by A J Newman
An aide to the Captain asked us to be seated and begin our lunch since the Captain was detained and would join us in a few moments. I pointed out to Aaron that I saw the staff hide food in their pockets several times.
“Zack, I saw the same thing last night at the home coming party. I get a feeling that it’s great to be rich on this island, but being poor could be not so good.”
Captain Bassot arrived before we could finish the conversation. He arrived with the Lieutenant and his Chief of Staff. They joined us for lunch and general chitchat for an hour before getting down to business.
“Gentlemen, I want to formally welcome you to Martenvous, the most beautiful island in the Caribbean. We hope you will want to make this your home, but will understand if you decide to continue your quest to find a suitable home.
While we weren’t hit by the EMP blasts our island has had several setbacks due to the attacks on Europe and the USA.”
Aaron interrupted and asked, “Pardon me, sir. Can you give us an update on the state of the world? We are aware, of course, on the attacks on the USA and Israel, but know almost nothing about Europe and the rest of the world.”
“Certainly. The initial attacks were on the USA, the EU countries and Canada. French intelligence told us it was a joint attack by the North Koreans and Iran. When Israel realized it was to be eliminated, they launched all of their nuclear weapons at their enemies. Iran, Syria, Iraq and other Muslim countries were devastated by nuclear blasts.
They also bombed China, Moscow and several other countries with EMP blasts. Israel is a nuclear wasteland as is most of the Middle East.
Now, what is left of the Russian, Cubans, and Chinese are rushing in to Canada and the USA to get their share of the pie. The USA has bombed Mexico and Cuba, which stopped their attacks, but they are now trading nukes with Russian and Chinese forces. No one can win that game and we could all die from nuclear fallout.”
“Thank you, that fills in the gaps in what we had heard. How has Martenvous fared?”
“France was devastated and told us we are on our own. We relied on trade with France and the USA for most of our food. Unfortunately, we had starvation and riots as the food ran out. Thousands died in the riots and over a hundred thousand fled to other islands.
We quickly increased our farming and fishing industries, but are just now catching up to the demand for our own people. Sadly we have to turn away ships full of people every day who think we can feed them.”
“Why would you take us in to your society?”
“You saved my daughter and I believe you have skills that could prove very valuable to our country. Surviving in the USA and then a long voyage to get here makes you experts in survival.”
“Thanks, we appreciate your comments and are glad to have helped Aimee.”
“Oui, you are, of course, welcome.
Now down to our situation. You are free to leave us or stay and become members of our community, but there are rules. The basic rules that affect you are:
1. You can’t have guns on our island.
2. You can’t vote for two years.
3. You have to find a job within 60 days.
4. We are increasing the size of our military and
everyone between 16 and 50 has to serve in our
National Guard.
5. You must become French citizens and learn French,
which is our national language.
If you decide to leave, we will fill your water tanks, but won’t give you any food for your voyage.”
If you decide to stay, you will receive free housing, food for 60 days, free medical care and all the rights of a French Citizen.”
I replied, “That’s a lot to digest. It sounds very attractive, but can we go back to our group and discuss the offer? Oh, one question.”
“Oui?”
“Do the National Guard troops keep their guns at home as the Swiss do?”
“No. We keep the arms at Fort Saint Charles and several Police Stations.”
“Thanks. We will give you our answer before the deadline.”
“Certainly and take these leaflets that cover the rules and benefits that I just mentioned.”
“Thanks, for the great lunch and covering the ground rules.”
“I’d like to hear back with your answer in three days.”
“Of course, and that sounds reasonable.”
“We will want every adult to tell us their answer in private. We don’t want anyone coerced. I hope that is not a problem.”
“Not at all. We don’t force anyone to do anything and they are free to leave the group at any time.”
“Sorry, I forgot to ask, but how did you get the SAWs and heavy machineguns?”
I looked him in the eye and said, “Great question. The USA is in chaos. There are many abandoned US Armories across the country. We found an abandoned one and took what we needed.”
***
“Zack, you have to be kidding. They want to take our guns. I like what I see so far, but who is to say that pirates won’t attack and run right over these French military types. Everyone else has beaten them in war.”
“I have the same concerns, but playing Devil’s advocate, two years ago would you worry about not having a gun?”
“That’s not fair. It was a different time and even then my bastard husband had guns in the house.”
“I just want us to make a good decision and not one based on our recent trials and tribulations.”
“Darling, we will make a decision based on facts.”
“Bull shit, I’m not giving up my guns to any tin pot dictator,” replied Davi. “I can live with the rest of the conditions.”
