Shelter: Book 2, A Long Days Night

by Ira Tabankin

  Tony and I look at each other with concern, Nancy asks, “Does that mean what I think it means?”

  I respond, “It’s the governments way to bring into the light unaccounted for cash and check cash against their tax and income records. Anyone who has too much cash will quickly learn that cash is being taxed. Most of it will disappear. It’s the Fed’s way of slowing inflation, they’re going to remove trillions of dollars from circulation. Think of all of the drug dealers who must be sitting on billions, poof, all gone, some of the countries the President doesn't like who are holding US dollars, poof, their dollars are gone. Like magic the President has taken trillions off the street, he hopes it will stabilize the dollar and prices.”

  The anchor continues, “The President has reminded everyone that firing on a federal agency, officer, or a member of the military is a federal crime punishable by death. He’s also reminded everyone that shooting anything into the air is a federal crime. Those bullets you fire up, come down, they could strike and harm someone. Do your part and help bring peace to the country. Remember, all firearms are to be turned in to a federal government employee. Attach a copy of your receipt to your tax return for a tax credit of one hundred dollars per firearm turned in.”

  Lacy says, “I wonder when giving a federal employee the finger is going to be a crime?”

  Nancy laughs, saying, “It already is, they call it threatening a federal employee.”

  “Christ, what’s next?”

  The anchor continues, “The Department of HHS reminds everyone that hoarding food is a crime against mankind. No one should have any personal food supplies that would last more than three days. This is illegal and is taking food out of the mouths of hungry children. Remember, do your part and help feed the hungry children.”

  I shake my head, “Now they’re using hungry children?”

  “Lastly this evening, all farms are reminded to set aside 50% of their crops for the benefit of mankind, not providing your fair share is a crime against your brother and sister Americans. The President reminds every farmer that erasing hunger is up to you.”

  “Now I understand why the sheriff was here. He thinks he can legally take 50% of our crops.”

  Tony says, “I bet he also thinks you’re storing more than three days of food and water, which he also wants to acquire.”

  “He and this entire administration can go to hell.”

  Nancy covers her mouth to stop from laughing, “Jay, remember, that’s now considered hate speech, you can be arrested for saying anything negative about our beloved President.”

  “Is saying he can kiss my ass hate speech?”

  “Not sure, if you’d enjoy it, it’s most likely hate speech.”

  We all enjoy a good laugh.

  Chapter 23

  As the USS Missouri pulled into Pear Harbor Captain Jefferson ordered a broom be tied to the mast, his XO said, “Captain, I thought only submarines used a broom to signify a clean sweep.”

  “XO, didn’t we clean out the Chinese fleet? Didn’t we sail into the middle of their fleet and fire broadsides of both 16 inch and 5-inch rounds? Didn’t we break their back and save Pearl and Hawaii?”

  “Yes, sir we did, but we’re not a sub.”

  “I don’t care, we did a clean sweep, we swept the seas clean of the Chinese, that’s all I need to know. If Admiral Long objects, he can order me to remove the broom.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “XO, tell the crew attention, pay respects to the USS Arizona.”

  “Aye, Sir, ship’s company attention, pay respects to the USS Arizona.”

  The crew of the USS Missouri, all wearing freshly starched white uniforms snaps to attention as the battleship passes her sister who brought America into the Second World War against another Asian country, Japan. The Missouri slowly passes the dry docks and repair docks where six giant aircraft carriers are waiting their turn to be repaired. Captain Jefferson is interrupted by the radio, “Captain, radio.”

  “Radio, Captain, what’s up sparks?”

  “Sir, message for you from Admiral Long.”

  “Is it marked personal or eyes only?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Fine, please read it.”

