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Post by gipsy on Feb 17, 2024 9:20:14 GMT -6
Been there and done that, one the size of a pencil eraser. Had to do the sound treatment and the pass the remains. Hydrocodine is your friend then. Good luck.
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Post by iamnobody on Feb 17, 2024 11:22:56 GMT -6
Had to do the sound treatment and pass the remains. Sound treatment = OWWW! as it passes.........
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Post by gipsy on Feb 17, 2024 12:46:35 GMT -6
Actually I slept through it. They don't want you moving around.
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Post by feralferret on Feb 17, 2024 15:45:46 GMT -6
MOAR hounds a quick note on the new promised chapter. It is almost complete and all things equal will be posted tomorrow night or earlier. That is the good news, on the bad news front I woke this morning with kidney stone pain, not the horrible kind. It is the kind that requires pain meds. I ask your prayers that I will be able to pass without a trip to the ER or stay in hospital. Thanks, 223shootersc You need to tell your kidneys to quit getting stoned! I've lost count of the many kidney stone attacks you have had over the course of the stories you have written. I only know of one person who has had more issues with kidney stones than you, and that's my daughter. Hers are due to lupus. Get better soon.
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Post by 223shootersc on Feb 18, 2024 19:23:33 GMT -6
MOAR hounds a little Sunday night reading, as promised. Hope you enjoy and the author appreciates any comments on the work!
Chapter 6
Zero eight hundred hours found the six travelers that were heading back home to the Greenville-Spartanburg area of South Carolina being seated at ‘The Buttered Biscuit.’ They had finally got Candace and Jimmy awake and almost functioning enough to get dressed and out of the tent about fifteen minutes after the hour of five a.m. After getting through that challenge the breaking down of the rest of the camp had taken no time at all. Tom in his quest to start early had done a lot the night before while the rest had enjoyed their last night around the fire-pit. Ruth and he had packed up all their stuff and the tent before the rest had even started their morning. After they were seated their waitress was at the head of the table before they could blink an eye. She was handing everyone a menu and asking for their drink orders with a professional’s countenance.
Tom quickly made eye contact with the waitress as she handed him his menu, he had already read her name tag and said, “MaryAnne, I will have the ‘Country Folks’ breakfast with two extra eggs fried over easy and the country ham with and extra order of bacon crisp. I also want two bologna and fried egg sandwiches double the egg and the bologna and ad mayo. Bring them to go with the check….” He looked to Ruth and she nodded her head in a movement that no one other than a man and his wife would have ever noticed. Tom pointed to Ruth and said, “The lovely lady on my right hand my beautiful bride will have the ‘Country Folks’ breakfast also. She will have her eggs scrambled easy and only the two eggs, country ham and a fresh fruit bowl. We will bother have a large glass of OJ and a water for our drink order. We have eaten here before and I know you all are quick getting the meals to the table. Please, if you could just this once get the food here even faster than usual it will be worth your while. We are behind on our travel schedule but we could not pass Waynesville without stopping at your restaurant for your great breakfast. Please get the others orders before you leave and if my sister dilly dallies, she will have the Fresh Fruit Bowl and a large coffee in a to go cup. Thank you for your patience with my order.” Tom pointed right at Candace as he told the waitress about his sister so she would know who he was referring to about not ordering quickly.
Tom looked right at Candace as the waitress went to Nat who ordered the same thing as Tom except the to go bologna sandwiched. Tom mouthed to his little sis, “Don’t even think about showing your ass, this morning and be ready to order the second MaryAnne asks.”
Christen said, “I am going to try the ‘City Slicker’ with a strawberry pancake and bacon and I want a coffee black with one sweet and low and a glass of water.”
MaryAnne asked, “Honey, how would you like your eggs?” In a voice that was as sweet as the syrup that was coming with the pancakes.
Christen said, “Fried hard with the yellow busted. Thanks, I forgot about the eggs.”
MaryAnne went to Jerry who ordered the exact same thin as Tom including the bologna sandwiches with everything doubled. She went right to Candace who said, “I will have a coffee with cream and sugar and the ‘Fresh Fruit Bowl’ just like my brother said. I will have a sausage biscuit with an added egg.” She then looked to her brother and stuck her tongue out him like a spoiled six-year-old.
MaryAnne said, “Thanks, I will be right back with your drinks, as soon as I put in your order in the kitchen. I will tell Mom to make sure she puts yours to the front of the line.”
As MaryAnne was walking towards the kitchen, Tom’s satellite phone rang. He pulled it from his Nike quarter zip pocket, looked to make sure it was Calhoun and said, “I will be right back. Ruth, if I am not back when the food gets here have MaryAnne put mine in a to go box, as we will need to be on our way in a hurry. Thanks.” Standing up he headed for the exit without waiting for an acknowledgement from Ruth or any of the others at the table.
Candace still upset, said, “Ruth how do you put up with his demeaning and belittling of you like that. He did not even wait for you to answer just assumed that if he said so. His little pet would do as he says. He used to do me that way and I had to straighten him out about it. I am nobodies’ slave and you should not be either Ruth. You should set him straight or leave him. He thinks he is God’s gift to the world and you could do better. I say that even though he is my brother. You could do much better.”
Ruth looked at Candace like she was about to come across the table and stomp a mud puddle in her butt then walk it dry. She sweetly replied, “That is the difference between you and me and your brother for that matter. Tom did not belittle me or demean anybody and never has or does. He is the most thoughtful and loving man I have ever met. The truth is I could not do better than Tom Sexton your brother. In my mind and most of the rest of the worlds eyes he is a wonderful person and husband. Candace, you just always hated him because you could not live up to the standards that your big brother set for his life. Now, from what Tom has told me your parents God bless them, should not have tried to hold you to the same standard that Tom held for himself. It was very unfair to you. Now I am just going to say this one time, so listen good. If you ever say anything else bad about Tom it better not be where I can hear about it or that it ever gets back to me, I am going to do what Tom or his parents should have done years ago. That is, I am going to bend you over my knee give you a good spanking. Are we clear?” Christen could not hold back the laughter any longer and just as Ruth said ‘Are we clear,’ she busted out laughing to be beat the band. Her laughing made Nat and Jerry bust out laughing too. It was at that time that Maryanne came back to the table with a large serving tray with the tables drink order.
MaryAnne asked, “Did I miss a good joke. I love a good joke, could someone tell me what it was so I can tell my mom she loves jokes too as long as they are clean, we do not go for that vulgar stuff.”
Nat quickly answered, “MaryAnne, it was an inside funny. You know the kind where you had to be there. Sorry if we were making a scene.”
MaryAnne, “No you good sweety. Mom said your orders will be ready in no more than ten minutes I hope that is good enough. I need that big tip that Tom offered. One thing I can do if you all want me too is go ahead and bring the ticket and get it settled while you are waiting. That way it will save some time at the end and get you out of here and back onto your travel schedule for the day. What ya think?”
Ruth replied, “That will be great, MaryAnne just put it on one bill and bring it to me.”
MaryAnne replied, “It is already o one ticket I could tell that your man would want it that way. You just know after a while of doing this, who is the leader and in charge. You got ya a good‘un there. The good ones are always snapped up in a hurry.” She winked at Ruth conspiratorially as she set her drink down beside her and patted her on the hand as she walked away with her tray.
Tom hit the talk button and said, “Go for Tom. This phone and line are secured to company standards. Talk to me Calhoun and how about a little good news this morning.”
The news form Calhoun was not good the world was not yet on fire. It was parch dry and there was a lot of material in the woods to burn and the Russians were throwing more kindling on the fire bed every minute. The Russians have moved another division to the border with Turkey. Calhoun said, “Poland has demanded that NATO demand that the Russians remove their armor from the border. NATO meaning the United States and President Orangeman still cannot get the Russians to answer the phone to demand they pull back even if they were willing to make demands of the Russians. The Russians have started the war games in the Gulf of Mexico that were not supposed to start for another three days according to their published schedule and several South American and African countries are going to participate according to the NSA and have ships and equipment heading towards Cuba as we speak.”
Tom asked, “Okay, Calhoun what are the Puzzle Palace and the NSA head shed saying or thinking is going to happen? I know you have been in meetings and reaching out all night, talk to me man.”
Calhoun replied, “The brainiacs beast guess is that World War III will be in full roar by the end of the week. India and Pakistan have moved their best to the border. The North Koreans have moved three extra divisions to their side of the Demilitarized Zones and one of their rocket brigades have gone missing. That is we cannot find them on our satellite passes. Heck, the Japanese are even rattling their sabers at the Chinese. It is like Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street after dark. Everybody is a target and everybody is drunk or high. Common sense has been thrown out the window. Heck even the Germans who have less of an Army than Switzerland now is moving their tanks to block the Fulda Gap. The Brits, Canadians, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Poland, France, and of course Israel have all reached out to say they would back our play. This only means that besides the Brits and Israel and possibly the French they are looking to the United States for protection and aid. Oh, I forgot that India’s prime Minister has offered their services to help America them, Venezuela and of all people Vietnam. The Saudi’s are on our side, them Jordan and Kuwait. Which is great but they will have their hands full with the Grand Ayatollah and his nut cases in Iran as he is saying that this is the start of the Jihad against the Great Satan that he has been calling for the last twenty years.” The line was quiet for a few moments and Calhoun asked, “Did I lose you, their Tom?”
Tom thinking a million miles per second finally answered, “Calhoun, what is happening in America? Has the rank and file started to panic or have we kept the news vanilla enough that the lemmings are just still sleep walking towards the cliff following the one right in front of them on Facebook, Twitter or whatever is the newest and most in vogue social media platform on their Apple phones.”
Calhoun replied, “There have not been any riots or peace Marches yet. I guess they are still asleep at the wheel as you said. The State Department does want to announce a bank and stock market holiday for tomorrow. There thoughts are that it will keep the stock market from going crazy if anything happens.”
Tom laughed and said, “That is like not dropping the life rafts on the Titanic and causing a panic. The ship was sinking. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Whose grand idea was this that crazy liberal over the Fed?”
Calhoun laughed and said, “Easy tiger. Tom, are you still camping in the mountains or on your way home?”
Tom said, “We are on our way home. We are stopped to eat breakfast and have already done the trip through the mountains that is the slowest. The rest of the way is almost all Interstate. All things equal we are about an hour and half to forty-five minutes from home once we get back on the road. Do you think we need to skip breakfast and get on the road?”
Calhoun answered, “Nah, I think we have another couple of days but what do I know. I would not stop to do any shopping or sight seeing till I got back home. I do not know if you are a prepper or anything but I would go and by some beans and rice. You know like they taught in that training class we had together two years ago. Do you still have the workbook? If not, I will send you and email with a digital copy.”
Tom said, “Thanks, Calhoun but I took it to heart and we have six months of freeze dried and another six months of beans, rice, popcorn, and wheat berries in five-gallon pails. Just like they told us. Even got a compost toilet and everything.”
Calhoun said, “I got to run my friend and get a shower and a cat nap. I must be back on station in less than four hours. If I was you when I got home, I would go immediately in to work and check out the data dumps I have sent to your email account on the CIA server. I will keep in touch as much as I can but I am not making any more promised talks as it is going to be a long week my friend of that, I am sure. Peace out.”
Tom was about to say thanks and good bye to Calhoun when his phone line went dead. Tom put his phone back in his over shirt pocket and walked back into the restaurant. He arrived at the table just as MaryAnne placed his food in front of his place at the table. All eyes were on him as he sat down to a large plate of food.
Tom said, “I think we need to start by blessing the food.” Tom spoke a heartfelt message of his thanks to God for the food and all their blessings and asked God to watch over them and keep them out of harms way in the coming days. He thanked God for his friends and family and asked for guidance and directions in doing the things that needed to be done to keep them safe and, in his grace, and will.
MaryAnne praised, “Amen.” Then walked away from the table without looking back. Somehow, she knew that this group were sent from God to show her the way. She had felt since before she went to bed the night before that the world and the devil were abiding together and she needed be apart from those who did not believe. She went back towards the kitchen intent on telling her mom and her aunt about the group sitting at table seven and her feelings.
Tom took a big bite of eggs, biscuit and gravy and grunted contently. Ruth looked at Tom and said, “What? Spill it, your demeanor has changed completely. Is everything all good now and we should have stayed on the mountain. Please tell me, Thomas” A voice that pleaded to her husband a heartfelt cry for relief. Tom continued to chew a second man-sized bite of his breakfast, then took a big swallow of his OJ.
Tom looked to Ruth and the others and replied, “No, we should not have stayed on the mountain. If anything, it would probably be better if we had of packed up last night and left. That is all water under the dam and nothing can be done about it. We, no I guess I made the decision to wait till this morning to leave and we will deal with the unintended consequences if they arise. My demeanor has changed, because in life we are made to play the hand we are dealt. I say we all finish this delicious breakfast and enjoy it. We do need to get done quickly and get back on the road. On that note I am going to ask MaryAnne when she comes back by the table to get us our bill for the food and I will give her my credit card and that will save us some time. Now, I am starving and my breakfast is getting cold. Man, that came out harsh. I did not mean for it to come out so rude. My bad Ruth, I apologize. Did I answer your questions?”
Ruth was sitting at the table a little stunned by her husbands’ answers and then he apologized for his abruptness. That made her feel a little better and decided that the news was probably a lot worse than he had let on when he spoke. Deciding that she was not going to throw fuel on a fire or an argument, she said, “Thanks, for the apology and the explanation. I got MaryAnne to get me the check while you were on the phone. I have already paid it and gave her a good tip.” She was trying to decide if she could eat while her stomach was cutting back-flips. Then she looked at Tom and saw him put another huge bite in his mouth and wink at her. She was amazed at how that small act of his love for her calmed her nerves and she began to eat and enjoy her meal.
Candace who had already devoured her biscuit and was wishing she had ordered two or maybe one of the big breakfast plates like everyone else, took another drink of the great coffee and asked, “Tom, are we going to be, okay? This is just to abstract for me to wrap my head around the fact that we may be facing World War III or a nuclear exchange. I am more than a little scared to be honest and I do not like even the thoughts of the war. Aren’t you scared, Tom. You seem like it is just another day at the beach for you.”
Tom finished another bite and said, “First, Ruth you are a joy and perfect match for me. Thanks for being so proactive on the situation and having your head in the game. The clearer we have our minds the better choices we make and at some point, clear thinking might be the difference between a good outcome and a bad outcome. Second, Candace, I am scared too. Anybody that is not is either a psychopath or a sociopath or maybe both I cannot remember which is the right diagnosis for that type behavior. I guess maybe they are just foolish would be another option. We all should be afraid, but I choose to just be aware and deal with the problems as they come. No use to waste my energy on imaginary or even if they are real, they are not bothering me or mine. No use dealing with problems there is nothing that can be done about them now or by me. Know what I mean, that may have not come out right.” Candace and Ruth both nodded their heads affirming that they understood.
Nat still chewing said, “I dig what you are shoveling, big man. We are here and we have this great food in front of us right now. What the Russian do or do not do right now we have no control over. We can however finish off these biscuits quickly and enjoy them and get on our way home as soon as possible. Best we can do and control right now. The dice have already been thrown, we just do not know if it is craps or a winner.”
As he was talking MaryAnne had emerged from the back of the kitchen with the to go orders for the group. She handed the two large bags to Tom and asked, “Is there anything else I can do for you before you leave? Oh, and Momma and Aunt Betty put a couple of extra sausage and egg and bacon and egg biscuits in the bag along with two extra bologna and egg sandwiches in the bag no charge. She felt your presence in the kitchen. Aunt Betty thought you might need them before the day is out. We are going to close today at twelve o’clock and head home. We feel that there is a war coming between good and evil.”
Tom felt like GOD and just told him to listen up and understand. Tom Said, “MaryAnne, tell your Momma and Aunt Betty thanks and may God bless you and your family greatly in the coming days. Just so you know, I am not sure but tell them that war is probably coming and to keep their heads down and their faith will keep them whole. Now enough gloom and doom, this breakfast has been killer, can I get an unsweet tea to go?”
MaryAnne reached down and hugged him and the tingle between them was a sign to both that the Lord was at work today. She asked, “Any body else want a tea to go?” Jerry and Nat both answered in the affirmative and added that they wanted theirs to be sweet. Candace asked for a sweet tea and Ruth and Christen told her they were good. MaryAnne said, “Meet me by the register and I will have the drinks ready for you on your way out. It has been a pleasure and God speed on your travels home.”
Tom said, “Come on honey. We will get the Excursion and the Travelette while Jerry and Candace get the drinks for everybody and meet them at the front door. You ready?” Standing up from the table and reaching for the hand of his wife who grabbed his and stood up, and said, “I am with you, my one and only till the end.” The pair walked out of the restaurant towards their chariots, with Jerry replying, “Yeah, I got the drinks. No worry. I am here to serve.” All spoken in a very sarcastic tone of voice, even though he really was glad to get the drinks and would have even paid for them had they not been on the house. Nat and Christen followed them towards the vehicles splitting when they got to the vehicle, they were riding in for the trip home.
Ruth and Tom took a moment to embrace and a quick kiss before Tom let her go and opened the Excursion door for her. Tom said, “I wish we had some radios so we could keep in constant contact while we drive.”
Ruth smiled and replied, “Duh, silly man, we can just call on the phone and keep the lines open while we travel home. I will call Nat and establish the link with him. I know you will want to keep your phone and the satellite phone open in case you get a call with more information. That work for you?”
Grinning he replied, “Like I praised earlier always a joy and smart too. What would I do without you, Ruth.”
Ruth replied, “Probably be wearing dirty clothes and starving. Nah, before you say anything I realize you do almost all the laundry at the house and the cooking. Go and get in the truck, we need to be hurrying. You know!” She reached and inserted her key into the ignition switch and set it to warm up the glow plugs. Getting the light on her panel that told her they were warm she started the big 7.3 L Turbo diesel and listened to it roar. Looking over to see if Tom was ready to move out she put the big SUV in gear and pulled out of her parking place leaving room for the Travelette to back out in front of her position.
A few moments later Tom backed the Travelette out and started towards the front of the restaurant to pick up Jerry and his Tea. Moving towards the front exit of the business, Tom spoke and said, “When we get on the road, Ruth is going to call you on the phone. We are going to keep the phone line open on the way to Greenville, you know just in case.” Pulling up to the door the Travelette stopped. Tom did not even put the truck out of gear just pressed the clutch and held the breaks as Jerry and Candace had not made it out of the building. Nat asked, “Hey, you think I should go and see what the hold up is, they should have been out by now.”
