Fade to Grey (Book 1): Fade to Grey

by Brian Stewart

“Very close,” I said. “The only part you missed was that it wasn’t last night, it was the night before. Besides, Max likes her.”

  Uncle Andy tilted his head, frowned, and said, “What’s her name?”

  “Olivia.”

  “Olivia . . . what?” he asked.

  “Olivia . . . uh . . . um. Hey, did I mention the Max likes her?”

  Uncle Andy shook his head and chuckled. “Kids.”

  The president was being escorted up to the podium by three men in dark blue suits. Behind them were several officers from the different branches of the military. We watched as the president spoke briefly with his press secretary who nodded several times and returned to the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen of the press, let me remind you that all rules of protocol will be followed. Any deviation, outburst or disturbance will result in your immediate removal from this area. Ladies and gentlemen, the President of United States.”

  “My fellow Americans,” the president began, “let me start by saying that there is no need for panic.”

  “Oh shit,” Uncle Andy said. “Anytime somebody starts a speech by saying ‘don’t panic’ it means that we’re already screwed.”

  Apparently the reporters had that same school of thought, judging from the immediate murmur that swept across the press conference. The president’s face showed lines of worry and stress that even the most talented makeup artist couldn’t entirely hide as he waited for the crowd to quiet before continuing.

  “The situation on the Korean Peninsula is being closely monitored by all assets the United States and her allies have available, and steps are being taken to minimize and contain the conflict. The ambassadors from both North and South Korea will be meeting with my National Security advisory team, as well as myself and other key members of my administration shortly after we’re done here. It has always been my policy to keep the American people informed in times of both peace and conflict, and in line with that policy my desire is to have the information that you receive be accurate. We have set up a special United States government website that can provide you with all of the latest information concerning the developing situation on the Korean peninsula. This website will be available in approximately three to five hours from now. At that same time, Internet traffic and television broadcast signals will be re-released to private sector control. Let me bring you up to speed. Approximately four days ago, North Korean special forces teams crossed the DMZ into South Korea in direct violation of the treaty that has kept the peace between the two nations for over fifty years. This incursion was met with resistance by the South Korean military and her NATO allies, which includes United States forces. Casualties resulted on both sides. In retaliation for this incursion, South Korean forces launched an assault against several military complexes just across the DMZ. During this retaliatory attack, North Korean forces—under the direct authority of their president—and in strict violation of countless treaties, released an as yet unknown chemical or biological weapon. Our forces in the area are on high alert, and I have authorized a second carrier group to proceed there as well. All member states of the United Nations have condemned North Korea’s actions and have pledged full support to ensure a quick and peaceful end to this conflict. I will now take a few questions.”

  “Larry Vickers, CNN. Mr. President—the use of an obscure clause in the Patriot Act to perform a shutdown on all Internet traffic, nationally broadcast television and radio stations, as well as a complete blackout of international telephone and cellular phone service is in and of itself causing the very panic that it would seem you were hoping to avoid. Can you elaborate on the process that led up to this decision and reassure the millions seeing this broadcast right now that in just a few hours all information sources that were previously available will once again be accessible for everyone.”

  “Yes Larry; as you no doubt have heard, the situation on the Korean peninsula is not localized along the demilitarized zone. There have been many false reports that have surfaced since the conflict began. Due to the technology available to the average citizen worldwide today, many of those false reports have been taken for the truth and posted online, or in some cases . . . broadcast on local, regional or even national levels. Others accessing those false reports online, or listening to rumors and lies broadcast by irresponsible networks have fed fuel to the fire, so to speak, and in several instances the turmoil that resulted has caused loss of life—in some cases substantial loss of life. In an effort to reassure the citizens of the United States of America that all of the information available will be accurate, and through that accuracy alleviate the potential for false reactions, I have invoked provision 891 of the Patriot Act. This provision has temporarily put all international communications under control of the National Security Agency. Let me stress that this is a temporary measure and will only be in force until the official United States government media website is online and available, which I’m told will be in just a few short hours from now. In the meantime, local, regional, and national land and cell phone access is available. Locally broadcast television and radio stations are also available. Next question. Let’s go with Miss. Choy from ABC . . . Jessica?”

