Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Survival at Any Cost - by J.Arthur -

   ***

   Apocalypse has happened.  The worlds atmosphere is effected by first
radiation then dust clouds circling the globe.  Those not prepared have
died on mass, the remainder are fighting for survival.  The story of one
such marine teams quest to follow orders plus survive.  (M+F+ MM, inc, rom,
cons, bd, rape, polygamy, military)

   ***

   I suppose like me you'll never forget the day it happened.  With those
first few days of pure hell from our worst nightmare with your eyes shut
wide open, when the world for a few hours went completely mad.

   That insane time was over ten years ago now by my reckoning.  Such a lot
was happening the first year or two.  A blur of events I wouldn't wish on
anyone.  A time when we didn't know if our lives were going to be snuffed
out any second in a blinding flash of light or not, as so many were.

   It started in Pakistan word has it.  A military breakaway group
supporting the Islamist terrorists in Afghanistan got control of one of
their missile silos, trying to fire a nuclear tipped missile at the
government in Kabul.  No one knows what happened exactly, but the missile
headed for India's New Delhi, it's programmed target.

   Well you can guess what happened next.  India seeing the missile coming
in from its most hated neighbour fired a broadside back which Pakistan
replying in kind.  All this happened in a few short minutes.

   Unfortunately a couple of Pakistan missiles were damaged or faulty,
heading off into China.  Within minutes China was firing back.  While all
this was going on China took the opportunity and shot one into Taiwan. 
This brought the seventh fleet cruising off the coast into the conflict
responding with three submarines firing their full arsenal.

   Somewhere along the line an atmospheric explosion over Russian territory
brought Russia in who let loose with almost everything.  Unfortunately that
included Europe as well as china then the US came in with the UK, to back
up France and Germany.  Everyone was firing at everyone, apocalypse.

   We understood there was hardly any country untouched.  It didn't matter
whether a country had nuclear weapons or not.  There seemed to be enough
nuclear missiles to wipe the human race from the face of the earth twice
over.

   Early recon flights before the clouds blotted out everything (as the
satellites were out, before fuel was depleted) showed signs of life on
every continent.  Life as we knew it though was over.  The EMP from the
explosions destroyed everything containing electronics that wasn't shielded
or disconnected.  We were suddenly thrown back into the dark ages, with a
year or so of nuclear winter in front of us.

   That first six months there was little light as the dust clouds in the
upper atmosphere was thick enough to almost stop sunlight.  After the first
few months it slowly got lighter.  Everything that was green like grass and
crops died.  Some less hardy tree species also.  It was heartbreaking. 
There was no food coming out of the ground, only from tins or stored sacks
and silos.

   I grimace to myself at the memories.  That's right, you don't know me,
my name's Shane, this is my...  no, our story.  I'm thirty one years old
now, I think.  I'm five eleven tall weighing about one forty pounds.  Well
that's now, were all a whole lot thinner than before this all started.  I'm
starting to go bald so I clip it short.  From military habit I shave every
day, yes with a cutthroat using homemade soap.  Old habits die hard.

   We have lost track of the days, quite frankly, who really cares, we're
survivors.  Those of us who are left making it this far.  Tears fill my
eyes as I remember back at the things I have done and had to do in that
time.

   Dawn my second wife who is five months pregnant, seeing my distress
moved over from the stove to the large handmade kitchen table I'm sitting
at.  Sliding her arms around my neck from behind, with her hands pressing
firmly on my chest, hugging me tightly.  With her cheek pressed against my
ear she kissed my cheek, understanding what I'm going through.

   Both Dawn and Sam my first, have been with me from almost the beginning.
Yes I can see your eyebrows raised a little.  Well you see I have five
wives.

   Was that your jaw I hear hitting the floor.  I should smile, but it's
not funny.  At the present moment Sam my first is giving birth to my second
child in the bedroom.  Jane who gave me my first, asleep in my arms, with
April who is recently pregnant are assisting her.  My fifth, Rachel, is out
doing lookout duty in the tower.  Rachel, I'll tell you now, is my younger
sister.  Yes the five girls are my wives.  I love them dearly and woe
betide anybody who tries to harm them.

   Maybe I should digress a little, I know it's confusing.  For your
benefit I'll start at the beginning.

   I was eighteen when I joined the military.  Ever since I was a kid I
wanted to be a Commando, today their called Special Forces.  I never wanted
to be a fireman or a policeman like other kids, all I ever wanted was to be
a Commando, to me the dream never changed.  When I was of age I couldn't
wait to sign on the dotted line at the local recruiting office.

   My family were upset I was leaving them, but they knew it had always
been my dream, I was about to go live it.  We all knew the risks.  Our
country was still fighting one and a half wars around the globe.  I would
miss them of course.  My sister Rachel I would miss terribly as we were
very close.

   My farther Stan was a redneck, so we grew up with guns going deer
hunting every season, then it would be ducks or pigs.  I absolutely loved
learning about bush craft.  By the time I was fourteen my sister and I
could live off the land while out hunting.  Often we would go out on our
own from the main hunting party applying our skills as we stalked game with
our .22's.  On these occasions Rachel and I were inseparable as we silently
glided through the forest looking for sign.

   I would miss them terribly I knew, as we stood outside the bus depot
saying our goodbyes.  Rachel clung to me as we cried in each others arms. I
was going to miss her more than a brother should.  I can still remember the
surprised look on my mothers face as Rachel kissed me, not as a sister
should.

   You see Rachel and I were secret lovers.  We had been since I
accidentally took her virginity three years earlier.  She had talked mum
into putting her on the pill after our first scare of her being pregnant as
I shot my load into her as I came so quick at feeling my hard as iron
erection sliding deep into her warm tight slippery body, where no man had
been before.

   From then on whenever we were alone, whether at home or in the forest,
we would find the time to practice our mating skills.  Rachel and I loved
each other like no sister and brother should.  Mum was always on to us to
get out and make new friends.  Why should we, we had each other.  We were
perfectly happy together.

   Crying like a baby, with tears streamed down my cheeks.  I waved to my
family through the bus window as it pulled away.  I had left my soul mate
behind.  I was going to fulfil a lifelong dream the only thing that could
keep us apart.

   Basic training was first.  The might of the army was overpowering like
an aphrodisiac, yes I was drunk on the power.  Basic training I found a
breeze, with my name down for Special Forces.  I was coming first in my
platoon almost every time.  I knew I had to be better at everything than
the other recruits to make the grade.



   In my spare time I was studying.  If I wasn't studying I was out on the
obstacle course or if it was manned I was on the range practicing my
marksman skills.  I spent every waking minute honing my skills.  Don't get
me wrong, there were others.  I was pleasantly surprised to find the dream
was not mine alone.

   We kind of formed our own little group within the platoon.  We found we
were being picked for scouting duties when on manoeuvres.  We all more or
less had the same goal to be special forces.  We trained together
endlessly. Elroy and I became firm buddies.  If he hadn't been black we
would have been mistaken for brothers.  Jerry and Andrew were from the west
coast.  Tim was from the mid west farming country in Kansas.

   All of us had grown up with and around guns.  All had hunting experience
to one degree or another.  All of us had a burning passion for the
military.

   I wrote to my parents every week about what I was doing in training.  I
wrote separately to Rachel.  I would tell her more than my parents.  Well
not everything.

   You see when we had a weekend pass we would go into town together.  By
then Elroy was a Lance corporal while I was a corporal one grade above. 
Elroy had a plan.  Seeing we were buddies we would hire a room in the local
motel for the night with twin double beds.  The idea being we would cruse
the bars for girls.  Neither of us wanted to pay hookers.

   It started like that.  The first couple of times we were out of luck,
spending the night on our own drinking.  I think on our third weekend we
picked up a couple of old boilers, pissed to the eyeballs.  I remember
Elroy taking both wearing a condom while I got a blow job, wearing a
condom. Fuck my sister did better blow jobs and I could see she was a
better fuck as there was hardly a moan or groan between them with Elroy's
bloody great dong banging away at them.

   On the fourth weekend we went through the motions, coming back to our
room drunk and empty handed.  I remember we were stripped naked sitting on
the side of our beds facing each other talking about our unsuccessful
night. Elroy was playing with his cock and as drunk as he was it got hard.

   I had seen it on occasions and knew it's erect size as he began getting
serious with his hand.  He'd put his beer bottle on the nightstand leaning
back wanking himself.  As he got excited, groaning for me to rub his balls
for him.

   As drunk as I was, I went to help my buddy, kneeling between his legs
rubbing his balls when he pleaded with me to suck him.  I looked up as he
grabbed my head with his hands.  Before I knew it I had a mouthful.  To be
honest this was not the first cock I had had in my mouth.  I had a best
friend George when we were twelve or so, fooling around sucking each other
even plugging each others arses.  So I began to help Elroy by sucking his
huge head filling my mouth, the head only just fitted while fondling his
balls.  Next thing I know I'm choking on his load as he's groaning and
writhing forcing it into my throat.

   I almost blacked out as his climax seemed to last forever.  As drunk as
I was I remembering him sucking my cock to two climaxes as he deep throated
me both times.  I tell you no one sucks a cock like Elroy, not even Rachel.
I never felt his teeth in all the time we been looking after each other.

   Blowing each other that night I forget how many times.  I do remember
him sliding three fingers up my arse coated with a special slippery oil he
always carried round with him.  Then with me straddling his hips on my
knees on the side of the bed in his lap as we hugged each other I let my
stretching arse muscle push down over the tip of his erection as it
stretched the shit out of me as he bent his head down in my lap sucking my
cock.

   I can remember the pain of him sliding into me as we both blew our loads
in each other.  Man he could make me cum so hard.  I had a sore arse for a
week after that.  Yes his was sore too as he had lubed himself up and knelt
over me lining me up plunging his arse straight down on me.  I could see
his face screw up in pain as I slid straight in to the hilt.  Then he
bounced up and down on me till I blew.

   We decided on our next weekend leave, we would not bother wasting time
looking for girl pussy when we would stay in the room drinking and enjoying
each others boy pusses.  After the first few times we felt at ease with
what we were doing.

   With basic training almost over.  The unofficial word from our drill
sergeant, that we would be given a shot at special forces, all five of us.



   We were shipped out one night in the last week of training with fifteen
minutes notice.  We slept on a bus for five hours being driven to god knows
where.  They didn't tell us much.  To our surprise we found ourselves at an
airbase parked beside a giant C5 Galaxy being loaded with personnel
carriers from a special forces unit.

   We found ourselves climbing a ladder more like a ships gangway single
file from the cargo deck up into the flight deck where we were seated in
the back of what looked like the inside of a passenger liner with the
interior ripped out.  The seats were facing back-wards.  I counted seventy
odd seats as the load-master directed us to ours.

   Settling down in our seats, about fifty special forces guys in full kit
came aboard sitting in behind us.  They were quite as they found a seat
then not a word as they went to sleep.

   Being my first flight on any sort of plane.  I was blown away with the
size of the aircraft, one of the biggest in the world.  The noise of the
engines drowned out any chance of conversation.  The guys behind us were
sound asleep.  That impressed us even more they could sleep through the din
going on around us.

