“You mean that nice looking blonde in the black dress?”
“Yes and I am sure that it won’t be long till you select your target for the evening.”
“I already have.” as she eyed a tall good looking boy with darker hair.
Jon moved over to the bar that was being tended by Mort. While this was a dance for the younger folk fact was it had quite a few of the adults there, whether they were chaperoning or not. The reality of the folks that lived in the valley was they lived hard, worked hard, and they loved to party hard. But then that was how most Americans had lived for many years. It was only the past ten years that had changed all of that. The toning down of men was probably the biggest reason. It had started with changing the way the young men grew up by discouraging them from contact sports, hunting, fishing, and of course just being male. Even the traditions of how young men and women interacted had changed. Dating for the most part had disappeared as relationships were discouraged, the idea being that they were too restrictive and did not allow a group harmony to exist. High school proms were finally ended because it was deemed that they only supported heterosexual relations and did not allow for homosexual relations. In fact all male female traditions were stopped in order to breed equality. After all this, society was left with a watered down humanity that just existed to serve the greater good whatever the hell that was.
Not so in Jon Smith’s valley as the mating game was always at hand. The women were filled with desire and the men were loaded with testosterone. Maybe it was all a result of all the fresh elk meat they had or the fresh air. In either case it was what made life worth living.
“Mort how goes it?” asked Jon.
“I am just enjoying this and enjoying being here with all these young folk.”
“Your daughter is here isn’t she?” asked Jon
“Oh yea, she is over there with that group that are talking to your kids.”
“That’s all great. She is doing ok since Marie passed last year isn’t she?” asked Jon
Mort stopped for a moment as he had not thought about all of that in a while. He looked at Jon and smiled.
“We are both doing alright, and thanks for thinking about it.” said Mort.
“Well tell Jill if she gets bored to come on over and visit with Amanda.”
“Sounds good.” said Mort.
“Well fill me up two big glasses of white wine; no make that red wine as it is a night to be festive.”
Mort poured two glasses of wine and handed them to Jon. Jon gave thanks and headed toward Catherine. He handed her the glass and they both took a drink.
“Well what do you think of the party?”
“It is wonderful Jon. I am so glad that Amanda can experience this and be able to be around the young people that are here. They are really good folk.” said Catherine.
“Yes they are and they come from good parents.”
“You know being at this makes me feel like I am back in the 80s or something, like at a high school dance.”
Jon laughed as he looked at Catherine.
“Well for me it is the 70s and yes I know what you mean. Makes me feel good.”
He leaned over and spoke in Catherine’s ear.
“And I can’t wait to get back and make out with you.”
Catherine shook her head and laughed.
“How did you survive these ten years or maybe all of this is the result of ten years of pent up sexual drive.” said Catherine.
Jon laughed.
“Yea I think that is part of it and the other part is that you drive me wild, as you always did.”
Chris and Amanda had gotten themselves a drink and were busy interacting with the other young folk at the party. Amanda began to slide over toward her intended target for the evening. The tall dark haired boy was the same one that she had spent time with at the Halloween festival and she had hoped he would be here.
“Nathan, it is good to see you again. Why haven’t you come by to see me?” asked Amanda.
“Well, I was kinda busy and such. You know I was one of the guys that were on the recon group watching out for the Urban Troops.”
“You were, well I didn’t know that. Were you in the battle?”
“Yes, I was with your father in the forward group. He is one hell of a man you know that.” said Nathan.
“Yes he is but you are something too to stand with him.”
Nathan looked down and then took Amanda’s hand.
“Would you like to dance?”
“I would be honored to.” said Amanda.
The two made their way to the dance floor just in time for a slower number. As the music selections for many in the valley were very mixed it just happened that someone had requested a country song. As Amanda and Nathan hit the floor so too did Jon and Catherine as Jon particularly liked the song that came up.
As the music started Jon began to mouth the lyrics.
I spent a lifetime looking for you
Single bars and good time lovers were never true
Playing a fools game hoping to win
Looking for Love
Johnny Lee
Amanda and Nathan danced close and she was held like she had never been held before. She began to think that if she had never come to this world she would have never felt such a feeling. Here was a strong young good looking guy that held her tight. The female instincts in her just came out and she pulled his lips toward her and kissed him.
“What was that for?” asked Nathan.
“It was because I wanted to and because I feel safe with you.”
A large grin came over Nathan’s face. As the song ended the two headed over to get a drink and then sat alone at a quiet table out of the way.
“So how long have you been in the valley?” asked Amanda?
“My parents, sister and I moved here eight years ago. Dad had just lost a job and saw that the country was going to crap. He heard from a friend about this place and decided that it would be a great place to raise us. When we got here we met Jon and Chris and they helped us get settled. Your dad helped build our cabin and provided food for us as we got going. That is why my whole family thinks the world of him.”
