people, of course.”
Mister shook his head, keeping the conversation he overheard to himself. He wondered if she knew about the Canadians. “No, just a bunch of static.” He put on a disappointed look and shrugged. “I would think there aren’t many people out there who can even listen in, let alone talk back to people.”
Jessica sat down at her new desk and nodded. “That is true. There were a lot more right after IT all happened and then the waves got more and more quiet. That is, until the resistance started regularly broadcasting. They are making their way north and the plan is to get ahead of the U.N. troops so there are communications and plans in place before they make it this far. I have to give them credit, they’ve got some courage to be so ‘in your face’ about it all. Then again, when you back an animal into a corner….”
That was one thing Mister knew all about. “You come out swinging with everything you’ve got because there is nothing left to do other than sit and wait for death. Yeah….not my style either.”
Jessica smiled at him and nodded her agreement. “Okay, go ahead and shut it down for now. We are going to go over the frequencies a little more in depth.”
He turned to do as he was told, his mind racing with all the information and insight he got from a whopping two hours of being around Jessica. All I need to do is play it cool and the whole thing will go off perfect, he thought to himself. Then the U.N. comes in and takes these assholes down, I get recognized and then my reward. He turned and smiled at Jessica, determined to work the biggest hustle of his life on these people and stand by while their little worlds fell apart. He was going to make this one perfect.
*************
RR, Allen, and ten others were spread out making their way north. They were going to skirt around the west side of Bowling Green, Kentucky, according to the road signs they had passed a ways back. Allen had a mark on his map of a safe spot about 20 miles north, close to Morgantown. They had left 5 people behind to stay in Kentucky to help gather people to join the resistance and get comms in place. Another group of 5 had turned northeast not long after they had left Tennessee.
They continued going until nightfall. It was the middle of January and though they were out of the mountains, it was still cold at night. They were all looking forward to a warm place to sleep the next night, provided the safe house was real and intact. As they settled in, Allen pulled out his handheld radio and clicked it on, listening in as he always did before he checked in.
RR was coming back with an armful of firewood when he heard Allen say, “HA! That’s what I needed to hear! Thanks. Team one out.” Dropping the wood onto the stack, he looked at him curiously.
Allen put the radio and portable solar charger away as he answered. “Remember I told you about the guy who broadcasted supposedly from Canada?”
“Yeah, you told him he shouldn’t risk it. You said he was a whack job.”
Allen chuckled and said, “Yeah well…seems I was wrong about that. There are indeed a bunch of ticked off Canadians who want their land back. So much that they are sending people south to help us stop them from even making it up there. Can you believe it?”
“Well sure, it makes sense. Fight the battle away from the home front. Truth be told though, Canada, the United States…” Allen put his hand up to stop RR from finishing his sentence.
“Don’t say it. People have to come to terms with it on their own. I imagine fighting with the Canadians will help speed along the fact that there is no more United States or Canada.”
RR nodded and let it drop. He knew Allen was right to a degree and they had both already seen what happened to people who thought too much about the magnitude of what had been lost and changed forever. It was best to direct and distract and let people ease into the new reality. At least, according to the psychologists they had in their respective groups. Easing into it can get you killed though. What about that part? RR preferred to have everything out in the open. He never cared much for sugar coating things.
“So, how much longer do you think it will take? We’ve made some good time and distance already. I think we might beat spring at this rate. It’s not even February yet.”
Halfway through the question, Allen’s head was shaking. “We will hit the snows soon enough and when we do, it will all slow to a crawl. There will be days we will be lucky to make it five miles. Especially with the spring storms and twister season.”
RR grimaced and said, “You always know how to raise morale, Allen. A real gift.”
Allen laughed and replied, “I do what I can.”
*************
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“I’m telling you, I closed it Alana!” Jason was sitting down trying not to look as tense as he felt. His tricks and work over the last couple of weeks had depleted their food stocks and a racoon had gotten in, wreaking havoc and rendering a lot of food inedible for fear of feces and the resulting sickness.
The others they shared the house with were all giving him hard, almost unblinking looks. “Why would I sabotage our food?! It doesn’t make sense!”
Alana whirled on him angrily. “Do you think I’m stupid?! To force us to go to one of the camps you’re always babbling about! Well, now you have done it. You have forced our hand and you are going to lead us to it.” In a flash, her face was an inch from his and knife was pressed against the rapidly beating pulse in his neck.
“You will be watched 24/7. You won’t so much as take a piss without someone there. And how well you do at getting us in and out, all the way back here, will determine whether you live or not. Understood? You so much as fart without permission and I will kill you before your pathetic intellect even registers that I moved.”
Sweat popped out on Jason’s forehead and face. He could feel a trickle of it going down his back and resisted the urge to move. He whispered the words, “I understand, but-!” and hissed when the knife nicked his skin, eyes going wide.
Alana withdrew the knife and calmly said, “I don’t have any reason to hear a word from you right now. Tomorrow, we will head out to this ‘Center Camp’ as you call it, resupply and make it back. It will be a hard march through the snow but we will have Jason right in front to break the snow for us. Won’t we?”
