Divers Down Book Two

[texican]

Solo,

As the old saying goes:

Shit happens.
and
Always at the wrong time.

Thanks for the chapter.

Texican....

[solo]

Chapter 29

13 May 2018
Talowah Rd
Purvis, MS

Ethan and Gina reached the Houses where Dana would be working. They walked up as she came out in full MOPP gear. She took off the head covering and her hair was matted to her head and around her face. “Good. You are back.” With a squeal, she saw Gina step out from behind Ethan. She ran and hugged her.

Then she stepped back and said, “It was just some sort of short acting neurological agent. It arrested their pulmonary capabilities and they basically all suffocated.”

“Any ideas what?”

“None. Hey, where is Brian and the girls?”

Ethan just gently shook his head and quickly recounted what had all transpired. Dana was hit hardest by Tim’s death as he was part of the Doctor Triplets. He turned the conversation back to the issue at hand. “So you are saying we don’t have to quarantine?”

“No. We don’t.”

“Mr. Ethan!” A voice called out. Ethan looked up and saw Alex at the fence line. Ethan waived him over.

When Alex approached, Ethan could see that the teenager was out of breath. “Chad sent me to find you. Logan is not doing so well and he wanted to get you and doc back there ASAP.” Alex looked at the three and noted the missing five but didn’t say much. He had learned to hang out in the background without too much talking. He found he learned much more about what was going on that way.

“Is there anything else?” Gina asked.

Alex warily looked around a bit. “There is someone watching you. I came down the main road, the one that runs in front of our base. I saw you turn toward this house and was about to call out to you when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I waited for them to pass and then cut through the woods.” The teenager’s voice dropped really low.

“Okay,” Ethan whispered. Don’t let on. No looking around and no pointing. Did they see you before you broke cover?”

Alex made it a point to turn and point down the road to the old firelane Ethan had followed the day before like he was talking about the compound and getting back. “They set up just inside the woodline besides that huge white oak tree, directly the opposite from where I am pointing.”

“Very good, Son. How many were they?”

“Just one. Skinny, head covered with a grey or green bandana. Dressed like us.” The boy shrugged.

“Okay, We are going to go back down the lane the backway to the house. Let’s do a staggered patrol order and keep a sharp lookout that we aren’t walking into a trap. I will lead, Alex you bring up the rear.” Ethan Paused. He started to move his arm around like it was bothering him, especially his shoulder. “Dana, my arm is fine, but I want you to make a show of checking it out. Son, I will need your Shemagh, Dana, you will fashion a sling for me.” He had pointed at the olive drab/black three foot square cloth that Alex had fashioned around his neck. This item, known as an Arab scarf was popular with US and allied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan for keeping the sun at bay and helping to blend in with the native population. In addition, it had many uses and could be worn many different ways. You could wet it to promote conductive and convective cooling. Wearing it on the head to protect from the heating radiative effects of the sun.

And it can also be used to help with camouflage. After the arm was properly slung, the four set off with Ethan in the lead, Gina as his drag, Dana in the third position and Alex watching the rear. Alex picked up the tail as soon as they entered the trail, they seemed intent on following them.

Ethan set a slowish pace and soon found what he was looking for. The four were spaced out over 40-50 yards and he was looking for a turn in the trail with good concealment that then turned again about a football field later. That way when someone came into the trail after them, they could not see what the front of the procession was doing as they would have reached and turned the following turn. In the crux of the first turn, Ethan stepped off the train and untied his arm. He quickly retied the shemagh to cover his head and face, leaving eye slits and slipped into the tall grass and saplings. He looked back out as Alex passed by and Alex indicated with hand subtle hand signals that Ethan was well hidden.

As Alex reached the next curve to follow Dana, and where the woods thickened, Ethan saw the figure turn around the corner. He realized quickly that the person was a slight female, and seemed to be no more than 14 or 15 years old. She moved well with a very deliberate way that spoke of experience far beyond her years. Yet she failed to notice that Ethan was no long with the group and she was soon the hunted and not the hunter.

She suddenly stopped when she saw the sign on the side of the trail. She dropped her hands from the sawed off 12 gauge that hung from the sling around her neck and held her arms out to the side. “I am not here to harm.” She spoke softly.

“I don’t like being followed.” Ethan spoke up.

She nodded her head as she had seen the sign right.

“You knew I was here.” It was more a statement than a question.

“Yes.” She wasn’t very talkative.

“How?”

She was quiet for a long moment. “Mister, you have me dead to rights. Please come on out.”

“Nah, I’m good here. Let’s parlay a bit more first.”

With a small shrug, she said, “Suit yourself.”

“Are you alone?” Ethan asked.

She didn’t answer.

“How did you know I was here?”

“You left a trail leaving the trail.”

Ethan for the 1000th time mentally kicked himself.

“How’d you learn to trail folks?”

“By trailing deer. Grandfather taught.” There was a slight change in her voice that Ethan picked up on. “Look Mister, I know your friends have me sighted in right now. Please come out. I will lay my weapon down.”

Ethan thought about it. “No, don’t bother. If you meant us harm, you had ample opportunity.”

Ethan stepped out and eased up to where he could see the girl. She watched him and when he was close enough, he saw that she had some Asian features. “You were with those Chinese?”

“I am not Chinese. I grew up here in Purvis. I am half Choctaw.” She said.

“That explains your skill at such a young age.” Ethan was thinking out loud. He noticed the bruising around her cheek bones.

“Grandfather taught me the old ways.”

“Who did that to your face? I would hazard a guess that it isn’t just your face.” Ethan asked.

“Not long after the nuclear alarms at city hall went off, the mayor and his cronies grabbed me and my mother and sister before they went into the shelter.” She stopped.

“And?”

“I wouldn’t give them what they wanted freely so got this for my reward. They instead took from my mother and sister until they could not give anymore. It was soon to be my turn. I escaped after my sister died day before yesterday.”

“From the courthouse?” Ethan asked.

“Yes, I was being saved for the Mayor. I slit the bastard’s throat when he took me out for my morning piss.”

The coarseness surprised Ethan. “You killed the mayor?”

“No his head henchman. I provided a little incentive to lower his guard and when he took the bait, I created a new breathing hole for him. I then ran off toward the armory. I saw you guys cross the tracks and decided to see where you were going. It had to be better than where I was and what was waiting for me.”

“Wow, I don’t know what to say. I am sorry.”

“I don’t need your pity. My mother and sister were avenged as the thug I killed was the ring leader for taking what wasn’t his to take and then their lifes.” She stopped. “I saw you talking with the mayor. He pitched a fit when he got back inside. Whatever you have going on, he is dead set against you having it.”

