by D A Carey
“At this time, there is no credible evidence to support an eminent attack on U.S. domestic air travel, though there is enough chatter to support an increased awareness level. Intelligence gathering efforts have been able to quantify threats in two categories:
The first and least likely of the two threats is a surface-to-air missile triggered from within the United States by terror organizations emboldened by the response generated to the downing of civilian aircrafts in the Ukraine and Asia. This threat is less likely due to the strong controls of those weapons in the U.S. and the difficulty getting them into the country. Analysts recommend enhanced surveillance at shipping ports, especially with containers originating from countries known to support terrorism. Enhanced Security is recommended along the U.S. /Mexico border. Recent transmissions suggest increased communications between terrorist organizations and Mexican drug cartels. Finally, random increased reconnaissance around major U.S. airports will be conducted. Large aircraft are at their most vulnerable to these types of weapons during takeoff and landing. This should be done surreptitiously as to not alarm the American public.
The second and more likely threat is within the airport facilities themselves. Intelligence gathering suggests that many refugees who have immigrated to the U.S. during previous administrations were seeded with sleeper cell terrorists. These people have either trained homegrown Antifa dissidents or have been working to get sensitive work area documentation illegally. While many of these operations aimed at gaining work documentations for airports have been uncovered, the FBI and CIA theorize that many are yet to be found. Although motive is still unclear, analysts suggest that improvised explosive devices could bring down civilian passenger planes, further warning that a concerted effort could have similar impacts to the 9/11 event.
Teamwork
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.”
- John Adams
Louisville, Kentucky
Steve Billings made it into work. Most of his coworkers chose to dial in remotely. He was a shy, pudgy, bespectacled computer programmer who lived alone, avoided conflict, and liked to read or play computer games. Steve was low on food at home and didn’t think the conditions could be that bad. Getting into the parking garage next to the YUM center by 6:30 in the morning, the streets were pretty empty. The drive in from his small home in the highlands went much faster than normal.
Sitting in his cube, he got so engrossed in the e-mails and computer programs he was writing that he forgot all about the riots and crime going on in the city. At lunchtime, he went out for food. Main Street was virtually empty, and the restaurants were closed. Steve walked down to the Fourth Street restaurant and bar area, thinking surely something would be open there.
As he approached Fourth Street, he heard a loud noise like a roar and a commotion. He expected people were either crowding to the few open restaurants or perhaps some protesters were speaking on a bullhorn. The courthouse and government buildings were only a block or two away. Seeing a huge, angry crowd marching down Liberty Street made Steve try to turn away, but they were between him and the office now, and he was hungry. He decided to edge past and try to find a place to eat. He reasoned that they had no cause to be angry with him and he would be safe inside the restaurant.
Steve wasn’t sure what set them off. Perhaps he’d bumped someone, didn’t fit in, or they were looking for someone to focus their anger on. He only knew he was circled by dozens of angry people. Some seemed from the bad area of downtown while many others just looked like college students. They wouldn’t listen to him or let him pass. Steve panicked and tried to push his way through, and that set them off even more. The pain of the first few blows was worse than anything he could have imagined. He went to the ground in a gutter and tried to curl in a ball to protect his face and internal organs. One of the kicks was excruciating, and it felt like something tore loose inside. He could feel the blood in his mouth that reminded him of the taste of a copper penny. Thankfully, he lost consciousness and escaped the torment of pain from dozens of kicks and punches.
Had the crowd listened, they could have heard the man’s anguished screams or noticed when they stopped. When they moved on, it would have taken only one person to call an ambulance to save his life from the slow hemorrhage of blood filling his mouth and lungs. It was several hours before a city worker discovered his body.
<< Vince >>
Vince’s cell phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Vince, this is Jeff.”
“Hi, Jeff. What’s up?”
“I’ll be back at the Carrollton site on Friday. Can you meet me there?”
“Friday’s tough. Will you be there all weekend?”
“I plan to be in town for four or five days. Why?”
“I can’t get out there until after lunch on Friday, but if you have time, I’d like to show you around the property the way it was meant to be seen.”
“What do you mean?” Jeff asked, somewhat perplexed.
“Do you ride?” Vince asked.
“Pretty much anything. What do you have in mind?”
“Horses.”
“I love riding. We have some quarter horses back home in Colorado.”
“Then I’m going to spoil you on a nice Tennessee walking horse,” Vince snickered. “You’ll love it, and you’ll experience this property the way it was meant to be.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“I directed some of the crew to cut a few riding paths in the property and one to the diner along with a hitching rail there so we can grab a bite to eat when we’re done. I’d also like to ride some of those buffalo fence lines you all wanted while we’re out there, although I don’t understand why it needed to be so high and strong.”
“I’ll show you what we were thinking during the ride. It’s not a big deal. We needed to build fence anyway, so why not spend a little extra and give us an extra line of defense if it’s ever needed?”