Tom replied, “Yeah, go help Jerry bring the drinks and get them to Ruth and Christen. I bet Candace had to use the bathroom, she has been that way since she had to have her Gallbladder removed. Before you go let me tell you what that is called it is the funniest thing ever. It is called Dumping Syndrome and before you call me a liar it really is called that. Is that not the funniest thing you ever heard. I thought sis was trying to pull a fast one on me when she told me that. I looked it up, it is really called Dumping Syndrome. Who knew that doctors had a sense of humor?” Nat did laugh and then jumped out of the truck and was back with both hands full of ice tea and was followed by Jerry who had a tray with the drinks for the ladies. Jerry went straight to the Excursion and handed the tray of drinks to Ruth through the window and came back to the truck and got in the back seat.
Jerry said, “Tom or Nat do you know if our South Carolina CCW has reciprocity in North Carolina? I cannot remember from my class if it does or does not. I remember them talking about how South Carolina had not recognized Georgia’s at one time but does now.”
Nat replied, “Yeah, we are good in North Carolina and Georgia, why?”
Jerry replied, “I was thinking it might be a good idea to be carrying for the rest of the trip. Just in case the work gets out and people go crazy. Standing next to the register I could here the TV and I am pretty sure the said something about riots in Georgia.” These words brought Tom out of his reverie of waiting.
Tom asked, “Georgia as in the state next door or Georgia like the country that used to be part of the Soviet Union and is part of the Russian umbrella of influence today?”
Jerry looked pensive for a moment and replied, “Good question my first thought was the state next door. But thinking about the pictures of the rioters and the city police they were throwing Molotov cocktails and rocks at, now I would say the Russian satellite country. Really, I am not sure which either way.”
Tom said, “Nat find us a news radio station. I think there is one in Asheville. I think it is around one hundred on the FM dial and hurry. Jerry, you live with her how long is she going to be in the john?”
Jerry laughed and replied, “Now that is a question that I never figured I would have to answer. She should be out any second it does not take her long.” Continuing to laugh as he saw his wife walking out of the door towards the Excursion.
Tom asked, “Everyone buckled up. We are going to push the speed limit a little on the way home. As they say it is all down hill from here and it truly is in this case.” He hit the accelerator as he saw the door on the Excursion close in his rear view mirror and added, “Here we go, gentlemen and I use that term in its loosest interpretation of the definition.” Steering the almost sixty-year-old International Harvester out of the parking lot and heading towards State highway 74. The Highway 74 route would take them directly to Interstate 40 East to Asheville. Interstate 40 would take them to the Asheville. There they would the exit for Interstate 26 East heading down the mountain towards Greenville and home. The truck with the F-550 frame and drive train the truck drove like a new one and handled great for its size. As he made his way onto the street, he checked his mirrors to make sure Ruth was on his bumper and she was right in line about five car lengths back. As the two vehicles exited onto the Interstate heading east and home Nat’s phone rang, answering he mockingly said, “Arabian rent-a-camel, one hump or two?”
Ruth replied, “Buster, I do not have time for your nonsense today. But that was funny. How are we going to do this? Do we just keep a running conversation like we were all together or do we just leave the phone line open and if we need to talk, just holler out?”
Nat answered, “I think just talking would be best. That way we will be able to know if we have not lost signal. We are still in the mountains just not the higher mountains and it would be easy to lose the signal. The Saluda grade is one place I almost always have lost signal going up or down the mountain.” Tom agreed with Nat’s opinion and the three couples talked as they were going down the mountain. Tom drove down the Interstate while concentrating on listening to the news radio. His thoughts were for what it was worth he could have been listening to some good country or blues and learned as much. The traffic was hectic with it being Labor Day lots of travelers heading home after a long weekend or heading somewhere for a day trip on the day that many people considered the end of the summer vacation season.
The traffic kept the two vehicles running less than the highway speed limit of seventy. Tom watched traffic and his speed ohmmeter, wishing he could at least run the speed limit. Every minute he ran the fifty-three miles an hour that he was running now added extra time to the trip. The thirty-two-mile trip from Waynesville, to Interstate 26 which normally would have been less than a thirty-minute drive had already taken them almost forty-five plus minutes and they were still about five minutes to the off ramp for Interstate 26. Nat asked, “Tom you alright man? You are grunting and talking to yourself. Something about time running out or something. Do we need to stop and let me drive? I am a little worried about you. Your head is fire engine red and you are sweating like a whore in church.”
Tom replied, “Just wanting traffic to give us a break and hoping it is not like this all the way down the grade and home. If it stays bumper to bumper like this there is no way we will not run into a traffic nightmare on the Saluda grade. One of these people will try to go around a tractor trailer rig and wreck for sure. We just need to get home. I have a bad feeling about all that is going own in the world. I know this is going to sound crazy and I have not even said anything to Ruth about this, I think we all need to stay together at our house and have a barbecue night until we can get some more info. Nat, I know you and Christen are just a few houses down, so maybe you all can go home but Jerry you and Candace need to stay with us for tonight at least. That way I can go into work and get some more info. Jerry, I need you to get Candace to agree to this and I will help. What do you two, think about my idea?”
Jerry replied, “Tom, I will do what I can, Candace dances to her own drummer and you of all people know this.”
Nat started, “Tom, I have known you since before you got out of the service and moved back to the Greenville-Spartanburg area. What I know is you never get riled up or anxious about anything and right now I would say you are on the verge of an anxiety attack. What do you know that you are not telling us about this situation and who have you been talking to on that work satellite phone? If you cannot say just tell me and that will be enough for me. If you can tell us though I really want to know because you are freakin’ me out.”
Before Tom could reply, Ruth said over the phone, “Hey guys, I want to know myself. But I think you have forgotten we can hear every word you all say over the phone.”
Candace spoke, “And Jerry what is this about me dancing to my own drummer, you are supposed to have my back. On another note, as soon as we get back home, I have to go into the office and start moving money. The stock market is closed here in America but the Asian markets are tanking and Gold has gone to almost three thousand six hundred dollars and ounce. It is up over five hundred dollars in the last hour. Before anyone starts, I need to move our money too, not just my other clients. I have done all I can do on my phone. I need to get to my office and my computer.”
Tom said, “Okay, Candace I understand. I only ask one thing, if I call, text, or email you answer. Heck even if I send a carrier pigeon you answer immediately. I am not going to call unless it is imperative that we talk. If I call you need to hall your but to my work. I am talking do not pass go and do not collect two hundred dollars, just stop what you are doing and get in your Traverse and ride. Understood?”
“Okay, I guess. How long will it be before we get home? Every minute we are losing money. I have done as much damage control as I can without seeing all the data that I have access to on the computer. I dropped all our money into bonds and a couple of good annuities. Even those are going to take a beating if I cannot get to my office and see who has the best stuff now,” whined Candace.
Tom said, “Sounds like I might want some of Ruth and my money in Gold and silver right now. What do you think about that sis? Another thing, can you start figuring out where I can get a bunch of physical silver and gold tomorrow?”
Candace asked, “How much is a bunch, a couple ounces of gold and maybe twenty ounces of silver. Silver is at fifty-two dollars and twenty-nine cents an ounce a few minutes ago and still rising. Right now, five ounces of Gold would be eighteen thousand and change, heck twenty ounces of silver would be almost a thousand and fifty dollars.”
Tom said, “I was thinking ten ounces of gold and a monster box of silver eagles and a couple hundred-dollar bags of dimes and quarters each for starters. I want the Gold in four ounces in tenth ounce, four ounces in quarter ounces and the other two ounces in half ounce bullion.”
Candace whistled very loudly and said, “Ruth, do you all have seventy-five thousand sitting around in cash somewhere or do you have some of your money with someone else?”
Ruth looked at Candace and asked, “Why would you ask that? We have all our money with you except our checking and our 401ks from work?”
Candace said, “Tom’s gold and silver order is like seventy-five thousand dollars and would have to be paid in full before delivery if we can get it tomorrow and there is no way I can get that much free by tomorrow without you all taking a beating on the sales and transfer cost.”
Tom said, “Just buy it and have it delivered to your office in the morning before nine o’clock or even today if you can make it happen and Ruth and I will take care of the cash. I can have it within an hour of when we get home and Ruth I will explain when we get home. And no to all of you I have not robbed a bank. It is legit.”
Candace replied, “I might be able to get it done today. I have access to a few different vendors and most of them do not really take off on holidays. The other thing is, there is a precious metals vendor off Woodruff Road that I can contact and I am sure they can fill your order maybe even today. Do you want me to call them today or will you have to move money or go and get it from a safe deposit box at a bank that is not open today.”
Tom smiled inwardly and replied, “Place the order for pickup today. Ruth, I will need you and Jerry to go with me to pick it up and Nat if you are willing. But I need at least two people because I want the Excursion to be waiting and running when we come out the door. I know some of these places will have a partner that is waiting to rob the person who leaves the shop and heads home.”
Candace said, “This place is not like that, our company does a lot of business with them and I should be able to get you spot price on the silver and the gold bullion. I am going to wave my fee on the transaction. To do that I will have to but the metals myself, that way I can get the discount and my firm will not see that I did it for a client.”
Tom said, “See what you can make happen Sis and I will get the funds to cover the purchase. What would your normal fee be on this type purchase?”
Candace said, “Six and half percent of the sales price for me and three and half for the firm and a fifty-dollar broker fee that would be mine also. Why, I said I was waving the fee?”
Tom answered with a sly grin, “Then order ten percent extra of whatever PM’s that you and Jerry want and that will be your pay. If it was me, I would get just silver for the ten percent fee payment. It is your money but it would only be like two ounces of Gold and a little silver.”
Jerry said, “Thanks, Tom and Ruth that is another great present. This one for both of us.” The Excursion and the Travelettte went quiet for the next few minutes except for the road noise coming from the Mickey Thompson Baja radials that Tom’s friend in the tire nosiness had recommended and then sold to Tom for the Excursion. The tire was a good tire for both the highway and off-road and not as expensive as like a Toyo Open Country or a Yokohama GEDI ANDAR. According to his old school mate Terry the tires would last better and would have less road noise. Except for Candace wheelin’ and dealin’ on her phone for the precious metals. She finally locked in the metals at thirty-six hundred dollars and ounce for the gold and fifty-one dollars and ounce for the silver. Negotiating an extra six percent discount on the total value of the sale to be added to the sale in silver rounds. Candace finally lung up the phone with a big smile and explained to Ruth and Tom what she had negotiated with the precious metals merchant.
Tom asked, “When will it be ready for pickup? If we can work it out maybe we just pick it up on the way through Greenville heading towards I-385. We will be going right by the Woodruff Road exit as we take the three-eighty-five exit off Interstate 85.”
Candace answered, “The owner told me it would be ready within the hour. I was thinking that it might be best to pick it up on the way home. That would be the quickest, because I must go into the office the minute we get home. We will stay and have burgers or hot dawgs tonight if we can have some of the Apple Pie for dessert.” Laughing at the under her breath comment from Ruth that they had created a monster with the shine. The two vehicles took the off ramp for Interstate 26 heading towards Interstate 85 and the Greenville exit for the I-385 by-pass towards home first the exit for the gold and silver. If the traffic would cooperate, they should be at the merchant to get the metals within and hour and half maybe less.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, even the traffic cleared out to an almost normal Interstate pattern for the rest of the trip that ended at Ruth and Tom’s home just as it had started three days before. Ruth and Tom pulled their vehicles into the drive way and Tom pulled his truck into the three-car garage. Ruth left her vehicle in the driveway as they had to make a trip to the gold merchants place of business. Getting out of the truck, Tom asked, “Besides Ruth to drive who is going with me to ride shotgun on the golddddd….” Laughing at his own joke he continued, “We have already decided that Candace is taking her car and going on to her office after the purchase of the metals. I guess that leaves Jerry with nothing to do. How about it, Jerry?”
Jerry replied, “That is cool with me. How about Christen and Nat?”
Nat replied, “Were you not listening? Christen and I are going to the store and pick up some hamburger meat for chili, burger patties, hot dogs, and buns for both for tonight.”
Ruth said, “Do not forget the Kingsford charcoal. Don’t bother with lighter fluid we have a new chimney starter I picked another one up off Amazon.”
Tom raced into the house and opened his gun safe and rummaged around in the bottom in an old gym bag full of ammo boxes of assorted flavors, some rounds he did not even have a weapon for them. The rounds were either for a weapon he had in the past or got them in some type of trade. Pulling out a half-gallon Crown Royal purple bag he retrieved eight bundles of one-hundred-dollar bills each containing a hundred bills. Thinking better he put the bundles back into the purple sack and pulled a large duffel bag out of a bin sitting on the shelf in his mancave. Setting the two bags on his reloading table he reached back into his safe and pulled out a pair of Staccato 2011 XL nine-millimeter pistols. He laid them beside the two bags and reached back into the safe and brought out another brace of matching Staccato 2011 XL pistols and laid them beside the first pair. Then he pulled a Palmetto Leather Works custom horizontal carry double shoulder holster rig with double magazine attachments at the belt line. The rig had been made on Tom’s design with and H strap in the back that attached to his belt, with the H cross strap having a kydex holster for a CRKT Hissatsu 7.25-inch blade knife to rest in a handle down carry. The rig had additional suspender type straps on the front to help distribute the weight of the pistols and the four twenty round magazines. The dual shoulder holster was in the natural chestnut stain color and was made for him by a friend who worked there. The company had asked his permission and had started selling the model after about a year. Tom slid into the holster and ran the matching inch and three-quarter wide belt through the front and the back attachment points. Then he checked the pistols to make sure they were loaded and charged with a round in the chamber and placed the pistols into his right-hand side and then the left-hand side holster as was his practice. He made a couple of quick twisting motions and then went to his closet and picked out and Hawaiian type button front shirt and placed it over the rig. Satisfied he buttoned about three buttons on his shirt. Then he picked up a matching holster less the kydex knife attachment in the back and placed the other two Staccato pistols into their holsters, then placed them into the duffel on the bed and headed outside. The second rig was the alpha run of the custom holster and in his beta design Tom had added the knife carry.
Coming back outside he said, “Everybody have their personal weapons and extra magazines?”
Ruth replied, “I have both my PMR-30 pistols and my Ruger LCRx with two extra mags and two speed loaders for the Ruger.”
Nat said, “All I have with me is my GP100 and it is awfully big to try and carry concealed.”
Tom pulled the shoulder holster and pistols out of the bag and said, “Merry Christmas a little early.” Handing the holster to a flabbergasted Nat, who almost dropped them from the surprised weight of six twenty round magazines and the two pistols. Hanging on for dear life he finally replied, “Are those for me and are those Staccato 2011 pistols. Where did you get them and how?”
Tom smiled at his friend and unbuttoned his shirt and answered, “The same place I got these, but I won’t tell anybody if you won’t.” Then place his fore finger over his lips and said, “SSSShuse.” Walking over he helped Nat get into the brace of pistols. Telling him to take off his belt and he would show him how to thread the belt through the holster attachment points in the front and rear. As he finished helping Nat into the gear a whine arose from Jerry’s mouth, “Where are mine?”
Tom looked at his brother-in-law in disbelief and replied, “I think you are wearing it under your left arm if I am not mistaken. Have you so quickly forgotten your birthday present?”
Jerry dropped his head and dejectedly replied, “No, my bad. You have already given me a great present, too.”
Tom said, “Candace, I know you do not really believe in the use of weapons or at lest you didn’t before the other day. Do you want something for protection and what about you Christen?”
Christen replied, “I would love something but nothing that big, like you all are carrying.”
Candace answered, “Maybe…, I don’t really think I am ready yet to carry a gun in public and besides I am not certified to carry or have a CWC or whatever it is called.”
Tom said, “Darling, do you mind giving Christen your Ruger LCRx We need to get going time is a wasting and I am afraid that is one commodity that we cannot be wasting right now.” Ruth nodding an affirmative acknowledgement and took off her inside the waistband holster with the little 22WMR canon and handed it to Christen and then the two speed loaders.
The weapons exchange finished the couples each left headed towards their destinations and objectives. Christen and Nat in their Beamer heading back towards Fountain Inn and the Publix grocery store. Candace in her Traverse and Ruth, Tom and Jerry in the Excursion heading back the way they had passed about thirty minutes prior to Woodruff Road exit off the I-385 by-pass on to Highway 146 to the right towards Woodruff. They went about a mile on Woodruff Road and took a right onto Feaster Road towards the gold merchants place of business.
Ruth turned off Feaster followed closely by Candace to the right passing an auto collision center and then pulled into the non-descript outer parking lot of an industrial looking building surrounded by an eight-foot-tall chain length fence topped by three rows of barbed wire encircled with razor wire on the top. Nat asked, “Is this the right place it looks like a regular manufacturing plant type setup, except for the razor wire.”
Tom replied, “This is the address that Candace provided and I typed into the GPS….” Thinking for a second as he pulled up to the front gate that had a keypad and a push button to talk sign. Just as he was about to ask, if they were in the right place. Ruth phone rang and she answered, saying, “Hello….” Tom could not hear what was being said over the phone to Ruth who was just nodding her head and listening so he waited.
Finally, Ruth said, “Candace is on the phone with the guy right now. She is trying to get him to open the door so we can pull inside the gate. Told us he usually wants people to walk through the gate and pull their cars inside the fence. Something about insurance or theft.”
Tom replied, “Thanks. I guess we wait or should we ask her if I should push the button.” The next sound he heard over the phone was Ruth laughing and then she said, “Little sis said for you not to get your panties in a wad that she was handling the transaction.”
Tom replied, “Waiting per orders from the boss or megalomaniac. Whichever one fits Candace best.” Smiling and not looking at Ruth afraid the Lazer beams from her eyes that he could feel would cut him into.
Ruth humped, “Be nice, Candace is doing what you wanted and from what I can tell is really trying since you and her had your come to the light discussion.” The gate started opening in from of the Excursion and Ruth looked at her husband with the dreaded I told you and now what have you got to say, buster. Tom held his hands up in complete surrender to his superior, wife. Thinking a man had to know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em just like Kenny Rogers. Ruth let her foot of the brakes and pulled inside the security gate. Getting inside she did not really see a parking lot or an entrance so she rolled down her window stuck her arm out and waved Candace around to show them where to park. Candace pulled around and led them around to what appeared to be the loading dock and pulled up beside what seemed to be a small set of steps to an exit door for the building. They pulled up and parked beside her as she went to the door and pushed another push to talk button beside the door handle. A moment later the door opened as Ruth and Tom started up the three steps to the small door landing. They followed Candace in through the door to an opulent interior that did not match the exterior of the building in any way. The interior looked like a fancy, no very fancy jewelry store on Rodeo Drive in Hollywood or New York city. The three were met by a large man in a high dollar Savile Row summer weight wool suit with a white no collar shirt. Tom was thinking the gentleman must have been at least six foot eight inches or maybe better and a sleek two hundred and seventy pounds or better of muscle. Tom based his opinion on the fact that he was almost six foot five himself and the dude was taller than him for sure and as broad or broader across the back. The big man reached for Candace and wrapped her in a hug like a bear and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek that made her turn red as a Valentine Day’s heart. The big man turned her loose and said in what Tom thought was an Afrikaner accent, “We have missed you, Ms. Candace. I was wondering when you were going to come by to see us again. My partner and I were just talking about that last week. We were afraid you had taken your business to our competitors in Atlanta. Excuse my rude behavior, Ms. Candace. Please introduce me to your friends.”
