Blue Plague: Sacrifice, page 35
Going to the door Bruce fired up the torch and cut his way inside. It was nothing like an Army armory but there were racks of M-4s, M-9s, SAWs, M-60s, GAU-16 mini guns and even M-2s. Bruce walked back outside and called the farm and told Omega to roll and bring at least four semi’s with them.
Danny stood beside him and asked, “Dad, what were in those bunkers on the back of the base?”
“Shit we don’t need,” Bruce told her.
Danny eyes got wide, “You’re kidding,” she gasped.
“Kidding about what,” Buffy asked.
“Everything in the US inventory is back there,” Bruce told her.
“Bombs?” Buffy asked looking up at Bruce.
“Nuclear, conventional, cruise missiles, laser guided, GPS guided even though we don’t have GPS anymore and other ordinance,” Bruce answered.
“There are nuclear weapons like what we dropped on Japan?” Buffy asked with a shocked expression.
“Yes but a lot bigger,” Bruce answered.
“I want to see one,” Danny said with excitement.
“No way little lady,” Bruce said.
“Daddy!” Danny cried out.
“Sweet pea, I have no idea what kind of precautions they put on those bunkers. I can guarantee you it won’t be as easy as opening up an armory,” Bruce told her.
“Why would they put booby traps on them when you have a whole base here to protect them?” Danny asked.
“I have no idea but I’m not about to find out,” Bruce informed her.
“Have you ever seen one?” Danny asked.
“Yes several,” Bruce told her.
“That’s not fair. I want to at least see one,” Danny whined stomping her foot.
“Maybe another day and after I talk to some other people,” Bruce replied.
The argument continued for forty minutes until Omega showed up. Bruce left the Loach after they loaded up the armory and moved to the next one. It was 1300 when all the armories were loaded up into three trucks. Heading to the Exchange, they loaded up flight suits, ABUs, boots, jackets and supplies. When they were finished, Bruce had Ted’s Stryker drive out on the flight line. There were several large tanker trucks on the line.
Stopping by them, Bruce checked the log to confirm they were loaded with jet fuel and called for two people to drive them back. Looking at his watch, Bruce told Ted to take them back to the chopper. It was 1710 when Bruce lifted off heading home. Bruce flew over the bunkers at the back of the base and just shuddered at what was inside them. These bunkers made the ones the Army used look like small shops and there were over a hundred, easy. Bruce turned and flew over the convoy then pulled up to three thousand feet.
Danny pouted the entire way home as Buffy asked questions about the airplanes they had seen on the runway. When Bruce was halfway home he called for the micro UAV’s to clear a path for him from the west. Bruce circled the farm, seeing several bulldozers working on the area for the new runway. It would run parallel to the farm and not toward it. Easing the Loach down until the skids touched down, Bruce killed the engine and shut down the controls.
Danny got out without saying a word, closing the door and walking off. Bruce laughed as the trio walked over. Debbie watched Danny walk off and she asked, “Let me guess you didn’t take her into one of the B-52s?”
“No, she wanted me to break into one of the nuclear storage bunkers so she could see a nuke,” Bruce let her know.
Debbie just looked at Bruce in stunned silence, then spoke, “And you didn’t?” Bruce shook his head no and Debbie started laughing, “I find that hard to believe. First, it’s a toy you don’t have and second, your little princess wanted to see one,” she said.
“They scare the shit out of me. I like weapons I can actually use. I don’t think the blues will back down from a nuclear deterrent,” Bruce informed her.
“It’s okay baby, you have enough toys. Let’s get some food,” Debbie told him leading him inside the hall.
Omega showed up and a crew was assigned to unload the trucks after supper. The fuel trucks were driven back to the flight area for the helicopters. The command group ate and headed to bed. Once again Bruce was asleep as his body tried to make up for his long hours.
The next morning Danny was still not talking to Bruce and acting pouty. Getting up from the table Bruce went over to talk to Ned since he had some time in the Air Force. Coming back over to the table, Bruce sat down and looked at Danny. Letting out a sigh, Bruce said, “Okay Danny, when we get a chance, I’ll take you back and let you look at one.”
