Dark Days Rough Roads

by Matthew D. Mark

  Everyone just kind of looked at each other. Rich asked him, “Are you sure?”

  “Ya Dad, I’m sure.” Dinner was served up soon afterwards, but not a lot of people were really hungry. Almost half was put away for later. Normally this would have all been gone. They were good at guessing how much to make so nothing went to waste.

  Haliday walked over and grabbed a glass and tossed some ice in it. The idea of not having gas for the generator one day, or a cold fridge really ticked him off. He had a solar array and battery bank, but that would push it even if operating nothing but the fridge and a few lights. He poured himself a couple fingers of Jack Daniels, sat at the desk and listened to the radio and took more notes. He told Mike what was going on, he checked in with Rob, but didn’t say anything to him.

  Rob told him he had recruited a few more families. Once word spread, they knew who to believe. There were still doubters, and there were still those believing the militia, but the tide was turning. Not bad for a day’s work. Rob told him they got the truck from the parking lot and put tires on it. He also said they managed to round up some quads and a couple of bikes. They were working on a couple other vehicles, but not sure.

  The kicker was Brady’s hunting center. Brady had taken everything and locked it up tight. He had steel bars over his windows and no one was getting in there. His house was attached to the back of the store. He was willing to fork over anything he had which would be of use.

  Bows, crossbows, a lot of bolt action rifles but he also had close to 12 semi-autos, AR and AK variants. Years ago he had bought a couple dozen SKS’s and still had almost twenty. They weren’t big sellers in the area. To round it off he had about a dozen shotguns and plenty of ammunition for everything. “Rob, you need to make him your best friend. Talk to you tomorrow.”

  Haliday pulled his shift on watch that evening. It was 0200hrs and he stepped outside for a minute. It was colder outside tonight. He had his balaclava folded up into a watch cap configuration and pulled it down. He had told Diana that he’d be back in a few minutes. He walked over to the small outbuilding, which was really just an old hand-built shed maybe 10X12. He checked it out and the single door was secure.

  He started to walk over by the pole barn and paused. He bent down to tie his shoe and mumbled aloud. “Damn shoe string, had to break on me now, huh?” He rose to his feet and walked back to the house and went inside. He told Diana they had a guest outside. Whoever it was had tried to hide behind the pole barn. He noticed their cloud of breath in the cold air. He used the shoe string excuse to go back in the house.

  He went over to the laundry room and walked inside. Next to the window was a homemade periscope. He had found plans online, but he didn’t like them so he had made his own. He took a six inch PVC pipe and used it. He notched out the top and bottom and then played with mirror angles until he got them set at 45 degrees and glued them in place with gorilla glue. He used it to look out through the window. The person was by the pole barn.

  He saw a single figure, small in stature. He wasn’t professional, nor was he very careful about his movements. He watched them try and peek in the pole barn windows, but he had to strain to reach them. He moved off toward the woods. Haliday went to another window and glanced out. Diana asked him if he wanted her to sound the alarm. “No, that’s ok. It’s just one person. The neighbor across the street. I just watched him go back over there.”

  He walked over to the radio and flipped frequencies. There it was. He sat there and listened and this is what he had heard: “I couldn’t stay long. Someone came outside but he didn’t see me, I thoughthe would be coming back so I left. I’m sure it’s the people you are looking for. I think I saw some vehicles but I’m sure I saw the motorcycles too.” It was a woman’s voice.

  “Ok.” said a man, “Can you try and confirm then let us know.”

  “Ok, I’ll go back tonight.”

  “Thank you,” the man said.

  Haliday wanted to go across the street and slit her throat, but knew better. They needed a little more time to prepare. In the morning he’d go over there and pump her for information. He knew she was married, but couldn’t remember if she was happily married or not. Might have to play spouse against spouse. 0300hrs came and they woke their reliefs and briefed them. “Wake me at 0800hrs,” he said. “I want an early breakfast and a trip across the street.”

  Chapter 26

  After breakfast, Roger put on some jeans, and a polo shirt, and grabbed a regular winter jacket. He took Rich and Kayla with him across the street. Psyops—family was always a good bet in order to humanize a situation. Just the nice neighbors coming over to say hello. He still took his .40 and Kayla and Rich had 9mm’s. They walked up and knocked on the door. He did a quick survey of the property. He kept a hand in his pocket of his jacket with his finger on the trigger guard.

  None of their vehicles that he saw seemed to be running. Firewood stacked up in the back, but that was normal out here. Pretty plain and nothing really stood out at all. The only thing was some tire tracks in the driveway that looked within a couple days old and the antenna on the chimney. They walked up on the porch and knocked.

  A man came to the door. “Can I help you?”

  “Hi, my name is Roger, this is my dad Rich and my daughter Kayla. We have the place across the street.”

  “What is it I can help you with Roger?”

  “We just wanted to introduce ourselves. We never really met; just waved across the fields once in a while. We’re here for a while and I wanted you to know it was just us.”

  The man’s wife came to the door. She looked tired and was dressed, but looked like she slept in her clothes. “Who you talking to honey?” she asked.

  “Oh, the folks from across the street,” he said.

