Apocalypse in the Homeland: The Adventures of John Harris

by Anthony Newman

  “I really am falling for him and yes we get along very well. He takes charge and gives orders, but he is also kind and gentle. He is also damn good in bed.”

  “That’s TMI. I just wanted to make sure he isn’t beating on you and didn’t want to know what was going on in your bedroom.”

  “Twice a day every day so far.”

  Tom’s wife blushed and said, “That will wear off in a few months and then ya’ll will behave like an old married couple.”

  They drove slowly over to the warehouse area to make sure they weren’t driving into an ambush. Tom’s wife saw camping trailers parked at the RV dealer and said, “How big is this warehouse? Would those campers fit inside? It would beat trying to build rooms.”

  Kristen got John’s attention, stopped and pointed at the campers and yelled, “Let’s live in them inside the warehouse.”

  John thought it was a fantastic idea and started planning how to move the campers.

  They had a safe drive and didn’t see anyone along the way. He opened the doors and posted two men as lookouts while the others unloaded their possessions. He told them about the campers and asked Tom to lead the effort to move all of the vehicles out of the warehouse to make room for the campers. He then led the convoy back to their camp to help move more of their friends.

  “Jerry, Tom’s wife had a great idea that will make our lives much better. She saw the campers at the RV lot and suggested that we move them into the warehouse and live in them. I asked Tom to clear out the warehouse and get ready to start moving campers in.”

  Jerry’s face turned red and he snapped back at John, “Don’t do that again. I’m the leader and I make all of the decisions. Do you understand?”

  “Jerry, you may be the leader, but you don’t make all decisions. You are not a dictator. If you keep that tone, everyone will leave the camp and strike out on their own.”

  Several of the others chimed in that the idea was good and each wanted a camper.

  Jerry saw he was losing ground and said, “I’m sorry for snapping at you and of course it’s a good idea.”

  John thanked him and finished helping him load his things onto the truck. It only took three trips to get everyone moved and Tom had the warehouse cleared out and three trailers moved in during that time.

  Jerry immediately went over to Tom, had him move the trailers to a new location and continued to direct the placement of each one until all 65 trailers were in the building. The building would hold over a hundred more and still have room for a large common area. Several people tried to give him advice, but he snapped at them and ignored their advice.

  Tom walked up to Jerry and said, “Several of our families have had campers and have started the refrigerators and heaters on their campers.”

  Jerry snapped, “It’s their home now. Why can’t they enjoy a little heat and a cold refrigerator?”

  John chimed in with, “Carbon monoxide.”

  This embarrassed Jerry and he said, “Jim, do you have to butt in on every conversation?”

  “Yes, if it means keeping our people from dying while they sleep. Jerry, you are our leader, but you need to start listening to the others. You don’t have all of the answers.”

  “Well, if you don’t obey orders, you can just pack up and leave.”

  This pissed off the people standing around the conversation.

  One spoke up and said, “Jerry, you have helped hold this group together and we owe you, but you are not a dictator. We are a community and everyone has a say in how we do things. You owe Tom and Jim an apology. They probably saved many lives by catching the carbon monoxide problem.”

  Several in the crowd agreed and spoke up to Jerry who was pissed off and walked away from the conversation.

  One woman said, “Jim should be our leader. He has military experience and knows a lot more about survival than the rest of us.”

  ***

  Jeff listened and left to join Jerry outside the warehouse.

  “Jerry, they are saying that Jim should be our leader and he knows much more than you do. The damn traitors forgot who saved their sorry asses and kept this group together. It’s time for that accident.”

  “Yes, let everyone get settled in and we will take Jim on a scouting mission and he won’t come back.”

  They didn’t see or hear Tom’s wife emptying the chamber pot on the other side of the stacked pallets. She stayed quiet until they finished and went back in the building before she went to find Tom.

  “Tom, I never trusted Jeff, but I always liked and respected Jerry. Those two are plotting to kill Jim because they think that he is trying to become our leader.”

  “What makes you think that they would hurt Jim?”

  “I overheard them plotting against him. Jeff said it was time for Jim to have an accident and Jerry said they would go scouting and Jim wouldn’t come back.”

  “I’ll get Paul and a couple of the guys I trust and we’ll figure out what to do. How close to Jerry is Kristen? Could she be in on this?”

  “She hates Jeff, but she and Jerry appeared to be pretty close when we joined the group. I don’t think so. She is in love with this guy we call Jim and would never hurt him or let anyone hurt him.”

  “Good, that will make what we have to do much easier. I’m off to see Paul.”

  ***

  Later that evening John was having supper with Kristen when she said, “Jerry had no right to jump your ass like that. I’m surprised that you kept your temper.”

  “How close to Jerry are you?”

  “Not that close. He and Jeff found me walking down the road and took me into their group. It probably saved my life, but that doesn’t give him the right to boss everyone around. He was the leader when most of us joined and stayed the leader even though he made many mistakes. We don't know much about surviving and you do.”

  “He resents me being here. Why did it take so long for this to rise to the surface?”

