by AJ Newman
Tom looked at his creation as Rick, and he secured the last piece of clear plastic for a small window. “It won’t keep a lion or bear out, but the creepy crawlers and smaller animals can’t bother us again.”
Rick opened the door and urged Tom to follow him. “We had to place the wall inside the cave about twenty feet to keep the wind from tearing it apart. Now we have a nice shelter for any animal that wants a short cave.”
Tom looked at the barrier and then to the mouth of the cave. “We’ll start with Granny B’s ammonia solution and try to come up with something more effective. Good job catching that problem before it bites us in the butt.”
Rick said, “I know we don’t have time to test how well the smoke dissipates with a big fire, but we’ll have to figure that out, or we’ll be choking on the smoke.”
“I’ll put it on our to-do list. Rick, I’ve been thinking about what would happen if we had to add people during the winter. If we had a lot of snow, we couldn’t travel from the ranch or front entrance to the cave for fear of someone following the tracks. I want to put newcomers in the cabin at the cave but also want to watch them or visit them without leaving tracks.” Tom replied.
Rick said, “Obviously, we could go into the cabin through the secret entrance in the back, which gives away the knowledge about our cave.”
“Maybe not. What if we walled off a large section of the cavern that has the entrance to the cabin? We could cross our fingers and tell newbies the original people who built the cabin built it in front of a small cave. Then we could tell them the hidden cave is where we stay, but they have to stay in the cabin until we can trust them,” Tom proposed.
Rick rubbed his jaw. “They wouldn’t have any reason to believe or not believe what we say. It sounds like a plan to me. I have a few ideas on how to make it work and to improve our living situation.”
Tom shook Rick’s hand. “Let me know what materials you’ll need and what team members to help with the project.”
Rick stopped Tom from leaving. “We need to think about long-term survival. Why not make these two projects into one? I could add some storage bins for several truckloads of grain when I build the wall and furnish the new room. The grain storage bins could become the room's back wall and hide the entrance to the rest of the cave system. Another hidden room behind our secret room could be the storage area for a massive warehouse to gather odds and ends that would come in handy for later.”
Tom liked the idea but had a couple of questions. “How would you move the grain into the new second storage room?”
Rick answered. “I’ve been thinking about adding several electric golf carts or ATVs with wagons to use inside the cave. They will barely fit through the front entrance to the cave but once in could be used to travel quickly from one end to the other and also carry bulky and heavy loads.”
Tom replied, “I love that one, and we’d just have to run the hit and miss generator Jerry is working on to charge the batteries. My other question is – can we make that many trips across the valley without leaving ruts and tire tracks?”
Rick quickly answered. “It will be winter soon. The snow will cover the tracks and flatten the grass around the tracks. We know the gang hasn’t been interested enough to come looking for us. I think that will change next year, but we need to make it until next year. I also don’t want to turn good people away because we can’t feed them.”
Tom nodded. “Do it as soon as possible. I’m scared the town’s people around us will starve this winter and head out to hunt for any food they can find. We could lose all our cattle. Can we even raise cattle in a cave?” He shook off the mounting questions. “I’ll lead a scavenging team if you lead the grain hauling group.”
Rick asked, “How do you feel about bringing the folks at the community down to the cave? We’ll need the extra manpower to get all this done.”
Tom rubbed his jaw, and then his head started nodding as the wheels spun in his head. “Yep. I agree. I’ve had my doubts about heating those cabins this winter. I’ll ask Bill to move them down here. Could you prepare some extra sleeping accommodations until we get the new room built?”
*
Chapter 4
The Ranch
Later that evening, Rick brought Jerry and Jackie to Tom’s quarters to discuss the grain storage bins' design and the materials needed to construct the containers and the secret room. Tom greeted them and sat them around his small table. Kate sat on their bed, listening in on the plans.
Jerry had taped four printer paper sheets together to contain all their sketches of the storage bins and secret room. “Tom, take a good look at this. I’ve sketched out a design that will give us four large rooms to accommodate a family each if needed. The back wall is made from two-by-four studs, as a typical home would have. The wall will be covered with shelves and racks to hold part of our supplies. The wall is just a way to hide the rest of the cave behind it but also to make it strong enough that no one can easily break through.”
Tom asked, “Will the back of the shelves be used as part of the bulk grain storage?”
Rick said, “You’re getting ahead of me. Yes, I’ll make them strong enough to pile the grain about five or six feet high. Any higher, and we won’t be able to shovel or stack bags that high. Jerry thinks he might be able to jury rig an auger to fill the bins. Each bin will be six-foot by six-foot square. I plan on building two to three on the separation wall and then line the cave with several more.”
Tom rubbed his jaw. “Either make them larger or make more of them. I want to move as much of the grain we can transport before winter sets in on us. Granny B says we’re in for a bad winter.”
“And how does she know that?”
Tom laughed. “Something about the coats on caterpillars being longer and aching in her war wounds. She’s never been wrong before on a storm hitting us the next day or two.”