  “Sir, From Vice Admiral Long, commanding US Navy Task Force 77 to US Navy Captain Jefferson, commanding USS Missouri. Welcome home, job well done. Congratulations to the captain and crew of USS Missouri. Captain Jefferson is hereby ordered to paint a large battle excellence E on the bridge of the USS Missouri. The crew of the ship has earned a Presidential Citation and Captain Jefferson is hereby promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral, lower half. On a personal note, Admiral, your broom isn’t large enough for the clean sweep the Missouri performed. Congratulations to all. Signed Vice Admiral Long.”

  “Sparks, read it for the crew and post copies in the mess and ward rooms. Add to the Admirals note this, From the Commanding Officer, USS Missouri, to the crew of said ship, congratulations on a job very well done. You all deserve the Presidential citation of merit. I think the powers above us recognize you can’t keep the queen of the oceans down. Missouri, we have earned another battle E, this ship now holds the record for winning a battle star World War two, Korea, the Persian Gulf and the Chinese war. The Mighty Mo now holds twelve battle stars. A record to be proud of. Signed Admiral Jefferson.”

  “YES, Sir, it’ll be my pleasure and I’ll see about finding a larger broom.”

  “Thank you Sparks.”

  “XO, does that answer your question about the broom?”

  “Admiral, yes, sir it does. May I offer you my congratulations on your promotion. It’s too bad you’ll be leaving the ship.”

  “Commander, I’m not leaving. I’ll stay a captain versus giving up command of BB63. Please arrange for our quick rearming and supply. Permission to give the crew shore leave when we dock.”

  Smiling, the XO responds, “Aye, sir.”

  Admiral Jefferson hears the crew cheer when they hear Admiral Long’s message. Admiral Jefferson is very proud of his ship and her performance in battle. He thought to himself, and they said it couldn’t be done. They said a BB has no value in today’s world. They said reactivating her was a total waste of money we couldn't afford to spend. Without her, we would have lost. We would have lost the battle, the war, and Hawaii. His thoughts are interrupted by a band playing on the dock. He sees Admiral Long and the CNO, plus the Secretary of Defense waiting for the ship to complete her docking. He hears his visitors piped aboard, “United States SecDef arriving, United States Navy arriving, Task Force 77 arriving.” Admiral Jefferson thinks, I better find a pair of stars so I’m not told I’m out of uniform. The XO holds out his hand to his commanding officer, “Sir, I think you forgot to put these on.” Opening the box, he sees the stars of a Rear Admiral Lower Half. He smiles, “Thank you XO.”

  “Sir, couldn’t have you out of uniform when the big cheeses are visiting.”

  “XO, let’s go meet our visitors.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  The conference room next to the wardroom is overflowing with stars as the captain and XO of the USS Missouri enter the room smiling.

  @@@@@

  When Lacy and I walk into the mess hall, everyone stands cheering. I look around before I realize they’re cheering my return. Fred joins us saying, “Jay, Lacy, we’re very happy to have you back with us, you brought us some of the best news we’ve had in a very long time. Ever since word spread that we’re going to be able to return home soon, everyone is very excited and happy. Everyone got dressed up tonight, they’re all planning what they’re going to do when they get home.”

  “Most likely they’re going to sit on their floor and cry when they see and understand the damage done to their homes. Based on what we saw them doing to my house, I think they’re in for a real shock. All of their homes are going to require a lot of rework before they’re going to be livable. None of us are going to have electricity until we rebuild our windmills and solar panels. There is ver
y little electricity in the entire state. Nashville had some generating plants, most were flooded, the TVA is still supplying power in the Knoxville area, the agreements they had with Nashville were terminated when fuel ran out. I’m happy I was able to save the 40 lives, I hope they get over the shock they’re going to have upon seeing their torn up homes. Some may be in for a rude awakening when they realize there’s no insurance company to call, no Lowes to run down to pick up building materials. It’s going to be hard when they get home and the reality of the situation hits them. So far they’ve lived a protected life. We came to town, we bought all of the local farms, we paid off your debt, we paid to repair your homes, barns and even bought new farm equipment. The original four families haven’t been touched by the economic meltdown. We built and paid for the shelter. When they go home and realize there is no one to call to repair their homes, the shock of what the country and the world's going through is going smack them in the face. Fred, we’re going to be tied up with our rebuilding, I’m counting on you to help them get over their shock.”