   Upon landing we found ourselves herded with our gear into a mini bus
heading to our new base for 'training' as the sergeant put it when we
arrived, 'to sort the fuckers from the suckers'.  He had a wry grin knowing
what we didn't.

   Thinking we were fit after basic training.  Boy was I so wrong.  We
found ourselves pounding up and down mountain sides, over impossible
obstacle courses for the next four weeks.  This was broken by hand to hand
combat training and survival skills.  It was the seventh week when the
ground pounding was reduced to an early morning and pre-dinner five mile
run.  To break the monotony we would run in the reverse direction.  The
sergeant was full of good ideas.  What impressed me about that mother
fucker, he could run it faster than us, half of it backwards as he cursed
and cajoled us to do better.

   Weapons training was something else.  We got to handle and train on
everything the special forces had in its arsenal.  One of my favorite was
the 50 caliber sniper rifle, the M107.  Boy did that thing pack a punch. 
At one and a half clicks I was hitting the small target consistently.  I
was not to know it then but that skill would stand me in good stead later
in my military career.

   I fell in love with the smaller lighter M24, it was a real honey of a
sniper rifle.  I could consistently place a group of three at five hundred
meters in a tight circle.  Not one of their best but up there with them.  I
went on to complete the sniper course with Elroy as my spotter.

   Smiling, remembering.  That man was insatiable.  We would be laying out
there on an exercise in the dead of night laying in wait for the enemy in
our Gillie's camouflage suites when I would feel his fingers undoing my
trousers sliding them in my fly to wrap them around my erection squeezing.

   Sometimes we did this to each other as it was downright boring out there
on our own most of the time.  Elroy rolled me onto my side popping my
erection out then suck me to a climax.

   We had done that to each other a number of times in such a situation as
it was impossible to get time on our own in this camp.  I grunted a load
deep down his throat then he turned me on my belly sliding my suit up with
my pants down near to my knees.  Then felt him lube my arse with his
special oil then slid over the top of me.

   Well I was panicking as I felt his erection slide between my cheeks
probing for my pussy.  I groaned softly as he found it applying pressure.

   It took him ten to fifteen minutes to get his bloody great head inside
me.  Both he and I groaned.  He always groaned with pleasure when he was
sliding into me.  Me, I always groaned in pain.  He always claimed my boy
pussy was the best bit of arse he ever had, male or female.

   Here we were joined together at the crutch with nearly eight inches of
Elroy's cock deep up my arse as he was slowly stroking deeper and deeper.
He was beginning to shudder as I felt him freeze as a twig snapped behind
us as I felt him pulse strongly then stream deep inside me as I lay there
stiff as a board feeling him pumping his load into me.  I always counted
now, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve.  I couldn't feel any more but
I knew he was dribbling as a pair of boot heals came into my peripheral
vision beside us in the starlight.

   Feeling his cock shrinking at a fast rate inside me like a snake
slithering out it's hole.  It made an audible plop when it came out.  I
could feel him tense ready to strike as I saw the boots move down in front
of us as the 'enemy' disappeared.

   I can tell you we cleaned the enemy force out that night as we called
their movements in from our observation post.  When we were alone sitting
on our beds beside each other he shook his head saying.  "Fuck Shane I
never came so hard as I did then." I can believe him I felt it.

   You know, not one of us dropped out of special forces training.  It
strengthened the bond of friendship between us making us more determined
not to fail.  We were accepted for further training in fields we had never
envisaged when joining up.  We were taught to skin dive, to prepare and
place demolition, skydive, drive any vehicle, even spent time with the
mechanics learning about engines and mechanical systems especially how to
disable or destroy them.

   Dad was so proud of me.  He had gone to Vietnam as a ground pounder in
his youth, rising to the rank of sergeant.  He came home with a chunk out
of his left arm and a purple heart with a soldier's bravery medal to
accompany it.  Dad had gone into an ammo bunker after a weapons accident,
dragging out two fellow soldiers as it burned around him.  No sooner had he
cleared the bunker the dam thing blew up.  A red neck he may have been, all
guts he was and my hero.

   After three long years with training completed, we were sent on leave
for a month before being deployed.  After the first week at home Rachel and
I went hunting.  We spent nearly a fortnight in the forest as I taught her
everything I knew.  We spent the nights wrapped in each others arms in our
little tent.  Our bodies were so tuned to each other by now we would climax
together almost every time.

   Laying there together talking quietly Rachel asked me.  "Did you go out
with anyone while you were away?" What could I say.  "Yes, we met a couple
of girls on weekend leave.  I'm sorry, Elroy kind of forced me into it. 
Apparently I talked so much about you to him, Elroy asked me if we were
lovers?  I lied to him Rachel.  I had to go with this woman or he would
have been suspicious, besides, she reminded me of you." I lied through my
eye teeth.

   I was surprised when she didn't get upset saying.  "well I might find
someone to go with myself." I hugged her then we made love again even
though we both were a little sore.

   Too soon my leave was up.  I cried again as the bus pulled out of the
depot as I waved from the rear window.  Little did I know that would be the
last time I would see my mum and dad.

   Shipping out with our unit for training in Saudi Arabia.  We spent three
months acclimatising in the desert before being shipped to Afghanistan for
our tour of duty.

   Aboard our amphibious assault ship, having just passed through the
Strait of Hormuz entering the Gulf of Aden on our way to the Arabian Sea on
route to Pakistan, when all hell broke loose.  The ship received a high
priority general warning a few minutes before the balloon went up.  Someone
obviously knew something was going on warning the fleet.

   We were then ordered out of the area, to head for the island base at
Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, bunkering down for the duration.  So far
we had not encountered radiation clouds as we were running away downwind as
fast as we could.

   The captain assured us most parts of our aircraft carrier type assault
ship was airtight against radiation when the time came.  From the
information coming through from the fifth fleet cruising the Arabian gulf
presently off the coast of India the country was destroyed.  Pakistan the
same.  The badlands on the border with Afghanistan had been obliterated. 
Well that was no surprise.  I'm sure the fifth fleet had something to do
with that.

   Immediately The captain ordered the ship on half rations.  That was
reduced further to quarter rations two days later as the ship cruised at
eighteen knots as we had full fuel tanks.

   The third day we were allowed on deck to stretch our legs after the ship
was washed down with sea water by the crew.  It was almost pitch dark with
the amount of crap building up in the atmosphere.  There were over three
thousand personal aboard with all our hardware as we were fully loaded.

   One of our unit's water purifiers was put in the landing barge in the
well deck aft, being hooked up to the water tanks to treat sea water so the
ship's fresh water tanks were topped up constantly.

   The news coming in was not good.  What command was left at home was
fragmented as the whole country had apparently been hit hard.  The
government had been targeted and as far as anyone knew the military was in
charge trying to organise themselves as there was a blackout now with all
communications out.

   Seven days later we entered the atoll of Diego Garcia.  Finding a
collection of ships sheltering there.  Every day on the way down, we were
seeing vapour trails in the cloud gaps in the stratosphere before the
atmosphere became too thick, heading towards the Middle East from our
destination.  We were to find out later they were mopping up in Iran, Syria
and a number of smaller countries who's regimes supported terrorism. 
Solving some of the worlds ills in one foul swoop regardless of cost. 
Anarchy reined.

   We had been there two days before the first radioactive cloud swept in
with the north westerly.  Then for the next two weeks the ship was buttoned
down tight.  No activity on deck whatsoever.

   The crew set to washing the upper decks down along with the aircraft
wearing their radiation suits.  The captain had moved some of the aircraft
out of the hanger deck onto the upper deck giving us room to exercise.  The
same with the well deck at the rear.

   Even on quarter rations we were consuming the stores at an alarming
rate. The ships boats were used for trawling with nets around the reefs for
fish to supplement our stocks.  Then the unit's purifier which had been set
up in one of the landing barges was shut down when a cloud passed over,
fishing also ceased.

   A supply ship and tanker were on route with another missile destroyer to
escort us home.  This news was met with cheering throughout the ship.  When
they arrived we set to transferring the cargo of food below decks as the
derrick cranes unloaded into the landing barges then into our well deck
filling our cargo spaces to the brink.

   Our fuel tanks were topped up from the tanker, then we headed for our
destination on the US's west coast.  Those of us from the east coast hearts
sank.  Well the ship was based on the west coast and the crew were eager to
get home.

   It was going to be a long, long, trip.  We had to go down past the Cape
of Good Hope, at the southern tip of Africa still heading South West into
the Southern Ocean and the Strait of Magellan to round Cape Horn the
southern tip of South America.

   It was going to be icy cold and rough, the captain informed us over the
PA.  By now everyone was desperate for news of home which of course there
was none.  The government obviously didn't exist, that seemed positive as
all communications with our world had failed.

   We had to refuel again from the tanker after we rounded the Horn.  We
crept up the coast of Chili in the lee of the mountains from the storm
blowing from the east round the horn.  We had been on less than half
rations for the trip.  The captain didn't want to stop to unload from the
freighter till the weather abated which happened as we sailed further
north. One of the landing barges was put between the two ships as we slowly
steamed along with our refueling hoses draped over her decks between us.

   The captain found a radiation free zone after sending his recon jet out,
then it was all hands as the three ships steered parallel courses with a
landing barge each side for the derricks to load containers onto them, then
be unloaded in our well deck cranes.  This took all day then into the night
as the guided missile frigates needed restocking and refueling also.

   As we headed towards the Galapagos Islands the captain sent out the
recon jet for a look up the coast ahead.  Panama was obliterated.  Cuba had
fired a missile apparently to sabotage the canal.  Then three nuclear
weapons had been dropped of an underground type destroying the isthmus. 
North and south America, now being separate continents with a two mile wide
free flowing channel.  That solved that problem.  It looked like a bomber
had made a straight run according to the recon pilot.

   Columbia was not spared.  There would not be a coco tree grown in that
country for many years to cum.  The recon jet was so contaminated the
mechanics pushed it over the side into the sea.  We had plenty of planes,
fuel was the problem.

   Mexico was similar.  Our IR recon photos showed the drug lords compounds
were black holes in the ground.  Someone had picked each target carefully
using smaller nuclear weapons...  hard luck to them.

   Sailing up the coast the captain briefed us on the strategy.  Our last
orders were to secure the west coast using the ship as headquarters.  First
drop in on the islands off the south west coast rendering assistance where
necessary.  Two of the islands were restricted military bases, the biggest
island Santa Catalina the holiday resort would be evaluated for self
support as all the islands.

   We were then to proceed to Loss Angeles, then Vandenberg Air Force Base
to assist but the word back from our one way drone recon flight was the
base had been decimated as our base at Pendelton.  We will then proceed to
the ship's home base at San Diego.  We were to take command using the
troops to lock down the city bringing law and order giving the surviving
civilians all the help we could.

   For the next few months we lived out of the ship.  The special forces
were sent out into the country side to reconnoiter reporting back.  They
were so far out now they were away for weeks at a time.  The captain had
the ground pounders recovering the supplies and fuel from the destroyed
ships in harbour.  Everyone aboard was still on light rations.

