After the End

[fastback08]

Chapter 14

The milking lessons were comical at first, but soon, Frank had a handle on the situation and the cow had settled into the routine and the barn. Chickens were added and Frank's Dad suggested building a pig sty at the far end of the pasture. Frank agreed and the two of them built a sty large enough for a dozen pigs and added a farrowing shed. Frank continued to work the garden and as the early crops they planted were winding down, they started planning a Fall garden. Greens of course and broccoli, and potatoes. They would confer with Janet and June to see what additions they wanted.

The men went back to the house, talking about the news as they walked. “Well, it looks like I was wrong about the world being too quite. It looks like that little guy in North Korea is cranking up again,” said Frank.

“Yeah, I guess it was just a lull,” agreed John, “I guess there will always be a turmoil of some kind in the world.”

The men had just reached the gate leading into the back yard when they both heard the loudest noise they had ever heard. There was a very light shake to the ground, but he noise was deafening. Both men had their ears covered and Frank broke into a run for the house to make sure everyone was all right. John was right behind him, but not quite as fast.

“Janet,” Frank screamed from the back porch, “are you OK”

“We're fine, but what in the world was that noise, It sounded like the whole world blew up.”

“I don't know,” said Frank, “I didn't see any mushroom clouds or bright light, see if you can get Mom on the phone and tell her Dad is on his way home.”

Frank ran back outside looking in all directions and could see no sign of any explosion. Puzzled, he went in the house and turned on the television. All channels had a Stand By, screen displayed. “Baby, get in here, this isn't going to be good,” he called to Janet.

Suddenly, the screen showed Sheppard Smith, looking a little confused, “Folks, I have just been informed and there is no substantiation at this time, the Yellowstone Caldera has exploded. The entire area is, of course, off limits to air traffic, but ground reports are trickling in and they are not good. It seems as if the Caldera and the entire Long Valley are involved. People to the East and South East of the area should prepare now for heavy ash fall. At the top of the hour, we will have vulcanologist , Dr. Sam Smith, who will have more information for us. We will continue to monitor this deadly situation and keep you abreast of any forthcoming information.”

[sssarawolf]

Thank you, yep mother nature gets involved or someone setting mother nature off.

[Bookwyrm]

I love stories involving Yellowstone going up. Recently read one by Harry Turtledove that I enjoyed.

Thanks for the great story. I'm really enjoying it so far.

[Dosadi]

Yellowstone would be a bad thing for sure.

If ya want to look at Dexter Cattle, there is a yuppie dude that has a "organic" operation up at foggy bottom farms in jackson county Alabama that has a lot of pics of his. He's right proud of them when he prices em too.

The Pics and such are nice, just don't get sucked into a political talk with him if your BP goes high. Thats just my opinion, but it is what it is.

D.

Oh and Thanks, and need MOAR LOL

[patience]

I really like this tale! I've had those feelings, too, and keep wondering when something really nasty will happen, while hoping fervently that it doesn't.

[sssarawolf]

Moar when you can please.

[kaijafon]

Thank you!

[fastback08]

I'm sorry there will not be an update today. I have a torn quadricep and it is hurting like the devil. I promise to get back on track in a day or two. Drs. appointment this afternoon, if he can help the pain some I will try to get caught up.

Rick

[Lake Lili]

Take care of yourself... we'll all be here playing with the F5 key when you get back. Hope the doctors can help.

[sssarawolf]

Oh my goodness, that is never fun. Take care and hope it heals as quickly as possible, OUCH.

[fastback08]

Chapter 15

“From what I remember, the forecast map has us far enough South that the ash fall shouldn't be that big of a problem,” said Frank as he booted up the computer to see what he could find, “I think our biggest problem is going to be the weather. If enough of the ash and dirt get in the atmosphere, it could change a lot of things.”

“What kind of things,” asked Janet? “What do we need to do?

“Well, Summers may be over for a while, I am glad we got the greenhouses and the lights set up. We may be depending on them for food for a while,” said Frank.

