He has two good backpacks for him and his wife. He locates a third smaller pack for the nurse. He has a lawn cart and a wheel barrel they can use to carry heavier items. After what he has seen and heard today, Paul goes for weapons and ammunition first. Two 9mm's for each woman to carry. A 38 caliber in the small of his back and a 45 revolver in a shoulder holster for him. He throws a small 22 and another 38 into the carry along pile, not wanting to leave weapons behind. He has four long guns, a 243 lever action that he will have Eve carry, she has shot it before, a 12-gauge pump he will carry. A scoped 30.06 for Georgeanne, not that she can shoot it, but that she will have it to give to Paul if he needs it. Last is an old double-barreled 16 gauge that will be in the lawn cart. He also piles up as much ammunition as he thinks will fit without loading the lawn cart down too much.
Next on his list is water. He grabs a bottle of bleach and a case of water. He also grabs a filter straw. One 12' by 8' tarp will be their shelter. A 100' of parachute cord and a few bungie cords are added to his pile of essentials. So are two wool blankets. Looking at his pile, he thinks of what he may still need. An axe, some knives, and a good first-aid kit are added. He adds a couple of bottles of liquor, and some extra food and ammunition to use as trade items. Two pairs of extra clothes for everyone are added. At Eve's urging, a few toiletries and woman's items make the cut. Eve also has a small box of photos and keepsakes. Paul frowns at that, but does not argue.
It is not yet midnight, and they have everything selected. Paul checks on the hoodlums one more time. They are still one block away. Their neighbors are fleeing, and the gang seems to not care. Maybe that is part of their strategy, let the locals flee. Less work for them.
The time to go is now! Their backpacks are loaded like go bags, so if they need to abandon the lawn cart and wheel barrel, they will be able to try and carry on. Paul goes to the garage and brings back their not so glorious chariots. Twenty minutes later the three would be holdouts are joining the crowd of refugees. They are now stragglers with a one hundred mile journey in front of them. At least they have a destination, where they know there is hope. Those around them, heading away from the chaos, most do not know where they are going, they just know that they must go; to stay would be death. As they plod along, heading toward the highway that will take them out of town, Paul says a silent prayer for his small group, and for all that are fleeing the chaos behind them.
* * *
The highway, I-376 East, is full of people heading out of the city. Most are thin and haggard, with sunken eyes, jaundiced skin and depleted bellies, not having decent food or good water for several days. They are constantly being asked if they have food or water to spare. Paul had given strict orders to the two women to not reveal their supplies, for any reason. The deplorable condition of the fleeing hordes is almost unbearable. The fact that they are visibly well armed and Badzy’s large snarling jowls keeps the pestering to a minimum, but several times Paul has to threaten more persistent stragglers to back off.
Keeping out a watchful eye as they begin to make the long walk to the eastern suburbs, Paul notices that a few other stragglers seem to be more fit than the others. They also are the ones with lawn carts, pull wagons, or other means to carry extra goods. His group strides up next to one of these better-equipped families, three adults and two teen children.
He asks them what they know. He finds out they are similar to him. They had to leave because armed hoodlums were ransacking the neighborhood. They are armed almost as well as he is. He offers to walk with them, "security in numbers" being his reasoning. The father looks over his new acquaintance and agrees. They trudge along silently for another half mile. Then they come across a new situation.
The stragglers are defending an overpass, and an innovative rotation has been set up, apparently several days ago. A temporary watchman tells people that they must take the off ramp to guard the overpass. When they get to the overpass, they must guard it until they are replaced. Another watchman shows up and replaces the watchman they are talking to. "It works," he says to Paul and their group. "Go on up the ramp, keep it defended, you won’t be there long, someone will replace you." They walk up the ramp, stand guard for twenty minutes, and are replaced. They walk down the ramp heading their way and continue on. 'Not all of society has broken down'' Paul thinks. A simple way to keep the chaos at bay. They are all amazed at the simple solution devised to keep the highway safe.