  “Thank you, Mr. President,” she said. “The media blackout imposed by your invocation of provision 891 has led to wild speculation of what is really going on in North and South Korea, as well as other locations around the world; such as Japan, Germany, Mexico, and countless other countries, including the United States. We’ve heard reports of some things that are quite frankly too incredulous to believe. Since I’m sure you’ve heard the same reports, can you here and now officially address and either dismiss or confirm these reports?”

  “Miss Choy, I think it would be irresponsible of me to even bring up any unconfirmed report, even to dismiss it. I will however, officially confirm the following. Number one. While tensions are high in the area, a state of war does not currently exist between North and South Korea. The United States, her allies, and the world community itself are working diligently toward a peaceful resolution. Number two. The use by North Korea of an as yet unknown chemical or biological agent during hostilities along the DMZ has resulted in . . . casualties . . . among both North Korean and NATO forces. United States forces injured during these attacks have been evacuated and, as of the last report that I have, are expected to make a full recovery. Number three. Using presidential authority, I have frozen the stock market at the current level until further notice. My cabinet and advisers are also finalizing a series of steps designed to reduce the effects of the Korean conflict on American citizens here at home. These will be posted on the website when it’s up and running.”

  Just at the edge of the camera angle another man in a dark suit appeared, approached the president and whispered in his ear. The president nodded several times while he listened, and then returned to the microphone.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I have time for one more question.” Every reporter in the room shot to their feet waving their hands and papers, calling out “Mr. President!”

  “Howard.” The president nodded toward Howard Atkins-Rhone, MSNBC’s long time political correspondent and personal friend of the president himself.

  “Thank you, Mr. President.” He stood and continued, “I have information from reliable sources that approximately 6000 American troops have been wounded so far in the Korean conflict, primarily during North Korea’s initial assault. These men and women have been evacuated to American air bases in Seoul, Tokyo, Hawaii, England and Spain. As per my sources, at least 3500 additional American personnel stationed in Korea have also been, and I’m quoting here ‘Possibly exposed to the as of yet unidentified bio-weapon.’ These same sources confirm that several of the most gravely wounded have been transferred to medical facilities here in the United States, specifically the CDC in Atlanta, as well as unspecified military medical facilities in San Diego.”

  “Yes Howard, as I’ve already pointed out, NATO troops involved in the conflict have been evacua
ted to more advanced medical facilities for treatment,” the president replied.

  The MSNBC reporter continued, “Yes, Mr. President, but to continue, these same sources have also reported an incredible spike in violence—perhaps psychotic episodes is a better phrase—in the following locations.” All eyes were on him as he continued. “Seoul, South Korea. Tokyo and Okinawa, Japan. London, England. Guam, Honolulu; and Mr. President, even now our office is fielding multiple reports of the same type of incidents in San Diego and Atlanta. To further clarify, the reports that I have of the effects of this unknown chemical or biological weapon—and these came from confidential sources on the ground in Korea before international communications were cut—they have been describing . . . and again, I’m quoting here, ‘an unquenchable thirst for violence, inability to recognize friends, family or coworkers except as outlets for insatiable rage, a seemingly inhuman resistance to damage and pain . . .’ the list goes on and on. Mr. President, are you honestly telling me, this whole room, indeed the millions and millions of people listening right now that the locations where these outbreaks have been happening, the SAME locations where the victims affected by this bio-weapon have been transferred to is a coincidence?”

  The president stared hard at the correspondents filling the room. The proverbial “pin drop” would have sounded like thunder as they awaited his answer.

  “That is exactly what I’m saying.”

  The gathering exploded with shouts of “Mr. President, Mr. President.” Reporters shot to their feet, wildly trying to get another question in, but the dark blue suits converged around the president and efficiently conveyed him out of the room. Repeated shouts into the microphone by the press secretary finally calmed the crowd down enough for him to speak.

  “Let me be one hundred percent crystal clear here. The American people, our friends and allies across the world, indeed every civilized nation on earth, desires a peaceful end to hostilities on the Korean peninsula. Every asset and means at our disposal will be used to ensure that. Information regarding the conflict, once verified for accuracy, will be posted on the website; and let me address that for a few minutes. The only reason that website is not available right now is because our technicians are working to ensure that it will be able to handle the expected amount of traffic that we anticipate. I have a preliminary list of what you can expect to see in the next few hours when the web site goes active. Number one,” he said as he began reading from a goldenrod colored folder, “as the President already stated, the stock market will be frozen at current levels until emergency checks and balances can be initiated. Number two, gasoline prices nationwide will be set and kept at pre-conflict prices; please note there will be some fluctuation based on local economy of course. Citizens are urged to report any vendor engaged in price gouging of automobile fuel. Thirdly, upon recommendation of the FED, all banking trans . . .”

