"Did some of these men fire on your people? Probably. Did your people try and overrun their positions? Try and overrun the airport? The airport they were told to defend so that maybe food could be brought in for you?"
"Now you shoot him because he has exposed your lies. You have a thousand followers. Your actions could have gotten them all killed! Only the restraint and discipline of these soldiers, the ones you want to kill, and our militia, many of whom know and served with these soldiers, has kept this from being a killing field." He turns and spits in disgust.
Gloria and Ms. Hodge have rushed to Zach, who coughs and sputters.
"Go home!" Sidney bellows. "We are your neighbors, not your enemies. Your leaders have led you astray. Come back as friends. Do not come back in arms." Sidney's voice is growing hoarse. But his words have had their effect. The mob has already turned and started back towards Richland. The leaders of the mob stand agape, including the woman who shot Zach. Seeing that their followers are retreating, they turn and walk away too.
Zach, in the arms of the two women, sputters again. "Son of a bitch, that hurts." The bullet impacted where it would have ripped through his right lung, leaving a deadly path of destruction through his upper body. The Kevlar body armor stopped the bullet. But the kinetic energy of the round will leave a large bruise for weeks to come.
By the time he gets to his feet, the mob has already turned and is heading away. The crowd of defenders cheers as he gingerly finds his footing.
Sidney watches as Zach regains his composure. "You’re made of pretty tough stuff soldier."
Zach tries to shake it off but the pain radiates throughout his body. "Not the first time I've been hit, gunny. This shit saved my life running convoy in Iraq. But that wasn't a direct hit to my chest. You stepped out pretty bold and confrontational. We need to get you some body armor too." Sidney winks at Zach as he pulls up the side of his heavy flannel shirt, revealing his own body armor.
* * *
The group of civilian and military leaders watch as the mass of people retreats up the highway. Ms. Hodge, visually shaken at the events asks, "Is that it? Do you think this is over?"
"Unfortunately no," replies the Mayor of Saint Michaels. "They have run out of food. The few farms in the area have been picked clean, I am sure. They have been prodding around here for several days. But we have very few farms. The few we have, we are trying to protect in return for food, but that is not going to last long term. We may not be able to get through the winter. Further north there are more farms. Hopefully we will be able to work with them. But those people, they are going to get even more desperate."
"The mayor is right, Ms. Hodge. I won’t be surprised if small groups of that band start peeling off as soon as they are out of sight. They will head through the countryside looking for food, maybe even try raiding some of the small farms, steal some chickens or kill a pig. Mayor, my farm is up that way and so are some other small farms, and two good sized dairy farms. With your permission, I'm going to set out patrols and to make sure we don't have any problems."
"Somerset has food," Ms. Hodge states bluntly.
The group turns and looks at her. Her face is blank but her mind is actively working through the possibilities.
"We have food. We have farmers. Some are harvesting by using horses to draw the equipment. We have several large dairy operations that can’t milk their cows. They can’t let anymore cows reproduce because they can’t milk them. We have an abundance of food. We have thousands of acres of potatoes and cabbage that need harvested. At our last meeting, three days ago, some of the farmers where concerned about having enough people to harvest the crops. And we need guards too. They need food, we need people."
The mayor speaks up again. "Somerset, 'Mountain top market basket' I recall seeing somewhere. From Davidsville south, almost to Berlin, are countless productive farms. But if it doesn't get harvested, it rots in the fields."
"And if doesn’t get to market it rots in the silos." Gunny adds.
"We can't have food lie rotting twenty miles away from starving people." States Ms. Hodge.
"Beans and bullets was my job," states First Sergeant Hay. "We got the beans, and the bullets, we just need to work out the logistics."
"And some diplomacy," states the mayor.
"You all are onto something." Zach puts in, grimacing. "But we still need to get through today. Gunny, if my crew takes over duties here on your other roadblocks, that will free your people up to protect the local farms. And our civilian contingent can take some time to work through this problem."
