The Day America Died Trilogy Read online

  Southern Indiana

  We fueled up the Humvees the day before leaving and found an enclosed trailer to haul all our extra gear. This allowed one of the Humvees to quickly maneuver if attacked. The lead Humvee had the twin SAWs and the second pulled the trailer. Sharon was much better and rode in the lead vehicle with her husband, daughter and the man from Anderson. His name was Grant Hughes, and he had moved to Vincennes right after grad school to teach biology at the local junior college. Geena, Sally and the guy from Buckville rode in my Humvee. His name was Roger Dame, and he had just moved away from home a year ago. Both of these men were keen to get home and check on their families. I told both we would give them a ride to their towns. Both brought weapons, ammo, and enough food to last them several weeks after they got home.

  Leaving was bittersweet because we had made so many friends and they now had a safe place to live, while we were heading into the unknown. Only knowing that Callie could be in danger spurred me on to get on the road again. I had to make sure my baby girl was safe and sound.

  I had tried to contact Mike every night for over a week, but I hadn’t heard anything back from him since TSHTF. I thought since we were so close to home, I’d try again. I reached a ham radio operator who went by the call sign “VWPACKRAT” and asked him to pass a message on to Mike321 that said we would be home in a few days. I thanked him and prayed for a return answer. None came that day.

  We said our goodbyes, loaded up and headed down Highway 41 towards Murphy. I had talked Aaron into crossing the Ohio River at Owensville to avoid Murphy and Anderson. Crossing there would mean traveling through the middle of both cities where one could cross east of Owensville and go around the city. We would go to my farm and rest before I took the men home and Aaron and his family headed on south. I wanted to invite them to all stay at my farm, but I had no idea what to expect when we arrived.

  Just before we arrived at the Highway 64 junction, Aaron pulled off into a truck stop to try to refuel. We only saw a handful of old cars and trucks moving around, but there were ATVs of all types scooting up and down the road. As had happened several times that morning people thought we were with the Army and tried to get us to stop and help them.

  Aaron waved the people off and said, “We’re not with the government and sorry we can’t help you.”

  A man walked up who was wearing a Sheriff’s badge and replied, “Sir, you’ve got these people wrong. We don’t need help. They wanted to see if you needed help. We are doing very well considering the circumstances.”

  “Sorry for the misunderstanding. My family is heading south of Nashville, and the others are going just east of Owensville.”

  I spoke up and asked, “What can you tell us about Anderson and Owensville?”

  “Son, the north end of Anderson is a lawless shit hole along with all of the south side of Murphy. Owensville appears to be in good shape. They have kept the gangs out so far. We are working with the north end of Murphy to push the gangs out of the area. The gangs barricade the bridge, and we have the gangs pinned down below Washington Street.”

  “Thanks for the information. My daughter was in Anderson, but I’m sure her uncle took her to my farm east of Owensville.”

  “The gangs are capturing women and girls to use for themselves or sell to the highest bidder. Hell, we strung up a guy yesterday for buying a 14-year-old for sex. Good luck.”

  “Are the roads safe between here and the Owensville bridges?”

  “I can’t guarantee anything, but it’s been calm over that way. The Owensville folks are doing a great job of keeping the scum from the big northern cities out. They have had a few battles but won all of them. Watch out for people wandering in from the north. People are starving in Indianapolis, Louisville, and all the major cities. We are getting prepared to run them off or shoot them.”

  “Is there any fuel here? And how did you get all of these ATVs running?”

  “You can have all of the diesel you can carry. We have a bunch of old gas burners running, but only a few diesel farm tractors so far. Now you’ll have to trade for the fuel. Nothing’s free or cheap these days. The ATVs were in overseas shipping containers to be delivered to several local ATV shops. I talked the owner into trading them to us. He also had a ton of spare parts in the trailers, so we were able to get some older ones running.”

  “Thanks.”