Candace regained her composure somewhat and replied, “Gerrit, I am proud to say that the large fellow to my right is my big brother Thomas Sexton and to his right is his lovely wife and my sister-in-law Ruth Sexton.”
Gerrit reached for and took Ruth’s hand in his and brought it to his lips and placed a light kiss on her knuckles, then said, “Mrs. Sexton it is a pleasure to meet such a lovely southern belle as yourself. I am honored to make your acquaintance. Any friend or sister-in-law of Ms. Candace is welcome to our humble showroom and American corporate offices at any time.”
Letting her hand go as quickly and elegantly as he had taken it into his large calloused hand. Then he stepped over in front of Tom and extended his hand in greeting to him. Tom took his hand in a firm grip and the two large men had just a moment of a grip fight and then it was over in mutual appreciation of their counterpart. Tom was first to speak and said, “Is that an Afrikaner accent I hear in your voice. It is a little hard to place as there might be a little touch of Oxford hidden in there with the original?”
Gerrit let out a big belly laugh and said, “I see where Ms. Candace gets her spirit and boldness from now. It runs deep in the Sexton DNA. I am at your service as Candace tells me that the purchase is for one of her clients. The kicker is that the client is also her brother and his wife. She also tells me that you are afraid that the world is about to come to an end. If I may be so bold as to ask on what authority and information you have come to this conclusion. The reason, I ask as both my partner Petrus and I have family in high places of authority in South Africa that are saying the same thing. As we both know, a second source of confirmation intelligence is always a better confirmation of the intel.”
Tom had an instant liking to Gerrit, and answered as best he could, “Gerrit, I will just say that it comes almost from the top of the food chain and may have ‘five eyes’ confirmation. If you are familiar with that term?” Gerrit gave him and almost imaginary non-verbal acknowledgement by nodding his head affirmatively slightly. Neither of the ladies had seen or noticed the affirming of the question. Tom gave a smile to show Gerrit that he had received his answer.
Gerrit said, “Candace, I give you Petrus’s apologies for not meeting you. He is busy with another set of problems today. He told me that he was sure glad to take your call and the next time you are here the stakes at the Poinsett Club or the President’s Club downtown are on him and you can order that fancy wine you like so much and get another bottle to take home. On that note, I guess that time is at a premium. We have your order sitting and waiting in the vault. I will have it brought to the front if we can take care of that little fine detail of payment.”
Tom reached into the green duffel bag and pulled out eight stacks of hundreds from the Crown Royal bag and handed them to Gerrit who picked one of the stacks and flipped through the bills out of habit. Then Tom said, “I really do not need any change if we could just get the rest in one ounce silver Krugerrand coins if that can happen in a hurry and one more thing Gerrit. If we could exchange telephone numbers, I would be glad to keep you and Petrus in the information loop. I just feel that I can trust you and it may pay off in the future for both of us.”
Gerrit smiled and said, “I think that would be a wise decision for both parties. I will get my man to bring the extra silver, now if you will excuse me for a moment.” Gerrit turned and said something into a neck mic for about thirty seconds and then walked towards a large desk an opened a drawer and pulled out a box of business cards. Then walked back over to his three clients and two new what he felt were birds of a feather. The former South African recces operator had a big smile on his face when he came back and handed Candace, Ruth, and Tom each two business cards. Gerrit said, “These are only for special friends. The cards have my contact information on the back and Petrus’s information on the back.”
Candace started, “Gerrit, I already have both Petrus and your cell numbers.”
Smiling like a cat that just ate a canary, he answered, “Yes, my dear, you do. These cards however have ‘ALL’ our numbers for contact, not just our primary cell numbers….” Gerrit had emphasized the word all when he had spoken. Continuing, “Ms. Ruth and Tom do you like dogs?”
Ruth said, “We both love animals. We have talked about getting a dog a few times and something always comes up. Why?”
Gerrit smiled and said, “I have a great gift for the two of you as new friends, I will be right back with your gift and new best friend.” Going through a door to another room, he was gone for about three minutes and when he came back out, he had two large black dogs following him and another large guy toting a big satchel that had B&V Industrial Metals written in gray on a dark blue almost black satchel. The two large dogs were following right on his heel and he said, “Here are your choice of new friends. Hold your hands out and let them smell your hands, then you can pet them. My guess one of them will pick you as their new owner and you want have to choose for them.” He looked to the two puppies and said ‘free, greet’ and pointed towards Ruth and Tom. The two large brindle Boerboel female eight-month-old puppies started towards the couple. Each puppy weighed about around hundred and twenty pounds each pranced over to them and smelled their outstretched hands. The slightly smaller puppy took to Ruth and started rubbing his head against her leg almost pushing her over.
Gerrit said, “It looks as if Sasha has made her choice, Ms. Ruth. What do you think.”
Ruth said, “I like the dogs but what are they? I have never seen this breed; they look a little like a bull dog but are bigger.”
Gerrit said, “They are the pride of South Africa, the puppies are from royal bloodlines. They are Boerboel pups. They are both from the same liter and are about eight months old, they still have some growing to do. They were bread as guard dogs for families and are very loyal and are even children friendly.”
Tom said incredulously, “Did you say they still have some growing to do? They look like they weigh a hundred twenty pounds now.”
Gerrit grinned and replied, “My friend they are both about fifty-five kilos now and will get to eighty or maybe a little better. My guess is Sasha will only get to about one hundred and ninety pounds when she is full grown. She will make you an excellent guard dog, friend, and protector for the coming times weather they are good or bad. On the other piece of business your order is ready. I had Joseph to put an extra hundred Krugerrand's in the satchel as a show of good will to our new friendship. Would you like to see your metals, now.” Joseph placed the heavy satchel on the large desk and started pulling out the contents. Laying the monster box and the gold sleeves out on the desk and pulling out one of the hundred-dollar bags of dimes and untying the string around the top of the bag. Tom walked over and run his hand into the bag and pulled out a handful of the silver dimes, then dropped them back in the bag. Then he picked up the small sleeve of gold tenth ounce coins and looked at them then handed them back to Joseph and said, “Joseph would you please put them back into your bag and then place them into the duffel.” Handing the duffel to Joseph he turned back to Gerrit and Ruth who were each petting one of the puppies.
“Gerrit, it has been a pleasure meeting you today and conducting business in a professional way, that is not seen in this day and time. I want to say thanks for your help and I look forward to long friendship in business and our personal lives. We do have to get going, I need to get to my work and I know Candace is about to have a duck to get to her office and her computer,” spoke Tom in a sincere voice and reached out his hand to Gerrit to seal the deal. Turning back to Joseph, Tom took the duffel bag of precious metals and placed one of the straps over his right shoulder and said, “Ruth if you would go and get the Excursion started and headed towards the gate. I will be right out in about three minutes. Candace, you need to head out to your car too. Just for information we will be eating at six thirty and we are having Apple Pie just for you. Remember what I told you about answering your phone, that has not changed. Ruth, you need to take your new big baby with you.”
Gerrit said, “Ruth, just tell her to heel and he will follow you to the car. Open the door and say load, and to get him out of the car say unload. I will send you a text with all her commands. She is potty trained and trained to guard and attack. Quickly though guard is Sasha guard now, you have to say all three words. It is same for attack, Sasha attack now. To get her out of guard or attack commands, Sasha off guard and, just Sasha release for attack. God speed to you all.”
Ruth said, “Sasha heel.” The big puppy went right to her right side and stood beside her till she took her first step and then she followed with her head right beside Ruth right hip. The two walked out the door with Candace holding it for the new best buddies. In the three minutes of wait time, Tom found out how much the big dog ate and decided that he better call Nat and have him pick up at least two hundred pounds of puppy food. Then he shook Gerrit hand one more time and walked out of the door to the awaiting Excursion. He opened the back door and through the duffel in beside the big dog and Jerry sitting in the middle seats. Ruth said, “The gate is opening and we are moving get in the car.” As Candace raced out in front towards the gate and to her awaiting office computer.
Jerry asked, “Did everything go alright? It seemed like it took a long time and what is with the Shetland pony back here with me.” Laughing at his calling the big dog a pony.
Tom replied, “My wife made a large impression on the South Afrikaner giant and he gave her the big puppy. The breed is called a Boerboel, it is a breed of Mastiff, I think. The rest went smooth as satin and by my watch we in and out in exactly twenty-four minutes. How long did you think it was going to take?”
Jerry replied, “Is that all it sure seemed longer, to me. I guess I was bored and should have gotten Ruth to leave the keys on so I could have listened to the news or WSSL. The dog is cool, did you call it a puppy? How big is this tank going to get?”
Ruth answered, “Another hundred pounds or so. Sasha is only eight months old and still growing according to Gerrit.” This said as maneuvered the big SUV through and out the gate and back onto Feaster Road heading back home. Tom picked up his phone and called Nat and Christen telling them they were on there way back towards the hacienda. Finding out that they were just about to checkout at the Publix and head back. Tom told them to stop by the tractor Supply and get a couple hundred pounds of a good grade of Puppy food. Nat and Christen both had to find out the why for the puppy food. They did agree that they would get all they could put in the Beamer. Nat figured they could get three hundred pounds in the trunk and the back seat without crushing the springs. His justification was that Tom and Ruth had set in the back seat before and they weighed at least that much.
Tom said, “I hate to say this, especially since I gave Sis so much grief about her going to work. As soon as we get home, I need to head to the office myself and see if I can get some more intelligence on the world situation.”
Ruth said, “Even if Nat and Christen haven’t gotten back, Jerry and I with Sasha will hold the fort down till you get back.” Sasha hearing her new master say her name perked up her ears and stuck her head into the front seat between Ruth and Tom and got some petting from her new owners until Ruth told her to sit and she did. About thirty minutes later Ruth pulled the Excursion into the driveway and parked the SUV and got out and walked around to the back door and opened the door and told the big puppy to unload and heel. The big puppy had a big smile and got out of the vehicle. Ruth walked around the front yard and allowed her to mark her territory then headed back to the car and waited for Tom to come back out of the house. Coming out of the house she threw him the keys to the Excursion and said, “Call me when you get there and when you start back and do not forget that you told your sister we are eating at six thirty. Honey, don’t you be late, we will never hear the end of it if you are late.” Then she walked over to Tom and gave him a kiss and walked into the house as he backed up into the cutout on their driveway and turned around and headed towards the Southchase Industrial complex and the Chemical plant he worked was located.
About the time that Tom was turning off the I-385 frontage road into the industrial complex and taking the somewhat circular loop road to the back of the complex, Christen and Nat pulled into the Sexton’s driveway with the food for the nights barbecue and four hundred pounds of dog food. Getting out they were met by Ruth and a brindle-colored monster of a dog. Nat said, “Wow, that is a big dog. I think we messed up; I thought Tom told me to get puppy food. I am sure you are not supposed to feed puppy food to a full-grown adult dog. Do I need to take it back and get regular dog food. We bought four hundred pounds of puppy chow. They had it on sale buy one get one.”
Ruth told petted the big puppy on the head, saying friends, free, greet. This after telling Nat and Christie to put their hands out for the big puppy to get their smell and acquainted. Ruth then told Nat that the big dog was really a Boerboel puppy and only about eight months old and would grow to about ninety kilos or two-hundred pounds in the next eight months or so. Sasha took to Christen and let her rub her head and give her a tug on the neck after smelling and licking her hand. Nat on the other hand was showing a little fear and the Boerboel smelled the fear and did not take to him at first.
Jerry walked out of the house drinking a Beck’s beer and had another in his hand. Nearing his brother Nat he said, “I had brought you a beer. I am going to give it to Ruth as you look like you just saw a ghost or something. Seriously Bro, you having a heart attack or something are you…. You need to sit down or and aspirin or something? All this spoken at the speed of light by a truly concerned brother.
Nat replied, “What are you talking about, I am fine. It just this big dog, he is big as a pony and he took my whole forearm in his mouth when he was smelling my hand or whatever. I thought she was about to mangle me right there. I think it could have just taken my hand and wrist right off my arm in one bite. I guess truth be known I am a little shaken by the event. Did Ruth tell you this dog is just a puppy and will almost double in size. It is no wonder Tom wanted three hundred pounds of feed. I think getting the four hundred was the right thing.”
Jerry handed the beer to his brother and said, “Man, you ain’t telling me anything. I just road all the way from Woodruff Road to here with the big puppy in the middle row of seats with me. Sasha is a big puppy, just pet her man. She thinks she is a lap dog or something she wallowed me to death once I rubbed her belly and head.” Laughing at Nat’s expression which still had him looking like he needed to throw up or something.
Tom used his badge to get through the gate to the facility and looked to his right as he pulled into his personal parking place right by the front door. Seeing the large array field of solar panels that powered the facility. Tom was amazed that he had been pulling into his parking place since the first year he worked at the plant and he had never really thought about the fact that they generated their own power for the plant. This realization attuned him that he had already started a new mindset one of assets and preservation. His mind went back to a corporate meeting that he had attended when he first came to the plant and the subject was about the solar field and how it not only provided the plants electricity but the two adjacent buildings, a warehouse, and another light manufacturing facility. Coming back to the here and now he noticed that his Master gunsmith Robbie Batts pride and joy a 1979 Ford F-250 Ranger XLT Crew Cab 4X4 truck was sitting in the same parking place as usual all the way in the back corner parking place in the lot. The truck had been a gift to him from his father and mother when he graduated from Virginia Military Institute in May of 1978 with a degree in Military History with minors in Leadership studies and National Security. Three days after graduation he had headed to Fort Moore, Georgia for Army Office Training school even though he had earned his tuition for college in the ROTC training program at VMI. The Master Gunsmith and retired with twenty-four years Ranger Lt. Colonel had rebuilt the truck from the frame up twice. The second time he replaced the big gas guzzling 460 cubic inch V8 gasoline engine with a Ford 7.3 L Power Stroke Drop-In-Engine from US Diesel Parts and updated and replaced all the suspension, hubs, brakes, and shocks with parts from a F-550 that had less than 6000 miles on the odometer when it had been hit broadside by a tri-axle dump truck carry a load of Class B rip rap. The Gunsmith had never married and only worked now because he loved the work and he had nothing at home to go home to at night. Robbie had told Tom one time that his only regret in life was not marrying. Saying specifically a local gal from Lexington, Virginia that he had met the second semester of summer session after coming back from taking Basic Training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina his freshman year and had dated till the last semester of his Senior year when he decided to be a career military person and did not think it was fair to bring her into that situation and broke up with her right after Christmas.
Walking into the plant and stopping by his office before going below to the R& D shop and armory. Checking his plant email, he found an email from Charlie saying she would not be back in town till sometime after lunch on Tuesday and probably would not be in to work till Wednesday as she had flown to Miami with a couple of friends and their return flights for Monday afternoon had been rescheduled for around noon on Tuesday. Hitting the reply button, he told her not to worry, but she needed to call him if possible and if not to make sure she was keeping up with the world situation. Adding that there may be repercussions from a bad batch of chemicals that had been shipped recently on a rush order the QC of the batch may be in question. Then he deleted that last sentence and typed in all caps call me on the company phone ASAP. Finished he walked out of his office and went to a door mark Utilities with a lightning bolt under the word. Used his card and then typed in his key code for the month then waited for the sound of the door unlocking. Walking to the right side of the room he placed his palm on a hidden reader and the electrical panel opened and he walked in and down the stairs, to another door with a key pad and electronic lock access. Walking in he saw Robbie sitting in his second favorite place besides his work bench. The elder gentleman of the group was sitting at a table that held a three D chess board and staring so intently that he had not even noticed that he was no longer alone in the facility.
Tom asked, “You winning old man?” Using the nickname that one of the younger techs had used for the master gunsmith and had stuck.
The reply was quick and filled with annoyance, “Hush, Big T there is grown man work going on over here.” Big T being the name that Robbie had given Tom when he arrived at the site as the controller and Ops Manager. Telling Robbie in private that he was finally glad they had sent him someone over twenty-four that had some sense and knew who the ‘Fab Four’ were and listened to the Stones and The Allman Brothers Band. Later adding and can shoot the weapons and hit a target at more than contact distances. Tom walked into his R&D office and booted up his computer and found the intelligence dump from Special Agent Calhoun. Looking at the email there were a dozen plus attachments in the data dump all of which were the maximum size that could be sent in a file and the server would accept without return verification and secondary approval. Tom smiled to himself and thought. Thanks Calhoun, you old dawg. When one knows the rules and the work arounds that well is why they pay you the big bucks my friend. If things stay cool, I owe you a beer my friend. Then started to unzip the first file and get ready to read. As the file was getting ready for reading, he reached in his back pocket and pulled out both his Redman and Kodiak and laid them on his desk after putting in a chew and a dip. Then he looked at his Omega Seamaster Diver and decided he better get his butt in gear and quit thinking and start doing. Reaching behind him he pulled a pack of yellow papered legal pads and a pack of green Post-It Pop-Up Notes by the legal pads and reached into his middle desk drawer and found a Blue, Red, and Green TUL ultra fine pen. Just as he was starting to get in a rhythm with reading and making notes, Robbie asked, “Big T, that data dump from your friend Calhoun authorized or under the table?”
Tom smiled and replied, “Semi-legit in that he knew about the rifles and the case number. That way he could put me in the loop with a request form. Why what have gotten from all your old friends?”
Robbie laughed and replied, “That is a stupid question and I expect better than that out of you. Most of my friends are retired, dead, or have moved to non-extradition countries. Probably what I should have done myself years ago. I did find out that the weapons that were recovered wee all Dragunov’s. Did not take a genius to figure out where they came from after hearing that little pearl of wisdom. Especially, since we shipped them to Turkey. The question is are we going to be hit with Nukes or what.”
Tom replied, “Calhoun told me about eight this morning I needed to get out of the mountains and to keep my powder dry and my head down. That was about all he could say over the satellite phone even encrypted. I will add that I bought eighty thousand dollars’ worth of precious metals today. That is how much I think we are going to have a SHTF moment soon. The good news is that was over seven hours ago and he said he would call me back if he knew anything that was actionable for us. By actionable I mean putting our heads between our legs and getting ready to kiss our butt’s good-bye.”
Robbie laughed and said, “That was a graphic answer. Do you know all the capabilities of our little piece of Heaven where we earn a good living at the expense of the American tax payer.”