The party continues to plod along. They see groups stopped at the side of the highway, family members not being able to continue, or entire groups just giving up. They see some groups burying people, then they begin to notice many plots of fresh dirt along the highway. The number of stragglers diminishes as they get further away from town. They take part in several more overpass defenses, each one taking a little longer than the last, as the refugees thin out.
As the day grows long, the group starts to approach the intersection of I-376 and the Pennsylvania turnpike. They have traveled almost fifteen miles. They begin to see some very curious handmade signs. "Safe trading zone ahead." "Militia recruiting this exit." "Sex for food." "God is dead! Satan is alive! Join us."
The crowd of refugees grows as things slow down at this new "Free Trade Zone." They see armed guards as they approach the off ramp to Monroeville. It seems they have entered a freak zone. People in body paint, people in clapboard signs. People handing out hand written pamphlets. Everyone is gaunt, even the armed guards. But there is no barrier, no roadblock. They can stay and trade, sleep, join a militia, get sex for food, or they can move on. Paul's new friends decide to stay, maybe join a militia. Paul and his group move on, they want nothing to do with crazy town.
Two miles down the road, they pick a campsite in the back end of a car dealership. Paul assigns a watch routine and they settle in for the night, tucked out of sight and vigilant.
Chapter 21, God Calling
The Farmstead
September 18th
Mark is taken back to Mountain Side, their safe haven farmstead. He is laid down in his own bed as comfortably as can be. He is still out cold. Becca pours him two fingers of bourbon and sets a glass of water on the bed stand. She knows he will want both when he wakes. 'God gave us whiskey for a reason.' She can hear Mark saying. The antibiotics are the most important. They are starting to get scarce, and an infection could be fatal. The doc gave them a ten-day regimen.
Britt, Daneel and Herc have already started the cleanup from the battle. The Kubota is used to take the dead bodies of the hoodlums to a far corner of the farm where they are burned. Grace gets the security cam system up and running in the main house, and oversees the running and splicing of wires to get all the cams working, including a new cam on the fence, at the crest in the driveway, filling in the blind spot. Grace struggles with remorse for the loss of Linc as they put the new system in place. Grace had grown close to him over the few days they knew each other. Basically, Linc had become a mentor to Grace.
Britt makes a decision, with Rebecca's blessing, that they claim the vacant house on the road. It has been empty for more than a week, and they don’t have room for everyone with the loss of the old farmhouse. After the 'all clear' has been given by Daneel and Buck, she takes Larson and Rusty to check it over. An hour later, she returns very pleased. A four-bedroom house, a wood burning fireplace, oil heat, two bathrooms on a septic system, a good well and an unfinished basement, which can be used for more comfortable sleeping space.
Once the cleanup of the battlefield is complete, Herc and his wife, Leesa take on the grisly task of clearing out the burnt down farmhouse. The loss of the one hundred and fifty year old structure is bad enough, old chestnut homes are rare, but the loss of three of their comrades makes it even more difficult.
Herc knows where the bodies will be, in the hallway next to the stairs. He and Leesa knock down what is still standing, trying to make the space safe. They have to knock everything down into the basement, the floor being too badly damaged to walk on. By nightfa
ll they have managed to get to the remains of Linc, Kim and John. Three more graves are dug, next to Jan's fresh grave. Three more bodies are made ready to be laid to rest.
Daneel's wife calls to them from the command center that two trucks have stopped at the end of the drive, waving a white flag. Larson and Buck are sent to find out who's there. They return shortly with First Sergeant Fisher and five of his men. He is greeted warmly. He takes in the remains of the battlefield, the four freshly dug graves and the remains ready to be buried.
First Sergeant Fisher is saddened by what he sees. A few days ago he sipped bourbon and made a new ally in a beautiful old farmhouse, with a gingerbread porch that looked over fertile farmland. The old chestnut farmhouse is burnt to the ground, still smoldering in places. The fields of corn and hay are tracked up by the battle. The stench of death lingers from the burned bodies of the hoodlums. He frowns. Good people have been hit hard.