   The recon teams had discovered a number of self styled war lords
impounding the locals into slavery.  One such group were taken out using
the assault team on their compound.  We paid heavily for that, loosing
twelve men when a IUD blew up beneath them.  There were no survivors of
that group.  That taught us a valuable lesson.  No prisoners, it solves
present and future problems.

   Having learnt our lesson we change tactics using one of the old tankers
we were using to recover fuel from the service stations.  Lining the tanks
inside and out with scrap metal then packed with super phosphate mixed with
diesel.

   Using our D9 bulldozer with it's armour cladding forcing the compound
gates then backing off, the tanker was driven at speed through the gates
into the compound as the driver bailed out after lining up the entrance
then picking himself up running like hell.  Elroy and I was there as one of
the sniper and spotter teams, keeping the fucker's heads down in the
compound while this was going on.  Then everyone grabbed their gear running
like hell after the disappearing truck and D9 driver.

   The resulting explosion a few minutes later flattened a total of four
blocks around the compound.  The ground pounders went in after that to mop
up.  There were no survivors when they left.

   After three months, with fuel becoming critical the Colonel was forced
to dissipate his men as he saw fit.  There had been no news from the east
coast so he sent out scout teams inland into the foothills.  Those from the
east coast were volunteers.  Gerry and Andrew from my team were from the
west coast having found no trace of their families were keen to join their
friends and now only family.

   There was still a number of self styled war lords to be cleaned out
where the truck bomb would not be effective.  We were to learn they had
captive women, the colonel was reluctant to destroy them with bombs as he
discussed with the strike teams, women were now a precious commodity for
rebuilding and repopulating the country.

   A new plan was devised.  One of our member would infiltrate the groups
having grown his hair long and smelling like one of the sewer rats found
all over in plague proportions with all the food remains laying around in
the debris.

   This was to be the last missions before disbanding.  He told them at the
briefing.  Their man had infiltrated a group becoming a scavenge henchman.
He confirmed in the first building the women were there underground locked
in a room mostly.  The gang had a huge store of tinned food which was
guarded day and night.  The leaders slept underground, not being easy to
get at.

   After an assessment of the situation it was decided they needed a stink
bomb in the cooking fire that would drive them out from underground. 
Preparations were made.  Their man would slip a hollowed out piece of fire
wood into the cooking fire.  Inside was placed a block of sponge rubber
which when burnt stunk like hell producing a toxic gas.

   The marines moved up under cover of darkness.  The meal must have been
over as the guards above ground were taken out with a long barrel .22 rifle
with a silencer.  Everyone was in place as we lie in wait.

   Shortly there was a commotion at the entrance as people clambered out
coughing with their lungs full of the vile fumes from the sponge rubber. 
No one seemed to notice the guards were absent with their distraction.

   Hearing the lieutenant in my headphones.  "There are no woman, take them
out." The crossfire was short and sharp.  The next command was.  "Get the
women." There was a five man team waiting with gas masks who rushed in.  I
could hear a short sharp exchange then silence till I heard.  "For Christ
sake come help us with the women."

   There was a rush for the bunker.  They used their regenerated flash
lights as they descended the stairs as a shot rang out.  "That was me
busting a lock.  Get down here and help me with the woman." I heard again
as I followed the man in front as they searched through the underground
rooms.

   I was the fifth man in the room full of filthy bunks.  There were a heap
of bodies laying all over unconscious.  I grabbed the first one I could,
hefting her frail body over my shoulder stumbling back along the corridor
then up the stairs following Elroy, I could tell from his powerful build
and gait and yes, his sexy arse.

   We made six trips into the bunker before there were no more women. 
There were hurricane lamps set up outside with the medical staff seeing to
the unconscious women with oxygen.

   When I looked around there were women everywhere.  Some were sitting up
still coughing.  I took off my mask looking around.  'these women were in
rags looking starved'.  'What was going on here'?

   By daylight it had become clear these woman were indeed slaves of a
local war lord.  I could see the men were so irate they wanted to kill any
fucker they saw.  One of the medical orderlies was going around the men
taking half their rations for the women.

   I joined in to help as the men caught on giving them a hand.  These
women hadn't been fed for days.  It was mid afternoon when we pulled out.
The bodies of the gang were dumped in the rubble of a brick building being
hastily covered as a skeleton crew were left behind to defend the store of
food in case they hadn't got all the gang.

   We carried what we could in our back packs, but the women took priority.
Over half were stretchered as they headed back to the ship.  Those were too
frail to walk.  If the men needed any motivation they had it now.



   I became aware of the woman on the stretcher I was carrying mumbling in
her exhausted state.  She was coming too, waking up.  She looked up at me
with horror in her eyes.  Then she looked puzzled then looked around her
realising she was being carried on a stretcher.

   I smiled at her trying to ease her fears.  "Where am I?" I smiled
saying. "Your safe Mam.  Were the United States Marine Corps.  Were taking
you to a hospital." She flopped back with relief as she looked at me in my
full battle dress.  "What's your name, mines Samantha, they call me Sam?"
For some reason I blushed.  "Shane Mam, they call me Shane." She laughed
seeing something soft in her eyes then they hardened.

   "What about the others are you going for them." I looked puzzled
nodding. "We got all of you." She leaned out of the stretcher looking up
and down the line then back at me.  "No there are hundreds locked up." I
looked puzzled saying.  "There was twenty four of you Sam." She shook her
head repeating.  "A month ago I was locked up in a big warehouse with
hundreds.  I was sold from there.  Did you get them too?"

   I shook my head at the revelation asking.  "There are hundreds?" she
nodded vigorously repeating.  "Hundreds, there being starved to keep them
quite.  I was sold out of there to where you found me.  They made me have
sex with men who paid them with tins of food." I blushed deeply
apologising. "I'm sorry Sam." She grimaced at the memory.

   I called for the Lieutenant who had his arm around a woman who was
leaning on his shoulder as he helped her along.  He stepped out of line
with the woman waiting for us to draw level falling in beside us.

   "Lieutenant there are hundreds of women slaves in a warehouse.  Tell him
Sam." Sam looked at the Lieutenant telling her story as she told me.  He
nodded with a grim face saying.  "When we get back we will organise a
mission Miss." Sam smiled as she lay back looking at me asking.  "How
long." I was surprised understanding what she meant.  "Day and a half at
this pace." Sam smiled as she appeared to go back to sleep.

   Sam woke as we lay the stretcher on the ground.  We had been carrying
the women in rotation.  We still had full packs to carry as well as our
equipment and M4 rifles.

   I shared my meal with Sam.  For some reason this woman made me feel warm
and comfortable.  We walked till after dark when they couldn't walk any
further.  There wasn't a woman not sleeping between two males that night as
they shared the ground sheets keeping the women warm between them in their
sleeping bags.  Sam had cuddled back into me on our sides on my ground
sheet.  I put my arms around her as she directed my hands to her breasts. I
cupped her as a comfortable position as she felt me draw her in a little
harder as she placed her hands on the soldier in front of her pulling him
in tighter going to sleep as I drew the blanket over them.  I smiled as I
nuzzled the back of her ear.

   They were out of military rations.  Forced to dip into the tinned food
for breakfast.  Most of the women needed support after their forced march
yesterday.  The women were slowing us down to a crawl but no one
complained. A runner had been sent ahead at daylight to bring stretches and
another fifty men.

   A hundred turned up as word spread of hundreds of women in slavery.  The
women were carried on stretchers with blankets as the men forced marched in
relays.  By late afternoon they were back on the ship with the women housed
in our hospital of six hundred beds with six operating rooms.  This was to
be the woman's quarters.

   The marines with no duty were helping the fitters to construct hand
carts with scavenged motorbike wheels and tires to transport the food from
the underground bunker back to the ship.  The carts were fitted with double
"T" handles for four men with two in front with harness.

   Shore we could have used our trucks but the Colonel didn't want to drive
the bad guys underground by making a lot of noise showing our strength.

   My team was invited to the planning meetings, along with two other
teams. We would be the ones to find then scout out the sight.  Samantha was
invited with two other women of the five who had come from the same
warehouse.  Sam looked stunning cleaned up in her army issue pants and
shirt.  I thought her auburn hair brushed back being tied in a ponytail
looked as sexy as hell as it still does today.

   The women were being quizzed by the planners as they poured over the
maps of the coast line.  All the girls could really tell the building was
not that old from the inside with a lowish roof.  All the girls were moved
at night by the gang as the sky was slowly getting lighter.  They had no
idea where the building was located.

   Sam thought the sea was on her right side as occasionally she would hear
seagulls in the distance.  Like her companions they wore blindfolded hoods
during their trip so they had no idea which direction they were travelling.
Clouds of dust was still circulating the globe high in the stratosphere. 
You could tell from light and dark now but hardly anything would grow.

   Samantha distinctly remembers it took fifteen days riding in a cart to
get to the bunker.  She was apologetic she could not remember anything
more. Sam told them she had gone to live with her parents when the war
started as her husband was away on business on the east coast fearing him
lost.  Her parent's home had been invaded about three months after the
conflict started, her parents were killed for their remaining food with
Samantha dragged off into prostituted slavery.

   Describing how she had been sold or bartered a number of times ending up
in the middle of a gang war surviving to be carted off eventually finding
herself in the ware house.  The men were quite after she finished her
story.

   The Colonel asked.  "Samantha would you be prepared to go with the teams
we're sending to find that warehouse?" Sam nodded then pointed to me. 
"With him.  He treats me like a woman, I like him." The Colonel was taken
back then nodded then he scratched his head as he looked at the smiling
Ships Captain.  Who commented.  "She has chosen." I remember blushing
crimson in front of the meeting, but I remember also feeling elated.

   Obviously we were coming to the end of our capabilities as an effective
unit on board.  Most of the men were out every day round the traps.  We
were down to eating rats.  There were nearly three thousand men to feed. 
Some having deserted.  The teams were going further and further afield
searching for food.  Every house was being searched, every shop and
building.  They had traps set up for rats all over.

   We still had rice and flour on the ship.  We had emptied all the hulks
in the harbour.  We were near the end.  The master plan was to disperse
into the countryside, find and hook up with genuine survival groups or
establish our own.  No one really knew what was out beyond the mountains.

   Keen to try and get home but that was a thirty two hundred 'click'
kilometer trip, as we call them in the army as the services are metricated.
That would take me one hundred days minimum.  Along the way I would have to
forage for food and water so another one hundred days if not double.  In
short being realistic, I could not see myself getting home for almost a
year if I made sixty clicks a week on average.

   I could only pray my family had somehow survived when very few of the
crew's families on this side of the country had.

   The unit was still operating in a proper manor.  The planning went
ahead. To keep the girls busy they were first fitted out with uniforms,
boots, kit bags from the supply store ashore.  Then trained in hand to hand
combat as much as they could in their weakened condition.  Next was basic
weapons training with their M4 rifles and M9 pistols.  Not one girl shied
away from firing their weapon on a range set up in a large warehouse
ashore. Some of them turned out to be pretty fair shots.

   It was my job to teach the girls sniper skills with their M4's.  Skills
like judging the distance to a target by eye.  How to judge the wind
between you and your target what to look for and how to counter for it. 
How to lead a moving target, aim higher for distance and to lay in the
prone position to use the weapon accurately.