“Thank you Daddy,” Danny said with glee.
Debbie looked up at Angela, “Told ya it wouldn’t take her more than three hours if she was still pouting.”
“Damn, I thought my Dad was a push over,” Angela said, looking at Bruce.
“I hardly ever saw mine,” Stephanie said.
“That’s okay you can help me spoil these kids,” Bruce told Stephanie. Stephanie looked up, gave a weak smile and continued eating.
After the service Bruce went up to the podium to start the clan meeting. “Good morning everyone is it cold enough for you,” Bruce asked getting a lot of replies.
“Okay, first, tomorrow we are heading out on a major trip. Over a hundred from us and thirty from Marcus’ clan are heading to the ammo depot in Texas to bring back more ammo. Then we go to Dallas to get more supplies, then, Omega will go with a small detachment to Oklahoma to bring back more weapons. Those staying here will be making runs into Shreveport to gather supplies as well. Lists will be put up today but are already up on the servers so you can check on our intranet. We are coming along real good here and I want it to continue. We have a few more weeks of cold weather so let’s use them wisely and not waste any time. We have a lot to get done before it warms up so let’s get it done,” Bruce told the clan and looked down at his notes.
“Our hunting patrols have wiped out packs of blues all over north Louisiana and we will continue that when we get back. The rescue patrols are suspended until then,” Bruce announced and heard a lot of moans.
“We will be spread thin enough as it is. Patrols will start back up when we get back, but as many of you have noticed, we are only bringing in small groups now. That’s all that’s left in our area. To go any further out we will have to take fuel, just to get back,” Bruce informed them.
“Now before I turn this over to the rest of the command group, any questions?” Bruce asked.
The oriental man named Henry raised his hand. Bruce looked at him, “Henry, I know I’m doing a lot and I’m missing my Monday, but we have no choice. I do appreciate your concern and when we get set up for summer, I’ll take time off ok,” Bruce told him. Henry looked down dejected and sat back down.
“Don’t worry Henry, he will do it, I can promise you that,” Debbie yelled from the back of the room. Henry cheered up after that.
A young boy in his teens raised his hand. Bruce remembered him asking about classes on Sunday and always saw him there. “Yes son, what is your question and name please,” Bruce told him.
“Mark Green sir and I want to be assigned to another barracks,” Mark told Bruce.
Bruce felt sorry for the boy as he asked, “Why is that son?”
“My mom won’t let me keep the weapons I was trained on in my room with me,” Mark said lifting up his pin on his shirt. “I have been trained and have the right to carry them.”
“Mark you sit down this instant!” Jenny shouted.
“Jenny, I’m not in the mood for you today,” Bruce told her and looked back at Mark. “Permission granted. See Nancy for your room assignment,” Bruce told him.
The girl sitting beside Mark jumped up, “I’m going with him,” she told Bruce. Bruce looked at the girl who was a little younger than Mark.
“And you are?” Bruce asked, looking at the girl.
“Kris Green, his sister,” she replied.
“You two sit down this instant or I will spank both of you!” Jenny yelled out.
“Jenny, if you hit either of these kids for wanting to learn how to defend themselves, I’ll give you twenty lashes with a bullwhip,” Bruce threatened.
“You can’t tell me how to raise my kids!” Jenny yelled out.
“I know I can’t, but when they want to learn how to survive, you can’t stop them. That I can intervene in,” Bruce told her.
Jenny’s husband Merle stood up, “Kids you don’t have to move,” he told them, then he looked at Bruce. “I request Jenny be moved to another barrack. We are divorced as of now,” Merle stated.
“You can’t do that!” Jenny yelled at him.
“Yes I can. I am ashamed I have not done this sooner,” Merle told her, looking at her.
“The kids could be hurt if there is fighting!” Jenny yelled out.
“Then they can at least stand a chance. Otherwise they die defenseless,” Merle told her. Looking back to Bruce, Merle said, “If that’s unacceptable, then, throw me and Jenny out but take care of the kids. Without her they stand a good chance. They’re both smart and hard workers.”
