The Shelter, Book 4: The New World

by Ira Tabankin

  A Novel

  Chapter 1

  Lacy lay unmoving in a deep sleep while Jay tossed and turned. Sleep wouldn’t come to him, his mind continued to race and review the current situation. He tried to calm himself so he could get some rest. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw himself sitting in the Captain’s chair on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise replaying the Kobayashi Maru scenario. His ship is being attacked by three Romulan Warbirds. In the television program, Captain Kirk reprogramed the computer so that he could win a no-win scenario. Jay didn’t believe in no-win scenarios. He always had a primary plan, a backup, and a backup to the backup plan. As Jay lay in bed, he couldn’t figure out how to get out of the mess he’s recently found himself and his family and friends in. He got up to use the bathroom four times during the night; he sat in the bathroom to write down some ideas. No matter how he lay or moved, he couldn’t get comfortable. He tried lying on his right side for ten minutes, then his left, his back and his stomach. He was warm, so he pulled his leg out from under the blanket. After tossing and turning for hours, he gave up trying to sleep. He quietly slipped out bed, making his way to his office where he leaned back in his chair with his feet perched on the edge of his desk. He closed his eyes trying to figure out how to get out of the situation he found himself in.

  He cursed the day he met Major Walker and General Arthur. Jay shook his head thinking since I can’t change what’s coming or reverse time, I’m stuck with the Tennessee Governor coming here tomorrow, no, it's now today. I know damn well he’s going to want my shelter for his use. Once the other Governors make their secession announcement, my farm, home and shelter are going to be ground zero for an American attack. We built the shelter to withstand a large explosion, even a five-hundred-pound bomb, but it can’t survive one of the Air Forces’ shelter penetrators. They would crash through the shelter roof before exploding inside, killing everyone in the shelter. I didn’t build it to see my friends die inside of it. Damn the Governors. I don’t see any way to stop the Governor from selecting my shelter as his base of operations. I guess I should be proud of the fact, but he’s going to end up pushing us out of our shelter. On top of the damn political issues, it still hasn’t rained enough for the crops. We’re going to be entering a war with a shortage of food. Damn it, our problems could be solved by more rain and fewer politicians. Jay’s thoughts are interrupted when Lacy asks,

  “Can’t sleep?”

  “I’m sorry, I tried to be quiet when I got out of bed.”

  “You were. I rolled over, reaching for your hand, you weren’t there. I assumed you got up. I was sure I’d find you here. Why can’t you sleep?”

  “I know the Governor is going to take over our shelter, leaving us out in the cold. Our farm, homes and shelter are going to end up being a prime target in Civil War 2.”

  “Why do you think that? The American DoD doesn’t know about our shelter, they can’t target what they don’t know about. Now, come back to bed. I bet that sleeping pill you took is going to catch up to you any minute. You don’t want to be doing something critical when the pill kicks in.”

  “Honey, does the name Black mean anything to you?”

  “Of course, it does, our friend, the Captain from across the street, why?”

  “Honey, since he knows about our shelter, you can rest assured the idiots in D.C. know about it too. I bet he sent in detailed reports about our home and shelter. They most likely can target any weapon they have at us. He knows how the shelter was built and what would be needed to destroy it.”

  “Shit, I thought General Arthur said he had turned the Captain around. Don’t you trust the General?”

  “I don’t trust anyone who’s not one of us. I don’t care what their title or background is. I’m no longer trusting anyone with our lives.”

  “What do you plan to tell the Governor when he visits? Are you going to allow him to use our shelter as his headquarters?”

  “That’s why I haven’t been able to sleep. It’s all I’ve been thinking about. Every way I look at the problem, all I see is a lose-lose situation for us. I don’t like not being able to see a way out. I don’t have a backup plan, for that matter, I don’t have a good primary plan. I’ve never been in a situation like this.”

  “You don’t have any ideas? That’s a first. What are you going to do? Honey, if our home and shelter are going to be a target, what should we do about the eleven thousand gold and twenty-five thousand silver coins in the sub-basement? Will they be safe from an attack down there?”

  “That’s a great question. I don’t know. The walls of the castle are bullet proof against rifle and machine gun rounds, but bombs are a different matter. We didn’t make the roof bomb proof. I never expected to have to worry about the Air Force bombing our home.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Lacy, I really don’t know what. It’s 4:30, I have nine hours before the Governor is due to arrive in order to figure something out. I feel like our hands are tied and someone else is controlling our destiny. I don’t like it. On the other hand, I can’t figure out how to get out from under the mess I brought on us.”

  “Honey, you didn’t do it on purpose.”

  “It doesn’t matter, by building the shelter, I’ve placed everyone’s life in danger.”

  “Stop it. You’ve saved everyone’s life more times than anyone can count. No one is holding this against you. How soon will we be able to build another shelter?”

  “I’ll know in about five hours when Franco shows me the plans.”