   Demonstrating my M24 by placing three rounds in a small triangle group
with the edges almost touching each other at two hundred meters.

   At the end of the week the scouting parties were ready to leave.  There
was a store of military rations on the ship kept aside for operations. 
With our water bottles and packs full we set out with one hand cart per
team with added water containers plus extra fire power.  We carried six
LAWS rockets in their cases per cart plus a M107 .50 caliber sniper rifle
in its case plus two hundred rounds per rifle.  Sam was riding on the
hand-cart as she could not keep up the pace we were maintaining.

   We were travelling by night, sleeping by day as the sky's were slowly
clearing as we crawled out of nuclear winter.  We hadn't used a Geiger
counter in anger for nearly half a year now.

   Working our way inland at an angle.  Using the roads in the foothills of
the mountains as we approached Los Angeles, the target aria from the east
rather than directly up from the south.

   Each group carried a radio for communication with the ship as well as
our local team radios.  We had an idea this one was going to be a tough nut
to crack, trying not to get the women killed.  Our infiltration agent was
with us as we worked our way north east.  For this operation we were
relying on stealth.

   As we approached the outskirts of the suburbs from the hills, the teams
split up spreading out.  Elroy and Jerry were out scouting ahead for us as
we slowly made our way through the suburbs.  The sky was bathed in the soft
red glow of the moon which had risen about midnight.  We had stopped in a
derelict factory out of sight as we made contact with the ship at the
prearranged time as planned.  The other teams had no sightings to report
either.

   For three nights we silently worked our way through the deserted streets
of the eastern suburbs in towards the docks.  It was the forth night Andrew
who was on point sighted a figure slowly making his way in the direction as
ourselves.  He took off to shadow as we followed at a distance as best we
could.  Elroy went up to assist Andrew.

   As our radios were on, we were getting a running commentary as the
solitary figure made his way almost as quietly as us.  We were in luck
although we didn't know it at the time.  He went to a three story concrete
building with steel plates fixed to the ground floor windows.  The door to
the building looked like it was reinforced steel.  All the upstairs windows
being fitted with iron bars.

   We had found a brothel or one of them, as it turned out.  We didn't know
if this was associated with the warehouse we were searching for further in
or not.

   We set up surveillance from the top floor of a high rise building two
blocks away.  This building had no windows or doors.  The shock wave from
the weapon that had gone off high over the harbour had damaged every
building within a thirty click radius.  Our Geiger counter was telling us
the area wasn't really hot now.

   There were no sign of any movement in the target building.  There was no
sign of life at all as no one else knocked on the door that night.  There
was no visible sign of life in the building all night.  We reported the
developments to the ship about the building.  There had been no sign of the
person we had followed.

   Shortly after daylight the door opened.  A scruffy figure slipped out
heading in towards the city.  We took notice of the direction.  He came
back a few hours later with two other men pulling what looked like a hooded
female with a rope tied round her neck with her hands tied in front of her.
We had hit pay dirt.

   It wasn't till just after dark the figure left heading out into the
hills with the woman.  We waited for the two men to head back towards the
city.  An hour later we observed them leaving.

   Elroy went in pursuit.  I tell you that man is a shadow.  He had crept
up on me a number of times during training in daylight and dark.  Scared
the shit out of me when he tapped me on the shoulder, lying down beside me
laughing his stupid arse off.

   About midnight I heard my radio tap three times.  He must have been a
fair way away as the radio sounded scratchy like it was at its limit. 
There were two then seven then one, a break then fifteen.  I clicked twice

   Sam was laying beside me on her roll sleeping as I dug her in the ribs.
"Get your gear together, were moving." The others were stirring as they
heard me whisper loudly to Sam.

   We left Tim on watch at the brothel as we silently slipped out of the
building heading in the direction of the waterfront.  We were heading west
two seven one degrees with fifteen clicks to go.

   In single file the four of us headed off angling over one block with the
cart as not to bump into any foot traffic.  Sam was trying to keep up as I
held her gloved hand, dragging her along with all her gear.

   We had to stop often to catch our breath.  It would be just before dawn
with the first hint of red on the darkened east horizon when we arrived. 
We saw the inferred light from Elroy's night goggles map reading led with
ours.  We headed in.

   Elroy appeared beside me tapping me on the shoulder.  I heard him laugh
quietly the fuck.  I had nearly shit myself when he rose up out of nowhere
beside me.  Old habits die hard.  He had to grab Sam behind me cupping her
mouth as she let out a scream.

   "Would they hear her?" I asked desperately.  Elroy grinned shaking his
head.  "There two clicks further on.  There's a warehouse like Sam
described, they have occupied three or four taller buildings around the
warehouse that were habitable by the looks of it.  There's a perfect
building to watch them from almost a click out.  Were running into
daylight. Let's get under cover." I heard a smack as Sam wince.  That was
for the scream.  I smiled, she had been accepted.

   Twenty minutes later we were installed in the basement of a five story
building with the front side of the building collapsed out of it.  The
stairwell was in the centre constructed of concrete, the only thing
standing on the top floor as the rest had blown off or just collapsed in
the blast.  With rubble stacked as a loose wall to hide behind in the
stairwell door made a perfect observation post overlooking the target
through the gaps.

   Elroy and I had coaxed Sam up to view the warehouse over half a click
away, I judged.  Even though Sam had not seen the warehouse from the
outside I felt her begin to tremble as she lay beside me looking.  An
inspection through the spotting scope verified a heavily fortified steel
side door.  The buildings roller doors were blocked with a forty foot
container across the front fitted out as a bunker with sand bags inside and
out.  There was what looked like firing holes cut along the outside walls.

   I could see activity on two of the closer buildings.  They had manned
lookout posts on the roofs.  We called it in at midday, one of our
scheduled times.  Operation Tampon was executed.  Operation Bra just
doesn't do it dose it.  Well that's enough, I went back to work.  We had
four days to reconnoiter the area while the forces moved up from the ship.

   Day two, the three teams were now surrounding the area in a rough
triangle.  We would watch and wait and plan while the main body forced
marched from the ship up to us.  We were throwing everything into this one.

   Our observations and scouting of a night revealed two more possible
brothels.  Their coordinates recorded with men assigned to watch.  We
discovered a flow of men towards these sights from further out.  These we
assumed were customers as without fail they carried knapsacks of what we
assumed was tinned food.

   We sent our man in with tinned food.  Not enough it seemed as he was
back for more then sent to the next.  He reported back there were three or
four women in the two brothels.  He had seen five men in the first, four in
the second.

   He was a busy lad the next night visiting the remaining two.  We really
felt for him shagging the arse off those women.  On the forth night when
the marines were in the foothills he again approached the first brothel
wanting to 'buy a woman for himself because he heard they had plenty'.

   Being quizzed about how he was going to pay.  He smiled at them telling
them 'He had a truckload of tinned food'.  They took him to the building
beside the warehouse.  Here we learnt later made an arrangement where six
of their group would bring hand carts, bringing the food back in exchange
for the woman.  aHe knew others would follow, he would be a dead man before
morning if they had their way.

   We watched as he was taken to the warehouse, fifteen minutes later he
appeared leading a woman with a hood over her head with a rope round her
neck with her hands tied in front.  As they waited out front, six men
appeared with small hand carts.  He led them off in the direction of the
foothills and our trap.

   The warning went out then again a few minutes later when a band of
twenty three followed in two groups.  The trap was set.  The marines were
ready.  There were now about fifty marines surrounding each building with
two hundred filtering through the streets towards the warehouse at this
very moment.  All Special Forces.

   Our plan was to distract them with a flyover after the twenty nine had
been accounted for out in the foothills.  The jet had more than enough fuel
to come up from the ship then hang around till we were ready then a couple
of high speed passes.  When the women were freed the helicopters would fly
in the medical staff to attend them along with cooks and stores as they
were within range.  The women would want for nothing.

   Things were going to plan as the word came through, twenty nine captured
in the foothills.  I hear it was gruesome.  They were lined up as the girl
slave walked along the line pointing out the ones that had raped or
mistreated her.  They were ordered to strip.  There were a number who
refused.  They fell dead seconds after with a bullet through their brain.
The woman was given a very sharp K-bar knife as the soldiers held the
screaming rapists forms as the woman cut their genitals off one by one. 
They bleed to death, there was no survivors.

   As dawn broke we heard a report the ship was under way on one engine to
save fuel.  By late tonight she would have covered the hundred and sixty
clicks being at anchor out of sight of the harbour by midnight.  Tomorrow
night the women would have somewhere safe to sleep.  The medical bay had
six hundred beds.  But you knew that.

   We waited for first light.  We could just make out the lookouts on the
building roofs were anxiously looking to the foothills for the return of
the men.  There were now three men beside the sentries on the roof in the
building in front of us.  They looked like leaders of the group.  I
reported this, then the go was given.  One of the Harriers was on the way
with a high speed pass to get their attention.

   He was about fifteen minutes before he came streaking over at about five
thousand feet near supersonic.  High enough to be confusing, rattling the
windows that were left.  This brought the baddies out onto the rooftops as
the spotters reported in.  At the word 'GO' I took out the three leaders on
the roof.  I got two before they began to react.  Their bodies cart
wheeling off the top of the building with the impact of the 50 caliber
rounds.  I saw the thirds head exploded like a watermelon as he dropped out
of sight as the rest were diving for cover as all hell was breaking loose.

   I was using the explosive ammo in the M107 which blew apart their
defenses.  The jet was coming back for a strafing run as a warning came
over the radio from the pilot as we took cover.  Sam was spotting with her
laser designator on the rooftop of the closest building for the pilot as I
dragged her down beside me.  The top of the building exploded as we heard
the air rip apart like a giant tearing sheet as the pilot fired a short
burst with his Gau-12 Equaliser Gatling gun.

   Turning my attention to the sandbagged observation post on top of the
warehouse now as firing was breaking out all round.  There was three men in
the observation post I could see.  I got two as I hammered away trying to
get the third through the sand bags.  In my sights I saw a trapdoor flap
close realising one had got away.

   I spoke into my headset.  Seconds later a curtain of fire from the
ground poured up through the high broken windows.  Simultaneously two LAWS
rockets went off against the entrance door then the echoes of others on the
other side of the warehouse.  The reinforced doors to the buildings and
warehouse were being breached.  I caught a glimpse of movement as I
directed Sam to the container in front of the double doors of the
warehouse.

   "They have a big tube." She announced firmly.  I settled my sights on
the open doorway between the sandbags.  As I seen movement I squeezed the
trigger.  Whatever was in the doorway disappeared with the impact as my
vision was blurred for a second with the recoil.  I saw the tube roll on
the floor of the container.  I put a round into the rear of it as the
insides of the container erupted in a blinding flash of red flame then
black smoke with the secondary explosion.

   Suddenly there were no more targets on my side.  We abandoned our post
taking our M4's joining the assault on the warehouse as the marines were
already in the main building when we arrived.  We ran towards the
warehouse. It was intended that Sam be there to calm the women.  The first
marine went through the blown away side door.  He was covering the boarded
landing in the roof observation post with his rifle.  I could see there was
a bloodied lifeless arm hanging over.