“Will we need to go into the shelter,” asked Janet, “how long will we need to stay down there?”

“I don't see any immediate need to go to the shelter,” answered Frank, “unless there is something else going on we don't know about, like the Yellowstone eruption triggering another event, we should be OK.”

“What kind of event could it trigger,” asked Janet getting just a little concerned?

“I have read the volcanoes can trigger earthquakes and even cause other volcanoes to erupt. We just need to stay calm and see what happens. I am going out to check on the animals and lock everything up for the evening,” said Frank.


When he was in the barn, and out of June's earshot, Frank, called his Dad on the cell phone. “Dad, what do we need to do. Are the animals going to be OK?”

“Son, this is my first super volcano, I have no idea. It might be a good idea to make sure you have plenty of feed and cover it to keep any ash from getting on it. I would also make sure the barn and pens are as tight as you can get them. Take a set of your air masks out of the shelter and keep them upstairs with you. That ash can be nasty stuff if you get it in your lungs. Stay in touch and call us if you need us,” said John.

Frank walked back in the house looking a lot more assured than he felt. June was pacing and he took her by the hand and led her into the den and turned the television back on. “Let's see if there is anything new,” he said, trying to distract her.

[bjoyce09]

Thanks for the chapters.
Hope U feel better soon.
And as always, looking for moar...

[Dosadi]

Hope no nuts decide that the weakened US is prime for a nuke strike, or no US nuts decide to make sure no one can take advantage of the US being weakened.

Also lot of people are gonna be panicking, I'd be sure I was armed and close things down to make it look not worth looting if I could.

Thank you for MOAR< now can I have some MOAR please? LOL

D.

[sssarawolf]

Thank you

[Lake Lili]

Hope the arm is okay... great to have you back...

[stjwelding]

fastback08 thanks fort the new chapters I hope you are doing better and pray for a complete healing of your injury.
Wayne

[fastback08]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes. I have been ordered to stay off my leg and keep it elevated. I will try to have another chapter in the morning. the pain isn't so bad, but the swelling makes it almost impossible to bend my leg.

[fastback08]

Chapter 16

For the next couple of days they worked as much as they could outdoors getting everything as prepared as they could. Extra feed was bought for the animals and John secured a large quantity of seed. He reasoned that the wheat belt may not be able to grow anything for a few years and he thought wheat would grow reasonably well this far South, especially if the Winters grew harsher and longer. Both Frank and John bought as much heirloom garden seed as they could safely store. They also bought a lot of fertilizer and hybrid seeds. The hybrid seeds would be used first and then the heirloom. The green houses were fit with wood burning heaters and all the water and septic systems were rechecked and declared ready. With all the propane tanks topped off and the fuel tanks, both unleaded and diesel were filled and stabilized.

“Sweetheart, I have done everything I can think of,” said Frank, “Now we wait. I am going to the shelter and bringing up our carry weapons. I want you to start carrying, even in the house, at all times. There are bound to be neighbors that have seen what we are doing and they will undoubtedly be here for a hand out.”

“Frank, we have so much, can't we help them out.” asked Janet? “They are our friends and neighbors and I just wouldn't feel right about not helping them.”

“Do you want to explain to Tommy or Sara why they are hungry,” asked Frank? “What we have was bought for us, the neighbors have all had the same opportunity to prepare and have chosen not to. How many cans of food could Tom have bought with the money they spent on jet skis, and what about your friend Francis, she drives a brand new Lexus while your car is seven years old. How much could she have spent on food. These people all made a conscious decision to live a lavish lifestyle and we made a decision to live frugally and prepare for our survival. I will not be made to feel guilty, nor will I be bullied into giving them anything.”

“I suppose you're right,” Janet agreed, “but it is not going to be easy.”

“It doesn't have to be easy, it just has to be done,” said Frank with a tone of finality in his voice indicating his mind was made up.

