Matthew Mark - Dark Days Rough Roads

They had a little more than half a mile before they reached the road they needed. One of the vehicles pursuing them turned into the marina and the other kept up pursuit. Haliday couldn’t make out anything on the ham; his earpiece had fallen out. He was just hell-bent on getting out of there.

They reached the little river which was more like a creek in spots and started riding in the water and on the bank. The vehicle following only made it in about 100 feet before it got stuck. The occupants jumped out and fired. It was hard to zero in on them due to the twisting of the waterway.

They rode on for almost six more miles, cutting through multiple farms and across multiple roads. They found a spot to stop. If they continued, it would practically take them right to the militia compound. They wouldn’t be very welcome there, that was for sure. Haliday sat there for a brief moment. He tried to listen on the ham, but it was silent.

“Blake, call the group and tell them to use the hams to start searching the frequencies. Tell them they need to find out what these guys are talking about. Here’s the book. Tell them to start with these. If those don’t work tell them to do it the old fashioned way and have the ham scan for them.” All hell had broken loose now. They were in the center of the fury.

Haliday got up to go to the bathroom. A voice came from the woods. “Don’t you guys move or so help me I’ll put a bullet in both of you.”

Haliday looked at the guy. Mid-forties, medium build, brown hair, dressed in real tree camo. Basically your average guy off the street around these parts. Haliday looked over at Blake, “Don’t move, just stay still, and do what he says.”

“I plan to, trust me.”

The man asked, “Who are you guys?”

Haliday answered, “I can explain that, you mind lowering that rifle first?”

“Yes I do, it’s staying right here.”

“Ok, we have some land just south of Cass City. We were just out and about checking out the area. Seeing what else is going on around here.”

The guy looked at them, “You expect me to believe that crap while you hide in the woods?”

Roger said, “I guess not, may I ask who you are, sir?”

“That’s not important right now; you want to answer my question?”

Roger figured, why not. “Sir, I don’t think you would believe me.” Haliday was going to carefully word his answers and statements to try and figure this guy out.

“Go ahead and try me out,” the man said.

Haliday replied, “If I don’t answer, what do you intend to do then.”

There was a long pause. “I have a few ideas, probably shoot you two so don’t worry.”

Haliday asked him, “Why don’t you take us back to your camp and we’ll talk there?”

Here came the response that set Haliday at ease a bit. “I don’t know you or what you’re up to, but I sure ain’t taking you back to my house.”

Next question from Haliday was, “What about your boss, the one that runs things?”

The next answer came, “I’ll tell you the same thing I tell her—I wear the pants in the family, now enough bullshit.”

“Ok, listen. We came out here to go to our cabin and get away from the city. It’s pure madness down there. We figured we might be safe up here. We went into town looking for food and gas and ran into some trouble with your cohorts,” Haliday told him.

“What cohorts would those be?”

“Your militia members.”

“I ain’t a part of those assholes.”

Haliday looked past the guy when he heard a noise and then a voice. “Hey Dad, everything ok?” Two boys walked up.

“Stay back sons, these guys might be trouble.”

Haliday looked at the boys and spoke. “You guys save some of that food you got from your aunt’s house?”

The father spoke, “How did you know about that?”

Haliday went on to explain the encounter the other night. The guy looked at them. “Why were you guys hiding?”

“Like I said it’s hard to explain.”

“You the guys that have been causing the militia problems around here?”

Haliday wasn’t sure how to answer. “Look, all we want to do is get the hell out of here and get home.”

“You avoiding the answers for a reason?”

“Look, I’m taking a guess here. You were out hunting, and we happened upon this area here and you watched us come in. You got us cold. These are your boys here and you want to protect them and your family, right? Let me ask you a question, has the militia done anything for you and your family? I mean, are they taking care of you guys or are you fending for yourselves?”

“We’re on our own, I guess,” was the answer.

“Then isn’t it a good thing someone is pissing in their Wheaties?”

The guy lowered his rifle and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m sorry man, I have the feeling I should be thanking you guys instead of pointing a rifle at you. It’s been hell around here. A lot has happened and a lot of it because of those militia. They didn’t waste any time when the power went out. No one really saw it coming. Even the sheriff is one of them.”

“You mind if we sit and talk?” Haliday asked.

“I’ll tell you what; my house is a few hundred yards that way. The blue vinyl sided one over there. We can go there if you want.”

Haliday replied, “No offense but that’s not a good idea. If we’re seen, you end up in deep trouble and no telling what they would do to you. Give me a few minutes and I’ll heat up some coffee.” Haliday put some water on to boil. He made some coffee in a canteen cup and handed it to the man. He made another with hot cocoa in it and gave it to the boys to share.

“Tell Blake and me what you know.”

The man relayed his story. “Ok, the power went out and at first everyone thought it was just the power. I was working down the street at the general store my brother and I own. After a couple hours, I locked up and walked home. In the morning when everything was still out, I figured it was bad. I went down to the store.

“When I got there I saw a guy standing outside the door with a rifle dressed in camo. I asked him who he was and he told me he was militia. I asked him to move and he told me no. He told me the store was being appropriated by the Bad Axe Minute Men. I asked him to produce some legal documents and he told me to leave. I told him I would contact the police and he told me the sheriff was a minute man and had given his ok on everything.

“They wouldn’t let me in my own store. When I looked up and down the street I saw quite a few of them standing by some of the stores and the gas station. Not every store though. Just stores that sold food. I went back home and told my wife. I took one of my rifles and went back. When I got there they had a couple extra guys walking around the area so I hid my rifle. They had taped up some kind of flyer on the windows.

“I read the flyer; it said the area was under control of the minute men, and they had confiscated merchandise for the good of the community. They had old army trucks and they were emptying the stores. The big supermarkets they chained up and had guarded. It ain’t a big town. Not many stores, but they got them all anyway.

“They said they would be posting information in town and on certain buildings. The flyers were all printed. Not sure if they can print or what. But it was really odd. I felt like it was some kind of movie or something. I couldn’t believe it. They said no one could walk around or travel with firearms. Curfew was dusk until dawn. Few more rules; looters would be dealt with and all that stuff.

“I guess they got some looters and they keep them at the airport with all of the stuff they took. They have it locked up in hangars is what we were told. They have tanks and everything.”