“I think we all agree on the guns. Let’s lay out the rest of the facts,” said Aaron.
“We know or suspect the following:
1. No guns.
2. Military service.
3. They are fighting one or two opposing groups.
4. The poor inhabitants are fed up with the French
Aristocracy.
5. The military appear to govern the island.
6. The island had 38o thousand people and now has
about 150 thousand. What happened to the others?
7. Food is scares, but the rich are throwing banquets.
The list makes for the start of a revolution and I don’t want to be trapped in someone else’s war.
We laid out our list of issues along with the rules and benefits the Captain gave us to our entire team. We discussed each item one at a time and then we allowed everyone to have a say in our town hall meeting.
Most were for leaving, but 18 of our forty one people wanted to stay and call the island home. The ones wanting to stay were Sam, Jacob and half of Mort’s people from Bayou La Batre. The rest of us were adamant about leaving.
***
The Captain watched as his men wanded us with metal detectors before we could enter the meeting room. This was a surprise even though we knew the citizens weren’t allowed to have guns.
We were all seated in chairs facing Captain Bassot and his Chief of Staff. The Captain welcomed us and turned the meeting over to his Chief of Staff, who promptly covered the rules and benefits.
He took a few questions and then said, “You will now go through the black door to announce your decision to our official.
Parents, take your children with you, but parents must be momentarily separated when you declare your decision.
That reminds me, if a mother and father make different decisions, children under 16 must stay or go with the father. There are to no exceptions. Now go through the door when requested.
We all filed through the door and told a clerk our decision, and then she told us to leave through one of two doors.
I was the next to last to declare my decision and found myself being herded onto a bus by armed guards. I noticed there were two buses and that the bus I was on had my friends who wanted to leave Martenvous.
I sat down next to Aaron and
asked, “What the fuck is going on?”
“One of the guards told us that we were being taken to temporary housing until we were prepared to leave the island and the others were being taken to their houses.”
“Why can’t we stay on the boats?”
“I asked and the guard replied that he just follows orders.”
The bus trip took only 20 minutes and ended at a beautiful resort. The guard told us to use the beach houses during our stay. Dinner would be served in the dining room at 7:00 sharp.”
Before we could head to the beach houses, the Lieutenant drove up and said, “Sorry for our poor communications.
You will stay here for the next week or two while we prepare your sailboat for your trip.
It will receive a small cannon, several recoilless rifles, two more .50 cal. BMGs, anti-aircraft capability and enough food and water for a 90 day ocean voyage.
We want to make sure you can survive long enough to find the paradise you seek. Captain Bassot felt that saving his daughter was worth giving you the food. Our Captain and his staff will meet with you several times before you depart. They will be better able to answer your questions.”
We started asking questions and the Lieutenant answered with, “That is all I have to say. Enjoy the beach and resort. Do not try to leave.”
Mort gathered us around as soon as the Lieutenant left to say, “I know this was a surprise, but remember we are unknown visitors in another country. Our governments would do the same thing. Isolate the visitors, keep them happy, vet them and if they are harmless send them on their way.”
This made sense and calmed us down. He avoided a revolt that day. I just hoped he was correct about the Captain’s intentions. I still wondered why they were now giving us food.
***
Aimee visited the next day and spent a half day swimming and enjoying the company of Callie and Paul. She made a point of talking with me that day.
“Zack, I want to thank you again for saving my life and my father wants to repay you by making sure you have a safe voyage to your new home. I twisted his arm a bit to help you with the food.
I also told him that any pirates that you killed wouldn’t attack us later. I’m sorry that you don’t want to stay here, but understand that Americans don’t necessarily like all of our customs and rules. You should go where you will be happy, but remember that most Latin American and South American countries have the same anti-gun policies and different views of your Bill of Rights.”
“You are welcome. It was the right thing to do and we would do it again. It is a shame that the drug lords of the world are gaining power during these trying times.
We do appreciate your countries assistance, and these beautiful beaches. We have been struggling to survive so long and it is great to see our people laughing and enjoying this resort.”
“My father will have his staff meet with you starting tomorrow to get your input into the modifications to the sailboat. He wants to make sure that you are safe while you are on your mission.”
“We love it here, but we can’t wait to find a place of our own.”
“You will have maps and limited access to the internet tomorrow. Perhaps you can find an island in the Caribbean to make your home. Very bad people govern a few of those islands. Perhaps with your military skills you can make one your new home. My dad will give you the locations of two islands that could make a wonderful home.”
The young woman was either incredibly savvy or had been prepped by her father. What she said made a lot of sense. After she left I met with Aaron, Mort, Mike and Davi. I told them what Aimee had passed on and we had a lively discussion.
