The Shelter, Book 4: The New World

by Ira Tabankin

  “Can’t we dig new wells and pump the water into the fields?”

  “I thought of that; one, we don’t know where the aquifer is, two, we don’t have a drilling rig. We’d have to dig new wells, that will take longer than repairing a tanker. I had the existing wells dug when I bought the house. I had a couple extra wells dug, but we’ve expanded the farm and added our neighbors who aren’t where the wells are, we don’t have enough hoses to carry the water.”

  “How about praying for rain?”

  “We’ve tried everything else, it can’t hurt and may even work. There’s so much about the other side we don’t understand.”

  “When you say, the other side, do you mean you know there’s life after death? What did you see and experience when you died?”

  “I really can’t explain it. I don’t think I’m supposed to talk about anything which I may have seen. I’m not sure it was real. After all, I was as you said, dead. Anything I thought I saw might have been an illusion. Let’s not waste time on it.”

  “If you say so. I think we ought to try digging a new well. What do we have to lose?”

  “We’d be wearing our people out without any idea where to dig. We’d need a couple of hundred wells, we’re not strong enough to dig them in the time we have left.”

  “Jay, what’s wrong? I’ve never seen you like this. This is the first time I’ve seen you accept defeat. What’s bothering you? You know you can tell me anything. I’m here for you.”

  “I know you’re here for me. I’m not accepting defeat; I don’t want to work our people to their death. There has to be another way, one we haven’t found yet. Your bucket idea did give me an idea, how about a canal?”

  “Do you mean we dig a trench from the lake here?”

  “Yes, if the lake is higher than the fields it can work, we might be able to use the stored PVC pipe to carry the water here.”

  “Man, three miles is a hell of a lot of pipe. I didn’t think we had that much.”

  “You’re right, we don’t, but we should be able to get more. Most people left the pipe behind at the supply stores. We may also find some more pumps, something that works on solar or a solar converter is going to be required.”

  “Son of a bitch, I like it. If the lake is lower, we can dig a trench to lay the pipe lower so the water flows to the fields. It really is possible.”

  “Only if we can find a hell of a lot more pipe and the pumps.”

  “I’ll take an away team today to look.”

  “Tony, thanks, I really appreciate it. Hopefully, this will work. Maybe you’ll come across a tanker on the way into town.”

  “I’ll be keeping my eyes open. I’ll radio you from town.”

  Tony smiles leaving Jay in his office. Jay leans back, he places his feet on his desk, he closes his eyes and lets his mind drift. He tries to force his mind to cross the barrier between here and there. He silently calls for his father hoping he hears and his father offers a way to help.

  @@@@@

  Mayor Duncan watches the President’s speech; he’s face turns bright red as the President continues laughing at the Huntsville plan. Mayor Duncan looks at the General,

  “Is it really possible for one man to be so damn stupid?”

  “Mr. Mayor, he’s my Commander in Chief, I can’t answer that question. However, if you were asking if it’s possible that any person could be that stupid, you already know the answer to that question.”

  “He’s angry because our system is working and his isn’t. We took matters into our own hands, we solved a problem he helped create, instead of being thanked, we’re being mocked. I won’t accept his bullshit.”

  The General laughs,

  “You’re going to lose a couple of votes for using the BS word, that’s not politically correct. We both know we’ve gone too far to stop now. We have thirteen states backing our plan.”

  “Did you stop and consider thirteen is the number of states that formed the Union?”

  “I did, I keep thinking we should use the thirteen to form a new nation, one built on the beliefs of the founders. Somewhere we got off track. We got so far off track we began to look like the Soviet Union did. We deserve what we got.”

  “Rome started to fall apart when their citizens realized they could vote themselves increased benefits. Rome couldn’t support the people’s demands, too few joined the military, the divide between their classes grew too far apart. Does this sound familiar? Look at us just before the crash, over fifty percent of our people didn’t pay any taxes. Over one hundred and fifty million out of the labor market. A dollar was worth a few cents if that. People lost hope. We in the military also suffered under this administration, they used us for social engineering experiments. I survived because of my weapons and engineering background, most of the senior members of the administration thankfully forgot about me.”

  “I’m glad they did. You’ve been a huge help pulling us back from the brink.”

  “Mr. Mayor, soon you’re going to have to make a decision which will determine the fate of millions of lives. We’re standing on one toe on the ledge of a mountain. We took the first step with the currency plan, you’re going to have to either make the second step or turn around and agree to surrender to Washington.”

  “General, are you proposing what I think you are? Are you suggesting we relive the horrors of history? Hasn’t the South suffered enough for losing the war of Northern Aggression? Do you remember carpetbagging? The cost of reconstruction, the years many of us have been second class citizens?”