Tom gave Rick a pat on the back. “We’ll need grain storage for our crops. I’m glad you’re thinking ahead. I think the bunker will easily hold our first year’s crops, but I want to think big. Especially since the lumber and other building materials are free.”
Rick said, “Provide the lumber and helpers, and I’ll fill the cave with grain.”
Jackie asked, “Do you think you could make some wooden bed frames and some tables for these apartments. We also need some work tables.”
Tom laughed, “Of course we can. Rick, I don’t know if you’ve thought about how to pass the time over the next two to three months of winter. I found a bunch of Scalextric slot car racetracks during one of our scavenging trips. I plan to make one big four-lane track to keep the kids busy when they’re not playing board games.”
Jackie shook her head. “That’s a crock of crap! I heard you and Jerry gabbing about which one of you was the better slot car racer. For the kids, my butt.”
Rick said, “I can beat all of them. I grew up at the track in Medford.”
Kate huffed. “Back to work, kiddies. How will we keep the rats, mice, and snakes from the grain?”
Rick poked his sister-in-law in the side. “Snakes don’t eat grain but do eat rats and mice that eat grain. If Kate keeps killing the good snakes, we’ll need more cats and rodent traps.”
“That would be a good start, but I don’t think it’s enough.”
Tom said, “Jackie, I pronounce you to be the commissioner of rodent control and grain preservation. Yes, you will be the CORCAGP! I need to work on the acronym to make it sound better.”
Jackie fumed. “I was serious.”
Tom snickered. “I was also serious. You are passionate about the topic, so you are now knighted to be the knight who leads her merry band of rodent killers. You can have Greta, Colt, and Lucy to start. Let me know when you need more inspectors and mouse terminators.”
Jackie pointed her middle finger at her brother. “I accept the position and will do my utmost to rid the world of vermin.”
Tom motioned for Rick to continue. Rick said, “I
think I’ll add insecticides and other stuff to fight off the grain-loving insects to help Jackie.”
Tom said, “Kate, I need you and Jackie to find a source of lumber without us pilfering the lumberyards, which are in the center of Ashland and Phoenix. Maybe you can find some at new construction sites. I want to avoid the gang as much as possible. Use the drones and pick our targets. We need to build the grain bins and fill them.”
Tom saw Bill enter the dining area and joined him. “How did the new group like the cave and cabin?”
“They were a bit put off because we didn’t tell them about the cave but understood when I reminded them that secrecy was for everyone’s safety. They liked the cave much more than the cabins but only because they know winter is coming. They asked if they could move to the cave. I told them I’d have to check with you.”
***
Kate and Jackie had Greta and Kendra join them in scouting for construction supplies and check out the abandoned train. Kate had flown over it a few times and only saw a few men taking small bags of grain from the cars. There were dozens of grain cars and a couple holding flour. Tom told his people they had to bring as much as possible to the bunker and cave before winter. He knew they had to survive until harvest time next year, which was over eight months away. He also knew the wild game would be scarce, and they’d have to butcher more of their cattle to make it until fall.
After the rat and bug discussions, he now worried about spoilage and infestation. Tom longed for the days when he just had to worry about himself, and Granny B fixed all his meals. He now appreciated what Granny B and Jackie did to make his life easier before TSHTF. That suddenly reminded him about how much Kate did to make his life easier. He made a mental note to show more appreciation.
Jerry had previously armed all the larger drones with the ability to shoot a small semi-auto pistol or rifle and hold two to four three-pound bombs. He also engineered them to hold one large ten-pound bomb if the other armament were removed. Tom gave each operator instructions on the rules of engagement. He didn’t want to start a major war with Mendoza and his gang before they were prepared. Tom thought every day about how to conduct that one-time devastating blow that would take out Mendoza and his crew in one attack.
***
Southern Ashland, Oregon
Kate flew her drone over the train while Greta scouted the area for any new dangers. Jackie and Kendra scouted southern Ashland for building sites that could be easy targets. Kendra was still learning to fly the drones but was a quick study. Kate checked out the train car by car, and only one more grain car had been opened. There were just short of a dozen full ones left to salvage. Just as Kate finished checking the cars, a truck drove up escorted by an old pickup full of armed men. One of the armed men opened the truck’s roll-up door, and a dozen men stepped out. Each one had a shovel.
The truck backed up to one of the previously pilfered grain cars, and one of the gang members opened the gate on the chute, and grain spilled out on the ground. Half of the men got back up in the truck, and the other half shoveled and pitched grain into the back of the truck. While this went on, another old truck pulled up, and four more armed men got out and appeared to set up guard posts around the train. Kate informed Tom and guided the drone away after the first two vehicles left the area. Only two men and the pickup remained behind.
The building supplies had to be delivered and bins built before the grain could be moved. Kate was sure there was plenty of grain left, so she joined the search for building supplies. Jackie rested her eyes while Kendra took her turn flying the drone over the southern end of Ashland. She saw several single homes being built, but they were almost finished and just needed the bricks added. This gave Kendra an idea.
