After the Republic (17 page)

Perry tried to console her, but to no avail. Joshua retreated to his office; Rebecca followed and closed the door.

“I am
really
worried about Caroline,” she said. “She is on the verge of a complete nervous breakdown, and we’ve only been here a week.”

“And it could become contagious,” Joshua observed.

“We need to--"

A shrill scream pierced Joshua’s ears. He and Rebecca rushed into the living area. A cold, deathly chill shot down Joshua’s spine as he saw Caroline lying on the floor with blood splattered across her shirt. Perry and Ruth were scrambling frantically. Bob burst through the front door, surveyed the scene, then spun and rocketed off the porch in a full sprint.

“What happened?” Joshua swallowed hard.

Perry frantically ripped off his shirt and wrapped it into a ball, pressing it against Caroline’s left wrist. “She cut herself!”

Rebecca knelt beside Caroline and put her hand on friend’s cheek.

Perry was frenzied. “We’ve got to get the bleeding under control!”

Caroline began shaking violently as Joshua and Rebecca applied pressure to her slashed wrist with a wad of paper towels. Perry cupped his wife’s head in his hand and pressed his face against hers, bawling. “Why? Why would you do this?”

Bob returned with Jim and Keri in tow. Keri examined the wound. “Thankfully it’s not a very deep cut. Keep applying pressure to get the bleeding stopped, then we need to clean this up and get it wrapped.”

Joshua collapsed onto the couch, leaned back, closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.
I am NOT equipped to deal with this. What was I thinking bringing these people here?

Once Keri had Caroline’s bleeding under control, Rebecca went to her husband and buried her face in his chest. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she whispered.

Joshua put his arms around her and kissed her on the head. “Please don’t
ever
do that to me.”

Rebecca’s head snapped around and she gazed at him through tear-filled eyes. “I think you
know
me better than that.”

“I do, but I thought I knew Perry and Caroline better than that too.” He hugged her tightly.

***

Later that afternoon Thomas made his way down the mountain to Joshua’s porch. “Man, I heard about Caroline. Is she okay?”

“She should be,” Joshua said. “Well, okay
physically
. I’m not sure how she’s doing emotionally.”

“Man, I know it’s got to be tough losing your kids. Can’t even imagine. How are the rest of y’all holding up?”

“We’re hanging in there. I think people are getting cabin fever. Do you think we’ll get power back in the near future?”

“Man, I got enough of a signal to call the power company earlier,” Thomas answered. “It should be back on in the next day or two.”

Joshua groaned. “Next day or two?”

Night came and went, and there was still no power in the camp. Bob pulled Joshua aside as the men were cutting firewood. “We have weak links in this camp. They will hold us back and could compromise us. We must consider how to handle.”

“People are struggling. That’s obvious. But I am
not
about to kick them out into the cold. I recruited them to come here, and I have a responsibility to help lead them through this.”

Bob shook his head. “As you wish. But they are a liability.”

“Understood, but I am not going to kick them to the curb.”

The power finally came back on around noon.

***

That afternoon Joshua was joined by Rebecca and Jim on Drew’s porch. “Jim, I wanted to follow up on our conversation about the fact that some folks are having difficulty adjusting. I agree with you that we could see a major bout of depression if we’re not careful, and that could be deadly.”

Jim nodded. “The worst thing people can do is bottle it up.”

“What would you think about having a couple of small groups like we had at our old church? It would give people a chance to vent, get things off their chest and hopefully support and encourage each other.”

“I think that’s a wise plan,” Jim said. “Maybe each group can have a couple of families in it?”

“That’s what I was thinking. It seemed to work at church.”

“I like the small group idea, but that’s
not
how we should set them up,” Rebecca interjected. Joshua cocked an eyebrow.

“What are you thinking?” Jim asked.

“The women here are processing this whole thing much differently than the men,” she said. “We saw that with Caroline. I think the men and women should be in separate groups.”

“You’re probably right,” Jim said. “Joshua, what do you think?”

“I’ve learned
never
to argue with her.” Joshua chuckled.

Rebecca smacked him on the arm.

CHAPTER 8

The sunrise offered a spectacular patchwork of pink, orange and red as it penetrated the darkness, spreading across the mountaintops and glittering through the still-icy trees. The wispy clouds glowed a deep red. A few birds could be seen searching for food and a lone squirrel jumped from tree to tree.

As he enjoyed the morning quiet Joshua reflected on the past couple of days. Warmer weather had melted most of the snow and ice, and camp residents’ moods had risen with the temperature. The chickens had finally begun producing eggs and Bob had retrieved a catfish from the trotline. Things were slowly beginning to look up.
Slowly.

The morning quiet was shattered by the rumbling of a motorcycle. Drew made his way down the path, sporting a blue backpack. He waved as he passed but did not stop.
Where is he going this early?

Bob and Kane had begun constructing defensive structures around the edges of the camp to minimize the chance of unwanted intrusion at otherwise vulnerable points. Bob was a student of military history, and these barricades would be scaled-down versions of the hedgerows used by the Germans in World War II. Jim and Keri had begun contacting camp residents about the men’s and women’s small groups, receiving mostly favorable responses.