"And give you time to heal a bit from taking a 9mm slug to the chest?" gunny chides him.
"It's going to hurt worse tomorrow than it does today." Zach says knowingly.
Chapter 36, Traveling
The Mountains East of Johnstown, PA
September 21st
Twenty-four hours later Zach's convoy clears the last roadblock heading east on Route 869 towards Blue Knob. They will be traveling country roads, and in many cases dirt roads, to avoid the more populated towns as they head east and then south on their cross-country journey. They hope to meet the scouts returning from Central City sometime later today.
The civilian leaders have worked out a plan to try and establish a way to get food to Johnstown in return for workers and guards for the farms. Establishing a line of communications will be the hardest part. People have been killed. People are starving. People are desperate. Hopefully, despite the troubles they all face, a solution can be found. Priority number one has to be establishing peace with the people of Johnstown, Richland and Windber so that communications, and food, can travel the Route 219 corridor.
* * *
There are many small skirmishes and raids, after the horde from Richland had been sent back, making Route 160 towards Windber a no man’s land. Civilians are stuck hunkering down, try to live on the last meager scraps left in their homes. Just harvesting tomatoes and peppers from their home gardens is a risk of life.
Zach's convoy reaches Route 56, ten miles west of Windber by late afternoon. The scouts that had been sent to Central City are there, exchanging news with the few people manning a remote roadblock in the small village of Ogletown. Zach is elated to see them, but his joy is quickly squelched. The scouts were not able to get to the Mays Farmstead, being repeatedly ignored and rebuffed. Big things had been happening, and they were small fry trying to get heard.
The people they did get information from talked of several big battles with some warlord and his drug addicts. Apparently the locals had rescued thousands of people stuck at the Flight 93 Memorial and the whole town was turned upside down trying to make room and take care of everyone. The scouts described the town as controlled chaos.
But they could provide no news of Janie and Zach's family, no news of the Mays farm, except that it was somehow part of the battle. A battle the town won, but at what cost, the scouts didn't know.
Zach wants to scream. 'You idiots! You were supposed to make contact! That's my wife and kids! My step-dad and Mom! You are worthless….' But he keeps all those thoughts in his head. He knows the fog of war. These men did what they could. He thanks them and begins to recalibrate the day's mission.
"Break is over! Let’s move this convoy. We still got daylight." Zach hollers. The men and women start to get ready to move. A few siphoning crews come back, exchanging a few rounds of ammunition for the fuel they got from the locals.
Sergeant Hay and Sergeant Burns approach Zach as the convoy starts filling out.
"We got extra security here with the locals. We can set up a good position south of the road. You sure we shouldn't hunker down for the night?" asks Sergeant Burns.
"We got four more hours of daylight." Zach pulls out a topographical map they picked up in Saint Michaels. "It's only about eight miles to here." Zach points to an intersection on the map, east of Central City. "I know that ground. I have hunted that ground. We can get there with daylight to spare to set up a camp
and security. No sense staying here."
"That looks to be only a few miles from your step dad's farm. Why not go all the way there."
"Depends on when we get there. We are not going to travel at night with this convoy. Too risky. We have firepower, but we don’t have stealth. That is a good position to continue the mission from. It puts most of the back roads behind us. From there, Sergeant Hay, you can get to Somerset by tomorrow. If we stay here, that may not happen."
Sergeant Hay nods to Sergeant Burns. "No offense Zach, we didn’t want to race through the woods because your family is close. Your decisions are solid. We're with you."
Zach chuckles, then grabs his ribs in pain. "I do plan on having breakfast with my wife and family, you all are going to be there too. But it's going to be breakfast, not lunch or dinner. Come on you amateur psychoanalysts, let’s get this show on the road! Day light is burning!"
Ten minute later the convoy is churning down the dirt roads that Zach knows very well. Passing fishing streams where he learned to fish for trout, and the woods where he learned to shoot squirrel and grouse.