  “Do you think we’ll have enough time to build a second shelter?”

  “I don’t know. A large part of it depends on what the Captain told D.C. about our shelter, when the governors are going to announce their formation of a new Confederacy and how the President responds.”

  “You don’t really think he’ll order Americans to attack Americans do you? Not even he would be that dumb, would he?”

  “Remember your history. President Lincoln issued the order sending the Northern Army into the Confederacy to save the union. What makes you think Obama won’t use force? He has far less respect for the union that any other President ever. He’ll send the Air Force to bomb the shit out of us before he sends the army.”

  “What do we do?”

  “That’s why I haven’t been able to sleep.”

  @@@@@

  Frank shook his head wondering what he’d gotten himself into. Tony escorts him outside. Frank looks up, feeling the sun on his face.

  “Tony, you’re crazy. You called me to take out a damn Army Special Forces Captain? A damn ‘green beanie’ who’s fought insurgents around the world. You sure picked a hell of a target. This settles our debt. After I do this, I don’t owe you anything, we’re even. I want to hear you say it.”

  “We’re even. Do you feel better now? Does that enable you to complete the mission?”

  “I’ll complete it because of what you told me. I agree with you, he’s a threat to everything you’ve built here. I’m changing our agreement, there’s one additional condition I’m demanding; that I get a space in the shelter.”

  “That’s not up to me, Jay has always decided who gets an invite to the shelter. If he sees a new face, he’ll wonder who you are and how you got here. I promise you, I’ll talk to him. I can’t tell him who you are or why you’re here. I’ll tell him you’re an old friend of mine. It will take a little time since he’s tied up in a huge mess right now.”

  “When? And don’t give me your normal bullshit, just tell me when you’ll have an agreement from Jay. Should I approach him and ask him?”

  “Christ no! He doesn’t know I called you. I’m not sure how he’ll respond when he finds out.”

  “I’ll do the job; you have my room ready in the shelter. If not, your name will be next on my list.”

  “Agreed.”

  Frank walks towards the parking area where he left his motorcycle, thinking just before dawn, when some of the troops
are having an early breakfast, they won’t be armed in their mess tent. I’ll put on the uniform Tony got me, I’ll blend in. With the main body recently returning from Western Tennessee and a handful of new people arriving, no one will pay any attention to another soldier sitting at a table eating his breakfast. I’ll read the report Tony got me tonight so if I’m asked anything about the action in Memphis, I’ll be up to date. When the Captain makes his rounds I’ll make my play. When he falls, I’ll call for a medic and slip out of the mess tent and be back here before they realize what happened.

  @@@@@

  Ricky cleans himself up, he dresses in clean jeans and even washes his sneakers. He heard the Governor will be touring the farm today. He hopes he will be able to separate one of the Governor’s aides from the Governor. Ricky hopes the aide will take mercy on him and take him with them when they leave for wherever the new State House is. He stands in front of the trailer’s single cracked mirror, rehearsing what he’s going to say to the aide. He knows this is his only hope to escape exile on the farm. He’s hoping to take his family and leave with the Governor, who will surely agree with him over Jay.

  @@@@@

  Admiral Jefferson is holding his breath as the Missouri barely scrapes through the Panama Canal, he stands outside of the armored bridge looking up at the tugs towing his ship through the narrow passage wondering if they have any idea why a Navy task force is heading through the Canal. The Missouri’s captain walks over to the Admiral.

  “I told you she hasn’t gained much weight over the years, the old girl has kept her trim figure. She’s ready for whatever orders we receive.”

  “I worry about those orders. I’ve been wondering what to do when we receive those orders. I’m having serious heartburn worrying if our orders will be to fire on our fellow citizens. To be honest with you, and I don’t want this spoken of, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  “Sir, maybe they’re sending us to the Gulf to show the flag and what they’ll be facing if they go through with their plan to secede.”

  “Captain, how many people from the southern states do we have in the Task Force? I think it would be a good idea to know who they are and what positions they hold. I’d hate to have a fight break out between our own people. I plan to address the Task Force in three hours when we enter the Gulf. Please call a Captain’s conference call for forty minutes from now, at the top of the hour. I want to discuss the situation with all of the ship’s Captains before I address the crews.”

  “Aye, sir. I’ll set it up. Sir, may I ask a question?”

  “Of course, what’s on your mind?”

  “Do you really think they’re going to secede?”

  “Yes, I do. I believe they don’t think this President has the balls to stop them, they feel there will never be a better time for them to break away and get out from under a government they no longer think represents them. To be honest with you, I’ve laid awake at night wondering which side I support. I understand what the South is saying; I feel for them. On the other hand, I swore an oath to protect the Constitution from all enemies, domestic and foreign. What are your thoughts?”