Mort said, “I think the Captain wants us to eliminate a threat by killing off one of his enemies on a nearby island.”
“I don’t know. Much of what she said makes sense. If we don’t settle at one of the Israeli compounds, all of this part of the world is much like Martenvous,” I replied.
Aaron added, “We should be able to contact one of our compounds through the internet or their phone system. It appears the EMP blasts did not harm their electronics this far south. We also need to ask more questions now that she opened the door to alternatives.”
“In any case the ‘Patriots’ still have some bad guys to fight and many days of uncertainty ahead.”
***
We continued to eat well, swim in the ocean and enjoy the best vacation anyone ever had while thinking about where life would take us and where our new home would be. I could go for living on this island even if Aaron and Davi were nervous about Captain Bassot’s intentions.
“Come on Ally let’s go for a swim.”
The End
If you like my novel, please post a review on Amazon.
Thanks A J Newman
To contact the Author please leave comments @:
www.facebook.com/newmananthonyj Face Book page.
To view other books by A J Newman, go to Amazon at my Author’s page:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HT84V6U
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Books by A J Newman
“The Adventures of John Harris” - a post-apocalyptic America series:
Surviving
Hell in the Homeland
Tyranny in the Homeland
Revenge in the Homeland
Apocalypse in the Homeland
John Returns
After the Solar Flare - A Post Apocalyptic series:
Alone in the Apocalypse (due this fall)
The Day America Died - a Zack Johnson Post-Apocalyptic series:
New Beginnings
Old Enemies
Frozen Apocalypse
“Grumpy Sam and Sammy” - A murder mystery series:
Where the Girls Are Buried.
Who Killed the Girls?
These books are available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HT84V6U
Also from A. J Newman
The Adventures of John Harris:
This series of Post-Apocalyptic novels tells how John Harris leads a group of survivors through the chaos of a country that has fallen apart. Rogue US Government officials and a coalition of Third World Leaders have launched a major nuclear and EMP attack on all of the major powers and killed over 100 million Americans. The grid is down and water and food are scarce. The USA is in chaos with criminals and thugs attacking innocent citizens while the DHS is placing millions in relocation camps. John and his team fight back!
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HT84V6U
Also from A J Newman
New Beginnings - Zack Johnson is stranded on the west coast when an EMP destroys the Grid. He must get home to find and protect his daughter. This is a tale about what he has to do to get home and survive. It’s also a story about the people he meets along the journey. Many are great people, but some are thugs that have to be dealt with.
Old Enemies continues the story with Zack and his family encountering disease, attacks from enemies and friends and a dictator trying to take over the community that has been his home. Zack’s team also comes up with some hacks that improve life and put them on the way back to a more modern life style.
Frozen Apocalypse has Zack and team starting over after being driven from their homes to a hideout in the woods near their home town. The USA was attacked with nuclear EMP weapons has no power and food is in short supply. The government has not helped and there is a power struggle between the forces of good and evil. It is now mid winter and while Zack and his friends prepared for survival many of their neighbors are cold and starving. The new mayor has taken control of the food supply and only doles it out to his supporters. What can Zack do?
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HT84V6U
Also from A J Newman
Murder Mystery Thrillers
A teenage girl, her dog and foster Dad solve a series of kidnappings and murders of young girls. The teen girl is stalked by her mom’s boyfriend and almost killed by a high-ranking political figure. How
are the two crimes linked? This unlikely trio solves the puzzle of “Where the Girls Are Buried.”
In the next novel in the series, they solve “Who killed the Girls?” Was it the high ranking politician or was it his son? Who is behind the attacks on their families? Why don’t they want these crimes solved?
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HT84V6U
About the Author
A J Newman was born and raised in a small town in the western part of Kentucky. His Dad taught him how to handle guns very early in life and he and his best friend Mike spent summers shooting .22 rifles and fishing. He read every book he could get his hands on and fell in love with science fiction. He graduated from USI with a degree in Chemistry and made a career working in manufacturing and logistics, but always fancied himself as an author. He currently resides in Kentucky with his wife Patsy and their three tiny mop dogs, Sammy Cotton and Callie.
Table of Contents
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✪Prologue
Main Character ListZack Johnson
✪Chapter 1
✪Chapter 2DaviThe Water Reservoir
✪Chapter 3Rescue
✪Chapter 4
✪Chapter 5Mayor Prescott
✪Chapter 6Winter Bug OutThe Hideout
✪Chapter 7SnowmageddonThe Campground
✪Chapter 8Intruders
