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Post by rep1270 on Dec 30, 2021 13:36:17 GMT -6
Thank you.
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Post by 9idrr on Dec 30, 2021 14:59:34 GMT -6
Solo comes through again!
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Post by texican on Dec 31, 2021 22:41:46 GMT -6
What is that old saying?
Better late than never.
Texican....
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Post by solo on Jan 4, 2022 9:29:06 GMT -6
Chapter 36
11-12 June 2018 Jacob’s Homestead/Rural Lamar County, West of Purvis, Mississippi
Soon night began to descend on the Homestead. They decided to collect all of the bodies in the house and just burn the house down. For their friend, Jacob and his family, they dug graves out behind the house and buried them. They were shallow graves so Carl and Alex fetched a few wheel barrow loads of river rocks and made flat cairns over the graves. Though they had known them for only a short time, Jacob was solid. He took care of his family and Ethan saw it as his duty to do something about his daughters. He regretted that he didn’t even have their names.
Ethan and Carmen had left earlier that evening; Ethan wanted to go it alone, but Carmen had convinced him that she was better at following a trail than he was. He countered that this trail wasn’t that hard as they didn’t appear that dead set on covering their tracks.
Carl, Alexa and Alex headed over toward the hamlet of Baxterville, specifically a small community just south of there where Ethan’s and Marc’s grandfather had lived. The thinking was, that they would meet up with Marc’s group and then follow behind Ethan, in case any back up was needed.
Ethan and Carmen made good ground that night. It was a dark night and they were pretty stealthy. Carmen did her best to keep Ethan in check so that he wouldn’t move too fast. She did her best to make sure the group did not turn off the road to the many empty homes along the way.
By the time dawn began to grow, they had followed the weakening trail to a turn off more toward the south. The street sign on the ground read “Tatum Salt Dome Rd.”
“That figures.” Ethan whispered more to himself when they had paused to read the sign.
“What does?” Carmen asked.
“Tatum Salt Dome. Remember they set off a couple of nuclear bombs in an underground Salt Dome near here?” Ethan explained in a hushed tone.
Carmen just shook her head to the side. “I didn’t grow up here.”
“Yeah, it was late 60’s, early 70’s or so. It was documented that years later, the population within 10-20 miles seemed to have higher rates of cancers and that the radiation had somehow leaked into the ground water even though they supposedly filled the dome with concrete.”
“Imagine that. Concrete and duct tape are the world’s problem solvers.” Carmen smirked.
“There is one cemetery out past the gas and oil fields that the grave markers all list people in their 30s and 40s. Way too young.” Ethan let out.
“Wait! Did you say gas and oil fields?”
“Yes. Fairly okay deposits around there. Most of the wells were capped in the 70s though. I don’t think they were played out. They were just kept in reserve. I could be wrong as I left a while back.”
At that they were quiet. Then with just a look, Carmen stood up, crouched a little then headed down Tatum Salt Dome Road.
In a little over an hour the sun had sprung up and they decided to step into the woods and hunker down. They had reached a little lane that ran off to the left that Ethan had guessed was R Thompson Rd and there were signs that the group had turned off here.
Ethan took the first watch while Carmen wrapped up in a camo poncho. He thought about the events up until then and had begun to get an unsettled feeling in his stomach. If they stayed on this road, it would eventually take then close to his grandfather’s homestead. Though his grand father had been deceased for some time, he had distant cousins and other family still living there.
At the same moment. Carl and the two teenagers had made great progress. They actually traveled down Boggy Hollow Road back to their compound to let the those they left behind know what was happening and to check on things. Then they decided to wait until sun up and take three of the motorcycles out toward’s Baxterville.