  The computer display flickered, and then went back to the “Please stand by” screen.

  Both of us looked at the monitor, then at each other.

  “This isn’t good, Eric,” he said.

  “We need to change our plans, Uncle Andy,” I said.

  Chapter 2

  “What about your plans? You’ve waited a long, long time for this vacation.”

  “I’ve got a lot of time off,” I said. “This whole Korean thing will probably cool off in a few days, and once it does I can use the rest of my vacation time doing what I intended; but in the meantime let’s make sure that you’re good to go here.”

  “You haven’t slept yet,” Uncle Andy said. “Why don’t you lay down and get a couple of hours of shut-eye?”

  “No. I don’t think I could sleep now anyhow. Is your ass awake enough to get a move on, or do you want to go back to bed for a few hours while I look for another pair of adult diapers for you?”

  Uncle Andy narrowed his eyes, clinched his lips and did his best “Mr. Universe” pose as he replied, “I can still work circles around you, boy,”

  The truth is he probably can, I thought. Here was a guy, career military, retired with thirty plus years in before the age of fifty-three. And now, a little more than ten years further down the road, he still fast walks with a heavy pack for exercise, splits all of his own firewood by hand, and thinks nothing of paddling a ten mile circuit around a lake just for fun.

  “I know you moved out here to be self sufficient . . . to get away from everything and everyone. If I recall your quote correctly, you wanted to spend your golden years in a location that has a ‘LPOB’ . . . a ‘Low Percentage of Buttheads’. Well, here you are. You’re not in the middle of nowhere, but you can see it from here. And you may be spending a lot of time here if the Korean thing doesn’t go away soon. So while we still have the opportunity . . . what do you need? Do you need food? Medicine? Building materials, gas, spare parts . . . You need to make a quick list of the most likely things that would cause you to have to make a trip into the city, or at least to Sheldon’s,” I said.

  “Eric,” Uncle Andy replied, “you know me. All of my life I’ve been of the mindset to be ready for whatever life throws at me. Fires, floods, tornadoes, I’ve been there. My tummy has been full, and I’ve gone hungry. I’ve lived through peace and been in several wars. Ever since you were knee high to a grasshopper I’ve tried to pass some of this knowledge and life experience on to you, and I think we’re both better men because of it. You know I’ve always taught you my philosophy of the ‘trusty trio’ . . . the three things you trust in life. You trust a good friend, a good gun, and the Good Lord above. But any man’s philosophy is just a bunch of empty words if they don’t practice what they preach. In the easy times the smart man will save up for the lean times, and then when the lean times come—and they will—you’ll be much better prepared. You’ve heard this same speech from me countless times, and I know you’ve taken it to heart. Why, I’d bet my left eye that somewhere in your truck is a fully stocked three day ‘get out of dodge’ pack. And I know that in your basement at home you’ve put back food, water and other items that may come in handy at some point in the future. Well my boy, so have I. As a matter of fact, I was going to give you a tour at some point while you were here; but for now let me end this speech by answering your original question. I am good to go on everything I can think of except a few fuel related components; and of course the main need is fuel itself. I normally don’t let the levels get this low, but I’ve been using a lot of it lately and I knew that you’d be here to help me make a fuel run.”

  I’ve got to admit I was a little taken aback from his speech, not the contents but the duration. I think that’s the longest continual string of words he had ever assembled in my presence. He’s always said that since he didn’t talk too much, I was welcomed to use his leftover words each day, as long as I used them in a place that he didn’t have to hear them.

  “Listen,” I said, “how long is it going to take you to figure out how much fuel you have right now, and how many trips it will take to top you off based on the number of barrels you have available? And don’t forget that you want to end up with your transfer barrels all filled as well.”

