by A. P. Texan
“To bad love we got work to do, but we got to make coffee first”, I lean down and give her a kiss “Okay Calvin let’s get cracking”
We head outside and I grab my pack out of the back of the old Ford. I lower the tail gate and start rummaging through the bag until I find what I’m looking for. My Stainless-steel French press and coffee. Calvin Fires up the Generator and gets water flowing out of the well. The hose goes down to a couple large water troughs as well as having another hose bib. He gets a bucket fills it with water from the bib and brings it back to the truck. By the time he gets back I have the stove set up and coffee in the press. I add enough water to fill it and set it on the stove to boil. While its heating up I sit on the tailgate light another smoke and look at Calvin.
“We got seventeen people including myself nineteen with you and Kerri. That is a lot of mouths to feed. We got some chickens as well as some chicks and your cattle, but we are going to need more than we got. And you don’t have a bull. I know we can survive but food is gonna be rough. We are going to need fifteen hundred calories per person minimum. Two thousand to twenty-five hundred if we are working. That’s let’s see fifteen hundred times nineteen that 28 thousand five hundred calories a day minimum. That’s a lot of food my friend.”
“We can get a bull from the neighbors. We have a few girls that we can breed. But that won't help us much. How much food did you bring?”
“Honestly I don’t know. We raided Tom Thumb, Kroger, Wal-Mart and Sam’s before we headed up here. The trailer here has a bunch of cans and dry goods. I’m gonna put Mom, Sandy and Christine in charge of sorting and inventorying the food. I guess we can stack it in the barn once we get it cleaned out.”
“Let me show you something I don’t think you’ve seen before but first let’s pour that coffee.” We look over and see the steam starting to really roll of the top of the French press.
I place the top on it and lift it off the stove. And Calvin turns the gas off. I slowly press down on the plunger separating the grounds from the much-needed elixir. After the press is all the way down, I reach in my bag and get my Yeti Tumbler and a canteen cup. Pouring half in each. I hand Calvin the canteen cup and we walk off headed around to the back of the barn.
“I know you have seen this Conex back here, but you have never asked me what’s in it. Why?”
“Never really thought about it. I figured if you wanted me to know what was in it you would tell me.”
“Well, now I’m gonna show you and I think your gonna like it!”
Behind the barn about twenty yards and partially in the tree line is a forty-foot Conex container; it is locked with 4 padlocks each having a different key. I find out as Calvin is going through his key ring. Before he starts to open the doors, he reaches up to the top of one of the doors and begins to peel something off. I then realize he is peeling off Aluminum tape and it dawns on me what he has done. He has converted this forty-foot Conex container into a giant faraday cage.
The doors open on well-oiled hinges and in front of me I see an absolute thing of beauty. Running down either side of the container is shelves full of food and water. On the left is black plastic totes with the 4 patriots label on them. On the right is can goods, five-gallon buckets, six-gallon stackable water cubes and four large Berkey water filter systems. However, the container is forty feet long and I only see about fifteen feet of shelving and then a steel wall with a bulkhead type door in it.
“Calvin, this is amazing, when did you do all of this and how did you afford it.”
“Well, I put the last of the 4Patriots food and supplies in here about a week ago. As far as the money we sold our 250 acres out by Abilene. We took about two hundred thousand of that and stocked up this container. When we did it, we planned on Sandy, Yourself, and us. We have enough food in here to last the 4 of us 2 years. If we combine this with what you brought, it should last all of us through winter and spring. Hopefully we will get some good meat cattle and with that and a good garden harvest we should be set. However, you haven’t seen the best part yet. Follow me.”
Calvin steps into the container and walks towards the Bulkhead door. As we pass the food, I notice everything is labeled with exactly what is in it. “I had this bulkhead put in because if a fire broke out on the other side of this door, I didn’t want it to destroy the food.” With that he spins the handle to undo the door and it swings open. “The bulkhead is two sheets of half-inch steel with half-inch drywall sandwiched between them. And the door is a fire rated door out of an old ship.”
