The Day America Died Trilogy Read online

  “Zack did the President’s comment about us being on our own scare you?”

  “Baby, changing the topic didn’t make those feet any warmer. Yes, it worries me a bit; however, we will keep chugging along to survive one day at a time and work hard to make each new day just a bit better than the one before.”

  Yes, I was worried; however, I don’t want my wife and kids to worry about being alone as we struggle to survive.

  I’m not worried for myself, but I am terrified that Callie, Paul, and Suzie may face horrendous trials over the next 30 years. They will be living as people who lived in the 1850s.

  There will be no modern medicine, no rabies vaccine for dogs, no life flight helicopters.

  A bad cavity could become infected and kill a person. Women will die in childbirth. Hell, even a tiny skin cancer could kill an otherwise healthy person.

  I could take Ally or myself becoming sick or wounded, but I am afraid that my little girl, Callie, may become sick or have an accident. I will do my best to protect our kids at all cost.

  I lay there trying to sleep as I tossed and turned until Ally whispered in my ear, “Darling, we will be okay. We will teach our kids how to survive and give them the best chance at making a good life for themselves, and our grandkids. Now go to sleep.”

  “I love you and need to hear that, sweetie. Good night.”

  Life is tough enough without losing hope. Having Ally to comfort me and tell me everything will work out for the best is what I need.

  I always try to keep a positive outlook and make sure my friends and family know that we are going to survive. Deep inside I still have doubts.

  This is going to be one mother of a winter even though we are warm in our underground water reservoir and have plenty of food.

  I fear our friends in Owensville and the surrounding farms are either starving or freezing or perhaps both.

  I resolved to focus on daily tasks to make life just a bit better, conduct ongoing training for our kids and friends to prepare them for all possibilities. We will look the unknown in the face and give it the middle finger.

  ***

  The Water Reservoir

  Sally grabbed her bag, stuffed her personal hygiene items into it, grabbed her guns and laid them in the cab of the pickup. She helped Mike lower the pallet with the supplies, food, water, and ammo down from the roof to the bed of the truck. Mike fired up the old Ford 4X4 up and drove to the front of the hideout. Ally and I arrived just before the remainder of our party.

  “Damn, we’re good. That was 12 minutes. In five minutes we would be a mile down the road.”

  “Dad, how often do we have to practice Bugging Out?”

  “Darling, we are going to do it once a week until the threat is over. If Prescott finds out where we are, he will try to wipe us out. Our lookouts can only give us a few minutes of warning. Stay prepared.”

  I knew that once a month was probably enough drills, but I felt the drill kept us mentally sharp and drove the point home that we weren’t safe as long as Prescott existed.

  Before we had to retreat to the hideout, we had spent many hours preparing for several scenarios ranging from Bugging Out to guerrilla war.

  We knew the hideout could be overrun, so Mike came up with the idea to bury food, weapons and other supplies in 55-gallon drums in several locations away from the hideout. It took over a month, but we hid 63 drums of supplies. Mike made maps of their locations and gave a copy to everyone to keep in their Bug Out Bags.

  We met each week to review our plans for survival and made adjustments as needed. I don’t think we ever thought we’d have to leave my farm, but we were prepared and made the move as planned.

  Joan, being kidnapped screwed up the process, but even that worked out in the end. I am very proud of my little tribe.

  Paul walked up to me after the Bug Out drill and said, “Zack, I know we have three locations already chosen to Bug Out, but I’ve been thinking about adding another.”

  “Paul, I’d be glad to consider another suitable location, but you know we have to be able to scout it before we decide.”

  “I know that and just want us to have fallback locations in an emergency. The place I’m thinking about is in Graham, Kentucky and is a campground where my uncle had a trailer. We camped there in the summer when I was young. It’s the O’Bryan Campground, and it has a 50-acre lake and some caves that we used to explore.”

  “Where the heck is Graham?”

  “About 15 miles west of Greenville on Highway 121.”

  “Yeah, it sounds like a place we should consider. I’ll add it to our list to check out. Our two primary locations are just north of Rolling Hills. Perhaps you and I can go scout it out if the weather holds. This warm winter won’t last much longer.”

  Chapter 2 - Davi

  The Water Reservoir

  A month ago, Roger and I found Davi half dead, lying on the ground outside of the bunker. I walked up to her and tried to check to see if she was alive and she nearly stabbed me before I could subdue her. She had been almost fatally injured, shot twice, beaten and tortured. She arrived at the hideout barely alive.

  Ally and Joan dug out the bullets, patched her up the best they could, and we had to leave her in God’s hands. Ally and Callie changed Davi’s bandages daily, and the wounds appeared to be healing, but she didn’t wake up for over a week.

  The first several days she just laid there and did not move. The last two days before she woke up were painful to watch. She tossed and turned while mumbling words that we couldn’t understand. At least once a day she would sit straight up and scream, Then she would fall back into whatever unconscious hell tortured her broken body.

  Nine days after we found her she woke up just before breakfast and said, “Those are breakfast smells. I’m hungry. Prescott’s men captured me, and they plan to kill all of you. Damn, I’m hungry. Who found me? What day is it? How long have I been out? Has Prescott attacked? Damn, I’m hungry and thirsty.”

