by A J Newman
“Hercules this is Athena. I can barely hear you.”
“Athena, are you heading our way?”
“Yes, to your location.”
“Stop, do not go there. It is not safe. I will give you co-ordinates for our meet up.”
“Copy that, standing by for instructions.”
‘Do you have company?”
“Yes, all good guys.” This was code, for had she said anything else Aaron would know that she was being held against her will, and that meant an ambush to free her.
Aaron replied, “Roger Athena, understand all good guys.”
“Thank God.”
Aaron pulled off the road into a stand of trees and checked his map.
“Sharon, I think we should skip the dam and head straight to Mobile.”
“I agree.”
“I’ll call the Colonel when we get in range and let him know that we have altered the plan, crossed our line of departure and are moving south.”
Aaron unfolded his map and copied the co-ordinates. He then added 100 minutes of latitude and subtracted 200 minutes of longitude as he and Davi had done so many times before when they wanted to keep their destination secret.
“Athena, this is Hercules, over.”
“Copy Hercules, over.”
“Proceed to the following co-ordinates.”
He gave her the adjusted co-ordinates for their meeting place and Davi confirmed the numbers.
“Hercules, meet you there ASAP. We have a few miles to go, but we are prepared.”
“Athena, we are standing by. See you soon. Travel safely and quickly. Oh, check out the SFGC when you get to these co-ordinates, out.”
He gave Davi a different set of co-ordinates and told her to stay safe.
I looked at Davi and said, “I saw you looking on the map at the Gulf.”
“Yes, dad wants to meet us at Saraland, Alabama. He must have the same idea about heading to South America. They must be within 50 miles, but not in Florence. The other co-ordinates are for a spot southeast of the Pickwick dam. What is SFGC?”
I looked at the map over her shoulder, saw the Shiloh Falls Golf Course and said, “It has to be the golf course. What could be there that we need to see?”
“Maybe it’s not what we need to see, but has something we need.”
Let’s bring everyone up to speed before we move out tonight.”
“I agree. I want to study the maps and pick the best route before we spring this on the clan.”
The clan, Davi had said clan; she must rightfully feel that she has truly become a part of our extended family…our clan. This is a good thing.
“Let’s see if anyone in the group knows the area around Mobile. Damn, I wish I could pull up Google Earth and check the area out.”
“Sorry, but it may be generations before the internet is back up and running again.”
“If ever.”
“Yeah, if ever.”
We had supper before I called everyone together to brief them, and to ask their thoughts for the trip to Mobile.
I started with the update about the brief conversation with Aaron, “We heard from Aaron earlier today. He has waved us off going to Florence and told us to head to a town north of Mobile after stopping in the Pickwick Dam area. He and Davi’s mom Sharon will meet us there.”
Then I asked, “Has anyone traveled to Mobile from the Kentucky area?”
Lynn replied, “We always got on Highway 65 in Rolling Hills and headed on down to Mobile. We got off above Mobile and headed over to Gulf Shores.”
We heard the same thing from several members of our team.
Mike replied, “I’d like to avoid the big cities and Highway 65. Is there a back way from here?”
Jacob cleared his throat and said, “There’s always a back road way to get anywhere, since they were here before the interstate highway system.
My family once headed to Gulf Shores, but had to pick up my sister and her kid in Jackson, TN. We left Jackson, crossed the river on the bridge at Pickwick dam, worked our way over to State Road 45 and cruised on down to Mobile. There are no big towns and plenty of side roads if we have to detour.”
Davi looked at her map and said, “That looks like a winner. We could have trouble on any road, but this looks like we can avoid large towns. I like it.”
Lynn asked, “Davi, does your dad have a boat in Mobile, or just hopes to find one?”
Davi answered, “I am not aware of a boat, but my dad is a master sailor and could sail a dingy around the world. I trust him to get us a ship, and to lead us to safety south of the border. We have several compounds set up in five different countries. I hope he wants to head to Belize.
There will be hundreds of sail and powerboats abandoned along the coast. We just need to find one large enough to could take us safely around the world.”
“We need to keep an eye out for supplies on the way there. We will need food for a three-month journey, “added Davi.
Ally said, “Will it take three months to get to South America?”
I replied, “Just a minute. Belize is 1,100 miles. At six miles per hour, that’s 183 hours or 8 days. Columbia is 1600 miles. At six miles per hour, that’s 266 hours or 11 days. Now that’s moving 24 hours per day. That also means we didn’t stop to hunt for food or water and everything goes perfectly.”
“I added plenty of safety margin to assure no one starves or dies of thirst,” said Davi.
Mike said, “We have plenty of guns and bullets, we need food, water and medical supplies. We’ll check along the way to see if we can find or trade for supplies.”
I added, “We also have a large quantity of gold, silver and jewels that perhaps someone still wants.”
Ally and Joan both replied at the same time, “I want jewels."
Everyone broke out laughing.