Ethan thought about this a little, when he hear a voice behind him, “Do you know what he intends to do?” Gina asked. She and Dana had joined them. Alex was no where around.

“He is going to come out and try to attack you all again. I don’t know when, he mentioned a virus or something and he would wait to see what it does with you all.”

Ethan studied her for a long while as his sense of urgency built. He turned to walk down the path toward home.

The girl looked at him the other two women, “May I come too?”

“Come on, Hun, you have a lot on your plate. So does he.” Gina said.

“Gina, am I right?” She waited for a nod. “Yeah, Alex was wrong. I had set up a decoy at the old oak tree. I was sitting in the loft of the barn and pretty much heard everything. You are good people.”

Ethan stopped and looked back at her, “Impressive. Will you work? It is a lot of hard work.”

“Nothing is as hard as I have gone through.” She replied.

Ethan said, “Right you are there. Let’s go, it will be dark soon.”

She smiled. It was the first smile in months. “That was a great plan with the shemagh. It is something I would have done.” She paused. “Oh, and Alex can come out now.”

[texican]

S,

Thank you for the chapter.

Another addition to the group and a sharp young female. Alex will become smitten if not already.

The mayor and criminals need to be dealt with immense prejudice.

Texican....

[solo]

Hello all,  Just wanted to say that it may be awhile on this one.  Hurricane Sally hit us especially hard.  I live on the water in Gulf Breeze Florida and had the northeast quadrant camp out on top of us for over 24 hours.  Lots of damage, but we are safe and healthy, well prepared, Thanks to all you and your writings.  This stuff matters, don't you believe it doesn't.  Keep writing and I'll keep reading and applying.  Soon, I'll get back to writing as well.  Just a Shitty year all around.

V/R<
Solo

Attachments:

[9idrr]

As long as you and yours are live and well, that's a good start on the next chapter of your life. Much as I love your stories, it's a good thing for me to learn patience waitin' for more readin' material.

[texican]

Solo,

Take your time and recover from the hurricane. The photo of the flood did not look good.

Texican....

[solo]

Remember the ole, hey we are with the government and we are here to help.  Well, here is a little update.  Back in 2017, when we built this house on the water (I know, but the misses has followed my but around as the military moved us for 23 years, I told her the retirement house was hers... And I still haven't retired, but still...) we were told that we had to build on pylons and were required to get the FEMA flood insurance or there would be penalties.  Well guess what, that insurance only covers you living space and as we were required to build on stilts, that living space would have to have a 20 ft storm surge come in.  So all that flooding you saw, it wasn't 20 ft.  So... not covered.  Boat dock.  Sea wall.  Boat house.  Not covered.  

Point two, the president has declared major disaster and released funding.... for business and local government recovery but not for individuals.  We are having to make a huge push for this type of funding.

So yeah, FEMA was there with emergency assistance but recovery assistance may or may not happen. 

[papaof2]

Glad that you are OK. Everything else is of lesser importance but perhaps totally annoying in the things they "forget" to tell you.

The coast can be beautiful but at times it's comparable to a coral snake - beautiful but deadly.

I'll continue to live in landlubber territory with the nearest moving water a creek about a mile away - and a couple hundred feet below our ground level. I'll be spending $$$$ on tree trimming and removal this year - had two people out to give estimates this week and the third one will be here next week - but if trees provide cooling that you don't pay for daily in the summer, the bill still comes due every few years :-(

[texican]

Solo,

The little people will get screwed regardless of how well they are insured. That is how it is set up.

Some lessons in life are tough, but you and your wife survived which is outstanding.

as PP2 stated, the bill always comes due.

Thanks for the update.

Texican....

[solo]

Chapter 30

5 June 2018
The Logan Compound
Purvis, MS

“This wind is getting worrisome.” Ethan said from the back steps of the house. The house had been through a lot in the last year and was still holding strong, but looked like crap.

“What’s got you bothered about it?” Gina asked as she joined him. In the four weeks since their group was reduced by five member and they gained a 14-15 year old young lady who quickly acquitted herself in that she was no stranger to hard work. She partnered with Alex and Old Man Thomas Blanchard to get the garden going. With the help of strong backs from Chad, Carl, Marsha, Julie, Ethan, the docs and Gina, they were able to put almost a full acre under the plow and get some staples planted. Potatoes, Carrots, Beets, and other root veggies were put out. Thomas had hoped that the late arriving growing season would last long enough. They also set out Tomato, Cucumber and Squash. But what they were really hoping for was a bumper crop of the Pole beans, Kidneys and Navy beans. Thomas wasn’t sure is the Kidneys or Navy beans would do well, but had sunk them anyway.

Ethan kept staring out at the horizon to the South East. The clouds were building out there. “Here, most of our weather patterns religiously come from the west. They follow the path of all the fronts that come through.”

Logan slowly joined them. Though he wasn’t yet 100%, he had resumed 100% of his duties. He figured that if it was his time to go, he’d rather do that on his feet rather than on his back somewhere. “You’re thinking Hurricane aren’t you?”

“Isn’t it too early for them? And too cool?” Even in early June the weather still had a spring like feel to it.

“Well, our weather may be a little wonky now, but we don’t know how that could affect the energy collected and released in a Hurricane. Besides the official season kicks on 1 June each year.” Logan said.

“But we are almost a hundred miles inland.” Gina added.

Ethan looked at her. “Yes we don’t have to worry about storm surge, but the winds can still be hurricane strength when it gets here. And we have to worry about tornados.”

“Well, we will have to cross that bridge when we come to it.” Logan said. “Any luck getting Jacob and them to relocate here?”

“No, they are set up and do not wish to leave it. We set them up with one of the old ham radios we had and now we have constant contact if needed.”

“Which machine did we give them?” Logan asked.

“That I don’t know.”

“Okay. No worries. What is wrong with the Helo?” He asked Gina.

“Well, Carl and I have been trying to find out. But it has something to do with the electronics, we lose some of the instruments intermittently. We can still fly it but I would only use it if we have too. It is getting a lot of hours on it and we don’t have the parts or expertise for an extensive overhaul.”

Logan took that in and then patted Ethan on the back and started down the steps. Ethan joined him and they trekked toward the fence row behind the barn.

“What are your thoughts?” Ethan asked Logan.

Logan was quiet for a long while. “You have a lot of time to think about things while you are laid up. I am worried.”

“What about? We probably share that worry.”

“Well, our supplies are not holding up. We had so many people for so long that what ever I had stocked here, which was only meant for a couple of people for a year, and what you and Chad grabbed in your mad dash down are critical. Now, I am afraid we are too few to defend and grow this place, even with the innovations I added through the years.” Logan said.

