The Shelter, Book 4: The New World

by Ira Tabankin

  El Chapo decides to pull back and defend the land he holds versus continuing to push east. He orders the town’s people, his new slaves, to build walls and defenses to protect his farms from attack. The militia attacks the Cartel during at night when most of the Cartel is drunk and high on their own product. They attack the fields with fire bombs, Molotov Cocktails, and WP mortar rounds. Homemade flamethrowers are used to torch most of their crops and anyone who gets in their way.

  El Chapo shakes his head listening to his advisors giving him the weekly update. He’s pissed off and angrier than most of his staff have ever seen him.

  “Sir, we’ve suffered the following setbacks this week;

  Thirty attacks.

  Five tons of product burned and destroyed.

  Twenty-five trucks destroyed, eighteen stolen.

  Four hundred twenty-two people killed or seriously wounded.

  Three supply depots robbed and stripped of all their food.

  Three slave pens broken open and two hundred fifty slaves freed, sir, including thirty of the special breeders you marked.

  “What the fuck happened to security?”

  “Sir, they are the first to be taken out. Most are hit with darts, fired from a crossbow filled with drugs which put them to sleep. We can’t hear the crossbow firing. Once our guards are asleep, the cursed militias slip into our camps and towns. The first indication we have is when our facilities explode in flames. Sir, we need double or triple the manpower to secure our existing farms. We’re being attacked more than once a night.”

  “Do you have any idea how much doubling or tripling security is going to cost me?”

  “Sir, do we have a choice? At their current rate of attacks, we’re going to end up losing most of our conquered lands.”

  El Chapo slams him hand on the table,

  “Yes, we can send our people to find the militias and kill them before they’re able to attack us.”

  “Sir, the militias own the night and the woods, we lose people every time we send patrols into the heavy woods searching for their bases.”

  “I don’t care. I want you to develop a new plan. Do it tonight, we’re running out of time. If the militias are able to keep pushing us backward, we’ll may find ourselves back in Mexico, or worse. If they band together, they may become powerful enough to cross the river and attack our facilities in Mexico. I could lose hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of product and tens of thousands of new slaves.”

  “Sir, we’ll work up a new plan.”

  “If your new plan doesn’t work, your new work will either be as a slave in the fields or on the front line fighting the militias. Am I clear?”

  His staff shakes with fear; either option means their death.

  “Yes, sir. We’ll have something for you tomorrow.”

  @@@@@

  Captain Black’s radio operator runs towards him holding a clipboard.

  “Sir, we’ve been contacted by a General Arthur.”

  “Who?” I don’t know any General named Arthur.”

  “Sir, he claims to be a retired US Marine General, who is leading the combined militias in our area. He’s requesting a face to face meeting with you.”

  “Did you run a search on him?”

  “Yes, sir. There was a Marine General Arthur in the first Gulf War.”

  “Get me his file. I want to know who I’m going to meet with.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  I wonder why a retired Marine General is leading the militias, and why he wants to meet with me. What’s he doing here? Is he on the same mission I’m on?”

  @@@@@

  Ricky is slowly riding to the northwest looking for a place to spend the night when he hears.

  “STOP or we’ll shoot.”

  Ricky puts his hands up saying.

  “You have no reason to be concerned about me. I’m not armed. I mean you no harm. I’m just riding northwest to go home.”

  “That’s good because we are armed. You have information we want.”

  “There’s no reason for violence, Let’s discuss what you want to know. I believe in sharing; information, food, everything. It’s the only way we’re going to improve everyone’s life. Soon, we’ll even be able to solve Climate Warming, which drove you out of your homes.”

  The ISIS leader smiles thinking to himself, I can’t believe some of these American leftists!

  “Infidel, yes, I agree with you. No violence is necessary. We will come out and meet you. Please dismount so we know you won’t ride away and you’re serious about talking to us. We’ll break bread together; we’ll chat about the current situation. I’m sure we’ll be able to become friends.”

  “Yes, I agree, yes, I love the brown people. I’m dismounting. Let’s meet face to face. There’s no need for violence.” Ricky thinks to himself, I wish those self-righteous assholes in the shelter could see this, it proves I was right. We don’t need to use violence. If we’d only followed John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” the world would be fine.

