by Ron Foster
Farley and his group listened and questioned the reverends speech to them about moving to his town and possibly joining the congregation if they felt like it but it wasn’t required for about 20 minutes. Farley and Dump didn’t much like the sound of it but they were pleasant and polite.
“Preacher now I think you know that isn’t what I am saying at all. We would be very happy to help you all out all we can if you need to take a stand against that scum headed your way, or maybe even if we all get together we would more than consider going and hitting them in force all at once. I was just saying that we aren’t going to be thinking anything about doing that garrison BS you brought up. We got our own homes and gardens to tend and defend. Look we got a few two way radios and you all are going to see about how we can all relay messages and warnings together so just depend on that deterrent for now if they make a major move your way. You call we will come.” Farley said hotly because he was getting tired of him and his seconds trying to get him and some of his tribe to serve what they called “guard shifts” over next to town for room and board.
“I got a suggestion if you don’t mind trading for services and bartering for some armed guards. Could be in your case I guess we can call them mercenaries because you want to maybe go up against an army. You got some good food growing over there in your area it sounds like might need some hands for gardening and guarding on the larger farms. We ourselves lack that resource of food security but we have some extra man power that might want to be hired out by the tribe or just come on their own to do some work for pay. They will bring their guns with them and be available if the need arises to play sentry or soldier.” Dump suggested.
“I don’t understand. We already said earlier that we would try providing good food and lodging in town already for anyone wanting to help defend the community. Food is still very scarce and getting scarcer and we got to ration accordingly, that’s giving them some pay of a sort.” Reverend Jim stated objecting.
“I understand that, but you got to still feed your soldiers per se. Some people got families that don’t want to leave home and move towards what they consider is trouble. Also you are going to find folks like money or trading any surplus their labor can provide. It’s all well and good for you to want to raise your little force based on a spiritual or community patriotic basis but that doesn’t fly if your wanting people to abandon what they got for no profit to help you in your fight. Now hold on now! You got to hear me out further to catch my points. I agree that it’s everyone’s security problem now and not just yours, but not everyone is going to want to see it that particular way. A lot of people are just as content to hunker down and hide in place wherever they are currently at and come out only when the danger passes. Besides tribalism is rampant now, you ever try to tell someone that they are on your hunting grounds?
Such a thing didn’t exist before the collapse unless you’re talking about the owners of private hunting land. I had to privatize a few hundred acres of I don’t know whose land just for my own and others survival. That’s another thing some folks don’t respect borders at all when it comes down to finding themselves or their families something to eat and they are more than willing to contest you for the rights. A lot of times when you meet someone there is no words exchanged except maybe warnings to keep yours or theirs distance or to just go away or be shot. There are lots of unresolved feuds and sometimes out right wars going on out there over resources or fishing grounds even. Turf wars don’t start just at your door over here; they start at everyone’s house the moment they think about venturing out of it and leaving something unprotected. The population is over stressed, under fed and scared of their own shadows. Trigger happy isn’t the word for it. Most people that are left alive now live barely a hand to mouth existence that doesn’t think much more about anything else except waking up tomorrow to find more to eat or defend what they got and where they are at. There are people I am sure that not only would want to take you up on that offer of bed and board for shared protection but would bless you for it. Hell most folks would be much better off in the long run and actually desperately need such an arrangement. But we ourselves aren’t that bad off or scared to want to join up.” Dump said before Farley interjected.
“I notice that you invited the police to come along to this little party.” Farley said noting what looked like a swat raid coming up the road with various law enforcement agencies vehicles represented. There were six vehicles in all. The sheriff’s car was leading a few State trooper cars, a couple city police vehicles and the Fire Departments Chiefs truck.
“They are part of this, just like everyone else. Before you go objecting too much about them not doing anything anymore, let me advise you that my parish provides what we can to them for protection and patrolling. They are sort of their own tribe you might say. It’s kind of a weird limbo they find themselves in, legally speaking they remain empowered. No one except us pays them anything however and what used to be the county and little town’s governments are basically dissolved. Governance is based on providing for the needs of the people, we are trying to reestablish some form of civilization that can support those needs. You really should reconsider moving into the vacant houses around us and help restart things, when there is money available we will work something out maybe, but for now community food and community labor is the only work and reward system that we have.’ Reverend Ike said patiently.
“The cops give you much trouble like always wanting to do things their way? Folks in those types of jobs think it’s often their duty or attitude to be forceful and uncompromising when it comes to authority.” Farley asked watching the vehicles roll in sourly.