“Sounds like you switched from a tactical mindset to a strategic one.”

“Yep. What does our tomorrow look like? Next week? Next month? And we still have a mayor who seems to have it in for us, no matter how much he sweet talked you last month. And what about other baddies out there? There is always someone bigger and badder than the last one.” Logan eased out with a deep breath.

Ethan was quiet for a while. True, they have been through a lot, but they all seem to be very resilient. Chad and Gina had rekindled their relationship when she got back safe. They had actually asked to get married and they had planned a small ceremony for when the planting was done. The planting… No one knew whether the growing season would last long enough for the slower crops to yield. “You know. We are up for the challenge. We have to make sure that we take care of ourselves and learn how to live in this new normal.”

“Yeah, but the hardest part is not knowing things. What does our national government look like? Are we even the United States anymore? Is that a storm coming our way? It is tough not knowing.”

“Yes, we have been trying to extend the range of our equipment, but we still aren’t getting a lot of bites and what we do get, they seem to be worse off than we are.” Ethan paused, then continued, “What is really bothering you?”

Logan sighed then spoke, “This land is not easy to defend. It is not easy to live on. Even with all the extra’s I’ve added. We need to find something else. Something more isolated. But not just that, we would need to do it in a way that folks don’t know we survived. We can’t afford to look over our shoulders for the mayor. He way outnumbers us and our defensive advantage is sorely lacking now.”

Ethan was floored. “You are actually thinking about leaving here?”

“Yes.” Logan simply said. “My grand parents had land out in Baxterville. I don’t know if any of that branch survived or not, but we could at least scout it out.”

Ethan shook his head, “You didn’t have a bug out for your bug out?”

Logan chuckled, “You should be talking, At least I had a bug out. Well, for now, let’s just keep an eye on this storm. Maybe it will not be too bad for us.”

Ethan looked at the growing cloud line for a few moments. Then almost to himself he said, “I’m not so worried about that storm,” He nodded toward the clouds. “It’s the storms we can’t see that have me worried.”

[papaof2]

Always a bit easier to prepare when you know what is coming.

[texican]

Solo,

It is great that you are posting again.

Thanks for the chapter.

Texican....

[solo]

Chapter 31

6 June 2018
The Logan Compound
Purvis, MS

Authors Note: The survival skills described in this section were introduced to me by Youtube channel Corporals Corner. Corporal Kelly does an excellent job with this and is an instructor at the Pathfinder School in Ohio. Just want to make sure I give proper credit.

The winds picked up overnight and everyone was certain that the storm that was brewing had come ashore and was heading inland. The wind was whistling so bad that at about one or two in the morning, the entire crew headed into the bunker and hunkered down for the duration.

After breakfast, the wind was still howling, but they still had connections to their video surveillance system. Marc really hated to look over at the monitoring desk and not see Kurt there. It was times like this when they all had time to reflect that the pang of the ones they lost comes back the hardest. Those that were with them for a short time and those that have been with them from the start.

Logan missed his friend, but starkly, he knew he missed so much more. Sal and Kurt had so much to offer to their long term survival. Now that was irrevocably lost. Fortunately, they had extra medical help to cover the loss of Tim, but it would mean risking a lot more to send one of their two remaining docs out on scouting trips and standing watch. Looking around the room only reinforced what he already knew, they were sitting ducks where they were.

“Look there.” Julie pointed to one of the camera feeds. On it, there was a figure in a poncho slowly making their way up to one of the fences.
“Let’s see.” Logan began to see where that feed was. Ethan joined them and looked as well.

“That’s right out front. Do you think they need help?” He asked.

“No, they’ve been across the street since the storm started. They are using the storm to scout us out.” Julie said.

“Here you go,” Ethan handed her a cup of black coffee. She gratefully accepted and took a long sip. It was hot and it was black, but it hit the spot with her. “They probably figure the storm will mask what they are doing. Should we go and meet them?”

“Nah, let them enjoy their hurricane party in peace.” Marc paused. “Let’s give it a rest for a bit. Let’s enjoy this break, after the storm, I feel we will have more work to do.”

With that they all moved into the common area. While most everyone caught a nap, Marc, Ethan, Chad, Gina, Julia and Marsha all got involved in a vicious game of spades, with the couples serving as partners. It was different with three teams, but they made it work.

Gina began to talk a little about her Air Force survival training that she had during her initial flight training. Ethan snickered a little at it and she stopped and said, “What?”

Well, my cousin here decided the training he got wasn’t sufficient and decided to teach the class himself. At least the land survival part.

Logan looked at Ethan and sighed, “So my aunt told you about that?”

“Yes. Yes she did, he said with glee.”

Soon all eyes were on him. Which Marc never enjoyed. “Come on guys, it’s a long story.” He started.

About this time Carmen, Carl, the Docs and the kids, Alex and it turns out the girl’s name was Alexa, that is a mouthful at the same time, joined them.

Carmen smiled and said, “Well we have plenty of time.”

Marc was stuck, so he just started talking. “Well just after I made Chief, I was sent to Pensacola to go through some survival training, both Land and Water. I was scheduled to do some work with a covert H-60 group out of Hulburt Field.”

“The Spooks? Nice.!” Gina said.

“Well as you may or may not know, Pensacola is where all the want-a-be Naval Aviators and some Air Force want-a-be pilots come to get their inner Tom Cruise on. Before they class up in Advance Preflight Indoc (API), the go through two weeks of water survival, read learning to tread water and not drown. After API, they go to the Naval Survival Training Institute and work on water survival stuff, learning to use the survival equipment in their inventory. You know, rafts, radios, flares, etc. Along the way you get to learn how to escape from sinking helicopters, airplanes and parachutes. It takes about two weeks, but it is informative. And actually quite fun.

“Yet, after these two weeks, they chose to give us one afternoon of land survival.” Marc stopped to let that sit in.

“Yeah, my dad got a big kick out of that one.” Turning toward Chad, Ethan said, “Remember the tactical training he gave us? Before that, he worked with both Marc and I when we were really young. He took to it a lot faster than I did. Called it Bushcrafting.”

Marc chuckled a little at this. “Yeah, he unlocked my inner Nesmuk.”

Julie titled her head, but didn’t ask the question. Alex beat her to it. “Who is that?”

Ethan answered, “He was a woodsman who perfected bushcrafting, building shelters and crafting necessary items out of what was at hand, at the turn of the century.” He looked at the young man and saw him searching his memory banks. Then he added, “The turn of the last century. The early 1900s.”

“Ohhhh…” Alex let out.