They took three bikes with Marsha doubled up with Alex and Julie doubled up with Alexa. Carl was on the third and road out ahead of the others a bit to run interference should they come up on someone with ill intentions. The Harleys were loud so they did their best to slow before each hill crest (there were quite a few in this part of Mississippi) and big turns that were obscured by woods. They turned off on Arthur Lowe road and rode the length of it slowly before eventually coming to Hwy 13. They turned north on that road and rode into Baxterville proper. There was very little to see and no one, if anyone was left, was out. So they rode back down the Purvis-Baxterville road until they got back to Arthur Lowe road and stopped to take stock.
“There is no sign of anyone, let alone Marc, Gina or them.” Julie said. They rolled the cycles over to the trees right off the intersection and left them there. They sat down and pulled out some jerky and water and began to have a make shift Lunch.
Each person was lost in their own thoughts when Carl just blurted out, “Man, I really could use a cup of black coffee right about now.”
Julie furrowed her eyebrows and tilted her head and just looked at him. For almost 30 seconds, then it hit her. She smelled coffee. She also caught scent faintly of a fire. She jumped up and looked around then motioned for everyone to follow her. She bee lined it into the trees behind her back then squatted down. The others finally followed suit.
Carl look at her with askance on his face and through hand motions, let them know she had smelled something. It took but a moment to realize that it was indeed coffee.
Judging from the direction the wind was lightly blowing. She eased up into a crouch and motioned to the others to wait. She then headed off deeper into the woods. It was quiet, save for the wind cutting through the pines, sometimes with heavier gusts.
In a few moments, she came back and motioned for them to follow her slowly. She angled away from the road for a few hundred meters going steady, but deliberately. When they approached a small opening she dropped down and the others did likewise. Carefully, they eased up to the clearing and while kneeling in great concealment, they saw a small campfire with a grill adorned a coffee pot over it. That was it. There was steam coming out of the pot, but the people that Julie had seen before, were gone. She began to get a little concerned when out of nowhere, a strong set of arms wrapped themselves around her and clinched her tight!
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Post by cavsgt on Jan 4, 2022 13:17:57 GMT -6
Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice to have you back to entertain us.
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Post by solo on Jan 5, 2022 13:58:01 GMT -6
Chapter 37
12 June 2018 Rural Lamar County, West of Purvis, Mississippi
Logan tried a few times during the night to piece together what his sixth sense was trying to tell him. He had quietly asked Gina, but she hadn’t said anything. Still he was trying to understand what was going on and why he was feeling this way.
They had awoken at the break of dawn and made a quick breakfast of jerky and dried fruit. It wasn’t too long until they heard the muffled sound of motorcycles go by a little ways off. It soon faded.
They then watched as Curtis walked into the woods and came back with a pile of wood ranging in size from pencil lead to arm size. He made a couple more trips, the last, he had brought a handful of river stones. With these he made a small circle and made a haphazard pile of the smaller wood. Pulling a smallish wood chunk from the reserve stack, he shaved many slivers off of this chunk, Logan recognized the strong resin smell… that was fat wood.
Soon Curtis had a small smokeless fire going. He set the grate and a pot over this and soon had water boiling. He put a generous amount of coffee grounds in and soon the aroma wafted throughout the clearing. He had their attention.
“That smells so good!” Chad said.
“Just wait a bit. For now it is bait.” Curtis said.
“Bait?” Gina asked with a turn of her head.
“Yes. When I say so, each of us will exit the clearing quickly and pick a hiding spot.”
“But why?”
“We are being watched. They are a scout, but when they leave, they will bring out more.” Curtis explained.
Soon, he gave the signal and they all broke in to the woods at various places, but roughly had the clearing covered on all sides.
Marc was in a small thicket next to a large three and had just settle in when a small figure drifted in close to him and kneeled just to the other side of the tree he had settle on. He immediately saw who it was and gently grabbed her.
For an instant they were frozen, then Marc realized a second too late that his head was too close to the only weapon she had left. With a swift shift, the back of her head came screaming back, red hair following and smacked him with deadly purpose. Fortunately for him he managed to turn his head and she only caught the side of his face close to his ear. Still it left him seeing starts. Before he knew it she had him flipped over on his stomach sitting atop his chest.