Kendra said, “Jackie, Rick wants to build the grain bins out of wood. I’ve seen enough bricks and mortar at the last two homes to build brick bins. Rats can’t eat through bricks, can they?”
Jackie replied, “Rick is very good at wood butchering but never mentioned having brick laying skills. I guess he wanted to build them by the methods he knows best.”
Kendra smiled. “Alan is a darned good brick layer. My son has helped him several times and is almost as good as Alan is on brick work.”
Jackie said, “I’ll check with Rick and Tom. That makes a lot of sense to me. Besides, I’m the knight of pest control, and that would make my job a bunch easier. I’ve been thinking about using plastic gaylords or big assed plastic water tanks to hold the grain.”
Kendra said, “Maybe it’s a use all of them situation. The cave is huge, and we want to get as much food as possible. She who controls the food controls mankind.”
Jackie began laughing and couldn’t stop. Kendra looked away from the monitor. “Are you okay?”
“Yes! What you said reminded me that we already control half of what men want most in life, so if we add beer to the food, we have them under control.”
Kendra had to put the drone on auto flight as she began laughing. “You are devious and wicked.”
Kate replied, “Why, thank you for the compliment.”
*
Chapter 5
Southern Ashland, Oregon
Tom sent Jack and Colt’s brother, George, to the northern pastures to check on the cattle and hunt any predators that might attack the herd. He knew this would keep them busy for several days and keep Jack from wondering what was going on over at the cave. Tom hated treating Jack like a spy but felt an abundance of caution was needed to keep their scavenging as safe as possible. He also made sure everyone was watched by someone he trusted. An attack on a scavenging team while loading or unloading could be disastrous.
Tom split his scavenging group into two teams. Bill took Jerry, Jerry’s son, Jacob, Kendra, Alan, and his son, Joe, to bring the bricks and mortar to the cave. Tom drafted Colt, Greta, and Doris to help gather the lumber and construction tools. Kate would handle the drone surveillance over Tom’s team, and Jackie and Carla were to handle drone over watch for the brick and mortar group. Jackie would also make sure Jack stayed up north and didn’t make contact with outsiders.
Tom met with Granny B to discuss Jack. “I need you to watch for anything odd from any of our people. I know we think Jack is a spy, but it could be anyone.”
Granny B said, “Jackie will keep me posted on Jack’s whereabouts, and I’ll keep an eye on June. I hate to think that after all, we did for Jack that he would turn against us.”
Tom said, “Perhaps we didn’t make him feel like he was part of the family instead of a trusted friend and ranch hand.”
Granny B said, “I always felt sorry for him and tried to help him, but he was always a strange duck. Remember, he was often jealous of you because you were so skilled. Jack was never lazy, but he never gave more than he had to do to get through the day.”
Tom pondered aloud. “Maybe the signs of an untrustworthy worker and friend were always there.”
***
Southern Ashland, Oregon – The brick and mortar team
Jerry loaded a tractor with a forklift attachment on one of the trailers for each team to make the work faster and less manpower intensive. Both groups had two large farm trucks with large cargo trailers and a pickup. Every team member was heavily armed, and all the drones had four of the smaller two-pound bombs. The drones searched both areas extensively before the trucks pulled out four hours before dawn.
Bill and his team arrived an hour and a half before sunrise and quickly began loading the pallets of bricks into the trucks' beds. Jerry knew exactly how to place a pallet on the back of the bed and then use the forks to push the pallet forward. He then had the team throw an empty pallet down so he could push the pallet of bricks toward the front of the bed. They repeated the process until both trucks were loaded. Then Jerry used the tractor to place pallets of mortar bags on one of the trailers.
Joe and Alan searched the construction site for any materials or furnishings that could be used and found two overseas shipping containers used
for storage by the construction company. Alan broke the locks and was pleasantly surprised to see them full of all the tools one needs to build a home. He also found two large generators and an industrial air compressor. He was confident they didn’t get fried by the EMP blasts since the metal container didn’t have windows or openings.
Joe added several stainless steel sinks and enough faucets to install them. He also found a dozen empty five-gallon pails to use to catch the wastewater. Alan saw the faucets. “Son, we don’t have running water.”
“Dad, I think we can install a pump to move the water from the spring that runs in the back of the cave to the sinks.”
Alan smiled, “That’s using your noggin’ for something other than a hat rack.”
Bill saw the trucks, trailers, and pickup had been fully loaded. He radioed Kate to let her know they were heading back to the cave. Kate had already checked their route and gave him the green light. Their trip back to the cave was uneventful, thanks to Kate warning them in advance when to pull off the road and hide several times.
***
Southern Ashland, Oregon – The lumber team
Tom took his team to a construction site where an assisted care nursing home had been under construction. Lumber, metal roofing, windows, and doors were staged around the large one-story building that was partially constructed. The full pallets of two by fours and two by sixes were easy to load with the tractor, and they were soon loading some doors and windows on one of the trailers.