Gina laughed, “One afternoon, wow that must have been underwhelming.”

Marc collected his thoughts and realized he was actually enjoying telling this story. “Yeah, I knew I had to step in after they halfa#$@ed the fire starting bow drill demonstration. See, they took us in to the greenhouse, practical location on the first floor of their training center. The plants in there were not native to anywhere else but tropical locations. I know this is key to most of our Navy ops, but short sighted with our overarching locations.

“At any rate, the Seaman, an E-3, cranked on the bow drill for a few moments and then set it down. He had no ember, no smoke and didn’t have anything to put it in. So, I asked him if that was it and before he realized what he’d said, he basically told me to do it myself if I could do better. I said I would after he was finished with all of his demonstrations. You could see that didn’t sit well with him. But I was a chief and was in with a bunch of young Ensigns who were about to head off to Whiting or Corpus to do their flight training.

“As we went along, I was getting more and more incredulous. They were only half way showing things to us and I am looking around and most of the young Ensigns were okay with this. The classroom did a great job of discussing Convective and Conductive heat loss, even in tropical settings but the practical in my opinion wasn’t connecting the dots.

“So, at one point when I was looking at him fumble his way over a parachute lean-to, I was done.” Marc stopped, and looked around. Everyone was hanging on his words. So he continued.

“Next thing I know, I had this Lieutenant Commander in front of me trying to keep me from whatever he feared I was going to do. Turns out this guy was the director of the Land Survival Course. I explained to him that what they were teaching was a disservice to the young pilots and aviators in training. Before I knew it, we are taking a walk upstairs to see the Captain. The Officer in Charge of the whole shebang.

“Fortunately, she was level headed and wanted to see what was going on. We all went back to the greenhouse and I showed her the stations, which actually were good for a static display, but showed her that it was not conducive for dynamic demonstrations. Just give me thirty minutes in a place of my choosing and I will show her how easy this would be. She thought for a moment and then asked where would that be. I told her that on the natural trail up to the light house there was adequate room there. After a couple of minutes of talking with the Lieutenant Commander she agreed.”

“Wow. That was something. A Chief getting a Captain to do something like that.”
Gina smiled, thinking it was a tall tale.

“Well, we all walked about three tenths of a mile up the trail and I saw what I needed. There was a lot of blown down saplings and birch trees. I actually got them to bring a packed parachute that was being repurposed and a survival vest so I could do an honest demo. As we walked I talked to them. ‘I don’t know why you are teaching the bow drill, unless you have experience it is hard to get it to light.’ I showed them my ferro rod that was a part of my EDC and said, if your lighter or matches don’t work, this would be my next option, followed by flint and steel.”

“I’m sorry, what is EDC?” Alex asked.

“Every Day Carry. It is what you have with you each and everyday.” Marc stopped and reached into a pocket of one of his 5.11 tactical pockets and pulled out a metal rod about five inches long with a one inch span of duct tape wrapped around one end for a handle. He took out his folding pocket knife, opened it and using the 90 degree spine scraped off about three long showers of spark. “With that and the proper tender, you could reliably start a lot of fires.” Marc smiled as he remember doing and saying the same thing to the Ensigns that day. “They don’t make lighters anymore or I’d have one of those on me too.”

They had asked him, “What would be the proper tender?”

“It was at that time that I realized that most of the staff from the Naval Survival Training Institute had joined us. I explained that it could be a lot of things, Birch Bark, inner bark, dried grasses, or even dryer lint dipped in vasoline. For that day, I decided to use bark.”

Alex stopped him again. “Why is fire the focus?”

Marc stopped just a second and the switch from story teller mode to teaching mode was subtle, but both Ethan and Gina recognized it and smiled. “It is kind of a jack of all trades. It will make your water safe to drink, it will keep you warm and let’s face it, psychologically, who doesn’t benefit from sitting around a campfire watching the flames.”

He looked around then continued, “I had some of the ensign go and gather small sticks about pencil and pencil lead in size while I took the class over to one of the Birches. I took off the paper like bark until I had a soft ball sized pile. I thing began to rub it together breaking it down and when that was done I shaped it into a nest. I found a location I was looking for and left it in the location I had chosen for the fire. I then had the students separate the stick sizes into three piles… All this took about five minutes of my time. I thing walked around the small clearing and found what I was looking for. There was a medium sized poplar tree that had blown over. I quickly took out my folding saw, yes it was a part of my EDC, and cut the size I needed. Using my belt knife, I soon batonned the section into half and quickly carved the plank for the bow drill. I soon found a thumb sized limb with the natural curve I liked and cut it for my bow, taking a straight part from the same limb my spindle and hand block. Quickly carving this into what I needed and setting them beside the bird’s nest, I moved to the parachute. I unpacked it and handed it to one of the ensigns and told her to remove all the string, but to keep them untangled and don’t cut them.

“While she was doing this, I walked over to an older pine tree with long dead limbs at the bottom and sawed one off. I was in luck, it was fat with resin. I took that back to the fire site as well. I took one of the strings and tied a bowline in one end. I took it over to one of the trees at the edge of the clearing I has selected and wrapping it around and pulling a look through the bowline look. Then I found a stick and made an improvised marlin spike hitch with it. I demonstrated that while it held and did its job, it was also quick to take down in case you have to move in a hurry. Like in an escape and evade situation. I took the other end of the paracord to another tree about 8 feet away and then wrapped it around and tied it taut with a modified trucker’s hitch. And voila, I had a ridgeline in less than a minute.

“I see you all have questions and yes, I will show you the knots and everything first chance we get.” Marc paused and took a sip of his coffee that Marsha had gotten for him. “I then took the parachute and threw it over the ridgeline and time the ends down and had an A-Framed shelter set up in less than a minute. It had an odd curve on the ends but it would keep one dry if need be. Back to the fire we went. I laid a small platform of sticks down and then laid a v-shape of sticks around it, about a hand full of the pencil and pencil lead sized sticks. I then took the bow drill and after setting the spindle and cutting out my notch, I proceeded to produce an ember within roughly four to five minutes. Showing that there was no rush, I took the ember and when it had coalesced into a bright cherry glow, I gently placed it into my birds nest and picked it up and cupping it into my hands and with the gentle wind at my back to help, blew the nest into a flame. When that was caught good, I placed it on the platform in the V of sticks and then loosely put another handful over the top, making sort of an A shape there. Soon those sticks were lit and I showed them as soon as the flame clears the last bunch you could add another. One of the instructor asked me about a teepee set up or a star set up with the fire wood. I looked at him and said, ‘That is fine for a camp, but for survival, you get it done most sure way. Fire loves chaos, this is the best way.’ So in less than 30 minutes, I had a shelter and fire.”

