by Jeff Ping
Chapter 3: Day 3
I’m awake by 9:00, I can hear a TV news reporter saying that they have been unable to reach anyone at the network news bureau in New York. I slip on my pants, pull on a shirt, and grabbing my boots and socks I walk into the living room. Jack looks up and says "the SF stations went off air but I found a Stockton station that’s broadcasting". The news announcer continues, "In a related report the military has announced that New York has been closed to entrance and exit. Anyone trying to leave the city is told to do so only at medical check points they have established. On the west coast the military have announced that they have closed the Golden Gate, Al Zampa, Martinez, and the Antioch bridges. Large refugee centers have been setup on Treasure Island, Angel Island, and Alcatraz Island as well as several isolated islands in the delta for San Francisco and the Bay Area. Food and water shipments are being airlifted into these locations. The local governments shut down civilian airports throughout the Midwest as soon as the Zaire virus was detected on the coast. The states of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Alaska have set up road blocks manned by state militia at interstates leading into them. Unnamed sources say the four states are preparing to declare their independence of the Federal government".
I look at Jack and motion for him to join me outside. I tell Jack we should try and talk to some of the neighbors. We walk out to the gate and I was just unlocking the lock when Jack says, "This thing is growing at a much faster rate than I thought possible. I’ll stay here with Mindy if you don’t mind". "No problem." I said. I turned and walked up the street. Being an absentee owner I only have a passing acquaintance with a couple of people on the street. I figure they will know a few more so I should be able to get a network going where I can talk to almost everyone. First, I talked to the guy next door, Tom. He said he was very concerned and would do whatever I thought would be best. A couple of houses further up the street I stop to see Fred. I met him a couple of summers ago but hadn’t talked to him very much at all. Fred said he would spread the word. He suggested we should have a neighborhood meeting tomorrow. He said that we should have our meeting up at the abandoned drying shed for the closed prune processing plant tomorrow at noon. It should be large enough to get everyone inside out of the sun.
I told Fred I would see him tomorrow and continued my walk down the street. What I want to present in the meeting to the neighbors is an action plan to secure our safety. I want to prevent repeats of last night, because sooner or later it will end in a gun battle. Someone will end up hurt, killed or infected. We need to blockade the incoming street, and post guards. We can also discuss Patrols. We need some sort of danger alarm system. I spend the rest of the day walking the neighborhood talking to any of the neighbors I can find. At least 12 houses appear to be unoccupied.
