The Shelter: Book 1, The Beginning

by Ira Tabankin

  “Dad, you mean one of the most racist countries in the world.”

  “Please leave, I don’t want to say something I know I may one day regret.”

  Ricky tries to get the last word in, “Dad, stop with the end of the world bullshit. You scared the crap out of Sammi for most of her childhood, EMP, sun spots, nuclear world war, global pandemics, no more scaring us or Linda. We don’t want our daughter corrupted by your sick thoughts. You tried to scare Sammi and me into becoming preppers, you tried to convince us to spend more for a house that had a basement which you wanted us to convert into a shelter. We come to visit you to find you tearing up a perfectly good farm and making a shelter the size of an ark. Dad, you need professional help. You’re right, we’re not staying here, I wouldn’t have even come, except that Linda wanted to see her Papa Jay. Mom, please take him to see a doctor. He really needs help. If you don’t, Sammi and I may check into seeing if we can have him committed for observation.”

  The patio is silent after Ricky’s outburst. I look at my son-in-law, lowering my voice to a whisper, I lean towards him, “Ricky, if you even try to have me committed, you will be very sorry. I think it's best if you and Sammi leave my house. I don’t want you under my roof. There’s a Hampton Inn about three miles away, I’ll make arrangements for you to stay there until you’re ready to go home.”

  Lacy pats my arm, “Honey, calm down.”

  “NO, Ricky, go upstairs and pack, I want you out of my house within fifteen minutes.”

  Sammi gets up, she comes to me, she hugs me saying, “Daddy, we love you, we’re worried about you.”

  “Sammi, you are my firstborn, for years my world revolved around you. I told you, I would always be here to protect you. I’m trying to protect you now. What’s my thanks? You and your husband want to put me in a mental hospital because I see things differently than you?”

  “Daddy, we think you watch too much Fox news. We think you just need a little time to rest. No more of those crazy books you read, no more gun magazines, we think you just need a little rest. A man your age should have a hobby, something like golf, not playing with guns. Daddy, we’re worried about you because we love you.”

  “Sammi, I’ll love you forever, you’re my daughter. But now, I have to ask you to leave my home.” I get up leaving everyone behind on the patio. Shelly looks at me, “Daddy, are you OK?”

  “I’m hurt and don’t want to talk anymore. Sammi, Ricky, please leave my home ASAP.”

  Lacy comes after me, she pauses in the doorway. She turns to look at Sammi, “See what you’ve done? We were so looking forward to having everyone under one roof. You’ve ruined all of Dad’s plans. I’m also hurt by you.”

  “Lacy, it’s not like that. It’s just…”

  “No more, do as your father said. Leave our house within fifteen minutes.”

  Sammi and Ricky don’t look into Lacy’s eyes. They go to their room and pack. While they packed, I logged on and booked them a room at the Hampton Inn. Linda is upset having to leave her cousins. Linda’s eyes are full of tears as she drags her overnight bag behind her. “Papa Jay, why do I have to leave?”

  “You don’t have to leave, your mommy and daddy are leaving. They don’t like their room. They’re going to a hotel. You can stay here if you’d like.”

  She runs over to hug me. Sammi comes into the room saying, “Come on Lins, we have to go.”

  “I said she can stay if she wants to.”

  Sammi looks up asking “Us too?”

  “No, just her.”

  “Daddy, please?”

  “No. You made your decision.” I turn my back on my daughter leading Linda back outside to play with her cousins.

  Shelly says, “Daddy, are you OK?”

  “Yes honey, let me know when Sammi and her husband have left the house. I’ll be outside.”

  @@@@@

  In Moscow, the Russian leadership held a war meeting in the command bunker located three hundred feet under Moscow. The Minister of Finance stood and looked around the room, nodding at the ministers he knew he could count on. “Mr. President, Ministers, we are poised on the eve of a historic event. We’re about to watch the Americans implode and collapse. Their economy is already over stressed. They're bankrupt and don’t know it yet. We’re going to help them over the edge of the abyss. We’ve spoken to the Chinese, who are also dumping their dollars. Europe is falling over the edge of a cliff, the EU will completely unwind within 90 days. The best way to cripple the West is to crush their supply chain. The American’s invented the art of logistics, our financial attack surprised them. They counted on China buying a new series of bonds they announced they’re going to issue. China surprised the hell out of the Yankees when they announced that not only they weren’t going to be buying any of America’s bonds, but they demanded full payment on all of their outstanding loans.” Laughing, Putin says, “The little yellow bastards even offered to take Hawaii and California off their hands in exchange for the full payment. When their government isn’t able to fund any of their welfare programs, their people will riot like nothing the world has ever seen before. Their people will tear their own infrastructure apart. When things reach the eve of a civil war, when millions are dying of starvation, then we’ll move to help the poor Americans.”