“He is something else. I really regret not having been here for ten years.” said Amanda.
“Is there anything you miss from your life in the Urban world? I mean aren’t they more sophisticated and more educated than us?” asked Nathan.
Amanda looked at him directly and answered.
“Frankly Nathan, you all have much more education than the people there. They live in a synthetic world where nothing is real as it is all contrived or brainwashed in. Here life is real as you all read real books, eat real food, and have a great time. Now I know why the Order wants to destroy all of this. If everyone in that world remembered this kind of life they wouldn’t listen to those political idiots anymore.”
Nathan shook his head in agreement and took a drink of his beer.
“Well why don’t we get up on that note and dance again.”
“Sounds great to me, I want to dance all night.” said Amanda.
The party continued on into the night as the young people and the adults were truly enjoying the evening. It was really the last party until spring and it served as a relief for many as there was much anxiety over what was to come in the spring. At about 1:00 AM the party broke up and folks headed toward their vehicles and home. Amanda disappeared behind the Christmas tree and said a warm goodnight to Nathan. The two decided that they should begin formally dating and as such a romance was born. Chris had spent the evening in between two girls and as was his manner he left them both guessing as to which one he liked more.
“Well it has been a great party.” said Jon with the family now in the truck.
“Yes it was.” said Amanda.
“Seems little sis ha
s a boyfriend now.” said Chris.
“I think Nathan is a very nice boy.” said Catherine.
Jon grinned as he pulled the truck into the drive. A new experience was upon him as he now had to consider that his little girl would be having a gentleman caller.
“Nathan is a good young man and his parents are good folk. Amanda, I think it would be great if he called on you.” said Jon.
The family came inside and said their good nights. Chris headed toward his room and Amanda towards hers. As she lay down in her bed to sleep she thought about the evening and how great it was. All about here life was wonderful as she fell asleep with a smile on her face.
Chapter 8
During this time of year, life in the Urban world and the rest of the Order continued on as any other time. Since all the old traditional holidays were not recognized there were no Christmas decorations or any other types of changes. While some of the population still had memories of such a time, most folks just accepted the loss of those traditions. Not all the people did and it was surprising to see the ones that still longed for the older times.
It was early evening and the streets began to clear as Colonel James headed toward his condominium that he had been given while on duty while in the western region. He and his wife and daughter had been set up in a very spacious abode that was on the 40th floor of one of the living towers. He parked his electric car in the downstairs garage and took the elevator that brought him to the 40th floor. Walking down the clean halls he stopped at his new home, number 4005. He stuck his finger in the security reader and the door opened. His wife was sitting on the sofa watching the I in order to catch up on news. She was sipping a glass of wine, something that high ranking officers in the Order were allowed to have.
“Can you get me one of those?” asked Colonel James.
“Yes sir right away.”
His wife, Caroline returned with a healthy glass that James took and drank a good sip of. He collapsed on the sofa beside her.
“Do we really have to watch this crap?” asked James
“Why Thomas, we are catching up on the daily propaganda and being good citizens of the Order.” said Caroline.
“Yea, good soldiers that take orders from fat idiots in grey synthetic suits that are more concerned about opinion polls and some fake shit about climate transference than really understanding what should be done.”
Caroline looked at her husband and smiled.
“So I see you have had another good day with the bureaucrats.”
“Oh yes, a lovely day of them telling me how I will conduct a campaign to wipe out a bunch of people that frankly have more in common with us than we have with this Order.” said James.
“So they are still bent on going into that valley you talked about and either killing or removing all those people that they call separatists?”
“Yes and the fact is I believe that we will fail in that mission. And to be honest I am not so sure that if we did it would make me unhappy.”
Colonel James took a long drink and finished his wine. Caroline had finished hers as well and headed toward the kitchen to retrieve the bottle.
“Here let’s fill up and have another. In some ways just drinking wine is a revolution against this putrid society we live in.” said James.
Colonel James got up and walked toward the sliding glass door of the balcony. He opened it and stepped out into the cold night air and looked toward the mountains as his balcony faced west. He pondered as to what those people in the valley were doing. He felt a strong desire to leave the Order and to join the folks that had left and gone off the grid. But then there was no way he could as Caroline and his eighteen year old daughter Vanessa could not live that kind of a life. Caroline walked out and joined her husband.
“Ah this air is refreshing, much nicer than Africa.” said Caroline.
James turned toward his wife and asked her.
“Do you really like this kind of a life, I mean do we really live or am I just and errand boy for the bureaucrats?” asked James.
“Thomas, it really isn’t about Vanessa and me as we have been so many places with you. It is really about you and what drives you. No I don’t like what this place and the world have become.” said Caroline.
James looked out in the dark and thought.
“Caroline, all my adult life I have lived a soldier’s life. I fought in Gulf One as a marine, Gulf Two as an army officer, Afghanistan as a Special Forces commander and now for the last eight years in Africa. In the beginning I fought for what I thought was right and now I don’t believe in the mission any more.”
