The Day America Died Trilogy Read online

  I carefully slipped behind the barn to wait for Mike and Paul to arrive. I could still faintly hear the guards behind the house bickering.

  Then I heard, “Zack.”

  I whispered, “Here, behind the tractor.”

  They joined me, and I laid my plan on them. Then we moved closer to surveil their position.

  Mike said, “It should work, but we need some way to distract them when we have to cross that open spot about 50 yards out from them.”

  “I could shoot a couple of arrows over them to fall behind their position. That should make enough noise to distract the guards.”

  “Good thinkin’, Paul. How close do you have to be to kill these assholes?”

  “I’d like to be within a hundred feet to make sure, but, if they have body armor, I’ll have to go for headshots and would need to be inside 50 feet to have the best chance to hit them.”

  “Shit, that’s too close. Mike and I will get close enough to charge in and slit their throats when you fire the arrows over them. Close in and help us if you can.”

  “Zack, you don’t have to shelter me from these assholes. I want them dead as much as you do.”

  “I know son, but Mike and I have done a lot of this lately. You’re new at this, and if you freeze, we could all die.”

  “Okay, I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.”

  I smiled and said, “Good man, Paul.”

  I patted both on the back and said, “Let’s go.”

  Mike and I were stationed on opposite sides of their position only a few feet from them when we heard the arrows arch over their heads. They turned to see what was sneaking up on them when Paul launched another arrow. That was our cue to charge the men and put them down.

  I heard a sound of something traveling very fast going past my ear and then heard a thunk sound causing one of the men to fall. There was another swishing sound accompanied by another thunk as the second man fell to the ground.

  Mike and I ran and saw them lying on the ground with arrows sticking in the backs of their skull. Both bodies were still twitching on the ground. Their bodies did not yet know they were dead.

  Good shootin’, ya’ done good. You scared the shit out of me, but ya’ done good.”

  “All right, let’s strip their weapons, ammo and body armor then get the hell out of here.”

  I spray painted, PATRIOTS and our symbol on the door as we left.

  Jacob’s family marched the half mile to the truck, and we made tracks for home.

  We were a few hundred yards from the barn when we saw several flashes and gunfire. Our team was under attack.

  Chapter 4 - Lions and Tigers and Wolves – Oh My

  The pack had 38 members and would add 20 -30 pups in the spring. All of the females were still hunting with the pack since none was pregnant yet.

  As winter progressed, the breeding season would start, and later the pregnant females would go to their dens to deliver their pups. The females avoid the territorial fights with other packs to deliver in safety.

  These wolves had entered Kentucky from Indiana heading south to find a game. The readily available human carcasses had dried up by the end of summer, so they had to go back to hunting deer and other game. The predator population had grown dramatically as their human predators declined. The availability of human bodies that either were buried improperly or just left to rot in the sun were now becoming rare.

  The pack was hungry, and winter was approaching. This made them extremely dangerous since they no longer feared man and man had become an easily taken food source.

  The pack stalked a small group of humans. They hoped to dine well tonight.

  ***

  I left Lynn in charge of the group and cautioned her to make sure they kept on guard for Prescott’s men and any dangerous animals. I warned her to use the mace, ammonia, and bows if needed to ward off any predators.

  The barn had a large sliding door on each end plus a couple of standard man doors. The sliding door on the north end of the barn had fallen away from the barn leaving it vulnerable.

  She posted a guard at each end of the barn and planned to rotate that duty through the night until the rescue team rejoined them.

  Lynn was firm as she posted the guards, “Remember, no smoking or talking, above a whisper. Listen for vehicles and any unusual sounds coming from the woods. We don’t need anyone sneaking up on us.

  Greg, you and Ally take the first turn at guard duty. Ben and I will relieve you in half an hour. We’ll rotate every half hour until our team gets back.”

  “Yes mom, we chillun will keep a sharp eye out for the lions and tigers and bears.”

  “Look, Greg, I know you are just joking, but if you do what I tell you to do, every time I tell you to do something, you might just stay alive and maybe help keep the rest of us alive.”

  Ben replied, “He’s just having trouble taking orders from a woman. Greg shut the fuck up, and do what she tells you. She has proven her combat skills, and that is something you have yet to do. Now get your head out of your ass and do as you are told. I’m warning you, she can, and will, kick your ass.”

  Realizing that he had just been told the truth, Greg almost whispered, “I apologize, ma’am. I’ll do what I’m told. I know that was stupid. It will never happen again.”

  Trying to hide her smile, Lynn said, “Okay, stud, see that it doesn’t, ‘cause he’s right, I can, and will, kick your ass in front of God and everybody if this happens again.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I gotcha. Can we move on now?”

  “What you think, Ben, you want to add anything else?”

  “Oh, hell no.”

  Lynn and Ben passed the time by telling their life’s story while eating a couple of sandwiches and guzzling tea.

  Ben had served in the Army with two tours in the Middle East. He told Lynn that his brother Greg had never served, but thought he was a tough guy who could handle himself.

  “Ben, Greg may be tough, but until a gun is stuck in your face, or you see friends dying around you, you don’t know how you will react.”

