Going Home (54 page)

We got back to the truck and climbed in, and I started it up. Danny kept them covered the whole time. As we drove out of the parking area, I went around the opposite side from where they were just to keep some distance between us and them. Danny was looking at them through the rear window when they dropped their hands and gave us the finger. They started hollering and raising hell. Danny cleared their weapons; and as we approached Shockley Heights, I stopped the truck, and he stepped out long enough to lean them against a tree on the side of the road. I told them we would leave them on the side of the road for them.

We made it back to the house without any further problems. As we pulled onto the road, the two guys at the roadblock came out from the barricade. We talked for a little, telling them about the radio broadcast and what it said. They were incredulous at the thought of having to give up anything, be it guns or food. The discussion revolved around the fact they were going to bring aid into the cities and not out to the rural areas, but they still wanted those in the country to surrender all our food.

Dan was one of the guys at the roadblock; he was a deputy sheriff and was a good guy to have around. He was into guns and hunting and liked to fish. He was extremely pissed. “I ain’t giving them shit. It’s crazy to force people to do that. And I’ll tell you another thing, our sheriff isn’t going to go along with that shit either!”

“Yeah, I think they are trying to make more people dependent on the government. Have you been to work since all this started?” I asked.

“Maybe so, but people are going to start getting crazy. It’s already starting around here. Some folks in the neighborhood are starting to run out of food. I suspect some of them will try and turn in those that still have some. It’s going to get ugly around here, I’m afraid.

“As for work, I haven’t been in. Some of the brass came around and basically told us to stay around home and see to things, to watch the areas we live in.”

“Hey, Morgan, can I bring a battery by and charge it? It’s the deep cycle out of my boat. I have a small inverter that I use for a few things,” Dan said.

“Yeah, man, absolutely; bring it by, and I gather, then, from what you said you are the law around here,” I said.

“Yeah, I guess so. Not that there has been anything to worry about yet.”

With that, we left and headed for the house. The whole time we were there talking, Pat sat there on her bike, listening to everything that was said. Pulling up to the house, the girls came out, all of them. They met us on the porch, where we talked about what was going on. We left out the part about the guys at the parking area. Mel and Bobbie suggested we fix dinner and eat together. Having the solar system, small as it was, was a godsend. It kept the fridge going and ran the well; one was a necessity, and the other was a luxury.

Mel went to the freezer and pulled out the last pack of steaks. There were four sirloins in the package. We also pulled a pack of hot dogs out for the kids; they’re weird and don’t like steak. Who doesn’t like steak? Out in the yard, Danny and I picked up a bunch of wood, stuff that fell out of the oaks, and started a fire in the Weber. In short order, we had steaks grilling.

It was a kind of celebratory cookout, me finally making it home; and the fact that they were here, we decided to splurge a bit. If you didn’t know any better, you wouldn’t be able to tell any difference in things, except for the fact that instead of an apron, I was wearing an AR. The girls whipped up some garlic mashed potatoes and some canned veggies. That, along with some sweet tea, made for a pretty damn good dinner. There was enough for everyone, and we all had all we could eat.

We sat around after dinner, just chatting. I was sitting there, looking around the room. Mel, my girls, and Danny and Bobbie—these were the people that I was close to. If only my mom and dad were here, then things would be ideal. I’d have to figure out what to do about them. But sitting here, this was as close to perfect as I could imagine right now. The girls were playing a board game and begging to watch a movie, but we said no. We all just wanted to sit and talk. They gave up on the movie and joined in on the talk; it was a truly pleasant evening. Danny said he had to be on the roadblock at four in the morning, and they were going to take off.

We walked them out, and they climbed onto the four-wheeler and headed home. Mel and I sat down on the porch; it was nice out, a little cool but not cold enough to need a fire in the fireplace inside. So we sat on the porch, not even talking, just sitting there and holding hands. I was thinking back over everything that had happened. How long had it been? I needed to look at a calendar to see. But for now, I was happy. After so long, I felt safe to be sitting at home. Sure there was a lot we would have to deal with, but for now, all I could think about was the woman beside me and the three girls inside. I put my arm around Mel; she looked over, and I told her I loved her.

“I love you too. You okay?” she replied.

I looked over to her and smiled. “I couldn’t possibly be any better.”

GLOSSARY

CME:
Coronal mass ejection. This phenomenon refers to an ejection of plasma from the sun that sends varying degrees of highly charged particles into space directly toward Earth. Depending on the position of the event in relation to Earth, the effects can vary and can mimic an EMP in many ways.

COM:
Center of mass. Used when referring to combat shooting, aiming for the center of the largest portion of the visible target.