  The Party Chairman says, “Mr. President, Minister, think of it, America in ruins. Party Chairman Nikita Khrushchev told them we would bury them. He told the Americans that Capitalism would be their destruction. After seventy years, we’ll be enjoying a bottle of Vodka sitting in the President’s Oval Office while the American elites in Washington run around trying to kiss our asses.”

  President Putin stands to address the Ministers, “Ministers, Lenoid is correct, we are watching America destroy itself. We won the second Cold War without firing a shot. I want the FSB and the Red Army to be ready to land in America.”

  The Minister of the Interior stands with a shocked look on his face, “Mr. President, are you planning on invading America? That would be very dangerous. The one thing that will unite the different people of America is an invasion. It may be the only time their left and right will agree to the same course of action which is to unite to push us off their land.”

  Putin laughs, “Ministers, please let me explain. We’re not going to be invading as in the military sense of the word. We’re going to land on America’s shores to provide aid to the poor starving sick people who learned their government and Capitalism can’t help them. We’ll land with food and water in our arms, not assault rifles. We’ll land with trucks full of medication in place of tanks. History has shown people will quickly trade their so called freedom for a full belly every day. We’ll let the American economy fail, their logistics train will fall apart from the nonpayment and the people in their cities will be starving and begging for anyone to help them. When a few million of them die from starvation, lack of clean water and lack of medications, then and only then will we move in to provide humanitarian help to them. Of course, once we’re in, we’ll never leave. We’ll control America.”

  The Director of the FSB stood asking, “Mr. President, what price did the Chinese ask to support us?”

  The war room becomes totally silent. President Putin stood facing the Director of the FSB, “We agreed that China can try to take the states of Hawaii and California. They plan to force Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, and of course Taiwan to submit to their rule. They’ve already reached an agreement with Japan. The rest of Asia is ours, as is Europe.” The Ministers are shocked by the news. None says a word, they can each hear their partner’s heart’s beating. They knew a deal with China was going to have to be cut in order for them not to lose their largest trading partner. None of the Ministers expected the price of the Chinese acceptance to be so high. Putin looked at the shocked and gloomy faces of his Ministers, “What the hell is wrong with all of you? China may end up with parts of Asia, much of which they are going to have to fight for while
the Motherland ends up with our breakaway republics back, all of Europe and the largest prize of all, most of America. With America out of the way, Canada and England will fall our way as will New Zealand and Australia. The Chinese forgot to list Midway in their list. I want the Red Navy to send a task force to Midway to hold it against any attack from China. If we can hold Midway, Australia, and New Zealand, we’ll block China’s expansion. At the end of the day, we will rule the world.”

  Sergey stands, “I suggest we replace our glasses of tea with good Russian Vodka! President Putin has brokered a deal to make the Motherland the most powerful country and empire in the world’s history. We’re about to rule the world. We all know the Chinese are a generation behind us in weapon design. Once we swallow the American military, we’ll add their technology to ours, we will easily be able to crush the yellow bastards at a time of our choosing. President Putin made an excellent bargain. The Chinese think we’re allies. They are going to get bogged down in endless wars in Asia while our military will grow stronger. Once we have firm control of the northern hemisphere, South America, and Africa will come begging us to join our Empire.”

  Putin smiles, standing, he says, “I intend to treat Africa as a mine and a zoo. The only money we’ll spend there is what’s required to take their assets out of the ground, moving them to our factories. Let their people kill each other off or they can die of one disease or another. The Africans are not going to be allowed to leave their areas. We will enslave them, working them to their death. We’ll own the bulk of the world’s key minerals.”

  Sergey motions to an aide standing by, carts of fresh black bread, caviar, and vodka are brought into the war room.

  @@@@@

  That evening Lacy, Shelly, Todd, the girls and I are watching Survivor when the program is broken into with a special announcement. “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are interrupting your programming tonight with a special announcement. The talks between China and the US have broken down. China recently announced they are dumping their remaining holdings of US dollars. China currently holds over $1.4 trillion in US debt and they are demanding immediate repayment of the debt. China has also announced they will no longer accept our dollars in payment for their goods and services. Without an agreement, the US will have to find a way to repay China’s debt. The Department of the Treasury announced that a series of special taxes will be implemented so the country can repay China.”

  Shelly looks at me, “Dad, what does it all mean?”

  “Honey, it means we’re in the crapper. China just drove the final nail into our financial coffin. Our dollar isn’t going to be worth two cents in the morning. Inflation is going to become hyperinflation, the stock market has already crashed. I think the market will open down hundreds of points tomorrow. Honey, are you sure you have to return home?”

  “Both Todd and I have jobs back home.”

  “Want to bet? I bet you’ll both find out that you’re going to be out of a job within 48 hours.”

  “I’ll take that bet, what are we going to wager? The normal amount?”

  “Yup, I win, you give me two kisses and a hug, you win and I’ll give you a hug and two kisses.” Turning to Todd, “We’ve been betting the same amount since she was three or four years old.”

