As they come close to the turn off to Mountain Side, the tractor slows, but does not stop. He watches as a roadblock at the main driveway is opened quickly. There are only a few people manning the roadblock, most of whom he does not even recognize. They move a little slower down the gravel road. As they crest the ridge, he looks for the old farmhouse and does not see it. He sees the tracks through the cornfields. He can smell the stale smell of burnt wood, then he sees the burnt out remains of the old farmhouse. His gut churns. A battle was fought here. Who lived? Who died?
As they come up to the charred remains of the old farmhouse, he sees the old barn come into view, standing tall. Then he sees the powerhouse, and all the solar panels that he helped install. He looks to the left and the windmill is churning away dutifully in the steady morning breeze. They pass Janie and her two young boys carrying baskets with eggs. He turns to see the main house still standing. Becca is there with a large black woman and a young child. Wow, he thinks. What has happened here? So many people, so many strange faces.
Becca rushes off the porch as the tractor and trailer jolt to a halt and the men and women jump off. "Paul! Eve! They said you were coming! I didn't believe it! Oh my God! Halleluiah! Praise the Lord! You’re still alive!" She begins to cry as she hugs them both deeply. She steps back and looks at them; dirty torn clothes, grimy faces, sunken eyes. "God, what you must have been through to get here. But you're here!" Eyes still glistening, she hugs them both again. "Come in, let's get you cleaned up and fed. Come in."
Not to be out done, the three dogs on the farmstead rush out to greet Badzy. All four dogs race off in a tear, prancing, sniffing and playing as dogs do.
Paul is speechless at all they have seen, all they have been through. They head into the big main house, some of the men that rode out with them follow along. The rest of the men and women from the trailer begin to mingle with the farmstead people Paul doesn't recognize, like old friends. Paul is bewildered and confused, but too weary to ask questions.
Once inside, a fresh cup of coffee in his hand, he begins to look around at the familiar surroundings. The fridge is working and the clock on the stove reads the time in digital numbers. A couple of lights are on where needed. The power system and faraday cage he designed worked! He smiles to himself.
"Hey Uncle Paul!" Says Grace as he walks into the large great room with his bandaged arm still in a sling. "All your stuff worked. You got to come see our command center when your get cleaned up. Me and my mom are in charge in there. Maybe you can help us make it better. It's an important part of the operation and we could use your help." Some squawking from a CB radio is heard from what was the office, followed by more electronic chatter. "I gotta go Uncle Paul, lot's going on this morning. I'm glad you're here." He walks over and hugs Paul and Eve, then heads back toward the office, now the command center, as if it were any normal day.
The large black woman grabs Paul's hand. "Come with me big guy, we need to get you cleaned up, you too Eve." She looks at Georgeanne. "I don't know your name, but you come along too. Let's get you all cleaned up, then we'll get you something to eat. Maybe by then Mark will be up and you can go in and visit with him."
Paul turns and looks at Becca. "What does she mean by that? And who is she? Who are all these people?"
"It's okay Paul. She is our resident nurse. Mark was badly injured a few days ago, he lost his leg, but he is recovering. All these people are here to protect us, and to help keep the farm going. Get cleaned up. A lot has happened, we'll fill you in. The important thing is you are here, alive and well. You are safe here. It's going to be okay."
He sees that his fellow farm trailer riders have already settled into the large dining table and are being fed eggs and bacon by a pretty young interracial woman. Several other unknown faces surround them, all heartily digging in and talking as if they were family.
A familiar face comes through the door just then, Janie and her two youngest boys. "Hey Uncle Paul, Aunt Eve. We heard you made it here, we just went and gathered three dozen more duck eggs. Get cleaned up and come back for breakfast, we got plenty."
Stunned at what he is seeing, he follows the nurse to go get cleaned up. His first good bath in over a week. Eve and Georgeanne, both overwhelmed as well, go to get cleaned up too.
Chapter 25, The General
The Farmstead
September 22nd
"So is the General is awake?" asks Top as he crunches down a piece of bacon.
