The Guardians (12 page)

As the confederacy of homesteads in East Tennessee began their trade and barter cooperative efforts, they began to feel a sense of community that none of them had felt since the initial stages of the collapse.  At the Homefront, since Griff's primary responsibility was the physical security of their homestead, Evan and Jason had been doing most of the coordination of their local trade network.  They had begun making regular weekly runs to pick up and deliver the goods and materials promised to other members of the group.  Most people were more than glad to have Evan and Jason do the pick up and delivery for a small cut of the load or for fuel or other items needed on the Homefront.  The trade and barter system quickly created a much needed boost to the quality of life of those concerned.  The availability of new foods made meal time, which had gotten quite monotonous over the past year, a treat once again.  Additionally, the trading of goods, services, and dry goods replaced the stores that had ran out for many of the homesteaders.  A freshly made set of clothes or construction materials made delivery day feel like Christmas morning, as they were the first new items most people had seen in all that time.

As Evan and Jason made their rounds, they would gather the thoughts and recommendations of each of the homesteaders to try to improve their system.  At first, information and trade negotiations traveled slowly as the lists of haves and wants was merely relayed during pick
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up and delivery.  However, it was soon realized that nearly everyone had a CB radio of one form or another.  Most were twelve-volt automotive units, while a few had in home CB base station models.  Evan and Jason coordinated an effort to get everyone's unit connected to a power and charging supply.  The automotive units were as simple as using an old car battery, which was easily charged by solar panel charging systems, portable generators, or by mounting an automotive alternator to a small gas engine, such as an old lawn mower via a belt and pulley for a make shift twelve volt power supply.  Minimal fuel was needed in a small engine to get enough charge in a battery to power a mobile CB radio.

With the radios in place, they not only found that it was dramatically easier for the homesteading households to communicate between one another to make trade and barter deals; they also found that they were getting to know one another on a personal level, helping to build relationships.  This was especially important for the women, who tended not do venture out from their respective homesteads as often as the men, if at all.  They also felt much more secure, due to the fact that if there were any strangers passing through, they could inform each other and then keep in contact just in case the people passing through became a threat.  After what happened at the Murphy place, this was a real concern. 

Judith became the unofficial CB radio operator for the Homefront.  She enjoyed keeping all of the families up to date on the goings on and became a real treat to listen to for all of those in the area.  One day, Linda Cox contacted Judith for their daily chat and recommended that Judith also become a regular HAM operator as the Homefront was already equipped with a HAM system.  She said, "Judith, you're already our voice of the community, why don't you be our ears and our voice for the outside world as well?"

The thought of taking on that potential responsibility excited Judith and gave her a way to feel more useful to everyone.  Being without any other family of her own, she felt like the odd woman out, even though the families at the Homefront treated her as one of their own.  She replied," Oh Linda, that's such a wonderful idea.  Thank you so much for recommending it.  I'll talk to Evan and the men about it to make sure there isn't any security concerns."

"Well, I hope you do it.  Maybe even for selfish reasons.  Life sure would feel a little more normal around here with a daily update," Linda replied.

"I have to sign off for now," Judith said.  "I'll talk to them tonight and see what they say.  I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.  They've kept me alive all of this time, so I will respect their judgment, whatever it may be."  With that, the two ladies said their goodbyes and went on about their respective days.  Judith couldn't wait until dinner that night to get the men all in one place to ask them what they thought. 

Later that evening after dinner, everyone at the Homefront was sitting around outside surrounding the fire pit, relaxing on the outdoor furniture enjoying the beautiful Tennessee mountain sunset.  Although It wasn't cool enough to need a fire, the fire pit had become their outdoor gathering place.  Griff built a small fire and set it up to be a smoldering mosquito  smoke.  It kept the bugs away quite well, which could get pretty annoying that time of year in East Tennessee.

"I swear I think the bugs have gotten worse this year," Judy said.

"I was thinking the same thing," replied Griff.

"I'll betcha it's due to the fact that there hasn't been any commercial spraying going on," added Jason.  "People have much larger pests to worry about these days."

Molly chimed in and said, "That's just what we need right now is more bugs.  All we need is a West Nile outbreak or something with our country a shambles right now.  With the medical system being in a state of ruin, people wouldn't even know what they had.  The word wouldn't even get out either with electricity still being down."

"Speaking of word getting out," Judith said seeing the opportunity to bring it up.  "Linda Cox and I were chatting on the CB today, and she came up with a great idea.  She said since I'm already the unofficial radio person for the homesteads, why don't I start using the HAM radio that you have set up here to keep up with the rest of the country?  I could then relay how things are going out there, or as Molly said, even important things like health concerns could be shared with the group."

"That sounds like a great idea," said Molly and Judy together.

The men just looked at each other and Jason said, "That's probably not a bad idea."

"I was just thinking the other day how it seemed we had all but forgot about that old thing," replied Evan.  "We've been focused on our own little world here for all this time.  What do you think Griff?

"I like it, I would caution the use of any transmitting though.  A HAM signal can be homed in on and tracked for quite a distance.  After last year's attack, we know there are people out there that want to take our stuff, and if you have a HAM, you probably have stuff. "

"Good point," said Evan.  "Judith, go for it, but let's not do any talking for a while.  Let's listen in on the HAM, and then relay on the CB to keep everyone in the loop.  We can reevaluate the situation after we've listened for a while, and then decide if we want to relay or chat over long distance."

"That sounds good to me," said Jason.

"Me too," added Griff,

"Great, I can't wait to get started," said Judith with excitement in her voice.

