The Shelter: The Aftermath

by Ira Tabankin

  “Place them in cages, I want them slowly burned alive or better yet roasted over a fire pit. They stole our land, they killed our children, let them roast here before they spend eternity roasting in hell’s fires.”

  “My men want to know if they can use the women?”

  “Yes, burn the men and children first. Record the killings so we can show the world we are doing Allah’s work, cleansing the world of the infidels. The recordings scare the world, they show them our strength and devotion to Allah.”

  Chapter 22

  Jay sits in his wheelchair listening to everyone debate Captain Black, he allows the families to express themselves for thirty minutes of debate before he raises his right hand in the air. The people see his hand go up, they tap each other on the shoulder to spread the word their leader wants them to pause. When the room quiets, Captain Black sips from a glass of water watching the room quiet as if a curtain was being lowered into the room. He thought to himself, answers my question if Jay is really in charge of the group. He raises his hand and everyone stops mid-word. I haven’t figured out the role of his second son-in-law, Ricky. At times I think he works against Jay and others he seems to be speaking for Jay. There’s something much deeper going on with Ricky than meets the eye. I’m going to have the S2 (staff intelligence officer) look into him. My gut is telling me not to trust him. Jay’s about to speak.

  Jay motions for Lacy to bend over so he can whisper in her ear. She nods and smiles. Lacy looks at Tony, their eyes briefly meet, she nods her head sending him Jay’s message in advance of speaking it to the rest of the group.

  Lacy hands Jay a microphone from a portable broadcast system, “To quote Mark Twain, ‘the rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.’ As you can see, I’m alive, of sound mind, or at least as sound as I’ve ever been. I haven’t suffered any mental problems from being shot. I’m in this chair because of pressure on my spine that has numbed my legs. As the swelling decreases, the feeling is returning. In a short time, I’ll be up and around and as big a pain in the ass as I’ve normally been.”

  Fred yells out, “Damn, I was looking forward to pushing you in the chair out to the rear acreage and leaving you.”

  “Fred, be careful, you’re almost my age, the day will come when I may be able to return the favor. Remember, you’re a better bullet magnet than I am. You’ve been shot more than I have.”

  Everyone laughs, many accept that Jay may, in fact, be okay and not suffering as badly from his wounds as the rumors. Jay pauses speaking, he briefly forgot what he was going to say. The families watching and listening take back their thoughts that he was good when they see him stutter and briefly forget what he was going to say. Ricky’s words echo through their minds. They again worry that Jay may not be able to lead them home.

  “I’m sorry, I briefly forgot what I wanted to say. I’m fine now, my father used to call that a senior moment.”

  Most in the cafeteria laugh.

  “I’ve listened to Captain Black, who I thank on behalf of all of us for joining us today, Captain, I understand you have a special message, a sort of surprise you wish to share with us.”

  “Jay, thank you. I do. When I arrived at your land we found a large farm with your homes under repair, we found thousands of mines. I have to pause and ask, do you people spend your hours making mines? We were shocked that every place we looked had a mine or trap. I guess you don’t like visitors.”

  Todd responds, “We like visitors who are decent people, not ones who desire to take what’s ours by force.”

  “I agree with you on that. I don’t like uninvited armed guests either. Which is one of the reasons I’m here and would like to make this my HQ. Jay’s right that I have a surprise for you. When we arrived, we found your homes in a state of partial repair. I asked my people to begin work repairing your homes and clearing your fields. When we exit the shelter, you’ll see for yourselves your surprise.”

  Fred stands, “Captain, when are we going to the surface?”

  “That’s the second part of my surprise, you begin returning to your homes today.”

  The room erupts in cheers and pounding on the tables. People yell out, “When today?”

  Jay raises his hand, “I’ll be leading a small group to the surface right after our meeting here. Tomorrow, everyone will be home.”

  Randy asks, “Why can’t we all go to the surface at the same time?”

  Captain Black answers for Jay, “I thought it best for security.”

  Paul stands, “I thought that was why you’re here. If not, what good are you to us?”

  Jay raises his hand again, “Okay, we’ll all go, John, Todd please man the security system. We’ll leave here at two.”

  Only Ricky doesn’t smile with Jay’s announcement. Ricky sits in the back of the room, “Honey, isn’t it wonderful we’re going outside. I hope Dad’s home is quickly repaired so we can move into it.”

  Ricky turns to his wife who’s Jay’s oldest daughter, “What are we going to sleep on, the storm destroyed all of the furniture with the house.”

  “I’m sure Dad and Lacy have it figured it out. Have some faith.”