No one said anything so he continued. “I then took the fat wood and with my knife made a pile of shavings about the size of a baseball, then I took my ferro rod and with one shower of sparks had the shavings on fire. The good Lord provides if you have the knowledge.”

“That is for sure,” Thomas said. Then he smiled and pulled out a grayish rock about the size of half of his palm then took his knife and after finding the right angle, produced sparks on he hit.

Marc laughed, “Country boys do it right, don’t we?”

“Nah, it is just a willingness to learn. We all have it in us.”

With that, Marc spent the next little while showing everyone the knots.

[solo]

Chapter 32

7 June 2018
The Logan Compound
Purvis, MS

The storm raged around them throughout the rest of the day. They lost visual contact with the outside world about 1400 that afternoon and after some loud cracking and thumping from outside, they decided to wait it out overnight.

The next morning broke and the bunker was very quiet. Ethan had fallen asleep at the console and jolted awake when his foot slipped off the console counter. Sleepily he looked around and decided to let everyone else sleep.

Checking his watch, it was just after 5 am. He eased up to the entrance leading into the house and found that he couldn’t get the door to open. Surmising that something was blocking it, he decided to head out to the secret tunnel to the west.

He exited this tunnel okay and as he was on the higher ground of the property turned and took a look. The house was in shambles. He couldn’t take in the way it had essentially looked like it had been pushed over. Structurally, it still resembled a house but he knew that it was a done deal. If they stayed, the bunker would be their permanent residence.

The barn had seen better days but it was still standing. Movement from the far side caught his eye and he saw the same poncho clad figure easing around. Dropping to one knee in a smooth motion to not draw attention to himself, he watched him for a moment.

“Hey, sleepy head, what has your attention this morning.” Julie then gasped when she saw the house. It had taken a pretty severe beating over the last year and the storm was it’s last straw. She also saw the perimeter fence was wrecked.

Ethan reached up and gently pulled her down to a knee behind a little of the cover that was there. He pointed to the figure and put a finger up to his lips. Together they watched the person finish checking out the barn and then head over to the house. Eventually, he made his way down the drive and began a slow walk toward town carefully examining everything along his way. Soon he disappeared over the top of the next hill.

Ethan and Julie made their way back inside and went to tell the others about the condition of the house above them and about the person that was checking them out.

“You think it was Brian?” Marc asked.

“I doubt it, didn’t walk like him and his skin was lighter. I am guessing that the mayor had him out here watching the property.”

“Maybe so. Well we are blind down here. Let’s get some of the cameras back online.” Marc said.

Within an hour, about six of the cameras were back up, just had their wires disconnected from the various trees that had blown down around the property. As their batteries were low in the bunker, they were running the generator, recharging them.

Marc, Ethan, Carl and Chad were siding at the video console brainstorming what their next move should be. Suddenly, Chad held up his hand when he saw two small cars rolling down the hill from Purvis and turning up the drive.

Quickly, Marc reached over and hit the kill switch to the generators. He was fairly certain that they couldn’t be heard on the surface, but why risk, it he thought.

They watched silently as the second car came to a stop and the mayor of Purvis steps out. Julia mentions, “Man, he lost all his fat.” The others just nodded.

The mayor stood a moment taking it all in. Then he took a slow 360 before approaching the house and kicking at it slightly. Finally, with a sigh, he got back into his car and drove off. The whole visit lasted less than 5 minutes.

“What do you all make of that?” Ethan asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe he thinks we all left and there mess isn’t worth the time.” Carl offered.

Marc stood, stretched and then said, “Maybe this is what we are looking for. Maybe this gives us a little time to figure out our next move.”

Chad nodded agreement, the said, “We probably need to check on Jacob and his compound. Let’s see how they faired.”

They tried on the radio, over the band of frequencies that they had chosen for the two compounds. Finally they decided that two groups would go out after dark. One to check on Jacob and one to explore further out from Purvis.

[texican]

Thanks Solo for the chapters.

The mayor needs to be neutralized.

Texican....

[9idrr]

As always, Solo, each chapter is worth the wait. Thanks.

[solo]

Chapter 33

11 June 2018
Rural Lamar County
Mississippi

Chad, Logan, Gina and Dana stopped for the night. They had trekked to about a mile outside of Baxterville, Mississippi. The had taken a round about way to get there. They took the road to their South/South East and worked their way to what was called “The Trussel” swimming hole back in their youth. From there they worked their way down old logging trails, driveways and then a blacktop road leading to Little Black Creek Water park.

“What do you make of that?” They were in the copse of woods next to the camping area of the park. Logan continued looking through his binoculars. Chad joined him with his own pair and noted the tents and occasional RVs. There didn’t seem to be anyone there.

“You’d think you’d at least see some kids playing around.” Chad mused.

Gina spoke up to barely a whisper. “They probably know we are here.”

Logan looked a moment longer then lowered the glasses. “Yeah, probably so. Let's just bypass this place and find Little Black Creek itself”. He looked once again, before peeling off and following the others. Something was off there, but that would be a mystery for another day.

After making their way around to the feeder creek, Little Black Creek, they entered an area where they used to ride three wheelers, again in their youth called the Sand Hill area. Many trails led off from here and they followed one that followed the cleared path of a pipeline. Heading toward it’s terminus on Arthur Lowe Road. Once they reached this road, they pulled back a ways and tucked into one of the heads of hardwood trees and set up a small camp.

Stealth camping. It used to be just a thing done by solo campers, bushcrafters, thru-hikers and such. But now, while traveling outside the compound, overnight trips, by necessity became stealth camp situations. While Chad, Gina and Dana set up the expedient camp, Logan began his walk around their setup, doing a bit of a scout to see what was around.

Growing up, he would hunt this area quite a bit, so while he knew the lay of the land, he also realized that 20 years or more did a lot for the trees and landscape around him. Still, it had grown up enough that much of the underbrush had thinned out and the weird weather pattern of the last year had pretty much eliminated it.

There was something that was nagging at his conscious, at the back of his mind. He was unsettled because of the camp at the waterpark and he was unsettled at not seeing much sign here. This included a lack of animal sign. Thinking back, he wasn’t that sure what the radiation leak had done to animals. He knew that a few of the chickens had survived. Cats and Dogs too. But what about wild game? He wasn’t seeing much sign for that. Or it could be that the native population here hunted them too much. It was another thing he’d have to get back to later.

He slowly moved through the trees, stopping after three or so steps to thoroughly look through every clump of grass, grove of trees, to sniff the air and listen for anything. After making three full circles, each about 100 yards further than the last he eased back into where his friends had set up camp.

