The Shelter: WAR

by Ira Tabankin

  “Oh shit, you are nuts. The people are never going to accept that. Only veterans can vote? A militarized society? Jay, I think you need a good night’s sleep. Maybe a day or two off, take up fishing or something calming. You need to chill out.”

  “Why won’t they accept it? Most of the South are very patriotic, they like their Bibles and guns, they’re respectful, they’re not PC, they help their neighbors. Why won’t they accept it? We’ll offer voting to others in addition to the veterans.”

  “No one likes to see the loss of their rights?”

  “I won’t do it all at once, we’ll set the stage through our schools to slowly educate our young to move us to the right. The Progressives will move the rest of the country to the left, we’ll move to the right. As quickly as the North takes their people’s rights away, we’ll ensure our people have their rights strengthened. I was taught how to shoot in school, my father bought me my first rifle, a 22 when I was ten. I went outside to play from breakfast to sundown, we didn’t worry about free range parenting. All of our parents were free range. I’m sick of the bullshit. If we’re going to create a new nation, let’s do it the right way, let’s set the foundation strong enough that we never slide into the hell of the left. Our people have a natural sense of responsibility, let’s use that to make sure our people have a stake in their own government.”

  “Do you think you can get away with it?”

  “I’m planning on holding a press conference in a couple of days. I want to have some feedback and videos from our relief efforts in the North. I’ll announce how we’re going to hold elections and my goals for the Confederacy.”

  “You’re going to plant a large target on your head. You may have to spend the rest of your life in the shelter.”

  “God, I hope not. Before you leave, make fresh coffee for the morning. If I wake and there’s no coffee, I’m going to send you on the detail to check the survivors.”

  “I’ll reset the coffee machine.”

  “Good night. Sleep well, we’re going to need it.”

  “You too my friend.”

  Chapter 28

  Ricky’s surprised by his phone ringing. Since no one ever calls him, at first, the ringing doesn’t register on him. He stares at his phone wondering what’s going on. The fifth ring snaps him back to reality.

  “Hello, is there anyone there?”

  A voice Ricky doesn’t recognize asks,

  “Is this Richard? The Richard who called Governor Abrams?”

  “Yes, please call me Ricky. I’m the one who called.”

  “Ricky, thank you for answering. Do you have a couple of minutes? Is this a good time? Just for your knowledge, this call isn’t being recorded.”

  “I’m fine, this is an okay time. I’m mostly available all of the time.”

  “Excellent. Ricky, we have a couple of questions we’d like to ask you. Did you by chance hear or see anything unusual last night?”

  “Now that you mention it, I did. I heard some small explosions and what sounded like a couple of people screaming.”

  “Do you have any idea how many people might have been injured?”

  “No, I’m sorry. I don’t go out at night. When the sun goes down, I stay inside. It’s not safe at night.”

  “I see. Did you happen to see any unusual vehicles parked next to the farm?”

  “Nope, however, I can’t see the street from my house.”

  “Can you make your way to the street and check for us? I know the Governor would be very pleased if you could do that for him.”

  “I think I may have told the Governor I have a monitoring device on my ankle, I can’t wander to the street. I’m sorry. Before you ask, I don’t know how to remove it.”

  “We might be able to help you with that. Do you know the model number of the tracking unit?”

  “If you give me a moment I’ll look in a mirror, I’m sure there’s a model number on it.”

  “Great. We’ll wait. Do you have a mirror close by?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Ricky, you can read the characters as they appear in the mirror, we can figure what model it is for you. Many have a hidden unlock button in case the key gets lost.”

  Ricky walks to the mirror, he finds a manufacturer name and model number which he reads to the voice on the phone.

  “Ricky, please follow our directions to the letter, we know this model, we’re going to help you remove it. If we do that will you help us check for any vehicles on the street?”

  “I’d be happy to. Will the Governor be returning here soon?”

  “Yes, he plans to return to the farm very soon. Part of our discussion with you is to ensure the farm is still safe for his visit.”

  “I can’t wait, he promised to help me.”

  “I’m sure he will. Ricky, please stand in front of the mirror, and reach down to feel the bracelet. Do you feel the bottom of it?”

  “Yes, I’m running my hand around the bottom edge.”

  “Good, tell me when you feel where the two halves come together.’

  “I feel it.”

  “Now slip your finger between your ankle and the bracelet, do you feel a small slide?”

  “Yes, it’s very small.”

  “Yes, it is, can you tell if it’s in the up or down position?”

