When The Fault Breaks: Life Will Never Be The Same Page 18

  It was clear that there was nowhere safe anywhere near any city, in fact many cities were completely abandoned, long since stripped of anything useful with much of them burned to the ground. Every major city on the entire west coast was obliterated. Nothing was left of any of the large cities, they all looked like they were hit by nuclear weapons."

  "Did you hear anything about New York City?"

  "I did but it's not good, though. New York had not been hit by the quake, but we heard it was gone. After Wall Street shut down because of the news of the total destruction of the west coast the city went into total chaos, beyond that we did not hear much.

  Somehow Chicago had not folded. It has become a sort of new capital for what is now the new government called the Eastern States of America known as the ESA. Even that partial government did not include every eastern state. Most of the southern states followed their own idea of how things should be and that varied greatly from the northern states. Atlanta is their capital and there are isolated pockets of slavery again though it was not just blacks that are being put to work.

  The ESA had no influence over anything west of the Mississippi and no one knew anything about the military or who they answered to if anyone. They could not function too long without any means to resupply them. This is very hard to talk about and we're all tired so can I finish this later?"

  "That's a very scary picture, now I wish I never heard it."

  "My bet is there are many out there that feel that way Peter."

  "I'm sure you're right Fred, but you can't put the cat back in the bag once you let it out."

  "You have that right."

  We returned to my ranch for the night. The next morning, I had one more thing to show Allen. Sheryl and the kids stayed at the ranch with the girls while Ben, Fred and I showed Allen our next great endeavor, the mill.

  Chapter 19: The Mill

  As we approached the area there was nothing special to been seen. We were looking at a clearing with a large pile of stacked logs lying not far from the creek.

  Allen asked, "What are you planning on building here?"

  "We will be building a mill. We started working on it before winter. We cut and hauled logs and piled them up so that we would be ready in the spring to start building. As the spring thaw came on we watched to see how the river flooded to ensure we built it in a way it would not be harmed from the spring floods."

  "What is it going to mill?"

  Ben chimed in, "It's most important purpose will be to grind grains like wheat, corn and rice but it will grind anything we wish. There are forty-seven, wait now fifty-one of us here with you guys so we will need to process all of it for breads and things."

  Beth reminded me, "Peter there are sixty here when you count the kids now sixty-four."

  "Thanks Beth I keep forgetting them."

  "Now where was I, oh yea, we will be damming up the river over there and will channel it down to the wheel. By doing it like that we can ensure the flow would always be the same even at high waters like a flood. The dam simply overflows and continues downstream for irrigation."

  "What else will the wheel drive?"

  Ben answered, "The primary shaft will drive the stone grinding wheels, and a couple secondary shafts will drive things like a generator. Over there we will build a sawmill it will drive as well. Eventually it will also drive a bellows for a forge when we are ready for that."

  "So Allen, how would you feel about being in charge of building the mill and adding your own ideas and skills?"

  "It will give me something productive to do so I can feel I give something to Little Haven. I'm not really much of a farmer, I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn so hunting is not an option for me, and I don't know anything about raising animals. I'm at my best fixing and building things."

  Fred responded to that, "We had the pleasure of using some of your handy work on our way here Allen, that camp kitchen you made for the trip here was invaluable."

  "Thanks it was my pleasure. Hey by the way what ever happened to that?"

  "It made it all the way here intact and was used to feed all of us the entire time. Now it has been distributed to various homes."

  "Well Allen I think this is the perfect job for you. Then after the mill is built it will need someone to operate it and grind the grains. Are you also up to that? You would be the caretaker; everyone would bring their grains to you for processing. You would not be alone on it, there are several others that'll help you out."

  "So who is going to be building this monster?"

  Ben replied, "That is the easy part, like the way we will build the cabins and every other building here, we will have a rising to get it built after that everything else can be built inside. We hope to have it done before winter and I am pretty sure we can do it."

  "Well I'm in, but first I need to find a site for my cabin."

  "That will not be a problem. Your cabin can be part of the mill structure."

  "When do we start?"

  "Well in a way we already have, we have located where the dam will be and how to divert the water with its own flow. The building will be going up some time later this month, but that will only be the beginning."

  "That's for sure it will be a major challenge to make all the parts work. It will take much longer to get the rest done than it will to build the structure. I will make it happen Peter, thanks for trusting me with such an important project."

  "I know you will Allen."