  Todd smiles, “I like that, I think I’m going to steal it from you.”

  “Go ahead, it’s free.”

  I turn to Lacy. “Honey, I think tonight’s the perfect time to order anything online you ever wanted, I’m not sure what’s going to be available for how long or at what prices. I’d buy more freeze dried food if you can find it.”

  Todd asks, “Dad, what about ammo?”

  Laughing, “Todd, we have enough to support a medium sized army.”

  Todd replies, “You always said one can never have too much ammo.”

  Nodding, I tap Todd on the shoulder saying, “Come, I’ll show you part of the armory.”

  Lacy shakes her head saying, “Honey, he believes you, let it go for now.”

  I think I understand what she’s trying to say to me, “Todd, let’s watch the news together, trust me, we’re OK on ammo and supplies.”

  The rest of the evening’s programs are taken off the air, reporters take their place talking about the hit to our economy and the potential implications for the future. A couple of the reporters say that all that’s needed is for the government to increase spending and to reinstate the welfare programs. Others say the country is doomed, the country has already passed the tipping point, the country will implode before the internal and external pressures cause a mass explosion that will take the country down.

  While we’re talking, the phone rings. Lacy picks it up, she listens for a second saying, “Honey it’s for you.”

  “Hello?”

  “Daddy, I’m sorry, we were wrong. Can we come over? We’re scared.”

  Lacy looks at me knowing what the call was about, I look at her, she nods. “Sammi, check out and come home. Just remind Ricky to keep his mouth shut around me.”

  Chapter 11

  A furious President Obama is pacing the Oval Office, “I don’t understand what the Chinese want from us. They know damned well we don’t have the resources to pay them $1.4 trillion! We wouldn’t have borrowed the money from them if we had it to repay them.”

  Jack Lew, the Secretary of the Treasury, watches the President pace. “Mr. President, we borrowed the money from China. The terms of our agreement are, we have to pay the loans back with interest on the agreed upon payment schedule. If we default on any terms of the loan, the loans are due when called, which China has just done.”

  “Jack, when did we default on any of the terms? What are our options?”

  “Mr. President, we defaulted when we missed making the last interest payments. We delayed it and the Chinese are within their rights to call the loans. As to our options, we can ask the Fed to print a few additional trillion dollars, however, sir, by doing such will cause massive inflation. Plus, I’m not sure the Fed will do it.”

  “Jack, I’ve spoken to the Fed Chairwoman, she told me she’s not leaning towards printing a trillion or any amount. She said doing so will completely destroy our economy. The crazy bitch said we might never recover. She reminded me that without the EU, there’s no one else standing by to help bail us out of the hole we got ourselves into.”

  “Mr. President, there are a few things we could look at. Mind you, these ideas are very drastic.”

  “What are you thinking?”

  “We can recreate the law outlawing private ownership of precious metals. We’ll buy them back at a low figure and since the value of silver and gold has jumped, the metals we confiscate will be used to pay China. We can also increase the income tax rates to 75% on anyone earning over $250,000 a year. We can impose a federal property tax on every homeowner. We can impose a personal property tax on everyone’s car and all boat owners. We could expand this to all commercial and farm equipment.”

  “These are some very interesting ideas. I like them, make it anyone earning over $120,000 a year. No one needs $10,000 a month to live. I really like the personal property tax and since no one needs to own a boat today, set the tax rate at 15% of the items book value.”

  “Sir, what about the tax on homeowners?”

  “We’ll hold this one in case we need additional income later.”

  “Sir, we can also increase the tax on corporations that hold dollars off-shore, we announce that taxes will be levied on dollars anywhere they’re held. We’ll tax them as if they were held in a USA bank, earned in the USA. They’re owned by US corporations so it’s really the same thing.”

  “I like this idea a lot, how long will it take to put in place?”

  “Only a few days.”

  “Do it and hurry, we’re running out of time to get the Chinese off our backs.”

  “Sir, one point you should consider, doing all of these tactics will do permanent damage to the dollar and our economy.”

  “Th
e alternative is giving China some assets equal to the debt we owe them.”

  “What are they asking for?”

  “Mr. President, first of all, they want Hawaii.”

  “Hawaii? No way, I plan to retire to Hawaii right after I sign the papers allowing Hawaii to become an independent nation.”

  Jack stops in mid-word staring at the President, “Mr. President, the people, will never accept that. You’ll never get away with it.”

  “Yes, I will, you’ll see. The press loves me, the people love me. It’ll happen and no one will know until it’s too late to stop it.”

  Unknown to either President Obama or Jack, an aide was listening to the entire conversation by standing next to the door between the Oval Office and the Executive Conference Room. The aide doesn’t believe what the President and the Secretary of the Treasury are agreeing to. The aide texts a friend inviting them to a drink after work. At seven o’clock the aide enters a bar in Arlington, Virginia. He orders a draft while he waits for his friend who arrives within three minutes. “Sorry, parking’s a bitch.”