by Ira Tabankin
“What do you mean, won? We’re moles living underground. We didn’t win. I’m sure you’ve seen our homes trashed, you’ve seen we’re living like animals underground, afraid to poke our heads up.”
“Jay, you won! You didn’t lose. I’ve been in many fights, whenever you live to fight another day, you’ve won.” Jay looks away, he feels both depressed and appreciative of the Captain’s compliment.
“Don’t look away. I know what you’re feeling. You feel like you let everyone down, not just because you got pushed off the surface, but you also got shot and put out of action. You feel like you let everyone down. You didn’t. You saved everyone.”
“Thank you. Captain, what are you doing here? What are your plans?”
“Jay, I’d like to tell everyone at the same time.”
“I understand, I don’t like it, but I understand.” Jay stares into the Captain’s eyes, “I own the farm, I think you need to work out some sort of lease program with me for your new base, versus trying to buy off everyone to support you. I have the single veto vote. I don’t care what you offer them, what are you offering me? How are you going to improve our lives?”
Captain Black looks at Jay in surprise. “How did you…”
“It’s the only answer that makes sense. You’re planning on using our farm as your headquarters. This is going to be your AO isn’t it? I hope you remember the third and fourth amendments. I think we’re still ruled by the constitution.”
Ricky hides outside the cafeteria, he smiles listening to the exchange between Jay and the Captain. When he thinks he’s heard enough, he jogs to intercept some of the families before they enter the cafeteria to listen to the Captain’s announcement. Ricky loudly bangs on the first door frame, Randy asks,
“Ricky, what’s wrong?”
Panting, Ricky replies, “I was outside the cafeteria where Jay and the Captain are talking, I just heard Jay raise his voice and disagree with the Captain’s plan. He’s dead set against what the Captain is trying to do for us. Jay’s jealous of the Captain. He’s worried the Captain will take over the leadership role. I feel sorry for Jay.”
Randy says, “Ricky, could it be because Jay’s suffering the effects of being shot? Could it be a side effect of his brain not getting enough oxygen or something, a side effect of his memory issues?”
Ricky was happy to hear people using his rumors as facts.
“I think it’s tied up with his ego.”
Franco shakes his head saying, “Jay doesn’t have a large ego.”
Paul shakes his head at Franco, “Franco, dad, I’m sorry, but anyone with over $20 million has a large ego. Jay just woke up and found there’s an army captain here offering us something, which I’m eager to hear. I think he’s going to offer us protection. Not the protection of living underground like an animal, but the protection of the US Army. I for one like that. I for one want to hear the captain out. I think it would be good for us to be under their protection. They are strong enough to keep people away from our land. We won’t have to fight in our front yards with our homes and lives hanging in the balance. I for one would like the Army to stay here until the country pulls itself back together.”
Fred sips his coffee looking at Paul, “Do you really think he’s going to offer to protect us? I wonder what he wants in exchange for protecting us.”
Paul says, “What could he want from us? For protection and not spending more time down here, I’d give him almost anything he wants. We don’t have much to give.”
Fred shakes his head, “Paul, we have the land.”
“No we don’t, Jay does. Maybe that’s what they were arguing about.”
Ricky says, “Maybe the Army wants to protect us and Jay doesn’t want to share his land, he doesn’t want to share his wealth, he doesn’t want to share anything he has. That’s one of the reasons we’re living in this sardine can. I can’t wait for the captain to make us any offer which returns us to the sun.”
Others nod their head in agreement with Ricky. The mood in the cafeteria is hope, hope the Army is going to find a way to protect them and let them go home. Many have grown to hate the shelter. They are also worried about what they are going to find when they surface. They’d been in the process of repairing their homes when the Russians arrived, forcing them back underground.
Chapter 21
El Chapo calls his son,
“We need to expand eastward, not west. We already own the drug business in California. Arizona and New Mexico don’t have high enough population density to provide us a good ROI. The soldiers cost us too much to fight the crazy citizens. There are too many guns in the hands of cowboys in the Southwest. The Northeast is a better market for us. Many of those states outlawed guns, they will have little defense against our people. They will hunger for any release from their drab existence. We can provide them the release they crave. The Northeast has a higher concentration of rich, people who can afford to pay us any amount we ask. Soon we will have enough to buy our own country. I have my eyes on a beautiful island. Easy to protect, warm all year round. Large enough to house our own private army without them getting under foot. Large enough I’ll build you your own race track, you can drive your car as fast as you want. We’ll have hundreds of the world’s most beautiful women to choose from.”
“Where is this paradise?”
“That’s my secret for now. I’m getting ready to invade and take it over. I’ve offered the existing government a large payment to leave. We’ll ship the people we don’t want off the island or we’ll kill them.”
