This is week 18 in volume 3 of the Saturday Survival Serial. To learn more about what the Saturday Survival Serial is, click here. To start at week 1, click here.
The sun had set an hour ago, taking the warmth with it. The group heading to Plymouth were settled around it, waiting for the fish they caught in a nearby stream to finish cooking. They were able to get some dandelion leaves and other greens to make a sort of salad.
“What I wouldn’t give for some salt right now,” commented Bret. “Pepper, garlic….at this point I think I’d be happy for parsley, just for some seasonings!”
The others expressed their agreement. Tori chuckled and replied, “It will be awhile before the spice trade is up and running again.” Bret grimaced.
Sticks was closest to the fire, using the light to plan the next day’s travel. He ran his finger along the road they were on and nodded, folding the map and putting it away.
“We should be there tomorrow afternoon, so long as there’s no major problems on the way.”
Tori snorted, getting up to move larger coals closer to the pot that had the fish in it. “There’s always problems. Have you thought about how we’ll approach? We can’t just drive up and think they’ll welcome us with open arms.”
“We’ll park the truck two miles out and walk in,” replied Roger. “There’s a specific spot where we’ll wait for someone to come along. They had a pretty good set up the last time we were there.”
She nodded, satisfied for the moment. Tori was always suspicious, at least she had become that way after IT happened. People whose loyalty she never would have questioned had not only turned on her, they had almost killed her in the process. The only person she truly trusted was herself. It was safest that way. Well, I trust Bret almost as much as myself. She really liked the kid. He was smart, quick on the uptake, and could shoot as well as any soldier she had known. His constant references to video games could grate on her nerves sometimes, though.
They made small talk while eating. Afterward, people dozed off while others stayed up on watch. The night went by quietly until just before dawn. Tori and Richard were on the last watch. The sky was starting to show the barest hint of the sun coming when Richard noticed another buzzing sound. He sat up and cocked his head to the side.
Tori gave him a funny look before pausing and listening, too. They sat like that for a few minutes when Tori was able to hear it more clearly. She wiggled a finger in her ear and whispered, “It’s like a gnat buzzing right in your ear. What is it? Another drone?”
Richard shrugged and stood up. He walked over to Roger and nudged the man’s leg. Roger’s eyes popped open, his body going stiff, ready to spring. Richard put his finger to his lips and then tapped his ear as if to say, listen.
The camp was silent as they strained to identify what was making the sound but it was always just out of reach. Roger nudged Sticks awake while Tori woke the others. The camp was quiet while everyone listened. They looked at each other, silently questioning if the person knew what it was.
After a good five minutes, Roger shook his head and said, “I have no idea but I would say it’s some kind of machinery. Large, since the noise carried so far. Maybe the people who owned that drone? No matter what it is, since everyone’s up, let’s get an early start. It sounds like it’s fading away.”
The others nodded and went to their individual tasks. Water was heated to rinse their mouths out with and wash up a bit, along with cooking the last of the precious oatmeal they had. As they ate, each wondered how long it would be before they ate oatmeal again. They joked about the foods they used to hate but would definitely give another try now.
“Liver and onions. Couldn’t stand to even be in the same room it was being cooked! I think I would try it, though. Maybe in some kind of stew so I couldn’t really taste it?” Kory shuddered at the memory of the metallic taste of the liver his grandfather had tried to feed him. He tossed his pack under the driver’s seat while the others broke up the last of camp.
Bret laughed. “See, I like liver and onions but sauerkraut? Bleck!” He made gagging faces and held his stomach. “That stuff should be illegal. The smell of fermented cabbage? You could use that as a torture device. I don’t care how hungry I am, and I’ve been hungry.”
Everyone laughed and got into the truck. The fire was already going and the fuel stacked up. They set out, each wondering what the day would bring.
*************
Marcus refused to look at Candy. He could feel her staring at the back of his head, daring him to turn around so she could give him an “I told you so” look.
She hadn’t let up until he’d agreed to continue on. When they made across both sections of the highway, the fresh tracks of multiple vehicles were easily spotted. They’d followed them up for a couple miles and found where the mystery people had stopped. They counted at least four vehicles, at least one being a large truck. There were anywhere between ten to twenty people; it was hard to tell with so many tracks on top of each other.
Candy finally spoke up. “I think this was well worth the extra time. Now we can beat feet back to camp and let the others know that there’s something big moving around out here. Who else but the U.N. would have trucks like that?”
Jack replied, “Main Camp has a truck that runs on wood smoke or something so…,” he trailed off and shrugged.