  “I think you held back on giving him advice and frankly didn’t want the burden of leadership. Jerry has made some big mistakes thinking the government would come to our rescue and didn’t get us ready for the long haul. Jim, you must step up to the plate and become our leader if we are going to survive.”

  “I’m glad to help in any way possible, but Jerry and Jeff will resist and may even fight us over who leads the group.”

  “Honey, just watch your back around Jeff. He still wants me and would do about anything to try and make me his.”

  “Were you two ever together?”

  “No, but he thinks that since the world fell apart he can do what he wants and have anything or anybody he wants.”

  “He will have to kill me to get you. You are my world and I love you with all of my heart. I don’t think I can live without you.”

  Kristen heard John’s words and started crying because she felt the same way and was frightened at the same time. She thought, “What if he hates me when he finds out that he isn’t Jim Jones and that I have been part of the deceit?”

  John said, “Don’t cry; I will be with you forever.”

  ***

  Tom filled Paul in on the plot against John and they agreed on two more men to take into their confidence. Paul’s brother, Tim, and Tom’s best friend, Ralf, were brought in on the situation.

  “We must confront them and ask them to leave our group,” Tom said.

  Ralph replied, “Tom, I agree that it appears to be exactly what you think it is, but what if your wife misunderstood the conversation. They could have been just blowing off steam and cooled off.”

  Tim added, “I don’t think we have enough to go accusing them. We need more evidence.”

  “So you want to lay back and let them take John into the woods and kill him?” asked Paul.

  “No, but if they want to kill him and make it appear to be an accident we can watch and stop them. Then we know for certain that they are guilty.”

  “I don’t know about that. They could kill him bef
ore we can stop them.”

  Tom stood up and said, “Tim, would you risk Paul’s life if Jerry and Jeff were plotting against him?”

  “Hell no, I’d shoot both of them.”

  “Then that’s what we have to do. Let’s take them out on a scouting mission and they don’t come back.”

  They all agreed and started planning their trip with Jerry and Jeff.”

  ***

  Jerry held his weekly town meeting every Thursday and tried his best to listen to his people and help resolve their concerns. He was sick and tired of the whining and gripes. Once he got rid of Jim, he could start ruling with a tight fist. These people needed to be told what to do and when to do it.

  “Jerry, we need to run pipes for water and sewage.”

  “We need to set up someone to remove garbage.”

  “We need more propane.”

  Tom spoke up and said, “Paul told me that there is a propane dealership about five miles from here on the other side of the airport. Let’s go fetch several big tanks of propane back to our place.”

  Jerry replied, “Great idea. I haven’t been out for a while. Jeff will join us. Jim, please figure out the water and sewage problem while we are gone.”

  The meeting ended and Tom went to get his field pack and tell his wife that he would be back later in the day. He rounded up Paul, Tim and Ralph and told them that the mission was a go.

  The six of them loaded up in Jerry’s truck, took Zoo Drive to 40th Street and headed north. They drove cautiously and watched for roadblocks and ambushes. Tom saw a couple of people and noticed that several jumped behind buildings as they approached. Jerry and Jeff were in the cab of the truck and were laughing and talking the entire drive, while Tom and his team were looking for a good spot to ambush their soon to be ex-leader. Suddenly a shot rang out and the passenger side window shattered. Jeff slumped over and Jerry sped up and parked his truck behind a semi in a parking lot. Bullets continued to strike close to them while Jerry tended to Jeff.

  The others took up positions around the semi and began to return fire on the thugs that were attacking them.

  “Jeff’s dead. They killed my fucking brother. They are going to pay for this.”

  Jerry jumped out of the truck with his MP15 and charged towards the attackers yelling, “Follow me.”

  No one followed Jerry and the enemy fire pinned him down behind a car about a hundred feet in front of Tom’s team.

  “Tom, Paul, come on let’s kill the bastards who shot my brother.”

  They all just watched him shoot at the thugs who were behind several cars about a hundred feet away from Jerry. They did nothing to help him. They didn’t fire a shot.

  “Guys, please help me. They have me pinned down and I’m running out of ammo.”

  Paul spoke up and said, “Why should we help the man who was going to kill Jim Jones.”

  “How did you know…….?” Errrrr…..that’s bullshit. I like Jim.”

  “Screw you.”

  Tim said, “Tom the thugs are going to solve our problem. We can just let them have him. Let’s haul ass out of here.”

  Tom replied, “We have to make sure he is dead. We don’t want him sneaking back into the camp and killing us all in our sleep.”

  Just as Tom finished speaking, Jerry was shot in the chest and fell down. He looked back at them and raised his rifle and pointed it at them, then slumped over and was motionless. Tom raised his rifle and shot Jerry in the head.

  “Men, we need to get the hell out of here. Throw Jeff in the back and let’s make tracks.”

  Tom fired the Chevy up and peeled out as he used the semi to cover their retreat. The guys in the back of the truck laid down blistering cover fire and pinned the bad guys down as they flew away from the conflict. Tom didn’t slow down until they were a block from the warehouse complex.