“So what are you going to do?” asked Caroline.
James looked down then at Caroline.
“I am going to put up, shut up and do what I am ordered. And then when all this is over we are going to get out of here and find a little place off the grid, maybe old Northern New Mexico.”
The last comment brought a smile to Caroline and she kissed her husband on the cheek.
“Hey I am hungry, what’s for dinner?”
“Well synthetic protein, strained vegetables.”
James looked up and grunted.
“Damn I could use a steak and a baked potato.”
Well you keep dreaming honey.” said Caroline.
The next morning Colonel James was back in his car headed toward regiment headquarters. He had sent for his regimental commanders and had them arrive well ahead of the main force. He arrived at the building which was simply an office building not far from the main government tower that housed Governor Tarl. He walked in and bid the admin staff hello as he walked toward the main conference room. Upon entering the room his twelve company commanders stood at attention. The regiment was made up of nine infantry companies and three armored. Also included was a small team of special commandos that reported into the first company.
The second in command officer was present as well, Major Jeffers. Jeffers was a good soldier and a good second that had become totally engrossed in the beliefs of the New Order and as such answered well to the political leaders. This was helpful to James but in many respects he did not totally trust Jeffers in that he was concerned that Jeffers had political aspirations versus being a second in command. The rest of the company commanders were all veterans and had served with James for the last five years in the African campaign.
“Gentlemen, welcome to the mountain region. Today we are going to discuss our mission, logistics, and what our job here is. We will also talk about our opposition as it is nothing like anything you all have faced before. Now before we get started do you have any questions or comments?”
The commanders looked around the room to see who would ask the question that they all had on their mind. It was Captain Dimitri that finally raised his hand.
“Yes Captain, what is it you would like to say?” asked James
“Well sir, we are all a bit confused and a bit concerned about the fact that for the most part we are going to be asked to kill fellow former countrymen. I mean fighting in Africa is something different as most of that fighting was against terrorists and truly foreign armies, this however is not.”
Colonel James looked around the room and realized that he would have to get directly to the point on a subject that in fact was very difficult for him as well. He looked toward the sentries at the door and asked them to step out of the room and close the doors. He also looked as best he could to make sure all the electronics in the room were off as he hoped that this meeting with his commanders was not being watched.
“Men, I wanted to get to this last but it looks like I will have to cover it first. Yes, you are right; the group of people we are going to go against are basically homesteaders. They are people that went off the grid because they did not believe in what was happening in the world nor did they like the New World Order. These are people that believe in freedom, the old
constitution, and democracy. So it is very difficult to plan and carry out the campaign that is ahead of us. But that does not relieve us of our duty as soldiers as we are not politicians, nor do we make the decisions in the New Order. We will plan and do our duty as expected.”
With that answer there were no more questions as there could be no more questions. James took his seat at the table and began to review the status of each of the companies in the regiment. He also went over the logistics of arrival as well as the bivouacking of the regiment. They were to be set up in newly constructed facilities just to the west of the city. From there they would be able to conduct patrols as well as road blocks in order to begin the end of the contraband trade network of the outlier communities. Within this quasi fort would be the motor pool that would contain Humvees, APCs and light tanks. The light tanks were really a more advanced design of the current Bradley fighting vehicle.
With the end of these discussions began the discussion of what they were going to face. Colonel James brought up a 3D topological map that pinpointed Jon Smith’s valley. He began to discuss the terrain.
“Gentlemen, you will see that this valley is wooded and surrounded by mountainous and rough terrain. Also it can only be entered by a single lane road that currently is blocked with snow. Utilizing air cover is impossible as there would be no line of sight so we will have to rely on firepower. In the attempt in November by Urban Security, the outliers repelled a force of one hundred and fifty men with vehicles. The estimate was that the force the Urban Security met was seventy five and they were armed with high powered hunting rifles.”
“Hunting rifles, sir why are we here if that is what we are facing? One hundred of our storm troopers with a few APCs could take them out quickly.” said Captain Fein commander of the third company.
Several of the other commanders shook their heads in agreement.
Colonel James looked at them with stern eyes which set the commanders into silence.
“Yes it would seem ridiculous as these outliers are not trained soldiers and such. However in November they took out one third of the Security troop. In addition these men are tough and grizzled hunters that have been living off the land for years. They can take a 30-06 round and shoot it down your asshole at one hundred and seventy five yards. And need I remind you that a round of that caliber will pierce your body armor. Also they have the terrain on their side as they put up a road block and fired from covered positions. No I do not take them lightly as they will be as tough an adversary as we have met. Yes we will go in with numbers and I hope in the end that they just give up, but something tells me they won’t. Hell if I were them I wouldn’t.”
Jon Smith Page 21
