Matthew Mark - Dark Days Rough Roads

“You guys go grab all of the bigger rocks that you can. Load them in the back of the ranger, keep bringing them until I say stop. You’ll find plenty along the creek bed.” They took off and Haliday used the small back hoe and dug a large square pit about four feet deep. While he was digging the rock pile had grown large enough and he told them to stop.

Next he went to the house. You guys grab the two in the living room, I’ll grab the other. He looked through the closets and grabbed a bunch of sheets and blankets. Wrap them up in these he said. He went into the bedroom. The young girl was lying there, tucked in bed like she was sleeping. Haliday wrapped her blankets around her and took her outside. “You need a hand, Uncle Roger?”

Roger answered, “No, I got this. I promised him.”

He placed them all into the pit with the daughter in the middle, they were all wrapped up. He covered them up with dirt and tamped it down gently. They used the rocks and formed a crude large cross formation over the grave. Haliday wasn’t overly religious, but he looked down at the grave and spoke.

“Lord, we have forgiven them for their sins and we ask that you forgive them for their sins and take them into your kingdom. They were lost, but we pray in the end that they found you in their hearts and souls. May they rest in peace. Amen.” He couldn’t leave without at least a few simple words.

Next they dragged out the couch, chair and mattress and set them on fire. No sense in having it sit there and become a contaminant. They walked out and he locked the house behind them. They went back to their own house and everyone showered up. “Get some more rest guys and thank you.”

Haliday walked over to the radio and spoke to Rob, “Anything new over at the compound Rob?”

Rob told him that there wasn’t anything going on that anyone could really see. “Just some normal activity and some security patrols. They had placed some emplacements around the back of the buildings instead of trying to secure the south part of the complex. That was about it. I did see them take food to the prisoners too. I tried to call the militia, but they did not answer.”

“We do have a nurse and a doctor who are going to come by to see you guys shortly. I can bring them if you give me an address.”

Roger answered, “I’d rather meet you guys close by than give my address over the air.” They set up a time and a spot to meet. It would just be about an hour so Haliday got ready. He took Mark and Randy in case there might be problems.

They met at an intersection close by and then went to Haliday’s. The doctor and nurse got busy checking everyone out. Mark and Roger sat with Rob, who had brought Brad along as well. They talked briefly about what had transpired, but not too much in detail. Haliday said they went through and grabbed the equipment and firearms off the militia’s dead.

“What did you do with the bodies?” Brad asked him.

“Brad, I didn’t do anything yet. But I’ll tell what we are going to do. You are going to get your prisoners, and one of the pickups. Bring them back here and make them pick up each body. You guys know where the sheriff lived by chance?” Brad said he had the address at his shop on some of the FFL paperwork.

Roger looked at him. “Make those people bury their dead. Use the sheriff’s front yard. That’s going to send a hell of a message to those people. Any idea on whether or not he made it?” Neither Brad or Rob knew. “Well, either way it’ll be a reminder for them. The sooner the better. I’ll have the guys wrap them in plastic, try and keep the animals from dining on them.”

Brad and Rob exchanged glances a few times. Roger noticed this. “What gives guys? What do you have on your mind?”

Rob spoke, “Roger, we are at a crossroads here and don’t know what direction to take. We need some help trying to figure this out. We need some suggestions.”

“Ok, I’ll give you a few, Mark here can offer some as well.”

They spoke for about two hours and wrapped up when the doctor and nurse finished. Haliday walked them out to their vehicle. The doctor filled them in on what was going on and told them he left directions with the folks in the house. Randy and Kevin came walking up with two of Haliday’s welfare buckets. He handed one to the nurse and one to the doctor. Roger said, “Here’s payment. I can’t thank you guys enough.”

“With that being said, this is why I keep telling you guys that you need to get into that compound. You need those supplies for everyone. You all need to work together. Now you guys get going. Keep me up to speed and I’ll be talking to you later. Don’t forget about the bodies. The sooner the better.”

Rob said, “They’ll come get them before it gets too dark out.”

“No, wait until morning.”

Dawn went and brought the horses back. She found them in the neighbor’s barn, which was a cinderblock built barn, but it looked like they hadn’t had horses in quite some time. Seems they didn’t want anything to do with the battle. Romeo and Max were still afraid to come upstairs. The kids were kept in the house; they didn’t need to see any of the bodies. The day was about over now.

Dinner was cooking and Haliday went back over to the radio. He started writing down some more notes on what he heard. He even asked for other frequencies so he could gather more information. Any frequency he was on he would listen for specific information or he would ask a few questions. He had quite a note pile going on now. Still no word on any government activity.

They sat down for dinner and enjoyed the meal. They had some meatloaf that Bev had canned, canned corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn bread muffins and pudding for dessert. Haliday even told a few corny jokes to lighten the mood. “Blake, you ever look in the sky and see a flock of geese in their ‘V’ formation?”

“Ya,” Blake said.

“You ever notice how one side of the V is always longer than the other?”

“Ya,” Blake said again.

“You know why that is?”

“No, I don’t,” Blake answered.

Roger looked at him, “It’s because it has more geese in it.”

Blake rolled his eyes and said, “It’s going to be a long night.”

Rich called Roger over to the radio, “Go get ma’,” he said, “hurry up.” Roger went and got Bev and they both went over to the radio. Susan down in Texas had managed to find a ham and finally got through to them. They were doing fine she said, they caught up briefly and said they would keep in touch. This was great news. Now they need to find out about Greg in Missouri.

Now the one thing Haliday had noted and now confirmed was that the lower part of Texas was more functional than the rest of the country, they even had power in some of the southernmost areas. He had heard the same about California, Arizona and New Mexico. That’s what really struck him as odd.

The next few days were extremely uneventful. The prisoners, while under guard, had picked up the bodies and taken them away. The group cleaned up the area the best they could and replaced the glass in the windows with Plexiglas that Roger had stocked. Easier to cut and handle than glass was. They plugged all of the holes in the sides and roof of the cabin and checked for leaks. It was pretty much all back in order now.

Haliday had extra shingles, putty, Plexiglas, screws, nails, insulation, wood boards, piping and all sorts of building materials to maintain the cabin. This was all kept in the storage building and pole barn. They would be able to fix practically anything that had broken or became damaged.

Haliday accessed his underground Faraday cage. This thing was quite different. It was a beast as far as a Faraday cage was concerned. The effort put into it was extreme in nature. If it worked, great. If not, he had a big tub of modern antiques. He borrowed the back hoe from the neighbors. He felt odd using it, but he would pay whoever laid claim to their property if family ever happened to show up.