Callie came over to Ally and me and said, “Dad, I thought the south was warmer than the north. It’s colder down here at night than it was in Kentucky when we left.”
“Darling we are only at the bottom of Tennessee. It will warm up when we get further south.”
We settled in as the sun came up and everyone, but the two guards got some good r.e.m. sleep…exhaustion will do that for you.
***
Aaron looked at the map and said, “Dear, I think we should take a side trip over to the Columbus AFB, it’s only 15 miles out of the way and might have some supplies we need.”
“We already have the pickup and trailer full. We will need to get another vehicle if we find anything useable.”
“We need food for 20 - 30 people for two to three months. We have no idea what to expect when we arrive in South America. I plan to head to Belize first, but if it is hostile or unsuitable we may have to travel on to our compound in Brazil or Uruguay.”
“Aaron, I was actually getting used to calling Illinois home and now once again we have to play pin the tail on the donkey to find a new home.
Oh, well, it must be in our blood to always be searching for a home. It seems Jews have been on the move since we escaped the Egyptians, even before. Will we ever find our promised land, and be able to hold onto it?”
Aaron’s voice became sad and a bit deeper, “I wish I had the answer to that, the most ancient of questions for our people.
Remember, Sharon, life is full of tests, storms and tests. I choose to believe that God has a plan for us that will lead us to a new reality where Jews are not considered to be the pariahs of the Earth.
It saddens and wounds us all that the accomplishments of the Jewish People have done more, in all the sciences and arts, than any other ethnic group that has ever existed. No, I just do not know why, but there is a reason, and together we shall build a new world, free of the unwarranted hatred of our people. A new world where everyone can live in peace.”
Now Sharon’s voice deepened as she said, “Peace, Aaron, peace is not the human way. Conflict is the norm for our species.
We are, I believe, flawed. A flaw perhap
s caused by our God’s grant to us of free will. Peace, has there been peace since Cain and Able?”
“Sharon, we can but try. Now please, let’s return to the present, and our current source of tests and storms. I love you, my dearest, and that is the true constant in the universe.”
“Aaron, you are a silly old fool. I love you, too.”
Aaron, what if our compounds have been overrun or don’t have enough food for additional people? Can we find an unpopulated island and live out our days in peace?”
“Dear, that is my backup plan. I have selected several islands that have little or no inhabitants as a fall back home for us.
Ah, here is the turn off to the Air Force Base.”
Sharon made the turn and headed east on Hazelwood for five miles before dropping down to Highway 50. This enabled them to get around the city of West Point and avoid the potential dangers presented by traveling through a city in broad day light.
“Take the first left after we cross the river and I’ll give you directions for the side roads to the base. I want to get close enough to watch the place to make sure it’s safe before we enter.”
Thirty minutes later, they were in front of the deserted main administrative building. Columbus AFB was a flight training center and didn’t have any fighters or bombers. They could see numerous A 6 Texan propeller planes and small passenger jets parked by the runways, but no human activity. The houses around the base did; however, seem to have a few families living in them.
“Let’s wait for dark and walk in from here to search for any supplies. We will concentrate on the two warehouses, maintenance building and those semi-trailers. I’ll bring bolt cutters. You bring our tool bag in case we have to force some doors open.”
Three hours later, it was dark and they walked on to the base. The warehouses had been ransacked and had nothing of value in them. The maintenance buildings had also been searched, and burned.
They moved on to a building housing a dining facility and found the cupboards bare. They found a few pickups and Humvees that would run along with semi-trailers, but no food, ammo or weapons.
“Let’s check out the trailers and then head on south.”
As they moved closer to the trailers, they noticed several had been forced open. Aaron opened the door to the first one and found crates of airplane engine parts. The next one contained hazmat suits, chemical and biological contamination cleanup gear and signs stating, “Hazardous Material.”
“Dear, let’s open every other one that hasn’t been opened. Maybe the others gave up too soon.”
“Yes, it’s worth a try. Keep an eye out for intruders. I caught a flash of light from one of the houses as you were speaking. I think someone is watching us. If we find something we need, don’t react. Slam the door in disgust to mislead them.”
The third and fifth trailers had MREs and supplies for the mess hall. There was enough food to feed their people for months. The rest of the trailers had office supplies, maintenance parts and uniforms.
“Aaron, how do we load these boxes without anyone noticing? Even the good guys will want a share of the food. They may claim squatter’s rights, and try to take all of our treasure.”
“Dear, I have a brilliant idea. Let’s check out the three semi-trucks by the maintenance building.”
“What, you are going to hitch up to one of them and drive out like you own the place.”
“Yes. I’ll drop you off at our truck and we’ll drive until we can find another pickup and trailer so we can head on to Mobile.”
“Why not just drive the semi on down to Mobile?”
“It would attract attention, but maybe we can use that to our advantage. I have a weird, but excellent idea. Open the next trailer, search it and slam the door and we’ll leave here and go check out the semis.”