  “It’s in the up position. Do you want me to move it down?”

  “Yes, can you do that?”

  It’s a very tight squeeze, but yes, I did it. I heard a snapping sound.”

  “That’s it unlocking. You should now be able to gently pry the two halves apart and remove it from your ankle.”

  “Oh my God! Yes, I did it. It’s off. It feels so good. Thank you, I’m free! You’ve freed me. What can I do to repay you?”

  “We’d like you to go to a place where you can see the street and see if you can see any vehicles.”

  “It will take me about an hour to get to a position to see the street. Do you want to call me back?”

  “Ricky, we’ll call you back in one hour.”

  Ricky takes his backpack, he drops four bottles of water into the pack, he also drops the MRE he saved for emergencies into the pack. He remembers to take a flashlight and a change of clothing. He leaves the tracking device on his bed and leaves his house, hoping it’s the last time he’ll ever see it or the cursed farm again.

  An hour later his phone rings.

  “This is Ricky.”

  “Hello, again Ricky, can you see the street now?”

  “Yes, I don’t see any vehicles. I do see people dragging bodies from the fields towards the back of the garage. The bodies are all dead.”

  “Are you sure they’re all dead?”

  “Yes. I’ve seen dead bodies before. I know one when I see one. There are no vehicles.”

  “Can you count the bodies?”

  “I see around four, maybe five. There could have been more which they’ve already removed.”

  “Are the people removing the bodies armed?”

  “Of course, they are.”

  “Are they wearing uniforms?”

  “Mean, like the army or something?”

  “Yes. Military uniforms?”

  “No, the people are the ones from the farm, most just wear overalls or jeans.”

  “Ricky, thank you. Do you think you can ask one of them how many bodies there are?”

  “NO, I can’t ask them anything. I’m not supposed to be away from my house. If they catch me without my tracking device, they may shoot me.”

  “These sound like very bad people, if you have their names, we’ll arrest them when we return.”

  “I don’t know who you are, but believe me, you’re not going to arrest these people, they’re crazy. The last time someone tried to arrest them, they shot them.”

  “Really? Could you dictate a report of that event to us?”

  “No, look, you did me a favor and I did you one. Now, I’m going to find my family and get away from here.”

/>   “Is the owner of the farm holding your family against their will?”

  “I think so.”

  “We can arrest them and ensure your family is returned to you safely.”

  “Good luck with that. These people are gun nuts, they’re armed like a military.”

  “Ricky, listen closely, tonight around midnight we’re going to be sending an advance security patrol to the farm. We’ll locate your family and free them. Can you arrange to meet our people at the corner about a half mile to the east of the farm?”

  “Midnight? That’s a long time from now. You promise not to harm my family and return them to me? Will you also shoot someone for me?”

  “If this person is responsible for locking you up and kidnapping your family, yes, we’ll take care of him for you. Could you also point out the person known as Jay Tolson to our people?”

  “That’s who I want you to take care of for me.”

  “In that case, we happily agree. We’ll see you at midnight.”

  Ricky smiles knowing he’s about to get his revenge on Jay. It might have taken him a long time, but it’s going to happen tonight. Looking around, he’s trying to figure out where to hide for the rest of the day. He doesn’t want anyone on the farm to see him. He knows if they do, they’ll tell Jay, who will most likely have him shot on sight. He decides to look for a weakness or hole in the fence and hide across the street from the farm. He knows the corner used to be dense woods. He knows he can hide there until midnight. Ricky turns around to walk towards the rear of the farm. He doesn’t know it, but, he’s being watched by Todd in the shelter. Todd presses the intercom to speak with John.

  “John, I have a little problem.”

  “Todd, real little or oh shit little?”

  “I’m not sure, it’s Ricky.”

  “That’s an oh shit little problem. I’ll be right there.”

  John rubs the sleep from his eyes. He looks at the monitor, zooming it in viewing Ricky’s legs.

  “Damn it, how the hell did he get the damn tracking device off?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Sorry, I wasn’t asking you. I know you don’t know.’

  “I suggest you tell him in person, there’s less of a chance he’ll break something if you’re sitting across from him when you tell him.”

  “Good idea. I’ll take Tony with me. He always knows what to say to keep Jay from going crazy.”

  “Please don’t let him go nuts. He’s the Governor now. I heard Fred say he was the acting President. That makes me the first son-in-law.”

  “Isn’t Ricky older? Doesn’t he become the first and you the second?”

  “Ricky doesn’t count. Dad hates him.”