He smiled. Though he bushcrafted as a hobby, he realized that stealth was more important this trip. They each had chosen a hammock set up with the hammock, and a small tarp in woodland patterns to keep any rain and mostly dew off of them. He conceded that it would be worth the added weight to keep from sleeping on the grown and bring something large enough to fell the small trees to bush craft shelters.

Before coming into the small clearing, he noted that each hammock had been slung low inside the surrounding woods like, spaced at irregular intervals to break up the group feel of the, well group. Gina had dug a Dakota fire hole close to one edge and was feeding it small sticks. The hole was doing its job, as there was little to no smoke and very little smell from the wood burning. He would have liked to have brought backpacking stoves, but they could not spare the fuel. This set up was for boiling their water supply for the next day and for rehydrating their freeze dried meals. The fire would be extinguished and the holes filled in before they turned in for the evening; even the slightest light, which having the fire in a hole drastically reduced, and the slightest smell could be a dead give away for miles away.

To make the Dakota fire hole, Gina dug a hole about a foot down and about a six inches in diameter. Then about a foot away a smaller hole was dug and tunneled to the bottom of the initial hole. This set up would allow the fire to burn below ground level and with the fire being fed air from its base. This created a venturi effect and caused the fire to burn much like it would in a homemade gasifier rocket stove. This resulted in a cleaner, much more efficient fire that would be burned on twigs and small sticks.

While Logan was gone, Chad had gone down the hill and found a spring that fed into the stream there. He collected water for each of them and brought it back so it could be boiled for drinking. He took a bandana and covered the mouth of the collapsible jug and poured water in the 2 quart bush pot. Gina nursed this over her fire hole until it had boiled for a couple of minutes. Chad had commented that it only had to be for a minute and she said two was one and one was none, to which Chad had shook his head and said, “I don’t think that is what that means.”

Soon, they all had their water bottle filled with filtered, boiled water. The remainder was used to reconstitute their dinner. By this time, the sun had set and dusk had taken a hold of the small wooded area. In the twilight, Logan detected movement out of the corner of his eye. The hair stood up on the back of his neck but when he looked, he saw nothing.

There was little talking and the Dakota fire hole had been put out and filled in. They were trying their best to maintain stealthy discipline. Breakfast would be cold leftovers. Logan look at each of them then eased out of his hammock. He took his pack and put it into his to make it look like someone was in there. It work somewhat, though it was obvious if you were close. They had selected a watch schedule at their lunch break and he agreed to take the two hours after dusk and the two hours before dawn.

Slowly, he worked his way around to the opposite side of the open area from where their camp was. He settled in and began to watch. This was also close to where he saw the movement earlier.

His bladder and his watch let him know when his watch was over. He eased his way back to his hammock, checking Gina’s hammock on the way. It was empty save for her back pack. She had already taken up a vantage point she had chosen on her own. Logan settled in and was soon asleep.

The night passed with little fanfare and Logan found himself again on watch as the dawn began to break. He realized with a smile how much he greatly enjoyed being in the outdoors.

Soon, everyone was up and they broke camp. Then sat a moment to enjoy a cold breakfast of a breakfast bar, before heading out to Arthur Lowe Road heading north. Staggering out in tactical file, two on one side of the road and two on the other. It was a tarred hardtack type surface. Logan smiled as it was all gravel when he’d visited his grandparents each Sunday. He remembered that dust from that road would kick up each time a car passed which mercifully, wasn’t often. Still the gravel dust would settle on every piece of vegetation on the side of the road.

He remembered with a smile as familiar houses came into view. He remembered walking past these houses to get down to his cousins house. He also remembered having to out run any series of dogs that lived at the various houses. Still it was better than cutting across those fields. There was this one surly brahma bull that would chase them every time.

Yet, seeing the houses in disarray, the yard unkempt and the fields laying fallow. Logan was concerned. Again, there seemed to be no signs of life. In less than a mile, they approach is grandparents old homestead. The home that was there was gone and replaced with another structure. That structure looked as if it had seen better days. There was a short dirt/gravel two rutted driveway that went to another house. A small pond across from his grandparent’s house was still there and still snaky looking as ever.

Looking across Arthur Lowe Road, there was another homestead that was surrounded by fields with a couple of ponds interspersed. Logan smiled as he remembered a story about one of his cousins running over a hornets nest while bush hogging a field. They said he levitated off of that tractor and didn’t get ten yards before he was swarmed. Fortunately, he wasn’t allergic because he took over 40 stings before he eventually made it to one of the ponds. He almost stepped on a snapping turtle before hauling off into the pond with a cannon ball.

“Pssp.” Dana called out. Logan turned to look and she pointed to her nose. He was perplexed for a moment before he realized he smelled smoke. Wood smoke. With a sick feeling he realized he lapsed in his situational awareness; he and the four of them were out in the open. Instantly he dropped to a knee and everyone followed suit.

A voice boomed out of nowhere it seemed. “Little late for that wouldn’t you think?”

[texican]

“Pssp.” Dana called out. Logan turned to look and she pointed to her nose. He was perplexed for a moment before he realized he smelled smoke. Wood smoke. With a sick feeling he realized he lapsed in his situational awareness; he and the four of them were out in the open. Instantly he dropped to a knee and everyone followed suit.

A voice boomed out of nowhere it seemed. “Little late for that wouldn’t you think?”

Not yet an enemy for they would have heard and felt shots.

Another chapter will reveal.

Thanks solo.

Texican....

[solo]

Chapter 34

11 June 2018
Jacob’s Homestead, West of Purvis,
Mississippi

Ethan led his small team up the road toward the Compound where Jacob and his family lived. Their trek over has been a little bit of a challenge. There were many blowdowns, which caused each their own problems. They had to be approached with caution as they are natural bottlenecks for possible ambushes, especially after being surveilled during the storm. And, they had to be worked around.

With Ethan on this trip were Carl, Carmen, Alexa and Alex. Thomas and Mr. Landrum stayed behind to watch the bunker, essentially locked in. They weren’t going to go outside, for their protection and for their OPSEC.

Ethan’s team would handle each blowdown across the road the same way and the same way they’d handle stream crossings or when crossing a road. Ethan and Carl would secure the crossing on the near side, usually on both sides of the road as it was usually a tree or two laid across the road and the two youngsters, would flank out to watch the road in each direction. Carmen would be the first to cross and recon the other side, specifically the sides of the roads and the ditches for any concealment locations. Then Carl would follow, setting up a makeshift defensive perimeter.

Ethan would then focus his attention to the flank where Alex was as Alex would trek around the obstacle and then Alexa would follow suit. Finally, Ethan would come across, or sometime go around if he wanted to check out something.