As Jason sat there feeling a thin line of blood pool over and drip down his neck, he was torn between anger, fear, and wounded pride. Alana had seen through it all. He had thought he was so clever! He was sent to what had turned into his corner of the room, he laid down.
After he had calmed himself, his mind began processing everything she had said. He almost giggled when he realized that they were going to Center Camp. Tomorrow! I did it! We will go there and I will have my justice.
He realized that he didn’t really care too much if he died, so long as Center Camp was taken out. He rolled over putting his back to the room, thoughts of revenge lulling him to sleep
*************
Holly was cleaning up after pulling a rather nasty sliver out from under someone’s nail when he heard Jimmy hollering her name. Dropping everything, she rushed outside to see him half walking, half dragging Amie with him.
“What is it?! What happened?” She moved forward to help when Amie yanked out of his grasp and turned on him.
“I am not an invalid, Jimmy! I can walk myself, thank you.” Turning back to Holly she said, “I think I might be having contractions.”
Holly’s eyebrows shot up and she nodded. “Seems a bit early but let’s have a look.” She noticed Jimmy’s semi panicked look and tried not to laugh. He was completely out of his element, but likely only because it was his own wife and child. She had seen him take death and life with the same stride but in this situation, he was a mess.
“Jimmy, why don’t you head over to The Hall and make sure there the large basins are clean and ready to heat water, just in case. Also, check on the trails and see how clear it is.”
He looked relieved to be given an order and this time Holly did smile as he turned toward The Hall. “Wait, should I message the doctor?”
“One thing at a time, Jimmy!” Holly and Amie went into the building.
“Ok, how often and for how long?” Holly began preparing the examination table with a clean sheet.
“I’ve had three, the longest lasted two minutes and they were about ten minutes apart.”
Holly nodded and said, “Okay. Let’s give it another few minutes and see if you get another. I am thinking it is false labor. You haven’t even dropped really. You’re measuring pretty big but based on what you said before, this would be pretty early. Another month or so seems about right.”
Amie groaned.
Holly straightened up. “Another contraction?”
“No. It’s the thought of another month of this.”
Holly laughed and they waited another half an hour without anything else happening.
“Yup, false labor hun. It’s part of it, unfortunately. We should plan on you heading down to Main Camp in a couple weeks though. Getting close!”
Amie nodded and got up to leave just as Jimmy came in panting. “Ok, the basins are being filled and a crew is clearing the…” He looked at Amie and then Holly. “False alarm?”
“Yep! You’ll want to make the trek down in a couple of weeks to Main Camp. She will be pretty uncomfortable by then so make sure you have a sled ready.”
They thanked Holly and went to their cabin to make dinner.
*************
Captain and Tanner were out their third patrol in as many weeks. Though they hadn’t seen any signs of human activity, they had found multiple tracks of small game and had set snares the last time they were out.
“I really hope we got something. I don’t even care what it is, just something different to eat would be so nice.” Tanner was leading the way to the first snare. The sun was shining and they were only a few miles from camp. Their trap line stretched out another four miles in an arc east to south.
“In all my years, I’ve never had something in every trap. It’s hit or miss and you can be sure others are also trapping. Be thankful if we get something that is still there. A lot of times, all that is left is a foot in the snare or a tuft of fur. Especially in hard winters like this one has been.” Captain was breathing harder as he walked through the calf high snow.
Tanner ran ahead to the first snare and called out, “Empty! Bait untouched.” When he turned around, he saw Captain’s face had turned really red. “Hey, let’s take it easy. There is no need to rush. You don’t look so good Uncle.”
Captain stopped and tried to catch his breath. “Go on ahead, I’ll catch up. I just need a minute.” Tanner turned to go and then stopped, shaking his head.
“I’m a little winded myself and don’t want to sweat. I’ll just stay with you.” He smiled and sat down on a fallen log.
After they were rested, they continued on. The next trap was also empty but the third had evidence of something being there and then taken by another predator. Captain bent over and checked the tracks around the snare.
“Looks like we had a rabbit and a fox got it.” He stood up and pointed. “It went off down that way a day or two ago.We could try for fox though you don’t really eat them.” He stretched his arms out and smiled at Tanner. His face turned to a grimace and his grasped at his chest, half falling, half trying to sit.
“Captain!” Tanner moved to his side, trying to help him support him. Captain’s breathing was shallow and his eyes were wide.
“Heart….attack…”
Tanner immediately pulled his pack off and opened it, turning it upside down to spill the contents. He found the medical bag that was required for all on patrol to carry and pulled out the small bottle labeled pain relievers. He opened it with shaky hands and found the two chewable aspirin, putting them into Captain’s mouth. Everyone who went on patrols were required to learn the basics of first aid and be able to demonstrate what to do in a given situation. The doctor at Main Camp had been diligent in the training program.
Tanner was absolutely torn as to what to do next. They were about four miles from help but if he left to get help, Captain couldn’t possibly protect himself from predators or even keep a fire going. He wasn’t sure which way to go.
Should Tanner leave to get help or stay and watch over Captain, hoping people will come looking for them?
He should go get help. Captain could die without help.
He should stay and start a fire. People will come looking for them.
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