"I don’t like you calling him 'The General', John. He is just a man trying to help."
"When you don't show up at the School Board meeting and they elect you School Board President, well you know how it is."
"Sergeant Fisher!" Barks Rebecca. "We are not talking about the school board, we are talking about a real war! From what Britt tells me, now we got refugees and hooligans coming from the city. My husband already lost a leg, what more does he have to give!"
"Becca, you know better than me that Mark is a gifted leader.’We are to use the talents that God blessed us with.' I do believe that is something I've heard your husband say," Top replies. "The town council voted him as the General of the Laurel Highlands Militia."
Becca glares at him. "Oh no you didn't!"
"Sister Rebecca, Sergeant Fisher is right." Reverend Wysinger states. "Mark's leadership and forethought has helped our community more than anyone realizes. I voted for him to be the General of the militia too, so long as he accepts. He is a leader, Becca. We need a leader. You know that."
Becca glares at the reverend too, then looks around the table. Eyes turn away as her glare bores in. The table grows silent.
Just then, Grace bounces in from the command center. "Grandma, Pappy Mark has to be the General. That's what he is supposed to do. I got shot, but I didn't die, so I'm supposed to help with the command center. Pappy Mark got hurt, but he didn't die. He is supposed to be our General. You got to let it go Gramm, it's the way it's supposed to be."
Becca begins to cry. She knows her grandson is right. She has known it all along. God works in mysterious ways, and a fifteen-year has old laid it out plain as day. She turns and runs to the back bedroom, where Niki has just finished changing Mark's bandage.
Mark sees her crying and embraces her as she collapses on him. "Baby doll, what's the matter Baby doll? Don’t cry, I'm getting better. It's okay."
"They want to make you the General of their militia! You already lost your leg. Oh Mark! I couldn't live if I lost you. Oh Mark, say no, please say no for me. Please." She lies in his arms, weeping. He hugs her back, trying to comfort her.
Niki cleans up and leaves the room. The couple needs time alone.
Twenty minutes later, Becca returns to the great room. "The General is awake and you can go see him now." She says, sternly. She grabs Top's arm as he passes. She looks him directly in the eye. "You better protect that man. I'm giving him to you. You make sure you keep him safe." She is serious as a heart attack, and Top knows it.
"It's a dangerous world Becca, but we will keep him safe."
"He can be a damn fool! Like when he went after that druggie leader. Don't let him be a hero. You keep him safe."
Top nods again, "We'll do our best Rebecca, we'll do our best."
* * *
In the large bedroom, the conversation starts quick. I have been out of the loop for three days, I want updated. But before things get going, a cleaned up Paul steps in.
"Little brother!" He walks over and gives me a huge hug as my eyes widen!
"Paul! Paul! Paul! Oh my God! You made it! How about Eve and Celeste."
"Eve is here, Celeste passed away, her pacemaker failed." Paul pauses for a moment, remembering her loss, and all they have been through.
"They say you lost your leg." Paul states grimly.
"I didn't lose it, I know exactly where it is, in the land fill up on White Mountain, if it made it that far." I pull the blankets back revealing the freshly bandaged leg, cut off just below the knee. "Niki has b
een taking good care of me. The pain ain't as bad as it was, and it's startin' to heal. I'll be okay so long as it don’t get infected.
"Everyone this is my brother Paul. He is the reason we have lights and electronics. If it weren't for him, we probably would have gotten over run by that first wave of hooligans. Paul, this is Top, in charge of our militia operations, this is Reverend Wysinger, he oversees our refugee outreach, Jerry, here is in charge of our roadblocks. This woman here is a doctor, I don’t remember her name, but she is in charge of our health care. And this big man? Who are you? You look familiar, but I can't place you.
"I'm Cy Yoder. I'm the president of the local grange."
"Oh wow, I am so glad you are here. We need that grange active and organizing."
