Down the Hole

by Sally Six

  Yes, that was how he should do it. That still instilled loyalty. Williamson could see in his mind’s eye the great Scottish clans of United Sates of America upholding the Constitution. He wondered what his compatriots were doing hold up in maybe different shelters across the U.S. He sure hoped that they were doing the same as he was. He had the awful idea some that he knew would be doing the opposite. He needed to make sure his people were prepared for anything and everything. The last thing they needed to do is let their guard down. They could all be living in a new, very dangerous world. He did know there was no could about it.

  The days went fast with so much to do to get the command moved. Elizabeth hardly saw her family, only when she fell into bed and could see they were sleeping. Bill was working hard too, but his assignments ended with an eight to ten hour day for now. Elizabeth left at 5:00 AM and returned to the tent at 10:00 PM. Bill turned over and told her. “Hi honey.”

  “Hi to you to sweetheart. I will sure be glad when we’re moved. Too many days of this and I would be fried. Good night hon.”

  “Night.” Was the slurred reply back to her.

  Elizabeth was asleep mere after her head hit the pillow. Before she even realized that she was asleep her watch was going off. She groaned and opened her eyes to moving day. At least they would be seeing an end to all the logistics of getting things ready to go.

  She grabbed her towel and toiletries and headed for the shower. When she got back, Bill was up also to head for the shower while she dressed. Then when he was back, she would head out while he woke the kids to get them ready for the day. Bill didn’t have to report today to help train anyone in anything. He had to get the rest of their small amount of things ready to go and get it all into their vehicle. They had been issued a few more things from the shelter PX. No one had to pay for anything, as yet anyway. That would take a while. The tent was taken down and thrown on a truck. He was full up now. He felt like they were packed to the gills because of the clothes, bedding, towels and few other things that they had. They were all scheduled to pull out in one hour. If he knew General Williamson, it would be 8:00 AM or military time O 800 on the dot.

  Yep 8:00 AM and Williamson gave the order to pull out. A loud speaker was heard. Start your engines and pull into your assigned places in line. Bill and the children had been sitting in their vehicle for ten minutes ready to go. The passenger door opened and in stepped Elizabeth. This is one trip she would be making with her family. The General didn’t have to worry about where she was and if he could get a hold of her quickly. They were right behind the General’s Command car.

  The General had decided to take State Highway 95 South down close to Fredericksburg, Virginia. Then turn west onto State Road 20 and then onto State Road 64 west until they could get to State Highway 81.

  All went well with no trouble, at least people wise. The heavy trucks and halftracks having to push cars off the freeway and out of their way. It made the going a bit slower, but they were making good progress. It took five hours to get over to the southwest running State Highway 81. They took the turn off on Route 340 and went through the town of Stuarts Den where they came under sniper fire.

  Bill had sure hoped this kind of thing was far from everyone’s minds that had been out in the world. After all it had been a year now since the short lived violent war. A platoon was dispatched to take care of the problem, but whoever it had been melted into the woodwork. The caravan kept going and a couple of hours later the platoon caught up and reported no enemy found. When they went through another small town, Elizabeth had permission to have men stop at fabric stores, knit shops, hardware stores, and stores where dishes, pots and pans, soaps and other household items could be picked up that would be needed in the future. That also included all kinds of clothes, boots and shoes, from babies to adults.

  The caravan was finally almost out of Virginia. They were headed through the town of Marion when Elizabeth spied a spinning wheel in the window of a craft shop. Pay Dirt! Elizabeth knew that if they could find one or two they could copy them. She had Bill pull out of line. The others that were unloading places like this joined her. Elizabeth jumped out and ran in. What do you know, there was more than the spinning wheel in the window. The store had several different kinds of spinning wheels and several looms of different sizes including a full size floor loom. She had them load all of the store merchandize and caught up with the caravan. As the hours went on, trucks would drop out and rejoin them as they stopped and emptied stores of needed items.

  Bill made sure the equipment and other vital things like reloading equipment and gun making supplies including blacksmithing tools were among the found items. They were hitting sporting equipment stores and made sure they found bows and arrows including those for children and ways to replace and repair these also. He didn’t want the lack of old-time equipment and how to repair and replace them to be their future down fall.

  A roadside rest stop was used for the night and all along the road in front and back of it along with the rest stop on the opposite side of the road. It didn’t matter that they were the only ones traveling it right now.

  In the morning, they crossed over into the eastern tip of Tennessee. They were headed for the Clinch Mountain Range and weren’t that far from it. They wouldn’t be far from Cherokee Lake. They didn’t hit any more snipers, but blew through a few deserted roadblocks that were in disrepair. No one could tell just how old they were.

  They all finally came to a stop along a tall chain link fence with razor wire at the top leading up to the front gate of the old base. The hills and mountains behind the abandoned post were beautiful. Spring was here in full force even if it was a bit cooler than normal. Bill could look to the left and see the lake glimmering hundreds of feet below them. Not far away and from what he could see, there was a small river running through the Army post. After the gate was opened they drove inside the enclosure. All looked quiet and undisturbed. The place had been well taken care of and wouldn’t be hard to bring back up into shape.