   The marines were streaming into the building as I realised there were
women screaming their heads off in sheer terror.  There was no sign of any
of the gang.  They must have left a skeleton crew with the promise of a
truckload of tinned food.  Hard luck to the dumb fucks.

   Marines were lining up inside the door around the end of the warehouse.
A loud explosion outside started the screaming again.  They were having
difficulties with one of the buildings.  I heard the lieutenant call up the
jet.  I called out loudly.  "Hit the deck everyone." I waved the marines in
among the women as they began to get the idea as I was standing on a table
gesturing frantically for them to get down as the weapon was on the way in
as I screamed.  "INCOMING." As I took Sam with me onto the floor under the
table.

   The explosion fifteen seconds later was enormous as a two hundred pound
Pave bomb blew the top of the building apart next door.  Concrete chunks
tore through the walls as I covered Sam on the floor with my body as
shrapnel rattled the side of the warehouse.  After a minute everything was
quite as we rose slowly as smoke and dust was swirling around.  I waved
more marines in among the women.  Some were hysterical screaming again,
others sobbing uncontrollably.

   More marines were pouring in now as they stood staring at the women, the
filthy conditions the women were forced to live in.  I climbed the table
again waving the men in.  I motioned to Sam to climb up beside me as I
removed my helmet then my flak jacket to look more like a human being.  I
encouraged Sam to remove her gear as well.

   We watched as the men filtered among the women.  Soon there was calls
for the medics coming thick and fast.  There were a lot of women needing
help being hit by shrapnel.  I could hear the Lieutenant in my ear piece on
the radio ordering the helicopters in.  I told Sam who raised her voice
then using her whistle to attract attention.  When she had their attention
seeing she was a woman they quietened.  "My name is Samantha." She began.
"I was held prisoner here with you not three weeks ago.  These men freed me
giving me food, shelter and clothes.  They are the United States Marines."

   She had to pause as the first realisation they had been freed from their
captors.  Slowly at first starting with a single weak voice cheering then
stronger and stronger as others joined in till there was a hundred voices.
Slowly it quietened as I spoke to Sam.

   Smiling at them again saying.  "Those of you who don't need medical
attention please step over here.  The Marines will share their rations with
you." You could see the hunger in their eyes as they watched the men remove
their back packs as the first candy bar appeared then the rush began.  I
noticed the women on the beds needing medical assistance were being fed by
the marines assisting them.

   The place was filling up with Marines quickly.  The lieutenant came in
seeing what was going on as the men stood at attention.  He didn't say a
word then gave the command loud and clear.  "Stand easy, carry on." The men
began laughing and relaxing as they talked to the women.  It had not really
sunk in that they were free as for some reason they began crying.

   Some of the men could not handle this, crying themselves.  It was
something to see as there were women being hugged throughout the warehouse.

   The clatter of the helicopters was herd as the women were suddenly
fearful again.  Sam was moving among them putting a hand on an arm or
shoulder stroking hair smiling as she went around assuring the women they
were safe now.

   The lieutenant looked at me shaking his head saying.  "Corporal when I
heard the story about the woman I found it hard to visualise.  Now seeing
it here before my eyes I still find it hard to believe.  This crowd planned
to capture the market with brothels and sell the women as slaves.  Their
trying to monopolies crime on the west coast." I nodded agreeing asking. 
"What can we do about it?" He smiled grimacing.  "We'll send out teams of
our own to hunt down the ones we missed.  We have a few die-hards who'll do
that duty."

   He looked at me asking.  "Where do you hail from?" I looked at him
smiling suddenly remembering the visions of home.  "West Virginia sir.  My
dad was born in Harrisburg, he's as redneck as they come.  Went to work up
in the Norfolk shipyards and met mum.  My sister and I were born in
Norfolk. We moved down to Princton.  He got a job there through a workmate
after he got laid off from the yards.  He really loves hunting in the
forests of west Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky."

   The lieutenant grinned saying.  "I suppose now where almost finished
here you will want to go back home to see if they survived?" I nodded my
head replying.  "Yes sir if anyone is going to survive it will be my
family. My dad has a heap of friends that are survival nuts he hunts with.
By the time I was fourteen I could live off the land." The Lieutenant
nodded then looked at me saying.  "You will take your friends, they would
make an excellent team."

   I hadn't thought of that nodding deep in thought.  "Yes sir good idea,
it's over three thousand clicks." The Lieutenant nodded saying seriously.
"There's been no word from the east coast.  We don't know if the government
survived or if the military in command.  Come to me before you leave we'll
have dispatches for you as Washington is just up the road, so to speak."

   I could see the Lieutenant's point of view.  "Yes sir." He smiled
adding. "No hurry, prepare your team.  Leave when you feel you're ready."
Yes Sir." The Lieutenant moved back as we saluted each other then he
turning away calling "Sergeant," to see to the medical team.  As I stood
there deep in thought.

   "What was that about?" the familiar southern drawl of Elroy beside me. I
looked up smiling saying.  "I have permission to head for home any time."
Elroy looked at me thinking then asked.  "You aren't thinking of fucking
off without me?" He grinned.  I shook my head saying with a smile.  "Why
would I think that?  In fact I'm thinking of taking the team.  Your hairy
ass included."

   Elroy's eyes gleamed at the idea saying.  "Now that's more like it." His
perfect white teeth flashed in his handsome black face added.  "Gerry and
Andrew have nothing here now.  We can drop in on Tim's family on the way."
I nodded saying.  "Yea, makes a lot of sense."

   "You taking Sam?" I nodded.  "If she wants' to go." He laughed loudly at
his friend's dry humour adding.  "Wild horsed wouldn't stop her." I hoped
as much.  I would have to ask her.  If she comes she would be the only
woman.  That would cause some problems.  I looked at my friend saying. 
"I'll ask her tonight." He nodded looking around.  "Better go help." He
eased away towards the door.

   Another helicopter was landing.  That would be the food.  He looked
around, things were more leisurely now.  There were no women crying.  Every
woman had at least one companion helping her, talking to her.  He could see
smiling faces even laughter as the women realised their ordeal was over. 
They would spend the night in the warehouse as the ship was battling
headwinds off the coast.  She would not reach the harbour till two am.  Six
women needing urgent medical attention were flown out at sunset, when the
ship was closer with their fuel situation after flying up.  They would be
taken care of by the medical staff on-board.

   They had lost two women in the building they had bombed, three had
survived in the cellar now among those heading for the ship.  The men were
digging graves for the two women and five Marines we had lost.  We had the
service the next morning.  The Captain and Colonel came ashore with a
representation from the crew for the service.

   Women lined up with the men as their companions were laid to rest.  The
ships Chaplin residing over the service.

   The gang's food store had been found in the cellars of the buildings. 
The scouting team had found another building a click away.  It had been
abandoned but full of canned and bagged food.  The captain ordered the
barges to bring two trucks each with the crew they set to work cleaning out
the stores.

   The ship was now looking a lot better than previous.  There were five
scouting teams out there now mopping up as they moved north.  They were
finding sign where the raiders had been.  In the first two days after the
fire-fight they had found four more women abandoned in buildings.  The
gangs were on the run knowing they were being hunted.

   I remember that night when the women were driven to the barges to board
ship.  I asked Sam if she would come with me and the team to the east
coast. I can still remember the twinkle in her eye as she would have said
yes immediately.  I placed my hand on her arm as I explained that it would
entail.  Maybe a year on the road living rough all the time.  Living hand
to mouth with five men being the only woman.  She still said yes.

   That was the first night we made love.  I remember as I smile now, it
was nothing romantic.  We found a gap in the cargo bay on the top of the
canvas tent bags.  It wasn't comfortable at all.  We climbed up the canvas
sacks to the top like a hay loft that was almost full.  There was enough
room for us to fit in as we loosened our trousers pulling them down.  I do
remember that wonderful feeling as I slid into her body from behind for the
first time.

   Neither of us lasted long as I manipulated her clitoris with my arms
around her.  She hung onto my hips backwoods as I stroked in and out.  In a
few short minutes I rubbed her clitoris hard and furious as I felt myself
coming.  I was gasping as I tried to hold off but it was too late I was
gone.

   I remember spurting long and hard, deep into her body.  It had been over
a year since I'd been with a woman.  She felt so warm and wonderful, not
real tight like Rachel.  I realised a few minutes later Sam had climaxed
with me as we were both panting hard.  "God Sam that was unbelievable." I
gasped in her ear.  I felt her wiggle her rear slightly as I held her
tightly there in the dark.

   It took us ages to clean up in the dark with our handkerchiefs.  Sam
went off to shower in the hospital unit.  Being surprised there were about
fifteen men in the wards which had been wounded in the battle that day.  A
few of the women who were not asleep were talking to them.

   I sought out my team after I showered and shaved.  We had been able to
secure a small bunk room together after pulling rank as our quarters.  Sam
had slept there last night in one of the spare bunks.  No one had bothered
her as we turned our back as she climbed out of her uniform.  Clad in only
military issue singlet and men's underpants she went to sleep.

   Tonight was no different as she climbed into her bunk.  Sam had had a
hard tense day.  Before she went to sleep it was Andrew who asked.  "Are
you going with us Sam?" She smiled tiredly nodding then rolled over going
to sleep.

   We discussed the possible problems we could face in low voices as not to
disturb her.  The guys were keen to start a new adventure.  As I think they
realised things were changing and could do nothing to stop ithappening.  We
were going back to how life would have been for the first European
settlers. Needing to learn a whole lot of new stuff seriously fast as we
studied our survival manuals.

   The next morning Sam was leading a group of women ashore for uniforms as
what clothes they had were rags.  There was a whole warehouse ashore
stuffed with uniforms and kit.  They were fully fitted out as the men right
down to the boots and helmet.  While one group were ashore another were
going through their medical checks.

   This went on all day, Sam did not come back till near dark after the
women were fed.  The new infusion of canned food resulted in more rations.
We had been down to quarter rations before the raid.

   The marines ashore were still working mopping up with no word from the
scout teams.  The next day the captain along with the colonel assembled the
women in the theatre.  It was pointed out they were living with men who
outnumbered them fifteen to one.

   "He would hope," he told them, "The women while they were with them
would treat the men in a fair and proper manner." He went on making it
clear that if every woman aboard participated in sex with one man every day
it would be a little over a fortnight cycle for the men.

   He went on to point out that things had changed in the world.  It was
now 'survival at any cost'.  It was their job to survive to rebuild their
country.  They had the knowledge and the willpower after their ordeal to
survive.  They would be the founding mothers, their children and
grandchildren spreading out repopulating the country.  Planting the
foundations for a greater nation in the future.

   The doctor then got up speaking to the women about women's health and
hygiene explaining what services the medical staff could provide them.  He
took great pains to cover birth control.  Adding the clinic now had a
supply of birth control patches of one or five year duration.  His staff
had discovered a warehouse of pharmaceutical supplies which had been
plundered but the patches remained.  He suggested initially the women
practice birth control until they were established where they had decided
to settle round the country.

   Then informing them while they were with the ship the women would be
taught practical first aid then more complicated classes on treating
sprains and straight forward setting of broken bones.  Watching video's of
operations starting with appendices and wounds from knives and gunshot
victims.