“Well, they aren’t totally done yet. The solar panels to power the hot wire on top are on back order with so few over-the-road trucks running.”
“That’s fine. We’ll check out the property and fences and then get a bite to eat. You should also double the solar panel order so we can keep some in reserve whenever they do get here.”
***
Vince and Jeff were getting along well. Jeff shared how much he liked Kentucky and the ark location and found himself enjoying the visits. The entire property was sectioned out in eighths, roughly shaped like pie slices fanning out from the partially built community. From the air, the entire property on the southern bank of the Ohio River might have resembled a half a moon, if the missing half had fallen into the river. It was partitioned off according to planned use. Some fields had been used for certain crops for many years, while others were open for future use. Additionally, the property had a few hundred acres of woodlands and wildlife.
The newly remodeled country diner, which had a view of the rivers and the city of Carrollton proper to the east, was at the base of the hill near the entrance to the property. The diner was doing great business. They served wholesome food, much of which was grown either onsite or by other local farmers. With the augmented space and additional staff Dave had approved, the diner became an instant hit with the locals and was beginning to attract tourists as well. Dave was already talking about turning the concept into a regional or national chain, thinking it would be great to introduce restaurants that used locally sourced meat and produce. It would be a great way to showcase what each community could do. They could share products between locations as well if needed. Creating a restaurant chain that could possibly be expanded outside the communities definitely fit into his idea for the portfolio of businesses that would turn a profit and be owned by Chartertown Corporation.
When they reached the diner, Jeff and Vince tied the horses out back and went inside. While eating,
they watched the news on the TV rather absentmindedly, engaging in idle chit chat. Vince suggested to Jeff that he stay on site for the week.
“I’m sure we could get you to the airport and out, although the risk doesn’t seem worth it. It’s comfortable here, you have a safe, clean place to stay, and with the unpredictability of riots in Louisville right now, it makes the most sense. The police are overwhelmed, and the governor is reluctant to call in the National Guard because in other states that only inflamed the situation. I’ve been told that many guard members aren’t reporting for duty. They’re opting to stay home to protect their families and property.”
“You’re probably right,” Jeff conceded. “I need to get home. I have things I need to do, but it’s nothing that can’t wait. I could do a little fishing or horse riding here if you leave one of the horses.”
“I’ll do better than that,” Vince said enthusiastically. “I’ll leave ’em both. We repaired the old stables from the farm and expanded them to be a community asset.”
“That’s great. Thanks for taking charge and making that happen,” Jeff said sincerely.
“I’ll enjoy coming out to have another ride this weekend,” Vince said. “I need to get away from all that craziness at home and in the city from time to time, so the work is partially self-serving”
“That’s probably true,” Jeff said. “It sounds like a great addition to the charter town as well. It may end up being part of the charter people agree on for this town when they decide what lifestyle they want to focus on and the people they want to attract.”
When the two men walked into the diner, the news was on the TV, but few of the patrons were paying much attention. What struck Vince was that the chaos and civil disruption streaming across the screen had become so common that people had become desensitized to it. It hadn’t been long ago that these scenes would have had people paying rapt attention, much the same as they had been during the moon landing or when Kennedy or Reagan was shot. It was amazing how much people could get used to and not even know it.
After their meal, Vince said, “I’ve got to get the horses back and get to my house. You might remember we set up a perimeter guard, and I dropped some trees to cut off easy travel for the thugs into our area due to some crime we’ve been having.”
“I told your uncle about that. He got as big a laugh about that as I did.” Jeff put his left foot in the stirrup and with a bounce swung onto the horse’s back with a confidence born from years in the saddle.
“Yeah, it’s hard to imagine living in an armed camp thirty miles up the road when it’s so peaceful here. Honestly, I think what the nation is going through might blow over. Either way, I think I’ve permanently burned bridges with most of my neighbors.” Vince snorted wryly, glad of the wide trail that allowed the men to continue talking as they rode side by side. “I don’t want them to hate me, but I’ve never been good at making nice. It was something I knew in my heart was right. It had to be done. I couldn’t have lived with myself if I’d stood by and watched them dither and bicker only to find another family brutalized the next day. Especially when I know how to stop it.”
“Sounds like they should appreciate it.” Jeff’s horse stumbled on a rock, his voice never missing a beat. His balance in the saddle was perfect. “You’re right, this stuff shouldn’t be acceptable. It may blow over, but it shouldn’t fade into memory. This is exactly why we’re building these communities. This is where you belong. The neighbors here won’t turn on you.”
“I guess, but for now I have to get back, do my part, and see this thing through. Who knows? I may need one of Uncle Dave’s lawyers when everything is said and done,” Vince said as they came out of the woods in sight of the stables.
“Keep one thing in mind, Vince,” Jeff counseled.
“What’s that?”
