Dark Days Rough Roads dd-1

by Matthew D. Mark

  “Blake, go crank that wheel and get that boat out of the water a couple of feet just to keep it out of the ice when the lake freezes. I don’t know if those folks will ever get here, but if they do at least the boat should be ok.” He saw a few bullet holes in the hull, but everything was above the water level. If they did get here, then they could deal with it.

  Haliday was still looking through the cab. They had some basics in here, just a couple days’ worth of MRE’s, water and ammo. Nothing else he could see of value. He was thinking about whether or not to take the deuce. Spoils of war or theft? Could be looked upon either way. He would think about this one. He got out of the cab and walked around to the back. There was a box up there that was locked.

  He climbed up into the back of the truck. He yelled over to Blake, “Check those two bodies for keys. If they don’t have any, see if you can reach the bodies in the water and check them. If not, don’t worry about it.” Blake started to check the bodies. Haliday went to stand up when he heard the first shot. He practically felt the heat of the round.

  He dropped down in the back of the deuce. He hadn’t heard the Jeep pull in, but saw it as he dropped. He looked around and saw the bed was up armored, but he didn’t know to what extent. He saw the sides of the bed slightly bubble when rounds hit. He was laying there unable to move. The side rails barely covered him. He heard shouts from the Jeep.

  “Put your hands up. Put your hands up and stay where you are.” Haliday wasn’t going to do it. No way in hell was he going out this easy. “Put your hands up and stand up now.” Haliday laid there longer.

  “Go screw your cousins you redneck bastards.”

  There came a ripple of gunfire along the bed of the truck. He heard a loud hiss; they had gotten one of the tires. They seemed to care less about their own deuce.

  “Gary, Rick, you guys ok? John, Andy, where you guys at? Can you hear us?”

  Haliday answered. “I think they’re hiding somewhere dick sucking just like you guys are known for. I saw the billboard that said so.” That brought about a hellacious lead storm. Haliday was covering his ears; they were ringing like mad from all of the noise. He had a splitting headache now. The foam earplug wasn’t working that well in the one ear; he had the earpiece for the radio in the other.

  He keyed his radio. He whispered, “Blake, you out there.”

  “Ya, I’m hiding behind one of the boats.”

  “Can you see them?”

  “Not really, as soon as I heard them fire I hid behind one of the boats on the racks. I didn’t hear them drive up.”

  “Can you find some better cover?”

  “Not really, not without being seen.”

  “Look around again and see, maybe a quick run for a few feet or something.”

  “Look, you need to raise your hands and then get up. We are not going to warn you again.”

  “You guys have an arrest warrant?”

  “We don’t need one smart-ass. We’re operating under the authority of the Bad Axe Minute Men.”

  “Is that a division of the 4H or something? Never heard of them. You guys hold goat milking contests and stuff?”

  “I’ve had enough of this asshole.” One of the guys opened fire and emptied his magazine at the deuce.

  “Hey, I want to really thank you for providing me with some great cover here. Your buddies could have used something like this about 10 minutes ago.”

  “That’s it, you prick.” The guy reloaded his rifle and started toward the deuce.

  He got about 10 steps away from the Jeep when Blake opened up on him. He tumbled forward and as he lay there his body bounced around on the gravel as Blake emptied the whole thirty round magazine into him. The other guy fired at Blake’s position then stopped. Magazine change or something.

  “Looks like we have us a little problem here Mr. Minute man. You are now outgunned.” Haliday whispered again, “Blake are you all right?”

  “Ya, I ran behind another boat when you pissed the guy off earlier. This one gave me a better view and I thought it would be safer. It has two engines, and I’m kind of protected by it. I can’t see the other guy though. He’s hiding on the other side of the Jeep.”

  “Ok look, here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to give him the option to get the hell out of here. If he takes it, let him go.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yes I am, chances are they called this in and have more help coming. We gotta get the hell out of here.”

  “Ok, if you say so. Sounds a little crazy to me but that seems to be your style.”

  “Look, we want to make a deal. We can let you go if you leave now. We’ll leave the truck here along with anything else that’s yours. You probably have about five minutes or less before our group comes riding in to help us out. You got that? You leave now and we won’t have a problem,” Haliday said. Haliday was now listening to the militia freq.

  “We won’t be there for about 10 minutes or so, you copy.”

  “Ya, I copy, I’m gonna get the hell out of here and meet up with you guys. Maybe we can ambush them when they come out.”

  “Ok, any idea on the rest of the guys?”

  “No idea, but Ron is down for sure. I think the rest are too. I’m getting the hell out of here.

  “Ok, I’m leaving. I’m getting in the Jeep and taking off.” The guy got in the Jeep, started it and backed up then headed toward the entrance which was about 150 yards away. Haliday got down from the truck and started running through the woods. He had some gravel parking area and woods to run through.

  He had sprinted about 40 yards through the trees and came out behind the Jeep. The Jeep was moving down the road now at about 50 mph. Haliday emptied a clip into the back and quick changed magazines and emptied another one at it. The Jeep swerved side to side then ran into the ditch, came back up onto the pavement, and rolled a few times. The driver had been ejected and the Jeep rolled right over him.