***
“Sam, a man and a woman are over at the base searching the buildings and trailers.”
“There’s nothing there. Did they take anything?”
“No they were pissed when they found the same crap we found when we opened three of the trailers. They left a few minutes ago.”
“If they come back shoot the man and see if the woman is a keeper.”
“They looked like old farts. The woman is old, but still attractive.”
“Okay, shoot both of them.”
***
The Clan
Near Pickwick Dam
We broke camp at dusk and headed over to the Pickwick Dam, which was over 125 miles by the twisting turning back roads. Even though the trip was uneventful, it still took over six hours to get to the dam and cross over to the south side.
We noted numerous temporary Army buildings, tents and broken down vehicles as we headed south towards the golf course. We also saw a small city of large tents surrounding an old US Post Office. We pulled off the road into the tent area and found they had just been abandoned.
The mess hall tent still had plates on the table with food that had not rotted. We found bags of oranges, potatoes, onions and flour, which we piled into our trailers. There were cots, office equipment, clothes, blankets and tons of general, albeit, useless items that couldn’t be shot or eaten.
“The Army bugged out and didn’t take the time to pack. We better make like a keeper of sheep, and get the flock out of here before we find out what scared them so much.”
We hauled ass on down the road about a mile and saw the entrance to the golf course. This area, too, had been abandoned.
I started to question Aaron’s sanity when I saw tracks on the side of the road from a tracked vehicle like a tank. I followed the tracks until we were almost to Pickwick Lake. We stopped suddenly when I drove around a bend and saw a parking lot full of military vehicles.
***
Army Bivouac
Golf Course
Forrest Hogg begged the soldiers to take his children, and him with them when the orders for bugging out were given.
The Captain told the man that he was sorry, but they couldn’t take any civilians with them.
He did tell Forrest that they were leaving plenty of food, water and several vehicles that Forrest could have. Forrest had three kids, two girls and a boy, that ranged in age from three to ten that he had to protect and feed.
Forrest’s wife had been killed during a home invasion a few months after the lights went out. He was away looking for food and antibiotics for his youngest child when the bastards attacked. His wife saw them in the street and hid the kids in a yard barn in the back yard. She made the mistake of leaving the yard barn to pick up a doll that the youngest girl had dropped. One of the gang members saw her and dragged her back into the house. The three men took turns with her. They killed her when she told them there were no drugs or alcohol in the house.
He came home that afternoon to find his dead wife covered with a blanket and his three children crying on the couch.
Forrest Hogg taught Biology and was the assistant football coach at Corinth High School before the lights went out.
He had begun prepping a couple of years before and felt the urge to do more, but his wife didn’t want any guns in the house. She also thought prepping scared the kids.
His plan had been to bug out to the north end of Pickwick Lake if TSHTF and things got rough in town.
He was angry with himself because he waited too late to bug out. His deepest guilt ate at him because he couldn’t kill the men who had done this to his wife.
He tried to keep his kids in their home, but a gang had recently arrived and had taken over the area. There was gunfire every day. The last straw was when one of his neighbors was killed because he wouldn’t give the gang his old truck. That’s when Forrest decided to move to a more secure and secluded location.
He made a two wheeled cart from a bicycle and lumber he scavenged from Lowes. The cart was sturdy enough to haul their food, a tent and extra clothing.
He could also haul one of the smaller kids if he had to give them a rest along the way. It was on
ly 18 miles to Counce, Ms. and another three miles to the lake. A railroad track ran between Corinth and Counce that avoided the populated areas. It was only a few hundred feet from his house and they could take it to just south of Counce and then travel cross-country to the lake.
The trip was much rougher than he thought it would be. The kids needed to rest or pee every 30 minutes. The trip was only 21 miles, but took four days.
The big surprise was the large military presence. They had a small hospital tent, took good care of the kids and gave them plenty to eat. Forrest thought their worries were over until the night he heard the orders for the Army to bug out. Forrest tried to go with them, but they told him not to follow the convoy. He picked through the massive amount of gear and supplies that were abandoned to find something to help his family survive.
Forrest loaded one of the military pickups with food, two tents, cots, blankets and anything else he thought they might need. Early the next morning he drove through the golf course to head to the marina in the inlet that he and his father had fished when he was a boy. He knew there were cottages and boats there and they would live in one of the abandoned cottages.
He drove to the marina and as he turned right into the parking lot, the trucks lights shone on numerous military vehicles parked everywhere. There were tanks, trucks, Humvees, pickups and heavy duty semis and trailers. He had stumbled into an abandoned supply depot.
He drove up to the marina’s office and told the kids to stay in the truck.
“Son, keep the girls in the truck while I go in and make sure that no one is here. Honk the horn if anyone approaches.”
“Daddy, don’t leave us.”
“Son, I have to see if we can make this our home. Be brave.”
✪✪✪
✪
Chapter 15
Christmas Presents
The Marina
