by Cliff Deane
Engineer Stoneman assured Chief Grey Wolf that this site would create a temporarily impassable blockage on a stretch of Interstate that likely would prove nearly impossible to cross from the northbound lane to the south side in an effort to get around the obstacle.
The engineer pointed to a high and very large overhang. He said, “There Benedito, with your approval, is where we must create a landslide onto the road, blocking the advance of the evil ones.”
“My friend,” replied Chief Grey Wolf, as he gave his engineer a friendly pat upon his back, you have my approval for wherever you wish to accomplish this task; you are the expert, here not I.”
Stoneman smiled appreciatively and said, “Thank you Chief, tell me, might it not be wise to also drop another section of rocks at the rear of the column to bring them to a complete halt?”
“Hmmm,” said Grey Wolf, perhaps you may be right, but if we take this path our enemies will redouble their efforts to cross to the southbound lanes, possibly forcing us to damage the road in both directions. No, I think this would, perhaps, be unwise, as we need this good road to allow travel around our new nation. Still, the idea does have merit. I think we should prepare such a plan, but I will seek the guidance of Daniel’s Grandfather Geronimo before taking such action. Perhaps he may receive a vision from the Great Spirit to guide us.”
The engineer then said, “Yes, I see your point that we must make every attempt to save the southbound lanes. Yes, I agree, that is probably the best plan. I will get a team to begin drilling and preparation of the holes to place the dynamite.”
“Drilling into this granite? How would we accomplish this task? We do not have the technology of those who created this wonder,” asked the War Chief.
“My Chief, we actually do have both the proper tools and the basic technology to drill into these mountains. Oh, it is true that we do not have the power tools, but we do have the hand drilling tools used by those earlier miners and road builders who chiseled these paths through these granite mountains. Those tools are safely stored in the mining museums. The age of the equipment will have had no adverse effects on them, well, except the handles, of course, but this is an easy fix.
We will drill in a cantilevered direction to ensure that the granite will shear off toward the road. As the granite here, tends to break along vertical fault lines, I am confident that we shall have great success in dropping the rock away from the mountain and down to the road below. down from the top at roughly fifteen feet from the edge of the cliff on both sides of the northbound lanes. Your fighting positions should be located no less than three feet behind the line of the explosive charges.”
“I see,” said Grey Wolf, “I like your plan. I shall direct the Squad Commanders to hold their fighters back from the edge until after you set off the charges. Yes, my friend, you have planned well. Yes, good job, Stanley Stoneman.”
“Thank you, Chief,” said the proud and happy engineer, “we will make sure that everything goes off as planned.”
Grey Wolf laughed at Stoneman’s comment everything will go off as planned. “Yes, I am sure you are correct.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
New River, AZ
19 November 1000 Hours
I-17 Northbound
Benedito Grey Wolf and Cactus Pete Williams watched the drilling process for the insertion of dynamite. The plan to block the northbound lanes was going slowly, but progress was clearly evident.
Cactus Pete was the Honcho of the Last Shadow Prepper Camp. He and seven volunteers had joined with Grey Wolf to assist in any way they could, but also to consider the best vantage points for their shooters to prevent the Evil Ones from clearing the road.
Pete and Benedito had never met before the Preppers asked Chief Daniel Two-Dogs if they might be able to help and take part in the mission to block and protect the road. Benedito Grey Wolf might not have been so amenable to accepting help from Whites, but after his Chief had said that the Preppers were now brothers among The People, the question did not even occur to him. Their skin color may have differed slightly, but that went unnoticed, and both were dressed in desert Battle Dress Uniforms, courtesy of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson.
“Benedito,” said Pete, “I believe we were very lucky to have been able to liberate these uniforms and weapons from Davis-Monthan. Our enemy will have modern weapons with deadly accuracy, and we must make every single one of our own shots count. I am concerned that we will still be greatly outmatched by the heavy weapons mounted on their Iron Beasts.”
Both men laughed as Pete used the term coined by Taza Geronimo when he named the Armored Vehicles, Iron Beasts.
After a few seconds, Grey Wolf said, “Yes, I too am concerned by this potential threat. Our fighting positions among the rocks will provide cover and concealment from small arms, but 20 or 30 mm rounds could prove to be disastrous. Even though these mountains are granite and provide good cover for small arms, we are unable to dig into the rock. Have you any ideas as to how we might counter this problem?” asked Grey Wolf.
Pete smiled and said, “On the way down here, I was at a loss as to how we could dig foxholes but watching your drilling teams has given me an idea.”
“Drilling teams? How can these one-inch hand drills dig foxholes?”
“Oh, no,” said Pete, not the drills to make the fighting positions, but if we drill down, perhaps one-foot, and then place a one-quarter stick of dynamite in the holes, we might be able to create sufficient depressions. This would allow our shooters to remain relatively safe from, perhaps even 30 mm rounds.
“I’m also sure that our enemies will have limited ammunition to fire a large number of the heavier rounds at us. They will also have several vehicles serving as an ammunition train. These vehicles should be primary targets. If we deny them munitions, they must withdraw, hopefully right into the teeth of those who follow them. Tell me, my friend, has Chief Daniel’s Grandfather, had any more visions?”
