Glen Tate - 299 Days - The 17th Irregulars

Nick was trying to avoid this topic, but the judge had asked a question, so he answered. “Lots of bad stuff,” Nick said, darting his eyes to Rita.

“I’m so glad we’re out of there,” Rita said. “It was horrible. The base was like a prison. And people thought we were hoarding food. I felt like they were going to turn on us.”

Good. Rita was not exactly suffering from normalcy bias.

“So you left?” Grant asked to get them to tell the story. They gave Grant the short version. Things were bad at Nick’s unit. Soldiers were taking off. They were trying to get back to their families all over the U.S. Crime was out of control and they were needed back home. Pretty soon, half the unit was gone. The commanding officer left, too. The first sergeant was holding things together until the Southern and mountain West states were talking about “opting out” of the union. Then the remaining soldiers knew something bad was coming. Most took off. That’s when Nick realized it was time to go.

Nick and Rita got in their car and headed to a family in Frederickson suggested by someone at their church. The trip took four days with many roadblocks and hassles to get gas. They spent all the money they had on gas. They ran out of money and got hungry, but had plenty of food for the babies

When they got to Frederickson, the family they were supposed to stay with had already left. They weren’t sure why. They went to their backup plan, which was to meet the Mintons in Pierce Point. Their GPS unit wasn’t working so they couldn’t find Pierce Point. Their car broke down and they thought they were doomed.

“I’ll never forget when we told that Al guy that we were looking for the Mintons,” Rita said, “and he goes, ‘Oh, yeah, they live here.’ I will never forget that.”

“It’s almost like you’re supposed to be here,” Grant said, shameless appealing to their faith. Grant needed a medic and he truly believed that it was a miracle that the Folsoms got out to Pierce Point.

“Yes,” Nick said, slowly nodding his head. “Yes, sir, it is.”

Grant felt like this was the moment to make The Ask. “Nick, could I talk to you for a moment?” Nick looked surprised. Rita nodded and Nick got up from the table. They went into the living room.

“Nick,” Grant said in a soft voice, “I need your help. We need your help. Your country—the real one—needs your help.” Grant had decided to not even use the “rental team” story. He didn’t want to deceive Nick. Either the real Patriot story would motivate Nick or he wasn’t right for this job.

Nick realized what was coming. “Yes, sir,” he said, waiting to hear more.

“Nick, do you want to fix this place so you can go to medical school?” Grant asked. He was using Nick’s dreams to motivate him. It was for a good cause.

“Yes, sir,” Nick said. He looked toward the room where his son and daughter were asleep. “I want to fix this country for them.”

“You know how to do that, don’t you?” Grant asked Nick. Grant knew that Nick had been thinking about joining the Patriots. That was probably a hot topic of discussion at his unit as it was disintegrating.

Nick nodded. He didn’t want to say it out loud. He didn’t want to admit that joining the Patriots is what it would take.

“Have you heard of Oath Keepers?” Grant asked. He started to explain what that was.

“I’m in, sir. I’m in,” Nick blurted out. “I know why you’re here and what you’re asking of me. I will do it. My wife and I have already talked about it. She and I believe this is what God sent me to do. She is OK with me not being around for a while. We have the Mintons to help us with the babies.” Nick straightened his posture, looked Grant in the eye, and said, “I’m in.”

That was easier than Grant expected. He was stunned.

Grant started to think of what Nick would need. “You can have some days off during training and come back here to be with your family, but you can’t tell them what you’re doing or where we’re at. Understand?” Grant said that last part with a slight grit in his teeth. He wanted Nick to appreciate—with body language, not just words—how important secrecy was.

“Yes, sir,” Nick said. “Absolutely. Last thing I want is for the Limas to find us.”

Limas? Grant smiled that Nick was using the lingo.

“How soon can you start?” Grant asked.

“Now,” Nick said. “This is meant to be and I’m going to give it my all.”

“OK,” Grant said. He paused to think. He hadn’t planned on this happening so quickly. “I’ll take you to our base. You’ll go blindfolded until we check you out further. No offense.”

“None taken, sir,” Nick said. “I’d do the same.” Then Nick looked puzzled.

“What kind of unit is it?” Nick asked. “I mean, I owe my wife the assurance that I’m not joining up with five guys with shotguns.” Nick realized that he might be offending Grant because the unit might actually be five guys with shotguns.

Grant smiled. “Let’s just say that we have plenty of your former colleagues from Ft. Lewis.” Grant grinned and said. “Plenty.”

“Roger that,” Nick said. He was getting back in the swing of the military.

“Let’s go finish lunch and then you can tell your wife,” Grant said. “I’ll be back an hour later to take you out there. Bring all your stuff. You’ll be living in a covered building. We have water and electricity. It’s not roughing it, but it’s not luxury.”

Nick nodded. He was starting to realize the enormity of what he just agreed to do.

Grant put his hand on Nick’s shoulder. “We’re going to get our country back. I’ll be calling you ‘Doctor’ someday.”

Nick forced a smile. It was the kind of smile when you’re having a bad day and someone makes you laugh. Nick was forcing a smile because, while he appreciated the positive thought about being a doctor, he knew how dangerous this would be. He knew he’d be away from his babies and wife for months or maybe years. Or maybe forever. But he knew he had to do it.

Nick’s daughter started crying. Nick instinctively started to go toward her.

“That’s why you’re doing this,” Grant said as he pointed toward the room with the crying baby.

“Yep,” Nick said. “I’ll have a great story to tell them when they’re older.”

Nick walked out of the living room and said to Rita, “Got it, honey. Eat your lunch.”

Grant went back and finished lunch like nothing happened. So did Nick, after he took care of the baby. A real man, Grant thought. Taking care of the baby like that. Letting his wife rest a little.

Manda and Jordan were catching up Jay Minton and his wife, Grace, on what it was like being a teen out at Pierce Point. The social scene and how their pre-Collapse lives had been changed. For the better in some aspects, worse in others.

Lunch was over and it was time to go.

“Thank you so much for your hospitality,” Grant said. Grant wanted Nick to break the news of his pending departure to Rita himself so Grant didn’t say, “Be back in an hour.” Grant, Manda, and Jordan left and, by habit, Grant went toward the driver’s seat. Then he remembered someone else was driving.

“You can drive, Jordan,” Grant said. Jordan smiled and held his hands out for the keys to be thrown to him. Which Grant did. They drove back to the Sparks’ house and dropped him off. Jordan gave Manda a goodbye kiss in front of Grant. Good for him. He’s not a wimp, Grant thought.

Grant drove back to the cabin. John waved them through at the guard shack. He was surprised to see Grant driving the Tacura.