“I can keep my cars?”
“Junior, I said, I’m going to build you your own track, you can drive 200MPH if you want. You’ll have custom made garages for your collection. You’ll have everything you desire.”
“So why do we need to expand into the Northeast?”
“It’s very expensive to buy a country plus rebuild it to my specifications. One day the world’s economies will turn around. I want us to be the richest family in the world. We will control the world’s drug trade. We’ll be able to buy our own church.”
His son smiles and leers, “All the women we want?”
“Of course. They will be very happy to give you themselves in exchange for their security.”
“I like it. I will order our soldiers to turn around. We will head northeast.”
“Stop in Memphis and Nashville, those cities lost their long term supplier. He was one of our good customers, he simply disappeared.”
“Si Papa. I take my leave to complete your vision.”
@@@@@
After the good news of the initial attacks, Al Afi flew to Memphis. He went directly to the largest Mosque where he met with his trusted lieutenants. He tells them he’s very pleased with their progress in Memphis. They’ve torched more than a third of the city. They’ve gathered over forty thousand prisoners; those who’ve fought against the holy warriors or who’ve refused to convert are marked for death. Over a thousand are church or temple leaders. Baptists, Protestants, Catholics, Mormons, Buddhists, Hindus and even Muslims, who didn’t accept ISIS are placed in large fenced fields. Jews are kept in a separate cage, one they can’t stand up in. They are separated for the harshest treatment, they are beaten and raped, their life expectancy is less than a week.
The prisoners aren’t fed, the only water they have is what rainwater they collect. Their sanitation is done in buckets. The encampment is hell on earth, babies cry, people wail for help and mercy. They cling to the barbwire. Their hands reach through the wire for any handouts. Some get their hands cut off for reaching through the fence. ISIS guards walk around the fence cutting off hands and picking the prettiest women and young boys who are dragged out of the cage screaming, they know what the future holds for them.
They knew they were going to be used as sex slaves. The women are tested to locate the virgins which sell for three times the amount of a non-virgin. Girls as young as ten are taken from their families. The slaves will usually s
erve their masters for a few days to a month. Afterward, they will be sold like a used car to a new owner where their torture will start all over again. Punishment is anything their owners decide. Many of the sex slaves are sold because they’ve been maimed by their owners. The prisoners know they’re facing death, the only question is how they will die. They’ve seen the crosses being made and heard the screams of those nailed to the crosses. They saw lines of their fellow prisoners led off without returning. Most were beheaded. Some were placed in metal cages and dropped into a swimming pool. Others were sprayed with gasoline and burned alive. They know that pain and death were all they have to look forward to. They constantly prayed for salvation.
Al Afi looks at his staff, “Soon we’ll be moving east, the American city of Nashville is two hundred twenty miles away. Nashville is home to their decadent Country Western Music. They are very pro-America and believers in the Nestorian. We will have a fight on our hands every block. Assume every home is filled with guns. They love their pickup trucks, beer, girls, and church. We are going to have a hard fight on our hands. I want the new converts sent in the lead, let them show us how much they love Allah by bleeding for him.”
His staff smiles and nods.
“We will move in four groups, that leaves us time to dispose of more of the stupid followers of the Nestorian. I want the entire two hundred miles lined in Christians nailed on their crosses. They worship the cross, let them die on their cross.
His staff smile at the thought of crucifying thousands of infidels.
@@@@@
Captain Black nods to everyone as they enter the cafeteria. He looks at Lacy, who nods her agreement. He pushes Jay to the front of the room to sit next to him as he addresses the group. He’s aware everyone will see Jay with him and assume he’s already agreed with the Captain.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for welcoming me back. As you can see, Jay is able to join us today. He’s started his recovery. I’m sure everyone will join me in wishing Jay a full and speedy recovery.”
Everyone applauds and cheers Jay’s appearance at the meeting.
“John gave me a tour of your homes and the farm. I’m very impressed with what you’ve accomplished. The more time I spend in your shelter, the more I’m amazed by it. You built a shelter which would put most of the military shelters to shame.”
Fred stands, “Captain, we’re happy you’re impressed with what we’ve built. We’re happy you returned. Yesterday you were about to tell us what you wanted, most of us couldn’t sleep last night, so please tell us what your plan is and we can chat about the shelter later.”
The families applaud Fred’s comments.
Captain Black smiles, “I understand. I agree, let’s get down to business. I would like to make your farm my base of operations in this area. The military has been recalled to bring order to the country. We’re being based at our CONUS bases or if no local bases exist, we’ve been asked to look for and rent local properties. Central Tennessee is my AO, my staff has investigated many locations, we believe that your farm is one of the best locations for us to make into our operating base. I’d like to base our troops and equipment here.”