  “Been there, done that. I was in several firefights with the Taliban and wounded twice. I lost several friends during my last tour. I’ll work with Greg to tone him down and get him to fit in with our team.”

  “Thanks, I don’t want him challenging Zack’s authority. It would not end well.”

  “Me neither. Zack and the rest of you have saved our asses several times, and my family is grateful for the help. We owe all y’all.”

  They continued to take turns on guard duty for several hours. Greg and Ally were on duty when they first heard the soft rustle of grass that signaled that they were being stalked. Ally was the first to catch a glimpse of a shadow crossing between bushes. Before she said a word, Greg saw something lurking in the shadow of the barn in the faint moonlight.

  “Lynn, I just saw something out there. It might be a big dog or a deer.”

  “Hey, I just saw a shadow about 15 yards away. I don’t like this,” Greg added.

  “Spray the ammonia as far as it will stream in all directions.”

  Lynn joined Ally and Ben went to his brother’s side.

  “Use the mace if you need it, but don’t shoot your guns unless we’re attacked.”

  “Lynn, look! I can see several eyes in the bushes. The ammonia isn’t working.”

  “Spray some more out there. Animals hate the smell.”

  They sprayed most of the ammonia to no avail. Several shadows ran very near to the open doors.

  Lynn said, “Close and lock your door and join us down here. We don’t need to split our forces.”

  She no sooner got the words out of her mouth before three large wolves crashed into them.

  Ally pulled her bayonet and stabbed the one on top of her, then rolled over and stabbed one that had Lynn’s ankle in its mouth while Lynn wrestled with the third. She had the wolf by his neck doing her best to keep it from biting her face when it went limp and fell off he
r with an arrow in its back.

  “Thanks for killing that big bastard. Get the mace ready. Shit, shoot some out in the air to run these wolves off.”

  Before Ally could spray the mace, a dozen wolves charged the door. Ally drew her 9mm and started shooting. The others joined in and killed all, but two that had tackled Greg and Ally. They stabbed the last two wolves and grabbed their ARs to finish off any that continued the attack.

  ***

  We saw the flashes and gunfire just as we were about to pull off the road.

  “Mike and Paul, follow me. They are under attack,” I yelled.

  We ran to the end of the barn and saw the Wolves’ running back into the woods.

  Mike called out, “It’s Mike. Are y’all okay? We’re coming around the barn.

  Ally replied, “Come on in.”

  We came to the other end of the barn to see dead and dying wolves’ lying around the entrance to the barn. Ally ran up, hugged me and held me tightly as she trembled.

  “Zack, I know we weren’t supposed to shoot, but the ammonia and mace just pissed them off. They charged the first time, and we killed three with our knives and an arrow. There was a dozen in the next charge, and they would have overwhelmed us. I shot five of the monsters myself.”

  I asked, “Is anyone injured?”

  “One of the fuckers bit my ankle,” replied Lynn.

  Ally replied, “I’ve got some scratches.”

  “I’m okay,” replied Ben.

  Greg didn’t respond.”

  “Greg, hey Greg.”

  They turned and started to search the barn when Ben yelled, “They killed Greg.”

  Greg was lying in the middle of half a dozen wolves and had his throat ripped out. He died quickly, but not before he stuck his knife deep into the wolf that killed him.

  I looked at Ben and said, “I’m sorry for your loss, but we need to get you and the Jacobs to the hideout before Prescott’s men come to investigate. We’ll bury Greg in the back of the barn and cover the grave with that pile of timbers. Sorry Ben, but we can’t carry him back home.

  Mike and Paul, you stay with me while the rest of you head to the hideout. We have to figure out how to throw these assholes off our trail. We have to assume Prescott’s men heard the shots. Go now. If you are attacked again, don’t hesitate to shoot the nasty monsters.

  Ally, we’ll key the walkie talkie twice, wait 10 seconds and key it again four times when we settle down for the night. We’ll do the same when we get back to the barn tomorrow.”

  “Watch out for the four-legged, and two-legged monsters,” she replied.

  We watched them leave, and I wondered how, the hell, we could keep the hideout from being discovered.

  “Zack, they had to hear the gunshots, but I don’t think they could know exactly where they came from. Let’s confuse them. Let’s take the truck five miles north, shoot a bunch of rounds, go another three miles east, shoot some more. Then we find a place to hide for the night.”

  “They won’t know what to think. No one attacked them, so they might think a gang is attacking the farmers.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  ***

  Ally, where’s Paul? I don’t see dad or Uncle Mike either. Are they okay? We heard gunfire,” asked Callie.

  “Darling they’re okay. We were attacked by a pack of wolves. We had to shoot them to survive. Your husband, dad, and Uncle are trying to make sure that Prescott’s men don’t come towards the hideout and discover us.”

  “That sounds dangerous. How will they do that?”

  “Darling I don’t know, but you know your dad and Uncle are really good Boy Scouts.”

  It was only then that Callie saw the blood on Ally’s arm.

  “You’re hurt. Let me help you. Mom, come over here and help.”