Grey Wolf looked into Pete’s eyes and asked, “Pete, do you believe in the visions of the old Medicine Man?”
Pete wasn’t just dropped off a turnip truck, and he knew that being equal did not answer all questions from other members of The People. He said, “Benedito, before becoming a member of The People, I admit that I did have my doubts, but no longer. I do believe in the Great Spirit, and I also believe in his Son, Jesus Christ.”
Grey Wolf laughed and said, “Well said, my brother, well said, and I believe you may be right that the two are the same.” He slapped Pete on the back as they began making their way to the next drilling site.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
THE PEOPLE
30 November - 30 April
Verde Valley, AZ
The winter of aught 2 was severe and it had decimated the tribes of The People. By April of aught 3, the Northern Tribes no longer existed, the Crow, Flatheads, Sioux, Blackfeet, and all the other tribes of the Northern Plains were caught in the throes of a storm that just did not stop. Snow fell every day from August of aught 2 to the end of April aught 3. Those who could not, or would not, quickly move south by September 1st died in their homes.
The 1st of April, however, saw the worst of this mini-Ice Age already begin to relent. The North Sea Current was in the process of being revived. The frigid winter of aught 2 caused a major refreezing of the Greenland Ice Sheets. Ice also reformed in both the Arctic and Antarctic Seas. For the first time in several years the Arctic waters froze solid. With the Ice Sheets no longer melting, which caused tens of trillions of cold, freshwater to block the North Sea Current. Now, thanks to the refreezing of the Greenland Ice Sheet, the heavier, saltier, and warmer waters from the equator could again remain near the surface of the North Sea, once again bringing warmer waters and winds back to the West Coasts of Europe. It would take a couple of years for the North Sea Current to, once again, have its full effect on the European west coast.
The progress had been slow, but the snow had stopped falling and would soon begin to melt
along the Northern Tier States of the former United States. It would be another four or five years before this region could be resettled. In the interim the northlands would suffer severe and devastating flooding, the likes of which no human had ever seen. These years would be unnoticed as it would take much longer for the human population to reclaim dominance of what had once been called the Bread Basket of America.
The exiting of this mini-Ice Age came, unfortunately, too late for anyone living in the northern half of North America.
The Native American population now numbered no more than six-thousand souls across North America.
Visions
30 April 03
Verde Valley, AZ
The third winter had been especially hard on the Medicine Man, Taza Geronimo. Chief Daniel Two-Dogs was thankful to the Great Spirit for not calling his grandfather home. Taza knew the true reason was that the Great Spirit was not finished with his grandfather, no, not quite yet.
On 30 April 03, the old Medicine Man, against Chief Daniel’s wishes, entered his Sweat Lodge in the hope of learning more about the future of The People. He spent twenty-four Hours praying for his peyote driven visions. He prayed, tended his fire, sweated copious amounts of his precious bodily fluids, and for this sacrifice, the Great Spirit gave him a vision into the future of The People.
In his vision, Taza saw the frozen horrors wrought upon the tribes of the northern areas. He saw the absolute, total destruction of all the tribes who lived in those snow-covered territories. He saw snow reaching over one hundred feet in depth, not one hundred miles from his Sweat Lodge.
He was also shown the return of The People to their place as the rightful heirs of the American West.
Chief Daniel’s fears for his grandfather could wait no longer and he entered Taza’s Sweat Lodge; there he found the old man lying unconscious on the ground. He scooped up the wise old man and carried his emaciated body home. Daniel was worried that the Medicine Man would not recover from his journey into the future.
It was, however, not Taza’s time to go as he knew he must relay his vision to Daniel and the Tribal Council. With water, food, and rest, the old man quickly regained a modicum of his pre-vision strength. Still, he was very weak and knew that his time on Earth was short.
At the urging of Daniel, a meeting of the Tribal Council was quickly ordered. Due to his weakened condition, Taza Geronimo was seated in a comfortable chair, and because of this, the other Tribal Chiefs were also seated on chairs.
Taza spoke to the other Tribal Chiefs, saying, “Once the fire was sufficiently hot, and the water had filled the enclosure with moisture for my Lodge, I sat before the fire and began praying to the Great Spirit for a vision to help guide The People. It took perhaps nineteen Hours for my personal totems to contact the Great Spirit. He spent much time with me, longer than on any other visit. For many Hours he showed to me how the Earth had been cleansed and prepared for man to have one final chance at caring for His world.
In this vision, I saw snow and ice deeper than twenty men standing on each other’s shoulders. These frozen lands have taken the lives of every living thing. I was also shown that in another four or five years this snow will be gone as the Earth will once again warm itself from the nurturing heat of our sun. During this time there will be many floods of giant proportion. After the floods, it will take many years before the land is ready for The People. The Earth is being scoured clean. The Great Spirit has shown me this so that I might understand that if man does not properly manage the land, the entire Earth will one day be covered in ice, and He would begin again.
I was also told that our plan for creating a nation of The People will not be completed for many hundreds of years and that we must be content with maintaining a nation of The People in an area of the distance a man can ride on horseback in six days.