We step through the door and my jaw drops. In front of me in pristine condition is a military up armored HUMVEE. Against the walls behind it is three hundred and thirty gallons of diesel in fifty-five-gallon drums and above those are shelves covered in electronics of different sorts.
“Jesus, what all do you have in here?”
“Well, we have the HUMVEE, six fifty-five-gallon drums of treated diesel, a solar kit large enough to power the barn, cabin, and well. In and under the truck is around five thousand rounds each of 9mm, .45, .308, and about 10,000 rounds of 5.56mm. everything is a mix of hollow point and full metal jacket. Behind the barn in the tower, we have another five hundred gallons of treated farm diesel. So, I think we are good for now on supplies. The only thing we are short on is gasoline for your trucks and UTVs.”
“Okay Calvin I have to say this amazes and shocks me. I had no idea you and Kerri where preppers.”
“Honestly, we only have been for about the last six months. Before you really started about the fragility of the economy and the possibility of an EMP strike, we never really thought about it. In addition, we weren’t really concerned about ourselves. With the kids all grown and gone, and not wanting anything to do with the farm or us really, we just figured if it did happen, we would just wait out the inevitable. Then one night we were sitting on the couch watching the news on Fox and it dawned on me. You and Sandy are our family as well, so I brought all this up to Kerri and she agreed we should do what we could to set you up to survive.”
“What you’re saying is you spent all this money and invested all this time for us?” I’m getting a little emotional and almost tear up.
“Yeah, why not. I had already changed the will to give you part of the farm anyways, so why not give a little more. Now come with me out to my side by side there is one more thing I need to give you.”
With that we step back through the bulkhead and he turns the handle to dog the door and again seal up the “garage”. We leave the container closed and re-lock the doors, this time with only one padlock. As we start to get near the barn, we can hear a chorus of voices coming from the front.
“Well, sounds like the rest of the gang is up and around. Let’s go introduce you to everyone”
We come around the corner at the front of the barn and see everyone has again pulled out their lawn-chairs and this time they have added coffee cups. I also see Kerri has joined the group and everyone is passing around a gallon jug of what I’m guessing is coffee.
“Well, I see everyone has already met Kerri.” I say to announce our presence,” Let me introduce everyone to the not better half of our hosts. Everyone meet Calvin, Calvin meet everyone.”
Calvin begins shaking hands with everyone and introducing himself, like a politician on the campaign trail. With all the introductions made he signals for me to follow him. We approach his John Deere side by side and I see a coyote tan tactical rifle bag leaning against the front passenger seat. I’ve seen Calvin’s gun collection numerous times but have never noticed this bag before. You see he and his wife aren’t the tactical type. All their firearms that I have ever seen fall into the hunting rifle variety. In fact, I think the only semi auto firearm I’ve ever seen them possess is a Beretta shot gun; that is probably 30 years old and they never use since they don’t bird hunt.
“I actually just picked this up a few days ago. I was going to give it to you as a Christmas present but now seems as good a time as any”, He reache
s into the Side by Side and pulls out the rifle case then walks around to the bed of the UTV. He opens it slowly and my hands are literally shaking with anticipation.
He finally gets the case open and flips back the cover. When I see it, I am literally in tears. This is the most beautiful rifle I have ever seen. A brand-new Springfield M1A SOCOM with Vortex Scope and a 6-inch Silencerco Suppressor with the quick attach muzzle device. I don’t think I’ve ever received a present from anyone in my entire life valued as much as this thing is.
“Calvin, I can’t accept this. This is too much.”
“You can accept it and you will. We both know what is coming and as good as your AR is; this will go a lot further to keeping your people safe and fed. Now pick it up and see how it feels.”