  ***

  They drove back into the warehouse complex and drove straight to their new home. Several men including John were out front unloading plastic water and sewage pipe. They saw the truck drive up and immediately noticed the shattered window and bullet holes in the door.

  Jim ran over to the truck and asked, “What happened and where is Jerry?”

  Tom replied, “We were ambushed and Jeff was killed by the first shots. Jerry saw his brother die, went crazy and charged after the thugs. They mowed him down and were raining bullets down on us so we fired up the truck and got the hell out of there.”

  “So Jerry’s dead?”

  “Yes, he got one in the chest and another in the head. We saw that and retreated. We couldn’t help him.”

  “We will need to retrieve his body and give him a Christian burial.”

  People were gathering around and John said, “Let’s get everyone together and fill them in on what’s happened, then we need to bury Jeff. Tom, could you speak to our people?”

  “I’d be glad to tell them what happened.”

  Paul and Tim rounded up the rest of the group and Tom informed them of the ambush and told them about Jerry and Jeff’s deaths.

  Tom watched the group’s faces and saw relief in their eyes so he said, “I nominate Jim Jones to be our new leader. I know that we are just dealing with Jerry’s death, but we need a strong leader to help up prepare for more attacks and to survive in this screwed up world.”

  Several people seconded the nomination and there were no other names nominated.

  “Raise your hands if you want Jim to be our new leader.”

  All but two raised their hands and when they saw that everyone else had raised their hands, they too raised theirs too.

  John addressed the group, “I promise to be a fair, but strong leader and if you don’t like my leadership, just hold another vote and kick me out. We can’t have dictators.”

  They all applauded and went to bury Jeff and pray over his grave.

  Paul looked at Tom and said, “I was always uneasy around Jerry and Jeff, but I never knew that everyone was.”

  “I always thought he was looking out for himself more than the rest of us and am glad that he is gone, but sorry he had to die to free the rest of us.”

  ***

  His wife had supper ready when Tom got back from helping John direct the installation of a central water line for the building. Now they just needed a water tank.

  “Hon, that was lucky Jeff and Jerry were killed right after I told you about them plotting against Jim.”

  “Wife, God works in mysterious ways and he knows what’s best for us.”

  “Husband, God is wise and always chooses the right tools to make his will happen. Hold your head high and pray for those bastards souls.”

  Tom laughed and ate his supper.

  ***

  “Jim, I’m sorry that Jerry and Jeff had to die, but they did have to go away. What do we do about those thugs?”

  John had a MP15 in his hands and attached a metal tube to the end of the barrel while listening to Kristen.

  “I’m going hunting tomorrow.”

  She looked up at him and suddenly understood.

  She replied, “I can’t stop you, so be safe and kill every varmint that you see.”

  He raised the rifle, looked through the scope and replied, “Bang.”

  “Jim, please take someone with you to cover your back.”

  “Great idea! I need to train about a dozen snipers.”

  ✼✼✼✼✼✼

  ✼

  Chapter 14

  Sniper Training

  Billings, Montana

  2022

  The ant was tickling the inside of her thigh as it moved up her leg. The ant walked under her shorts and was headed towards her crotch as she slowly squeezed the trigger. The rifle bucked slightly and there was a spift sound that could barely be heard above the wind. She clamped her legs together and killed the ant at the same time she saw the target’s head slump down on his chest. She thought, “That she would never wear shorts again when she was out hunting” as she selected another ta
rget. She killed eight more thugs before slowly withdrawing from her perch on the side of the hill to rejoin her team. Jim didn’t want her to train as a sniper, but she reminded him he said everyone fights and everyone defends their home.

  She slowly worked her way back over the hill and out of sight of the bad guys and started walking towards Jim’s position. She had almost called him John several times and found this game of keeping John thinking he was Jim quite confusing at times. She knew that her Jim was actually John Harris and the documents that she found in his wallet said he was from the Independent States of America. She felt guilty about keeping the truth from him, but as they had thought, he was the one man who could help them survive. He had implemented training for everything from military tactics to how to construct a latrine. She was deeply in love with him and just couldn’t bear to let him leave her.

  Their compound had grown by 23 people over the last month as they killed or ran off the thugs, gangs and criminals. John made sure they thoroughly vetted the people who were allowed to join their group and several had been run off when they were found to be too lazy to work and contribute to the team’s survival. Tom had an ongoing mission to seek out and find camper trailers for new recruits. Most of the people that joined were single moms with kids. The gangs killed off any men who might challenge them so women outnumbered men two to one, which set up some conflict and jealousy as the men and women started pairing up.

  “Okay everyone is back, so Tom you give us your report first.”

  “Jim, I was on the west end of the airport and saw 23 targets and another 15 to 20 innocents. I killed 13 targets. I took down the outlying thugs first before anyone noticed that they were been decimated. I’m confident that I got their leader and his right hand people. About 10 women and children escaped as soon as they saw the creeps drop. Oh, no one saw me or fired a shot in my direction.”