  “It’s hard to have faith in your father. He only thinks of himself. I bet if there is any furniture, it’s all for him and Lacy. We’ll most likely have to sleep in here at night and work as his construction slaves building his castle. I’m not going to be his slave.”

  “Ricky, my father, doesn’t use us as slaves, you’re just pissed that he doesn’t treat you like he treats Todd. I promised you I’d speak to him about it. With him being shot and all, I don’t think the time’s right yet.”

  “I really don’t care. I’m going to make sure we’re the future leaders of this community.”

  “How are you going to do that with the Army here? You heard my dad agree to give them some land to turn into their HQ, whatever that means. They’re going to be around for a long time, maybe forever. They’re going to take over from my father.”

  Ricky thinks, with the Army here I’m going to have to change my plans. I think it’s time for Jay to die. It’s going to be easy to slip some poison into his coffee. Most will assume he died due to complications from his injuries. His death will leave a void I’ll be able to quickly fill. After I’m the leader I’ll deal with Tony.

  @@@@@

  El Chapo enjoys his glass of fifteen-year-old single malt scotch thinking, I’m going to implement the research plan starting today. I’ll send scouting teams to find the best areas.

  “Julio, please join me.”

  “Of course El Jefe.”

  Five minutes later Julio joins El Chapo in his study,

  “Did you enjoy yourself?”

  “Of course, thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. I have a task for you. I want you to manage the implementation of the research group’s plan. Tell me how you will manage it.”

  “El Jefe, first I will send scout teams to locate the best areas.” Just as I would do, very good start.

  “Second, I will form a quick action team to quickly crush the areas the scout team identifies. As soon as the area is secured, I’ll send a prep team to quickly prepare the land so we can start production ASAP.”

  “Excellent, draw from the best of the troops. I love their idea of taking over southern farms to grow our product in America, we’ll process the product in small processing plants on site. We’ll save millions transporting the product from here to America.”

  “I’ll start tomorrow.”

  “Let’s celebrate our new venture.”

  Julio smiles as the doors open, topless young women lead them to the dining room.

  “First we eat and drink, then we’ll party. Tomorrow, you leave. Do you have any idea where you will start?”

  “Since reading the research report I’ve been studying the American Southeast. I’m going to send teams to Louisiana, Mississippi and central Tennessee, once the farms there are converted to growing our product, I’ll move eas
t. The soil is rich, they have a history of farming. Their Civil War was fought over the use of slaves doing the manual labor on their farms. I’ll make the people we find our slaves growing our product. I plan to return them to their history, only this time everyone, every color will be our slaves. I’ll train their young how to process and bag it for sale.”

  I knew you were the right man to send.”

  @@@@@

  “Admiral is on the bridge.” Admiral Jefferson looks around the bridge of the USS Missouri.

  “I see everything above the water line is shipshape, I’m impressed by the crew’s hard work. How are the rest of the repairs going?”

  “Admiral, it took eight divers to cut the broken props and remove the rudder which was hanging under the ship. While you were away in meetings we’ve tested the ship for leaks. We found that the engines are in proper operating order. I’m happy to report we can make turns for ten knots. Maneuvering with a single screw and rudder is very slow, but possible. I hope you don’t plan any autocross events.”

  “What about the magazines?”

  “Dried out and refilled, everything we expended has been replaced, the only shortage we have is the sabot rounds. We only have eight left.”

  “My congratulations. Before we engage the Chinese again, I’m going to continue the tradition of touring the ship before we enter battle.”

  “Admiral, feel free to go anywhere. The crew will be happy to see you.”

  “Thank you, captain.”

  Admiral Jefferson decides to tour the ship with only one of his Marines for security. He would have gone alone, but the Marines refused to allow him to go alone. The Admiral stopped to chat with the sailors and inspect the work. He sees two of the eight divers changing out of their wet suits,

  “How is the bottom?”

  Snapping to attention the two divers reply, “Admiral.”

  “As you were.”

  “Sir, her bottom is scarred, she’s been beat up, but she’ll fight. She can give better than she got. She can get her revenge.”

  “I’m going to look at the rest of the ship before I decide.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  Admiral Jefferson spends two hours reviewing the ship, smiling he returns to the bridge.

  “Captain, excellent job.”

  “Admiral, before you issue any orders I think you should see the classified orders from the National Command Authority.”

  “Directly from the NCA?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Admiral Jefferson frowns, he hands the orders back to the captain.

  “Take this shit from my hands.”

  “Admiral, I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t understand why he’s ordering us to stand down.”

  “Sir, maybe he’s accepted the people’s decision.”

  “Something feels wrong. He said he wasn’t going to accept the decision. What changed his mind?”

  “Sir, above my pay grade.”

