The Fall of America: Premonition of Death (11 page)

"We're going to gather up some ammo, water, and other gear and move to my safe house. Follow me back to the farm and I'll show y'all what needs to be taken with us. When we leave, I'll wire the house to explode if anyone comes in without the proper password for my security system. There is no way we can fight off the number of men that wiped out the general and his staff."

Once we followed him to the farm and into the room, he said, "All that stuff on the left wall goes, because it's additional food, water, and medical supplies. The ammo on the north wall will also go. Other than that, we'll leave it, because the safe house is pretty well stocked. I never leave food or ammo for anyone."

I picked up a crate of ammo and said, "Lead the way Top, I'm right behind you."

Picking up two huge boxes of MRE rations, Top said, "Follow me and don't step off the trail for any reason. It's mined and I have traps all over the place. If we start taking gunfire, fall straight down, because the sides of the trail might just kill you."

As we moved down the trail about twenty minutes later, I heard an explosion and looking back, I saw a huge fireball rolling toward the sky.
Guess they were close to our asses when we left,
I thought.

CHAPTER 11

T
he safe house of Top's really wasn't a house at all, but rather a cave with a narrow entrance that led into a huge cavern. I was surprised at all the gear and crates of all sizes lining the walls. However, the place was as large as house and once we were all inside, Top moved a little switch on the side of the wall and a steel door on rails closed to block the entrance.

He flicked another switch and lights came on. Grinning he said, "Some of the boys from an Air Force civil engineering squadron, Prime Beef they call themselves, did the electrics for me and it's powered by batteries. The batteries are charged during the day by the sun. I'm most likely the only man around with a solar powered cave."

"Why a cave? Looks to me like you're trapped in here." Sandra said.

Top laughed and replied, "Not at all. See, if you follow the cave back far enough it leads out, but on top of this hill. I have the exit well camouflaged and booby trapped, so that end is safe. The steel door in front will protect us against most fire, except maybe a LAW or tank cannon. Small arms won't even dent it."

Tom smiled and said, "This thing would protect you from just about everything. I love it, but the best part is, it's comfortable all year round and doesn't need heating or cooling."

"Yep, even if an atomic bomb went off in Jackson, I'd be safe from the fallout, because there is over 150 feet of soil over this cavern. Of course, solar flares and such won't bother me either, and I have gas masks with a complete chemical/biological suits if they attempt to flush us out with chemical or biological gases."

Vickie, who'd been quiet the last few days, asked, "Do you have more than one of those chemical get ups? I mean in a size that would fit a woman?"

Top chuckled and then said, "I have plenty, so don't worry your pretty head. Listen, we could live in this place for at least five years, if we really had to do the job, but I think we'd end up killing each other way before that time. It's an excellent command bunker and that's really what it was designed to do."

Moving to a radio sitting on a table, Top said, "The antenna is in a huge pine on top of this cave and it's super hard to spot, even when you know where to look. Let me see if I can reach anyone." He turned the radio on.

Picking up the microphone, he said, "All stations, all stations, this is six over." He glanced at his watch and I knew he was earlier than he usually checked in with others.

"Six, this is Bravo one, over."

"Go ahead, Bravo."

"Six, we have reports of Falcon six being overran and destroyed, copy?"

"Roger, copy, what's the status of Falcon Six Actual?"

"KIA, Kilo India Alpha, and recon found no WIA, repeat no Whiskey India Alpha, over. All KIA and accounted for."

"Have Whiskey Whiskey doing a recon at this time. Will advise on results. Notify all units to move to safe locations, over."

"Copy move to safe locations. Will do immediately. Watch your ass, Top. Bravo one, out."

"Roger that, Bravo, out."

Turning to us, Top said, "For those of you who don't speak military, the commander and his entire staff have been killed, with no wounded left alive. That means the men who attacked killed every man there. I informed the radio operator that Captain Willy Williams is doing a recon on the site and will advise everyone on what he finds. Willy is a prior green beanie, so he's good and knows his stuff. He has a number of combat tours under his belt too, which helps."

Tom sat on a crate and asked, "What now?"

Meeting Tom's eyes, Top replied, "Now we wait while we gather information about the attackers. Once we have enough intelligence to make a decision, we'll decide what to do at that point. In the mean time, eat, sleep and get some rest, because this will take a couple of days."