  “We’re under a severe time pressure, winter is coming, I want my family to have a secure roof over their heads. We’ll provide whatever resource we can, but they’re going to have to provide the labor to rebuild their own homes.”

  “Jay, don’t even spend a moment thinking about it, they’ll do whatever’s required to rebuild their homes and the farm, you’re going to be surprised how quickly the farm is producing again.”

  “Fred, that’s what I wanted to hear. I think we’re in for more problems than Washington suspects. I think the currency conversion is going to be a real shit pile. I believe the President is going to use the currency swap to increase taxes and to smoke out anyone who’s been working hard their entire lives to sock money away. Only God knows what’s going to happen when the banks finally open and people learn they’re all getting a hair cut. The morons in D.C. still haven’t come to grips with our debt. They think that their new tax on the currency will be enough. Let me give you a little number to think about. Greece started the worldwide meltdown with its debt of 177% of their GNP.”

  “They were bankrupt, they were borrowing money they couldn’t ever repay.”

  “Correct, Fred, what would you say if I told you we’re in a worse condition than Greece was?”

  “Huh?”

  “Fred, the average American was in debt over 250% of their income. The average American owed over $250,000 while the average income in America, pre-crash was $50,000.”

  “You’re saying we’re not out of the woods yet are we?”

  “Nope, not by a long shot. I think the President is going to announce he’s going to launch a massive government spending program to put America back on our feet. We can’t pay back the $22 trillion we owe now, where is the money going to come from for his new spending program?”

  “How do you know he’s going to announce a massive spending program?”

  “That’s all he knows how to do. That’s all he’s done from the moment he entered the White House. He didn’t learn anything from the existing meltdown. He’s going to return to printing dollars, new dollars which will quickly set a new record for jumping into hyperinflation. I’m willing to bet he makes the announcement when he unveils the new currency. When he does, whatever faith in the dollar the rest of the world had is going to dissipate like smoke in the wind. He’s guaranteeing the end of America as we know her. He’s going to ensure there isn’t a united world. The world is going to slip into a new dark age, one that is going to kill off billions of people. If you think I’m crazy, just wait. If not now, then when he announces a new massive stimulus plan, bend over and kiss your ass goodbye.”

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  “I’m going to ensure more than before that my family has a safe haven. We’re going to have enough food and supplies to last us a generation, we’re going to learn from our previous mistake and ensure we’re not overrun again. We’re going to rebuild stronger and better than before. I’m thinking of building a new house made of reinforced concrete. Strong enough to be bullet and fire proof. Maybe even bomb proof. Walls thick enough that it will stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.”

  “Where are you going to get the cement?”

  “Tony.”

  “You’ve given me much to think about.”

  “I’m sure, if you think I’m wrong, just wait, you’ll see he’ll make his announcement very soon. Want to place a bet?”

  “What kind of bet?”

  “If I’m right, you help ensure all of the families work harder than before, you explain to them what’s at stake. You manage them while I spend my time rebuilding my house. They look up to you, they respect you.”

  “If you’re wrong?”

  “I’ll rebuild your home before mine.”

  “Can I let you know in the AM?”

  “Yes, but before you exit the shelter.”

  “Agreed, you really think he hasn’t learned his lesson don’t you?”

  “Absou-fucking-luty.”

  Fred smiles shaking my hand. I can read his face, he’s scared and working through what I just told him. When he works through it, I’m sure he’ll agree with me. Once we leave the shelter, our real work begins. I wish I knew where the thousands of people who made up the mob went.

