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The morning after the trip into Trenton, Old Tom resumed his journey. The following days, he learned that he had to use his compass to find landmarks in the distance to navigate towards. He discovered that; if he just headed southeast by compass alone, he would be obstructed by impassable objects that would lead him well off the path. The distant landmarks kept him from the confusion the circuitous routes created.
It took nearly three weeks just to cross Lake Ontario. The mono-colored scenery often hid a white mountain of snow or a bottomless crevice. Add to that the blinding snow storms, the bitter winds, and the strain of the constant glare, and each ten-hour travel-day had been about as exhausting as a sixty-nine-year-old could possibly take – no matter how young at heart.
It took nearly two days for old Tom to get the truck and the sled ashore on the New York side of the lake near Youngstown New York. The problem was that the glacier edge stopped at the shoreline, and was elevated fifty feet above the beach. Though not sheer, the drop was in nearly equal ten-foot steps.
It was almost a ten-kilometer drive along the glacier face to find a spot where it had either formed in a slope or collapsed, turning the edge into a steep but manageable gradient. Negotiation was nearly impossible with the sled, so, he spent time felling a midsized maple for a crane tower, then mounted the pulleys to it. It took seven exhausting hours to lower the sleigh to the beach. Then, another sixty minutes to navigate the incline with the truck. The next morning, after disassembling the crane and repacking it on the sled, he headed south down Robert Moses Parkway.
Planning his route carefully each night in his tent, old Tom used seventy-nine, eighty, and Highway eighty-one to work his way southeast to pick up I-95 at Baltimore, keeping on track with compass and GPS receiver. Several times, he had to find ways to forage rivers or to cross dry river beds where bridges were wiped out. It took nearly ten days to reach Baltimore from Youngstown.
As he worked his way farther south on I-95, the trip became progressively easier. Many more bridges were still intact. There were fewer obstacles to negotiate, and many of those did not completely obstruct the multilane highway. In Maryland, he had his first experience with hunting for his dinner. He'd stopped for the evening in the Capital Beltway section on I-95, somewhere near Glen Arden. He was setting up camp when he saw the first wild turkey. Making sure to work his way around, so he was downwind of it, he began to track it, crossbow in hand. When he finally caught sight of it again, it was strutting and preening in a clearing with several more. Taking care to quietly creep into position, he took aim at the largest and fired.
That night, he feasted on turkey roasted in a steel pan, over an open fire, with gravy, mashed potatoes, rice stuffing, canned asparagus, and even Margaret's famous home canned cranberries. He packed the leftovers into large containers, using the carcass and browned drippings to start a stock for soup. When the broth was ready, he added canned vegetables and dried noodles and simmered for another ten minutes. Packing that too, he stowed the soup and turkey with trimmings aboard the sleigh for future meals.
Spotting the turkey had been an epiphany, awakening him to the fact it was time to start living off the land as much as possible. Why use up all the supplies he might need in his first winter in northern Florida when he could save a great deal of them for use when they were really needed.
Old Tom reached the turn-off to Highway Ten West in the north of Florida just over a month and a half after making land at Youngstown New York. Spring wasn’t too far off, and though there was some ice and snow here, he did not believe the frost line would be too deep in the ground. It took a full day to travel west on Highway ten until the turn off at Highway 187-North. After camping for the night, old Tom trekked north, branching off to the right at highway two eighty-five. Ten minutes later, he found Britton Hill, his new home. Old Tom knew that even relatively mild Northern Florida would be too cold for most in these new winters so very few would choose to settle here. On Tuesday, February 16, 2021, he had arrived home.
The old man perused the area with several objectives. First, he had to ensure he was alone and secure. Next, he had to find the best location for a new home. It must be hidden from view from all directions, looking up at it, from the bottom of the hill. Finally, he was seeking abandoned businesses where he could purloin the materials and machinery he would employ to construct his new fortress.
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Edward Delnikov and his family arrived at the 285 junction for his first meeting with Old Tom, on a sunny, warm, Saturday, August 28, 2021. The two men greeted each other warmly, though Edward could not hide his surprise at Tom's age. From the voice received, on his shortwave, he had evidently envisioned a much younger man. What he saw now was a balding, grizzled, gray, wrinkled, form that couldn't weigh more than a hundred and fifty pounds and stood no more than five foot seven in height. But, Tom's stature would rise, in Edward's eyes as he became familiar with his energy, determination, conviction, and abilities. Within a month, he would no longer see him as a septuagenarian.
The old man escorted the family up the highway to Britton Hill, leading them onto the hidden roadway that served as the driveway to his complex. They parked the vehicles on the flat in front of the house.
Tom had heard Edward on his local political talk show that he hosted at the same time every day on the same shortwave radio setting. He'd gone to some effort to acquire an auto scanning shortwave system to monitor frequencies. Edward had crackled to life while Tom was working on his new fortress one day. He espoused a philosophy to return to some form of civilized government, believing that a hybrid system of representative government with a single leader who had the power to overrule and force legislation was the best way to eliminate the foibles of past governments.