“You are way too generous; I can’t believe you bought this for me.” I reach out and pick up the rifle in one hand and the can in the other. I fit the Suppressor over the matching muzzle device and lock it in place. I then reach into one of the pockets of the bag and pull out a loaded twenty round magazine and place it into the weapon but stop short of chambering a round. I put the black composite stock up to my shoulder and am amazed at how well the big battle rifle feels. Inside the bag is also a detachable folding bipod and sling. I attach the sling to its anchor points. Chamber a round and place the rifle on safe. I Then sling the weapon across my back and head back to where everyone else is standing around.
“Okay everybody gather around.”, I announce “Here is what needs to happen as I see it. We need to get the barn and cabin cleaned out and livable. However, we still need somewhere out of the elements to store everything. So, here is what I propose. We split the barn in half. The half away from the wood stove will be storage, the half closest to the stove will be living area. Everything in here that isn’t vital or can be exposed to the elements can either go outside or in the pole barn. The food and supplies need to be here in the barn. I also don’t think these two buildings will be enough to house everyone. I think Mom and Dad should stay in the airstream, the dust in the cabin or barn won't be good for either of them. That still leaves 15 people to house. Sandy and I are taking the bedroom of the cabin but that will still leave the main room for two more. For now, everyone else will be in the barn.”
“We have two empty bedrooms at the house”, Kerri says.
“Actually, I like that idea”, I say, “how about Bob and Natalie take one room and Savanna and Isabella take the other. Girls your jobs will be to help Kerri with whatever she needs at the house and help Natalie with the baby.”
“Dad! Do we really have to share a room”, Isabella protests?
“Yes, you do, and I don’t want to hear about any bickering or fighting”
“Kerri, do you have a recliner?”, Mom asks
“Yes, we do. Why?”
“Well, I can’t sleep laying down, so I prefer a recliner. If it is okay with you, I would prefer to sleep there and help out keeping the girls in line.”
“That sounds good to me.”, Kerri responds.
“In that case let’s do this. Dad can stay in one room, Robert, Natalie, and Alexandria in the other. We can tow the airstream over and park it either in the driveway or the back yard and the girls can use it.”, I continue with the plan, “for now we need to get cracking on the cleaning. Bob and his crew can take the Chevy and Airstream over later. Mom, You and Sandy are in charge of sorting and organizing the food we brought. In the shipping container out back is a BUNCH more. Nick, You and Charles take care of weapons and accessories sort what we got, install any accessories and optics. And then zero everything as needed. When you’re ready to zero everything let me know. I’ll show you where we will do that, plus I need to zero this beast.” I say as I remove the new rifle from my back to show everyone.” Cynthia, you’re in charge of Dad for now. Get his concentrator going, and his bottles filled. Elizabeth you will handle medications and medical supplies. Get everything inventoried and sorted, after that you and Cynthia will work together running an Aid Station. Calvin, is there power at your house?”
“Not yet, we have a solar system, but I haven’t installed it yet. It is all in a small ten-foot Conex in the back yard.”
“Robert, do you know how to install solar?” I ask
“Not a clue, but I can read instructions pretty well.”
“Well then it would appear you, Calvin, and I are about to teach each other. We have a system here that needs to be installed and the one at their house. If I haven’t given you an assignment, then you are on cleaning duty. Let’s get this place livable.”
0800 13 September 2021
The Farm
“One other thing.”, Kerri Speaks up stopping everyone, “Chase, You, Charles, Robert and Nick go over to my side by side and unload those coolers. Calvin, show a couple of the ladies where the tables are and bring them out here. Before we do anything, we are all enjoying a good breakfast.”
Once we get the coolers unloaded and tables set up Kerri goes to work opening coolers and unloading food. The great thing about coolers is they also work as warmers. Kerri brings out trays of scrambled eggs, biscuits, gravy, and sausage as well as another gallon jug of Coffee.
“I thought you said you didn’t have power?” Cynthia asks
“Oh, we don’t, she fixed all of this this morning on the outdoor grill.”
“Yeah, we were going to share with the neighbors, but when Calvin called on the radio and said you guys were here, I packed it all up in the coolers loaded them up in the trailer and brought it out here. We had to use up everything before it went bad so eat up.”