While things were looking up – at least for the moment – Joshua knew they could not afford to become complacent. His gut still told him that the chaos and conflict raging throughout the nation would eventually find its way here. As the camp’s leader, it fell on his shoulders to motivate the others to use this time to prepare for challenges that would inevitably come. He heaved a sigh.
Easier said than done.

Joshua went inside and turned on the television. The news anchor rehashed the events of the prior few days:
America is still reeling from the recent attacks on our nation. Most of the federal government’s functions are effectively nonexistent, and the same can be said of states like North Carolina where the state capital was hit. With the federal government decimated, people who have relied on government benefits for their daily sustenance are doing without.

The newscast switched to a shot of empty shelves in a grocery store.
Stores are reporting that they are having difficulty getting shipments of food, and an increasing number of international shipping lines are refusing to dock at American ports due to heightened security concerns.

A crowd of people shouting outside of what appeared to be a city hall flashed across the screen.
State and local governments are being inundated with people angrily demanding that they provide benefits previously offered by the federal government. They do not have the resources to handle the crushing demand. The problem is especially great in urban areas where most residents do not have the knowledge, skills or resources to grow or hunt their own food. People in rural areas and farming communities are faring better, but even those areas are not without hardship.

The newscast cut away to looters carrying stolen food from a store.
The sudden food shortage is sparking an increasingly violent crime wave. People are breaking into grocery stores, robbing other shoppers and even breaking into homes to steal food. State and local law enforcement agencies are being overwhelmed by the sudden surge in crime.

Next, the report displayed heavily-armed personnel wearing uniforms with the Department of Homeland Security logo patrolling the streets in a small town.
With state and local law enforcement struggling to keep up, President Armando is dispatching troops and Homeland Security police to quell the violence. We are receiving reports of federal personnel using heavy-handed tactics and, in many cases, harassing people who are not part of the crime wave. Martial law remains in effect in numerous areas, and we are receiving reports of federal officials demanding that law-abiding citizens surrender their firearms.

“Wow,” Rebecca said. “It’s getting worse and worse.”

Joshua frowned and shook his head. “Indeed. We’re watching the disintegration of the America we know and love.”

***

Joshua was in the clearing when Thomas’ Suburban made its way down the mountain. Tommy jumped out of the passenger side and ran over to meet him. “Mr. Winston, Dad wanted me to give these to you.” He handed Joshua a stack of the proposed camp rules. “Me and Dad are headed to see if there’s anything left at the store. Y’all need anything?”

“Not that I can think of. Are you taking any of our security guys with you?”

“I don’t know.”

Thomas and Tommy made their way to the store in Robbinsville, where the shelves were almost barren. Before they made it out of the store Thomas said, “Son, I forgot to get batteries. Go back and get ‘em and meet me outside.”

Tommy took the crisp $20 bill from his father. He looked for batteries but could not find them anywhere.

“We’re running out of a lot of things,” the store manager told him. “And we’re getting very few shipments of anything that isn’t produced locally.” Tommy thanked the manager and went outside.

***

“Nine eggs,” Rebecca said. “Not a bad day.”

Joshua nodded. “Maybe this ‘laying mash’ stuff Thomas picked up actually works.”

They met Bob and Kane in the clearing. “We have completed the first set of defensive structures along the road,” Bob informed them. “To the naked eye they appear to be part of the natural terrain, but are difficult for individuals or vehicles to cross. Additionally, we have constructed passageways inside them that can be used to travel around the perimeter undetected. We will resume work tomorrow. It will take some time to fully encircle the camp.”

“Sounds good,” Joshua said. “I’ll take a look at them tomorrow. I’ve got to finish getting ready for tonight’s meetings.”

“Both Thomas and Drew took off, didn’t they?” Rebecca asked. “Will they be back in time?”

Joshua answered, “I hope--”

Thomas’ Suburban rocketed up the path from the road, kicking up dirt and rocks in its wake.

“Why is he in such a hurry?” Rebecca wondered aloud. The vehicle’s brakes locked and it skidded to a stop. Tommy jumped out, pale and shaking.

“What’s wrong, Tommy?” Joshua asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Dad…” Tommy stammered and handed Joshua a sheet of paper. “Th.. this was on the truck...”

Joshua examined the paper. He frowned and handed it to Bob, who read it aloud.
We have your father. You were able to escape when the old man bailed you out on the mountain road. If you want to see your father again, bring the old man who rescued you to us. 4:30 p.m. today, same parking lot where you found this note. No cops, and no one else. If you do not comply, YOUR FATHER IS DEAD.

“Where did this happen?” Bob asked.

“Um, at, the.. um, grocery store.”

“
What
grocery store?”

Joshua jumped in. “Tommy, was it the grocery store over in Robbinsville where your Dad took us last week?”

Tommy nodded.

“How did this happen?” Bob asked.

“We went through the checkout line and then Dad realized he’d forgotten batteries,” Tommy said, sounding a little more composed. “He gave me a twenty and sent me back in. When I got back to the truck the keys were hanging in the door and this note was on the seat.”