We must relearn the old ways but without the old hatreds. We must show to all that we can live in peace and still flourish. We must again become self-sufficient, and never again allow ourselves to be clothed and fed like children, for we are not children, we are The People.”
“Grandfather,” asked Chief Daniel, “Do your visions mean that I should cease being a rancher, and Tribal Leader. Must we all, again wear leggings and a loincloth?”
“No, my son, He has shown me that those who are farmers and ranchers, must remain so, for those who come after you will benefit from your labors, especially in the hard times that lie ahead of all peoples of the Earth,” said Taza.
“But, Grandfather, what of man’s dreams of a grand civilization that reaches to the stars? Are these dreams to be forever lost?”
“My son,” said Taza, “my vision told me that man’s mission is to take care of this planet. If he can do that perhaps that dream is possible, but I must add that he did not say whether those other goals can be reached without destroying the Earth.”
The visiting Chief’s questioned and discussed Taza’s visions throughout much of the day until the old man became too tired to continue. He said, “My friends, I believe that this visit from the Great Spirit will be his last for me. Now, please, I must get some rest.”
That night, as every night, the Medicine Man of The People fell peacefully asleep, but it was for the last time. Taza Geronimo was finally called home by the Great Spirit. The People were terribly saddened by the loss of their beloved Medicine Man and all mourned and prayed, prayed and mourned his absence.
Daniel was beside himself with grief over his loss. He also had so many questions about how he should proceed. He even entered his Grandfather’s Sweat Lodge, but his prayers for a vision went unanswered. Daniel and The People were now truly on their own.
For three days Daniel mourned the loss of his grandfather who had been such a huge part of his growth into manhood. On the second day Daniel began to think upon the time when his parents had died and how this tragedy had brought him to be the leader of The People. His thoughts drifted back to that horrible day…
Late 20th Century
Indian Reservation (Rez)
Near Jerome, AZ
A Ford, four-door sedan was traveling along Arizona Route 89A from Prescott to Verde Valley by way of Jerome. The road to Jerome has always been dangerous as it climbs a steep mountain to the old mining town of Jerome. The most haunted town in Arizona sits precariously on the side of a very steep mountain that leads down into the Verde Valley. There were few road guards protecting the sheer drop-offs as the road made its tortuous way up the mountain.
The morning temperature of sixty-seven degrees Fahrenheit seemed picture perfect on this warm April day. The sun climbed high into a cloudless mid-morning sky and the only wind on this mountain came through the open car windows.
Wildflowers fought with the pines for a patch of sunlight to show off their bright spring plumage. The sweet scent of awakening spring pines was heavy in the air and continued to increase as the car slowly wound its way to the top of the mountain and the now touristy town of Jerome.
Dawn and Julius Two-Dogs, though, when they were off the Reservation, went by the last name of Townsend, were both college graduates from the University of Arizona with teaching degrees. They were also Native Americans of the Bedonkohe Apache Tribe. With them in the car was their young son, eight-year-old Daniel Two-Dogs Townsend. Daniel was thin, yet well short of being a frail young man and was quite tall for his age. His skin was the dusky hue of his Apache heritage. He also wore his hair in the traditional length of his people. Other than being tall, Daniel’s only real feature to make him stand out in any crowd was that his eyes were dark emerald green, the same as his Grandfather Taza Geronimo who was both a Medicine Man and respected Tribal Chief of the Bedonkohe Tribe. At the age of eight, Daniel was fluent in English, Spanish, and three dialects of the local Apache, Hopi, and Navajo peoples. Daniel’s parents were sure that somewhere in the last three hundred years, a green-eyed Frenchman had lived with the Bedonkohe.
On this day the family’s intent was to visit Dawn’s Fathe
r, Taza Geronimo who lived on the Rez.
Daniel was really excited to spend the weekend with his Grandfather.
“Now, Daniel,” said Julius, “I do not want your Grandfather filling your head with his visions and grandiose tales of the future of our people. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, father,” answered Daniel in his most polite voice, “I do understand what you mean, and please do not worry. I just want to spend time with grandfather. Is it all right if he teaches me how to ride one of his ponies? I promise I will be careful and obey every rule.”
Somewhat mollified, Julius turned to Dawn and asked, “What do you think, sweetie? Is Daniel old enough to learn to ride a horse?”
Dawn unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to Daniel who sat in the back seat, with his hands in his lap. He made every effort to look all grown up.”
Then turning back to her husband, she smiled and said, “Yes, I was his age when my father taught me to ride.” She turned again to Daniel and asked, “Will you promise to be careful and not do anything dangerous?”
Daniel was always polite and took much pride in his heritage. His answer was clear and sincere, “Mother, I promise to obey grandfather and be very caRE…” screamed Daniel, in fright, as a loud bang caused from a tire blowing out caused the car to careen sharply to the right. The sedan left the narrow road and raced down the mountain, falling some thirty feet before slamming into a tall, sturdy pine tree. Daniel’s mother had undone her seat belt to allow her to more easily speak with her son. This action resulted in her being thrown into the windshield on the right side of her head and body. Julius was dazed and bruised, but otherwise relatively unhurt. “DANIEL, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?”