The cafeteria becomes silent. Every eye turns towards Jay, who is sitting in his wheelchair motionless. He hasn’t moved a muscle in his face since the Captain began speaking. Just as he’s about to open his mouth, Ricky says,
“Captain, that’s an interesting offer, however, isn’t it true that your base of operation will draw your enemies to us? Aren’t you really making us a target? In my opinion you’re not providing us security, you’re bringing danger to us. You’re putting our lives in a greater danger than we are now. While this isn’t my farm, I wonder how your offer does us any good? You’ll be taking much-needed farmland for your base, you’ll be bringing danger to our front doors.”
Randy picks up on what Ricky said,
“Captain, I too worry about the danger you being here might bring us. We lost the last two battles we fought, if you base your people here, regular military units may attack us. We lost to gangs and a platoon of Russian Special Forces, how will we defend ourselves?”
“Ricky, Randy, your protection will be my troops and heavy equipment. Once we’re fully deployed, it will be almost impossible to dislodge us. We’ll be able to defend you.”
Ricky shakes his head, “Captain, how can you defend us? If you’re based here, a battle could destroy our farm and homes. We’re more vulnerable with you than without you. I think we’ve experienced enough violence. We want peace, we want to live without having to kill anyone again. Most of the people in this shelter were farmers or small business owners, we are tired of fighting, we weren’t trained to fight. We want to live in peace, we want to be left alone.”
“Ricky, I’m sorry to tell you, no one can be assured of living in peace until we’ve secured the country. In order to secure the country, we need to base troops inside the borders of the country.”
Franco stands saying, “I see both sides, I too worry about becoming a magnet for those who want to become a local warlord. I understand Ricky’s point and Captain, yours. Could you give us more details about how you plan to protect us and how much land you’re going to need?”
“Franco?”
“Correct.”
“I’d be happy to explain more details, first of all, I should tell you that I also plan to use the small farms across the street from you to base many of my people. This lowers the amount of your land we’re going to need. I want to base my headquarters staff here and my MASH unit. The heavy equipment and most of my people will be housed in a tent city across the street. We’ll also be emplacing artillery. I’m expecting a platoon of armor to arrive in sixty days. That kind of firepower will be enough to persuade anyone from attacking this area. As a last resort, you also have your shelter.”
Ricky shakes his head, “Captain, returning to the shelter is what we’re trying to avoid. We want to live in our homes.”
“Ricky, isn’t it true that you don’t live here, isn’t it true your father-in-law asked you to stay at his home to protect you? Are you speaking for Jay? For a group of the families or for yourself? I thought that Jay owns the farm, isn’t it he the only one who can make the decision?”
Tony stands, “Captain, not all of us are farmers, half of us joined the group just before the economy melted down. We have different concerns…”
“Tony, I know who you are. I know your background. I don’t think you speak for Jay.” Turning towards Jay who hasn’t moved says,
“Jay, you’ve been very quiet. You haven’t moved a muscle since I started speaking. As the legal land owner of the farm, what do you have to say about my request?”
@@@@@
El Chapo nods while digesting the report his research group sent him, he’s thinking, I hadn’t even considered this, Talk about thinking out of the box. I need to chat with Julio about this report. I trust him, he’s always been honest. He always tells me the truth, versus what he thinks I want to hear.
El Chapo calls his admin, “I want to see Julio ASAP.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll make sure he’s here within the hour.”
El Chapo spends the hour reviewing the research report for the fifth time when there’s a knock on his door.
“Come.”
Julio enters nodding his head in respect to his friend and boss, “El Jefe, how may I be of service?”
“Julio, here’s a report from the research department, please read it here in my office and give me your thoughts.”
Thirty minutes later, Julio looks at his boss,
“Jefe, this is a brilliant plan, it will save you a fortune.”
“You believe it’s possible?”
“Jefe, not only is it possible, I’m embarrassed none of us saw it.”
“Julio, thank you. I’d like you to stay here a while, I may have need of you again. Why don’t you amuse yourself in the girl’s room?”
Smiling, Julio nods saying, “Is th
e young blond still here?”
“Yes, I know she is a favorite of yours so I kept her versus selling her. Have a good time.”
After Julio closes Jefe’s office door he holds the research report thinking, I need to reward the head of the research department. I never thought of their idea. I’ll call a meeting with my experts tonight. If they agree, this will change how we treat the Americans. Such a simple idea, I wonder why no else thought of it.
@@@@@
Al Afi is sitting in the fourth car from the front of the convoy as it moves East on Interstate 40 out of Memphis. He lifts his cell,
“Hussein, I want to have the crucifixions performed, man, woman and child, repeat as you go. I want them to die on the cross they love so much.”
Al Afi, what about the Jews?”