“It could be anyone, you’re right. But now we have a better idea of how many and their resources. More to report back, not to mention the extra bridges we looked at. Worth it.” She nodded emphatically.
Marcus sighed. He knew she had made a good call but she was going to be impossible to be around for at least the next week. “Yes, yes. It was worth it. We have more information but now we need to get back. Rick? What’s the quickest route. Follow roads if you have to.”
Rick pulled out the little road map he had. There were little notes all over it as he had been charged with keeping track of what they’d seen and done. After a moment he showed the rest of the group the quickest route to take. After a couple of questions and plans for alternate routes to take in case they needed to split up, they set out.
They traveled the rest of the day, stopping only briefly to grab some wild edibles. As the sun was going down behind the horizon, they agreed to keep going. The darkness was both a blessing and a curse: they were able to travel faster on the roads without worrying about being easily seen but they also ran the risk of twisting an ankle or breaking a leg if they stepped wrong. It was a risk they were all willing to take.
After a couple hours, the agreed to stop and catch a few hours of sleep. They skipped a fire and didn’t have anything to eat that didn’t require hot water. Marcus took first watch, the ache in his feet and legs was something he hadn’t felt in months. He looked at the shadows of the others and smiled to himself. He thought about all they had gone through to get to this point. Though he dearly missed things like toilet paper and the ability to get any kind of food he wanted, when he wanted it, he admitted he felt more alive living this way than he ever had before. He didn’t miss running for his life but he did enjoy being able to get or build what he needed. Well, for the most part anyway. He’d certainly never been in such good shape.
Marcus jerked awake, knocking the hand on his shoulder away and stood up. Candy laughed and stepped back. “Good thing there’s no one after us. We’d all be dead!” The others grinned at him as they slung their packs on.
His face felt hot as the blood rushed to his cheeks. “Mmm-hmmm. I’m getting soft, I’m an old man now, losing my touch, all that stuff.” He glanced at the sky and saw that they had already lost a good half an hour of travel time.
When he stood up to sling his pack on, Candy held out a handful of wild greens and winked at him. He found himself forgiving her haughtiness and thanked her for the food with a nod.
They started back on the road and kept to it. Marcus told them they would be making a wide circle around camp to make sure nothing crept in while they were away. It took them an extra two hours but he felt satisfied that they were safe and turned for home.
As the group got closer, their speed increased. When they rounded a familiar group of trees, they all whistled at once, though it was hard to whistle when you’re smiling. Whistles were returned to them and they ran full speed the last 400 yards, waving to those gathering outside the garden area.
“Where the hell have you been?!” Marian came stomping out of the makeshift greenhouse toward the group, a smile belying the question of her tone. The group came closer to her and she could tell they had been traveling hard. Her smile faded a little and just nodded.
“Food first. Tell me between spoonfuls.” She turned and went to rinse the soil off her hands in a water catch bucket on the edge of the greenhouse.
Once the group had eaten some, the story of their adventure came out. She was impressed with the work and detailed information on the bridges. She looked at the map that Rick had been writing on and passed it off to another person to transcribe it into a journal she’d been keeping. When they got to the part about the drone, she laughed loudly and was almost sorry she hadn’t gone with.
After they had finished telling her about the tracks, she sat in silent contemplation for what seemed like forever. The group had finished eating their first bowls of stew, and then their second before she spoke.
“Well, we need to tell the others, of course. We also need to strengthen our own defenses, which are few and at this point, it’s as good as none. We need punji pits, pinch points, and whatever else we can do to let us know they’re coming and slow them down when they get here. Even if there’s only ten now, there will be more. Especially if they are planning on making a settlement camp close by.
She sent someone to gather all the rest of the people who lived in South Camp for an emergency meeting. Once they were gathered, she began laying out the plan and assigning people duties to get the job done quickly.
*************
He had only been mayor for three days and he was already missing the soldier’s life. Mayor Miller was sitting in his freshly cleaned office, listening to another report about busted pipes and the laundry list of issues they were finding in the existing infrastructure. The lack of power had done some serious damage to just about everything, not to mention the surges of electricity blowing out numerous transformers. He sighed and put his hand up to stop the soldier.
“I really don’t need every little detail. What I need to know is if there is enough salvageable material out there to piece together a system. We don’t have the option of getting a brand new, shiny system. Work with the best you have to make the best you can, understood?”
The soldier nodded, stood and saluted and left. After the door closed, Miller sighed again. He counted to three before there was another knock. “Come.”
The door cracked open and Eugene poked his head through. “Got a minute?” Miller waved him in.