  She looked them up and down and just said one word. “Hi.”

  “Hello ma’am, nice to meet you.” She just stood there. Roger repeated the introductions. There was an awkward pause and they were about to just say goodbye and leave.

  “Where you guys from? How long you staying? Who else do you have up here?” It was three quick questions. Haliday knew it was her that had been out there last night.

  He answered her questions, but fairly generically in nature. “The suburbs. A few weeks until things settle down in the city, I suppose. Couple others with us.” He answered the questions curtly.

  “You have a lot of people over there,” she said.

  “Well, my family is all. They want to be safe, too.”

  “Ya, I guess family being safe is important,” she said.

  Roger’s turn to ask some questions. “Is it just you two here? Don’t you have a daughter?”

  “She’s at her boyfriend’s for a while,” she said.

  Roger played coy, “Oh, ok, just remembered seeing her around before. Well, anyway, we’re going to get going, nice meeting you. We’re across the street and if you need anything let us know.”

  “You too. We’re fine.” Her answers were just as quick and almost rude. She walked away.

  The guy looked at Roger and shrugged his shoulders. He then opened the door some more and extended his hand. “I’m sorry, I’m Lance,” he shook everyone’s hands. “Take it easy,” he said,

  “See ya around, Lance.”

  They walked back to the house. “That was weird, Dad.”

  “I agree with Kayla, Roger, that lady is a little bit off.”

  “I would expect so.”

  “Why is that?”

  “When the husband opened the door to shake hands, there was a picture on the end table.”

  “Of what, or of whom?”

  “Her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend.”

  “So what’s that mean?”

  “They were standing next to a quad, wearing Russian camo. I believe I met him the other night.”

  As soon as they walked into the house he called another meeting. “The lady across the street is watching our every move. I don’t know what the hus
band is all about,. I don’t think he cares. I’m not sure he even knows what’s really going on. But she is definitely buying into the BS the militia offers because Blakey boy here tried to kill her daughter’s boyfriend the other night.”

  Blake said, “huh?”

  “Ya, the kid on the quad,” Roger said.

  He sat down at the radio and called Rob. “Rob, has there been any movement from the militia?”

  “No, none at all that we’ve seen. They haven’t left the airport at all.”

  “Rob, can we meet?”

  “Sure, when and where.”

  “Your house, I’m on my way. Don’t panic I’m bringing friends.” Haliday called Blake, Randy and Dawn over, “get your gear together, firearms only. Dress warm too. Grab me a welfare bucket, meet me in the pole barn.” He left a list of chores for the rest of them.

  They met him in the pole barn. He went over to his Jeep and started it up. This was a 1982 CJ7 with soft top. He had redone the tub on it and fixed the rust. Instead of going with a lift kit, he actually lowered it an inch. He added 200 pounds of skid plating underneath for added weight. This was to lower the center of gravity and help prevent rollovers in fast or tight turns.

  Everything else on it worked normally. He added roll cage protection and hand holds. The rear seat was a special touch. It could flip over and face backwards. This vehicle was painted flat black. Everything on it, bumpers, rims, everything. He didn’t have the top and didn’t care to worry about that. Canvas was useless for anything but wind and water protection. He folded the windshield down.

  They pulled out onto the road and headed south. He went east at the next road and then north at the next one after that. He did this for the neighbor’s sake. They were at Rob’s in 35 minutes. They pulled in and he angled the Jeep for a quick easy escape. He didn’t expect this to be the case. He walked up to Rob. They shook hands and went into his pole barn where he had set up an office.

  Randy stood guard with one of Rob’s sons. The kid was 16 actually, his younger brother was 15. Randy called the younger son over. He pulled the bucket out of the Jeep.

  “Go put this in your house. Do not tell anyone about it.”

  “Is it going to blow up?” the kid asked.

  Randy looked at him funny. The kid had a point. “No, it’s not. It’s for you guys after we leave, but do not tell anyone but your mom and dad.”

  In a bid to keep Rob on his side, he had brought him a welfare bucket. He didn’t like the idea, but it was a needed evil. Feed the animals and they won’t go away is what he always said. He needed a couple of pets right now and Rob was footing the bill nicely. He almost felt badly, but after what he did for these guys, it was no big deal. He actually needed Rob more than he let on.

  Rob had the wood burner going. It was nice and warm. He had a map of the area up as well. “Nice map Rob, where’d ya get it.”

  “My store. I used to sell them to the tourists. Want to buy one?” Roger flipped him off. “Nice to see you too.” Rob said.

  “Well, we’re here on business.” He looked at a guy next to Rob. “I don’t think we met. I’m Roger.”

  “Everyone calls me Brad?”

  “Brad?”

  “Ya, it’s Bradley Brady.”

  “Ahhhh, the hunting shop owner.”

  “Yes, sir. I’m helping Rob out with planning and everything.”

  “You have any info on the militia? Anything at all?”

  “We have a couple guys watching them at the compound. Writing down everything they do, how many people we think they have, vehicles, the same thing you did basically. The most accurate info we have is a body count. They have 31 adult males, 25 adult females, 10 male teenagers, 12 female teenagers, around eight younger boys and maybe five younger girls. Give or take a few people I think.”