Sandra gave me a weak smile as we moved to one of the walls of the cave and sat in the dirt. There were chairs near a table, but I'd given them no thought.

"Are you doin' okay?" She asked.

"Pretty much, but not sure if joining these folks is the right thing to do or not."

She gazed into my eyes and replied "They're veterans who still fly our flag, they're fighting to regain control of at least this part of the country and besides, I'm not sure how much longer we could have made it on our own."

"Well," I chuckled, "I understand the lingo and how things are done in this group. What worries me is we've joined a group, or tribe, as my old college professor discussed once. He predicted if the United States as we knew it was ever busted up as a sovereign nation, the survivors would group together in tribes for survival."

"Interesting, because that's exactly what has happened. I think it's easier for a tribe to survive than loners. Tribes can send men out to scout, gather food, and guard the village, while loners can't do all of that at the same time. Did he say what would happen once the tribes were formed?"

"Uh-huh, he said eventually we'd be engaged in wars to see which tribe was the strongest. We'd be almost like the red man was before the first white men came. Each tribe would lay claim to certain land and if others trespassed, they'd be killed." Dolly moved to my side and placed her head in my lap. I started scratching her ears.

"Well, it sounds like Top and his men have a vast area they claim as home."

"I don't think this attack was over land boundaries. Most likely, the attackers did the job for more ammo, food, medical supplies and equipment. Or, just to remove a threat."

"But, why would one military styled tribe attack another, if you share the same beliefs?"

"Well, we may not share the same beliefs. Listen, just because the attackers were a prior military unit, maybe, doesn't mean they feel any sense of loyalty to the old United States. Hell, it could be their commander wants to be the only real power in the local area. He may actually picture himself as a king or dictator or something. I don't have a clue."

"We can always leave."

I put my arm around her and pulled her close before I replied, "Baby, I want you safe, and the attack on our home not long ago showed that Tom and I can't do the job. Eventually one of us will be killed or wounded and there is no way one man could protect all of us now."

"We women can fight."

"Sure you can and have proven it, but y'all lack the combat experience that Tom and I have. Experience is the main difference, and often that's all that will keep a person alive in combat. Tom trusts Top and I think his trust is well placed."

Suddenly tired, I said, "I'm going to take a short nap. Wake me at supper time."

Sandra laughed and replied, "It's good to know some things just never change."

*****

Two days later, about an hour before daylight, Top walked from the cave to where I was sitting on a rock pulling my shift of guard. He sat beside me. Dolly raised her head, but didn't growl or even move. She then lowered her chin to my right foot.

I glanced at the man and asked, "What's on your mind, Top?"

"Just got off the radio with Willy and what he found has me worried."

"Did he find a big base camp for men in the group he followed?"

"Well, no, it's not that. The estimated size of the group is less than ours, but it seems he moved in pretty close and spotted three individual's dressed in complete uniforms. It was night and at first he was unable to get a good look at 'em. Eventually one of the men moved near a lighted window and he was able to make it out clearly enough."

Must be some men who have access to some old military uniforms,
I thought, but asked, "Are you going to make me keep guessing or tell me what he saw?"

Top gazed into my eyes and said, "Willy swears he saw Russian uniforms, and the language spoken was Russian, too. It has me worried. I surely hope the Russian's haven't invaded us."

"How does he know they were speaking Russian?"

"He speaks the language fluently. All army special forces personnel were required to speak at least one additional language, but it wasn't unusual to have a man that spoke three or more. According to Willy the Russians were complaining about the crudeness of the base camp, poor food, no women and the lack of vodka. Then, one of the men said something like he had to check his men for the night."

I thought for a moment and then asked, "Was he able to determine their rank?"

"Company grade officers. One was a captain and the other was a lieutenant, but neither were elite forces and both wore infantry insignia."

"Well, the way I see it is, those two either have Russian troops to oversee or they're part of an advisory unit sent here to assist someone, but why?"

"We know that the men who attacked the general used AK-47s and a few carried SKS assault rifles. Willy confirm that when he trailed them."

"How far away are these guys from us right now?"

Top thought and then said, "I'd say pretty close to twenty miles north by east."

"So, what are we going to do about this?"

"I want you, Tom, and a couple of your women to move near the base camp. If possible, try to get one of the girls to draw out a single soldier, which may be out of the question. I'm sure with all the killing going around, lone soldiers don't take strolls down country lanes in Mississippi right now."