"Where is Peggy" asked Sarah.  "She should be out here enjoying the evening, and Zack could be playing with the boys," Sarah said as she pointed to Kevin and Michael as they were playing on the backyard play set the men had built that summer out of random materials.

"Lemme check," replied Griff as he picked up the rechargeable hand held radio.  "Greg is on watch, he may know."  He then called for Greg on the radio, "Rover, you up?"

"Afirm," Greg replied. 

"Where's P and Z?  Have you seen them?"

"Afirm, passing one now, I'll stop by," Greg replied.  Greg had been on roving watch and was passing the front gate near the house.  One referred to the numbered position on the Homefront's security grid that corresponded with the front gate.  As Greg came around the front of the house he walked over to his Dad Griff and said, "She's in the cellar.  Zack was hiding in there crying again.  The last I saw, she was just in there snuggled up on the floor with him.  I didn't say anything to her, I just left them alone."

"Where is Jake?" Griff then asked.

"He told me he was going out to one of the tree stands to chill and maybe draw some.  He took a radio in case we need him," Greg responded.

"Poor little Zack.  He hasn't been dealing with what happened very well," said Sarah.

"Oh, I know. I wish there was something we could do to help."

"I'll talk to Peggy later and see how things are going," added Judith.  "I'm gonna go clean up the kitchen while there is still daylight coming through the windows," she said.

"I'll help, and then we can play with the HAM afterwards," said Molly with a smile.

Sarah then got up to go and round up her boys from the play set, while Judy followed Judith and Molly to the kitchen.

After the ladies were gone, Evan, Jason, and Griff just sat around the fire pit sipping their homemade dandelion tea, when Griff spoke up and said, "So when are we building a home brewing setup?  I could use a beer."

They each just looked at each other with a straight face and then simultaneously busted out laughing.  Jason said, "How did we go all this time without anyone thinking of that?"

****

Chapter 12: Awakening

A bright light shined in his eyes, his head pounding relentlessly.  Everything was blurry.  The bed he laid on bounced on occasion, while forces tugged him from side to side.  Where the hell am I, Nate thought to himself?  His vision was blurry, his hearing seemed muffled, and he felt chills running through his body.  He tried to speak, but his words failed him.  He heard muffled voices and saw shadows moving through the light, but who were they?  He closed his eyes to ease the dizziness that he was beginning to feel.  As he rested his eyes, he drifted off into a wonderful dream about his family, as he once again faded into darkness.

Coming out of his haze, Nate once again began to awaken.  This time everything felt different.  His bed was silent and still. The room was completely quiet.  He could even hear the ticking of an analog clock.  As he opened his eyes, the bright lights once again momentarily blinded him; but unlike before, his hazy vision began to clear.  There stood his brother Luke.  I must still be in my dream he thought.  Where is Mom and Dad?  They were here before, he thought to himself.  Then he noticed an armed TSG soldier guarding the door, and his brother Luke also stood there in a TSG uniform. 

He then felt a sensation on his arm as his brother touched him and said, "Nate.  Are you in there big brother?"

"Oh my God it's real!" Nate exclaimed.  The medical heart monitor he was hooked to surged with his excitement.  "Oh my brother, is that really you?" Nate asked as he began to weep uncontrollably.

"Shhhhh, It's OK, just relax," his brother said in a soft and reassuring voice.  "You're safe now, but your pretty banged up.  Just rest for a while.  I'll be right here when you wake up," Luke said as he injected something into the IV taped to Nate's arm.  "This will help you rest.  Sleep tight brother," he said as Nate once again faded into black.

Nate opened his eyes to see an elderly Hispanic woman wiping a wet wash cloth across his forehead.  He flinched at first, still not having any idea what was going on.  "It's OK, don't be afraid," she said.  "You're brother is here somewhere.  I'll go and find him for you," she said as she put the washcloth back into a pail of water and got up to leave the room.  She stepped out into the hall for a moment, and then returned with Luke.

"Lucas, Oh my God Lucas, you have no idea how happy I am to see you,"  Nate said as Luke sat down in the chair next to his bed.

"What in the world are you doing here?  How did you get here?" Luke asked.

"Where is here?" Nate asked.  "Sargent Wilson said for security reasons I couldn't know exactly where your unit was."

"We are in the town of Victoria, Texas.  We are in a makeshift medical facility set up by the townspeople for us.  We guard it and they staff it with volunteers, with a few of us to augment them when needed.  My unit has been operating to the southwest of here inside of cartel turf.  We've been doing hit and run harassment operations.  We want to keep the general population aware that there is a resistance, so that they don't give in to the cartels very easily.  It also keeps the cartels focused on us, instead of moving into new towns.  So that's why I'm here, what about you?" asked Luke.

"After it all started falling apart, most good guys I knew started to bail from the service.  We didn't like the turn those in charge were taking.  We didn't sign up to be an occupying force in our own country and turn our weapons on our own people.  I reported for my shift one day, checked out a shotgun and nine millimeter, and flipped the place the bird and drove out of the front gate never looking back.  I've been trekking my way across the country ever since to find you.  After I arrived in College Station, I hooked up with a TSG Colonel that set me up with Sargent Wilson and his crew for a supply run out to your area," Nate said as he began to remember the events that landed him in a hospital bed.

"Yea, that's where a good portion of our guys came from.  Active duty that is.  Like the guys you were found with.  I'm sorry though, they didn't make it," Luke said.

"What the hell happened anyway?" asked Nate.  "It all happened so fast I can barely remember any details."

"We had reports from spotters in La Grange about what you guys stopped and did to one of the cartel insiders," replied Luke.