Bob continued his rapid-fire questioning. “Did you immediately drive back here after finding the note?”

“Um, yes.”

“Were you followed?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Are you certain?”

“Um, no.”

“Martin, perform immediate border security check along the road.”

“Yes, sir!” Kane answered.

“Joshua, postpone tonight’s meetings. Round up people from the other homes. Rebecca, go with Tommy and talk to Mr. Page’s family, then bring him back here.”

Bob explained the situation after Joshua rounded up Perry, Jack and Chuck.

“McGee, come with us,” Bob said. “Mr. Edwards and Mr. Jones, stay here and guard the camp. Let Mr. Davidson and the people in the other cabin know what has happened and that tonight’s camp and council meetings are postponed.”

“Will do,” Perry answered.

After a short time Rebecca and Tommy made the trip back down the hill in Thomas’ Suburban.

“How did Kim take it?” Joshua asked.

“She pretty much lost it,” Rebecca said. “I assured her that it’ll be all right and that we’ll get Thomas back.”

“Tommy, we need for you to go with us to get your Dad back,” Bob said.

Tommy nodded, still shaking.

“Rebecca, please stay with Kim until we come back,” Joshua advised. “Bob, what’s your plan?”

Bob’s eyes narrowed as he checked the magazine on his 1911 and forcefully pumped a round into the chamber. “Well, they said they wanted me. Let’s give the morons what they asked for.”

Kane returned from the woods and ran toward the cabin, stone-faced. “Bogey vehicle parked up the hill from the gate, sir. Two people in the vehicle. One man, one woman. Another man
thinks
he’s hiding in the woods across the road.”

“They followed Tommy when he returned here and are planning to ambush us when we leave,” Bob said. “The vehicle is a decoy, and the other man is likely the shooter. Martin, was Mr. Page in the vehicle?”

“Unable to discern, sir.”

Bob’s eyes narrowed as he outlined his plan. “Priority one is to ascertain Mr. Page’s location and retrieve him securely. Priority two is to ensure that our location here is not compromised.”

Joshua shot Bob a puzzled look. “How do you plan to avoid our location being compromised since they are right outside the gate? Hasn’t it
already
been compromised?”

“That is why we must eliminate the three bogeys.”

“By ‘eliminate’ you mean ‘kill’?”

“Affirmative. They will likely initiate conflict and force our hand. The larger challenge is ascertaining Mr. Page’s location before we eliminate the threat.”

“Won’t that just draw attention to us?” Joshua asked.

“If they are allowed to escape they will absolutely compromise us. And they have made their intentions clear.”

“What about local law enforcement? Shouldn’t we call them?”

“Negative! In the wake of all that has happened, and particularly in light of the incident at the farm, we cannot rely on or trust anyone. We must handle this ourselves.”

Joshua took a deep breath.

Bob barked out orders. “Martin, position McGee at a secure vantage point near the gate and yourself at the highest possible vantage point with eyes on the bogey in the woods. McGee, keep eyes on the bogeys in the vehicle. I will drive Mr. Page’s Suburban to the gate and exit the vehicle when I have eyes on the enemy. Joshua, follow me down the path but stay far enough behind to avoid being spotted. Be prepared to initiate pursuit if the other vehicle flees. McGee, be prepared to join Joshua in his truck.”

Kane nodded and motioned for Jack to follow him as he headed into the woods in the direction of the gate.

As Kane and Jack started for the woods Bob said, “Martin, we will wait ten minutes before proceeding to give you time to get into position. You have the green light to engage at the first sign of hostility.”

“Yes, sir!”

“What about me?” Tommy asked.

Bob put his hand on Tommy’s shoulder. “Son, things have changed now that the enemy has found us. You should stay here. I don’t want to put you in harm’s way.”

“NO! He’s my Dad, and I want to go.”

Bob looked at Joshua for guidance.

“Tommy, are you sure?” Joshua asked.

“YES!”

“Wait here, son.” Bob walked to his utility trailer, returning with two vests and a helmet. He handed a vest and the helmet to Tommy. “Son, put these on and ride in the back. If you hear shots, get down in the vehicle and
stay down
.” Tommy put on the vest and helmet and opened the door to the back seat of his father’s Suburban and settled in. “Not the back seat, son.
All the way
in the back. As far out of sight as possible.” Tommy did as Bob instructed. Bob also donned a vest and covered it with his dark green coat.

After exactly ten minutes Bob began slowly driving down the path toward the gate. Joshua followed him, keeping his distance. His heart was beating a million miles a minute as he kept his hand near his 9mm.
I feel like we’re in a war zone, but I’m not even sure who our enemies are. These guys seem like random criminals.

The short trip down the winding dirt path seemed like an eternity. As Joshua rounded the last curve before reaching the road he spotted the defensive hedgerow that Bob and Kane were constructing.

Bob stopped before reaching the gate. Joshua watched as he concealed his pistol under the back of his coat and walked out into the narrow two-lane road. A shot rang out and Bob went down.
Relax, he’s wearing a vest
, Joshua thought. Tommy disappeared down into the SUV. As Bob hit the ground another shot rang out, followed by the sound of tires screeching and another shot.