When Julie saw who it was, she reared her right fist back and swung it connecting with a light slap to his face. “That was incredibly stupid!”
Logan laughed. “But I had you for a second.”
Julie stepped back and looked at Marc. “Yeah… About a second is right. Just remember that next time.
He smiled. His cousin had his hands full, but he knew Ethan would not have it any other way. “What are you guys doing out here?”
“Let’s get everyone out in the open so no one actually kills anyone.” Julie offered.
Soon they were back in the clearing. Introductions were made though none were needed for Julie and Curtis.
“Last time I saw you, you were just a kid.” He told her.
“Yeah, my last memory of you wasn’t that fond. You took Ethan away. How’d that move go.” Julie was not mad, just matter of fact.
Curtis smiled a sad smile and said, “It was a good move, change of scenery and all, but after Ethan left, it all went to hell. Everyone was right, she was only looking for a sugar daddy and what she could get from me and then…”
He paused there.
Chad finished. “She got drunk that one night. It was the night that Ethan got his call up from Triple A to the show. She decided that your money just wasn’t enough. Not with the contract Ethan had signed.”
Julie, Marsha, and Dana’s eyes all got wide. Gina tilted her head. They all saw where this was going. “He didn’t!” Julie said.
Curtis, still with his sad smile, said, “No he didn’t. It was the night of our send off party and yes, she had a few too many. Ethan and Chad helped her upstairs as I was way too tipsy to negotiate the stairs myself. Chad came back down, but Ethan didn’t.”
“Oh no…” Dana let slip involuntarily. “No. He did good. She was the creepy one. Remember she was only about five years older than him.” He held up his hands. “Yeah I know. Not one of my finer moments.”
“Or years.” Chad piped in.
“O come on, you can’t tell me you didn’t sneak peaks of her at the pool when you were younger.” Curtis said.
Chad blushed a little. “Big difference between being a young teenager and going off to the Big Leagues.”
“Anyway, I had it all on the surveillance system cameras. Ethan went into the bathroom to take care of his business while he was up there and when he came out, my darling wife was waiting for him. Completely Naked. She walked over to him and in his shock, she was able to get her arms around his neck and press in close to him.” He paused for effect.
“Then his character kicked in. He gently reached up and undid her arms around his neck and carefully redirected her. While doing this, he reach to the chair next to them and grabbed her robe and then slipped it on her. He helped her to bed then came down.”
“Poor guy was traumatized for months.” Chad filled in.
“Next morning, I went to see my Lawyer and wrote up papers to have her served. The divorce was final in about four months.”
“Well, just so you know, we are together now.” Julie said.
“You got a good one. And he does too.”
Gina watched this interaction again with interest. She walked over to Chad and put her arm around him. Soon she would have to talk to him but right now she’d have to let the adrenalin from the re-meeting fade some first.
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Post by solo on Jan 6, 2022 13:28:42 GMT -6
Chapter 38
12 June 2018 Rural Lamar County, West of Purvis, Mississippi
Ethan eased out of his poncho and sat beside Carmen. She stopped her scan of the surroundings long enough to acknowledge him. The gray predawn was very quiet. She was tired, but also was at her best in these early morning times. It was her favorite time of the day. At least since the flare. Before then, it was hit or miss.
“I will go ahead and get us packed up. Are you about ready to move out?” Ethan said.
She nodded. She had taken care of her morning ablutions about an hour prior and was now looking to get going and find this group. She would like to have Jacob’s daughters back and back at the compound later in the day. She did not know how realistic that was as they had no clue how many there were in the group that they been following.
They had just made it to the intersection with the Purvis-Baxterville Road when they heard a distinctive motor in the distance. This soon turned into three specific motorcycle sounds coming from down the road. They quickly got off the trail and concealed themselves. They watched at the three cycles turned down the road opposite they were on and were quickly out of eye sight and ear range.