Sometimes, if there were too many good concealment locations across the obstacle or worse, cover, they’d silently back track and work their way around. He hoped that Marc and his crew had it smoother going than he did.

As they got to the final climb up to the homestead, he swapped the order. Carmen had been in the lead up to that point as she had developed the skills allowing her to move swiftly, stealthily and still not miss any signs indicating danger. Ethan wanted to lead the way into the yard, not exposing the rest of his team. It was nearby that Marc took a round that almost put him under.

The gate was in disarray. One side was hanging listlessly by its bottom hinge, swaying slightly in the light breeze. The other side was completely on the ground about five feet in front of the entryway, almost in the main road. He wondered as he studied this about the outward nature of the gate. Whatever happened to it, it came from inside the compound.

He cautiously stepped into the yard and eased quickly to the doorway to the house. It stood open and in the light, he could see well into the kitchen area and beyond. It had all been ransacked. He turned and motioned for the team to meet him to the side but hidden from the Barn. He well remembered the punch that the Barrett had from there the last time they were there.

Taking a knee, he looked at the Team and said, “It doesn’t look good. I don’t like it.”

Carl took a long look around, “Want me to go clear the barn?”

Ethan took a moment. “Nah, let’s all do one building at a time. We will do the house, first. Alex, you move to that corner and keep an eye on our six while we are in there. We will do the house, then the bunker, and then the barn.” Pausing, he turned to the two teens. “Guys.”
Alex stopped him, “Sir. I want to breech. I can do this.”

Ethan again paused, not because he was changing his mind, but because Alex had chosen the exact wrong tack and time to challenge. Still, he had to work to hide the smile that threatened to jump to his face when Alexa threw a sharp elbow into Alex’s lower rib cage. “Son. The decisions I make, I don’t make lightly. I make ever decisions based on the good of the team. You two have the best eyes of the group and we need that security while we work through these houses. I need you to watch our backs and especially up and down this road and across those fields. Understand?”

Alex looked down but did manage a small nod.

Ethan then followed, “Look, there is no job here today more shittier than any other, this looks like one major crap-fest. So make sure you do this job well. All of our lives depends on it.”

The duo headed out to set up in the hedgerows where they could see in multiple directions with overlapping fields of fire. Alex wasn’t happy, but he took his position with conviction.

Ethan nodded to both Carl and Carmen. “Listen, we have time. Let’s work the cover to the house, Me, then Carl then you Carmen. Let’s get to the space by the door but out of sight of that barn hole.”

“Do you think we should call to the house?”

“Probably too late for that. Stealth is much better.:”

With that, Ethan moved out. Luckily, there wasn’t anyone in the barn or they just didn’t shoot. They lined up again the wall to the left of the door. Carmen held up her hand and slowly moved past the door and around the corner. Ethan and Carl both kneeled down.

Eventually, Carmen came up behind them having gone around the house. She kneeled and they all put their heads close together. “I checked all the windows, they are all sealed from the inside, can’t see in, she whispered.”

“Okay, I will check and open the door and go first. If it is stuck or locked, I will open it and Carl you go first. Since I have the angle, Carl you push ahead and to the left as the door opens that way, I will handle the right and Carmen you come in and push forward.”

“Is that a text book breach?” Carl smiled.

“I don’t know, I’ve never done this. The only tactical training I had was by my dad before all my time was eaten up by baseball.” Ethan said.

He looked at each and nodded. He walked up to the door and the door was unlocked but it felt like something was blocking it slightly. He looked at Carl and held up two fingers for plan number two. He pulled back and planted his right food into the door closer to the jam. It cleared, swung open wide, immediately followed by Carl and then Ethan and they covered the left and right respectively. Carmen was hot on their sixes and rushed in heading toward the back of the house. She made it a couple of steps before she tripped hard over something in the floor.

She caught herself and then quickly rose to a kneeling position. It was then that the smell hit all three of them. Carmen looked down and saw she had tripped over a human leg. Following the leg up to its owner, she saw a burly man. He was much too large to be Jacob or his son.

She heard “Clear” from the kitchen and felt Ethan hand on her upper arm helping her up. He led the way down the hallway and she followed. There were three doors, one on each side and then one at the end.

Ethan checked the one of the left, while Carmen checked the one on the right. They each contained the body of a female, tied to the bed posts with nothing but a sheet covering them. Carmen instantly turned white. Ethan closed each door and then went to the end of the hall and opened the door. In there were two more females, naked, both much younger, probably around Alexa’s age. He checked both and felt a faint pulse on one. The other nothing. Turning back to the first, he reached up to untie her and she flinched. Understanding he called for Carmen.

Ethan found a small blanket for modesty while Carmen knelt to check her over. Ethan closed the door as he left to give the young girls some comfort. Carl was just checking the other two girls and found Ethan. “What in the world happened here?”

Ethan exhaled loudly, “And where are Jacob and his crew.” They went to the front room. “Look familiar?”

“No. Maybe they were checking us out during the storm? I don’t know.”

“Come on, let’s clear the other two buildings.”

They left and went through the other buildings with the barn last. All were empty, nothing could equal the carnage. They turned and headed back to the house. Alexa whistled for them and motioned them over.

They went to her and said, “You all keep watching. Jacob and his family aren’t here and it’s a mess in there.”

Ethan looked closer at Alexa because something about her looked off. She then told him, “I think I found them.”

She got up and went further up the road toward Columbia, where an intersecting fence row had a small clump of old oak trees around it that had at one time provided some midday shade for any cows that were grazing the pasture. “I had to pee really bad so I had Alex watch my six. When I finished, I noticed this smell. It wasn’t too strong yet, but I still knew what it meant.

She led him to the fence row and he could see, tossed in amongst the trees the body of Jacob, his wife and their son. It hit Ethan hard. He just sat down and stared. No emotion reached his face. But he sat unmoving for about half an hour. Carl pulled Alexa back and the two walked by up the road. “Sit here, keep watch, I am going to see if I can help Carmen.”

Carl went back to the house and Carmen was sitting on the couch, leaning forward with her head in her hands. She looked up as he walked in and he saw the tears tracks on her now dry eyes. He asked the question with his eyebrows and she shook her head. He sat down next to her and put his arm around her.

“She was too far gone. Too broken.” She stared ahead.

“They were used, beaten and left for dead. She was able to tell me a little what happened. She said the men had attacked their compound just before the storm started. There were five of them and they quickly killed her family and took the four of them. They came back here and, Oh, Carl it was awful!” She stopped. “There were three more men and that one lying on the floor. Apparently they took care of Jacob and this is the one they got.”

