Survivors

by Rich Goldhaber

  Janet pulled up a chair and told me about her plans. “We now have a total of twenty-one children who are of school age. We’re going to have three classrooms called Early, Middle, and Advanced. Advanced will take the children through high school. Our college curriculum will be customized to meet each person’s need, but we will insist on technical studies for the foreseeable future. We need to train more engineers and scientists. We will ask some of our residents, who are experts in these fields, to teach some of the courses, but Margaret and I have looked at the university’s library, and there are several teaching videos from the great universities. We’ll use them to provide selective lectures. I would prefer to also teach the fine arts, but today we need technical people not artists. Maybe as we prosper, we’ll be able to afford to once again teach the arts.”

  I was astounded to say the least; Janet and Margaret were both treasures we were lucky to have. The adults at our table all offered to help out with teaching any classes, and Janet was very appreciative.

  Mary was the next to arrive at our table. “I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been up to a few things the last few days. I’ve asked all the residents to give me a list of any medications they are taking. I’ve been stockpiling those drugs, but you know most of these pills will exceed their expiration dates in one or two more years. That doesn’t mean they won’t be effective, it just means the active ingredients will fall lower than what the FDA allows. So we’re going to have to find a long term supply for many of the key drugs.”

  I said, “Mary, that’s a problem I haven’t given any thought to, but you’re right of course; we’ll have to figure out how to get an ongoing supply.”

  “Oh, and one other thing, the nursing school here has a fully equipped operating room they use for training purposes. George, when you get a chance can you bring electricity to the room?”

  George thought for a moment. “I can do it tomorrow?”

  “That’s wonderful.” “Mary,” I asked, “if someone breaks a leg, who’s going to set it?” “I guess it will have to be me, unless we can find a doctor. But there’s a bigger problem, what are we going to do when the first person needs to have an appendectomy or a new heart valve. I can’t do that.”

  “Mary, I know I’m asking a lot, but if someone needs an appendectomy, I’m afraid you’re going to have to perform the surgery.”

  “I can’t do it alone Jim. Surgery is just too complicated.”

  “Then you’ll have to train some people to help you.” Jessie said, “Mary, I can help run the medical equipment. I already know how most of the instruments work. We can practice doing simple surgery on some animals. We can practice until we get it right.”

  Mary thought about the problem and Jessie’s possible solution. “It will take a lot of studying Jessie and a lot of practice, but there aren’t any better solutions to the problem. I guess we’ll just have to do the best we can.”

  Jessie continued, “Let’s begin to practice. Find out who wants to join our medical team. We can do this Mary; we can do this.”

  As I left to get some sleep, we agreed to meet at 2:00 a.m. to transfer the weapons to my apartment.

  Chapter 20

  Seven of us spent the morning learning how to drive sixteen wheelers. First gear was a problem, but after an hour, I had mastered everything except for reverse. Even with repeated attempts, I was not able to back up between two cones Stan had placed in the parking lot. He finally gave up on me and went on to the other drivers. Stan had managed to find some CB radios at an auto supply store, and we were all practicing our long-forgotten CB language skills. During lunch all of the participants in our convoy were briefed on the three objectives, and each person was assigned specific tasks.

  After lunch Patty and her helpers confiscated all of the chairs available in the community and created an area in the grass beneath a grouping of shady palm trees. People, including all of the children, began gathering a little before one o’clock.

  Promptly at one o’clock Patty called the meeting to order. Margaret was sitting at a table in front of the residents, and another table with the cardboard voting box was positioned behind Patty.

  She read off the names of the candidates in alphabetical order, and then she asked each candidate to speak in support of their candidacy. Jessie spoke first. “My name is Jessie Bolden. Up until all this happened, I was a Senior at Duke majoring in genetic engineering. I’m a technical person, but I’m best at working effectively with other people. This year our problems will require people who are technical. We need to solve our infrastructure problems: electricity, water, telecommunications, and we need to secure our food supply.

  “These are all problems our present leadership team is addressing and with some good successes. I’m asking for your vote today so I can continue to help our community grow. Of course, I can’t do it all by myself; we’re all going to have to work hard if we’re going to be successful. I’m a good listener and you can count on me to always consider all of your concerns.”

  The residents rose to their feet and applauded. Jessie sat down in the front row, and we went onto the next candidate. The young man from Cape Coral, Brad Davis, stood up and walked to the front of the group. “My name is Brad Davis. I lived in Cape Coral. I think it’s very important that all of the various communities are represented here. Most of the other candidates are from Naples. Cape Coral also needs to be represented. Yes, we need all the things Jessie talked about, but I can help make those things happen, just like the other candidates. A vote for me will be a vote for equal representation. Thank you.”