Tom said, “I know that the air to the shop is pumped in and supposedly is NBC rated. The other thing is we are shielded a little down here by the concrete floors over our heads and all the equipment sitting above our heads in the plant. If we are not hit here directly and there is no reason to think we would be targeted we would be safe form any attacks here. Why?”
Robbie grinned at his boss and answered, “There is eight inches of high-density concrete above our heads. The filter systems are designed for all types Nuclear, Biological and Chemical attacks. We have our own EMP shielded power system supplied by the Solar farm outside. Our water for the plant and here is supplied by three bedrock depth wells right here on the site and there is enough MRE’s for eight people for one-year of meals. The only thing that we do not have is a doctor on staff. Charlie was a Marine Corpsman before she took the job here after being medically retired like yourself.”
Tom said, “I guess I knew about Charlie being a Marine Corpsman as I read her file. I have to admit I did not remember that. That is the good news, the bad news is she is stuck in Miami and will not be leaving till sometime around lunch tomorrow. Calhoun did not think we had that much time before the show started. I sent her an email saying to call me ASAP. I was going to tell her to rent a car and head home. Miami is like fifteen hours from here if you run the speed limit and do not get caught up in traffic in Jacksonville or Savannah. If she left before even eight tonight she would be back here before her plane even takes off from Miami.”
Robbie said, “Sounds like a plan she needs to buy into and get her butt back here. The truth is the Russian’s have done whatever they wanted to since Pudding Pop Bedum was elected President. Truth is since Putin has been the President of Russia, he has done just about anything he wanted to do in the world. At first, we were letting Russia grow and not fail. We did that so the old Soviet countries warring for power. The U.S. just kinda let them do whatever and we just went through the motions. You know like when you mom or dad tells you he is going to spank you but never does after a while it has no effect. One other thing is you know all the countries in that part of the world have been in famine as the Ukraine was not able to farm with the Russians trying to destroy their country. After that the drought hit in Russia, Ukraine, Mongolia, China and a little in India. It was enough to affect the rice crops a little in India. The thing is hungry people do strange things.”
Tom was deep in thought when Robbie finally stopped lecturing. Tom said, “Are you winning your chest match with the kid from Singapore? I saw you were deep in thought on your next move.:
“The little devil made a move that I cannot figure out. I know it is not as bad a move as it looks on the surface. He is a brilliant kid and player and just always makes the right move. I think they said his IQ was in the high one fifties range. The move has me stumped. Now quit stalling and tell me what is really on your mind,” replied Robbie.
Tom grinned and replied, “I guess since I do not have the one fifty I Q I am just transparent to you geniuses. I was really wondering if there is way I can bring my wife, my sister, her husband, his brother, and his wife here without getting put in Leavenworth if this thing blows over and nothing happens. I am just a little over ten minutes from here if the roads are not blocked with people running to fro like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off after hearing that the missiles are on their way from Russia, China or wherever.”
Robbie replied, “Tom you are trying to think too hard and overlooking the obvious. Bring them here and spend the night upstairs, if anything happens then you just open the doors and bring them down the stairs to this haven. Now send me a couple of those files and I will help you sort through all the garbage and find the real meal.” Smiling like the cat who ate the canary.
Candace had moved as much of her client’s money to safe or what would normally be considered safe investments. Looking at her watch and seeing it was after five o’clock she decided to pack up shop. She had tried to contact her companies’ owners but neither had returned her call or answered her text. Figuring she had done her best for all concerned she shut down her computer, put her external drive in her leather valet / briefcase turned off her desk lamp and headed out of the office towards her Traverse. Starting the car her phone rang and it was Ruth. Answering she said, “I am locking the door and walking out of the office as we speak.”
Ruth replied, “Good, can you stop somewhere and pick up some onions and a couple of six-packs of Beck’s or St Pauli Girl for the barbecue. I would greatly appreciate it. It just is not right to have burgers and dawgs without onion.” Candace told Ruth she would be glad too as she would go right by a couple of stores on her way back to their house.
Tom and Robbie had been studiously reading the intel packets and stopping when each found something that they wanted the others opinion or an explanation on how it correlated to the situation. With all the intel in the multiple piles it could be summed on by saying ‘Who knows?’ was the opinion of both Tom and Robbie. Robbie said, “I think we need to address the elephant in the room. When are you going to call your friend in Washington for an update. I suggest the sooner the better. I say do not call him on the house phone even if it is more secure and is more of an official channel. Call him on the satellite phone like two friends calling to catch up on world events and how his love life is working out. While you are doing that, I am going to try Charlie. I know she did not answer when you called, maybe she will see the need to answer if I call her on the work line.”
Tom replied, “Sounds like a plan. No time like the present.” Tom walked back to his office and Robbie to his they had each took a minute to stretch their back and leg muscles and talk over their findings. Robbie threw his Diet Coke bottle into his trash can as he sat down at his cluttered desk and picked up his cell phone from a pile of memos laying in his in box and scrolled his contacts for Charlie, finding it he hit send.
Directly across the room from Robbie, Tom’s cell phone rang. He looked and seen it was Ruth and hated himself a little for wishing the call was Charlie returning his call. Tom hit the button and answered the call saying, “Hey baby. What is up? Everything okay?”
Jerry laughed and replied, “I did not know you cared, big guy…. What is up is, your wife wanted me to call and tell you it is time for you to be back home for supper. As for is everything okay question, depends on how you feel about the cow sized craps your new puppy puts in your yard. They are huge, man. I mean huge. She also said to tell you that Candace is already in Fountain Inn and on the way here.”
Tom sighed and answered, “It is only six o’clock. It only takes me ten or so minutes to get home from work and I could do it faster if I needed to. Remember when I got there in like eight minutes that one time, I was late for date night. Now let me get off the phone and if Nat is back with the dog food load a hundred pounds or so into the Excursion. No on second thought leave it all in their car for now. Now I got to go if I am going to make the deadline. Tell my lady thanks for the worry. Bye.”
Across the way Robbie had gotten Charlie to answer and explained to her that she needed to get headed home. Robbie had gone so far as to tell her he would pay for the rental and she could even get a luxury model. Charlie had explained that the reason she had not answered Tom was that she was at the airport and finding out that her noon flight had been pushed back till at least six o’clock and maybe cancelled. Explaining that she did not want to talk to the Boss until she had a plan to get home. Charlie had rented a luxury SUV on Robbie’s dime and squealed in his ear when she found out that it was a Cadillac Escalade. Charlie made a kissing sound over the phone to Robbie and said she was going to get her girl friends rounded up and Miami would be in her rear view in the next thirty minutes. Twelve minutes later Charlie and company pulled out of the airport onto Highway 112 heading to Interstate 95 North and to her South Carolina home.
Robbie walked over to Tom’s office and stuck his head through the door and said, “Charley just rented a car at the airport and is on her way here. Any luck with your DC contact?” Tom pulled his phone from his ear and put it on speaker and replied, “Had to take a call from home and explain why I was not going to miss a six thirty barbecue date. I had just hit send on the call to Special Agent in Charge Calhoun when you stuck your head in and said Charlie was on her way. Good deal. How did you get her to answer?’
Robbie answered, “She did not know how she was getting home; her flight had been cancelled. Did not want to talk to you until she had a plan of action. You know you scare her to death, don’t ya?” Nodding his head in the affirmative to the astonished look on Tom’s face.
Getting Calhoun on the phone and hearing what he had to say made Tom sick to his stomach and his heart. The Poles had moved all their armor and a brigade of infantry to the border sitting right across and imaginary line from the Russian Army. Romania had joined into a mutual defense pack with Poland along with the Czechs. Poland and Russia had exchanged artillery fire on two occasions already. The Russian’s had not crossed the line as of fifteen minutes ago. The Indian Navy had sailed their aircraft carrier group into the Indian Ocean sitting off the tip of Madagascar a potentially blocking force to the Russian fleet sailing towards America. The Royal Australian Navy had sailed some of their fleet into the area also. The only good news was the back channels contact with Russia was saying that they would give America as much notice as possible if the Generals decided to attack. The bad news was in the contacts opinion the decision had already been made to attack, it was just a matter of when. Going on to say that his information was that the Generals were lining up a coalition to fight alongside them. The terms America had used for allies in the last few wars. The contact did think that the attack would be no later than noon east coast time as they had said before.
Calhoun said, “What is you plan amigo? If it was me, I would bring me and mine to the facility to ride out the fireworks show. I am going to send you secondary access to the Command center feed. That means that your data will be filtered and on a five-minute delay. Not the best intelligence but it will beat the heck out of CNN or AM radio. I will send the log in codes in an email packet. It will only be for one channel and station so put it on your biggest monitor. That way you can more than one view. I got to go my friend. Beer is on me next time. I am out and it has been a pleasure being your friend Tom Sexton.” The line went dead before Tom could even say bye, much less reply to his friend’s last statement. That thought brought him to the reality that he needed to get in gear and face the reality of the world not being the same in the next twelve to twenty-four hours. The knowing feeling that this time tomorrow might find the world a much larger and less inhabited place. These deliberations triggered the possible answer to the puzzle of who.
Tom put his phone in his shirt pocket and walked out of his office towards Robbie who had sat back down at his chess board and was staring intently at the board. Tom started, “Robbie we have till noonish tomorrow at most before the Russians will attack America, if you have someone to bring here you better do it now. Please call Charlie back and tell her to red line that SUV and use her credentials to get out of any traffic stops. I am going home to have a burger or two, a hot dawg and a few cold beers. I will see you before six in the morning. I had planned on sleeping in my bed one more night at least. I am thinking now probably be sleeping in my office or somewhere there is a piece of flooring. I am calling Dibbs on the conference room for me and mine. I am out of here and I will be back. Can you do me a favor before I leave? I need to get in the weapons locker and I left my keys in the safe at home.”
Robbie shrugged his shoulders and got up and walked over to the big center portion of the room weapons locker. Punched in his access code to open the electronic lock, then used his keys to unlock the two other manual locks. Opening the door, he asked, “What you want Boss? I will make them disappear in a maze of government bureaucratic paperwork. They will end up in the possession of a certain retired General in Guam that I owe for not getting a promotion and the Full Bird a long time ago. They will never get to the end of the line, if they do it will make me happy though.” The old warhorse had a far away look on his face.
Tom answered, “I need another Staccato XL, the pair of PSA 5.7 Rock pistols that I had you keep from the test and delivery to the Air Force Black Berets for there use. I am going to get one of those suppressed H&K 416 SBRs with the eleven-inch match barrels. I know there are a bunch of other glorious feathers on those rifles. I have no idea why the Homeland idiots did not want them they set the specs and they exceeded them all the way around. I need carry gear for the PSA pistols and at least six loaded magazines. I am taking the modified Tactical Assault Panel (TAP) you made for me with the sixty round magazines. Change that I want three of the rifles and the Multicam TAPs with the H- harness and two connections to the panel.”
Five minutes later Tom and Robbie threw a heavy duffel bag each into the front of the Excursion with Robbie saying, “Tom drive careful and you have your Class III license with you, I hope. I would hate for you and yours to die in the Apocalypse because some rookie county cop decides he needs to give you a ticket and sees the duffels, thinking they are drugs then locks you up for a bunch of weapons violations and before Washington can get the bogus arrest fixed the bombs hit.”
Tom laughed and patted his billfold in his back left pocket and replied, “It is like clean under wear, I never leave home with them.” Starting the Excursion, he hit the button on the opener to open the gate. Waving at Robbie as he turned out of the drive to Robbie.
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Post by gipsy on Feb 18, 2024 19:38:39 GMT -6
Fine update. Thanks.
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Post by feralferret on Feb 18, 2024 23:44:22 GMT -6
223shootersc, thanks!. Great chapter.
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Post by kiwibutterfly on Feb 19, 2024 0:53:47 GMT -6
Thank you
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Post by iamnobody on Feb 19, 2024 9:50:22 GMT -6
Will Charley make it back in time to be their "doctor?"
How will the precious metal dealers fit into the picture.? Will Tom call them to alert them to the noon start?
This will require at least 200 more chapters to work out.
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Post by NCWEBNUT on Feb 20, 2024 0:38:48 GMT -6
Will Charley make it back in time to be their "doctor?"
How will the precious metal dealers fit into the picture.? Will Tom call them to alert them to the noon start?
This will require at least 200 more chapters to work out.
I like the way you are thinking, Yes much more chapters.
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Post by cavsgt on Feb 20, 2024 14:57:03 GMT -6
WOW just WOW!!!!!!!!!!! I am just in awe of your writing skills and the dump truck load of time you spend just gathering the background info. It is a good thing that we are retired as now there is time to appreciate your efforts.
As always THANK YOU for all of the effort producing these master pieces.
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Post by 223shootersc on Feb 20, 2024 15:10:30 GMT -6
WOW just WOW!!!!!!!!!!! I am just in awe of your writing skills and the dump truck load of time you spend just gathering the background info. It is a good thing that we are retired as now there is time to appreciate your efforts. As always THANK YOU for all of the effort producing these master pieces. Cavsgt,
I appreciate the kind words and you reading my meager attempt at putting words to paper. I started trying to write on a lark about seven plus years ago. Someone on another website put out a set of parameters and ask people to write a few pages. My efforts were appreciated and those first six pages turned into 957 pages and almost 290,000 words of "Time To Go To Work" and few other pieces including "The Horse' which I am trying to write now. Who new I was so full of words?
Thanks you and all for reading my work and I hope you enjoy!
223shootersc
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hunter77
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Post by hunter77 on Feb 20, 2024 16:06:32 GMT -6
Speaking of It's time to go to work. Get back to writing!! Can't wait to read more. Thank you for all your time and effort in entertaining us more hounds. I look forward to reading your work.
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dannab1
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Posts: 21
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Post by dannab1 on Feb 21, 2024 0:00:25 GMT -6
Been with you since the beginning! This one is a fine start!
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Post by 223shootersc on Mar 3, 2024 21:05:13 GMT -6
MOAR Hounds,
I will probably have a new chapter up by Wednesday or Thursday, work permitting. My work is wanting me to work more hours each week possibly another day. When I retired I told them I would be available for consultation and bidding of large projects about 8-10 hours a week. Well it started that way for a few weeks and then they asked me to up it to 12 or more each week. Now they want 8-10 more hours a week and still do a PM job when they need it full time. Retirement has not been what I imagined it to be. I might as well have stayed on full time. My apologies for the whining. Hope to get this chapter done and on the board by Wednesday. Hope you enjoy and comments are always appreciated!
223SHOOTERSC
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Post by gipsy on Mar 3, 2024 21:09:33 GMT -6
Hope they are paying you a bunch.
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Post by 223shootersc on Mar 6, 2024 19:20:05 GMT -6
MOAR Hounds,
As I had for warned earlier in the week, here is Chapter 7 for your reading pleasure. Hope you enjoy and comments are appreciated! Thanks for your support.
223shootersc
Chapter 7
Candace arrival back at the Sexton’s home was announced by Ruth’s new friend and protector, Sasha. The large dog barked three times in quick succession, as was her alert language per the long text from Gerrit. Ruth walked to the front of the house from the kitchen with the large Boerboel puppy at her side and looked through the front window in time to see Candace stopping her car in the driveway. Ruth’s first thought was how did the big puppy know that there was anyone at her home as she figured Candace could have no more than turned into their two-hundred-foot-long driveway when Sasha barked. The question in her mind was it smell or hearing or some combination. Ruth shrugged her shoulders and decided it did not matter the thing was she knew that someone was on the property. Ruth and Sasha went out the front door to see if Candace needed any help with the groceries.
Ruth pronounced her presence and released Sasha to water the lawn, saying, “Free…, hey Candace can I help you with the bags from the grocery store?” Candace bumped the passenger second door on the drivers’ side closed with her hip and lifted the two bags of groceries one in each hand in a show of not needing any help.
Candace then spoke, “Nah, what you can do is tell me if my brother has made it back home yet? Cause he read me the riot act about being back by six-thirty and I am here and the tik tok on my arm says it is six-twenty-four. I ask again where is my brother and he best make it here by six-thirty or he is going to have hell to pay. Mark my words.”
Ruth put her hands on her hips and replied, “He is on his way and should be pulling up any minute. Also, I am going to say this Candace in all honesty, just who in their right mind calls a ladies Rolex Perpetual a tik tok.”
Candace smiled at and exasperated sister-in-law and answered, “The only reason I wear this fancy Rolex is one of my clients gave it to mw when I made them a bunch of money. Another truth is even my mega rich client bought it from Rolex Certified Pre-Owned program. He thinks I do not know but his wife spilled the beans at one of her garden parties. This thing was like five years old when I got it. It is good for business, as most of my clients are into this type thing. The snobs expect me to dress a certain way or they will not work with me. If I am not dressing and playing the part of a broker with money and success, they will not trust me to make them money no matter how well I come recommended by their other rich friends. It is like a game I must play by their rules and they are set in stone. You ever heard the phrase the money makes the rules well it is true in my business. Which as you know my business is money.”
Ruth replied, “I will say you must be doing something right as I know how well you have done with our money.”
Candace put her hand to her mouth like she was trying to keep prying ears from hearing what she was about to ask and said, “Just between the two of us sisters where did my brother and your husband come up with eighty thousand dollars in cash. Did he sell drugs or something before you all met or is he selling them now?”
Ruth laughed and replied, “According to my loving husband, you know all those basketball tournaments he use to play in like every weekend and sometimes even late at night during the week. You know you and Jerry went a couple of times over to Charlotte with us for that weekend and we went to Carowinds on Sunday after him playing ball Friday night and all day on Saturday. If you remember he won some money for winning the tournament with his friends from Columbia and Charleston. According to him what the tournament pays to win is nothing really and I think the pay was five grand for the whole team and he got like eight hundred for the win. I think it was split like seven ways or something. Tom said that each game the five starters are playing and betting two to three hundred dollars per man every time they play. They played like eight or nine games that weekend and won them all. He says they do not always win but his team usually gets better odds because he is playing. Tom told me he started playing basketball for money in high school when he decided he wanted to concentrate on football. Tom told me that his body was built for football but he loved basketball better. Told me that even though he was good in football he was also very good in basketball just not tall enough to play professionally. Tom is a tweener according to him, to short to play in the post but to big and heavy to play guard. Says it is both an advantage and a curse as sometimes the big guys inside can shoot over him and the guards are too quick for him to guard. He told me that guards cannot guard him defensively either he is too strong and the big men he is quicker than them and can drive by them or take them outside and shoot jumpers. You know how tight he is, he told me that other than some we have spent on the house and some he spent on me when we were dating and since we have been married, he probably has not spent twenty percent of his winnings from all the way back in high school. Told me that at times he has bank rolled the whole team and got fifty percent of the money the others won.”