   He finished up by thanking them for being the mothers of the next
generation.  This brought applause from the women.  He could see both the
captain and Colonel clapping with smiles on their faces.

   The captain stood up clapping as the doctor sat down informing the women
the men would withdraw so they could discuss the situation.  Suggesting the
rosters would be handled by the medical staff as they had the only
available beds on the ship.

   Sam who got up starting the ball rolling.  Telling them her name would
be first on the list.  She considered the men's well-being more important
than woman's morals, being willing to take on the roll as a surrogate wife
for the men.

   Some of the women were not keen and after some discussion it was pointed
out that in slavery they were repeatedly raped, they were coming round. 
They sent for the doctor to explain how such a system would work.  Because
of the sheer numbers a lot of the beds would be occupied at the same time.
Modesty he explained they would do something with sheets hung as curtains
round the bunks as they had plenty of both.

   All the women were issued with contraceptive patches of their choice. 
Sam opted for five years.  While in captivity they were given injections by
the gang for birth control after the tablets ran out.

   Fuel for the planes was now down to critical, as until recently the ship
had been flying sentry flights.  The logistics team were meeting with the
planning team on how best to utilise the remainder.  They came up with a
plan which would benefit the crew best.

   The jump jets had the greatest range of the aircraft aboard.  There was
six hard points on the wings with one in the belly.  The aircraft could
carry a load of six tons, half of it would be extra fuel.  Their idea was
as the crew were going to disperse over the countryside they would drop
three pods of supplies off at each chosen location at maximum range of one
thousand six hundred clicks using the jet in a radius from the ship.  They
had enough fuel for a dozen or more trips.  The aircraft used would be the
twin seat trainer which we had one on aboard.  Each trip would carry seven
long range fuel tank pods.

   Three of the fuel pods would be packed full of supplies like food,
water, vitamins, Iodine pills, ammunition, weapons, tents, stores, tools
with boots and uniforms from the ships and shore stores.  They were
survival pods for the teams spreading out over the countryside.  Their
location marked on the survival maps each team would be given.

   The spare seat on the plane would carry a tough Marine, his duty to dig
the holes and manhandle the pods to bury them at the sites.  They would
leave a marker of stones nearby in the form of an above ground stone grave.

   The flight would also recon the intended root for Intel on what the
teams were to expect.  Like areas to avoid where places were still hot. 
The level of destruction, signs of life etc., etc.

   Aircraft engineers were modifying the thirty six pods as there were
three for each site.  Each pod would carry exactly the same assortment of
equipment so only one pod needed to be dug up by a team at a time.

   So operation 'Survival At Any Cost' was put into effect.  It kept the
crew busy as they went about their tasks.  With the added incentive of the
women giving their services to the crew, they were happy.

   The Harrier had been modified to carry extra starting batteries as the
engine would have to be shut down for roughly a day while the crew buried
the pods at the sites.  Soft or sandy soil sights would only be chosen to
hide the pods beneath ground where it was easier to dig.

   We were busy planning our route.  The jet would do our two drops first.
We had the furthest to go.  Other teams would follow our root was the plan.
As we were carrying dispatches for the east coast, made us first cab of the
rank as we planned and trained for our ordeal ahead.

   Sam trained with us.  Her strength and stamina was building.  She had
now slept with all the team, firmly entrenched.  Still honouring her
commitment to service the crew and Marines having sex twice a day in the
first week.

   She was also attending classes run by the doctor and his aides, their
well-being depended on how well they taught the girls.  By the end of the
first week all the woman had joined in the surrogate wives programme.

   One hunting team called up a helicopter to bring back four women they
had found.  They were in bad shape as their captors had abandoned them
fleeing as the word spread about the army invasion.

   The next week the supply flights commenced.  It was a tense time as the
jet flew off over the mountain range being below the direct line of radio
range before they landed.  Thirty hours passed without word.  To everyone's
relief the radio crackled into life over the loud speakers as the jet
climbed for altitude on its way back.  By nightfall they were back aboard
safe.

   It was decided to take two passengers in future.  The mechanics were
modifying a harness so the extra passenger could sit on the back seater's
lap as they removed the joy stick and rudder pedals to fit him in.  A short
thin wiry man was picked.

   The word coming back from our scouts was the undesirables were
establishing themselves in the foothills which changed our tactics with the
drops in case the teams encountered trouble.  So there would be pods drop
on the other side of the mountains containing food, weapons and ammunition
at a closer site than planned.  The first on interstate forty, roughly east
from the ship.  The rout we and two other teams would be taking, with more
teams planned in the future.

   The second drop north east right up interstate fifteen.  The third would
head slightly west of north up interstate five all the way to Seattle.  The
theory being the teams would need resupplying by then if they encountered
undesirables as intelligence now expected.

   Delivery flights were finished after four weeks.  The teams were
preparing to depart the ship.  We would be driven by vehicles into the
foothills as far as the teams had swept.  Then we would be on our own in
no-man's land.

   After speaking with the captain and colonel.  I was given the dispatches
wrapped in a waterproof pouch, then with handshakes and goodbyes we boarded
the landing barge for the trip ashore.  I think almost everyone came on
deck to watch us depart, being the first team away.

   We were all quite as we rode in an armoured Humvee into the foothills on
interstate 15.  The Humvee was manned with a M2 .50 caliber machine gun in
the cab roof.  We were travelling in convoy with two other Hummer's one
front and rear, mounted also with machine guns.

   To soon we were dropped off at the base of the mountain.  We would
travel up I-15 then turn onto I-40 at Barstow a few days up I-15.  I-40 was
picked as it was reasoned we will have more chance of finding game higher
up in the temped climate than down in the semi-arid country of Interstate
I-10 nearer the boarder.

   We would then follow Interstate 40 right through to Oklahoma City,
diverting up interstate 35 to Wichita in Kansas where Tim hails from to
check on his family.  Then back down onto Interstate 40 round Tulsa
following it all the way through to Knoxville, Tennessee.  Then follow
Interstate 81 up to Kingsport then duck across to Princeton to check on my
folks.  The Norfolk shipyards on the coast five hundred clicks to the east
being the closest target, no doubt targeted with multiple weapons.  With
both the Russians and Chinese firing at us I imagine it would still be
glowing in the dark for many years to come.

   I didn't expect them to be there, but deep in the forest on the boarder
of Virginia and the top corner of Tennessee.  Hiding out in a cabin of one
of dad's best friends where we used to go hunting.  I did expect there
would be a message at the house.  Elroy surprisingly didn't seem interested
in finding if his folks were alive or not.  I didn't push it as he had
never spoke of them, as if they never existed.

   Then we would work our way up to Washington, delivering the dispatches
then come back to look for them.  We planned to follow the railway tracks.
Cover was closer than the open exposed freeways.  We would also be closer
to the source of game.

   We figured we had to cover the first thirteen hundred clicks before we
got into country where we expected hopefully the game to be plentiful.  We
could not carry enough food for that distance so all too soon before we had
got over our first mountain range we were getting a bit thin in the food
department.  We had decided almost immediately to use the interstate to get
over the mountains as it was steeper but shorter than the easier gradients
of the railways.

   It was about two in the afternoon.  We were high in the mountain range
now four weeks into our trek.  We were camped off the road behind a little
rise the road cut through, hidden in among the trees behind the banking.

   To this day, (well that's what I keep telling Dawn my second) I don't
know whether it was a good thing or bad.  As we were fast asleep in our
sleeping bags when we were woken by a faint blood curdling scream.

   We were all instantly awake.  There it was again from further on up
ahead of us around the next highway curve.  We were getting our gear on as
fast as we could.  Elroy was ready before the rest of us.  He put in his
radio ear piece with the transmitter/receiver unit under his flak jacket.
Hefting his M4 into his arms after driving a round into the chamber,
clicking the safety on as he disappeared into the trees parallel with the
freeway.

   I indicated to Gerry and Andrew to cross the freeway hugging the tree
line on the other side to surround whatever was out there ahead.  I was
ready as I picked up my M4 as Sam gathered hers.  We headed off after Elroy
hugging the trees with Tim leading the way.

   It took fifteen to twenty minutes before I heard Elroy in the headset.
"We got a big log cabin in a clearing on the north side just off the
freeway.  Looks like four guys, they look like bad guys.  They're raping
the shit out of a woman inside the cabin.  The fucks have a hand-cart, it
looks like one of ours." I tapped twice in acknowledgement.

   Sam and I were moving up slow in case it was a trap.  Tim had gone to
the left further so we looped around in the trees deeper.  There was no
sign of a trap.  I could see the cabin now as we came around.  It was
recently built.  There was a pile of freshly cut logs with what looked like
the foundation of a shed or out building.  These guys were setting up here,
to cater for passing trade by the looks of it.  I made a mental note to
keep well clear of the freeways and highways after this if possible as we
planned what to do next.

   Gerry and Andrew had worked their way into position across the freeway
about twenty meters apart from each other, with a clear field of fire from
the front.  We watched as a man came out of the cabin having had his fill
of the woman inside then went back to work on the outbuilding with the
others.  They stuck to it working steadily as we watched from our hiding
places.

   Before dark they seemed to gravitate to the large cabin porch at the
rear.  They began opening cans for their meal.  They had a fire going as
they heated the cans.  They had finished eating by dark.  A little later
one of them brought out a bottle passing it around.

   "Let them get drunk.  If they start raping the woman again, move in when
she starts screaming." The men were getting louder as the bottle made the
rounds.

   It was about eight when one of the men got to his feet unsteadily
heading inside.  I tapped a single warning on the radio.  Elroy slid
forward on his belly disappearing silently into the dark towards the fire
behind the cabin, followed closely by Tim.  They didn't take their rifles
with them.

   Sam and I watched those around the fire in case they were alerted but
there was no sign.  They were still talking and laughing.  The girl in the
cabin began screaming.  "Go." I commanded into the radio.

   We watched as two silent figures rose behind the laughing men as they
joked then fell over with their throats cut.  The third screamed in terror
as a black shadow with white gleaming teeth and two white piercing eyes
grinned wickedly not realising his throat was already slashed as no sound
was coming out now.  He two collapsed in a heap as there was a shout from
inside the cabin.  "Go Andrew." I commanded.

   I could see movement inside as the back door was half open.  The forth
man was alerted to the danger we had to do something quick.  "Elroy get his
attention quick." I don't know what got into Elroy's head as Tim dived
behind the pile of logs behind him out of sight as he drew his side arm.

   Elroy picked up the body of his last victim bent him over in front of
him as a shield and began dry humping the corpse's arse calling to the guy
in the cabin who must have been crouching by the partly open back door with
a clear line of sight to Elroy seeing what happened to his companions in
the firelight as it was almost completely dark.

   "Come help me with this motherfucker." I heard Elroy call as the guy
must have been outraged not sensing the danger as he raised his rifle
edging forward to the doorway as Elroy lifted the body up in front of him
higher.

   I could just see the bad guy's protruding forehead as I squeezed the
trigger.  His fore head disappeared as his body was thrown sideways against
the door as his rifle clattered to the floor as he staggered back.

   "Keep him alive." I shouted into the radio.  I could hear the front door
being kicked in as the woman was screaming again inside.