  The residents all applauded but not with the enthusiasm expressed for Jessie. Patty then asked Manny Garcia to speak. Manny looked very uncomfortable as he stood in front of the group. My name is Manny Garcia. I came here from Immokalee along with many of my friends. We know farming. For years we have been supplying all of you with the fresh produce you have learned to enjoy. I am committed to keeping us stocked with all of the fresh vegetables and fruits we will need to grow into a vibrant community. I was very skeptical about how the people from my community would be welcomed here, but I want you all to know the welcome you have extended to me and my friends is greatly appreciated, and you can count on me to do everything I can to make our community a success. Thank you”

  Again the crowd rose and applauded. Bill, George, and I gave our little speeches and each was received with great enthusiasm. Then Patty asked for comments from the audience. Margaret raised her hand, and she was recognized by Patty.

  “Jessie and Jim rescued me the first day our community was formed. My husband had died, and I just wanted to sit in a chair on my balcony and die with him. I had no reason to want to live. Jim and Jessie gave me hope when I had none. Jim told me we would need a librarian. I was skeptical, but he convinced me. He has a talent for convincing people to do the right thing.

  “Now let me tell you about Jessie. She’s a born leader. I predict she’ll lead this community in the future. She has a feel for people. I’ve talked to her, and she has this ability to understand what the future is going to look like.

  “I don’t know a lot about George and Bill, but I know the four of these people work well together as a team, and that’s what leadership is all about. I just met Manny yesterday, but let me tell you what he did. He convinced Beth to sit outside with him today and ask people what they wanted grown in Immokalee. I can tell his friends in Immokalee look up to him as their leader. I think he’ll work hard at making our community a success.

  “Brad said we should consider equal representation, but I don’t agree. This is a new community, a new country, a new earth, and I don’t care about preserving the old order; I want to help make a new world where we all work together to make a better place for the children, and I believe Jim, Jessie, Bill, George, and Manny can make that happen.”

  Margaret sat down and then almost every one of the residents except for the six candidates stood up and cheered. It seemed Margaret’s words
had touched the hearts of almost everyone present.

  Patty asked if others wished to speak on behalf of any of the candidates. There was silence. I had planned on speaking on behalf of Manny, but I sensed that wasn’t necessary. My father once advised good salesmen stop selling once the customer agrees to buy, because more words can only give the customer second thoughts.

  The community then lined up at Margaret’s desk. She checked off each voter’s name and handed them a ballot. Each person then walked to the ballot box and marked their ballots with the names of their five choices. It took almost half an hour for everyone to vote.

  When it was all over Patty and Margaret and Beth counted the ballots, and forty minutes later Patty announced the final vote count. George, Jessie, Bill, and I received the votes of every resident. Brad received five votes, and Manny received all of the others. If there was ever a mandate this was it.

  Patty congratulated the winners and then she began opening the best chilled champagne Costco was selling. After all of the celebrating had wound down, I found Margaret and kissed her on both cheeks. “Margaret, you’re one hell of a librarian and a wonderful person. The kind words you offered touched all of the people in our community, and I appreciate the confidence you have for all of us who were elected. I promise to do the best I can.”

  “Of course you will,” she said, “because you are who you are.” Margaret then kissed me on the cheek and wished me good luck.

  The five newly elected governors met in my apartment. We took a bottle of champagne with us. I was elected President and Jessie, much to her surprise, was elected Vice President. Bill more or less volunteered to be Secretary. As we were winding down from the celebratory atmosphere Jessie introduced a somber note to our celebration. “I want you guys to look at the big picture. Survivors in our little area of Florida seem to be consolidating at our campus. I’m guessing the same thing is taking place throughout the country, small pockets of people gathering together trying to make a better life. It makes sense to us because we’re here in one of those communities. Unfortunately, I think there’s another dynamic at play here. I believe there will be groups of people coming together who have no interest in working for a better life. These people will want to take things from others. It’s embedded in the genes of our species; the survival of the fittest and all that shit.”

  Bill asked, “So what are you getting at?” “Bill, I’m thinking our little soirée isn’t going to be a slam dunk. We’re going to be venturing out into unknown areas. If we run into people along the way, are they going to be friendly good people like ourselves, or are they going to be the second types who want to take from us because they can? What I’m saying is we need to be prepared. As much as it offends my sense of what’s right, I think we should be armed when we make this trip. We need to plan for the worst and hope for the best.”

  At first I was against packing heat on this adventure, but the more I thought about Jessie’s concerns, the more I thought she just might be right. “I think Jessie’s right; we need to plan for the worst. Let’s meet with everyone taking part in the trip tomorrow just before we leave. We can pass out some weapons selectively, maybe one gun for each truck.”

  George asked an important question. “What gives us the right to take these things? We’ve become too accustomed to just breaking into places and taking what we want. I’m certainly not a sociologist, but consider this. The country is forming up into tribes. Someone in a tribe in Orlando might correctly ask what right we have to the food that’s in their tribal area. After all, who now owns the food in the Publix Replenishment Center? A Publix stockholder might argue they still own the food, or someone living in Orlando might argue the food is theirs. So are we taking something not rightfully ours? This will not be the last time we are confiscating what may not be ours to take.”