A lump caught in Bruce’s throat that Merle was ready to die with Jenny just to make sure the kids were given a chance. “That won’t be necessary Merle. Jenny, you are to move your stuff to the room Nancy tells you to and I wouldn’t make her mad. She hates you with a passion as it is. She could assign you to a tent by the chicken house. From this moment forward, your parental rights are severed. Merle, you are solely responsible for your two kids from now on,” Bruce announced in a calm voice.
“You don’t have that kind of authority!” Jenny yelled out.
The emotion fell off of Bruce’s face as he was staring at Jenny. Those in his path started clearing out of his way. Bruce closed his eyes and massaged his temples. “Jenny another word out of you and you lose clan status and will be assigned to shit detail until further notice. Refuse and I won’t even waste my time trying to teach you a lesson. I will throw you out,” Bruce told her with his eyes closed, fighting the headache that was trying to come on. Every time he stopped the wave now, it was always the same. It felt like a spike was being driven into his skull.
“This is America and since you are the one in charge you have to provide for me. I have not done anything to earn punishment. It is your duty to give me protection, shelter and food. That is what you are supposed to do. Unless you aren’t following the constitution,” Jenny replied with a sneer.
Bruce looked up and dropped his hands down. Those even close to Jenny started climbing over tables to get away from her. Merle left her and went to stand beside his kids. Seeing Bruce’s face, the sneer fell of Jenny’s face.
“First, you were warned. Second, you have never read the constitution or the bill of rights. Nowhere in there does it say the government has to provide for you and I’m not the government. What you and those like you don’t understand, the government is the people. The people don’t want to provide for those that don’t want to provide for themselves. Because of people like you, this country lost a lot of people we shouldn’t have. Making stupid gun laws that say you can’t defend yourself. The criminal has rights too when they attack you. What others like you don’t realize is that those of us who fight and own guns, made it possible for you to bitch. Our founding fathers didn’t put the right to bear arms in the constitution so we could go hunting. They gave that to us so we can defend ourselves from our own government if need be,” Bruce told her, then looked at Merle and the kids.
“Neither of you have to listen to her again,” Bruce told them and looked out at the clan. “I hereby declare Jenny Green no longer a member of the clan. She no longer will enjoy its protection, status or privileges that are bestowed on those here. Until further notice, her name is Skanky Whore. Bill, remove her from this hall. Tell Jim her new name and she is assigned to him, effective immediately. Any breach by her not to preform her punishment will be viewed as a threat. Bill, any breach in conduct will be met with lashes of the bullwhip. After three times, she will be stripped naked and thrown out of the farm. Any member of the clan that does not follow these orders will be subject to the same punishment. I will only allow her kids to call her by her birth name. This is my judgment,” Bruce finished, his voice echoing across the hall.
“Skanky Whore, you must earn your way back into the clan and prove that you are human. It’s all up to you skank when you rejoin the human race. Any person that sees skank doing something she is not supposed to will report it unless it is going to bring harm to a member of the clan. Then kill her. Bill, take her away and skank if you yell out, you and I will go behind the barn. I promise you, if that happens you will know fear and pain that you never thought possible,” Bruce told her as Bill grabbed her arms.
As Bill led the stunned skank out of the hall Bruce looked at Merle and the kids. “I wish she would have just shut up,” Mark said, looking down at the floor.
“I know you and your sister care for her, that’s why she’s still alive. Make no mistake, she is a danger to this clan and don’t fool yourself, she would sacrifice each one of you, just to make a point,” Bruce told them.
Both the kids jerked their heads up looking at Bruce. “I don’t think she would do that,” Kris said.
“When your family ran to the shelter, who was the first one in?” Bruce asked.
Both the kids looked at Bruce in shock as Merle answered, “Skanky Whore.”
Bruce looked back at the clan, “How many people are here because a parent died for them?” Bruce asked the hall. A lot of hands rose up over the hall. Turning back to the kids, “That’s what a parent is supposed to do. Just like your father did just a few minutes ago. He was willing to give his life and leave with her so neither of you would have to deal with the danger she places you in. That is a parent. This clan will be here for you as long as you are here for it,” Bruce told them.