Finding Becca near the newly dug graves, he hugs her. "Those who died here, they deserve honor. Let us provide a military burial for them, we owe them that."
Becca nods, "It was horrible, John. They streamed in from all sides. We fought hard, my children, my grandchildren, they fought hard! My grandchildren! They should be thinking about college and girlfriends, not defending their home!" She starts to sob. "What has the world come to?"
After a moment, Becca regains her composure. "Yes, John, a military funeral is good. I will say a few words, and you can too."
Thirty minutes later, the four bodies are laid to rest. A three-gun salute is fired. Taps is hummed. Both Becca and Top says words of grace and redemption. Despite all the words, only God knows what is in a man's heart. John, Linc and Kim are gone, but if they had the Lord in their heart, they are only gone from earth, they will be reunited with their loved ones in heaven. Only God knows what is in a man's heart.
* * *
Top has his men assist in filling the graves. Becca oversees the preparation of a good meal for them all, homemade chicken and rice soup, made from the chicken carcasses of previous meals. Nothing can go to waste now. A few extra handfuls of rice are thrown into the broth to accommodate the extra mouths.
After the somber dinner, Mark wakes briefly and talks with Becca and Top. His leg is throbbing, as is his head. He downs the bourbon, water, and some soup. He asks them all to leave, that he might rest, let his body heal.
Top, Becca, Ken and a few of the other adults gather to discuss what happened and what to do next. The Mays' claim to have defeated the Wagerlys is obviously true, so that threat has been eliminated. Hairy and his two mates are introduced to Top. After much discussion, with Top dissenting, it is agreed that they are to be allowed to stay with the Mays as security and farm hands. Becca's final argument is that God has forgiven us all, we are to follow his path. Hairy and his men redeemed themselves, they are forgiven by God. How can we say God is wrong? Top cannot refute that logic, but suggests they keep them at the Mountainside, away from town.
Top fills them in on what he has been up to. His men have been to the Wagerlys' compound where they found a few sickly renegades and a couple dozen captives, mostly women that had been made into slaves. What they had gone through was horrific. They all have been sent to the refugee clinic at the school.
The supplies they found at the compound were astounding; hoards of guns, explosives, ammunition, working equipment, clothing, boots, food. The guy was a prepper, just a prepper with a bad outlook on life. They now have weapons and ammunition to arm a small company. The booty from the compound is being transported to the VFW. The food is being sent to the fire department, which has been feeding the community, and the school, for the refugees from the Flight 93 Memorial.
Top motions to one of his soldiers that has been standing guard. She ducks out the door of the main house, and shortly returns with an M60 machine gun that she lays on the table. "Your farmstead has been determined to be a strategic asset, so you get this fine weapon. It's a little late, but this ain't over. We got two thousand rounds of ammunition for you too. I thought this might be helpful for my new friend in there as well." He indicates towards the bedroom where Mark is recuperating, and places a bottle of Vicodin on the table. "Tell Mark to go easy on these. The Wagerly's had a mess of drugs up there. Doc sent these here for Mark."
He reaches into his other pocket and pulls out several more pill bottles. Top looks at Becca. "These are for you. Don't say nuthin. Just take them." Top hands over a six month supply of xelgens. Becca is in tears. When the meds run out, the pain will return. She hugs him, no words are needed.
Top continues explaining the situation in Central City. "Word has spread through town about the battle here last night. There is an impromptu celebration going on right now. Families that have not been seen since this all started, have come into town. Many want to come out here to congratulate you all, bring you food, help you rebuild. But, knowing how you like to keep things quiet about your set up, I have discouraged that. Still, I recommend you move your security position out to the end of the road. I think you are going to have a lot of visitors anyways."