For the next thirty minutes a free ranging conversation flows, updating me as to what is going on. I takes it all in, so does Paul. Questions are asked and answers given, honest answers. Trying to hide the truth in these dire times will have bad consequences.
The food situation for now is okay, Cy has organized the farmers enough to keep everyone fed without disrupting the ability to produce more crops and meat stock. The health situation is bad. Many weak, sick and elderly have died or are dying, and without medical supplies, the dying will continue. The quarantines have to stay in force, and the screening of refugees has to continue, or the problems will get worse. The security situation is very bad. Rumors are that the people leaving Johnstown are hungry, desperate and ruthless. Marauders are devastating farms and pushing out from the city. Paul's story of the house-by-house pillaging in Pittsburgh is eye opening. The mood is sour as all the stories and updates are concluded.
“Let’s stop this talk of demise. God is with us, right reverend?” I state with a nod from the reverend. “Well let’s call on God to help us.” Not all present are true believers, but all clasp hands. "Dear God, you have allowed these trying times to come upon us. Our nation, we as a people, have scorned you, chased you away from our lives. We pursued a life of selfishness and debauchery. Forgive us dear Lord. We are gathered here now to turn to you for guidance. We here, dear Lord, love you and follow your word. I lift us all up to you, that you may grant us wisdom, patience, kindness and righteousness. May your grace be upon us as we try to follow the path you have laid before us. I pray that what has happened becomes a great awakening. That we may see that in times of trials, dear Lord, you are here with us, loving us, making us better men and women. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen." A small chorus of amens ring around the room.
"One last thing Mark, before we break this up," Top starts. "The town council wants you to be the General of our militia. The vote has already been taken. Upon your acceptance you are the General of the Laurel Highlands Militia."
"Becca already told me, Top. You have to answer to her if anything bad happens to me, you got that on your shoulders. God didn't take me the other night. I guess it was so I would be here this morning. I accept the commission as General of the Laurel Highlands Militia."
A round of applause and cheers echoes through the house. Becca cries softly in the kitchen as she helps clean up, knowing what just happened. She says a prayer that the Lord will protect and guide her husband.
As the group begins to leave the bedroom, First Sergeant Fisher lingers.
"General, our biggest asset here has been our communications. Sgt Anders, that pentagon Colonel, has done a great job, with the CB's, the runner systems. Now he is working on getting the crazy old coot to bring in his HAM radio. Well, I field promoted him to Lieutenant and sent him out to establish communications with the other towns. I sent him with a heavy guard and scout bikes. We need to know what's going on in the other towns. Anyway, now he outranks me,"
"And you want a field promotion too?" I reply. "First of all, how can you promote somebody to a rank higher than you hold? Second of all, if I promote you it has to be to an officer position, so you'll no longer will be 'Top'."
"Yeah, I know. To paraphrase your grandson, 'it is where I am supposed to be.'"
"Okay Colonel Fisher, you want that in writing. Bring Jerry in here and we'll make it official, with a witness."
And they do that. Jerry is given a field promotion as well, to Captain, for his leadership with the road blocks. And Randy is promoted too, even though he is not there. I make hand written notes to that effect. While I am at it, I call Britt in, and officially promotes her to Lt. Colonel.
"Now you really need to protect my ass. If I die, forget dealing with my wife, you will have to deal with Britt!"
Grace barges into the room. "Mom, Top, you gotta come. Bad things have happened. Our guys are out around Davidsville and Jerome. It's bad. They're in a battle."
Chapter 26, Farmers in Peril
Davidsville Area
September 22nd
"We got to get the hell out of Here!" yells Lt Anders. "This is nuts!"
"Not till we get little Jimmy," Randy responds. Little Jimmy is a scout rider who is down about a hundred yards ahead of them. He is only twenty-two years old, but is a skilled motocross rider, and Randy’s nephew.
He gets on the CB and tells the men in the over watch position to light up the barn and the area around it where they have been taking fire from.
"Hang on and stay low guys," he yells through the shot out rear window. The old truck spins gravel as it lurches down the road. Firing from both sides increases as the truck races towards the downed scout. The 30-caliber machine gun from his over watch opens up, and the defenders duck for cover.