  The owner of the gas station was listening in and said, “I’ll trade you the fuel if you take my nephew over to Owensville. He was up here when the lights went out and wants to get back to Pineville.”

  “That’s a deal. Tell him to get his things, food, water, and his gun. We’ll leave as soon as we stretch our legs and fuel up.”

  The owner showed me how to use the hand pump and went on to get his nephew ready to travel. It was only 20 minutes before the owner came back with his nephew all ready to travel. He had a backpack and a 12 gauge pump shotgun. He was dressed in a tee shirt and shorts with hiking boots. We introduced ourselves and headed out on the road again. I had Roger sit between the new guy and Sally so she would feel comfortable. It turned out he was very friendly and very talkative. Sally and Roger’s ears were worn out in only a few miles. Before too long we went past Rockport and saw the bridge across the Ohio.

  ••••

  Mike was skinning a deer he killed early that morning when they saw the Humvee and the older truck come down the drive towards the house. He called the others on the radio and warned them of the arrival.

  “Keep your guns trained on these guys. I don’t recognize them, and this could be trouble. I’m going over to meet them.”

  Mike walked out to the middle of the driveway with Lynn at his side. Both had M&P15s ready for action. Joan was in the crow’s nest with Callie and Ally hiding behind some hay bales; all were ready for a fight.

  “Stop right here. Who are you and what do you want?”

  “Hello, we’re lucky we found you. The starving people around here will be glad also.”

  “Why will they be glad you found me?”

  “I’m the Kentucky FEMA representative for this area, and the government has asked me to develop a list of our resources and to assist in distributing them to disaster victims. You can put those guns down now. You’re making my guards nervous, and we don’t need any problems. Don’t worry, we’re not here to take all of your crops, only enough from each farmer to help the disaster victims.”

  Mike looked the man over from head to toe, and the man didn’t fit the part of a Kentucky FEMA agent, and the Humvee had seen better days.

  “I don’t like being nervous either. That’s why there are over 20 rifles aimed at you and your nervous men right now. What you need to do is go on into Owensville and get the Sheriff of Daviess County to come back here with you and explain why I should give you a damn thing. For all, I know you are a bunch of criminals trying to rip us off.”

  “Men, stay calm. Sonny, I’ll be back, and I’ll bring what I need to convince you that you will be sharing your food with the rest of the state.”

  “Sir, don’t come back without the Sheriff or you won’t like the reception you get.”

  He got back into the Humvee, sped off and was soon out of sight.

  “Lynn, come with me. I’m going to run over to a couple of the other farms and see if this asshole has tried to shake them down. Joan, keep an eye out in case these thugs return.”

  Several farmers told him that they also ran the FEMA man off at gunpoint. Sam told Mike that he told the FEMA guy to come back next week and they would have several trucks loaded up to help their unfortunate fellow Kentuckians.

  “But, Sam, you don’t have any crops, and you’re moving to our place tomorrow.”

  “That’s right, and that government bastard can have any crops he can find on that patch of sand and rock. The dumbass saw our small garden in front of the house and thought that we were big time farmers. Asshole.”

  “Perhaps you should come over and spend the night with us, in cas
e those men come back.”

  “No, we’re packing up and want to be ready in the morning to move.”

  “Okay, see you after breakfast.”

  Mike and Lynn got in the truck and headed back to the farm.

  ••••

  Taking back roads took more time than planned, so we pulled over and made camp for the night before approaching the bridge. I noticed Roger was showing a lot of attention to Sally when Geena came up to me and sat down.

  “That Roger has been bird dogging Sally ever since we parked for the night.”

  “She doesn’t seem to mind the extra attention and thank God she’s backed off chasing me.”

  “You’re already spoken for buddy.”

  “Look Geena, all kidding aside. I like you and would normally want to date you, but you know what’s most important to me right now.”

  “Yes I know; you tell me every five minutes. Perhaps I need to check out Grant," Geena said as she stormed off.