Closing the door behind him, Eugene walked in and gestured to the chair in front of the desk. He sat after Miller nodded and got right to the point.
“I have nothing to report on any of the soldiers presently here. All of them are wholly committed to the U.N., if not you personally. They speak of you with a bit of pride to be under your command, as it were.”
At least, until a higher ranking officer comes in. Eugene didn’t let his thoughts come through on his face, concentrating on keeping steady eye contact with Miller.
“Good to hear. Are you ready for the first settlers? Communications are set up and we’ll be broadcasting soon. We’ve already been told they’re sending people up in two weeks. No orders to broadcast our location in case of other survivors in the area, though.” Miller looked at Eugene, trying to gauge his reaction.
Eugene let himself show the surprise he felt at how chatty Miller was being. “Two weeks? I almost wish it was sooner, could use the extra hands. I’ll be ready.” He wondered if Miller was playing some kind of angle.
Eugene was pissed about being stalled from really going after Jimmy Walker yet again. Instead of blowing his temper though, he was putting some plans in place. He’d had a feeling that there was something special about this particular camp. The information about the broadcasts added to the other things he had noticed. The high elevation, the helicopter pad, and the location being at least 65 miles from any major interstate all added up to something more than just a farming community.
He was determined to find out what it was.
They chatted about the overall progress being made before Eugene left. After the door closed behind him, Miller sat quietly, replaying the conversation in his head. He analyzed it from every angle and couldn’t find any cause for worry about the man’s mental state. He seemed to be satisfied for the time being.
Miller hoped it would last. He was a man of his word but he would not be pressured to chase after a potentially fortified military man who may or may not have heavier munitions and an army backing him. You just don’t pick a fight unless you had to, and only then, only when forced or you had some kind of advantage.
The thought sparked something Eugene had said to him about the elevation of the camp being at the second highest in the state. He decided he was done seeing people for the time being and left his office.
Going to another room that he had claimed as his living quarters for now, he locked the door behind him and wedged a chair for good measure. Then, he removed some books from the bottom level of the built in shelves. He paused, a hand on the lip of the bottom board, and listened. Hearing nothing, he popped the board up and set it aside.
In the space below were sealed envelopes that he hadn’t opened yet. Something tickled at the back of his neck as he reached for the small stack. The hairs on his arms raised as goose bumps ran along his skin, making him shiver. He had a strong urge to read all of the rest of the material sent to him. His gut was telling him it was important and he’d learned to listen a long time ago. It had kept him alive more than once.
He opened the first of four numbered envelopes and unfolded the paper. As he read, the tingling sensation continued down his spine, making him sit up straighter. He finished the few pages quickly and tore into the second envelope. When he had finished reading the fourth one, he sat back in his chair.
Miller wasn’t sure how long he sat there. When he came back to the present, he re-read the contents of all four envelopes again.
“…shall serve as a place for top military personnel to meet in secret. Location shall not be broadcast though any survivors that come forth may join the camp as per normal procedure…..High elevation provides clearer communications and the ability to intercept enemy communications and relay them accordingly….
“Particular attention is to be paid to activity across the lakes into the former country of Canada. Future plans have been made for the area and any threats to those plans are to be monitored and reported on by using the code set found in section 17.4-5 of the…”
None of that had bothered him. He actually felt more comfortable knowing that his camp would be more militarily based than civilian. No, all of that had been rather standard. The rest though, that had made him raise his eyebrows more than once.
“No camp civilian is allowed to see those coming and going via helicopter. Any who are suspected of witnessing arrivals or departures are to be shot. Suspicion alone is grounds. Civilians’ sole purpose for this facility is to produce the food, maintain, cook, and clean for themselves and the military who reside or visit…
“Communication will be used to spread propaganda against those living outside the settlement camps and begin the retraining of the human race’s view of life to one of strictly managed population control and resource allocation. Additional propaganda promoting the reputation and image of the United Nation’s mission to save the race will be broadcasted, along with written…
“Presented as a matter of duty, citizens are encouraged to think of the human race over themselves…population control has already begun with the sterilization of those women who birth deformed and mentally handicapped children. Sterilization extends to the father of the children, if known and within one of the camps…”
Miller sat in his chair for a good hour, considering all the implications and trying to decide how he felt about it. His military perspective could see how certain evils were a necessary thing to achieve the end goal but having people under his…stewardship, not his command, pricked a bit at his conscious.
He got up and poured himself a stout whiskey, knocking it back easily. As he enjoyed the burn coursing down his throat, he decided that it wasn’t for him to question. His purpose was the same it had always been: to serve the people. Though he may have the title of Mayor, his was mayor of a special military camp.