  “Don’t we all.”

  @@@@@

  “Mr. President, the summary of my plan, is we’ve made contact with the person who reached out to Governor Abrams. We asked him to check for vehicles at the farm. He told us he didn’t see any. However he did see dead bodies. We’ve sent another hit team to rendezvous with the young man this evening at Midnight. He’ll guide us past any traps the new Governor has planned for us. Once we’re inside the compound, we’ll take out the Governor and any witnesses. Once we’ve disposed of him, we’ll withdraw and return home.”

  “I approve your plan. Good luck, report to me as soon as you’ve killed him.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Chapter 29

  John and Todd flip a coin to decide who’s going to tell Jay that Ricky has figured out how to escape from his ankle tracking bracelet. John smiles;

  “Heads, I win, you get to tell Jay. He won’t shoot you, you’re his son-in-law. If he does, he’ll only wound you.”

  “Bullshit! Ricky’s his son-in-law too and he may shoot him. I don’t want to piss him off. You’re more experienced in bringing senior officers bad news, you tell him.”

  “I won the coin toss, you have to tell him.”

  “Bullshit, I called heads. I won.”

  “Prove it. Respect your elders. I’m the security chief, I’m ordering you to tell Jay. My advice is to make sure he’s had at least two cups of coffee before you tell him.”

  “Thanks. I’m going.”

  John makes the sign of the cross in front of him,

  “Go in peace my son. May the Lord protect you.”

  “Asshole.”

  Todd walks to the castle; he lets himself in the back door. Lacy looks up from the stove,

  “Hey Todd, good timing, what would you like for breakfast?”

  “Is dad down yet?”

  “He’s in his office checking the overnight messages. If you’re going to see him, do me a favor and bring him his mug of coffee.”

  “Sure, is this his first or second mug?”

  “Bad news, huh?”

  “Yeah, really bad.”

  “Take two mugs, let him swallow the first before telling him.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Remember, ‘into the valley of death rode the 600’…”

  “I thought you were supposed to be on my side.”

  “I am, I’m also smart. If he takes it out on you, he won’t take it out on me.” Laughed Lacy.

  “I’m going, yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”

  “Todd, as long as the bad news isn’t about Ricky, you’ll be fine.”

  “And if it is?”

  “Tell him by the door so you can run before be catches you.” Lacy laughed harder.

  “Jay, got a minute?”

  Jay hears Todd’s voice, he smiles looking up from his laptop.

  “Morning Todd, thanks for the coffee, one for each of us?”

  “They’re both for you.”

  “Really bad news, huh?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Okay, let me get the first one down and let the caffeine hit me before you break my good mood.”

  Finishing the mug in three swallows, he looks up.

  “Give me the second one. What’s the bad news?”

  “Dad, remember, you love me.”

  “Shit, what did the asshole do now?”

  “Dad, he found a way to get the tracking device off his ankle, we saw him by the fence line watching the bodies being removed.”

  Jay’s face turns red, he begins yelling, “How the hell did he get it off? Who helped him?”

  “We think he had outside help.”

  Jay finishes his second mug of coffee.

  “Okay, here’s what I want to be done, first find the SOB, then tear his home apart to see if there’s any evidence of outside help. Check his phone for any outside numbers called. Put him in chains, I don’t want him getting far. I don’t want him leaving the farm. Todd, find him! My gut’s telling me he’s helping an outside force to harm us.”

  “Yes, sir. Do you want me to put the farm on alert?”

  Jay pauses to consider Todd’s question.

  “Not yet, it will alert him. Just find him, with all of the cameras he shouldn’t be able to hide. If he escaped, send a search team to find him. The last thing we need is him meeting a DHS hit squad which he leads back here.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll get right on it.”

  “Thanks. Give me a report every hour.”

  Todd takes off running to the shelter to find Ricky, who has already cut the wire fence and is sleeping under a tree at the corner waiting for the people he was told to meet at midnight.

  John and Todd program the cameras to run a search for Ricky, they use face recognition software and software which tracks people by their gait and body movements. John runs a backward search on the recorded videos. John slaps the desk yelling,

  “Got ya, son bitch! Todd, he’s left the farm.”

  “What? How the hell did he do that?”

  “Look at this video, it shows him cutting the fence and making his way across the street.”

  “I’ll lead a search team.”

  “Be careful, he’s had outside help, you could be walking into a trap. I’ll
call Major Walker to see if he can spare some people.”

  Ten minutes later two Humvees arrive with ten soldiers. John smiles,