  Chapter 6

  Lacy is sitting on the chair in her room, she’s looking down, her eyes are closed, she’s silently praying that God returns her husband to her. She doesn’t notice Doctor Basco standing in her doorway. He waits a minute to see if she looks up. When she doesn’t move, he clears his throat. She opens her teary eyes, looking up she sees Doctor Basco in her doorway she knows it means either Jay is awake or he’s dead. She fights with herself to acknowledge the Doctor or not. She debates what to do, she’s afraid to ask him how Jay is. A long minute passes before she nods asking.

  “You’re here for only one of two reasons, please tell me, he’s awake.”

  Doctor Basco smiles, “He is, I came to get you…”

  Lacy jumps up and pushes the doctor out of the way before he finishes the sentence. She’s out of the room and running down the hall to see Jay. Tear rolls down her cheeks, her heart is pounding as she dashes to Jay’s room.

  “Lacy, wait for me. I want to talk with you before you see him.”

  “Later, if he’s awake, I’m going to see him first.”

  People in the shelter see Lacy racing towards the medical room, they look at the doctor who nods and smiles at them. Word quickly spreads that Jay is alive and awake. People quickly begin making their way to the medical facility hoping to see him.

  Doctor Basco has to push his way through the well-wishers to get into Jay’s room. He pushes himself into the small room. Lacy is sitting on Jay’s bed holding his hand. Lacy smiles at the doctor and everyone trying to stick their heads in the room.

  “Doc, can you remove some of his wires and tubes? He can’t move.”

  “Let me check him first. I know he's tied down, but we needed to monitor his life signs.”

  Jay smiles shaking his head,

  “Doc, two EKGs? Three IVs? Are you monitoring me, or trying to recreate Frankenstein?”

  Smiling, Doctor Basco pats Jay’s head,

  “He would be a perfect specimen for the experiment, I believe his brain is labeled AB-normal.”

  Lacy smiles at the small joke,

  “Yeah, he’s AB-normal alright, and I’m glad he is. Who the hell else would have built this crazy shelter?”

  Tony forces his way into the room with a broad smile on his face.

  Jay smiles yelling.

  “Make a hole, there is a cripple coming in.”

  Tony laughs responding,

  “Don’t take it personally, no one’s talking about your mental condition.”

  Tony smiles responding, “As soon as you’re out of here, I'll deal with you.”

  “You have to catch me first, an old man like you can’t catch me. I’ll get a motorized wheelchair which will go faster than an old man like you can run.”

  Those listening in the hall laugh feeling better that Tony and Jay are joking again. John arrives with a stern look on his face.

  “Everyone, I’m sorry to break up the welcome Jay home party. However, we have a
situation outside we need to deal with.”

  Every mouth closes in mid-word. A situation outside usually means they are coming under attack again, most are worried. Everyone listens to what John has to say, Jay places a hand on Lacy’s, signaling her to wait a minute before speaking.

  “The militia that answered Sergeant Johnson’s call is outside requesting entrance and a meeting with our leaders. They literally asked for us to take them to our leader.”

  Todd smiles asking,

  “Do they think we arrived in a flying saucer?”

  Jay laughs, then clutches his chest,

  Jay looks up at everyone trying to stick their head in his room,

  “That hurt. Everyone, please return to your normal tasks, allow Tony, John and me to discuss the situation. As soon as we decide, we’ll make a shelter-wide announcement.”

  Most nod their agreement, Todd and Fred help gently herd the people back to their rooms or tasks. After everyone except for Tony, Todd, John and Lacy leave Jay’s room, he looks at his partners,

  “I suggest someone get the sergeant who made the call for help to join us. He may have information about who our angels of mercy are. Todd, tell the militia we’ll respond to their request in ten minutes. Tell them we have to safe the mine field which takes a few minutes. They won’t know if it’s a lie or not.”

  “Got it, I’ll handle it.”

  Ron receives the message from the shelter and nods his understanding. He instructs his radio operator to reply.

  “Understood. We’ll stay put until advised it’s safe to advance.”

  After the radio operator leaves, he turns to his staff,

  “Remind everyone to stay put. We’ve been warned there are mines and traps surrounding the entrance to the shelter. We’ve seen some of what their defensive weapons can do. We have received a map; I don’t have any idea how accurate it is. They’ve asked us to wait while they deactivate the mines which leads me to believe they’re not sure how good their map is either. I don’t want to lose anyone to carelessness.”