Frank brought Janet her Pistol and holster rig. She had decided on a Springfield Armory Govt. model in 9mm. The heavy frame and the relatively light bullet made for a comfortable recoil that was easy for her to handle. The full flap military style holster gave her a little peace of mind as she was sure the
pistol could not fall out and the kids couldn't grab it. Franks was carrying the same pistol but chambered in 10mm. He liked the round as it had lots of power although it carried a hefty recoil. His backup pocket pistol was an old model AMT backup in .380 caliber. He knew it was a light round, but it was a last ditch defense gun. Janet's AR-15 was placed in its holder and secured as was Frank's.

“No one is to open an outside door, without confirming who is on the other side,” said Frank, “if they won't identify themselves and their business, they do not get in.”

[kaijafon]

oh why do I have a bad feeling about something Janet may do in the future???

thank you for the MOAR!!

[sssarawolf]

Yep Frank is sooooo right. Thank you. Stay off that leg and I know how hard that is for men. lol My hubby starts to grumble when he's been down to long.

[maineforlife]

Oh, this was great!!

[stjwelding]

fastback08 thanks for the chapter, great story looking forward to more soon.
Wayne

[Vtshooter]

Thank you for the new chapter. Lots of good build up to the bad stuff that you just know is going to happen.

[fastback08]

I lost my older brother Tuesday night. It will be a few days before I continue the story. Sorry for the delay. Please bear with me.

Rick

[geoffs]

Sorry for your loss Fastback, you'll be in my prayers today. Take care.

[sssarawolf]

So sorry to hear of your loss.

[Mr Bill]

Sorry for your loss

[moldy]

Deepest condolences. I'll be praying for you and yours.

[kittyluvr]

Fastback08, sorry for your loss. Prayers said for you and your family...

[stjwelding]

fastback08 I am sorry for your loss and add my prayers to others that have prayed for you and yours.
Wayne

[Lake Lili]

Fastback - I am so sorry for your loss. We are enjoying your story and will look forward to its return but know that you and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Here is something we read at my grandmother's funeral... and we still read it when we think of her. It is by Canon Henry Scott-Holland (1847-1918), Canon of St Paul's Cathedral, London, England. He wrote:

Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

[Siskiyoumom]

May you find comfort in this time of heavy heart, of making it through the day and be able to face the morning with joyful memories of your beloved brother.

[kua]

So sorry to read of your loss. May the prayers and love from this forum give you some comfort.

[wab54]

Sorry for your loss. Prayers for you and your family.



WAB

[junkhound]

My Condolences.

Toby Miller

[fastback08]

I would like to thank everyone for your kind thoughts and your patience. I hope to resume the story with an installment today. Again thank you to everyone.

Rick

[fastback08]

Chapter 17

For the next several week, everything seemed to be remarkably normal. There was very little ash fall this far South, and the climate had been pretty much the same except for more rain than was normal. The rain was a dirty muddy rain, but it wasn't the type of gully washer they had expected. They continued to work the gardens hoping to get an early fall crop to preserve. The cow and chickens were doing their part and Frank's dad had brought a Billy and two Nanny goats to turn loose in the pasture to keep the fence line clean. If it hadn't been for the constant bombardment from the TV, they wouldn't know anything was happening out West, but happening it was.

Janet, continued to add to their stores and Frank continued his IT job for the time being, he expected a lay off notice any day. “At least we won't go hungry,” he mused. “The property was paid for and they had enough food for the four of them for quite a while. Their situation, overall, was very good.

Baby Sara was thriving and Tommy was growing like a weed. Frank thought to himself, we should have adopted this lifestyle years ago. We are healthy, the hard work has gotten us in the best shape Janet and I have ever been in and we have more security than we have ever had. This is the way to live.

“What are you thinking about boy,” said Frank's Dad, breaking Frank's reverie. “You looked like you were a thousand miles away.”

“Oh, hi Dad, I didn't hear you come in. I was just thinking about how our lives have changed in the last little while and how much better off we are now. Our bank account is just about drained, but, strangely, I feel more secure than I ever have.”