  Haliday ran back through the woods shouting at Blake, “get your bike, get moving, don’t worry about taking anything.” Haliday got on his bike and rode up next to the deuce. He put a couple of rounds into the other tires to flatten them. He shifted into gear and met Blake at the entrance.

  As they pulled out of the exit, they heard the vehicles coming down the road. They were barely less than a half mile away. Haliday took off with Blake behind him. The approaching vehicles were coming up fast. One stopped momentarily by the rolled Jeep and another took the shoulder of the road to go around it. They kept heading straight after them.

  They had a little more than half a mile before they reached the road they needed. One of the vehicles pursuing them turned into the marina and the other kept up pursuit. Haliday couldn’t make out anything on the ham; his earpiece had fallen out. He was just hell-bent on getting out of there.

  They reached the little river which was more like a creek in spots and started riding in the water and on the bank. The vehicle following only made it in about 100 feet before it got stuck. The occupants jumped out and fired. It was hard to zero in on them due to the twisting of the waterway.

  They rode on for almost six more miles, cutting through multiple farms and across multiple roads. They found a spot to stop. If they continued, it would practically take them right to the militia compound. They wouldn’t be very welcome there, that was for sure. Haliday sat there for a brief moment. He tried to listen on the ham, but it was silent.

  “Blake, call the group and tell them to use the hams to start searching the frequencies. Tell them they need to find out what these guys are talking about. Here’s the book. Tell them to start with these. If those don’t work tell them to do it the old fashioned way and have the ham scan for them.” All hell had broken loose now. They were in the center of the fury.

  Chapter 21

  Haliday got up to go to the bathroom. A voice came from the woods. “Don’t you guys move or so help me I’ll put a bullet in both of you.”

  Haliday looked at the g
uy. Mid-forties, medium build, brown hair, dressed in real tree camo. Basically your average guy off the street around these parts. Haliday looked over at Blake, “Don’t move, just stay still, and do what he says.”

  “I plan to, trust me.”

  The man asked, “Who are you guys?”

  Haliday answered, “I can explain that, you mind lowering that rifle first?”

  “Yes I do, it’s staying right here.”

  “Ok, we have some land just south of Cass City. We were just out and about checking out the area. Seeing what else is going on around here.”

  The guy looked at them, “You expect me to believe that crap while you hide in the woods?”

  Roger said, “I guess not, may I ask who you are, sir?”

  “That’s not important right now; you want to answer my question?”

  Roger figured, why not. “Sir, I don’t think you would believe me.” Haliday was going to carefully word his answers and statements to try and figure this guy out.

  “Go ahead and try me out,” the man said.

  Haliday replied, “If I don’t answer, what do you intend to do then.”

  There was a long pause. “I have a few ideas, probably shoot you two so don’t worry.”

  Haliday asked him, “Why don’t you take us back to your camp and we’ll talk there?”

  Here came the response that set Haliday at ease a bit. “I don’t know you or what you’re up to, but I sure ain’t taking you back to my house.”

  Next question from Haliday was, “What about your boss, the one that runs things?”

  The next answer came, “I’ll tell you the same thing I tell her—I wear the pants in the family, now enough bullshit.”

  “Ok, listen. We came out here to go to our cabin and get away from the city. It’s pure madness down there. We figured we might be safe up here. We went into town looking for food and gas and ran into some trouble with your cohorts,” Haliday told him.

  “What cohorts would those be?”

  “Your militia members.”

  “I ain’t a part of those assholes.”

  Haliday looked past the guy when he heard a noise and then a voice. “Hey Dad, everything ok?” Two boys walked up.

  “Stay back sons, these guys might be trouble.”

  Haliday looked at the boys and spoke. “You guys save some of that food you got from your aunt’s house?”

  The father spoke, “How did you know about that?”

  Haliday went on to explain the encounter the other night. The guy looked at them. “Why were you guys hiding?”

  “Like I said it’s hard to explain.”

  “You the guys that have been causing the militia problems around here?”

  Haliday wasn’t sure how to answer. “Look, all we want to do is get the hell out of here and get home.”

  “You avoiding the answers for a reason?”

  “Look, I’m taking a guess here. You were out hunting, and we happened upon this area here and you watched us come in. You got us cold. These are your boys here and you want to protect them and your family, right? Let me ask you a question, has the militia done anything for you and your family? I mean, are they taking care of you guys or are you fending for yourselves?”

  “We’re on our own, I guess,” was the answer.

  “Then isn’t it a good thing someone is pissing in their Wheaties?”

  The guy lowered his rifle and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m sorry man, I have the feeling I should be thanking you guys instead of pointing a rifle at you. It’s been hell around here. A lot has happened and a lot of it because of those militia. They didn’t waste any time when the power went out. No one really saw it coming. Even the sheriff is one of them.”

  “You mind if we sit and talk?” Haliday asked.

  “I’ll tell you what; my house is a few hundred yards that way. The blue vinyl sided one over there. We can go there if you want.”