"How in the world did you ever find this home?" Edward's attractive wife Sylvia asked.
"I did not find it. When I was still in Canada, I researched northern Florida for a site that would be easy to secure. Britton Hill turned out to be ideal. Before I even left, I believed I would probably build on the southwest slope of the hill. I knew it was composed mostly of sedimentary rock and forested by Florida pine, maples, and oaks. I identified a lake close by and understood that a breeze was almost constant. I planned it alone. I built it all...alone. I would like to show you around. It is a lot more than what you see from out here because it’s dug into the side of the hill. You’re only seeing the front. It goes to prove that anyone can do anything they want if they put their mind to it." Tom explained as he extended an arm toward the front door.
They entered into the foyer of an open-concept section of the house that included the living room, dining room, and kitchen. The guests oohed and awed at the fully equipped scullery with adequate storage, countertop, and a big island separating it from an eating area. Off to one side was a completely functional formal dining room visible from the kitchen table, and a well-furnished living room with full entertainment center. To the rear of the house were the main bathroom, a large bedroom with en-suite bath, and an office.
"I will go through the back wall, right here.' Tom pointed to the spot, then continued. 'That will give me an area for the guest bedroom, I will be building, later.”
In the garage, they were astounded at the power center and pumping station that supplied electricity and water to the development.
"Is that natural light?" Sylvia asked pointing to one of the ten fixtures in the ceiling.
"Yes, it is. It is conducted by fiber-optic cable. That way, there are no exterior windows or skylights to give away the existence of a residence." Tom replied.
"Can you show us how that works?" Edward asked.
"When we two are outside, I will show you where the fiber-optics come up through the ground." The old man answered.
Pointing to his various assets, Tom explained how h
e had scavenged equipment like the tractors to construct the home. He stressed that most people left valuable possessions to make their way south, and in other cases, owners of equipment had died in the great tragedies of the recent past, and these things were left lying about.
“An old guy like me isn’t going to be able to do all this alone unless he has the right equipment. The small dump truck, two tractors, a man-lift, and hydraulic jacks were all abandoned. Gasoline, diesel, wood, concrete, all varieties of building materials, appliances, and furniture are just lying about for the taking if you can figure out how to recover them - not to mention life’s finer things like wine and some great canned goods.
I cleared the areas for the driveway, house, and garden. I dug the holes and trenches for the foundations and septic tanks system. I found a precast concrete place with those multi-layered insulated slabs for the walls and raised them, the roof girders, and roof parts using the tractors and the man-lift. I also planted the garden and backfilled and graded the yard. I used those prefab wall panel systems for the interior walls; using only the insulated ones around the interior perimeter. Because I acquired all the right tools, it only took six months. The big jobs were really the plumbing and electrical. They are labor intensive. Every circuit has to be pulled and wired, individually. Each drain, supply line, and vent has to be installed one at a time. When, I want something else, like the scanning shortwave system I contact you on, or a new cement mixer; I just go shopping.’ Tom explained with a laugh. ‘I have determination and some pretty good skills, not to mention that electrical is my bailiwick. That’s why the big windmill generator, power system, and water pumping system. I never lifted one thing over twenty-five pounds, manually. The tractors, man-lift, and pulley systems did all the heavy lifting.’ He added proudly.
‘I listened for a civilized voice on the shortwave every day. I would leave it on scan twenty-four hours a day. I finally heard you a month ago, and I was impressed. So, I went looking for you and left that note you found. And, here we are.” McCracken smiled as he finished.
Tom led the way out the front of the garage, stopping to point out the grading and gravel of the parking area and the driveway and how it had all been cut into the side of the hill while remaining camouflaged. He walked his guests up the slope on the south ramp of the mound to the wind generator.
"I raised the Windmill, then buried the cabling all the way to the house to supply electricity to the entire complex. I came back up here recently and upgraded the Windmill from fifteen kilowatts to fifty kilowatts, so I'll have enough power for all future needs.’ Tom pointed to the scars in the ground from the trenching. ‘You have to work with what’s available to fill your immediate needs, and satisfy your wishes, later.” He added.
He walked them halfway down that slope and stopped, pointing to the lake below.
"If you look down there, near the lake, you can see the area I turned into a rice paddy. It's over there to the left of the shore and kind of looks like a marshy area. You can see the dikes I built to regulate the water. I can drain or flood the field, at any time. I need a supply of rice for flour because I can't eat wheat flour. That machine you saw in the garage is a rice huller. It allows me to prepare large quantities of rice for milling." Tom explained as he turned to take them towards the garden.
"The garden is planted with an assortment of vegetables including a variety of beans, a selection of lettuce, cabbage, peas, broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, and the large area you can see over in that corner devoted to corn. It was a risk planting the seeds I brought with me, but there seem to be enough bees around here to make it all fertile." Tom said pointing to the southeast corner of the garden. He continued walking them about, indicating water valves and electrical outlets positioned conveniently. He ended up at a large picnic table located in the cleared area where he had first set up camp when he arrived.