  It took less than a month to get the structure built. The inner workings that make a mill work are very intricate and took some time to make, but in the end the mill was turning and the stones were grinding together to work before harvest time. We knew that with the freeze there would be no water flow but that by the time of our first real harvest, the mill would be done.

  Chapter 20: Change of Command

  It was well into July of our second year, the fort was almost finished and many of Fred's team had built their own homes around the fort. Now that things were settled in Fred decided it was time for a change.

  "Hey Peter do you have a minute I need to talk to you about an important matter."

  "Sure what's up Fred?"

  "I was thinking Peter, now that the fort is mostly done, I think I am going to change a few things."

  "What do you have in mind?"

  "I'm going to drop the Sarg, I don't want the title anymore. We will still need to maintain a well-trained security team but I don't want the job anymore I'm tired of it. You know I'm not getting any younger so it's time for someone younger to take over. And I've grown tired of having to deal with all the trouble of being in charge of all these people."

  "I understand, who do you have in mind?"

  Fred Pointed to Brandon.

  "Brandon and I have been talking about a change of command at the fort. I started training him from the beginning to take over in the event something happened to me so he is already ready. I think he'll make a great leader."

  "I think you're right, what do you plan on doing with your new found freedom?"

  "Rest my friend, go fishing and sleep in every day. Need I say more?"

  "How do you feel about that Brandon?"

  "Excited, I've been asking Fred for some time now to give me more responsibility. I'm ready to take the reins."

  "I bet you are. Have you guys said anything to your team yet?"

  Fred replied, "No I wanted to talk it over with you first, I didn't want it coming from someone else."

  "Thanks, so will you still be staying in the fort?"

  "No and I have not found a place yet but I'm looking."

  "There is one site near mine if you are only looking for a place to build a cabin and not do any farming or anything."

  "I know; I remember you showing it to me some time back."

  "Hell Fred, now you'll be my neighbor, it will make hanging out even easier."

  "I'm happy to hear you say that I was thinking about how nice it will be to hang out with yo
u guys in the hot tub with four women." Fred said with a smirk.

  "Well I'm sure they'll have something to say about that, but my bet is you will be welcome."

  It did not take long for everyone to get Fred's cabin built and it was not even a quarter mile from our ranch. Fred wanted a simple one-room cabin with his bed only slightly enclosed from the rest. He used logs instead of rocks and a heater from one of the tents to heat it, so there was no need for a fireplace.

  Fred helped us in our garden so he didn't need to have one of his own but he did have a small herb garden. He hunted most of his own game and ate a lot of fish that he smoked. We were happy to call him our neighbor.

  Chapter 21: The Second to Arrive

  Months before we had set up a remote monitoring outpost down valley. By day we used Semaphore flags and by night Morse code with flash lights in order to maintain radio silence. The outposts were placed far enough down valley and it was not possible to see the smoke from the village because of the turn in the valley. Our system allowed for plenty of warning if someone was coming up the valley.

  One day in early summer our method was put to the test when a small group of people had made their way to the valley.

  "Aaron, take a look down valley I think I see something moving."

  "Where do you think you saw it Sam?"

  "There, just past mile marker four on the right near the stream."

  "There it is, I see them too, sound the alarm."

  Aaron signaled the outposts up valley and it was relayed to the fort, that triggered an alert and everyone mustered at their rally point. Fred got to the outpost first with Brandon close behind him.

  "Report," Fred barked out.

  "Belay that, Fred you gave up the job let me handle this okay?"

  "I'm sorry Brandon force of habit, I'll step back."

  "You heard the man report."

  "About ten minutes ago some people were seen just past mile marker four. It looks like they may have made camp there because they have not moved any since they got there."

  "Alright Sam you and Aaron grab the response packs and your weapons and start heading down that way. Do not approach their position in the light, wait until after dark to try to get in range to find out if you can get any intelligence."

  "Yes sir, we won't let you down."

  "I know you won't, now get."

  "Okay we have drilled this enough times we should have it down pat. Are you staying here Fred?"

  "Nope Brandon has a handle on it and it's his job now so I don't need to stay, but I will return in the morning if that's okay with the boss here."

  Brandon replied, "Of course it is Fred, I still value your input."

  "Thanks, I appreciate that."

  "Peter if you are heading up to the fort can you have half the response team go home and have the other half stay the night in standby."

  "I sure can Brandon, you watch over us now okay?"