  Ally fetched a glass of water and handed it to Davi who drank the glass empty in one deep gulp.

  Ally said, “Davi, you’ve been unconscious for nine days and were shot twice. Be careful getting up. You were beaten, and I think you have some broken ribs.”

  “You should see the other guys.”

  I spoke up, “I believe I know this story. They all have had their throats slashed, and balls cut off.”

  “No, I shot six, cut three throats and strangled one with my bare hands. I didn’t have time to cut their balls off.

  That damn Prescott had me tortured for several days and when they couldn’t make me talk he let me hear his plans for me that night.

  When he was through with me, he planned to let his men have the leftovers. The idiot sent in two women to wipe the blood off and clean me up for their fun and games.

  The bath felt great, and they took my chains off to finish cleaning and drying me while a man held a gun on me. I waited until one of the women walked between us and shoved her fat ass into him.

  I broke her neck as I sent her crashing into him and quickly kicked the other in the neck killing her. Then I whirled around and took his gun away. It was easy to beat him to death with his own pistol.”

  I asked, “Sounds like you had everything in control. Why didn’t you steal one of the women’s clothes?”

  “Yes, I was standing there bare assed naked when five men ran into the room after hearing the commotion. Seeing me naked must have frozen them because I shot the first three before they reacted. I got hit a couple of times before I killed the others.”

  “Still, why didn’t you grab the women’s clothes?”

  “Damn it. They were dressed in see-through tops and panties.”

  I started laughing and couldn’t stop. Ally and Davi gave me that look that could kill and still I could not stop laughing.

  After I had regained my composure, I asked, “Okay, now how did you get away from their headquarters?”

  “I got dressed, gr
abbed all of the guns and ammo I could carry, stole one of their old trucks and blasted off in this direction.

  Since I killed everyone at that location, there was no one to follow me. I made it to the roadblock on Highway 54 and blasted my way through the guards killing all but one. Then about five miles from here, I ran out of gas and started walking. It was pure dumb luck that I got lost and passed out close to here.”

  Ally helped Davi up while saying, “Zack, this is one very scary woman.”

  “You got that right.”

  “Davi, Zack guessed that your story would be about the same as you just told. I never thought a woman could be such a bad ass.”

  “I can teach you how to be just as bad as I am.”

  I quickly replied, “Hell no! She might use it on me.”

  “Don’t you want me to be able to take care of myself when the big strong man isn’t around?”

  “Well, when you put it that way. Yeah, I guess I do.”

  Davi ate 5 eggs and a large steak along with 6 pieces of toast and 3 cups of coffee before declaring herself full. We watched in awe of this small woman’s appetite.

  Ally finally broke the ice by saying, “Davi, if you’re still hungry we can butcher a hog or a cow and BBQ it for you.”

  Davi looked up with her mouth still full, gave her the finger and smiled.

  She swallowed and said, “If I’m a bother, I can leave now, but I wanted to tell you what I learned about Prescott’s little kingdom before they caught me.”

  I poked her on her arm and said, “You have to stay and work to pay us back for all of that excellent medical attention and breakfast.

  What’s going on out there around us? We only hear a few bits and pieces on the walkie-talkies as we listen in on other’s conversations.”

  “Prescott has taken over all of Daviess County and several of the cities along the rail lines. He crushed all opposition by either killing or running any opposition out of the area. He took charge of the grain silos, all food production, and fuel storage.

  Half of the town’s people are starving and will freeze this winter. People are dying every day in Owensville for no reason other than Prescott wants fewer mouths to feed.”

  I asked, “Davi, what about the people out in the county. We had just brought the crops in, and they should have plenty of food to make it through the winter. They also have plenty of coal from those barges plus the diesel fuel Paul found.”

  “Prescott’s men went from farm to farm seizing all but a few weeks supply of all food and fuel from every farm. The ones loyal to you knew this could happen, so most of them have hidden supplies, but not enough to last all winter. The rest are in bad shape and beginning to die off.”

  “Damn, we have to do something. We have enough food for 50 more people with plenty in reserve. We have to help save as many of our friends as possible. We need a plan.”

  Davi replied, “It’s not my place to tell you what to do, but be careful adding anyone that you don’t know really well.

  How will you get to them and get them back here without leaving tracks that can easily be followed? Saving people is a great Judeo/Christian thing to do, but don’t get your group killed trying to save a few lives.”

  “Good points, but we have to do something, or we won’t be able to live with ourselves later.”

  Davi looked around the table and said, “But you will still be alive to have regrets. Do something if you have to, but don’t do anything half-baked or irresponsible. Make sure you gather intelligence about what is actually happening out there before going off half-cocked.”

  I caught Davi a little later and asked, “You didn’t tell us about how your mom and dad are doing, or anything about the Israeli settlers. Is everything okay?”

  “No, our compound below Nashville on the Tennessee River was attacked, and my mom was injured fighting off the invaders.”

  “I thought your compound was well armed and prepared for any and all attacks. What could a bunch of local thugs do against the Israeli Army?”