That suited him just fine.
**************
Jimmy, Amie and the twins were out walking the trails. Amie wanted to get some edibles and scout locations for foraging later in the season. They had the twins in packs on their back – a gift from one of the survivors from the North Camp flood. It made for a much more enjoyable, and productive, outing.
After the group had left to Plymouth, everyone had pitched in extra hours to get things back on track. The garden had been cleared, salvaging what little they could, and reseeded. Surprisingly, several patches of seeds had survived the flooding and though there were carrots and broccoli outside the garden area, everyone was happy to see the sprouts. A protective fence was put around the larger patches.
They had set plans for additional scouts to head out and check bridges. Those groups would leave tomorrow morning – one from Center Camp and another from Main Camp. He’d been busy with plans being made for the Gathering and several meetings about the what kinds of threats the U.N. settlement camp posed. They hadn’t even really gotten to what they could do about it. It was all a waiting game until some information came back.
They should be just about to Grand Rapids, unless they lost the truck early and had to walk. Or unless there were injuries…” Jimmy shook his head to clear the thoughts that just kept running in circles. It was enough to drive a person crazy but he wasn’t known for being the most patient man. This new life forced it on him often.
He smiled and watched his wife kneel down to dig some wild leeks. He stood close to grab them from her as she pulled them up. Shaking off the dirt, he had a nice bunch before she was done. They continued on at a lazy pace when Amie squealed with excitement.
“Mushrooms!!” She went off the little trail and around a large tree trunk. Jimmy laughed and followed. When he rounded the tree, his jaw dropped. Spread out on the forest floor were dozens of morel mushrooms, all perfect for the picking. He laughed and drooled at the same time, making for a very funny look as he tried not to let it get on his jacket. Amie grinned, shaking her head before bending down to start picking.
An hour later, they were coming back with two cloth sacks full of leeks and mushrooms, discussing all the ways they could enjoy them. They agreed to get others out there to look for more mushrooms. It was easy enough to dry them out and would store nicely for the coming winter. Anything to offer a different flavor was very welcome.
As they walked into camp hand in hand, Jessica came bursting out of the Comm Shack and beelined toward them.
“Jimmy, we just got word from South Camp. They saw a drone surveying an area about 35 miles from here, tracks from trucks, and maybe twenty people. Said the tracks were heading north.”
Jimmy’s jaw dropped open for the second time that day.
Amie spoke up first. “Any idea who and where they were going?”
Jessica shook her head. “No. There’s a runner from South Camp here to see you. It’s Marcus; he went on the scouting trip. Oh, and they were checking bridges and have some interesting information that, too.”
Jimmy raised an eyebrow at the last. “Checking bridges? Seems great minds think alike but why would Marian send people out to do something like that without saying anything to us? Did she find out we were talking about doing the same thing?”
Jessica shrugged. “No idea. Marcus is in The Hall whenever you’re ready.”
Jimmy nodded and turned with Amie toward home. After getting them settled in, he left again and headed to The Hall. Waving to the school kids who were practicing the hand signals every person in camp should know, he walked up the few steps and into the largest building in Center Camp.
He was greeted by several people and walked over to where Marcus was sitting, watching a lady create lengths of rope from strips of old clothing. Marcus watched her roll it into a ball and asked what she would do with it.
“Oh, all sorts of things. I could make some clothing with it, or a rug, or just save it to be used as rope or other binding.” He was impressed with all the ways people had thought to reuse everything they had or found.
“Nothing goes to waste,” said Jimmy. Marcus nodded as he stood and offered his hand. Jimmy shook it and gestured to a table further back in the building where they could have more privacy.
“Alright, give me all the details and be prepared for questions.”
Seeking feedback!
What keeps you reading the series? The characters? The story itself? What do you think will happen to end the trilogy?
This is an open forum. All opinions, questions, speculations, and criticism is welcome so long as you aren’t rude or belittling. Don’t want to share your thoughts or ask your questions publicly? Email me at akhomestead.dreamer@gmail.com!
Michael Foley says
Both the characters and The story itself. And the story behind the characters.
Thomas Morris says
What keeps me reading is putting yourself in the story, be it Ammie, Jimmy, Captain or any of the other character. We all see ourselves in at least one of them. The struggle to thrive, not just survive is what keeps us turning the pages. The UN as the “big bad wolf” huffing and puffing keeps our heroes on their toes and we can’t wait to see how they beat/turn around the situation in the end. As always, your doing an amazing job. Thank you.