Candace looked surprised, “I knew Tom was good playing basketball when he was like in elementary school, junior high and I think he even played varsity as a ninth grader. I do not think he got to play much till the end of the season. When the coach finally let him play, he had a couple of games even as a ninth grader when he had like twenty plus points and led the team in rebounding. Then the next year he decided to give it up and concentrate on football after being told that he had a real future at University of South Carolina football camp in the summer. I remember the coach coming and talking to mom and dad about getting him to play. Never really thought about it since then. You know Tom, he sets his mind it ain’t changing.”
Ruth laughed as Sasha came back and sat down on her right hip and looked up at Candace. Ruth said, “Put out your hand and let him smell your hand Candace and she may even lick it. That is her way of getting to know you…. Sasha, friend.” Ruth pointed and the big puppy moved and smelt of Candace’s hand after she handed one of the bags to Ruth.
Candace looking she was about to be attacked by a ravenous Grizzly, tentatively held out her hand to the brindle marked baby monster. Sasha gently took her hand in her mouth and let it go just as gently and went back and sat down by Ruth’s side. Candace sighed and said, “She seemed gentle as a little kitten with my hand but I could feel the power in her jaws. Sasha could have taken my hand right off the arm, no doubt.”
Ruth petted the head of Sasha and said, “Good girl…. She was just letting you know that you are part of her pack. This breed is very protective of their family according to Gerrit.”
Tom drove through an eerily quiet Fountain Inn downtown heading towards home. Tom thought that even for the small town of Fountain Inn he would have thought that there would have been a little more traffic. As he turned onto Highway 418 the reason came back to him why there was not much traffic on main Street. Morgan Wallen, Jimmy Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Oliver Anthony were having a big concert at the CCNB Amphitheater right up the road in Simpsonville and they might have the road blocked off for through traffic. The thought of all that good music put a smile eon his face and her reached down and flipped on the radio. His radio was set for the best country music station in the Upstate of South Carolina. WSSL was the best channel and if he remembered correctly, they were the ones sponsoring the concert. The music came on immediately and it was a Tyler Childers song called ‘Whitehouse Road.’ About five minutes later he pulled into off Highway 418 and drove through the small patch of woods and up his driveway. Seeing Ruth and Candace standing by the Traverse he subconsciously looked at his watch to make sure he had beaten his self-imposed deadline of eighteen-thirty hours. Seeing that he had about three minutes by his watch he looked to the console to see the clock on the screen. The console clock read 6:28 and he smiled pulling into the garage and shut down the Excursion and headed to his two favorite ladies. Smiling to himself as he saw Sasha sitting regally by his wife, he had to mentally readjust his thoughts to his three favorite females. Getting out of the truck and heading to the ladies, Christen came into his view coming out the front door. Laughing a little to himself when his mind told him it was now his four best ladies counting Sasha.
Ruth heard him laugh and gave him an inquiring look. Tom said, “It was an inside joke and you had to be there for it to be funny. I hope Nat and Jerry have the grill going and you all are not waiting on me to cook. I am starving. I know we had that big breakfast but I missed lunch. Well, are they cooking or not.”
Ruth replied, “They are cooking, you know they are going to burn the dawgs and the burgers. Neither of them ever takes into consideration that the heat in the burgers keeps them cooking even after they come off the grill. Tom, go help them cook and take this beer with you. I know they are both wanting one by now and probably burning the meat. We only had a few left over from the trip and Christen and I had one and they had one each. I am guessing they have fought over the one that was left. Go help them.” Ruth handed the bag containing three six packs of Beck’s that Candace had bought. Tom took the bag and went back by the Excursion and set out both duffels from work. Picking up one of the bags he turned back to the four ladies and said, “Ruth can you bring this bag to the back when you come. It is the lighter one…, okay?”
Ruth replied, “Just leave both bags we will get them. Go help the guys. I am hungry too. Besides, I must peel, slice, and dice these onions for dawgs and burgers. Go, we got them.” Then blew him a kiss and turned back to Christen and Candace to finish the quick conversation they were having about Tom and the change they all three had noticed in him since they found out about the assassinations in Turkey.
Back at the R&D facility Robbie was back on the phone with Charlie and explaining to her that she needed to not stop for any other reason than gas. Robbie had road with Charlie a couple of times to conferences and to both Fort Gordon and Fort Jackson to do weapons instructions to soldiers and he knew that the hundred or so miles to Fort Jackson could involve two restroom stops for Charlie. Knowing that he said, “Charlie, if you have ever listened to an old man listen to what I am about to say….” Stopping for a moment and waiting on her to acknowledge what he had just told her. After a few moments of dead silence he continued, “Charlie, I am serious as a heart attack right now. Do not and I mean do not even think about stopping a hundred times to drain that pea sized bladder of yours. Are you listening?”
An exasperated Charlie replied, “I am listening but what difference does it matter how many times we stop. It is not like we are renting the car by the hour.”
Robbie said, “Listen Charlie and I mean it. If you are not inside this facility before zero eight hundred hours in the morning. I may never see your sweet young face again. That is how serious this getting back here to the plant by that time is to you and your life expectancy. Soldier, are you tracking the orders as delivered to you. Young lady before your sassy mouth over loads your derrière and you tell me you out rank me, think. Charlie, you do not out rank the boss and these orders are coming directly from him and he will be here to see if you are here by eight. Capeesh!”
Charlie with a trembling voice said, “Robbie you are scaring me and my friends. Is it really that important for me to be back or can I just wait and take a nap before I report.”
“Charlie, get rid of your rectal-cranial inversion and listen. If you are not here by the time explained, you might as well not worry about it and stop a hundred damn times to pee and then go to a beach somewhere in Florida or Georgia, take some beers and watch the sun come up over the Atlantic. Because, sweet girl it is going to be the last one ever for you and your friends better enjoy it to the utmost. Now again soldier, I ask are you tracking the orders or should we just say our goodbyes right now. As I have work to do in preparation of events that are on the docket for tomorrow and do not have time to waste,” Robbie languished. Thinking that energy and exuberance were sometimes wasted on the young because they thought they were going to live forever and Charlie was usually one that was not in that category. Robbie wondered if some First Sergeant had thought the same thoughts about him in years gone by. Smiling and remembering a few dressings down he had gotten in his first few years in service before he got his shit squared away. Robbie was broken from his reverie.
Charlie replied, “Lieutenant Colonel, head has been removed from ass and I am tracking on orders. Peddle to metal, running pit stops for fuel only if needed and pee in the bottle or britches if needed to make described timeline or should I say deadline. Do not tarry and come straight to the facility. Do I bring present company or just let them drop me off and take the vehicle, sir.”
Robbie thought for a moment and decided in for a penny might as well be in for a pound. Robbie replied, “Bring cargo to home base, do not elaborate on work place, and will keep upstairs till decision time and then make the decision. Copy?”
Charlie answered, “Copy. Deliver self and package to home base and wait for directions from senior manager. The Cadillac is being floored as we speak and from the vehicle’s computer, we will need to make no more than two stops and will be there in plenty of time. Computer says ETA arrival time zero seven hundred hours at present speed and I am taking it up fifteen miles per hour to ninety. GPS system is also showing no traffic problems all the way to Daytona on Interstate 95 north. Clear sailing. See ya in the morning teddy bear and have me some breakfast ready for me and my amigos. Charlie out.” The line went dead in Robbie’s ear before he could acknowledge, the action did bring a quick smile to the warrior’s soul.
Back off Feaster Road Gerrit was sitting at his desk in the front lobby when Petrus came walking out of the back putting his phone in his right front leg pouch on his Duluth pants. Gerrit looked up as he had heard the door from the back open and said, “Brother, I thought you had fell in my man. Did you get any news from our friends in Amsterdam or Pretoria? I hope you were able to find out something and maybe confirm some intelligence I just received from Candace’s client during the big sale. I think it may have been our biggest walk-in cash sale ever.”
Petrus said, “What king of intel could you have gotten from anyone Candace knows. All her clients are blowhards. Everyone of them thinks that they are superior to us because we are from the African continent or maybe even South Africa. The other thing where is Sasha? I called and called for her and she was nowhere to be found in the back. I figured she was up here with you? It is not like her not to come for a treat.”
Gerrit smiled and answered, “Dear Sasha has a new home. She went with our buyer and his wife. The buyer was Ms. Candace’s brother and I might add other than being a little feisty like Candace, straight up and wired for speed. I am guessing high speed low drag operator at one time. Definitely in the know and not a want-a-be. He was as alert as a long-tailed cat at rocking chair convention as the good old boys around here say. Kept me on his right hand every minute that he was here and did not mind that he knew that he was packing. Even went so far to make sure I knew, not in a threatening way but out of professional courtesy.”
Petrus pulled at his ear, a sure sign to his brother Gerrit that he was intrigued. Then asked, “Okay, you have enthralled me with talk of American bad boys. Did he have any new info to add or confirm what we already knew?”
Gerrit replied, “His timeline is quicker than what our contacts have conveyed. Tom’s intelligence says no later than around midday tomorrow. Our contacts thought we had another day at least. We exchanged telephone numbers and I told him if we came upon more info we would share. Brother, did you get any more info, I ask again that we might need to share with our new friend?”
Petrus quickly answered, “Definitely matches what our friends in Amsterdam told me. Pretoria thought it might be earlier in the morning. But you did say that he told you noon at the latest as I recall. The source confirmation is good enough for me. I am going to get the wife and my boy and bring them back here. I guess that bunker that we had installed in the basement is going to be a worthwhile investment after all, brother. I am glad I gave in to your paranoia and humored you during the re-modeling of this place when we bought the building.”
Gerrit laughed a big belly laugh and said, “Gave in to my paranoia is not the way I remember it big brother. I think you lost the shooting match bet and the bunker was my prize. Go get your family. I will be right here closing the shop and getting all our inventory into the safe. I will be breaking out a few party favors and some long guns and sending the rest of the crew home with a small cash bonus and tell them to find a hole and get down it for at least a week. I am going to call Tom and tell him that our info confirms his and see if he has any new updates. While you are out pick us up some big Porterhouse steaks from Whole Foods, they have the best grain fed beef in the area. Get us some baking potatoes and stuff for a salad I will cook and we will enjoy a good meal. You know just in case. I am thinking the Havanna Romeo y Julieta Churchills and a bottle Woodford Reserve for after dinner. Sound good?”
“A twenty-ounce Porterhouse steak medium rare a good cigar and fine bourbon sounds like a plan. Cuban cigars, American bourbon and beef a combination that is hard to beat anywhere in the world. I think I will go pick up Aletta and Bram. We should be back within an hour and half. Brother have the grill hot and ready to cook. I am already tasting that steak.” Petrus walked back through the door he had entered the front and headed to his Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro 4X4 parked inside the building. Getting into the 4Runner he started the SUV and reached up and hit the remote clipped to his visor to open the bay doors and headed out towards the front gate hitting another button on his key fob to open the gate. It was still rolling open when he went through the gate and hit another button to close the gate as he blew onto Feaster heading towards his home in the Thornblade Country Club subdivision. Pushing one of the buttons on his steering wheel and calling his wife to get her to pack them all a couple of bags of clothing. Getting his wife of over twenty years on the phone he explained that they were going to spend a few nights at the shop. A code word to tell his wife who he had met working in the South African military that the world was no longer safe and they were going to ground. Aletta replied, “Petrus, our go bags are already packed do you want additional clothing and travel supplies?”
Petrus replied, “Yes, pack us each at least two bags each. I think you would probably want to go into your closet and get your favorite carry accessories, you know leather handbags and all. Tell Bram he will want his special leather school back pack and make sure it has all of his books and magazines for some heavy reading. If you have time also order us a half dozen Porterhouse steaks from Whole Foods, with potatoes for baking, some salad stuff and a cake or something if you want one. Probably need to throw in a couple cases of Mountain Dew for Bram. Tell them I will be there to pick it up in thirty minutes and if they have it ready for pickup when i get there I will give them a fifty-dollar tip. Have them be waiting out by the front door with the order, if they want the extra tip. I will see you in about forty-minutes.”
Aletta answered, “I only have one problem with all that Petrus. Bram is over at Angela’s house having supper with her family. You and I know both our boy is not going to leave. What should I do?”
Petrus said, “Get him on the phone and give him the code word and tell him he can bring her. Tell him to tell her we have some business that came up suddenly. Tell her we are going to Atlanta for a few days and going to see the Braves and Stone Mountain before they blow up the Confederate Memorial Carving of President Jefferson Davis, Generals Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson at the end of the year. She needs to pack for at least three days if she is going with us to Atlanta and we are leaving within the hour.”
Aletta laughed and replied, “Her parents are never going to let her go. Heck, they think we are blood thirsty heathens. They will not even let her come over to our house with Bram. There is no way she is going to be able to go and Bram may act a fool.”
Petrus thought for a moment and said, “Tell Bram to bring her with him to the clubhouse or to our house. Tell her parents they are going to the Clubhouse to hang out with friends and swim. Then they then they can follow us in Bram’s truck. We will ask for forgiveness tomorrow or the next day if we need to. I think that plan might work. How about you?”
Aletta truthfully answered, “Petrus, I hate the lie. I do think that plan has a lot better chance of working than the truth. Drive careful, I need to get started…. See ya in a few. Love ya.” The line went dead as Petrus took the off-ramp from Interstate 85 onto Pelham Road heading towards Whole Foods to pick up supper. Deciding that he was going to give them a couple of extra Silver Krugerrand for the tip and a word to make themselves small tomorrow. That tip if followed would be worth more than the silver and the greenbacks. Just how could he tell someone that was probably oblivious to world events that the world was going to end tomorrow without sounding like a fool or conspiracy lunatic. Smiling he thought most of America has been so brain washed by the liberal media and the education system that it was probably a lost cause. Petrus was presently surprised when the young lady said, “You think the Russians are going to do something stupid. I told my friend Bonnie that they were going to attack us just this morning. She thinks I am a nut job. My Mom and Dad home schooled me and she thinks I am the one who was brain washed, ain’t that a hoot. Thank you for the silver and the fifty dollars can I ask you a question. Can I trade you the fifty-dollar bill back and get it in silver also?” Looking like she hoped she handed just bit the hand that was feeding her and offended the giver.
Petrus gave a laugh and said, “I like your style young lady. I tell you what I have three more one-ounce pieces here in my console and you can have all three and I think they worth about fifty plus dollars this morning. I think they will be worth four times that by this time tomorrow and you can keep the fifty. Buy some food, dry beans, rice, and popcorn. You have all that here in the store, get some lard and bouillon cubes for flavor. If you have enough money buy some canned chicken, tuna, and salmon….” Reaching into his pocket for his money clip he handed the young lady all the cash he had in his clip. It was only a couple of hundred dollars but it might make a difference. Petrus thought he could not personally save the world but he might save this one young Greenville native. The young lady looked like she was going to burst with joy. The young girl just kept telling him Thank You. Finally, he concluded about saving one young girl and handed her one of his business cards.
Petrus said, “I know you do not know me but and this might sound like I am a pervert or something. Do you have your own car or a way to get over to Woodruff Road before first light in the morning the address to my business is on the card. Something bad is happening tomorrow and I have the ability to house you through the bad times that are coming.”
The young lady replied, “I take the bus to and from work. I have a drivers license but no wheels and I would not even try to take my bike all the way to Woodruff Road. Oh sir, I can tell you are a good person, maybe a hard person and may have done some hard things. You are a good person at heart though, not like my foster parents. I am just a meal ticket to them and it gets worse everyday because when I turn eighteen, I am going to college, the state will pay for it and I am leaving them the day I turn eighteen. They know they are losing the monthly check that the state pays for them keeping me.” She looked at her watch and said, “Can I go with you now or do I need to but the groceries? If I can I will go clock out as my shift ended about three minutes ago. If not, could you come back in about ten to fifteen minutes from now and pick me up.”
Petrus said, “I will be back in about thirty minutes or so and have my wife and son with me. Be standing right here with your groceries and we will pick you up. That work for you?”
Jane Casey squealed, “Yes, thank you. Yes! I will be right here waiting for you to come back. Thank you again. I know GOD sent you to answer my prayers of release from the home situation that I am living. By the way my name is Jane Casey and I awfully glad that I received the blessing of filling your order tonight. By what do I call you, sir.”
Petrus laughed at the precocious young lady and pleasantly replied, “Ms. Jane Casey may I assure you that the blessing tonight is all mine. My name is Petrus Fourie and later tonight you will get to meet my wife Alletta, my son Bram, and my little brother Gerrit. Now, I need to go and pick up my wife and son, we are on a tight schedule tonight and we must make another stop before coming back here to pick you up and get back to our place of business. Do not leave, I will be back withing the hour for sure. See you in a moment Ms. Jane Casey.” Rolled his window up on the 4Runner and left the grocery store and his new young ward standing in front of the store watching him drive away. Jane turned as the SUV left the parking lot and went back into the store and punched the time clock and walked into the store and grabbed a cart. She would get the list of things that Mr. Fourie had advised her to get. She also went by the small clothing section and placed ten pair of socks, ten pairs of panties, and the three bras the store had in her size in the cart. She also bought two hoodies and a pair of jeans that she would normally not think of buying as they were Dickies. After placing the clothes in her cart, she went and bought some personal lady hygiene and toiletry items. The young lady who had been forced to buy her own clothes and any extra nutrition she needed since she was thirteen had been running a tab in her head as she put the items in her cart. She did this to make sure she had the money to pay for the items. Her running tally told her she had about forty-dollars left of the money she had before meeting Mr. Fourie and what he had given her as a tip. Figuring there may be no tomorrow she went back and got another pair of the Dickies and a three pack of men’s T-shirts. She picked out a 3-pack of Hanes that had three different colored T-shirts. The shirts were a dark slate gray maybe black, a navy blue and a forest green from what she could tell looking through the plastic package. Then she started making her way towards the counter and check-out deciding that she was going to hold onto one of the bras till she the end to make sure she was not short on funds. Going to the counter that her friend Bonnie was working at Jane waited in line for a young mother with three small stair step children and a buggy full of groceries to check out. While she waited, she made funny faces at the young boy holding onto his mother’s leg. Finally, she was able to start putting her groceries and personal items on the counter. Bonnie looked at her with a confused smile and asked, “Jane, did you rob a bank or what? I have never seen you buy more than twenty to thirty dollars’ worth of stuff at any one time, even when we got that small bonus about six-months ago. What’s up girl? I said spill it.”
Jane said, “I just got a big tip like three-hundred-dollars from the rush pickup order, that I filled. He not only gave me a big tip he gave me some confirmation information….”
Jane lowered her voice where only Bonnie could hear their conversation she continued, “Do you remember what we were talking about at break? He confirmed that it is happening probably tomorrow. That is why I am buying all this stuff. Money might not be any good by even tomorrow. I would do the same thing that I am doing if I was you before closing time tonight.”