Everyone grabbed a paper plate and loaded up on the breakfast buffet. We all sat around in our lawn chairs talking and eating like nothing was wrong in the world.
If I was to be one hundred percent honest this is the life I have always wanted. A simpler life where nobody was beholden to the almighty dollar. Where the most important thing in our lives is family, food, and survival.
When I finish my food, I get up from my chair and head over to the old Ford and lean against the bed lighting up a smoke and admire the way everyone has come together. No arguments, everyone just talking smiling and celebrating life. I didn’t know how well it was going to work out brining Elizabeth with us but so far so good, and everyone seems to be getting along.
Sandy finishes up her food throws her plate in a barrel we will be using to burn trash and heads over to where I am. She wraps an arm around my waist, looks up at me and smiles.
“What is that look for?”
“I’m so proud of you Mi Amor. You are staying calm and handling this so well. The way you are keeping everything organized and know exactly who to put in each job. You always seem to amaze me.”
“Well, thank you my dear. I think that amount of praise is probably over doing it a bit, but I will take it.”
After a few more minutes everyone else is finishing up their food and breaking off to get their respective jobs started. I stub out my Cigarette butt and head over to Robert and Calvin. “Okay gentlemen what is the plan?”, I ask.
“Good news is my tractor still works which means we can use the bucket. We need to get all the components over here then sort through them and find the schematics. Why don’t you two head over to the Conex and start getting all the components together and I’ll bring the tractor over. Chase here are the keys to the Garage side. It has normal Conex doors as well.” Calvin hands me the keys to the CONEX and walks off.
“The garage side?” Robert asks with a funny look on his face
“Yeah, wait till you see what the old man has been up to. I had no idea they had been doing all of this.”
We open up the garage side of the container and Robert can’t believe what he is seeing
“Let’s pull the truck out and load up all the ammo in it then we can take it up to the barn for Nick and Charles to sort through. With it out we will have more room for storage in here”, My comment brings Bob out of his moment of shock
“
Good Lord how much crap is in here.”
“Lots come on we need to get to work, he told me there is even ammo stuffed under the truck.”, I answer as I’m bending down to take a look. Sure enough, under the truck lined up in neat rows is wooden ammo crates labeled 1000 rnds. M855 5.56 mm NATO, and in cardboard civilian boxes is labeled .223 Rem JHP BT 65 Grain. “He told me he had about ten thousand rounds of 5.56 and don’t think he was exaggerating. I got a new plan. Let’s get the truck out. Then we can let Charles and Nick know about this and we can use this as the armory. Rather than loading up all this ammo and moving it up there when the ammo and guns are already loaded up in the ford.”
After a few minutes of maneuvering and looking I realized the only way in the truck was through the gunner hatch in the roof. So, I climbed up slipped through the hatch and slid behind the wheel. I turned the ignition to wait to allow the glow plugs to heat up and as soon as the light went out, I turned it to start. The big diesel turned over and fired almost immediately. I disengaged the parking brake and slipped the shifter lever down to drive. Noticing how this HUMVEE actually had park on the Selector. The ones I was used to back in the late 90s early 2000s didn’t.
I slowly roll the truck out of the confines of the container and turn it towards the barn. I pull up next to the old Ford where my Son and Nick are going through all the weapons we grabbed from the gun-store, where we met Nick.
“Okay guys, we have an armory, and it is full of ammo. I would recommend driving the ford down there that way you won’t have to carry everything. Also, the back of this bad boy is full of ammo as well.” I shut down the HUMVEE and step out.
“You got it Top”, Nick says
“Alright boys have fun playing with all the new toys” I turn and start to walk away
“Dad, before you leave, we want to give you a couple things” Stopping I turn back around
“What you got?”, Nick hands me a six-inch suppressor and threaded 1911 barrel. “Nice, here take this and put it on when you get the chance. We will test fire it when we zero everything.” I hand them my sig and head back down to the CONEX where I now see the tractor is pulled up.