  Haliday replied, “No offense but that’s not a good idea. If we’re seen, you end up in deep trouble and no telling what they would do to you. Give me a few minutes and I’ll heat up some coffee.” Haliday put some water on to boil. He made some coffee in a canteen cup and handed it to the man. He made another with hot cocoa in it and gave it to the boys to share.

  “Tell Blake and me what you know.”

  The man relayed his story. “Ok, the power went out and at first everyone thought it was just the power. I was working down the street at the general store my brother and I own. After a couple hours, I locked up and walked home. In the morning when everything was still out, I figured it was bad. I went down to the store.

  “When I got there I saw a guy standing outside the door with a rifle dressed in camo. I asked him who he was and he told me he was militia. I asked him to move and he told me no. He told me the store was being appropriated by the Bad Axe Minute Men. I asked him to produce some legal documents and he told me to leave. I told him I would contact the police and he told me the sheriff was a minute man and had given his ok on everything.

  “They wouldn’t let me in my own store. When I looked up and down the street I saw quite a few of them standing by some of the stores and the gas station. Not every store though. Just stores that sold food. I went back home and told my wife. I took one of my rifles and went back. When I got there they had a couple extra guys walking around the area so I hid my rifle. They had taped up some kind of flyer on the windows.

  “I read the flyer; it said the area was under control of the minute men, and they had confiscated merchandise for the good of the community. They had old army trucks and they were emptying the stores. The big supermarkets they chained up and had guarded. It ain’t a big town. Not many stores, but they got them all anyway.

  “They said they would be posting information in town and on certain buildings. The flyers were all printed. Not sure if they can print or what. But it was really odd. I felt like it was some kind of movie or something. I couldn’t believe it. They said no one could walk around or travel with firearms. Curfew was dusk until dawn. Few more rules; looters would be dealt with and all that stuff.

  “I guess they got some looters and they keep them at the airport with all of the stuff they took. They have it locked up in hangars is what we were told. They have tanks and everything.”

  Haliday interrupted him, “I’ll fill you in later on what they do and do not have, please go on.”

  The man continued, “They caught people on the roads leaving and going to stay with family. If they had guns they took them. Sometimes they beat the people too. People around here are pretty frightened of them, but they keep telling us it’s for our own good. Then you guys showed up. Man, they have it out for you guys.”

  Blake said, “Oh ya, wait until you hear the latest from them.”

  The guy continued, “They call you guy’s terrorists.”

  “They put out a flyer yesterday. They said in one more week they would open the trade store up. It said you would have to trade jewelry, coins, or valuables for food or gas. I don’t know how they can do that. It’s not right. It was our stuff to begin with. My store could have fed us for a long time until the government help came in.”

  Haliday rolled his eyes at that statement. Why do people insist the government will always rescue them, he thought.

  “Listen,” Haliday said, “these guys are not legitimate according to constitutional law. Even the damn sheriff is wrong. They are rogue thugs in my eyes. You people need to band together and take back what is yours. Otherwise you guys are going to die. You have anything at all from the store? Anything stored anywhere else?”

  “Not really. I mean I have some stuff in my pole barn, but not any food. It’s all toilet paper, paper towels, things like that which are bulky. I stored them here to save space at the store.”

  “Keep it all, you can trade it for what you need. You’d be surprised how valuable a roll of toilet paper will be. Speaking of, now that we’ve made acquaintances, I really have to go
squirt.” He left for a minute then returned. “Now, back to business, where’s your brother?”

  “They go to Arizona for a couple months each winter,” was the response.

  It was Haliday’s turn to talk a bit. “Now let me tell you what they have and what they are all about.” He told the guy everything he knew about them. The guy was awestruck over what Haliday told him. “They will be searching for us with a vengeance. We killed six of them this morning. Somebody’s brother, son, husband, father, whatever. But they got what they deserved. They got what they were giving out. But we can’t do it all. We just want to get back to our own family as well.”

  The man asked them, “Where are you guys going to go?”

  “We are going to go find a place to camp until it’s safe for us to move out. We are going to connect with our family and try and wait it out until we can go home. Not sure when that will be. Hopefully soon.”

  “Do you guys have food and stuff?”

  Haliday lied when he answered. Ya, we have about two cases of MRE’s, a few more days’ worth of food for us, so we can hang out up here for about one week before we’re hunting with you guys.”

  The guy thanked them for the coffee and cocoa. Haliday told him again, “This is still your country, your state and your home. These guys don’t have the right to do what they are doing. Should be enough of you out there to make a difference. Before they summarily start executing people, I’d get an alliance together and do something.”

  “Can you guys help?”

  “We did enough; it’s not our fight anymore. There’s nothing here for us now, we’re just fighting to live now, just like you. I’ll try to check back before we head back to the burbs. I wish you guys luck.” Roger and Blake took off and headed straight south. Haliday told Blake they had to start being more careful to avoid encounters like that again.

  They went straight south hoping the militia would stick to the north where they were causing all of the trouble. They found a large patch of woodland near a small city named Freidberger. Blake said, “Friedburger.” Haliday thought that sounded good about now. Even though he had given up red meat except for a few times a year, a nice juicy burger with bacon and cheese on it sounded real good right now.