The sergeant fishtails in the road, placing the truck between the injured scout and the farm the marauders have taken over. Two men jump out and grab little Jimmy and throw him into the back of the truck. Spinning more tire, the truck accelerates back over the rise and out of the line of fire from the farm.
"Leave a scout to keep an eye on them, then get back here with that medic," Randy orders the over watch truck squad. Three minutes later, a volunteer EMP from Central City is field dressing the young man's wounds. He was not hit but the bike must have been, causing him to wreck, and resulting in a badly sprained knee. Two other militia have been slightly wounded and they get bandaged up too.
* * *
The team is on the outskirts of Davidsville. They had come through Hooversville and set up a communications protocol with an order to gather old CB radios. Lt Anders let them know how they were going to establish better communications between the small towns. They had done the same in Benson Borough. Then they headed up the hill towards Davidsville. The squad had been warned that city marauders where in that area, that many farms had been overrun, even though the locals had offered to help the city folk.
Taking the back roads into Davidsville, they came up on one of the most prosperous farms in the area, the old Joe Johns farm. It is the original farmstead of the founder of Johnstown, established over two hundred years ago. That was where things started to go bad.
As they crested the hill, it was obvious the farm was overrun by the city people. Several hundred were camped out amongst the various out buildings. Two large cooking fires were burning. People were lined up to get food. They were sickly and thin. But, they were armed. Jimmy, a likeable young man, was sent to the farm to establish peaceful talks under a white flag. He came under fire before he got there. The camp people scattered and took up fighting positions.
* * *
The firefight over, the team is talking to Central City, trying to figure out what to do next. They are at the edge of the CB radio's range, and transmissions are garbled.
"Hey Sarge, we got company coming out of the draw. They look like friendlies, they are waving a white flag," one of the security men hollers.
"Keep an eye on them, and bring them up if they know anything we should know," Randy replies.
Five Minutes later an extended family of ten people have been allowed into their security perimeter, the medic is patching them up. A middle-aged man is brought up to Randy and Lt Anders.
"Th
at's my farm up there, those bastards over ran us yesterday. We welcomed some of them in, and started to feed them. More showed up, and we welcomed them too. Then, after a few crazed looking guys showed up, they drew down on us, told us we were selfish for keeping all the food. They started yelling about all the starving people in Johnstown. We told them we would try to help, that we had cattle and we could help.
"Then a guy went all crazy. He said we didn't have cattle anymore, that all the cattle belonged to everyone now, whoever needed food." The man starts to cry. "Jenny started yelling at the man. That’s when they shot her, they shot my wife. We ran, I ran. I am such a coward! But what could I do?" He sits down and cries. Randy waits, anger growing inside him as he watches the man mourn the loss of his wife.
"They shot Pap too, he couldn't run, my oldest boy fought back, he's probably dead too. Now they are slaughtering my herd, killed my best bull first."
"What defenses do you all have to keep your farms safe?" Randy asks.
"We had a checkpoint on 403, coming out of Tire Hill. Hoffman Evangelical, over by 219, was feeding people. Up until a few days ago 219 was being patrolled by the Reserve units, so it was safe. Those patrols stopped, I don't know why. Saint James, at the top of the hill was taking in all they could too. But, over the past two days, too many people came too quick. The folks couldn't help them all fast enough. All of Davidsville is pretty much over run now. I saw a bunch of people heading towards Benson, forced from their homes or just too scared to stay.
"Some of the folks that first showed up, they were looking for help. But the folks showing up now, they came looking to take us over. That crazed guy at my farm, he didn't want no help. He wanted my farm. Well he got it now. And people died because of it." The man starts crying again.
Right then, the outpost scout comes running back. "About fifty armed men have come out and are heading this way. Some are trying to skirt along the wood line, but most are just walking straight this way."
Righteous Bloodshed: Righteous Survival EMP Saga, Book 2 Page 17