Carl said, “We found them. They were just dumped down the road.” He told her about Jacob, Belinda and Carl.

Carmen asked. “What about his daughters?”

Carl look puzzled, “What daughters?”

Carmen look at him and it began to sink in. Those monsters must have them. She put her head back down, but the tears wouldn’t come.

“Those girls were repeatedly raped and beaten. They died horribly! What makes people like that?”

Carl sat for a moment, “People have set ways. Set Personalities. For the most part they can conform to societal standards, but stress will always pull out the true self. Some people become diamonds, some people crumble and some people become like those men, predators.”

Carmen look up at her soul mate, her eyes dark, “Those men have two young girls. They will only do to them what we see here.”


“Or worse. They are predators. I am going after them. It is time to the hunter and them the prey. Time to find those bastards and end them!” Ethan said coldly from the door.

[texican]

“Then we need to become the hunter and them the prey. Time to find those bastards and end them!” Ethan said coldly from the door.

Yep, including the mayor.

Thanks Solo for the chapter.

Texican....

[solo]

Yes, Texican. Most of these characters can use a little filling out and the story deepened some, that will happen when it goes to paper, I hope. But purposefully taking a pro-athlete with strong leadership skills, show some past egregious flaws in the relationship department, who had some great foundational backcountry/tactical skills training as a kid, but still has some many lapses in OPSEC and Situational Awareness; it has been great to play around with the Character of Ethan. Now, the question is, will he let this situation now lead him down a dark road he can not come back from. And will Julie follow? We shall see. My muse has unexpectedly kicked in and the next chapter is almost finished. After all, Marc, Chad, Dana and Gina are all still hanging on the cliff and without realizing it, my muse has been slipping little snippets of what is to come into the overall story. I hated that Jacob and his family had to well, leave the story, but there wasn't really any room for them to bloom and in continuing the theme my muse started after our real world hurricane, real life survival is mostly not pretty, not safe and definitely not without the loss of someone we love. Each of our people will have to deal with the recent losses the best they can. Or will they. Mental Resiliency can be fleeting. Just wanted to give a little insight from the mind of a amateur writer; I feel like I have a lot to say, but have a somewhat difficult time putting it onto paper or in this case in 1's and 0's.

[texican]

Just wanted to give a little insight from the mind of a amateur writer; I feel like I have a lot to say, but have a somewhat difficult time putting it onto paper or in this case in 1's and 0's.

Solo,

Your writings are way above the norm which is proven by your loyal readers thru the years.

We have waited patiently or is it impatiently for your chapters, but always worth the wait.

Thank you for putting up with us Moar Hounds.

Texican....

[solo]

Thanks for that Texican. I appreciate the loyalty and the support.

Solo

[solo]

Chapter 35

11 June 2018
Rural Lamar County
Mississippi

“That’s right. Sit right tight, hands up. Don’t get cute. That could get you dead.” The voice said. Then it got deadly quiet.

“Mr. Mason?” Chad offered. Marc’s head shot around.

He was rewarded with a sharp NCIS Gibbs slap to the side of the head. “No sudden moves if you want to live dummy.”

“I was taught that movement was life.” Chad offered.

“Does this look like a tactical situation?” The old man gruffed.

“Depends on your point of view.” Chad responded. “Can we get up now?”

“You green horns are something. You try really hard, but you have no skill.”

Marc began to squint his eyes, still not connecting the dots.

“How’d the Navy treat you, son?” The man asked.

Still at a loss, Marc just shook his head slightly. Gina and Dana just sat quietly. But Chad. Chad surprised them all. He got up and reach for the man and wrapped him in a bear hug.

“Took me almost all of yesterday afternoon and last night to make out it was you Chadwick. It has been so long. Was very happy to see you had made it to the show and to see your battles with Ethan.” He stopped and looked around and a slight worried frown began to crease his brow. He asked the question with his eyes, not really wanting to know the answer.

“He took another team out to check on some friends over on Purvis-Columbia road. How?”

With some evident relief, Curtis allowed himself a half smile on his weather older face. That is all that cut through. This man was hard and it looked like he had been through the wringer.

Gina stood and walked up to Chad and put her arm around his midsection, “Chad? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Chad blushed a little at his lapse in manners before making introductions, “Gina, this is Ethan’s dad.”

“Uncle Curtis?” Marc said. Immediate he flashed to when he was a kid growing up. This man was very present in his life until he met Ms. Right for the third time and move away. He stared at the man.

“You got me.” He said. The followed, “Come on Marcus, it wasn’t all bad was it?”

Marc tilted his head slightly to the left, “But how?” He had assumed that they were on their own and now all the way from Milwaukee, here is his cousin’s father.

“Same as you, I’d guess.”

Behind them Dana snickered a little with relief. “You’d be surprised.”

Gina was very quiet as she took everything in. “So you were in our camp last night? Inside our watch?”

The man took a moment, like he was more thinking how much to tell her, not that he had done it. Gina too note of this.

“I was out just south of here and came across some obvious signs of foot traffic on the pipeline. I followed it to this road then realized that you had probably stopped for the night. It took some time to find it, but I finally did.”

Gina still just looked at him. He eventually broke the stare first. Her mind was racing. They did not detect anything all night. They had night vision. And yes she had used the bathroom in a cathole away from the camp. So if he was around, he caught sight of all of that. She looked up at Chad and in an innocent voice said, “Who is this?”

“I will tell you all about me; please come be my guest for dinner.” Curtis offered.

With that, introductions were made to the rest of the group and they traveled about a Kilometer to the west, off the road a bit. It was a stealth campsite. There were some supplies, but the site did look a bit Spartan.

“Please, it ain’t much, but… well that is all, it ain’t much.”

“You here by yourself?” Gina asked.

“Yes. I have been pulling a small travel trailer behind a mountain bike for the last few months. My radiator device picked up radiation a bit back and I was able to get everything into a large culvert and pack dirt into the ends. I was okay for a while, but did get a little sick. I was on my way to your place, Marc, to see how you’d all made it.” Curtis explained.

Gina thought on it but the story seemed plausible considering how she and her bunker friends had come through this thing. Still…. “Where’s your bike?”

“It is hidden away from this place. I don’t want all my big assets together. That way, if you lose something, you don’t lose it all. How is my son?”

“I was surprised to see him at my place when I got there, but we have really gotten close. He took good care of me and led all of our folks when I got laid up recently.” Marc said. He noticed the weird coolness that Gina was imparting. Something wasn’t completely right here. He couldn’t put his finger on it.

[cavsgt]

Thank You!!!! Been a while but good as usual.