“Oh there is friction but they are professionally trained and used to following the chain of command. The Sheriffs a good man and he bosses them around good and proper when necessary. That bunch he has are the leftovers of the county agencies and they also talk to the state and the Fed occasionally, but pretty much they are ex whatever unemployed and fulltime survivors working with us. They are however who you want in your corner when you need help with rogue cops or Guardsmen who are out doing their own thing organized or not. We haven’t experienced any of that kind of problem around here but I have heard a bunch of stories.” Reverend Ike said somberly and rising to go great them.
“If it’s all the same to you Preacher we will wait to great them later. I got a few things I would like to discuss with Dump first.” Farley said still unsure what the former or current law officials actually represented or for that matter what their function was to be at this meeting. He wasn’t entirely sure what exactly was expected out of anyone at this meeting, he thought it was supposed to be a war council of sorts deciding on how many folks in the community were willing to take a stand. He was a bit taken aback to find out that the churches had started up a quasi government and employed their own law enforcement to try to police things.
“Sounds to me like they are trying to get things to get things back to business as usual. Good for them, but that don’t mean I care to join in their dreams right off the bat. I am up for going to take a look at what they are doing and how they are living however. They might be on to something.” Becky said eying Dump and Farley.
“We can go have us just a look sees maybe, but I would like to know a whole lot more about where they got all that gas to get to this meeting. Most everybody present so far from what I managed to overhear is saying they hoped it was worth what little bit they could find to even get here. You can sort of look around and tell for yourselves who is the most likely to take the reverend up on his offer.” Farley said watching the more destitute gravitating towards the church and town groups and talking excitedly.
“Could be that they are just wanting to be hanging out close to the food. Damn sure smells good! I find myself wanting to wander that way right now.” Dump said hungrily.
“I know what you mean. We haven’t had beef, pork or chicken for sometime. Becky why don’t you wander over and try hanging out with
the church ladies and see what you can find out?” Farley said.
“I am thinking about it, they look happy on the surface but it looks put on. I don’t think they have been eating that good back wherever they come from and this display of bounty for strangers has them a bit put out. Watch them, they sort of scowl for a second before putting on a fake smile when somebody approaches. That could be anything though, I have seen people asking them a lot for food before it gets done and being told they have to wait for it to get done pretty sternly.” Becky said as she watched people with wolfish eyes just staying on the perimeter of where a few cook fires and a few propane burners were employed cooking up the church supper they had been promised for attending.
“They look like a bunch of starving zombies the way they are milling around.” Farley said looking at the gaunt dirty faces that appeared to be salivating and ready to pounce the first chance they got.
“Dump you’re from around here, do you recognize very many folks?” Becky asked.
“A few here and there but mostly no. This a lot bigger showing than I thought would be able to make it here. Want do you think, about 75 people so far? I am also wondering how many groups remain unrepresented or unaccounted for.” Dump said studying the gathering that seemed to be growing hourly.
“That’s a pretty good estimate, kind of hard to tell who is a separate group or all ready have themselves allied up with the town. I guess we know more later. Reverend Jim when he asked us to come made it sound like a imminent threat we were responding too but Ike makes it sound more like it’s some kind of precautionary hometown militia he wants to organize.” Farley said very curious of motivations.
One of the Lazarus boys wandered over and advised Dump and Farley the Sheriff was sending a paper around as sort of a population census for the group leaders to fill out. He motioned towards the uniforms starting to disperse through the crowd with clip boards. Farley and crew had already chattered amongst themselves regarding what the officers were wearing as a means of gauging their intentions. They seemed like they were performing their regular roles.
The Sheriff had on his regular uniform complete with Stetson cowboy hat that was normal for this state. The city cops and state troopers were in normal uniforms except two wore tactical gear. Those two were the only ones carrying the issue AR rifles they all had somewhere and two cops were carrying riot guns, the rest just had on service pistols. By their dress and demeanor evidently it was a formal disaster response event and they hadn’t gone all military which was a good thing. Farley was sure you wouldn’t see anyone in law enforcement very often anymore wearing their regular blue or whatever uniforms. Not only was it a likely target for some people, that look just wasn’t practical in a SHTF situation unless you were in an encampment.
Farley grinned to himself seeing the cops surrounded by folks wearing more tactical gear than were and wondered how uncomfortable they felt with everyone’s open carry. Tables were kind of turned now that everyone carried firearms and a lot of the bravado and bluster a lot of cops normally displayed must surely be curbed and a new note of respect was replacing it.
“I remember as a kid you didn’t get even disrespectful of somebody with a gun. Before this collapse a lot of teenagers though that they were “bullet-proof” and liked to antagonize and disrespect most everybody. I think everyone is doing a bit of reevaluation of a persons worth or intentions now, well except for truly evil people that ain`t never going to change like that gang they want us to take on.” Farley said before stopping talking as he acknowledged the approach of a lanky patrolman.