  @@@@@

  The next morning we figured out what was wrong with our inner door. When the power went out and the backup generator kicked in, there was a short that burned the control wires for the door. Once we found the burned wires, replaced them and tested the circuit, the door opened. We didn’t have to slide down the emergency exit tunnel, we’d be able to easily come and go. I called everyone together. “Everyone, today we’re going to exit the shelter, I’d like to make a couple of points, first of all, we don’t know what we’re going to find at out homes, go armed, be ready for anything. I suggest you go as a group, you cover each other. Go to one house at a time, always, always have at least two armed people standing guard. We don’t know what we don’t know. Assume the worst, plan for the worst. If things aren’t the worst, we’ll be happily surprised. Don’t turn your back on anyone you don’t know. Don’t assume your homes are empty, don’t assume the mobs didn’t leave booby traps behind. If you assume they did, it could save your lives. Until we restore power, I suggest we spend the nights here in the shelter. If you want to spend the night at your homes, I suggest one of you stays up as guard. Don’t let your guard down for any reason. Where ever you go, go armed and be ready for action.”

  Rich yells back, “How bad do you think we’re going to find things?”

  “Rich, if it were me, I’d assume everything in your homes is trashed, think completely destroyed.”

  “Do you really think we’re going to find it that bad?”

  “Actually, I think you’re going to find it much worse than anything you can image. It wouldn’t surprise me to find bodies in your houses.”

  That stopped everyone, they stare at me with their mouths hanging open.

  Cheri asks, “What should we do if we find bodies?”

  “Bury them in a mass grave. And clean everything in sight with lots of bleach. Lacy and I will be occupied with the ruins of our home, if you urgently need us, come over, but it better be really important. I want all of us back in the shelter one hour before sundown.”

  Fred frowns, “Jay, I know some families want to spend the night in their homes.”

  “Then they do so on their own. We have no idea what’s around us or where the mob went. They could be across the street just waiting to see if we reappear. So long as anyone who stays agrees they’re on their own, I’m good to go.”

  Fred smiles thinking, Jay, I know you too well, you can say this now, but if anything happened, you’d be the first one dressed running to help them.

  Chapter 24

  Thirty-nine excited, scared and nervous people exit the shelter carrying their weapons and backpacks filled with bottles of water.
John stayed behind to monitor what cameras and sensors were left after the storm. They exited the shelter in groups of two, three and four, families that had faced death together. The bright sun hurt their eyes, they haven’t seen the sun or smelled fresh, clean air in fifty-two days. As each exited the shelter, they took a couple of steps and paused, they covered their eyes while filling their lungs with as much of the middle Tennessee air as they could. They’d lived underground breathing air that smelled of too many unwashed bodies, machinery and cleaning fluids. The smells clung to their clothes and hair, they didn’t feel clean while in the shelter. Since they had to conserve water, they bathed every other or every three days. By the second week, they stopped paying attention to their own smell. Many of the men had grown beards while in the shelter. While the adults exited the shelter and tended to pause to take it all in, the children exited the shelter as if they were fired out of a cannon. They ran into the sunlight, they ran in circles playing tag with each other cheering their delight at finally feeling the sun on their skin & fresh air in their lungs. They didn’t have to whisper now, they were overjoyed to be able to play outside. They were excited and playful until they realized their swings, slide and playground were gone, they ran to where it had been and stopped. They didn’t understand that the winds picked up the play equipment and turned into splintered debris, scattered across the state. Their large sandbox was a muddy pit. They looked towards their homes and started running when their parents told them to STOP and wait for them. At first the young didn’t understand, why they couldn’t go to their homes and check out their rooms. When they watched their parents unsling their rifles the children knew things were back to the new normal. The children then returned to their parents and started praying their house and rooms were going to be fine. They didn’t understand why their parents walked so slowly towards their home. The children tried to make their parents walk faster. Usually, one of the parents whispered to their children, they had to be very careful until every inch of the farm was checked for the bad people. The kids nodded, not really understanding, but not wanting another long lecture from their parents, they nodded their understanding while they continued walking behind their parents wishing they would hurry up.