   "All clear." Came through our earpieces.  After a torchlight flashed
around inside.  That was Andrews voice.

   Sam and I waited as the trio secured the cabin.  "Fuck Shane, theirs
three women." We heard in our earpieces from Andrew.  Elroy went in the
cabin.  There was a soft orange glow in the cabin now I could see as I
could hear moaning from inside.  The motherfucker was coming two.

   Then a woman's started screaming then died almost immediately.  Tim was
in the cabin now adding to the confusion as Gerry was left to cover the
front from across the freeway in the trees.  Sam and I still covered the
back.

   "Send Sam in here, one's bad." We heard over the radio.  Sam rose from
beside me heading for the back door of the cabin.  "Sam's coming." I warned
them as I watched her progress.  "I'm coming in," she warned remembering
her training as she got closer, then was through the door.

   It was quite inside the cabin for about ten minutes.  Sam came on
saying. "She's all right they were raping her while she was having her
period." There was a sudden high pitch scream from the cabin.  I grimaced
at the noise.  Elroy was working the fucker over.

   It took about fifteen minutes before Elroy was on the radio.  "Get the
fuck out of here.  There's a heap of fuckers due here before dark."

   Things began to happen quickly.  The women were bundled out the door as
we began organising things.  Elroy was piling their stocks of food into the
two hand-carts.  Everything they had.  Apparently they had come across one
of our deserters with a hand-cart full of army ration food accounting for
how it came into their hands a month ago.

   Elroy took off with a hand-cart up the freeway with two of the women on
aboard as Sam and the third woman pushing and pulling the second.  I
watched them disappear up the road into the darkness.

   I organised the team in a delaying crossfire configuration.  We would
open up when the first man neared the cabin, trapping them on the open
freeway.

   Before they were properly in place a warning came from Gerry across the
freeway.  "I've got movement down the freeway.  Fuck there's ten... 
twelve...  fourteen.  There pushing some sort of big cart, I can't count
them all."

   "Stay calm, we can take them." I encouraged, "let them come in." we sat
waiting.  Now I could see them as they came up the freeway pushing what
looked like a light truck chassis with a flat bed with logs on.  "All right
that's far enough."

   I dropped the first man in front.  He fell to the ground dead as the
cart wheel ran into him stalling.  As a second went down.  The cart
stopping suddenly upset our aim as some sprawled on the ground.  There were
yells and curses as firing began returning from the cart.  It was wild and
sporadic for a few seconds then more guns began as they organised
themselves.

   Some had got under the cart between the wheels as I began firing at gun
flashes.  One round each side as they started dying out one by one.  "Pick
the flashes.  Then one shot each side." I spoke to them trying to keep them
calm and organised.

   There was only six flashes now.  I grinned to myself, then I heard a
volley of shots but could not see flashes.  "Fuck where did that come
from?" I recognised Andrew's voice on the edge of panic from across the
freeway.  I looked up, I could see nothing.

   It was Andrew again.  "There's a whole fucken heap of them coming up the
freeway." I saw the muzzle flashes from his position as he emptied the
remainder of his magazine down the roadway.

   Dropping another.  There were only two flashes now coming from the
wheels of the wagon.  "Fuck there's fucken heaps of them I count over
twenty flashes."

   "Right.  Time to pull back.  Go." I climbed to my feet as a bullet
whizzed past my cheek then ducked far too late as I started running and
weaving through the trees.  I could still see well enough to dodge the
trees as I ran parallel to the freeway.  The firing behind us had stopped.
I could hear the second group firing away at Andrew's position.  Hopefully
he was long gone.

   The freeway was turning in towards the direction I was running in.  The
firing was now sporadic getting distant as I came out on the freeway verge.
I stopped activating my radio.  "Tim?" Two clicks.  "Andrew?" Two clicks.
"Gerry?" Two clicks.  "Elroy?" Two clicks.  "Sam?" Two clicks.  "Where are
you Elroy?"

   "Where about a click above you going over the ridge." I grimaced, they
need more time to get further away with the women.  "Right we'll set up
above this gully here and hold them.  You know what to do."

   Five silent figures were running up the freeway two on one side, three
on the other in single file.  The firing had stopped.  It would take the
fuckers time to get organised.  I judged as I looked at the terrain for the
best advantage.  There was a cutting through the top of the sharp crest. 
We could cover the freeway for nearly half a click from either side.

   I didn't have to say anything as we climbed to the top of the cutting a
pair each side.  "Spread out." I warned them, "we have a few minutes yet.
Pick your spots and mark your target carefully." I know at that range they
had a one in three chance of hitting a human body.  We didn't have that
amount of ammo.

   "Tim give me your spare magazines, go relieve Elroy." Tim was a farm boy
and the poorest shot out of us five.  I still shake my head at that.  I
heard him come up behind me dropping his magazines beside my elbow.

   Right then I wish I had brought my M24 along but it used different
ammunition to the M4's.  I had to rely on my M4, which was fitted with the
Starlight Scope.  I could do a lot of damage up to half a click with that.

   We waited longer than I thought we should.  I spoke to Elroy on the
radio.  "There up to something, nothing in sight yet.  Study the map." I
did not want to destroy my night vision.

   "Here they come." It was Gerry, ten minutes later on the other side.  I
could see them each side of the freeway in single file.  They were getting
smarter, but still dumb.  I let them in to two hundred meters.  "Shoot." I
ordered as I squeezed the trigger.  A man near the back of the line dropped
and didn't move.  I smiled.  He won't be giving orders any more.

   They were dropping into the drain beside the roadway for cover.  That
suited me as they returned fire.  I could hear the other two firing as the
return fire from the fucks increased.

   I was working my way down the line in the drain.  They woke up what was
happening.  They pulled back as someone was directing them from the back. I
could not find the fuck, I could hear him shouting orders from where I was.

   Realising I had used two of my magazines tonight.  'Dam, we can't keep
this up.' "Only shoot when you have a definite target." I heard the volume
die off from the M4's.  A bullet whizzed by my head.  I ducked, I don't
know why.  I wanted to find that fucker.  I crawled to my right about ten
feet by a large stone.

   "They have a sniper." I warned the team as I moved.  I lay prone waiting
for him to show himself.  He must have thought he had got me as I saw a
flash from the tree edges on the other side of the dip above where I shot
the first one.

   He's up on the right of the cutting." It was Gerry.  "I got him.  Take a
shot then move." I heard the M4 fire.  I concentrated.  There was a flash
from where I was watching.  I lined up on the right side of the flash then
squeezed.  That was a six hundred meter shot.  The absolute limit of the
rifles accuracy.  I saw something lift then fall back in my sights.  "Got
the fuck." I announced.

   I went back to picking them off slowly.  They were keeping their heads
down but still firing.  That fucker giving the orders was keeping his head
right down.

   Suddenly there was a long burst of fire from way down to our left over
the hill out of sight.  It was a M4.  "That you Elroy?" there were another
two or three shots.  "Yep." Was the reply then another shot.

   "They were trying to outflank you, using the railway line." I began to
move further right, I wanted the fucker in the culvert drain giving the
orders.

   I could see some of his white shirt as he was calling to someone
probable the sniper up behind him.  It was about an inch at three hundred
yards.  I squeezed the trigger.  He spun around in the opening looking up
towards me with utter surprise on his face as he saw the flash from the
barrel of my M4 then nothing as he was thrown flat on his back against the
drain side as if saying "What the fuck?" Year he had a third eye now with
an insight to God.

   "Take that you fuck." I said allowed.  That seemed to be the straw that
broke the camel's back.  One by one they started crawling away.  I was
picking them off if they showed themselves.  They were keeping pretty low
in the drain.

   I was cursing as they were getting away.  Gerry and Andrew didn't have a
shot from their position as they had cleaned their side out.  I couldn't
move any further to my right without exposing myself on open ground.  All I
could do was watch.

   A figure rose from the ditch right at the back as I shifted my M4 to
line him up before he started running.  "Don't shoot Shane, it's me." I
recognised Elroy's voice.  As orange muzzle flashes erupted from the end of
his rifle.

   "Hot dam." I heard.  It was Andrew.  One in the rear shot up out of the
ditch started running towards me.  'Goodnight nurse' I breathed as I
squeezed the trigger as he went down.  One managed to get a shot off at
Elroy, he was the last as I nailed his arse.

   It went quite.  After a minute I called in.  "Everyone OK?" "Tim?" Two
clicks.  "Sam?" Two clicks.  "Andrew?" Two clicks.  "Gerry?" Two clicks. 
"Elroy?" There was a pause as I could see him sitting on the roadside.  "I
got winged by a fucker down on the railway."

   "You all right pal." "Year check these mother fuckers first." "Andrew,
Gerry.  Do the honours.  Watch yourselves.  I'll stand guard.  Tim find a
place to hide yourselves and lay low for a while.  It looks like it's
over." Two clicks.

   I watched as the men inspected the bodies.  Twice the K-Bars were
utilised, silent and quick.  Elroy was checking the bodies in the ditch
further up.  He looked all right.  I don't think anyone could believe what
we had just done.  There were twenty three bodies along the freeway.

   Later in daylight we counted fifteen bodies on the railway line.  Six
were wounded having their throats cut.  We went back to the cabin counting
fourteen plus four there.  No wonder we were almost out of ammo. 
Unfortunately only one of the fuckers had an M4 with three magazines.  It
would have been the deserter's rifle.

   We also took the army issue boots from the mother fucker.  We called to
Tim and Sam to ask what size boots and clothes the girls took.  They were
bare footed, one had lacerated feet after running on the bitumen surface
pushing the cart.

   By nightfall the next night we had dumped the bodies, destroyed their
rifle stocks, bent their barrels and removing the bolts then threw their
ammo away down the hill as far as we could as it was not our caliber.

   That night we camped in the forest off the freeway where Sam and Tim had
hidden the cart.  That was the first time I met Dawn, my second.  We did
risk a fire in a Dakota fire pit to heat the tins for our supper for the
girls.  Elroy had a chunk out of his outer thigh where he had been winged.
That was Sam's first real doctoring case.

   We all laughed as Elroy got a hard on as she was handling his leg with
his pants around his ankles, she flicked the head of it with her finger tip
as he gasped in pain as she cleaned the deep graze.  He had been extremely
lucky to have got off so lightly.

   We stripped some of the corpses clothes for the women, washing them in
the stream before bringing them back, drying them by the fire.  They were a
lot happier with decent clothes and food in their bellies.

   Explaining to the women the next evening we were going to find a safe
place to live, but near on the other side of the country.  They could come
with us as our wives or go their own way.  The three opted to come with us
knowing they had a choice of the men.  They would choose later when they
knew us better.

   Dawn was the one with lacerated feet.  She had been the one pushing the
cart with Sam.  Sam was tending her feet at the moment.  I stroked her hair
leaning down kissing her on the forehead saying.  "That took real guts
pushing the cart up the freeway in bare feet.

   I could see her blush in the dying light from the camp fire.  She winced
as Sam pulled a piece of skin off her foot.  "You'll be riding on the cart
for a few days.  I squeezed her shoulder then looked around for Elroy.  He
was off taking a dump.  >>

   I laughed when he emerged from the trees saying.  "So it did scare the
crap out of you." He laughed back with his phony laugh he used when joking
as I added.  "I supposed you tapped the lead fucker on the shoulder down on
the railway cutting." Elroy smiled shaking his head saying.  "Na I taped
him on the shoulder with my rifle barrel, then blew the fucker's head off.