  “Mr. Mayor, I’m going to say something, I’ll never admit saying. Sir, it’s time. The country is severely split right and left, we don’t talk about solving problems; the government only spends time blaming each other. The country is more broken today than it was one hundred fifty years ago. We’re so PC we miss the cause of our problems, we’re on the verge of overturning the first amendment because people’s words might offend someone. This isn’t America. We’re being manipulated to become a country we weren’t designed to be. The people are scared and angry. I suggest if there was ever a time to make the split, it’s now. We have the weakest President in history, most of the military distrusts him, except the gay and ass kissing officers he has promoted. We need a face to run the revolution, someone who’s not a politician, someone the people can look up to and is respected. Whoever this person is, it’s key he or she be a commoner, the more unlike a normal politician, the better, even better if he is very plainly spoken. I’d look for someone to be a little Red-necked. Make sure he or she is someone the average person can relate to.”

  “Where in the world are we going to find someone like that?”

  “That’s above my pay grade. I can only help guide you so you don’t make the mistakes our forefathers did. In 1861, the South went to war, they ignored the facts they had no manufacturing, no arms factories. They did have better leadership and their soldiers fought with higher morale than the North. In fact, the South almost won. Can you imagine how different the world would be today if the South had won?”

  “We’d still have slaves?”

  “I think slavery would have gone away as machinery quickly became less expensive than people to operate. You don’t have to feed and house machinery.”

  “I think we would have been a lot freer if we’d won.”

  “I agree with you. What are you going to do?”

  “I’m not sure yet. I do know what I’m not going to do. I do know I’m not going to drop our currency. It’s working, our people trust it, they are starting to go back to work, they are starting to believe things can improve. I’d be a fool to return to the old ways.”

  “It sounds like you’ve already made your decision.”

  “Maybe I have, maybe all I have to do is convince myself that’s really the path I want to take. I wasn’t in the military, I’m beginning to feel the weight of the decision, whichever way I decide it’s going to potentially place people’s lives at risk. I don’t know
how you do it. It’s eating me alive. I haven’t eaten in two days trying to figure out what to do.”

  “I understand your dilemma, placing people’s lives at risk is never easy. It doesn’t matter how many times you do it; it never gets easier. You have to decide what’s best for the majority. What’s best for the future, what’s best for our children’s children. We’re standing in a unique place in history, most people never decide something which will have such far-reaching ramifications.”

  “I know; I wish I had the strength to quickly decide.”

  “It has nothing to do with physical strength, it’s about knowing what’s right and following through even if it means taking the rocky path versus the paved, smooth one.”

  .

  “You’re not going to help me make it are you?”

  “No, this is something the politicians should decide. The military can offer advice and discuss possible outcomes if we make the decisions, we’re no longer a Republic.”

  “Thank you for reminding me of that.”

  Chapter 25

  Jay and Lacy stand outside looking into the crystal clear blue sky. Jay tells Lacy,

  “I never thought I’d want it to rain so much. The sky darkened yesterday afternoon, I thought this was it, the thunderstorm was going to drench us. No, it struck five miles away. I swear it feels like something is blocking the storms from hitting us. Much like last season’s television program the “Dome.” I wish I knew how to make it rain. Look at the ground, it’s hard and dusty, I’m afraid we’re going to lose the entire season.”

  “I thought Tony and Fred went looking for pipe to run from the lake?”

  “They did. It’s been three days and they haven’t returned yet. Every time I hear anything, I think it’s them. I jump up to rush out to see what they found only to be disappointed that it’s not them.”

  “Do they report in so we know they’re alright?”

  “Every couple of hours, all they say is they’re fine. I’m going out of my mind wondering if they found any usable pipe and a tanker truck.”

  “You have to have a mind to be out of.”

  “Thanks, hell of a time to make jokes. I’m worried sick and you want to bust my balls.”

  “Honey, they’re fine, they’ll be back with something that will help. I was only trying to break the tension.”

  “If you want to break my tension, make it rain.”

  Lacy stands next to Jay mute, feeling his pain. She’s lost what to do or say so she decides to wait and see what he does. Jay closes his eyes, he thinks, please God, please, I beg you. Please make it rain. If the price of rain is me, take me. There are over one thousand people relying on me. The pressure is getting to be too much. I’ll do anything you want if you’ll just let it rain. Rain, not for me, but for the hungry families, for the hungry children. I know you don’t want to see the innocent suffer. Please give me some sort of sign. Jay opens his eyes and kicks the dusty, dry earth. A farm, why in the world did I buy a farm? I’m not a farmer. I don’t have the patience to wait for rain and wait for things to grow. Patience was never my strong suit. This feels like trying to turn the desert green, an impossible task.