  “The attackers were well armed ex-military mercenaries. We fought off the attackers killing most of them with only a handful of them escaping.

  They had three civilian helicopters outfitted with machine guns, rockets and one had a mini Gatling gun. They caught us by surprise and almost overran the compound before we took out the choppers with Stingers and antiaircraft guns.”

  “How many were there?”

  “There were approximately 90, not including the pilots and gunners in the helicopters. They knew exactly where to hit us, and the time of day for maximum impact. This wasn’t a bunch of punks. These men were part of the Prescott Corporation Security Group.”

  “No shit? Prescott’s Group is that big and controls that much territory.”

  “Yes. We interrogated the five survivors and learned that they have three large groups that are trying to gain control of the Kentucky to Lower Alabama region. We kept the Wheeler Dam in operation, and they wanted it.”

  “Why doesn’t the Army deal with them? Hey, how many compounds do the Israeli’s have, and where are they?”

  “Zack, what’s left of your Army is fighting two wars; one with the Cartels on the Mexican border and one with the Russians on the northwest coast.

  We have 15 compounds in the USA and 15 more spread from Mexico down to Brazil. We also have compounds in Hawaii and other islands.

  Our largest is below Wichita a few miles south of McConnell AFB. I can’t tell you the locations of the others for security reasons.

  Prescott’s group has attacked several of our compounds. We have won every battle, but they are getting stronger as he recruits more ex-military men and women to join him. He offers food, security, and housing for their families.”

  “Son of a Bitch! How can our little group fight such a large well-armed group?”

  “Cut the head off the snake, and it will break into many smaller dictatorships that can be more easily dealt with.

  Chapter 3 - Rescue

  The transition from fall to winter was slow this year until the end of November then winter fell upon us like a blanket. We had spent the nice fall days gathering nuts, berries, and plenty of firewood in preparation for winter. Callie, Susie, and Sally harvested the vegetables from our small garden while Joan and Ally canned and made preserves. Joan and Ally might never be friends, but they could work together without pulling hair and fighting. Joan was still grieving the loss of Chuck and Ally did everything possible to help her through the healing process.

  We had a little over 30 days of beautiful fall weather and spent most of the time outside, but staying in the woods around the hideout. Only Mike and I ventured out to spy on Prescott’s men and the surrounding area.

  Mike and I traveled through the woods towards Owensville and were careful not to leave any tracks out of the dense brush and woods. It was 5:00 and the sun hadn’t peeked above the skyline yet. There was a bite of cold in the air promising that winter was just around the corner. There was a light frost on the grass that could barely be seen by the light from the half moon. We scurried along tree lines and ditches most of the way; however, the last two hundred yards were through a subdivision along Miller’s Mill Road. We arrived on the south side of Highway 54 at the Thurston Dermont crossing without being seen. There was one narrow escape where a woman surprised us and threw the contents of a slop bucket just behind us. Thankfully, she never saw us, and we moved on.

  I said, “Damn, Mike that was a close call.”

  “Too damn close. Did you catch a whiff of that shit? If it had landed on us, we’d have to call of this trip.”

  “Yep, it would gag a skunk and the guards would get tears in their eyes.”

  Mike and I hid under an abandoned delivery truck and listened to the guards. There were two men and a woman on guard duty, and they were too busy talking to notice anything around them.

  ***

  “Why don’t Prescott’s boys have to pull guard duty?”

 
; “I was told that they are elite soldiers whose job is to fight our enemies and run off all of the drug pushers.”

  “The bastards killed Chuck and probably killed Mike Norman and Zack. I’ll never believe they were the masterminds behind a drug gang.”

  “I don’t like this half rations shit, and I hear the farmers are starving. That is the ones that don’t freeze to death this winter. Damn it’s cold. Ralph, it’s your turn to put another log in the barrel. Get the fire roaring.”

  “Get off my ass. I’m going now. I’ll even put two logs on.”

  “Hey Sue, now that he is gone, how about coming over to my place for a little wine and some cheese I scrounged up just for you?”

  “So you can get me drunk and get me in bed? Hell no! Not now, or ever. I know that you turned the Hager family in for holding back a little food for themselves. I grew up with Sam’s son. They are good people, and now they will starve. You are scum.”

  “You’d better show me some respect, or I’ll tell Prescott you are part of the resistance.”

  Ralph came up behind the asshole and struck him in the head with the butt of his hunting rifle. The woman checked his pulse and said, “The bastard is dead. What do we do now?”

  “Grab the shovels out of the bed of my pickup. I’ll drag the body behind the Burger Shack and bury him in the burn pile. No one will find him. I’ll tell Jock that he got pissed about the short rations and headed over to Anderson.”

  ***

  “Mike, it appears that not all of Prescott’s people are loyal to him, to say the least. We should be able to get many of them to join us in the spring. Their story backs up what Davi told us about Prescott starving the people that aren’t loyal to him.”

  “I’m worried that most of them might be dead by spring. You heard what he said about Sam’s family. Let’s get them to join us at the hideout along with any others we can trust.”

  “Mike, we need to talk to our group first.”