  The whole caravan came to a stop and the gates were closed behind them. The first of the grunts with the task began to go through the base first. Then the mess people went to the mess hall to see what was what. Then start to clean things up and ready it to begin cooking for the evening meal after it was checked out. Everyone was relieved to find the base was clear and no one had come and scavenged the place.

  Bill and Elizabeth got out and had the children stand beside them. Bill said a quick prayer for a blessing on their new home before things got busy. Elizabeth had to leave and get on with her work and assignments. Bill did see smoke billowing up from campfires or chimneys in the hills quite a ways behind the camp and around the mountains here and there.

  Things got done quickly in the next few hours and housing assignments were made with more than enough room left over for growth.

  The days started to roll by quickly. One day a man walked up to the gate. The guard called for him to halt and set down his rifle.

  “I will not set down my rifle soldier boy. Do I look stupid?” He said with a deep southern accent.

  “I would like ta talk ta the officer in charge if you don’t mind son. I will wait right here.”

  Erin Grasser had to grin. No one had called him boy, but the old man. After all, he was 38 years old. He looked the man up and down. His clothes were worn, but clean. He knew how to hold that rifle without seeming to be a threat at the same time. Real relaxed like. The man was on the thin side. He had brown and white hair and a beard that was mostly white. Erin thought the man must be about 60 years old. But when Erin looked into the man’s clear blue eyes, it was like he could see his heart. Those were the eyes of an honest man. He would bet on it.

  “All right sir. I’ll get word to the officer on duty.”

  Erin turned and blew the whistle that was hanging around his neck. He glanced over to make sure the older man hadn’t moved. He had to do better than this about keeping his eyes on people at all times.r />
  Erin heard another whistle and a few minutes later Lieutenant Fraser could be seen stepping out of the nearest building to the right of the base road not 500 feet from the gate. Lieutenant Fraser made his way over and stepped up in front of Erin and Erin saluted.

  “What is it Sergeant Grasser?”

  “Sir, a man is here wishing to speak to the officer in charge sir.”

  Fraser looked over at the man and noticed the man still had his rifle but it was in the crook of his arm and pointed toward the ground at the moment.

  “Grasser this man still has his rifle. Didn’t you instruct him to put it down?”

  “Yes sir, I did sir and he refused. He asked me if I thought he was stupid sir.”

  Hank Williamson noticed a fleeting smile go across the Lieutenant’s face before he could straighten his face back out.

  “Thank you Sergeant Grasser that will be all. Stand back to guard and I will take care of this now.”

  Grasser saluted again and strode back to his guard position. Fraser saluted back and turned his attention to the civilian.

  “Sir I am Lieutenant Fraser. Why did you disobey Sergeant Grassers order to release your weapon?”

  “Well son, like I told that young man. I’m not stupid. These days putting my pea shooter down could be the death of me when I’m outside of my home and even then I keep it close. No son, not these days do I release this for anyone that I don’t know and trust. Now I would like a chance to talk with y’alls Commander if you don’t mind. It’s prudy important. I figured that the fastest way ta do that was start with you.”

  Fraser didn’t dare say that he knew the man was right. These were dangerous times and so far they had had it easy. Those that had to stay out here this past year or so must have seen Hades come through. Fraser couldn’t put his finger on it, but the way this man held himself and the look in his eyes reminded him of someone he knew. Why in the world was this old codger calling him son. The only one that did that was the Commander and he was allowed being who he is.

  “Sir I cannot allow you to enter the base armed. Orders from the Commander. If you would leave your weapon with Sergeant Grasser in the guard house, we will see to it. You are safe inside the base and will you get your rifle back when you leave. You have my word.”

  “Well son it goes against my grain ya know. I haven’t been far from ol Bertha here in over a year. She has been my constant traveling companion you would say.”

  “Sir that’s the only way you’re entering this base.”

  Hank looked over at Grasser standing by the guard house and saw the grin on his face. Not an evil know it all grin, but it was a genuine in your eyes crap eating grin as his ol mom used to say. Then he looked in Fraser’s eyes. Yes, these had been handpicked men if he knew men. Men picked for their honesty. He could see it in their eyes. Hank looked down at the ground as if mulling it over, but he already knew what he was going to do.

  He looked straight into Fraser’s eyes. “Okay son, I’m gonna trust y’all.” Then he looked over at Grasser.

  “I expect you to take good care of this here rifle son. It was my pa’s. I expect it ta be as in as good a shape as when I handed it over ta you. Ya hear?”

  “Yes sir, I will sir. No one will mess with your rifle while it’s here. I promise you that.”

  As Hank came forward to hand over his rifle, he had the strangest smile on his face.

  “Ain’t you solider boys gonna ask if I have any other weapons?”

  Then Hank reached down and pulled up both pants legs one at a time. He pulled out two small pistols and a short bowie knife. After he stood back up, he reached behind his back and down his vest and pulled out a 10-inch bowie knife and handled them all over to Grasser.