They make camp only a few miles east of his parents homestead. He swears he can smell his wife's scent in the air. He considers sending scouts to the farmstead, or going himself. He quells that desire and gets on with making sure his convoy has set a good perimeter. Tomorrow will be a new day.
Chapter 37, Reunion
The Farmstead
September 23rd
The bell at the new front gate begins to ring. Grace comes running onto the porch where Mark and his family elders are meeting with some of the local leaders, both civilian and military. “Ya gotta come see this! There is a friggin army convoy heading our way! Big friggin trucks with big friggin guns!"
The farmstead command room is already in motion. They have been through this before. In less than two weeks, the haphazard defense of their farm has turned into a seriously armed position to be reckoned with, even by a hardened army unit. Hairy's voice comes in over the com. "Herc, serious shit coming in from the east." As they hear this they see on the video system that Leesa and all four young ones are racing from the front house back to the farmhouse.
Herc barks quickly over the com system. "Front to base, four kids with Leesa heading your way. Heavy shit coming down the road. I hope you see this. These are well armed dudes!"
Grace hollers out, "What do we do Pap? Look at the screen, this could be one of those rogue army units! Nothing has come from the east, this ain’t right Pap."
Everyone at the Farmstead is moving into position to fight this new threat. Mark has managed to hobble to the command center to see two hummers and a deuce filling the screen. All three trucks have SAW weapons mounted and manned. Even with the defenses the farmstead has set up and the extra security that came with this morning's guests, they stand no chance.
As he is about to issue a retreat order he sees a white bandana being waved from the lead hummer. "Stand down. Stand down. Stand down. They got a white flag out." He says into the com system. "Hairy, get out there with an over-watch scout and stop them. Be peaceful my large friend. The front house has you covered."
"Are you sure boss? That is some serious fire power they got." Hairy says over his com set.
"You had more firepower than I did when we met, Hairy, and I walked up and shook your hand. Trust me, better yet, trust God."
"But you're nuttier than me, boss," is Hairy's scratchy reply.
"Trust God Hairy, you got this, and he got you."
A few seconds later Hairy responds. "Okay, boss."
They watch from the command center as the very large Hairy steps into the road, in front of the lead hummer.
The convoy stops, the lead SAW directs its attention on Hairy's large chest. The other vehicles pull into the wood line and their two automatic weapons scan for threats.
Hairy makes his best impression of Gandalf and bellows, "You shall not pass!"
The scene would be comical if not for the seriousness of the situation.
Maintaining the Gandalf persona, Hairy bellows. "Bring forth your leader. We shall decide your fate!"
* * *
Zach has his suburban roll up the road to find out why the convoy has stopped, hand signals have been relayed of a visual threat. He has his vehicle pull in behind the big deuce. He gets out, using the cover of the deuce to his advantage. His heart is racing. They are only a few hundred yards from the lane that leads to his wife and family. Why the hold up? And a bell is ringing, but he knows that bell. Confused, he and his security man scamper along the wood line to the lead vehicle.
He looks through the brush to see a large well armed man standing directly in the middle of the road. The man looks like a bear standing on its hind legs, with thick hairy arms and wild unkempt hair. Zach's heart almost stops. Who is this gnarly man, with arms crossed, standing confidently in the middle of the road blocking a well armed convoy without any fear?
Confusion and doubt overwhelm him. Is he too late? Did the anarchist swarm in and kill his family? Take his parents' farm? He is about to explode with rage when the large man bellows once again.
"I have God on my side. I do not fear you! Bring your leader forward and we will discuss your passage!"
Zach, astounded, steps boldly out onto the road. "I am the leader. This is my home. Stand at ease soldier, we are friends."
The bear of a man stands stoically, looking at Zach. Then he raises his hands and starts to run towards him. "You're Zach! Dear Lord! Dear Lord! Dear Lord!"