  “Yes, sir. We’ll make sure everyone understands this isn’t the time for sightseeing. Sir, what about the homes and that castle?”

  “If they mined the entrances to their shelter don’t you think they’d also booby-trap their homes? Tell everyone to stay away from the houses, barns, garages…all of their buildings. I believe this entire farm is one large booby-trap waiting to explode.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  His closest aide waits until the rest of the staff have left before asking.

  “Ron, do you really think they wired everything on the farm? Wouldn’t that be a little extreme?”

  “Don’t you think it’s extreme to build a shelter under their crops? Look at the number of blown apart bodies lying all over the property. I think this entire farm could be one large minefield. One I have no desire to test. I’m happy to wait until they tell us the mines are placed on safe and we’re cleared to enter the shelter. I don’t want to lose anyone over a stupid mistake.”

  “I understand. I’ll make sure the Lieutenants remind their people not to wander.”

  “Thanks. Chuck, think about the planning that went into the building of a castle and a shelter under their crops. We don’t even know how many people are living under our feet. There could be an army down there. Remind everyone to be on high alert. They’re bound to have an emergency exit; I don’t want to be surprised by them turning up in the middle of our camp.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  @@@@@

  Jay looks up at Sergeant Johnson,

  “Sergeant, I’d shake your hand to welcome you. However, as you can see, the doc hasn't removed the wires and tubes from me yet. Welcome aboard. I understand you called for help and your call was answered by a local militia. What can you tell me about them?”

  “Jay, it’s a pleasure to see you again. I’m glad to see you’re awake and improving. We barely made it in your shelter. I called for any available help on GUARD, that’s the…”

  “Sarge, I know what GUARD is.”

  “Sorry, sir.”

  “No problem, please continue. Our time is very short.”

  “The TFM, that’s Tennessee Freedom Militia, responded to our call for assistance. They arrived yesterday. A couple of hours ago we felt explosions, I have to assume the militia attacked and beat the Cartel and ISIS, who were attacking us.”

  “Do you know the militia’s leader?”

  “Only his name, Ron Walker. He leads a group that spans the area between Nashville and North Carolina.”

  “Tony, do you know anything about them? Covering such a large area, I’d think your path crossed theirs.”

  “Jay, my path usually didn’t cross that of militias. I tried to stay away from military types. Except of course to buy items of interest from them.”

  “Okay. Do any of you know them? I’d thought that the militia is made up of local armed citizens. Hence, I thought, some of you would know members of the militia.”

  All shake their heads no.

  “Well, they did save our butts, so I guess we’re going to have to meet them. It wouldn’t be polite to leave them outside. John, make sure the quick reaction team is ready, Todd, record everything they do and say while they’re in the shelter. Have they tried to enter our homes?”

  John shakes his head.

  “Jay, they approached them and stopped. They must figure the houses are booby-trapped.”

  “Yeah, I’d think the same. Here’s what we’re going to do….”

  Jay’s friends leave him to put his plan in place. Jay looks over his shoulder.

  “Doc, I really need to be able to get up and meet someone. Can you unwire me and take these ‘Borg’ tubes out of me?”

  “Resistance is futile.”

  “Thanks. I’m serious. I have to personally meet the militia commander. I won’t do it from a position of perceived weakness; lying in this hospital bed, wired up makes me look like I’m in a position of weakness.”

  “Okay, I’ll unwire you on the condition you return here after the meeting. Do you promise me?”

  “I promise.”

  “I know how you keep your medical promises. If you try to hide from me, I promise, I’ll track you down anywhere you hide in this shelter if you try to avoid me. If I have to drag your ass back here, I’ll have you strapped to the bed and gagged so you won’t be able to talk your way out of here.”

  Jay laughs,

  “Doc, we’re going to be visited by the militia, I don’t know if any of them are wounded, why don’t you staff up the trauma rooms in case your services are required?”

  “Got it, I’m on the way.”

  “John, send them the minefield map showing the clear path to our door. Tell them we’re cramped for room, they don’t know how large the shelter is. Tell them we invite their three senior officers to visit us, but only three.”

  “I already sent them the map, I’ll send the formal invite.”

  The militia’s radio operator tells Ron.

  “Sir, they request we bring only three people to the meeting, something about limited space.”

  “Makes sense, they don’t know us. They want to be as safe as possible. Tell them we agree. We’ll be at their front door in eighteen minutes, on the half hour.”