Looking at each other they had a decision to make. They didn’t recognize the riders because of their helmets. Yet they had a decision to make. The obvious trail they were following lead back toward Purvis, and possibly right by their compound. Or they could follow the motorcycles, which headed down the road toward his grandfather’s old homestead.
They decided to follow the motorcycles. As they were trying to maintain stealthiness, they hadn’t made it no more than a few tenths of a mile when they heard the motorcycles again. This time at their rear. They went to separate sides of the road and hid. Ethan’s head was swimming a bit with this cat and mouse morning. When the Motorcycles stopped at what sounded like the intersection behind him, he decided he’d had enough.
He caught Carmen’s attention and nodded his head hard, just once back toward the direction they had come. He stood up in a crouch and quickly headed back down the road, the way they had come. Carmen waited a couple of beats and then followed about ten paces behind him, on her side of the road. They hadn’t gone too far when the smell of coffee wafted their way and after a slight pause, Ethan turned and entered the woods. \
Carmen sighed. But she waited and had no sooner taken a few steps into the thick undergrowth when she heard a commotion and then voices. She caught up with Ethan as he had squatted, listening. She had just settled down beside him when he sprung up and sprinted to the clearing. He popped out and saw Logan, Carl, and the rest of his crew standing there talking to a tall man with graying hair. Chad and Gina were arm and arm face him and it took him a moment but the way the man stood, the way he held himself was at the same time familiar, but also strange.
Carmen eased up behind Ethan with her weapon at the low ready. She had almost reached him when she heard Ethan exclaim, “DAD?!” When she could see into the clearing, she saw her friends. And she saw the stranger turn slowly and look in Ethan’s direction. On his face was a look of confusion that was washed over in an instant with joy from recognition.
Two quick powerful steps brought father and son together. The group, reunited decided to stay that day and evening then head back to the compound the following day. During this time. Ethan had the chance to catch up with his father and the reunion lingered into the night.
With the coming of morning. Ethan felt the urge to complete his unfinished business and taking Chad with him, he and Carmen took the motorcycles to find the girls while the rest of the group headed back toward their compound.
At Sundown on the 13th, they had only cover half of the miles because Curtis was adamant that they practice OPSEC on this trip back. And slipping back into teacher mode, Curtis made sure they did it right.
They did make it back to the compound by the 14th and by the 16th, Ethan, Carmen and Chad rejoined them. They had failed to find the girls.
As the house was pretty much unusable, they stayed down in the bunker. Only half of their cameras were working, so they relied on OP and walking patrols again. As they could not man them full time, they kept the rotations random. It was almost a week later when it happened. And when it happened it was sudden.
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Post by solo on Jan 7, 2022 10:26:44 GMT -6
Chapter 39
23 June 2018 Sterile Industrial Mission Control type room.
The man was sitting there, staring intently at the continuous satellite image on his screens. They showed a battle scarred landscape, one that was in sharp contrasts to where he was sitting. He reached over and adjusted a couple of buttons. They had been waiting for this day. The outer door opened with a hermetic hiss as the second man walked in.
“Well. That does it.” The second man said to the first.
“I guess it does.” The first replied.
“Should we continue?”
The first man was quiet for a few moments. Finally, he spoke. “We could have. But the one year anniversary was the decision point.”
“Well? They survived.”
“Yes. They did. But did they thrive?” The first asked.
“I think it was too soon to tell. We will be analyzing this data for quite some time, but based on inner ocular observation, it appears they did not get past dealing with initial threats. They had nothing prepared for the upcoming winter.” He went quiet. “Still, where they came from and having to deal with the unexpected, I mean, who saw the Sheriff being the way he was. Or the Mayor.”
“We couldn’t continue on if we wanted too. Curtis just couldn’t keep out of the scenario.”
“That is true.”
With a sigh, the first man got up and without looking at the second, “I will go. It is time to start the debrief.” He left the room.