“Son, being able to provide and protect your family is the best feeling there is, I have tried to show you by example, because I knew if I approached you directly, you were too hard headed to listen. Your Mother and I are proud of you and what you have done. Now you reckon you can take a few minutes for coffee, there is something we need to talk about,” said John.

The two men sat at the table and John began, “Frank, I have been talking to a friend of mine out West. He said there won't be a wheat crop this year and maybe next year as well. The corn states are in much the same situation. There is going to be a severe food shortage, and what food there is, is going to cost an arm and a leg,” said John.

“No problem, Dad,” said Frank, “This is why we have been storing all this food. We have plenty to last us quite a while.”

“I know, son, and I am glad you did it, but, do you think the neighbors around here have done the same,” asked Frank? “If any of them know you have food, they are going to demand you feed them. Now is the time to go over your security plans and to hone any sharp edges. You need to put safeguards in place. You have to have a plan that will not only deny anyone entrance, but you need to impress on them that it is completely futile and perhaps fatal to try.”

“Dad, we were just going to lock ourselves in the shelter if it got bad, you know it is almost impossible to get in there.”

“Son, you haven't seen hungry people. They will burn the house down around you to get a bag of rice, if they think you have it. What would you do to feed your family if they were hungry and you knew where food was?”

“I think I see what you mean, Dad, but how are we going to fortify the place to that level,” asked Frank?

“ I have a few tricks up my sleeve, son. You need to come over to the farm this afternoon and we can get busy on defending your place,” said John.

[sssarawolf]

To bad they didn't combine households. Thank you very much for the chapter.

[fastback08]

Chapter 18

“Come on in,” called John, when Frank knocked on the shop door, “I've been waiting for you to get here. Let's get to work.”

“How did you know it was me,” asked Frank?

“Remote sensors told me someone had driven into the driveway, and the security cameras told me it was you. It looks like we better get you up to speed quickly,” said John. “I took the liberty of ordering the security camera system I thought would be the best fit for your place, if you don''t like it for some reason, we can send it back, but you need to get the cameras going first thing.”

“Dad, I have been over here a thousand times and I have never seen a remote sensor in your driveway, where is it hidden,” asked Frank.

“In plain sight son, the birdhouse houses the transmitter and the receiver is hidden in the mail box. If anything passes between them, the beam is broken and a tone is sounded in the house, barn and in my shop. Before you ask, I have already built you a birdhouse and a modified mailbox.”

“So now, I will know someone is coming and I will have a good idea who it is, but how do I stop them,” asked Frank.

“For that part, we need to go in the shop, and remember, loose lips sink ships,” said John with a smile.

Once in the shop, John opened the door to his reloading area and began assembling some things on the bench. “What we are going to do is make some homemade claymores,” said John, “We need to mix some things together here to make a suitable replacement for the C4 and then we will use the loaf pans to construct the mine. These are almost as effective as the real thing, and they demand the same care with their handling.”

“Dad, isn't this illegal,” asked Frank, looking at his Dad in a new light, “I mean we can go to jail for this.”

“Last I checked, stealing and killing was illegal too,” said John, “all we are doing is trying to prevent that, now start mixing the epoxy and I will show you how to attach the ball bearings to the explosive and then we will make a fresh batch.”

I won't go into the details, but it is a relatively easy process to make a home made claymore mine.

By late afternoon, they had completed enough of the devices to secure the perimeter of Frank's home and even had a second and third layer in the most likely places to be used for a break in. Tomorrow, they would tackle the security cameras. John had chosen wisely and the most remote cameras were wireless and could be powered by a small solar cell and a motorcycle battery. The ones closer to the house would be wired into the home's electrical supply. Everything would be controlled and recorded by a dedicated computer with an external UPS. There were still a couple of places that would need monitoring but they planned to plant some things there that would discourage anyone from trying to sneak in.

[sssarawolf]

Thank you inventive.