EDC
bag:
Everyday carry bag. Sometimes people refer to this as a man purse. It holds items such as handguns, lights, knives, and other assorted small gears.

EMP:
Electromagnetic pulse. There is a lot of information out there on this phenomenon, but it boils down to a pulse wave emitted by the detonation of a nuclear device.

ENO:
Eagles Nest Outfitters. A manufacturer of quality hammocks, bug nets, and tarps.

Esbit
stove:
This is a small folding stove made from stamped steel. The better models are made from stainless steel and have welded connections. They use the compressed fuel tabs sold in many forms.

ESEE
knives:
ESEE is part of Randall’s Adventure Training and has been designing knives since 1997. They come with a lifetime “no questions asked” warranty.

fire
steel:
Fire steel is an alloy of various metals. It issues a mass of very hot sparks when struck with a piece of steel. A new fire steel has a layer of oxidation on it that must be removed prior to use; otherwise, the results will be very unsatisfactory.

GP-L4
radio:
This is a compact ten-band radio with AM, FM, and shortwave bands. In addition, it has a small LED light. The radio is distributed by Countycomm.com.

Grilliput:
Grilliput is a compact stainless steel grill designed to disassemble and store in two long tubes used for the supports of the grilling area. This is a great little grill, with a price. It weighs just under one and a quarter pounds. Its compact size makes it perfect for field cooking, with a pot on it or by direct grilling.

IWB:
In the waistband, this refers to holsters that fit inside the waistband of your pants and clip to the outside. These holsters are designed for concealed carry, and most manufacturers make them for specific models.

Leatherman
Surge:
The Surge is one of the two largest tools in the Leatherman line; it contains twenty-one tools.

Maxpedition
Devildog:
Maxpedition was established in 1988 and is a manufacturer of military-grade nylon gear. Their equipment is constructed with top-quality materials, 1000 Denier nylon, YKK zippers, and Duraflex buckles. They manufacture a full line of packs, pouches, and sheaths.

MRE:
Meal, Ready-to-Eat. These are military rations that come in a variety of menus. The latest version of these contains a water-activated heater allowing the meal to be heated without external heat sources.

MOLLE:
This is an acronym for Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment. It is the system used to attach pouches, packs, holsters and the like to vests, packs, and other military-grade hardware.

Platypus
water
bladder:
These are BPA-free collapsible water bottles perfect for compact carry in packs.

POS:
Point of sale. I threw this in there so as to not be confused with piece of shit.

PSK:
Personal survival kit. This is a small kit kept on your person. It is the last line of defense in survival. It contains items to start a fire, catch food, and store water, and it has a small blade and a few first-aid items. The beauty of this is that you can make your own and customize it to the environment you’re in.

Ranger
beads:
This is a set of beads divided into two sections. With each strike of the left foot, a count is made (this varies according to the user). At ten, one of the lower beads is pulled down. Once all the lower beads are down, one of the upper beads is pulled down, and the lower bead is raised again. This makes one kilometer. (This is very dependent on the length of the user’s stride; it is also something that requires one to maintain focus on those steps. It is hard for a single person to keep an eye out for security and keep track of paces unless he or she is moving slowly.)

Springfield
XD:
The XD is manufactured by Springfield Armory. It is a fourteen-round polymer-frame semiautomatic pistol.

SOS
survival
kit:
The kit mentioned is the SOL Scout. It contains numerous handy items, including a fifty-inch roll of duct tape, liquid-filled compass, fire striker, small vial of fishing gear, HeatSheet survival blanket, mini rescue mirror, Rescue Howler Whistle (very loud), and a few pieces of tinder. This is a handy kit to keep on one’s person.

SweetWater
filter:
This filter is manufactured by MSR. It utilizes a 4:1 mechanical advantage to filter 1.25 liters per minute. Unlike many other ceramic filters, the filter element of the SweetWater is encased in plastic and is not subject to damage.

Tek-Lok:
This is a support system for knives but can be used on numerous pieces of gear. It consists of a clip that mounts to the piece via two or four screws.

trioxane
tabs:
These are military-grade compressed fuel tabs used with an Esbit or canteen-cup stove. Primarily these are used for heating water; however, they make a superb fire starter and will burn even if wet.

trucker
bomb:
This little roadside gem is created by truckers (and other drivers) that urinate into empty plastic bottles and then hurl them out the window. So think about this the next time you are walking down the side of the road and see a tempting full water bottle.

woobie:
This is a term used by folks in the military for the famous poncho liner. The liner is a quilted nylon blanket with ties that allow it to be tied into the poncho, turning it into a sleeping bag.

U-Dig-It:
Manufacturer of a small, stainless steel folding trowel. It is perfect to add to a kit for many uses, the least of which being to dig a cat hole for nature’s call.