23 June 2018 The Compound Mississippi
Julie and Ethan has volunteered to do the rounds. It was primarily to get a little privacy. As they rounded the barn and started down the hill on the back side, the hill side began to move which startled both of them. The hill opened up, revealing a pristine stainless steel door. This door opened up and a middle aged man with a neat haircut and glasses stepped out. He was wearing a white flight suit. There is a name strip and a patch on the front and that was all.
“Hello Ethan. Julie would you please go and get the others?”
“What? Who are you?” Ethan stammered.
“We have a lot to discuss. Would you please go and get the others?”
Julie was very surprised. But she left and soon returned with the others. As they gathered around, Marc and Ethan were at the forefront.
“First off. I want you to know how proud of you we are.” The man started.
“What do you mean by we? Speak clearly.” Marc was confused and being confused made him rather unhappy.
“First off, I will tell you everything but first. Curtis, Mr. Landrum?”
The two men walked over to stand with the strange man. They both turned and faced the group.
“Let me start off by saying that all this was caused by a huge solar flare from the sun. You all were purposely chosen for observation for this one year. You each started in a unique place and your problem solving, skills development and overall survival were all recorded so that we that remain can learn. Mr. Landrum was employed to be our person on the inside once we determined where you all were headed. Quite an accomplishment over the years, son.” He looked at Marc.
“Dad?!” Ethan looked at his father who now seemed like a stranger. Gina was by his side with fire!
“Are you saying this was all a game? That you could have stepped in at any time?” Marc growled.
“No it wasn’t, it was very vital and necessary research.” The man said.
“Research that none of us gave informed consent to!” Dana was indignant.
“Mr. Mason was not supposed to be seen or caught, but he allowed himself to be both.”
Marc took a step and prepared to punch the man square in the face. Both Curtis and Mr. Landrum stopped him.
“I understand you anger, Son, I really do.”
“The hell you do! We lost a lot of great people because of you!”
“Wait one moment? None of this was real?” Julie jumped in.
“All of it was real. We all learned so much from you. Please follow me.” The man turned and re-entered the stainless portal.
“Come on guys. We will explain everything. Just come with us.” Curtis said before he and Mr. Landrum followed.
They all entered the doorway and walked along this very clean and very sterile walkway. They eventually reached a tube that had what looked like a subway car from the 25th century. The doors were open to this. They all entered and the doors closed. It was a fraction of a second before they were in full motion. They were all silent, each in their own thoughts.
After twenty minutes, the pod they were in emerged from the underground tube and burst out into a valley that held a small space aged city. They all gaped at this while Gina voiced what they all thought, “Good God!”
Mr. Landrum, in a voice that belied his years spoke up. “It is indeed a brave new world.”
Marc turns and looks at the man. “Are there others?”
The man looked at him for a moment before saying, “There were.”
“What does that mean?”
“Your all are the only ones to make it.”
Curtis smiled to his son. “You were survivors.”
“What is all of this?” Julie asked.
With finality, the man smiled. “This is your new home. This is Utopia!”
THE END
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Post by solo on Jan 7, 2022 10:30:17 GMT -6
This concludes this story. I sort of lost the ball on it over the last couple of years but wanted to leave some closure. Amazon KDP took my first Ebook down some time ago though it is still available in paperback. I believe I am going to go back and put some work into it to make the two parts of that book into two books like I had originally planned, along with this submission as book three.
Well, I had written a much more eloquent epilogue, but either I forgot to post it or it got posted somewhere else on this site. At any rate, until another muse hits me, I'll keep reading what you keep posting.
V/R, Solo
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Post by cavsgt on Jan 7, 2022 11:10:01 GMT -6
THANK YOU Closure is always nice.
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Post by jwh123 on Jan 7, 2022 16:21:59 GMT -6
Interesting twist. Thanks for sharing your time and talents with us, and thanks for coming back to wrap this one up!
Feel free to do more writing any time....
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Post by texican on Jan 8, 2022 11:51:59 GMT -6
Thanks Solo for ending the story on a surprise ending.
Texican....
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