  I slept well that night with Geena only a foot away as though she was still guarding me from Sally. We had a quick breakfast and were on the road again.

  “Look there’s a roadblock just before the bridge. I think it will be safe; they’re flying the Kentucky and US flags.”

  “We still use caution until we know for sure.”

  Aaron drove up to about 50 feet from the roadblock, dismounted and walked up to greet the several people manning it. He stayed out of the kill zone so Davi could open up on them with the twin SAWs if necessary.

  “Hello, we need to pass on through to Owensville.”

  “Who are you and what business do you have down here? Where did you get those vehicles?”

  I recognized one of the men at the checkpoint and yelled at Aaron. I jumped out and walked up to shake hands with one of my old high school buddies.

  “Hey Frank, how are you and your family?”

  “Zack, we thought that you were dead somewhere between here and Oregon.”

  “Nope, I’m still alive, and this is my friend Aaron. We were given these Humvees by the Citizens of Vincennes. Aaron and his family have been helping us get back home. I brought a few people with me to live on my farm.”

  “Boy, it’s going to be crowded over there. Ole Mike has got quite the harem over there I’m told.”

  “Damn, that sounds just like my buddy Mike. Will we have any problems getting there?”

  “No, but stay on the lookout for outsiders wanting to steal food. We have a report of a gang posing as FEMA reps trying to take over farms east of here.”

  “We’ll check back in with you after we get rested. It’s been a long hard trip.”

  “Hey, you’d better guard those Humvees. Every crook and law enforcement agency around is going to try to take them from you.”

  Aaron spoke up, “These are only passing through as I take them to the government down in Nashville.”

  The drive to my farm was only 20 minutes from the river before TSHTF; it took us 40 minutes this morning. I was so excited, I was nervous. Happy, but cautious since I wasn’t sure that Callie was safe. We turned on the last road that ran across the front of my property and were in front of the farm when a bullet struck the front Humvee.

  ••••

  Mike got up early to check out both trucks and air up the tires in the two trailers. He wanted to make one trip today and then go back later for the camper and anything Sam couldn’t live without. He was worried that the fake FEMA guy would show back up with a larger group.

  Lynn, hurry up and wash your face. I’m ready to go. She came running out the kitchen door with a half eaten ham and cheese burrito and her rifle banging her side as she ran.

  “Damn, even I have to eat every now and then.”

  “Follow closely, but be ready to haul ass if we run into any of the ass bags.”

  Mike drove off with Lynn on his tail. They didn’t see anyone on the way over to Sam’s place, and as they drove up to the front of the house, they could see something was wrong. Instead of being greeted, no one was in sight, and the family’s belongings were strewn across the porch and front yard. I got out and dropped behind my truck and Lynn joined me.

  Mike called out, “Anybody home?”

  “Mike, is that you?”

  “Yes, we’re coming in. What happened?”

  As they went through the front door, Mike noticed the broken windows and bullet holes in the door.

  “Those FEMA guys caught us napping. They broke through the door and started shooting. I killed one and my son, Greg, killed those two, but the bastards shot me and killed my grandson. Everyone else is alright.”

  Mike looked around the room and saw the three dead men and a small body with a sheet over it on the couch.

  “How many got away?”

  “None. We killed them all. Greg hid the Humvee in the barn.”

  “Sam, we have to get back to my place. They might be going there next.”

  “Load up let’s go. We’ll come back and bury Jack later today. Grab your guns.”

  They all jumped in the trucks with Sam and his son in the Humvee and sped back to the farm. Mike radioed Joan and warned her of the attack. She replied all was calm and no one had shown up yet. Mike didn’t see anyone on the road, and there weren’t any vehicles in the drive when they drove up to the house. Mike stopped the truck in the front yard and told Lynn to pull in behind him. He wanted some cover in case these bastards attacked.