Bonnie had been checking items and putting them in bags the whole time they had been talking. Almost at a loss for words she asked, “What…? Are you crazy and even if you are not how do you plan on getting all this stuff home and keeping your Foster’s from taking it from you? They do it when you just have a little bit, they will take all of this you know they will. What are you going to do hide it under the house? You better have something to put all that rice, beans, and stuff in because it will draw rats and they will eat through the plastic in like one second flat.”
Jane thinking on her feet, which she had learned and mastered as a foster child with foster parents that did not really care for her well-being. Jane replied, “I am going to take a Uber. I would never try to take all this on the bus. That would be stupid on major scale. It would be like asking for a beat down and giving your stuff away on purpose. I have those totes that I got from the Phys. Ed. Teacher that she was going to throw away. My plan was to put the stuff in them and under the house. By the time I get home, the Foster’s will be deep in the bottle and smoke. Bonnie heck, you know them. The two of them and their worthless friends probably started at lunch time today with it being Labor Day and all. They will not even realize that I am home and hiding this stuff right under their nose.”
Jane laughed like she was going to pull the biggest caper or wool over her Foster’s eyes ever. The truth was she had just told her friend a convenient lie and she did not like telling her best friend the untruth. Deciding or justifying to her self that it was the best of all the options. Jane knew that Bonnie would want to talk her out of going with Mr. Fournie but that was not going to happen. Besides she was a black belt in Judo and had been on the school boys wrestling team for a couple years until she could not make a weight that she could compete with boys. Besides she had her two knives that she had started daily carrying a couple of years back. The Eafengrow EF 123 fixed blade that she had found in the Whole Foods parking lot one afternoon after her shift walking to the end of the parking lot and the bus stop. Jane originally just kept the knife because she thought it was cute with the Sea Foam green handle and pointy blade. Her Judo instructor had told her about Kali Eskrima when she had asked him about knife fighting martial arts at one of her weekly sparring sessions. Looking it up on the Internet she found some instructional videos that had knife fighting katas and she had started studying and performing the movements on the video. This study and Internet searches had brought to her attention the dual knife fighting styles of Krav Maga. She had purchased from Amazon another Eafengrow product as she liked the knife, she had looking on Amazon she found a folder with a four plus inch spear point lock blade. The EF was in her price range as the list price was twenty-five dollars and ninety-nine cents but Amazon had a twenty percent discount code with free shipping so she ordered the knife using her debit card. It was not pretty like her fixed blade because the Micarta scales were only offered in what she thought was manly colors. The three offered colors were of an Army green, a puke brown and even uglier black. She picked the Army green as it was the least sickening color for a teenage girl. Jane carried her fixed blade in a horizontal small of the back for her left dominant hand draw and her lock blade clipped to her front jeans pocket. Her sparring with her Judo sensei with rubber sparring knives had shown him that most people would not want to back Jane into a corner or back alley and try to take advantage of her. Jena usually marked him within the first thirty seconds of any sparring session.
As Jane was waiting outside the Whole Foods with her cart of food and personal items and thanking the good Lord for the blessings, she had received this day. At the home of the Sexton’s the three couples were enjoying burgers, hot dawgs, cold beer, and the fellowship that only friends and family can over such plain everyday events. Tom got up from his chase lounge and walked across the raised patio and into the house through the back door into the kitchen. Tom was on a mission to retrieve a jar of the corn for the guys and one of the Apple Pie for the ladies. It was his thinking that it was going to take more than a couple off German beers and some good food for the tale he was about to tell his friends and relatives. Walking into the kitchen he opened the large commercial grade stainless vertical freezer that sat beside the matching refrigerator. Opened the door and removed the two bottles of shine and headed back outside carrying the nectar to his wife and company. When he got back out to the deck, he handed the Apple Pie to Candace and the white lightning to Nat and said, “Y’all pour everyone a couple of fingers of their choosing. Nat I will have the corn…” Nat opened the Mason jar and started pouring the shine into tumblers for himself, Tom, and Jerry after completing the three pours he asked, “Any of you ladies want some of this are you going to have desert?”
All three ladies showed Nat that they already had glasses with the Apple Pie in them, as Nat handed the filled glasses to Jerry and Tom. Tom raised his glass to the others and said, “A toast, too all within my voice. I love you all.” After completing the toast and everyone acknowledging the toast and taking some small and some large swallows, Tom started his tale.
Tom said, “You have all known me for some time. Some longer that others like my sister Candace….” Pointing to his sister with his glass and acknowledging look.
“Others like my dear wife Ruth know me completely and make me a better person. Jimmy, you are a dear friend and brother-in-law and have seen me at my best and at my worst. Nat and Christen, you have known me the shortest amount of time, what three years now. I have said all this to say I am about to drop a bombshell on you all and I need you to be paying attention. Please let me finish and I will try to answer your questions after I finish. I guess I probably need to start kinda at the beginning. Not the biblical beginning, like God creating everything from a void. I will go back till when I got out of the service. Shortly after my leaving the service I married my beautiful wife and we moved back to this area. Then my sister and Jerry became one not to long after that. Which brought Nat into the family as the brother of my brother and then his wife Christen. Now that we have the chronology started, I can get to the gist of what I need to tell you all and explain the situation we find ourselves facing….” Reaching over and picking up his beer he took a long swallow, sat the bottle back down on the chase and continued.
“The truth is I never really got out of the service. I did get a discharge from the Army on paper. My service continued, with me being recruited to join the CIA and be able to stay in the service of my country. My job at the chemical plant is just a cover for my real job with the CIA. Before anybody gets any crazy ideas, I am not a James Bond type agent. My actual title is Special Agent but that is just a title. I do not do any kind of intelligence work except on a rare occasion I am asked to review and analyze something about weapons, ballistics, or something do with shootings, not the shootings themselves but to figure out the type of weapon used or the angle of the shot. You know things to do with weapons and their usage. I do work at the plant and I am the Operations Manager just like all of you know. That activity is usually less than five hours of my week. The rest is spent in the subterranean basement of the facility. I manage a team of anywhere from eight full time resident agents to sometimes as many as twenty agents brought in to complete a task on time. Now, that I have your attention. What I am about to say is not to be repeated under any circumstances, ever. Nod your heads if you understand.”
Candace said, “What a bunch of horse crap, how much did you drink while you were at work this afternoon? I cannot believe my own brother would stand up in front of us and tell a ball faced lie and expect us to believe it.” Tom held his hands up in defense to hopefully bring his little sister under control before she got on her soap box and started ranting and raving.
Ruth came to her husband’s defense and said, “Candace enough. Tom started this tale with the preface that it was going to be hard to believe. Tom told me a little while we were in the mountains and a little more when he produced a bunch of money from nowhere. The other things I am going to say about the situation that may lend some credence is this. How many people do you know that have a satellite phone and another phone for work that can go encrypted? He has both and carries them all the time. I always thought that it was weird that someone who worked in a plant had to be available all the time and anywhere. Now I know. I hope that satisfies you Candace and helps all the rest with Tom’s story. Tom please continue, I for one am all ears.”
Tom took a deep breath, smiled, and nodded in appreciation of his wife’s support. Reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out the six temporary Class III firearms permits that Robbie had prepared and signed for him before he left. “Okay, if my words are not believable, maybe my actions will be. I am going to ask a question and if anyone knows the answer please speak up. The question is this, what is a Class III firearms license?”
Nat raised his hand like a teacher’s pet in grammar school class and said, “I do, I do. Tom among other things it is a license to possess and carry an automatic weapon. They are very hard to obtain unless you are a professional bodyguard, police officer, FBI or work for some other three letter agency. Not impossible if you have enough political clout and or money can probably get one issued to you.” Finished he was smiling like he had just won the World Series or Super Bowl.
Tom grinned at Nat and said, “Pretty good explanation, I could not have done any better and probably not as good….” Tom walked over and handed the six laminated cards to Nat and said, “Okay Nat take a minute and look at what I just handed you and tell me what you think about them. Take all the time you need but not all night we have more ground to cover.”
Nat started looking at the card on top of the deck he had been given, then turned it over and quickly read the small print on the back. When he completed the back of the first card he quickly rummaged through the other five cards and with an astonished look on his face, blurted out, “Holy crap…, Tom just handed me a half dozen Class III firearms temporary licenses and they are signed and look like the ones they showed us in the CCW firearms class I took for my Utah CCW license. They also name Tom Sexton specifically as the person in charge of the cards and show his license number and his phone number to call for verification. These things are like gold, they do not grow on trees. Tom my next question is can I have one, because I think they are real for sure.”
Tom grinned and replied, “Yeah…, Nat you can have one and there should be one for everyone sitting here tonight and one extra. Please hand them out and give me the extra one you have left over. To all of you that get these, do not, I repeat do not lose them. It is a federal offense to transfer these and loss if not reported immediately is considered transfer. Candace, I hope you are beginning to trust what I am saying now. If not please do not take the license when Nat gets around to you with yours.”
Jerry spoke saying, “Can I have mine even if Candace does not want hers? I know what these things are worth and how hard they are to get. How long are they good for and can they be renewed and if they can will you help me get it done?” Jerry had not taken a breath the whole time he was asking questions. Finished speaking Jerry sucked in a big gulp of air like he had just finished running a four by four-hundred-meter relay leg and passed the baton.
Tom smiled at his brother-in-law and felt a little sorrow for him being married to his sister and replied, “Jerry, yeah, no problem. Except if Candace refuses to take the card she will be on her own and will not be privy to the rest of the information I am about to tell everyone. I guess that applies to all of you. I guess I assumed everyone would want to hear what I have to say and to offer. Cart before the horse on my part.”
“Let me ask this. Nat I am guessing you want the card and to hear the rest of my spiel and what I am going to offer, am I right?” Nat turned and looked with a big smile and just nodded his affirmation to Tom.
“I am going to warn you now so as there is no going back or unhearing the info I have to say after this point. Once you hear it you are locked in and must follow my orders or the orders of my surrogates from this time forward. I will add that sounds like I am being a dictator, I know Candace. I have your best interest in heart and that is for all of you. Anybody want to leave now, there will be no hard feelings and I guess that even applies to you Ruth. I hope you trust me more than that, not going to take any more chances.” Ruth got up and walked over beside where Tom was standing and put her arms around him and planted a small kiss on his cheek in answer.
“I will take that as a yes form my loving wife. Anybody else have any question or want to bow out now?” Tom looked straight to his sister for any rebuttal but was surprised as she had nothing to add.
Just as he was about to continue, Christen asked, “I only have one question and I think I know the answer. When you have been slipping away to talk to your supposed friends were you talking to someone at your work and was that why we left the mountains in such a hurry as you found out something bad was going to happen? Just asking. Either way Nat and I are all in as old Dabo from over where it stinks would say.”
Tom answered, “Christen it is a complicated answer. For the sake of time, I am going to say I was speaking to an old friend, who I knew before I knew any of you except Candace. He does work for the same group as me, just not in the same office. He works at the Puzzle Palace near DC. The second part is we did leave on his advice and the info he was able to deliver over the phone. He sent me a secure package of data to my work and that is what I went to see. Does that answer your question, Ms. Christen?”
Christen smiled and asked, “Do you all need another drink before Tom finishes the rest of his tall tale. I am not going to lie; I need a double and another beer myself. Now how about it, any takers. Besides me, because I am getting me another drink and a beer whether you all do or not.”
Tom answered, “That sounds like a plan. Who wants beer?” Tom walked to the cooler and after a show of hands all the guys wanted one. Christen and Ruth wanted another piece of apple Pie but not a beer. After the drinks and beers were handed out, Tom walked back to where he had been standing before opened his beer took a swallow and started again.
“Gang, keeping this short and sweet. We have a lot to do and a little time to make it all happen. The reason being is some facsimile of the SHTF scenario or World War III is starting no later than noon eastern daylight savings time tomorrow. Possibly as early as daylight tomorrow morning. Yes, I am talking Nuclear, Biological and Chemical bombs raining on American soil and us retaliating same, same. No one knows what the Russian Army will do and who else will fall in line with them and who will follow our lead. Once the NBC genie is let out of the bottle, it is going to be a free for all to join in and pay off old scores. India and Pakistan will throe their best at each other, the North Koreans are already sitting and waiting to cross the border to the south. All the middle east will be a mess and Israel will be attacked for sure. By who and whom is the question on that issue. Where the Chinese will fall is probably like usual serving their own interest and attacking Japan and Taiwan. They will probably attack both us and Russia with weapons of mass destruction as people like to call them. Who know with them. They are going to attack though, no doubt and may be part of the Russian attack.”
At this point everyone was trying to speak at the same time, Tom raised his hands and in his battlefield Command voice he yelled, “Quiet!” It had the desired effect on his extended family and you could hear the compressor on the AC kick in for emphasis.
Tom said, “Thanks. Now for the good news. We have a place to stay and it will be safe or as safe as you can be without being at the NORAD Cheyenne Mountain facility in Colorado when the ballon goes up. The place where I work is underground and is set up for sustainability in times of war. Now before you all start asking a bunch of questions. We need a plan to be at site no later than midnight.” Tom looked at his watch and saw that it was almost nine o’clock.
“That gives us a little over two and a half hours before we need to leave for my work. Because it takes a good fifteen -eighteen minutes without any holdups. No reason to think there might be traffic problems but we do have that big concert right down the road that might be letting out about that time. I am glad I thought of that we probably need to leave here by eleven, just to be safe. Now Jerry and Candace if you need anything from your house, you all need to leave right now and meet us at my work. Jerry, I know you know where it is located. Remember this in your choices. If all my people show up, they have a place to stay and room is limited. I am thinking three bags tops and any long-term food you have, like dried beans, can goods, rice, that kind of stuff. Not your collection of Barbie Dolls little Sis. I would think about maybe some winter clothes and possibly bed linen and blankets. We already have the cots from our camping trip and your sleeping bags. They are going to get old in a hurry using them all the time and not being able to get them out in the sun and washed as often as needed.”
Jerry said, “I am guessing we need our weapons and ammo, right.” Looking to Tom for leadership and an answer.
Tom looked to Ruth and asked, “Where the two bags from the Excursion?”
Ruth put her hand over her mouth and answered, “Sorry. They are still laying where you put them down beside the Excursion. I forgot to get them we were talking and Nat stuck his head in the kitchen door and told us the food was ready and I forgot all about them. I will be right back, if you need them right now.”
Tom said, “Everybody stay put I will be right back.” Turning and leaving the others standing and wondering how much their lives had changed in the last few days and especially in the last few hours. Deep down though they were wondering if this time tomorrow they would be alive and able to wonder how much more their lives were going to change. In what seemed like just a blink of an eye Tom was back and sat down the two bags by his feet and bent down and opened the two duffels.
Nat the curious cat, went over and squatted down beside the bag on Tom’s left side and opened the zipper. Nat never a loss for words found himself completely tongue tied as if a magician had cast a spell of silence on him. The bag he opened had three things of pure metallic beauty. The three suppressed H&K 416 SBRs were laying in the bottom of the bag and on each side was some type of load bearing equipment for each rifle with six mags in place. Finally, the spell broke and he regained his ability to communicate his thoughts. At that, the only thing he could say was, “Do these have beautiful baby’s fun switches…? Do I get one and is that why we need the Class III licenses?” Still with a look that bordered on either ecstasy or psychosis, Jerry nor Tom could tell. Nat had his back to the ladies and it was probably a good thing, they might have went running for the streets.
Tom smiled down as his slobbering friend and replied, “Yes, you get one and the LBE to match. The TAP panels have been modified and will hold six magazines, with each being Surefire sixty rounders. I will explain it all late pull one of those SBRs out and give it to Jerry. Candace and him need to get headed towards their place, they have an almost forty-five-minute drive to their place off Augusta Road downtown and almost that much back to my work. Time is not on their side. Jerry, get over here and get this rifle and I have something else for you let me get it out of my bag.” Reaching down into the other duffel he pulled out the third of the three Staccato XL pistols that were in the bag. The pistol was in an outside the waist band kydex holster and had a matching belt holster holding three magazines for the pistol.
Jerry walked over and Tom handed him the pistol and the magazine carriers and said, “The weapon is loaded with one in the chamber and on safe. It has a twenty-round magazine up the shoot. The other three magazines are two of the twenty-six round variety and the other is a twenty-round mag like the one in the well. The rifle is a 5.56 X 45mm H&K 416 SBR and you have seven sixty round SureFire magazines to feed the carbine. Nat and I will get our rifles and gear out of the duffel and you can place yours back in the bag. It is loaded, just need to charge the weapon and fire. If I was you since you have never fired a fully automatic weapon, I would not turn the fun switch on as Nat refereed to the automatic selector switch on the rifle safety. Semi-auto ought to do just fine for tonight. Not many people have any idea what is going own, so I do not think you will run into any trouble. You good? If you are, get Candace and go. Brother, I will see you in less than two hours. Do not be late. I repeat do not be late. Now get on the road and do not drive over the speed limit and have that license ready if you get stopped. Do not show it to them unless they want to search your car. Remember they cannot search your car without your permission or a warrant. Just say no on the requested search. It will make them mad but they will get over it.” Jerry had placed the pistol and holster on his belt strong side and the magazine carrier on his weak side as Tom had been giving him the instructions on his weapons. When Tom finished, Jerry said, “Come on Candace we gotta go. Now!” Tom smiled at Jerry as he was thinking that all the weapons and war talk had evidently made Jerry’s balls drop and it was a better look for his brother-in-law or so it would seem. Candace got in the Traverse and they were gone.
Tom looked over to Nat and said, “Nat if you fondle that rifle anymore Christen is going to leave you. Put it back in the duffel and come here and help me. Christen, can you come over here? I have presents for you. I am sure you will not be as aroused as your husband; they are nice though. I have a brace of PSA 5.7 Rock pistols and a dozen or so magazines. Best my armorer / master gunsmith and I could come up with on short notice was a week side kydex horizontal carry shoulder holster and a OWB Carbon fiber for strong side carry. There is a problem with that as both would need to be drawn with your right and dominant hand. We were able to find a four-magazine carrier that should fit under your week side holster on your belt. Nat, please get the gear out of the bag and help he with her new toys. There is also nylon webbing belt with carbon fiber staves to make it sturdy enough. Christen, I am going to apologize for the belt in advance for the size. Trust me, I do not think you need a waist size thirty-four belt. It is the smallest one we had in out inventory. I know it is going to be too big, we will just have to make it work and remember gun belts are usually at least one size bigger than your regular belt size and I wear two sizes bigger than my waist size. You know for those days I have two double chili-hamburgers from the Beacon.” Laughing at Christen’s look of awe and disgust of anybody eating two of those big burgers, much less two doubles. Knowing that the few times they had been to the Beacon with Tom and Ruth she had brought home a half of her sandwich and sometimes even part of the first half. She did this not because she did not like the food but because the sandwiches were humongous and delicious.