  “Well,” Uncle Andy replied, “I imagine the smart thing to do would be to empty the barrels of fuel that you brought so we have those available to transport more. So . . . I guess I could be ready in two to three hours, and that would include me loading all the barrels onto the trucks and securing them so they don’t bounce around on our way to the station.”

  “Make sure that you top off all, and I mean ALL fuel tanks you have here . . . generators, chainsaws, your tractor, even your new little Barbie backhoe,” I said, referring to his Terramite. “And make a list of those fuel related items that you need—filters, stabilizer, carburetor cleaner, 2-cycle oil, gas cans—and speaking of gas cans make sure you take those as well. And we need to remember to take your propane tanks in to get filled.”

  “What are you gonna be doing while I’m doing all of this heavy lifting?”

&
nbsp; “I’m going to see if I can get your solar system working again,” I said. “And I might need your help to check some things with the meter while I’m playing with the wires. And speaking of help, wait until I get there to load the barrels on the trucks. It’ll be a lot faster and safer with both of us.”

  “I’m so proud, my little nephew Eric has grown into a take charge kinda guy, no doubt directly related to a certain uncle who trained him well. Why, I think I can feel a tear starting to well up,” Uncle Andy said.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah old man,” I replied, “the only reason you’ve ever felt moisture on that wrinkled old prune you call a face is because you’re dumb enough to piss in the wind, now get to work before I arrest you.”

  “Arrest me? . . . Well now Mr. Game Warden, sir, do you remember that awesome venison jerky that you shoveled into your face until you cleaned me out of it last time you were here? I’ll have you know that it, in fact, was not venison . . . it was moose—an untagged moose at that. Shot out of season even, with high explosive armor piercing rounds . . . from a helicopter . . . with a spotlight at night. Heck, as I even recall it was an albino moose. So if you’re going to bust me, you might as well cuff yourself and take us both to club fed.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “I see, well I must admit that was the best tasting poached albino moose jerky that I’ve ever had.”

  “I want to take a look at your solar system,” I continued. “Where’s your extension ladder?”

  “Same place I’ve been keeping it for the last nine years, hangin’ on the side of the fuel shed,” Uncle Andy replied.

  “Alright, let’s get a move on.”

  *click*

  OK, let me bring you up to speed. Right now I’m in my truck, following Uncle Andy down the dirt road. It took me about three seconds to fix his solar problem; unfortunately it took me about an hour to find his solar problem. The panels were putting out juice, but it wasn’t getting into the charge controller. It turns out that when we fished the wires down through the walls we must have rubbed part of the wire on a nail that was poking through his paneling. Over time the wire must have worked itself bare rubbing against the nail and ground itself out. At least that’s my guess. I’m not an electrician. All I know is that once I replaced the wires going from the panels to the charge controller everything seemed to work again, and when I looked at the old wires I removed, I could see where the insulation had been rubbed off. I didn’t want to take the time to mount the new panels; we’ll do that another day. Uncle Andy used his 12 volt transfer pump to empty the barrels I brought with me into his main tanks. He’s got a few hand operated fuel pumps that screw into the 55 gallon drums, but the 12 volt one pumps faster I think. The way we figure it, once we top off everything, both diesel and gas . . . well, the bottom line is that he had eight 55 gallon barrels. He used four of them for diesel and four for gas. Holy crap, that’s a lot of “fours” in a sentence. Anyhow, I brought three more barrels with me, so that gives us a grand total of eleven barrels, six of them for gas and five of them for diesel. Also, Uncle Andy’s truck has an external transfer tank, basically a big square metal box that holds a little over one hundred gallons of fuel—I think he bought it at Tractor Supply Company. So, at an average weight of roughly seven pounds per gallon that gives us about 350 pounds loaded weight per barrel. Hauling all of the barrels between our two trucks, it’s gonna take us a total of three trips. Three very heavily loaded trips. Two trips to top off all fuel tanks here and a final trip to bring back loaded fuel barrels—and propane tanks. Crap. I forgot about those. We’ll have to pick them up for our final run. We’re heading down to Sheldon’s. I don’t know why, call it a gut feeling, but I’ve got my duty holster strapped around my thigh, and the CZ is resting there. Uncle Andy noticed it before we saddled up, nodded, and patted the left side of his waist. I couldn’t tell from my angle, but I’d bet my right nut that his little Colt Mustang 380 was riding there.