  “While we’re going to be here a while, what’s the word on the carriers?”

  “Not good, it’s going to take at least four months to get one back to sea.”

  “Shit.”

  “Sir, what are your orders?”

  “Captain, complete your work up and put to sea for a three-day test. Maybe I can get some answers from D.C. Or just maybe we’ll find ourselves in a position where we’re going to have to defend ourselves from the Chinese.”

  “Yes, sir.” Said a very happy Captain.

  The two officers smile at each other, the Captain of the Missouri says, “OOD, prepare to get under way.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  @@@@@

  Lacy realizes she isn’t strong enough to push Jay’s wheelchair over the rough fields, she asks Tony for help. “Tony, please watch it, you’re going to dump me out of the chair.”

  “This is my chance to get even with you. I’m doing the best I can with one arm in a cast.”

  “The bouncing is making me sea sick.”

  “If you wanted smooth, you should have paved a sidewalk.”

  Walking behind them, Lacy laughs, “You two sound like an old married couple.”

  “Tony, when I get out of this chair, you’d better hide.”

  “I have nothing to worry about, it’s going to be a long time before you’re able to be up and running.”

  “I’ll tell Nancy some of the stories you told me.”

  “That’s hitting below the belt. Want to wait in the shelter for our return?”

  “No, I want to see what the Army’s done to our homes.”

  “It’s your ass that’s getting bounced.”

  “Tell me about it. Did you bring a barf bag?”

  “Nope, and if you have to, you’d better warn me.”

  Chapter 23

  The families follow Jay out of the shelter, they are as excited as children at the first spring birthday party after a long cold winter. The feeling of the sun on their exposed skin warmed them inside and out. They run towards their homes, when they stop mid-step looking at the fields, Fred holds up his hands yelling, “Stop!”

  Everyone stops in mid step, silence falls over them like a curtain coming down. Fred looks around, he says,

  “What the hell happened to our fields? Who dug them up?”

  “Captain Black smiles, “I told you we removed your mines and traps, you won’t need them any longer.”

  “What happens if you’re away on a mission and we’re attacked again? How are we going to cut down our attackers if we don’t have our mines? I remember you telling us, but what are you doing to our fields? Look at them. The stubs of our last crops have been turned back into the soil, they should have been left another month. Captain, what are you really doing?”

  “Fred, everyone, please calm down, let’s go to your homes and see our surprise. I’ll also show you how we’ll help you defend yourselves.”

  Jay sits up in his wheelchair, “Everyone, the Captain told us he removed our mines, this shouldn’t have come as a surprise. I know how you feel. It’s like giving up our security blankets. Let’s see our homes and see what his plans for us are.”

  Captain Black leans over to whisper, “Thank you” to Jay, who responds, “I don’t know what you’re planning, this isn't the time for a confrontation. I’m holding my comments until I review your total plan.”

  “Thank you.”

  After the Captain returns to lead the families to their homes Tony leans over to speak with Jay, “Do you trust him?”

  “I do, but I can’t explain why. No one would believe me if I said why, in fact, I’m not sure I believe why.”

  “Jay, are you alright? You’ve been acting funny since you woke from the coma.”

  “My friend, I’m fine. I’m not sure if I have memories of a bad dream or if something unique happened while I was swinging back and forth between life and death.”

  “Did you see a bright light? Did you see a family member in the light?”

  “Tony, when we’re finished with the Captain, I’ll tell you what I remember, this isn’t the time. By the way, are you going out of your way to find every large hole to hit with the chair?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Bang, Tony hits a large hole which almost tosses Jay out of the wheelchair.

  “I’m going to get even with you. I might shoot you in the ass just to be able to push you around.”

  Both friends laugh.

  Nancy and Lacy laugh at the banter between their husbands, both are happy Jay seems to be back in every sense of the word.

  The families crest the small hill that enables them to see their homes, they pause in surprise. Many act like children seeing their gifts under the Christmas tree for the first time. Fred stops mid-step, “My God! My home! From here it looks brand new. Cheri, do you see it?”

  “Yes, let’s see if the inside matches the outside.”

  Jay sits up in the wheelchair, he tries to twist around to Lacy, who’s behind him, he waves her to
him, “It looks like they completed our home.”

  Jay picks up his binoculars, he looks at each house, saying, “Each house has a team of soldiers waiting for the families. Each looks brand new, even the yards look new. All the debris from the storm and previous battles is gone. They must have worked 24/7 to rebuild our homes.”

  Tony leans down to talk to Jay, “Jay, if they rebuilt all of our homes, the Captain wants more from us than just some land for his HQ. We’d better be on guard around him.”