Britt speaks up. "Top, we are going to move into the house at the end of the drive. It's still empty, and we need the room. So we need to change our security any way. Daneel, take charge of this now, I know it's late, but we don’t want a bunch of people trucking down the drive that we don't know." She glances at Becca for her approval, Becca nod's her consent. "Janie, our families will move out there. Herc, we will make room for your family too, Okay?" The new living arrangements are agreed to, Buck and Daneel head out to begin securing the new front gate.
Top gives them more good news from town. They are planning to start a trading bazaar at the central park since people feel they can move about more freely, bring goods and food into town. Mark's idea of local farmers recruiting hired hands and security is working well too. About half the Flight 93 refugees have decided to stay and work with the locals for now. The rest are getting ready to move on.
"This is where we are going to have problems," states Top. "We know people are coming this way from the city, and now these refugees will be heading towards them. Hungry people will be meeting more hungry people, in the farmland and forests between here and Johnstown. From what we have heard, Johnstown is in more chaos than we have seen here. This is going to create more problems and larger crowds of hungry people. I have no idea of what to do about this.
"On top of that, we have a medical problem to deal with. People are dying. The bad water situation has triggered a lot of problems. The ill and elderly are not making it. The senior care home is a mess. Our medical people can't keep up with it. Dozens of new graves are being dug every day. A small child with cystic fibrous died today because we had no way to provide him with the medical care he needed. It was heart breaking."
Quietly, Becca interrupts Top. "We need to pray for wisdom, we need to pray for compassion." The room goes quiet. Becca reaches out for Britt's hand on one side and Top's hand on the other as she bows her head. The rest of the adults clasp hands in a circle, including Top's guards, and they all bow their heads as Becca prays.
"Dear Lord, hear our plea. We are trying to walk the path you have laid before us. We are weak, you are strong. Strengthen us dear Lord, as we face decisions that are troubling. Show us a path to help those that we can. Grant us compassion Lord that we may stretch to our breaking point in extending love, extending help. Grant us wisdom dear Lord, that we may know the best ways to help, that we may find a path forward that allows us all to not just survive, but to thrive! Strengthen us, that we may in all ways use the talents you have given us to glorify your kingdom. We have been a country that has strayed from you. Let us all return to you. And in returning to you, may we make your love and grace known to all.
"You work miracles every day dear Lord. Work miracles today. Show us the path that you wish us to follow. In our pain, in our grieving, help us to grow stronger, let us all remember that through your son, Jesus Christ, we are mad
e pure. Let us unite and work together under that one great truth. In Christ we pray, Amen." The Amens are repeated around the room as hands are squeezed. Tears glisten in the corners of many eyes. Hugs are exchanged.
Britt and Janie, both with welling eyes, say they are heading out to help with the move to the new house. Herc and Leesa go with them. The room clears out as people head on to get done what needs done.
Top stays seated, looking at Becca. "How do you do that? How, in the face of this crisis, do you place your hope in God, in miracles? I want that faith. You have peace, I want that peace."
"It's there for you John. All you need to do is know Christ as your savior, as the world's savior, and truly believe that God is in control. God does work miracles every day. You just have to believe in your heart that God loves you and that you are here because he wants you here. You are not just a blob of cells that turned out to be Sergeant John Fisher. God created you! And he loves you. You are here for a reason.
"You brought me six months of medicine. That is a miracle in my eyes. I did not ask for it. Not from you, not from God. But you brought it. As Mark said this morning, God wanted his leg, but not all of him. God still has plans for Mark, or God would have taken Mark. Just pray to God, and believe it, and you can have that same peace."
John sees the sincerity and love in Becca's eyes. He falls on his knees and closes his eyes. He reaches out and clasps Becca's hands "I have always thought I was a Christian Lord, but dear Lord, I now turn my life over to you. Your son died for my sins, for my arrogance. Lord I want that peace in knowing your grace. Lead me, guide me. Use my talents to help grow your kingdom. You know Lord, you know. Forgive me, use me." John begins to cry tears of joy. Becca hugs him silently, tears rolling down her cheeks too, no words are needed.
Righteous Bloodshed: Righteous Survival EMP Saga, Book 2 Page 13