Nat started pulling the gear for his wife out of the duffel looking to make sure it was the matching gear for the two pistols Tom had given his wife to hold while he was talking. After pulling about a dozen of the twenty-three round magazines out of the bag. He pulled out what looked to be a pair of drop leg carriers holding extended magazines. Pulling one of the magazines out of the carrier and removing the top round he saw it was a 5.7 X 25mm bullet. Nat asked, “Tom, what are these extended magazines loaded with the five-seven bullets far they look more like something for a sub gun or a PDW. They look way to bulky for a pistol. I think it would make the balance hard to deal with, as far a s accurate shooting.”
Tom smiled and said, “People we have a winner, hold your tickets for confirmation….” Smiled at his friend and reached over into the inside pocket of the duffel holding the rifles and pulled out the PSA x5.7 PDW and handed it to Nat. Who took the H& K M-5 looking PDW and said one word, “Cool” as he stared and turned the small PDW around in his hands to get a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view. Then said, “I did not even think these were in production, yet. I know they have been talking about them for a while even had a prototype at the Shot Show in 2024 and said probably the first quarter of 2025 for them to be for sale. It did not or has not happen as far as I know.”
Tom grinned and replied, “They have not been made for sale to the public as of even today. Government contracts have taken all their capacity producing these things with a fifteen-thousand-unit order by the IRS, another twenty-thousand-unit order by Homeland Security and another order of five thousand by the Air Force for their pilot SERE kits. My unit did the QC checks for the original order for each of the government contracts. The x5.7 PDW worked great with the original twenty-three round magazines. PSA had to redesign the forty-rounders to meet the mil-spec requirements of the contracts. The first magazines were good they just barely missed the qualification standard. If it had of been a civilian contract it would have passed muster, I am almost certain. We keep all the weapons unless the company specifically ask for them back and per our contracts, they are required send us new replacements for the ones we ship back for any future testing requirements. PSA always wants their tested weapons back to perform their own analysis of them after the torture test. That is one has only had enough rounds through it to assure its functionality. Before you ask that one is for your lovely wife, to match her pistols. Do not be sad, you have new toys.”
Ruth asked in her most demure voice, “Did I get anything, Big T?” Tom answered by reaching an pulling her into his arms and giving her a kiss that she felt down to her toes. After breaking the kiss he answered, “Yeah, and you will get the rest of it tonight.” Then gave her a wolf-en grin.
As Nat and Christen were getting her familiar with her new weapons, at the Whole Foods back across the county, Jane was almost in a panic thinking Petrus was not going to come and pick her up as he had promised. Petrus was held up because his son Bram did not want to come with him and his mother, due to his girlfriend not wanting to disobey her parents. Petrus finally said, “Bram, we gave you the code word, even before we knew she would not come. I know you are a very smart young man and know we would never use that word without it being necessary. Best case this time tomorrow night I will buy you and your girl dinner anywhere you want to go. Worst case is this time tomorrow she is dead and you are missing her deeply but are alive and with your family. Our info is confirmed by three different governments, not only South Africa and the Netherlands, we also got confirmation from American sources just this afternoon.” Bram finally decided to come with his mother and father if they would let him drive his own vehicle and he could leave if nothing had happened by five o’clock tomorrow afternoon.
Petrus told him they had to stop by the Whole Foods store and pick up a package to take to the store. Bram had argued that he wanted to go straight to the warehouse and not stop by the grocery store. Petrus and Aletta had decided to hedge their bet and let him drive on to the warehouse with Aletta riding with him in his truck. They had left the clubhouse with Bram pulling away before Petrus as he had pulled into the drive and had Petrus blocked by his truck. Petrus looked down at his watch and hoped that Jane was not as petulant as his son and was still waiting for him even though he was way passed the deadline he had given her. Pulling out of the driveway he pushed the accelerator down with a renewed sense of urgency. Petrus spoke to GOD and ask him to watch over the young lady and give her patience to wait.
Jane looked for the twenty-eleventh time at her Seiko 5 Sports Automatic Blue Dial ladies watch she had found at the local Pawn Shop still in its original case for eighty-five dollars and bought it for seventy dollars all in tax included from the shop owner. The local shop owner knew her foster parents and always tried to help the young hard-working young lady out. She had been coming into his shop for a few years to buy some small items for herself and her friends for presents. A pair of small gold hoop earrings which she wore all the time, a silver bracelet that her friend had on when she came in with Jane one time. Another time Jane had been looking for a cheap glue gum and a battery-operated drill for a craft project she was working on and her foster dad would not let her use his tools. The owner had sold her the best he had in the shop for the price he had in the tools. The owner did not want her to know he was helping her out and he surely hoped she did not think he felt sorry for her. He did not feel sorry for her he felt sorry for her awful foster parents not realizing what a great girl they had the responsibility to teach and raise.
Jane told herself, that she would take what money she had left and call a Uber to take her to the address Mr. Petrus had given her if he did not show up in the next thirty minutes. She looked at her watch thinking that the thirty minutes was probably up. Seeing the time, she walked back into the good light of the front door to see if her watch was running. Seeing the minute hand tick forward she was amazed that it had only been nine minutes since the last time she checked the time. Laughing out loud as her brain told her that time flies when you are having fun and you are not having fun. Walking the few feet back to her cart of goods she saw a Toyota SUV pulling a trailer that looked like the one Mr. Petrus drove enter the parking lot. Jane crossed he fingers and looked towards Heaven and quickly prayed to GOD for it to be him. A moment later while she was still looking heavenward the she heard an electric window actuator and them Mr. Petrus say, “Jane, you ready to go for a ride.”
Jane shook her head up and down and replied, “For sure, I was getting anxious. You are a little later than you told me. Where do I need to put this stuff?” Petrus pointed to the back seat and opened his door to go and help her load her goods into the back seat. A couple of minutes later he was back in the drivers’ seat and Jane was getting into the truck. Petrus smiled when he caught a glance of the pocketknife palmed in her right hand as she closed the door. This was a smart young lady and it let him know that he had made a right judgement in telling her she could come. Petrus did not know what had led to the decision, whatever it was it made him smile.
At their home in the city the Harper’s were arguing about the amount of stuff that Candace wanted to bring with them to Tom’s work place. Finally exasperated, Jerry said, “Tom told you a couple of suitcases and that does not even count the three suitcases of clothes you took to the mountains. I have my stuff loaded in the car. You have ten seconds; point to the two cases you want to take. If you have not decided which two cases by then I am choosing two. Then, I am going to pick them up and take them to the car. After loading the bags, I am getting in the Traverse and you have one minute after I start the car to have your butt in the front seat beside me or you are getting left. I know you have my car and could drive it. There is one big fallacy with that thinking. Candace, you do not know where Tom works and I am not answering the phone to give you directions. The chances of you finding it without an address are slim and none and slim like Elvis has already left the building. Candace, your ten seconds for deciding are up, which two bags?”
Candace pointed to the two biggest bags and replied, “Those two and when did a bee fly up your rear-end? I am not sure I like the new Jerry. I do think the new bad boy is sexy, even if I do not like him. I am not sure you would leave me. But I am not sure you would not leave me either.” A little afraid that her honesty might have the new Jerry leaving her just because the new Jerry could do just that in her opinion. The old Jerry would have stood there waiting on her till the clock ran out and the bombs fell without ever saying a word. Jerry picked up the two bags and headed towards the door to the garage and she picked up a small valet and followed him out the door. They loaded the Traverse and were gone in two minutes. As they pulled out of the complex that was once an old cotton mill factory onto Church Street heading towards Interstate 385, Candace asked, “Just in case we get in a wreck or something what is the address for my brothers work?”
Jerry looked at her like she had grown a third eye and answered, “Candace, your brother has been employed in the same place since he moved back to the Greenville area to be work. Why is it important for you to know now and you have never given a first thought much less a second in all those years?” Candace put her hands on her hips and poked out her bottom lip in a pose that she has perfected since she was a young girl.
Candace replied, “Jerry, I need to know now because it is important that I know in case of an emergency or something.”
Jerry grinned and replied, “Tough crap, should have been a better sister. Especially to a brother that has always taken care of you and your screw ups. Even you have told me how he always came to your rescue even as far back as grammar school. I say call him and he might tell you. I am not going to do it. It is time you learned that the whole world does exist to service your needs. No check that it does not exist to feed and service your wants.”
As Jerry was laying down some food for thought to his wife; Aletta and Bram were arriving at the warehouse gate and being buzzed through the gate. Tom and Christen in the Travelette pulling a small eighteen-foot tri-axle trailer and Ruth and Nat in the Excursion were pulling onto Highway 418 for the quick drive through Fountain Inn heading for the Southchase Industrial Complex and his work facility. Petrus and Jane were turning of Pelham onto Interstate 85 heading south towards Woodruff Road. In the International Harvester Tom had the radio turned to his favorite country music station and the disk jockey announced that the next song was a song by Larry Fleet featuring Morgan Wallen. Going on to say that with the world in turmoil he thought everyone needed to hear ‘Where I Find God.’ The song was about half way through as they entered downtown heading toward the Interstate 385 frontage road and their new BOL. Stopped at the red-light that would take them across Main Street the song ended. The announcer came over the radio saying that he had a breaking story in Poland. Tom reached and turned the radio up and asked, “Christen did he say that he would be back with a breaking story in Poland after the commercial message?”
Christen was thinking about how life was changing so rapidly. Just a few days ago they had sat at this same red-light heading out of town on vacation with friends and family. A few days later Tom had just told them he worked for the CIA and the world may be ending withing the next fourteen or so hours. Her mind raced with the fact that she was now wearing not one but two handguns and had a small automatic weapon laying in a gym bag in the seat beside her, with all her weapons loaded and ready to fire by dropping the safeties and pulling the triggers. She was brought back to the here and now by Tom asking her about what the announcer had said on the radio. The fact was in her state of mind the radio was white noise in the background of her frazzled brain waves. Christen truthfully answered, “Tom, I have no idea. I was not even listening to the radio. My mind was on the state of the world in which we find ourselves heading to hide in a bunker and hope that we survive the probable use of nuclear weapons on American soil by our enemies and other parts of the world. Sorry cannot say one way or another.”
Tom said, “No problem. For all our safety, probably do not need to zone out from now on. The world will be a much more dangerous place soon. We will all need to find our predator gear that is in our DNA. We Have not used it much in our lifetimes and it is probably a little rusty. We are going to need to get it back out, clean it up and put it back in play. That is if we are going to be viable and live to have children and another generation.” Reaching over and gently taking her arm he gave it a quick squeeze of assurance. This happening as the commercial ended and the announcer came back on with the news bulletin. A bulletin that announced to everyone listening that the Russians had crossed the Polish border in two places. One division of armor and mechanized infantry had come out of Belarus heading directly towards Warsaw and were already to the outskirts of Siedice. Another division had crossed into Poland at the border crossing point in Chelm and had been stopped short of Lublin by the Polish Air Force and National Guard armor units stationed at Lublin and Zamosc. The Polish Ambassador to America is meeting with President Orangeman and his advisors in closed door session at this moment. That is all we have for now and we return to our regular program. Everyone please drive safe if you are traveling back home from your Labor Day holiday vacations.
Christen asked, “What does that mean, Tom? I am sure it could not mean anything good. I will readily admit, that European History and geography in general was not one of my favorite classes in school.” Looking to Tom for answers like a small child looked to their parents to tell them that there really was not a bogeyman under their bed or in the closet at night when they went to bed at night.
Tom crossed over Interstate 385 and turned his truck and trailer right heading north onto the frontage road almost to his work place, replied, “Christen your analysis was right on, nothing good will come from this attack. One thing it means is the Russians like a shark smell blood in the water and are looking to eat. The drought has Russia literally starving like the Chinese did in the early 80’s. They are looking for food and conquest. All we can hope for is that the Russians will decide to vent their rage and their war machine on Europe and not attack us here in continental America. It could be the pressure relief that saves us from attack. My opinion is that we are not going to be that lucky. I think the dyes have been cast and there is going to be Hell to pay for America and Americans. Either way we are almost to the entrance to the Industrial Park where my workplace is located. When we get to the site, I am going to need you to help me back this trailer into the plant. I do not have the skills to do the backing without a ground person. I am going to see if I can get my man Robbie to back it into the dock area. He can back a trailer a lot better than me for sure.”
Christen tentatively answered, “I think you better get Ruth or Nat to help you with that task, Tom…. Okay?” Looking like she was going to cry.
Tom assuredly replied, “No problem. Best we both get Robbie and I can help him on the ground if he needs it. he probably will not even need my help. That would be best, anyway I need to call my new friend Calhoun and see if he can give me another update. Then I need to call Gerrit and Petrus and give them any new intelligence I promised them I would. Soon we are probably going to need all the friends we can get, I think.”
A few tense minutes of watching Robbie back his beloved International Harvester Travelette and trailer into the building. Robbie finished, Tom guided Ruth and the Excursion up the loading dock ramp and guided her through a two-point turn into the building. Robbie had made the turn with the trailer in one pass. Tom was just glad they were all in the plant. After asking Robbie the status on Charlie and her friends racing from South Florida and getting assured that if the traffic patterns held, they would be on-site by zero six-thirty hours in the morning. Tom looked to Ruth and asked, “Babe, can you call Jerry and see where they are on getting here.” Answering sure she walked away from the group to make the call.
Tom asked, “Robbie, have we received any communiques from the Puzzle Palace. We just heard on the radio that the Ruskies have entered and attacked Poland on two fronts with combined arms. The Poles are holding at some town but it will not last long if the Big Bear is serious about the attacks and getting to Germany.”
Robbie replied, “I do not have anything on the main server. Your computer has been dinging about every twenty seconds it seems for the last thirty minutes or so.”
Tom replied, “Robbie, I am going to give you my password and I want you to start making us a study packet. I am going to stay up here with the family until the last minute. Taking them into a Top-Secret clearance facility under normal times will probably get you an ocean front eight by eight room in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. I am going to call my friend Special Agent Calhoun and see if we can get any direct intelligence that we have to read between the lines to find in the reems of info we have gotten from all the analyst in Washington.”
Robbie replied, “On it boss! One other thing, is there any of the stuff in the trailer that needs to be under ground. We are going to need a few pallets and the forklift and get someone started unloading those vehicles. What do you think?”
Tom said, “I will get Nat and Christen on it… My bad, hey guys this is Robbie Batts. He is my friend and retired leg Lt. Colonel and Master Gunsmith. Ms. Christen you can tell him thank you as your weapons have all had his magic applied to them. Robbie the lady who just walked away to make a call is my wife. I know you have seen her picture sitting on my desk and heard me speak of her many times.” Pointing to Robbie and back to Nat and Christen in introductions of the three.
Robbie flashed a quick grin and replied, “Yes, I have heard you speak about her many times. The thing I need to speak to her about is all the leftover Lasagna and Spaghetti have I eaten. Now I can meet the person who has sent me the great meals over the years and thank her for real and in person. Right now, I need to get started moving stuff downstairs. Nice to meet you all and I can sure use your help.” Nat and Christen started unloading the trailer and the vehicles. While Robbie headed off towards the other end of the building. He would come back about ten minutes later with a forklift with a half dozen pallets being carried on the forks. He pulled the forklift near where most of the stuff had been unloaded and dropped the load of pallets. Then picked one back up and pulled the forklift over where his two new helpers were unloading and set the pallet on the ground and asked, “What can id to help?”
Tom had wondered away from the unloading area to call his friend Calhoun. The satellite phone rang about six times before and exasperated, “WHAT!” was heard by Tom. Who replied, “Not showing much me much love my brother. I am guessing you are not wanting me to buy the brews next time.”
Calhoun replied, “Been a long day my friend and you and a couple other friends in the satellite stations that I am trying to keep up to date are the only people in the CIA that have not chewed me a new asshole at least three times today. I figured it was just another pencil pushing REMF that was wanting to take their turn. Let me start over. Hello, Tom. Yes, the world is going to hell in a hand-basket and I do not know when they are going to start sling nuclear tipped arrows at the good old U.S. of A. I would tell you if you are not already under ground, you better be close. I am thinking zero first light thirty and if you don’t know that would be about zero seven hundred hours EDT along the eastern seaboard in the morning. That is just my honest opinion based on all the intelligence we have that is at least two-part confirmed. Brother we have so little of that type intel that our official intelligence would rank up there with CNN or an Internet Hungarian green planet blogger.”
Tom said, “Glad I am not with you bro. I will ask this when is the last time you ate and have you even had a catnap since yesterday?”
Calhoun laughed and said, “Yesterday, I think about sixteen hundred hours on eating and I lad down in my office chair and propped my feet up for about thirty minutes this morning after my shift. I have drunk about forty cups of coffee with a dab of cream and one sugar and ate about a dozen Tums for heartburn from all the coffee, if that counts as eating.” Laughing at his own description of the depravity of his situation over the last thirty or so hours.
Tom laughed and replied, “I would not call that a balanced diet but it is better than a sharp stick in the eye. Glad you have not lost your sharp wit. I know you do not have time to help an old friend. I am going to ask you for help anyway. I need a do not stop for any reasons bulletin out to all agencies. I would not ask but my 2IC Charlie is trying to make it back from South Florida and she left Miami around eighteen hundred hours tonight. She might can make it if she could flat-line back here.”
Calhoun laughed and said, “I thought you were going to ask for something that I could not help you with Tom. I can do that in about two minutes. Email me make, model, color and license plate number and I will have that out to every government agency in America. I am talking down to small Township’s. Tell them to stay on the Interstate if possible and I will get it done. Anything else you need, that I might could help you with your task and people?”
Tom replied, “No, you have a place here in South Carolina if you need a home after all the arrows are flung and the radioactive dust settles. Also, we are setup for ham radio here at the plant. We will be listening on the low frequency channel we used in Iraq to call in our dust-off when our radio was knocked out of commission. We will listen fifteen minutes in the morning starting at zero eight hundred and at nineteen hours in the pm. Do you remember the one?” Tom heard a low rumbled chuckle form his friend on the phone.
Calhoun said, “Like it was yesterday, my friend. Best two words I had ever heard put together till that point in my life. ‘Chopper outbound.’ They are only topped now by my wife saying I do and a three-word phrase she said also, “I am pregnant’. Tom, I got people sticking their head in my door, I gotta’ go. Send me the particulars on the vehicle and tell Charlie I said if her foot will not reach all the way to the floorboard for some reason to let someone else drive. I am out brother and may God be with you and yours.” The phone line went dead in his ear before he could even respond to his friend. Tom started towards where he saw the whole gang working to get the stuff from the two trucks and the trailer loaded onto pallets for transport down the freight elevator to the R&D lab located below their feet.