“One day, it won’t blow over. Maybe this time it will, or even next time or the time after. But one day it won’t blow over. What then? What will you do and what will be left for people like your daughter? What will be left for Kate’s children?”
Jeff’s question was mostly rhetorical and made Vince think. He busied himself undoing the chest strap and girth on the horse. As they washed, brushed, fed, and stabled the horses, they didn’t share much small talk, both lost in their own thoughts.
When they were done, Vince shook Jeff’s hand. “It was good riding with you. Thanks for the advice, too. You really do sound like my uncle sometimes.”
Jeff slapped Vince on the shoulder affectionately, got into his truck, and drove off.
<< Dave >>
Dave was enjoying his visit with Liz Pendleton. She truly was breathtaking and a joy to be around. Having seen beauty both in people and in nature, he was not easily impressed. He thought of Liz like one of the old-time silver screen beauties, not like the shallow temporary beauty of the flavor the week divas that Hollywood tended to produce lately. Sometimes a rare talent like Liz came along who was able to breathe life into a flat story and create a third dimension with her presence. Liz could suggest a backstory with so much more than words. She could make people believe men would rush off to war and fight through incredible odds for her and had the kind of face to launch a thousand ships. Liz was one of those extremely talented beauties that would be a jewel of the generation if she could stay on track.
What surprised Dave about Liz after spending time with her in person was how real and down to earth she was. In addition to her beauty and charm, she was very intelligent. Dave was impressed with her grip of history and how she instinctively understood his concern with where the world and the country could be headed. She grasped that his plan was more of a legacy Dave wanted to leave behind, not only for his family, but for a group of people willing to follow his plan and take a leap of faith to band together in self-sufficient communities for the common good.
“It’s like people don’t believe something bad could ever happen. Do they think what we have here is forever? Like some entitlement from God?” Liz shook her head. “Are we the chosen ones, the first country in the history of the world to last forever without corruption, decline, or change?”
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to get across!” Dave responded with a childlike enthusiasm. “That’s what I’m trying to teach people, not scare them. Think of it like the San Andreas fault in California, only on a shorter time scale.”
“I think I follow you. Go on.”
“Well, everyone in California knows there will be a major earthquake sometime,” Dave explained, gesticulating as he got passionate. “They make buildings earthquake safe and have plans they teach in schools or broadcast on TV. Yet they don’t change much about their daily lives or run around scared. They just recognize it as a part of life. Although unlikely today, it will definitely happen sometime. While most Californians don’t live in fear every day, they don’t ignore it, either. Some of the smarter, more prepared ones may discuss where to go with their children or how to get out of buildings. Some people keep blankets or water in their cars for an emergency or utility outage.”
“I totally get what you’re saying,” Liz said warmly. “That’s where my mind was when I heard your plan. In all the doomsday books and movies, people go off and hide for weeks, months, or years until the worst of it blows over. Then society begins again pretty much from scratch. An entire generation of knowledge is lost before we even begin rebuilding. So wasteful!”
“I’m so happy you get it. Although maybe it’s the hubris of an old man, I feel this is so important. I need to make it profitable to attract people and investors. Yet if things play out like I expect, money won’t be worth anything anyway. If I’m wrong, people get a healthy lifestyle and a good profit.”
“I understand. It’s like you’re trying to jump people past the years of death and devastation in a society-changing event. Your plan could save a good deal of our generation’s knowledge.”
“Yes, you’ve summed it up well.” Dave grinned. “I should have you do my propos
al presentations from now on.”
“It’s your vision. I don’t think anyone could do this better than you,” Liz said sincerely. “I’m in. I’m sure I won’t be your biggest investor. I’m enthusiastic about the grand plan, though.”
“I’m so happy to have you on board. We think along similar lines.”
“I like what you said about the mindset of people who built Camelot when they knew the Romans were going to pull back across the English Channel. Surely some of the more visionary people had to have known things would get bad. I wonder if they could have guessed things would collapse into chaos as rapidly as it did, though. Could they conceive that so much would be lost so completely and rapidly in the years after?”
“Very well put,” Dave said. “My plan calls for a string of Camelots across the country all working together.”
Liz grinned. “Well, if they ever make a movie of it, I’ll play the part of Guinevere.”
***
Usually, Dave worried he might come across like a preaching old man when he talked about how communities and people used to help each other and provide aid to the sick and poor. People used to get together to have quilting bees or barn buildings. They loaned each other tools, built sheds, fences, and furniture. They helped watch each other’s property and kept an eye on their kids. Talking about these things with someone like Liz was fun. She got it.
Dave and Liz toured various locations of the South Park location, walking arm in arm, their enjoyment deep and genuine. They were so deeply engrossed with each other they didn’t notice others around them. The only exception to their obliviousness was the presence of Dave’s huge, ever-present protective shadow a few feet behind them. Dave and Liz turned to Levi from time to time for some comment or confirmation or to ask his opinion.