  Joan treated Sam’s wound, and when she finished, he got up, grabbed his shotgun and asked Mike where his guard station was.

  “Sam, now you’ve just been wounded. Take it easy and let the rest of us handle these men.”

  “Sorry, but hell no! They killed my grandson, and I’m going to shoot as many as I can. I have 50 buckshot shells, and I figure I’ll kill about 20 of the bastards myself. You kill as many as you want.”

  Mike put everyone on guard duty and had Callie stay in the crow’s nest. An hour passed without any sightings when he heard a shot and then Callie called down to him from the crow’s nest.

  “Uncle Mike we have visitors. There are two army looking vehicles coming in from the east. I shot at them, and they pulled back into the woods.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  Mike scrambled to get up the crow’s nest and climbed the ladder in record time.

  “Darling, show me where they are.”

  “There, see they have stopped in the woods.”

  “Oh shit. They have machine guns mounted on that front Hummer. We’re screwed. Callie, keep your rifle on them and be prepared to shoot.”

  Mike called Joan and said, “We have to bug out. FEMA’s back and they brought machine guns. They’ll cut us to ribbons. Grab what you can and head for the trucks. We have to leave before they get within range.”

  Mike climbed down from the crow’s nest and ran to the kitchen. As he entered Lynn called, “Mike, a guy on the radio wants to talk with you. He says that he’s here to save your sorry ass.”

  Mike keyed the walkie-talkie and said, “Callie, what are the intruders doing now?”

  “They are waving at us.”

  Mike took the ham radio mike and said, “Who are you and what do you want?”

  “I want a cold beer and a warm woman.”

  “Zack! You sumbitch. You scared the shit out of us. Get over here asap. We are expecting an attack any minute.”

  “Glad to see you too, Mikey. Thanks for trying to kill me.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  ✪✪✪

  Chapter 18 - Home Sweet Home

  Davies County, Kentucky

  Zack, Callie, Joan, and Mike hugged and cried for a few minutes before remembering to introduce their friends.

  I introduced Geena to Callie and said, “Callie, this is Geena. She is my girlfriend. I love her, and she will be living with us at the farm.”

  Callie hugged Geena and welcomed her to the farm. Joan glared at us and walked away in a huff.

/>   Everyone was starting to share stories when Mike yelled for them to stop and listen.

  “Look, I know we need to share stories and get to know each other, but we think there are some people about to attack us or some of the surrounding farms.”

  Aaron replied, “Fill us in after you repost your guards.”

  “Oh shit, Callie, take the crow’s nest, Lynn the front drive, Joan, watch out back, and Ally, take Paul and watch the other side from the orchard.”

  I started to protest when I saw Callie pick up the AR and head out the door, but kept my mouth shut. Everyone was growing up fast in this new world.

  “Everything was going fairly calm when these fake FEMA people showed up and demanded we share our crops with them so they can distribute the food to disaster victims. They didn’t look like government people. They looked more like biker scum that cleaned themselves up to fool us. This morning three of them attacked Sam and his family. They were all killed, but killed one of Sam’s grandkids.”

  Sam filled them in on the details of the attack.

  Aaron replied, “Let me see this scruffy Humvee.”

  They walked over to the pole barn, and Aaron inspected the vehicle.

  “Just as I thought, this is a surplus vehicle that the government gave to local police departments and it’s been out of use for quite a while. These men are thugs and criminals. It may even be an organized gang trying to take over the whole area as they have in Anderson and Murphy.”

  Mike stopped Aaron and had him fill them in on the situation in Anderson and Murphy.

  “Ally and her family came from Anderson, and their story supports what you just told us. Hey Zack, they even say Todd is one of the leaders of that gang.

  “Todd? That weak minded lazy shit? No way.”

  “Yes, it appears he went crazy and came out of it a vicious gang leader. Zack, he went crazy the day I picked Joan and Callie up. He was trying to strangle Joan and Callie when I arrived.”