  Jessie suggested, “Let’s get a legal opinion from Patty.” Ten minutes later, Patty was listening to George’s explanation of our dilemma. Patty listened carefully and then asked, “So what do you want from me. Are you looking for the legal justification to take these things?”

  “No,” I said, “I’m looking for a legal opinion about what rights we have. Tell us what’s legally correct.”

  Patty laughed, “But there’s no legal precedent for any of this. Then she stopped herself; wait a second, I think there may be. Give me a couple of minutes to think this through. I’m getting some coffee, and I’ll be back with an answer in a few minutes.”

  We continued our planning for the next day’s adventure and Patty returned a half hour later. She sat down and looked at her notes. She had our attention.

  “Okay, here’s what I’ve got. It is logical to assume there is no longer a Federal or State Government. All of the governmental structures in our country have dissolved. Therefore, I believe it is fair to conclude in a country where there are no longer established rules concerning property rights, the new societies have a right to establish new rules as long as there is due process. The five of you are the governing body of our new society and therefore have a right to establish new rules for how our society will function.

  “Now the question you have asked is who has legal rights to the property located at the Publix Replenishment Center. I think there is an example in maritime law that provides legal precedent.

  “If a ship is abandoned at sea, then people have a legal right to lay claim to the ship and salvage the contents within said vessel. It seems to me by analogy, if stores or other property are abandoned, then whoever lays first claim to the property has the legal standing to have ownership rights transferred to them.

  “Therefore this already established and internationally accepted rule of salvage in the sea should provide us with the legal justification to take the food from Publix.”

  I was impressed with the clarity Patty brought to our legal issue. I asked her to write up her legal opinion and give it to Margaret to publish in the newspaper, and I insisted it be known as Patty’s Doctrine.

  As Patty left to write up her opinion, she cautioned, “Please be very careful. “We need you all to stay alive.”

  Chapter 21

  A total of nineteen residents were taking part in our little adventure. Manny reluctantly agreed to remain on the campus as our lone governor in charge of the community.

  After an early breakfast we brought everyone into my apartment for a final meeting. I had set aside a number of guns behind my kitchen counter. I explained what we were doing and the ethical question raised regarding our legal right to confiscate this property. I read Patty’s recently finished legal opinion, and then discussed our need for caution. I summarized the problems Ralph had experienced on his recent trip to the campus, and I took out the weapons from behind the counter along with ammunition and passed them out to each person. “I want them all returned to me after we get back. Does anyone have a problem with that?”

  The looks from around the room gave the clear impression everyone understood this might not be a cakewalk. Everyone appeared to be in agreement to return the weapons after our little adventure was complete.

  Our convoy consisted of six refrigerated sixteen-wheelers and three moving vans. Stan drove the lead truck, and I was driving in the second position. All six refrigerated trucks were heading for the Publix Replenishment Center. Jessie and Isaac were in the last moving van, and they were going to head over to the Verizon headquarters in Lakeland. George and Bill were taking the other two moving vans to Opti-Solar’s supplier located just a little north of Kissimmee to gather up all of the equipment needed to manufacture the photovoltaic cells.

  For security reasons we decided to stay off the main roads once we left the Fort Myers area. We started out on Interstate 75, and near Punta Gorda we switched over onto Route 35 and eventually passed Arcadia.

  Ninety minutes into our trip we saw two adults wandering along the road walking south. A man was supporting a woman as she limped slowly along the road. Our convoy came to a halt, and we all left our trucks to
see what had happened.

  Bruce Klein and Debbie Foster introduced themselves. Bruce was sporting a swollen lip and a large cut on his forehead, and Debbie’s blouse had been torn to shreds. She tried to cover herself up but without much success. Jessie brought them some water, and all of us listened to their story. They were the only survivors from Bartow, a small town about five miles north of where we were stopped.

  Yesterday, a group of a dozen men entered the town and began looting the place. They found Debbie and Bruce hiding in a house. They beat him up and then raped her. Bruce said, “They were all drunk and high on some drugs. They’re wellarmed and just looking to loot and pillage. They had us tied up, but we escaped last night.”

  Bruce comforted Debbie, but she was still clearly visibly shaken by what they had done to her. I explained where we were from and what we were doing, and I asked them if they wanted to join our community. They readily agreed. Jessie’s moving van had a bed in the back of the cab the previous owner used to get some sleep during long hauls. Jessie insisted Debbie lie down on the bed while Bruce squeezed into the front of her truck. Our caravan continued north, and we stayed in constant communication on our CB radios. A mile south of Bartow, Stan alerted us; two pickup trucks were blocking the road. I checked my weapon, and we were all on high alert as Stan slowed down at the blockade.

  I hid my pistol in my back waistband and stepped out of the second truck. Stan and I approached the four men at the checkpoint. “Hi guys,” I said, “It’s good to see some more survivors. What’s up, and do you need any help?”

  A fat ugly guy about forty stepped out in front of his friends. He was clearly in charge. He drew a gun from a holster and said, “This is going to be the worst day in all of your lives. This is our territory and you never asked permission to pass through. What’s in your truck?”