About twenty-five minutes later and a frantic phone call to Charlie to obtain the cars information and an email to Calhoun. It was twenty-thee forty-five when Robbie called her back telling her that she had a green light all the way home and to find out how fast that Escalade would run. Charlie informed Robbie that they had been running about eighty miles per hour since his last call and had passed the I-4 off ramp in Daytona about thirty minutes ago and had passed the exit to St Augustine about five minutes ago. She went on to say that the GPS had them at three hundred and ninety-six miles to the shop. Charlie told Robbie that the GPS had them a little over five hours to home at their present rate of travel.
Robbie had replied, “That is awful close to the bewitching hour Charlie. Calhoun, said to tell you if you were too weak and your foot would not reach the floorboard to get someone to drive that had a foot that would reach the floorboard. I have to agree with his sentiment.” Robbie had known that it would get her anger to rise to the surface so he just told a small story. Calhoun and Charlie had been assigned the same FLETC Advanced Ambush Counter-measures driver training class in Cheltenham, Maryland. They had been head-to-head for top of the class and depending on whose side you were listening too at the time the other was in the wrong. Bottom line the instructors had indicated on her test scores that the responsibility for the accident was Charlies. The pair had been friends but rivals ever since. The two would have probably killed each other if Tom was not both their friends and kept them civil with each other.
Charlie replied, “Tell that numbskull that I could out drive him blind folded and with one arm hand cuffed to the door….” Charlie then had epiphany and continued, “Dang you, Old Man you almost got me. He did not really say that did he? Either way I am adding ten more miles per hour to this horse if she will take it.”
Robbie replied, “No not really. Calhoun did say for you to put her in the wind and get home. I added the other. Now girl call me on the hour. Calhoun is saying zero seven hundred now. I would add fifteen if it was me. Hurry ever chance you get, my child.” Robbie wiped a tear from his eye and looked upwards and spoke to his savior for guidance and protection for Charlie and her friends.
As Robbie was talking with Charlie, Candace and Jerry came rolling into the front gate blowing the horn on the Traverse. Tom had put his copy of the gate remote in his front shirt pocket earlier when Robbie had given it to him. Tom pushed the talk button and the gate open buttons at the same time and started to tell Jerry where to drive around to bring their car inside the building when the Traverse went forward through the gate as soon as the gate was almost open wide enough for them to enter. The Traverse and the gate contacted each other and the Traverse won, except for the large gash down the passenger side of the vehicle. The reason for the accident was that Candace still mad at Jerry for not letting her bring more of her stuff, had stomped down on his foot making the car jump through the opening in the gate and said, “We got to get in there right now. We just had to make it here in record time. See I told you we had plenty of time. I hope you are happy now we are here.”
Tom hearing the carnage at the gate, went over to look at the CCTV monitor of the gate and saw it hanging off the track. Tom turned to Ruth and said, “Get Robbie and Nat to go look at the gate that needs to be closed and is now broken, to see if we can fix it. Please deal with whatever nonsense caused this accident. I know in my gut that my knucklehead of a sister is the cause of this fiasco. I need to make another important call to inform our new allies at the PM facility of the new time clock. I will be right out. Get Jerry to bring the car inside and then come to help us with the gate. If it is my sisters’ fault which it most probably is tell her I will deal with her after I fix another in a long line of her screw ups. If she says anything but yes ma’am you have the family permission to bop her in the mouth.” Tom walked away from his dear wife mad enough to spit fire and eat nails. Tom continued walking all the way to the other end of the building, hoping that the energy being used would diminish some of the fire in his gut for his sister. After making it to the other end of the building and about half way back, he finally remembered what his dad had told him one time. His dad had told him that family was harder to deal with than your friends because you get to pick your friends. Tom thought, no truer words had ever been spoken about dealing with his sister and wondered if the parable from his dad was specifically for his dealings with the Prodigal Sister. Then decided that him being mad at his sister was not fixing the problem. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem was his next thought and headed out the nearest door heading for the front gate.
Tom dialed Gerrit number as he was walking out the door towards the gate. As he was letting it ring out in front of him Robbie was using the forks on the forklift to set the heavy entrance gate back in the rail guides with Jerry using some type of long pry-bar guiding the fence into place. Tom watched as he walked and wondered where Nat was in this clown show. Just as he saw Nat coming from the other side of the building in his ear he heard Gerrit answer saying, “You wanting some more Gold and Silver for a rainy day my friend…, how is Sasha taking to the family?” All spoken in one long run on sentence without a breath or a pause.
Tom thinking for a minute about how Gerrit had answered his phone, replied, “Gerrit, it is good that I caught you. I was hoping I could catch you before you left for home or the PM sale tomorrow. That sale we talked about happening at noon tomorrow. The opening time has been changed we will need to be there before sunrise if we want to be there at opening time. Looks like they are opening the tent sale at the break of day in the morning. On the other thing Sasha already has the misses in her spell. The big puppy is going to be welcome addition to our family. If we ever want another, did you train her or was sent to a school?”
Gerrit replied, “We will have everybody ready to leave two hours before sunlight or better. Petrus is still out making a pickup. I just talked to him he will be back to the shop and we will be able to lock everything up in a matter of minutes after he arrives. That way all we have to do is get in the truck and meet you in the morning. Is your information on the sale start change definite or hearsay?”
Tom laughed and answered, “My friend you know that nothing is definite in this old world. The info came from someone that works for my brokers agency. He is usually in the know on matters like this. If I am not there by first light in the morning, do not leave the shop without talking to me as the time may have changed during the rest of the night. I hate that I cannot talk any longer as I still have some associates that have not made it to the plant with loads and I need to make sure I can get their goods in the warehouse and locked up. Talk to you soon. Bye.”
Gerrit was a little shook by the conversation and the fact that his brother was still out and about. Taking matters into his hands he hit speed dial number one for his brother. Petrus answered on the second ring. “Gerrit my impatient brother. Jane and I just exited onto Woodruff Road and are coming your way. Have Bram and Alletta made their way to the shop?”
Gerrit answered, “Your wife and my nephew are tucked in like bugs in a rug as the Americans say. I just got an update from our newest buyer on the sale tomorrow. As you know it was supposed to start at noon. He said they were opening the sale at first light first come first served and that we needed to be locked up an on the road two hours before that to be safe. That is why I wanted to get here so we could lock up the shop and be ready to leave early.”
Petrus sighed, “Seems like our new buyer may be the right man for the job. I think you made the right call on him. Now I am sorry I did not get to meet him. Sometimes things are just right when our Lord leads us and we follow his path and not our own. We are turning onto Feaster as we speak. Have the gate open and have Bram ready to help unload the trailer.” Hanging up he looked to Jane and told her not to worry and that she could put her knife away now. Jane smiled and had already thought about how to put her knife away without him noticing. Hearing Mr. Petrus talk about following the Lord’s will in his business dealings and giving him the credit for good fortune and blessings had assured her decision had been correct and blessed by her Savior. I will see ya in a couple. I’m out.”
At the Puzzle Palace near Langley, Virginia, Calhoun was on his phone talking to his wife, Samantha. She and his seven-year-old daughter had made the five and half hour drive to their secondary vacation home and BOL near Eagle Point, Tennessee on Watt’s Bar Lake. The property was about as remote as it could be and still be considered a resort location. His wife had inherited it from two of her Grand Aunts who had run a small four dock marina on the lake for over forty-five years till they had passed in early 2004 and 2005. The sisters had always enjoyed when his wife would come to stay with them for a couple of weeks in the summer. Samantha asked the hard question as soon as she had affirmed that they were to the property and had everything locked down and the basement / 60’s era fall-out shelter was up and running. Asking Calhoun when he was leaving to join them. The answer was not one she wanted to hear. Calhoun told her he would be staying at Langley until the dust settled and for her to not come out for a minimum of thirty days. They each had a good cry and told each other that they loved them and they would see them in thirty long days. Both ending the conversation wondering if it would be their last and if either would be alive in thirty days.
Back in the Greenville area, Petrus and Jane had reached the warehouse; Robbie and Jerry had made fine work of fixing the fence with a tad of electrical work from Nat. A fuse had blown when one of the electrical wires on the gate had broken in the knocking of the gate off its rails by the Traverse. The gate was checked and it tracked open and closed. Robbie and Jerry had decided it would be best not to press their luck leave it open just enough for Charlie to come through and wait on her till the last second to close the gate,
Tom had made about three loops around the chemical factory floor mad as a wet hen after hearing from Jerry about the foolishness that had been perpetrated by his sister in tearing up the gate. Finally, Robbie had stopped him to tell him that everything had been taken down stairs and all the outer doors of the facility had been locked with their designed secondary over lock system built just for this type of situation. The last report he gave Tom was that he was going down to monitor all the security systems and shut down all non-essential power requirements, including the external solar power. They would be running on grid power until the situation was over or the grid power was knocked out by EMP or other reasons. Tom thanked him for the great job and asked him the ETA for Charlie and her friends. Robbie grinned and replied, “They crossed the eastern coast line of Georgia running north on Interstate 95 in a little over and hour.”
A loud whistle was heard let out by Tom that was heard by the rest of the group and they all started his way. Tom waved his arms to everybody saying he was not calling them. Robbie said, “What was that all about bossman?”
Tom replied, “If I recall from my days running down to Interstate 95 to Orlando it is like a hundred and ten miles across the Georgia coast line from Florida to South Carolina. I really think it is a hundred and twelve miles exactly. If she made in a little over an hour, even and hour and fifteen minutes she is running a hundred miles and hour. If they are now across the river in South Carolina they are only about three hours from home driving seventy-five or about miles per hour. I guess she took what we said to heart and has her foot through the firewall, not just to the floor. Good for her, that puts her here by zero four hundred hours. Maybe by three thirty. One less thing to worry about, check with her on the hour for an updated ETA. Thanks. Now, I have another more personal issue I must take care of that I have put off as long as I can. Time to man up and do it.” Robbie thought the bossman looked like someone who was going to have to put down their best bird dawg. He did not envy the position his sister had put him in one bit and was glad it was not his sister and him doing the dance that Tom and Candace were facing. Deciding that retreat was the better part valor, he went downstairs to do his duty.
Ruth walked up to Tom and said, “I have already talked to your Sister and I have gotten better and more coherent responses out of crying two year olds. Babe, I do not mean to be mean, I am really concerned. You have told me many times that she has always been a pistol. Did your parents ever have her tested for ADD or ADHD. Baby, she may even be bi-polar or something. I am no expert by any means. I was pre-med for a while and we had to take a bunch of psychology courses for the major. She fits some of the classic systems for bi-polar. At least from what I remember from college, lots of water under the bridge since then. If I could get access to the Internet, I could do some quick searches for some clinical analysis.” Looking like she was going to cry at any minute.
Tom reached and took her in his arms and quietly answered, “Sweety, my family especially my dad did not believe in any type of psychological medicine. He said that any study that was based on the analysis of a mad man who was an admitted drug abuser was not science. Mom wanted to have her tested a couple of times when she was young. I think it was when she was in the sixth or seventh grade the district Guidance Councilor made a written recommendation for them to have her tested. That was when Dad put her in private school. She tested ahead of her grade level and that was where they started her in the private school. That is the reason I cannot remember exactly what grade she was in when it happened. I think she graduated high school like three years ahead of her age. Even doing that the last year in high school I think the only school class she took was some advanced English course, the rest were all college level courses through Greenville Tech’s course schedule for Clemson University or something. I know she was working on her Masters Degree the last two years at Upstate. She had her Masters the year she turned nineteen, I think. I know that was a lot of answer, to just say no she was never tested to my knowledge.”
Ruth said, “Ohhh…. I know you were fixing to read her the riot act. I really think she needs a loving brother right now. One who will tell her that it is going to be alright and not to worry. Tell her though that she cannot act out or she will be endangering everyone. Tell her that if she feels like she must act out, she needs to come to you and you will fix the problem. I will talk with Jerry and tell him what is going on. He feels horrible about the way she is acting and is afraid they are going to be thrown out because of her actions. We good, babe?”
Tom kissed her, then replied, “We are always good, my rock! Now, get with Robbie and get some access to the Internet here in the plant. Did you bring your laptop?”
Ruth nodded and asked, “How do I get in contact with Robbie?”
Tom replied, “Duh, silly me…, that is easy see any of these phones on the walls and desk. Pick one up and dial, ##411**9999. That will connect you too the area downstairs. When you hear it connect dial #103 for Robbie’s desk.” Ruth stood there dialing as she was being given the number. It connected and then rang two times and Robbie answered. She smiled at Tom and pointed to the phone and mouthed I got him. Then she watched Tom walk away, as Robbie answered the phone saying, “What’s up Bossman?”
Ruth giggled and replied, “I might be bossy, maybe even bitchy sometimes. I am most definitely not the Bossman, Robbie. I got the number from Tom. I need your help. He told me that you could give me the wi-fi password for access to the Internet up here on my laptop. Can you help me?’
Robbie replied, “I wish all of life was this easy. The password is as follows: Admin#One. I know before you say anything. It breaks a lot of rules and I did not have anything to do with setting it up. They did at least put the number sign in it. It is not the one for the secure facility and making it easy might have been part of the camouflage. You know hiding in plan sight and all or something. Call me back if you have any questions and tell the Bossman, that last check in with Charlie her ETA was zero three hundred thirty-eight hours. That ought to make him feel a little better. One other thing Mrs. BossLady just an FYI heads up before Charlie gets here. Charlie is a stone-cold looker much like yourself, if an old man can be so bold. Charlie is madly in love with the Bossman and has been since she came to work here four years ago. Before you get mad the Bossman has never stepped or even leaned away from you in all that time. He has turned her down numerous times and she no longer even bothers to ask him about lunch or even if he wants her to bring him back something.” All Robbie heard on the other end of the phone was deep breathing. Finally, he could not stand the suspense anymore.
“BossLady, you alright? I know I probably overstepped. I just did not want you to come to any wrong conclusions about the situation. I am completely apologetic; I just love them both and I could see how it might look like the wrong thing and all….” He stopped talking again and waited for her reply. “Mrs. Sexton, you still on the line? Are you alright? If you are going to be mad? Please be mad at me and not the Bossman. I guess I just opened my mouth and might have made things even worse. Talk to me, please.”
Another moment of silence, “Robbie, I can tell you are sincere in your apologies. I am not mad at you or anyone else. Tom is his own man and makes his own decisions. I know one thing about him, if nothing else. He loves me and would have the decency to tell me if he was going to stray. Tom’s moral code would not allow him to cheat. It would drive him crazy because he would see it as cheating on both parties. I was just surprised he never told me about her. You know?”
Robbie laughed, “Probably because he did not think it was real. It took a year and me telling him that she had the hots for him. He did not even notice her advances. I only told him because some of the people at work were beginning to think there was something to her advances. I was afraid it would get back to Langley and it hurt both careers and there was nothing happening. Some people in our business will use anything to get ahead. After I told him he called her into his office for a closed-door session with me as a witness and told her that it was not going to happen that he was madly in love with you. Tom told her he was flattered that she would have feelings for him but they were not now and would never be mutual. She did not know it but he had me record the conversation and put a copy in my file and keep a copy for his protection.”
Ruth replied, “Thanks, Robbie for being a good friend to my husband. Tom is a little, no a lot oblivious to the fact that women would have any interest in him as a mate. I had to practically hit him over the head with a club and drag him back to my cave and that was with him having an interest in seeing me as a possible mate.” Then she laughed a very sensual and seductive laugh that told Robbie why her husband and his friend was so in love with Ms. Ruth. As they hung up, he realized that the Bossman was one lucky man to have a woman like his misses.
About an hour later around zero two twenty-five, Robbie had explained that Charlie and company had just passed the last Irmo exit on Interstate 26 and God willing would be to the plant within the next forty-five or less at their present rate of travel. Ruth had read enough on the Internet to think that her laymen analysis of Candace’s erratic behavior was due to bi-polar issues. Robbie had gotten all the pallets taken down on the freight elevator and was back upstairs talking with Ruth and Tom. Ruth had not brought up the info from Robbie on Charlie and had decided she was not going to kick a sleeping dog and told Robbie to let it go. Everyone had just found some chairs and was sitting around talking and having the rest of the beer from the barbecue when Tom’s satellite phone rang. Tom pulled the phone from his shirt pocket, stood up and said, “It is my friend from Washington, Calhoun. He was not going to call me again. I am thinking this is not good. Robbie, please get Charlie on the phone and tell her to pick up the pace. Right now.”
Walking away they the group heard, Tom answered his phone with, “Talk to me Calhoun what is wrong.” Robbie hit speed dial two on his phone and Charlie picked up on the first ring with a very chipper voice saying, “Hello Old Man. Yes, we are still making good time the GPS says forty minutes for ETA for the millionth time tonight.”
Robbie tensely replied, “Charlie, listen up. Tom just got a call from his friend in DC that he has been getting his intel from and even before he answered the phone, he told me to call you and tell you to push the petal down harder. I do not think he was supposed to hear from the guy again until it is over. You need to get yourself here now!”
Charlie said, “We had been running a hundred plus until we got to right outside of Columbia and we slowed a little. I mean I am still running almost ninety for gosh sakes. I know, I know. I am pushing it all the way to the floor. This thing had some kind of electronic safety cut off at one hundred and ten. It has happened a couple of times tonight already. There I am up to almost one ten and the GPS just recalculated our ETA at forty-one minutes to the shop. You h….” The connection went dead on the line and Robbie could not raise her back but kept trying one time after another.
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Post by gipsy on Mar 6, 2024 21:27:49 GMT -6
Fine update. I see you caught the cliffie virus too.
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Post by cavsgt on Mar 6, 2024 22:52:43 GMT -6
Man what an addition to the story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank You
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Post by feralferret on Mar 7, 2024 0:38:18 GMT -6
What a chapter, 223shootersc!
Thank you.
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Post by sniper69 on Mar 7, 2024 1:11:17 GMT -6
223shootersc - thanks for another excellent chapter. I see Cliff has returned. Only another 50 chapters will tell how things are going to go. Sir, is it to early to ask for Moar? Thank you for sharing your writing talents.
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Post by boomerweps on Mar 7, 2024 8:35:31 GMT -6
Great story so far. Really enjoying it. Recommend dividing Chapter 7 as written into 3 chapters, pretty long for one forum post.
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Post by NCWEBNUT on Mar 7, 2024 12:37:18 GMT -6
Great story so far. Really enjoying it. Recommend dividing Chapter 7 as written into 3 chapters, pretty long for one forum post. Hush that blasphemy, there's nothing wrong with the chapters as they are.
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Post by kiwibutterfly on Mar 7, 2024 14:59:39 GMT -6
wow, great chapter......thanks so much
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Post by cashless1 on Mar 7, 2024 15:32:05 GMT -6
I like short chapters. I like long chapters. They are all better than no chapters. You write them, and I will read them, without complaint!
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