Turning back to the hall, “I’m not in the mood for any more questions. Ask one of the others,” Bruce said, then headed out the door as Max jumped up and joined him. Stepping out in the cold air, Bruce unzipped his vest to dry the sweat off on him. Taking deep breaths, Bruce walked over to his shop to find something to work on, hoping his headache would leave.
A few hours later Mike came into the shop with a scowl on his face. Bruce was not in the mood because his head still hurt like hell. Turning off the lathe Bruce turned to Mike. “What is it?” Bruce asked.
“Why am I not going? Debbie, Angela, and Stephanie are going,” Mike almost yelled.
Bruce sighed replying, “Mike, the days of both of us being away from her are over unless something bad happens. One of us needs to be here at all times. Besides you have first flight Monday.”
“Screw that, I can move it, you need me out there with you,” Mike told him.
“I know that but I need you here more. There are a few here that would like for both of us to get killed and do whatever they want,” Bruce said putting his hand on Mike’s shoulder. “Mike some of the people here are going to question you about what I did today while I’m gone. Most will want to know why I didn’t go medieval on her ass, others why I did anything. A few are going to ask you to take charge when I leave. I need to know who those are,” Bruce said entrusting Mike with what he knew was coming.
“I would’ve shot the bitch. Screw her kids, she’s going to get someone killed or kill them herself,” Mike shot back. “When and if someone does say that, I’ll shoot ‘em.”
“You can’t. We have to know where our dangers are brother. We have over eleven hundred people here. I really only believe that we need to worry about less than a dozen but we need to know which ones,” Bruce told him.
“So I’m staying to be a spy?” Mike almost shouted.
“No you’re finding out who doesn’t belong here and is going to pose a threat,” Bruce told him. Bruce looked at Mike, “There is one other thing.”
“What?” Mike asked.
“When I leave, skank will try to test you. You will have to use the whip on her just to show the others that you agree with the penalties,” Bruce told him.
“I can do that,” Mike said.
Bruce chuckled, “It’s not as easy as is seems brother. When it happens, you will understand what I mean. Just remember, you aren’t hitting a person, it’s only a burlap sack. Each time you hit her you tell that to yourself with each hit and show no weakness. Take no joy from it and show no joy. It’s only the law of the clan and everyone must follow the law,” Bruce told him. Mike just nodded in mute silence, looking at Bruce.
“Is it really that bad?” Mike asked with apprehension.
“You have no idea, but you’ll understand,” Bruce told him. “I’m sorry, but the clan has to see you as the law like me. You have to be ruthless and kind. Ruthless will be a little hard on you, but they can’t just see me as the leader, they have to see you also,” Bruce finished.
Mike let out a sigh, “I’ll do it. Nancy and I will watch the kids while you’re gone,” he promised.
“Thank you brother,” Bruce told him.
Mike turned to leave but stopped and asked, “Bruce are you ever sorry we brought all these people here? We were pretty set up with just us and a lot fewer headaches.”
“Sometimes I am but we have to rebuild and we can’t do that with just our families. I do believe in America and what the founding fathers were after. We are going to make a small piece of America right here. I doubt it will go any further once we are set up with our safe zone but at least there will be a little of it left,” Bruce told him. Mike gave Bruce a hug and left Bruce alone in the shop.
Bruce had forgotten that he had put his small micro recorder attached to his boonie hat on the table and it recorded the whole conversation for future generations to see. A group believed in America and was willing to fight for it. Like always he turned it on at the start of the day and today was no exception.
Chapter 21
It was Friday, 1730 in the afternoon as Bruce drove one of the heavy haulers they had loaded up at Ft. Sill. They had grabbed four more Strykers and four more Bradleys. Bruce was glad they had gone to a Marine base so he could get some LAVs. Then they visited several other bases until they had no more room. They had ten semi-trucks loaded with weapons and ammo, stored everywhere it could be put. This was one of the longest weeks of his life. Starting to doze off again, Bruce shook his head to wake up. Grabbing a bottle of water, he poured it over his head. ‘Almost there only ten more miles’ he told himself as he looked in the mirror at the convoy following him.