  "I will buddy."

  Later that night Sam returned to the lowest outpost to update Brandon on what they heard and saw, and left Aaron below to keep an eye on them.

  "Back already? Well what did you find out?"

  "From what we could tell its group of ten that have been traveling for some time looking for someplace safe to stay. I didn't hear any talk about attacks or anything like that."

  "Did you see if they are armed?"

  "Yes sir it looks like all of them have a variety of weapons but nothing heavy."

  "Does it look like they are staying the night?"

  "Yes sir they are. They had set up camp and were making their dinner when I left."

  "Okay you return to Aaron and keep an eye on them and we will be sending down a response team before light."

  "Yes sir."

  He departed downhill.

  Part of the training included responding to this very situation, teams were always at the ready to respond. This time the team included Tom, the leader, with Alex and Scott filling out the team. The next morning, I met up with Tom and Fred, as well as Brandon and the rest of his team as they were heading down for the encounter. We were all armed with P90's and various other side arms.

  As we walked we talked about the importance of not going off half-cocked and shooting someone before we knew who they were or their intent. When we got to the outpost Brandon gave the team their marching orders and off we went.

  Approaching an armed group of ten people like that is a dangerous thing, and it needs to be done with extreme caution. We surrounded their position while they slept and waited. I was sure glad we all had night vision goggles.

  "Alright Alex you and Fred split up and surround the right flank, Scott you and Peter split up and take the left, and Brandon and I will come up the middle. When everyone is in position stay put. I will approach the group in the morning after they are all up and we can see everyone. I will give them one warning shot. If any of them go for their weapons, or if they point one at me, shoot em."

  "Okay Tom we have your back."

  As Tom approach the group he came in with his hands in the air, turned around and called out for them not to pick up their weapons because there are guns trained on each one of them.

  "My name is Tom and I am not here to harm you, but please do not even reach for your weapons because the rest of my team will shoot if you do, with no additional warnings. As you can see I am not armed I just want to talk. You are a long way from anything and we just want to know where you are from and where you are heading."

  An average looking guy with a beard approached Tom, with his hands up, and called out for everyone not to touch their weapons. He repeated Tom's action with his hands up and turned around.

  "My name is Floyd and we are tired, cold and hungry, we mean no one any harm. We are not looking for a fight; we saw smoke rising above the ridge as we rounded the pass from the south. So we followed the river up and here we all are."

  Surprised Brandon asked Floyd, "You saw our smoke from the valley below?"

  "No we saw it when we were on top of the ridge above us, and we came down to check it out."

  Tom replied, "I see, well my leaders will want to know who you are and where you are going. Before they come in, we will have to temporally take your weapons."

  Tom motioned for us to enter. The team had their weapons at the ready with the safety off, but Fred, Brandon and I stayed back. They cautiously walked around and picked up every weapon they saw and placed them in a pile near Tom. None of the strangers made any move or complaint, as weapons were collected. With that Brandon, Fred and I entered the area.

  "Hi my name is Brandon and I am the leader of the men that have their weapons trained on you. We are not a militia but we are all very well trained and will shoot if we feel threatened."

  Floyd's wife Alice was a tough lady; she was not too keen on guns being pointed at them and exclaimed, "Threatened?!! You are not the ones with the guns pointed at you."

  Floyd put his hands out toward Alice and said, "I have this, there is no need to make things worse."

  Brandon nodded and said, "She is right Floyd."

  Tom turned and called out to his team.

  "Everyone, safety your weapons and lower them."

  Our team lowered their weapons but still held them at the ready.

  Brandon continued, "Okay now, Alice? Was that your name?"

  "YES."

  "Why don't you join us over here and we can all sit down and talk. Okay?"

  Hesitantly Alice walked over to where Brandon, Tom, and I were and took a seat by Floyd at their fire. The rest of their party stood by and listened intently.

  Brandon said, "Now that everyone seems a bit more at ease let me introduce you to our leader, to my left here is Peter. He has led us through some tough times and I am sure you will find can be a good friend if you are as you say you are."

  "Thanks Brandon, that's some introduction, first off, why don't all the rest of you

  join us around the fire and stay warm."

&n
bsp; Every one moved around until we were all around the fire with Alex and Scott still standing on the outside with their weapons.

  I continued, "I think the first order of business should be taking care of your needs, I heard you say you were hungry. Scott, bring over all our MRE's and hand them out to these people."