"Help yourself to some lemonade or iced tea.' The old man offered as he pointed to the closed carafes and upside down glassware, then continued. 'I have a pretty lavish luncheon prepared for us all to enjoy. But, I thought we could just sit and talk, first." Tom said as everyone found a place around the table and helped themselves to a glass and their preferred beverage.
For the next couple of hours, they all sat around talking. First, they discussed family life for the Delnikovs. Next, Edward and his family had many questions about Tom's trip from Canada. They were especially astounded at the way he viewed such a harrowing experiences as adventures. They all had a great belly laugh when Tom embellished the story of his encounter with the black bear in the middle of the night. Then, Tom moved the conversation towards Edward's philosophy. After lots of back-and-forth regarding its tenets, Tom brought out his own writings and turned the conversation to how each goal could be attained while maintaining security and providing the economic wherewithal to be able to make it all happen. The thesis he presented was a step-by-step plan for first achieving the ambitions over a small area such as a town, and then spreading out with the future intent of governing an entire country - and maybe even a world. It included the means to establish departments and funding them. It offered a detailed timeline that took it all the way through the legitimization of a new government to a point where it could begin to expand. At the end of the document, there was a formal ten-page constitution enshrining an Empire, its Emperor, a representative government, and its citizens' Rights and Freedoms. A look of shock appeared on Edward's face as he skimmed the proposed constitution.
"Why is my name embedded in this document as Emperor?" Edward exclaimed.
"Because you're the best man for the job!" Tom replied.
"What are you talking about? I don't even want the job!" Delnikov responded.
"That's precisely the point. You're the man with the plan, but you think someone stronger should execute it. That's a recipe for despotism when you're genuinely advocating a cooperative government. You would never miss-use all the power because you don't even want it!" Tom explained.
"What do you think, Sylvia?" Edward asked, in disbelief, as he turned towards his wife.
"I'm a bit biased, but I agree with Tom, and for exactly the same reasons. You are the best man for the job." Sylvia's response was matter-of-fact.
"My head is spinning – I need time to think," Edward replied to the assemblage.
"Why don't you take a walk around the grounds – by yourself if you want?" Tom suggested.
"Yeah but, I think I'd rather have you with me. I still have a lot of questions." Delnikov's voice had a pleading quality.
The two men rose and began to stroll across the front of the house and garage. Tom wasn't sure if he should just take Edward around the hill, or if he should be leading him towards the lake. Anyway, they were moving, and that's what Edward wanted.
"How would we gain support for all this?" Delnikov asked, after several minutes thinking quietly to himself.
"It's a step by step process. You would continue to do your radio broadcasts. Meantime, I would go out and begin to hold rallies to drum up a core of true believers. It takes that kind of loyal nucleus to establish this type of organization. Once we have enough support, I will begin leading them on excursions to recover supplies we’ll need to launch such a venture." Tom explained.
"What kind of supplies do we need?" Edward asked.
"Food supplies, building materials, communications equipment, police vehicles, weapons, ammunition, electrical equipment, and a whole host of other stuff we can scavenge from abandoned businesses, police stations, military installations, homes, and even things just discarded on the sides of roads. We need materials that allow you to establish government-like operations without cash funding since there isn't any legal currency at the moment. We need stockpiles we can use like cash because initially, everything will be done by barter. You can see what I've completed here, just by scavenging. One determined old man built a fully equipped complex that is completely secure - all by himself. If I can do that, then a large group o
f supporters can really help you achieve success. Once you have your stockpiles, you'll have something to pay employees with. That allows you to establish operational government agencies, police forces, fire departments, and utilities. In time, we have our followers ratify the Constitution, permitting us to create a currency to replace the barter system. Once we reach that point, we're on the way!" Tom explained.
"I can see what you mean, but I'm really not sure that I'm leadership material," Delnikov responded.
"You're the man with the plan. You're the guy with the populist following. You're also the fellow who really doesn't want power. That makes you our leader." Tom countered in a low near-whisper.
"But, why not someone else; someone more driven - someone like you?" Edward asked.
"Because, people who are driven like me, are potential dictators. Though I firmly believe in, and share, many of your ideas, I know that because I am so driven, I can be so impatient that I might actually become a hated tyrant. What our world needs now is a semi-democratic administration. It needs a representative government where one person has the authority to step in and get things done when government stalls or goes sideways. It needs a clearly understood set of values and parameters for both the people and the government to work under. My first draft constitution is a good example of the direction my thoughts are going in this matter. Though under the Constitution, you could take absolute control, I don't believe you'd actually exercise the option. Because you're you, I imagine your children have been, and will be, raised with your values. And, they will rear their children the same way. No, it can't be me, or someone like me. It has to be someone like you. As you can see by my planning and my draft Constitution, I am a good planner, and I will be able to help you execute. But my methods might become a little stiff. They need the final say of someone who will pull in the reigns. I understand the order in which things should be executed to achieve your desired goals. I know how to attain the assets and wealth needed to reach these aspirations. But in military terms, I am like the General of the army, you are like the Commander-in-Chief." Tom explained.
Righteous Reign The Series: E-version Boxed Set Edition Page 3