  “Admiral, I don’t know if I ever told you, or if you saw it in my 201 file, I was born and raised in Huntsville. I was a local football and baseball star, my Congressman went to the same high school, he asked me if I’d like to follow his in his footsteps and make a career in the Navy. I told him yes, he arranged my appointment to the Academy. Sir, I grew up with the Confederate Battle Flag flying over my head,”

  “Captain, are you telling me, you won’t follow my orders if those orders are to fire on your countrymen?”

  “Sir, I’m just telling what my background is. I thought it was important that you know.”

  “Thank you for telling me.” Smiling, Admiral Jefferson says, “I promise not to hold it against you.”

  @@@@@

  US Army Special Forces Captain, Black picks up his tray like the rest of his people. He gets in line for an early breakfast, General Arthur asked to see him at 0600 to discuss a very important subject. He smiles and chats with the soldiers standing in line with him. The troops smile and nod at their commander. After filling his tray, the Captain sits at a table with four NCOs. They kid each other about how good it is to have real eggs versus MREs. Frank is sitting at a table with two Warrant Officers chatting about the news. He’s able to keep an eye on his target, the Captain from the corner of his right eye. He’s enjoying his bacon, eggs and toast waiting for the Captain to finish and start going table to table. He’s holding a small canister of poison in his hand. When the Captain comes to check on his table, he plans to stand up and chat with the Captain while spraying the odorless poison in the space the Captain will soon be standing. The poison will linger in the air a few moments allowing the Captain to breathe it in. Frank has taken the antidote to the poison so he won’t be affected by it. He smiles, thinking he has a fool proof plan.

  @@@@@

  Jay’s interrupted from his discussion with Lacy by his phone pinging, alerting him that he has a text message. He wonders who the hell is texting him before dawn.

  “Are you going to check what the text says?”

  “Who would be texting me at this ungodly hour?”

  “Check it and see, it might be something important. I’ll wait. Given everything that’s going on, I think you should check it. Maybe it’s about the governor’s visit.”

  “Okay.” Jay picks up his phone, he presses his thumb against the home button, the text pops up on the display. “It’s from Tony, he wants to know if I’m awake and if he can come over. He says it’s important.”

  “I guess Nancy slept in and he’s looking for a hot breakfast.”

  “I don’t think so; he knows I’m not usually up at this hour. Do you mind if I tell him to come over?”

  “Not at all, I’ll make some eggs. Tell him to come over in thirty minutes, it’ll give me time to make myself presentable.”

  “Done.” Jay texts back to Tony telling him to come by in thirty.

  Lacy dashes to the bedroom to quickly shower and dress before Tony arrives. Jay sits in his office wondering why Tony wants to see him at 5:00 AM. He reviews the camera feeds, the status reports from the previous evening. He can’t see anything that stands out that is so important that Tony would want to see him before dawn. Jay stretches, he shakes his head while walking into the bathroom to brush his teeth, run a razor over his face and change into a pair of jeans and T-shirt. Lacy and Jay enter the kitchen where Tony is sitting at the breakfast bar enjoying a cup of coffee. Jay raises his left eyebrow,

  “Did you run out of coffee? Nancy sleep in? Or did you just feel like you wanted company for an early breakfast?”

  “None of the above, I decided I needed to brief you on an event that’s going to be happening any minute.”

  Jay pauses mid-word surprised at Tony’s words. It’s very rare that something occurs on around the farm and shelter without him knowing about it. He wonders what Tony’s talking about.

  “Care to fill me in on what’s so important that it needed to be discussed at this hour?”

  “Jay, why don’t you sit down and have a fresh cup of coffee.”

  “It’s that bad?”

  “Depends on your point of view.”

  Jay sits down with a full cup of coffee. He looks into Tony’s eyes. Jay lowers his voice,

  “Tony, what did you do?”

  “Do you remember our discussion about protecting the location of our shelter?”

  “Of course, we discussed that since Captain Black knew all about us, we were screwed.”

  “I remember, I also remember saying that General Arthur thought he’d turned Captain Black around, or would and we shouldn’t worry about him. We agreed to wait a day and see. Tony, what did you do? Did you make a move against the Captain?” Jay looked into Tony’s eyes without blinking. His hand tightened on his cup of coffee until his fingers turned white. His hand began to shake, the coffee in hi
s cup spilled on the table in front of them.

  “Jay, I brought an outside extermination expert in to handle the problem.”

  “YOU WHAT? You brought one of your hit men in to take out the Captain after we discussed waiting? Why? I thought we were in agreement. Tony, why did you take it upon yourself to take action? What if the General was successful? You’d be killing an important ally. One we might need and his possible replacement could be even worse! Plus, you might be turning his troops against us. Tony, call off your outside expert.”

  “I can’t, he should be doing it right now.”

  “God Damn it! NO. I’m calling the Captain to warn him.”

  “If you do, you’ll be telling him we planned to kill him, he’ll never trust us again. I think you’re going to have to let this play out. If he misses, I’ll recall him.”