Before Zach can stop the bear of a man he is swept up in his embrace. He has to pound on the giant's back to get him to stop hugging him, his ribs aching from the large bruise on his chest. Tears start to roll down his face as he knows his family is safe with this bear of a man standing boldly to protect them.
As the large man sets him down, Zach finally realizes the man has a headset on. He looks quickly to the driveway turnoff and his sharp eye sees the hidden camera. What has gone on here, he thinks as he waves his Suburban forward.
* * *
Back at the main house, a celebration has already begun. Upon seeing Zach step from the wood line on the remote cam, Hairy was told who he was. Janie, carrying Sarah, and with the two younger boys right behind her, started racing out the driveway. Rusty and Blake, at the front house, are tearing down the road to greet their dad. Becca is softly crying as she organizes the kitchen crew to start cooking up food. Mark, Colonel Fisher, and Paul just watch in amazement at what they are seeing.
Fifteen minutes later, Zach walks down the road to the farmstead with his family around him. Becca rushes out to greet him while Mark waits patiently on the porch, his stump leg keeping him from moving too quickly. Zach's convoy follows him down the country lane, trucks peeling off into security positions as they are trained to do.
Mark hollers towards the kitchen "Leesa, you better get all the helping hands you can. We got a lot of hungry mouths to feed. We won’t worry about rations today. Today is a day of celebration!"
An hour later sliced apples, eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, biscuits and gravy are being served in extreme portions. Tales are being told. Tears are shed for what has been lost. Marks stump leg and the battle at the house is explained as well as the last fight and fleeing of the airport. The Somerset crew is overwhelmed with hospitality, but also with the state of affairs.
But even as the homecoming is rejoiced, ten men and women are on security. Colonel Britt watches over the command center. Others are kept in position, in case an unfriendly group comes their way. Herc and Larson do a roving patrol of the property. As much as there is to celebrate, they all are living in a new world, where safety cannot be assumed.
Unnoticed, once again, dressed in his Sunday best clothing, young Mark sobs quietly. Becca finally sees his distress grabs him up in her arms. "What's wrong Mark?"
"It's church day, we are supposed to go to church today, but nobody remembered. We have to remember God, we have to go to chur
ch," young Mark says innocently.
Becca runs the days through her head, then looks at the clock on the stove. 'From the mouths of babes' she thinks. Nine-forty-five. They have forty five minutes to get to church.
Fifteen minutes later a large group heads out of the Mountain Side homestead. Many are dirty, smelly and bloody. None are armed. At Becca's insistence all arms are left behind. "We are going to God's house, He will protect us," she states firmly. Their crowd over whelms the sanctuary, leaving many standing. Mark and Becca are offered seats. Reverend Wysinger’s’ message is on Romans 12:6. Everyone has talents, and we should use them to do God’s work...
Chapter 38, Departures
Central City
September 23rd
The city hall public room is overflowing with people. It is two o'clock in the afternoon and a steady rain is falling outside. It being a Sunday the churches and fire hall again had a free dinner served at noon, but with the rain, people did not mingle long afterwards. The markets being closed, most people are home, or wherever they may be calling home, resting.
The presence of the group from Somerset and the military force that has arrived with Zach has made this meeting necessary. Many things are discussed. The situation in Davidsville is alarming to Ms. Hodge and Sergeant Hay, making getting back to Somerset even more urgent. The food sources available in Somerset are a bright spot to everyone. It is agreed that the farming capacity has to be maintained, defended.
The program of accepting refugees in exchange for work is hashed over. The possibility of anarchists, hoodlums, or other adversaries using this program to spy and infiltrate the "safe" areas is seen as a risk. But turning away innocent people in distress is not an option, and the workers are needed on the farms and for general help. Who knows how many doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, lawyers, plumbers, carpenters, merchants; people of all skills that are dislocated and will be invaluable to help rebuild a working community? Those brought into the militia, guard and policing forces will need to be selected wisely.
Righteous Bloodshed: Righteous Survival EMP Saga, Book 2 Page 26