"If we can't isolate one?"

"Try to capture one if you can do the job and if that proves too difficult, set a number of booby-traps and then get out. Oh, and leave your dog here. I want her with us, because she may give us our first warning things are about to hit the fan."

"I don't have any problems with my orders, but why don't we just attack 'em in mass and wipe 'em all out?"

"That's being considered as we speak, but I think the boss is wondering what other arms the Russians have given this unit. If they have small arms, why not some bigger stuff too, unless the Russians are adviser's only. Could be the Russians are simply checking the political water, so to speak, to see if they can influence one unit by indirect and direct assistance. We need a hell of a lot of intelligence before we can risk an open attack."

"When do we leave?"

"As soon as you get what you think you might need from our supplies and gather up your troops. I've indicated on a map your target and gone over it with Tom already. Watch your asses out there, because they'd love to get their hands on one of you. I'll take over guarding now."

I started to reply, but changed my mind and nodded in understanding. I then made my way inside the cave.

*****

Two hours later we were moving slowly down an old logging road when a sudden crack of thunder almost made me jump out of my skin. I glanced up and saw dark clouds circling overhead and knew we were in for rain. Thanks to Top and his supplies, we wore real military camouflage face paint and I knew it'd not wash off in the rain. Hell, it was hard enough to get off when you wanted to remove it in a shower.

I was navigating using our compass as Tom counted our steps. Behind us I had Vickie loaded down with a week of MRE's for us and extra ammo, while Alisa brought up the rear. As far as I was concerned, Alisa was unproven, but we all have to start sometime and this was as good a time as any. During our walk away from the cave, I'd warned her that it was very likely there'd be no talking the entire time we were on patrol, but if there was, it'd be at a whisper. Each of us carried a 12 gauge pump shotgun and sidearms. Tom also had his deer rifle with scope slung over his shoulder by a sling.

I had a weapon that was light weight and silent along as well, the compound bow I'd taken from one of the men when Carol and Sue had been killed. I carried it on my backpack, but if I needed it in a hurry, I only had to remove two "D" rings. The arrows I carried in a pouch dangling from my web belt. Compound bows are good weapons if a sentry needs to be taken out quietly or when hunting for food. There are obviously more places it can be used effectively, but I'd use it where it would offer me a safe way to kill silently.

The first raindrops had just hit my face, when Tom abruptly stopped me and cupped his hand behind his ear. I listened, but heard nothing. I shook my head to indicate that I heard nothing. He stood still for a minute, then motioned for all of us to leave the road and move into the bushes that were thick on both sides. Once in position, I slipped my safety off and listened intently for any sound. Finally, I heard a noise and it sounded like a big truck, maybe a deuce and a half. I glanced at Tom and he shrugged.

A two stroke motorcycle was riding point on a convoy that was larger than I'd suspected. Anything that required gasoline was rare and to see a good dozen or more big trucks confused the hell out of me. Where in the world was all the gas coming from?

The trucks were moving toward Top and bunch, but that meant little, because I had no idea of their actual destination. I tried to spot uniforms, but the sides of the trucks were down against the rain. The motorcycle rider was dressed in an olive drab rain-suit, which told me nothing.

Almost a hundred feet from us I watched as one of the trucks began to slide in the mud and then it stopped, its right front tire in a ditch. I heard loud yelling, the passenger door opened, and out stepped a man in a uniform I'd only seen in books or military pamphlets Russian. The man's insignia indicated he was a master sergeant and like a senior NCO in any army, he was chewing ass as he stepped into the mud. I suspected he was chewing the driver's rear, but really didn't know because I didn't know one word of Russian.

Moving to the center of the road, the top sergeant stopped the next three trucks. He yelled and the tailgates fell and about thirty men, all dressed in Russian uniforms, dismounted. A rope was attached to the rear bumper of the stuck vehicle and the other end was attached to the front bumper of a truck in the roadway. Some of the men took shovels and cleared the mud out from under the wheels of the stuck truck, while the rest moved to the front.

Then, as if it had been practiced many times, the sergeant moved to the center of the road and began to give orders. I heard what I assumed was one, two, three, pull, because at the last word the rocking of the truck started. Less than two minutes later, the truck was back on the road. The sergeant waved to the men, grinned and then climbed back inside the cab. A few minutes later the trucks all left the area.