  “You boys need to learn to be more careful. You never know about anyone anymore.” He then turned to Fraser with a grin and said. “Well son I’m ready. Take me ta y’all’s leader.”

  He had always wanted to say that.

  As they walked through the base, Hank was impressed with what was going on. He saw some men being trained in axe throwing. The next group was doing bow and arrow practice. It looked like there were civilians mixed in with the Army boys and girls. Not typical soldier things to do. Well he was glad they were on the ball and learning what they were going to need to get along in this new world. He wasn’t surprised, but he had seen some of this as one of the men that had been keeping his eye on this camp to see just what and who they were.

  Hank followed Fraser to a middle building. He saw the word Office on the front. He had also noticed many had turned and looked their way as he made his way down the road behind Fraser. Hank could hardly control himself now. He was getting close.

  They walked up to the front desk and Fraser told the women sitting there. “Civilian to see General Williamson. He said it’s important.”

  The girl then in turn got up and went to a door and knocked, the door opened and a short compact good looking young woman in her 30’s answered the door. “Captain Zellers a civilian is here to see General Williamson; he asked to be taken to the Commander.”

  Elizabeth Zellers looked past Corporal Gail Lightfoot and over to LT. Fraser and the civilian. There was something familiar about the man’s eyes, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. The beard and shaggy hair put her off though. He did look like a man that had been through it all and back again.

  “Have the man step into my office Corporal. I will go talk to the General.”

  Hank headed for the woman’s office and sat down in a wooden chair that she pointed to when he entered.

  “I will be right back sir.” She turned and gave a quick rap on the next door and he heard. “Enter Elizabeth.” “So it had started.” He thought. Hank smiled to himself.

  Chapter 28

  Invaders

  Elizabeth turned the door knob and entered into the next room.

  “Sir, there is a civilian here. He asked to see you, the Commander, specifically. Do you want me to usher him in or have him tell me want he needs if you’re too busy?”

  “It's all right Elizabeth. I will see him. This is the first civilian who has come in to see us. There is no way that I am letting him get away. Apparently he knew to go to the top.”

  Elizabeth smiled. “Yes sir, I will see him right in sir.”

  Elizabeth had almost saluted. Her hand had come halfway up before she stopped herself. He had made her stop that practice a week ago. So far he had only had his top officer’s stop saluting him. Elizabeth opened the door and stepped out and to the back of the door to leave room for the gentleman to pass.

  “The General will see you now sir.”

  Hank stood up and made his way to the opened door. Elizabeth noticed that twinkle in his eyes and wondered what that was all about. She still could not shake the feeling that somehow he was familiar.

  As the gentleman stepped through the doorway General Williamson looked up and gasped with a shocked expression on his face. Williamson stood up quickly. So quickly that the chair that he was sitting on scooted back and fell over. Elizabeth who had been reaching for the doorknob stopped in surprise. She had never in all the years that she had worked for General Williamson seen him act like this. She stopped dead in her tracks as she watched the scene unfold in front of her.

  The two men stepped close to each other and wrapped their arms around each other and began to slap each other on the back. The General was the first to speak.

  “Well Hank you old dog, you’re alive after all. I had all but given up hope. How long have you been here in Tennessee?”

  “I can say the same about you little brother. To answer your question, I have been here for eight months. I have been getting the lay of the land and waiting for you. When I saw your convoy, I held back because I didn’t know for sure who it was. I thought that I would just keep an eye on things for a while and see what was going on down here. When I noticed a hunting party doing things the old way, I decided it had to be you and then I spotted you on
e day. I thought before that no one else would decide to have his men trained to go back to living off the land. At least I hoped it was you, but I guess that even if it wasn’t that, I would be here anyway.”

  “Well that sounds like you Hank, but you always did rather be safe than sorry. I sure am glad you’re here. You can be a great help to Bill Zellers training my people to live without very much modern technology.”

  General Williamson and his brother had planned a few years before if the crap hit the fan that they would find a place to find each other if that were possible. General Williamson saw this old base on some Top Secret papers and knew they had just the place and had informed his brother just 3 years before trouble hit.

  General Williamson looked up at Elizabeth as she turned to leave. She was trying to get out of the room so she wouldn’t interrupt anything between the two brothers. Let them catch up on each other’s lives.

  “Oh no you don’t Elizabeth. Come back here. Hank I want you to meet my right hand man. She and her husband, Bill, know more about living off the land than you can shake a stick at. They’re kind of like you old man.”

  Hank’s eyebrows went up. “Old man is it. I bet I can still run rings around you Jimmy boy.” He said with a smile.

  “I have no doubt Hank, no doubt whatsoever.”

  Hank then stood up to shake Elizabeth’s hand. “It is very nice to meet you Elizabeth. I look forward to meeting your husband too.”

  “It is nice to meet you also Hank. Now I will leave you gentlemen to talk.”

  She then turned, went through the doorway and closed the door behind her. No wonder the older man’s eyes were so familiar to her. She chuckled to herself as she sat back down on her desk. Hank must be quite a character himself. She also noticed when he talked to his brother he had dropped the southern accent. And then not bothering to mention to anyone who he was when he first made contact.