“Hi guys my name is Officer Jones but we ain`t formal, you all can call me Brent.” The town cop said and shook hands with Farley and Crew.
“I am here for the meetings as a regular citizen just like you all but I am performing a civil service. I know you haven’t seen many cops around to help or aid you and perhaps some of you have had bad experiences with a few bad ones but let me explain our new function here if you would and get a little info before the formal meeting at 3.00 in the church. What this sheet explains is a little bit about why we chose this setup and what it means for you all. There are a number of questions after this explanation that you may not want to answer at this time. If you don’t want to answer then don’t. Nobody is pressuring you and its not any kind of requirement, but it could later on serve to aid and assist you. Let me explain, this is a census of sorts the sheriff designed himself with a bit of FEMA assistance. Sheriff Butler wants to remind you that he is an elected official that has not stepped down from office or his duties throughout this catastrophe and still maintains his arresting and emergency powers. That being said, this is a poor lightly populated county and he is pretty much restricted to being a figurehead only because of lack of resources and manpower. “Brent declared before affirming for himself that Farley spoke for his group mostly and handing him the clipboard.
“What’s this census going to be used for?” Farley asked suspiciously not even bothering to look it over yet.
“Well I am glad you asked me that, you see after the lights went out continuity of government emergency plans went into full effect. We still have a governor and state government etc but no supplies or aid to give out. They are making some plans for reconstruction however which we will get into later. What this census is going to represent is who is living, It will be given to the Red Cross and other various agencies trying to document the dead and living so that families can reunite or can get word on relatives living or dead. We will also use it today at the meeting to try and figure out how many folks we can field against that gang or any others that is moving this way.” Officer Brent replied before Farley started reading the document with whoever that could also trying to read over his shoulder.
Throughout the history of civilization, societies have sought protection for their members and possessions. Richard Lundman has suggested that the development of formal policing resulted from a process of three developmental stages. The first stage involves informal policing, where all members of a society share equally in the responsibility for providing protection and keeping order. The second stage, transitional policing, occurs when police functions are informally assigned to particular members of the society. This stage serves as a transition into formal policing, where specific members of the community assume formal responsibility for protection and social control.
Until the mid-1800s, law enforcement in England was a local responsibility of citizens. From 1066 (invasion and conquering of England by William Duke of Normandy) to the 1300s, police services were provided through the frank pledge system. Under this system, citizens were appointed with the responsibility of maintaining order and controlling crime. Men were formed into groups of ten, called a tything. Ten tythings were grouped into a hundred and were supervised by a constable. Groups of ten hundreds created a shire, controlled by reeves. The word shire-reeve is the derivative of our current term sheriff (Uchida)
“Oh yea. I forgot here in Alabama a lot of these small towns and little unincorporated areas had constables’ you hardly ever saw them. Usually they just had an unmarked car and didn’t mess with folks on mundane things. I have no problem recognizing the sheriff but the chances I would pull over for him now without ever having meet him are questionable. I mean why in the hell would anyone be pulling anyone over these days?” Farley declared.
“You got yourself a point there, anyway written on the back of the bulletin it also talks about the State guard, that’s different than the National Guard and they are doing some recruiting. Seems a lot of Guard troops refused to execute some of the Feds emergency orders and are finding themselves a new home or enlistment as it were. You can find out more about them later, right now we are just organizing ourselves as a defensive force at the county level loosely under the sheriff.” Officer Brent declared.
“Well thanks for explaining the purpose of this thing, we will look it over and give it back.” Farley said.
“No hurry, you got a coup
le hours until the meeting takes place. I will be over there next to the squad cars if you got any questions.” Brent declared.
“I got one for you before you leave if you don’t mind. Have you had any of these meetings in other parts of the county?” Farley asked.
“No, not as of yet. You see we are sort of based down here amongst the town folks and the churches. We will call meeting further north after we can get the word out through some emissaries which you know is not easy to do.” Brent said before heading back to join the rest of the law enforcement types.
“Interesting guy, well Dump we got us some more talking to do after I get done reading this thing.
To Farley it seemed only ‘logical’ to prepare for a world without a lot of the ‘conveniences’ that ‘modern’ society currently offers; those best prepared for this inevitability will have the best chance of getting through the transition that accompanies the fall of our ‘electrified’ civilization.
As a prepper he provided himself some survival essentials but this transition period was tough to prep for. He read with interest that the state was revitalizing its own little army to
Congress passed authorization for State Defense Forces in 1954, and since then several states have established State Guards or State Defense Forces or State Military Reserves. These are usually also provided for in each state's statutes. In SC this is Title 25, Chapter 3: Military, Civil Defense and Veterans Affairs: SOUTH CAROLINA STATE GUARD.