  Lacy senses what Jay’s thinking,

  “Honey, the desert can bloom, if the water won’t come to us, then we need to bring it to us or we need to move the farm.”

  “How the hell do we move the farm?”

  “Why can’t we clear the land around the lake and plant crops there? The water table is most likely higher than here; it would be much easier to pump the water a short distance than three miles.”

  Jay stands to look at Lacy like he’s been struck by lightning.

  “Honey, I love you! What a great idea. We’ve been clearing the wrong land. You’re right. I need to get everyone moved to the lake. Oh my God. If we hurry, we may be able to get a crop in. I’ve got to go; I’ve got to run. I’ve got to round up everyone to move them to the lake.”

  Jay kisses Lacy’s check and jogs towards the shelter to tell Todd, who’s manning the security room to call everyone to an urgent meeting. Todd looks up from the ebook he’s reading when he hears Jay yelling for him.

  “Dad, I’m in the security room, what’s up. The monitors are all clear. Is something wrong?”

  “Lacy figured out how to save the crop, I need you to call everyone to attend an urgent meeting in front of my garage.”

  “When do you want to hold this meeting?”

  “NOW! Five minutes ago, just call everyone, it’s urgent.”

  “I’m on it.”

  “Invite the Army and militia too.”

  “They are on the general alert list.”

  “Thanks!”

  Jay jogs through the maze of corridors, he realizes he’s out of breath and wheezing before he reaches the shelter’s front door. Damn it, I’m getting old. I better slow down a little, dad said the next time I visit, I’ll be staying.

  Twenty minutes after Todd sent the request for an urgent meeting, everyone is standing in front of Jay’s garage waiting for him to tell them what’s so important that they had to drop everything.

  Jay walks to the front of his extended family, they all notice he has a broad smile on his face, Franco yells out to him.

  “You figure out how to make it rain? Have you become an Indian and know how to do the rain dance?”

  “Better than that! Lacy figured it out. She told me this morning, if the water won’t come to us, we have to go to the water. We should be clearing the land around the lake, not across the street. Even without rain we can easily irrigate the crops from the lake. I want us to pack up and move to the lake.”

  Captain Black raises his hand.

  “Jay, the lake is three miles away, is that area safe? I guess this also means we’re going to stop work on our shelter.”

  “That’s why we asked you and the militia to join us. Captain, I’m sorry, but, yes, we’re going to have to stop work on your shelter. I’m hoping you agree and you will help protect us. We need to get a crop in the ground which will yield enough to feed everyone this winter. We’ll use our tractors to quickly clear the land with your people offering protection. I assume your people like to eat.”

  “That they do. Jay, no worries. We’re happy to help in any way we can.”

  Major Walker shakes his head.

  “If everyone is going to be working at the lake, we’re going to be leaving the farms and shelter here unguarded and vulnerable. It’s not a good plan. I suggest at least a third of us stay behind to guard the base. Arm the active defenses in case our small security force is overrun and string a communications wire to the lake so the shelter can be in instant communication with those working there.”

  Captain Black adds,

  “We should use the tractor to first build a berm, which we’ll cover in concrete and a fighting trench so we have a defensive position in case we’re attacked. How much razor wire do we have? I’d like to build a fence around the cleared land.”

  Jay nods, “I like it, can one of the military logistics people prepare a plan to follow? I agree we need to leave some people behind and we should build defenses by the lake, those we can start today.”

  Captain Black’s S2 nods saying.

  “I’ll have a rough plan in two hours.”

  Major Walker says, I’ll send a patrol to check out the area and establish a forward base.”

  Jay claps, “Everyone, let’s do this. Times wasting. We need to clear the land and get a crop in before it’s too late.”

  Randy asks, “What happens if it rains or Fred and Tony locate a tanker truck?”

  “Then we have additional land, we’ll have to build a secure road to connect us to the lake so we can safely and quickly get back and forth.”

  Franco nods, “We can do that. We’ll begin by clearing a rough road to the lake, we’ll widen it to two lanes as we need it. My boys and I can start as soon as we break up.”

  Jay’s overjoyed with the potential of a solution
, or, at least, being able to do something other than waiting for it to rain.

  “Let’s go!”

  Franco opens the garage, his sons start three tractors, two begin the journey to the lake with an armed soldier riding shotgun.

  @@@@@

  Two days into Fred and Tony’s search, they arrive at the area’s largest Home Depot. They traveled very slowly so they didn’t run into a roadblock or barricade around a curve. They spent the first night in one of the local towns which are allied with the farm. The town’s people are happy to see them, they send two people to help look for the pipe and other supplies the town needs. The condition of the roads surprised them. Trash and abandoned cars fill most of the streets. They stop at the entrance of the parking lot. They’re surprised at what they see. Fred whispers.