  “Damn, 78-80 fight capable people? That sucks, I underestimated their troop strength. One of them is my neighbor’s daughter; the girlfriend of the kid you guys cut loose.” Rob looked down at the table. “Sorry, sore subject, huh?”

  “Ya, we should have hung that kid.”

  “We had that talk, Rob. Rules of engagement, the law, but it’s a thin line here and hard to interpret. Any more people signed up with you?”

  “We have a good 60 we can count on.”

  “Not enough though. Not yet.”

  “I promised my wife the boys wouldn’t leave the house, though.”

  “Fair enough Rob, keep making your rounds and recruiting. Spread the word.”

  “What about the prisoners?”

  Rob looked at him. “What do you mean?”

  “Oh ya, the people in the building next to their barracks or housing units or whatever the hell they call them. We haven’t seen anyone go in there at all. I’ll double-check but I’m pretty certain.”

  “Rob, they have prisoners in there. If no one is going in there they are either dead or they aren’t feeding them.”

  Rob asked him what they wanted them to do about them.

  “Nothing right now. They’ll have to wait it out until you guys get in there.”

  “What do you mean ‘get in there?’”

  “Rob, you guys will have to go in there.”

  Rob said, “We don’t have the people for that, they are just too many.”

  Roger looked at him squarely, “You can take half. That’s all you’ll have to do. The other half are going to come gunning for me. So, let’s lay down the plan. It’ll have to be activated at a moment’s notice. You will have to be ready at all times.”

  Rob and Brad both looked at him. Brad said, “You’re kidding right?”

  Roger said, “No, not at all. Listen, you guys have the advantage.”

  Rob asked him, “How the hell do we have the advantage? You’re defending your house; we have to attack an airport.”

  Roger spoke calmly and almost condescending. “Exactly my point guys. We are pinned down and you guys have the whole town to run away to. Not to mention, you have that same town to use to your advantage.”

  “I just don’t know about this,” said Rob.

  Roger leaned back in his chair. “Hell guys, what do you want me to say here? You want me to tell you that this is all going to be hugs and bunnies? We invite them out for smores and hot cocoa? It isn’t going to work that way. Rob, you have to know after watching them gun down Jim that they are going to do whatever they want.”

  “That propaganda they are spitting out is a ruse to buy them some time. They are buying themselves time so that they can counterattack. That means me and my group, and you guys too. Don’t think for a minute that they are going to let you all walk away like it was a bad family reunion and they’ll see you next year hoping things changed. They can’t have you guys out there rebelling against them. You want 10 of them knocking on your door?”

  “Roger is right Rob, we need to get this handled now before winter sets in or we ain’t gonna make it.” Finally, Roger thought, someone is getting it. “We have about 5 to 6 weeks before it’s too cold to really move around, and plus we have to think about food and water.”

  Roger told him, “That’s my point exactly, and they know that too. They’ll let you wait and they’ll let you waste away while you’re waiting.”

  Roger stood up and stretched. They had been there for almost four hours. But they covered a lot of information and it was time to go. He had to get back and make sure things were getting done at the house. They all shook hands and wished each other luck. Roger and his group went back to the house and Rob and Brad started making their rounds and getting their plans in order.

  When they got back to the house, they saw that everyone was working. He noticed that someone was in the crow’s nest. Looked like it was Kayla. Next to him, she was the best shot out of the group. Ahhhh, best to get that done quickly too, he thought. He would be setting up a small range and conducting some rapid courses on marksmanship, fields of fire and such.

  Kevin walked over. “Uncle Roger, the wicked witch o
f the south came out by the road. She leaned up against her fence and sat there and watched us while she drank coffee. She had to have been out here for a good three hours total. What we would do, though, is block areas with the ranger and smaller utility trailer.” No sooner had he finished telling him that when Roger thought he noticed her standing in the window.

  “She knows we’re on to her.”

  The grass was long and hid the foot spikes quite well. They had placed them strategically around each of the firing positions. They used them in areas around the wood line as well, anywhere there was a path. The group knew if they ran to the woods not to use the paths. They also knew once they got out of the firing positions, there was a specific route to take. These were meant for close proximity deterrents though.

  The concertina wire was unrolled. They placed it around the entryways and windows of all the buildings. The firing positions had been cleared out and prepped as well. Ammo loads were placed in each one. Each position had a person assigned to it and a chart for firing and, more importantly, a final protective fire. If everyone fired at their designated final protective line, in theory the area could not be breached.

  It was possible that they could actually get everyone inside and fight from inside if it came down to that. It was not optimal to do that at first and was only considered a last resort. That was why the concertina was placed around the window areas and entryways. Keep people in the line of sight and within firing reach.

  Kayla came down from the crow’s nest. “How did it go Dad?”

  “As well as it could have gone. I just hope they come through on their end if it comes down to that.”

  “You mean ‘when’ Dad, when.”

  “Ya, ‘when.’ Kayla, we need to get four ‘five’ gallon buckets of water in the crow’s nest. We can dump them on the roof in case of fire. I also want small buckets of water spread out in the house as well as the fire extinguishers.”