  Joan replied, “Boil some water and get some bandages. Wash the bite with cold water and soap. I’m busy with Lynn’s injuries.”

  None of the wounds had serious bleeding. Ally’s injuries were just scrapes and not deep puncture wounds, so they were easy to treat with antibiotic cream.

  Lynn had several puncture wounds that had to be cleaned and treated with antibiotic cream. Joan also gave Lynn some Ibuprofen for the pain. Joan gave all three a bottle of strong antibiotics and told them to get some rest.

  “Ally, I’m scared. I won’t be able to sleep until Paul gets safely back home,” said Callie.

  “Honey, that’s what women do when their men are off fighting thugs and wild animals.”

  “But I want to fight alongside him. I don’t want to be stuck in a cave waiting for him to return, or die, out there without me. If he is going to die, I want to die fighting beside him.”

  “Don’t wish too hard. Women fight just as much as men do now that the SHTF. Besides, what will you do when you have two or three of my grandkids hanging on to your apron?

  Callie smiled and replied, “I’ll leave them with my mom or their other beautiful granny.”

  “The beautiful comment takes the sting off being a granny at my age. I’m just kidding; I’d love to have a bunch of grandkids.”

  Ally watched Joan treating the bite wounds and scratches and knew that they would run out of antibiotics sometime in the next year. Even the pills would have a shelf life and would be worthless in a short time. Then a bite, infected tooth or bullet wound could be fatal. Then suddenly she wondered if the others had received a Tetanus shot lately.

  ***

  Mike drove the five miles and never slowed down as Paul, and I let off a barrage of shots. We repeated this several times around the county before we saw several trucks and a Humvee tearing up the back roads looking for us.

  Mike drove us into a barn on the side of the road to avoid the first truck full of Prescott’s men and then we finally went off road into a thicket to spend the night about twelve miles east of the hideout. I keyed the mike on the walkie talkie and took first turn at guard duty.

  We heard vehicles tearing down the road several times during the night, but none stopped close to us. Our ruse apparently worked. Chalk up one for the good guys.

  Chapter 5 - Mayor Prescott

  Prescott’s helicopter skimmed along the tops of the trees at night with no lights on to avoid detection by the military or DHS. The pilots flew with the aid of NVGs and had no problems steering around power lines, radio and TV antennas.

  Prescott was furious about the ongoing failure to take the Wheeler hydroelectric dam on the Tennessee River. He was certain this was due to faulty intelligence. His team had failed to infiltrate the group protecting the dam and only had information gained from surveillance.

  His mission was to visit with his Alabama commander and decide if he was the right man for the job. He was hesitant since he only had a few men as competent as the one in Alabama and hoped this was a setback and not a trend.

  The helicopter landed in the parking lot of a warehouse complex in Courtland, Alabama. This was a northern outpost of the main compound in Birmingham.

  He had complete control of Birmingham and had teams fanning out to gain control of the other major cities. He was promoting his group’s ability to provide food and protection to the town’s people.

  His men killed or ran off the gangs that harassed most towns. They also killed drug dealers on sight. The town’s people liked that.

  They just didn’t know that they were trading one evil for a different devil and the Federal Government was too busy fighting Russians and the Cartel to be of any help.

  Prescott climbed down out of the helicopter and Mark Henson, the commander of his forces in Alabama, greeted him.

  “Hello Mark, let’s head to your office.”

  “Sorry, I thought that you would want to go to your room for the night before we meet.”

  “No, I want to meet for an hour, and then fly on to Texas tonight. Let’s roll.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Prescott had several compounds across the USA and wanted desperately to conso
lidate them into a new country that took land from Texas to Arkansas over to Kentucky and then down to the Gulf.

  He knew that he only had a year to make it happen and the key was taking over the power generation and the military bases in his new country.

  He thought most of the soldiers would join him since there was no hope of help coming from the USA and the government was forcing soldiers to leave their families and fight on the Mexican border and Oregon.

  They walked into the warehouse, entered Mark’s office and started their meeting.

  “Sir, I believe we found the reason our attacks have failed so far.”

  “Enlighten me.”

  “We captured one of the guards at the dam this morning and attempted to question her to learn more about this invincible force that guards the dam.

  We couldn’t break her. No technique or type of torture worked. She passed out this evening after being nearly beaten to death and losing five fingers.

  She was groggy as she woke up and began speaking in Hebrew. One of our men speaks Hebrew and actually trained Israeli pilots on our equipment years ago. He swears that she is Israeli Army or even a Mossad agent.”

  “Can I speak to her?”

  “Sorry, but she died a few hours ago. She killed three of my men and maimed two more before she was shot several times.”

  “Your men were careless.”

  “Sir, she was strapped to a chair with her hands and feet bound. She broke the chair and used it to club my men to death.”

  “So you think you have the Israeli Army guarding the dam.”

  “Sir, they are much better armed, have better intelligence and frankly their guards are better soldiers than I have. My solution is to bring in some heavy guns and mortars to eliminate them so we can liberate the dam.”

  “Have you thought about sending in an underwater team to infiltrate them?”