   I could just imagine Elroy rising up beside the leader tapping him on
the shoulder as he had done to me a number of times in training before
opening fire on them.  Fifteen he'd taken out on his own in one magazine
burst.  Well one and a half.  We knew Elroy had big balls, now we know how
big, and all brass.

   I shook his hand as his white teeth flashed as in my most humble voice
added.  "You saved our arses twice last night.  That was brilliant coming
up behind them on the road, they didn't know what hit them." We hugged,
slapping each others backs.

   I was almost in tears as we grinned at each other.  We were truly
brothers.  We had been friends from almost day one in the marines, now we
were inseparable, sharing our lives with one another and our women.  But
I'm getting ahead of myself.  Now you understand how I feel about Elroy and
him about me.  You could say we were bum buddies.

   We moved out after we slept.  It must have been about three in the
morning as it was freezing bloody cold with a heavy due in the air with not
a hint of grey in the east.  We kept to the freeway till it was light
enough to see.

   Elroy pointed out an access track which would lead us down to the
railway.  Tim was bring up the rear smudging out our tracks and sign with a
bush so we couldn't be followed easily.

   We made good time by the railway.  Not as good as the freeway but fair.
The railway gradient was gentler so wound around more than the freeway.  I
didn't mind if it meant we were safer.  We didn't encounter another soul
till we hit the next town.

   We were camped in a small shed out of sight as Elroy disappeared.  If
people had survived it would be out or around these whistle stop towns. 
Elroy slipped into the shed about nine.  He had found a group of three
youths who were down from the hills scavenging for anything they could
find.

   He had left them with his survival manual.  Realising they needed the
help.  He did get the information the fucks were raiding this far out for
food and women.  They had taken half a dozen women from here a few months
ago killing their men.  They had also heard there were people still alive
further east.

   They had heard the jet over a number of times a month or so ago.  Elroy
had gleaned no more information so left them without revealing our
presence. We moved on under cover of darkness.

   We found places to hide during the day, leaving one on guard.  For the
next week we travelled while our extra food lasted not having to hunt. 
With three extra mouths to feed it was disappearing fast.  Dawn's feet were
healing now she was walking short distances with her boots.  The three
girls were slowly adapting to their harsh life on the road.

   Surviving from the land had been a shock to them at first, not realising
there was so much around them in the forests they could eat to survive. 
Most of it didn't taste like much but you could survive which was the
point.

   We still had a few hundred clicks to go to the first supply drop site to
the east of Flagstaff.  We were doing all right after two months.

   As we moved further east there was more signs of life.  The towns we
passed through were deserted.  Those who had survived had gone bush where
they could survive better.

   In one town we came across a scavenging party of three men and a women.
This was the first woman we had come across with men.  Elroy had crept up
on them in the dark catching them in the open.  Yes he appeared out of the
shadows taping one of them on the shoulder then holding his knife to his
throat as he used him as a shield against his companions.

   He had threatened them with a violent death if they didn't put their
weapons down.  Even the woman carried a rifle.

   There was a few minutes tension as Elroy assured them he meant them no
harm if they put their weapons down so they could talk.  A compromise was
reached where everyone would unslinging their rifles holding them out by
the barrels as they put them on the ground including Elroy.  This done
Elroy let the man he was holding go then sat down on the ground on one side
of the rifles as he gestured for them to do the same on the other.

   He explained he was from the Marines doing a survey of the country for
the military to determine the situation.  Making his way all the way to
Washington.  The group were at ease now accepting him at face value as they
began to talk.

   They became nervous when he informed them he had companions.  Asking
their permission to invite them in.  when they learnt we had women with us
their fears were eased.  He spoke into his radio so they could hear his
message.  "All clear, have four friends.  Come in, weapons secure." Two
clicks.

   Fifteen minutes later I poked my head round a building to make out the
group in the middle of the road sitting down crossed legged talking.  I
sent Andrew and Tim to do guard duty.  I slung my rifle over my shoulder as
I beckoned Gerry and the girls in behind me.

   "I'm coming in." I warned Elroy.  Two clicks.  I walked slowly in giving
time for the boys to deploy.  No one made a move as I walked up to the
group as I slowly unslinging my M4 placing it gently on the butt end with
the barrel on my leg as I explained.  "My rifle has a very special set of
sights.  I do not want to damage it by putting it on the ground."

   I took my helmet off placing it beside me.  I sensed the girls coming up
beside me as Sam put her weapon down taking her helmet off.  The girls sat
on the roadway between Elroy and myself.  We began introducing ourselves.

   It took ten minutes before we felt comfortable with each other.  We
explained where we had come from and where we were going.  They were a
local group of young friends who had banded together from the town, hiding
out in an old abandon mine during the first months.  All the residents of
the town had died from radiation poisoning in the first year.  None of them
had been prepared for what happened.

   It was a common story with rats living off the bodies, with the
survivors living of the rats.  They wanted to take us to their camp which
after some deliberation we accepted the invitation as it was a way.

   We picked up the carts hidden in a shed near the railway heading off
into the flat plains.  We marched all night to arrive at a small abandoned
mine sight up in a deep gully facing south west.  The mine was very old
obviously played out generations before.  There was no processing machinery
only the rusting dilapidated machinery sheds remained.

   The mine entrance we could see had new timbers.  Our hosts guided us
into the cool adit depths going deeper and deeper.  To our surprise when we
entered a chamber with a shaft going down into the ground being used as a
well with a rope and bucket.  Against one wall was a pot bellied wood stove
with a flew leading up a shaft on an angle.  There was crude wooden beds
with rumpled bedding and comforters.



   Then to my surprise a voice of a child called "Daddy." A no more than
two year old child ran out of the side tunnel to one of the men with us. 
The child was so taken back realising all these strangers were suddenly in
his home as he hid behind his father's legs.

   To be honest I had not seen a child for over a year since I was last on
leave.  I could see the girls were going all clucky trying to entice the
little boy out.

   There was a crude bench picnic type table which we were invited to sit
down after depositing our gear along the opposite wall where we would
sleep. I had little experiences of mines, always imagining mines as wet
damp places.  This was remarkably dry and to be honest a total surprise.

   Our hosts were keen for news.  We could tell them little except what had
happened on the west coast.  They had also heard the jet flights thinking
there would be more.  I had to disappoint them explaining they were recon
flights for us to spread out to live in the country using the last of the
fuel.

   Their disappointment was plain on their face.  They were keen to hear
about our battles with the crime lords on the west coast then more recently
in the mountains, stopping them spreading east in their tracks.  We
explained there would be teams hunting them down into the future from the
ship.

   Sharing our food with them.  We gave them one of our survival manuals so
they may live off the land better.  This brought smiles to their faces
knowing they would do it better in the future.

   We slept during the day.  We were in a secure location.  The men had
gone out into the surrounding area hunter gathering now armed with new
knowledge keen to test it.  Previously their only source of fresh meat was
elk from the forests about ten clicks to the south.

   Keen to advance our progress as we were within a few hundred clicks of
our first supply drop.  Our ammunition was down to less than one quarter
now, making us vulnerable if not lighter.  Sam only carried one spare clip,
she had not fired her weapon in anger.

   One thing our hosts had suggested, as we intended travelling so far, the
railway museum in the town of Kingman where we met them, had an old
railroad hand trolley stored in a corner of a railway shed museum beside
the railway.  That device was propelled by a manual up and down see-saw
type crank handle.

   I remember seeing an old movie with Buster Keaton in it when I was a kid
riding on something like that, I think it was him.  I doubted we could all
fit on such a device with our equipment, from memory it was only large
enough for four.

   We said our goodbyes, wishing them luck with their survival as we headed
out of the hills back to the town.  Shore enough, when we found the museum,
beside the railway, with a larger shed further along.  There was an old
fashioned hand trolley as described.  The sign said it was a hand trolley
or pump trolley.

   My eyes lit up as attached to the back was a flat trolley trailer the
same size with a long fat tool box in the centre doubling as seats. 
Designed to carry sleepers on each side and tools in the box with workers
sitting on top.  That was exactly what we needed.  I had visions of us
tearing through the countryside at great speed but in reality it was about
the speed of a jogging man of about eight clicks an hour if you wanted to
go a long way, without tiring the operators.

   It would give us freedom to choose where we hunted and searched for
water.  We wouldn't have to lug our packs on our backs.  We could save
ourselves months of travel time with this device.

   Eagerly we set to work uncoupling the steel tow bar between the two
vehicles then manhandled the hand trolley outside by the wooden frame
handles on the ends onto a set of siding tracks.  Tim being the mechanical
minded farm boy with Elroy helping, the pair gave the cart a once over. 
One axle bush was seized with rust which required dismantling, cleaning
then greasing.  Tim decided to do the other three axle bushes as they
turned out to be not much better which was taking time.

   It was now daylight as the men worked on the two vehicles, overhauling
the foot brake with a new hardwood block, cleaning the rust of with a
course file, greasing the links and leavers so they worked smoothly.  The
gears and the crank pin cleaned and greased.  The trolley had the same
treatment with only the axle bearings to be done.  By midday we were ready.

   We decided to stay and sleep in the corner of the shed.  Sam was taking
first watch, this was her first.  Elroy would keep an eye on her.  I lay
down noticing the girls were mixing with the men now as if they began to
trust them.  Dawn was the last to settle laying down between myself and
Tim. She had her back to me as I thought she had a thing for Tim.  I must
admit I felt a pang of disappointment as I noticed her watching me lately.

   To my surprise as I was about to go to sleep I felt her move back to
spoon into me.  She was just touching at first then I felt her move back
firmly.  Now that had to be on purpose.  I didn't mind at all as I reached
over her arms drawing her back.  I heard her murmur something which sounded
like "thank you" as her breathing became regular.

   I felt Sam cuddle up to my back as I semi woke.  She must have come of
watch.  I heard her giggle saying.  "Elroy you horny goat." I went back to
sleep.

   Late afternoon we were up.  One of the boys had found a water tank
outside with water in it.  The boys washed then left the girls to their
ablutions as we loaded one hand cart onto the trolley upside down as one of
us could sit up on the underside of the cart with his back against the axle
facing forward as lookout.  We didn't want to give one of the carts up in
case we may have too abandon the railway later.

   The tinned food we were carrying was packed in the rear toolbox under
the cart.  All but two of the rifles were in the front toolbox packed in
clothes above the tools.

   Elroy and I were on lookout.  As we slowly made our way out onto the
main line after dark.  God that thing made a hell of a noise.  There was
the wheel rail contact sounding like grinding with a hollow bell like
continuous ringing sound.  Then the worn crank bearing clunking on every
stroke plus the squeaking of the thrust bearings of the handle added to the
din.  Elroy got off walking out at an angle till he couldn't hear us.  He
was out of sight of us finally calling in.  we went faster which didn't
seem to make a lot of difference.

   We were all aboard now clearing the city limits.  All remaining eyes
were alert as the four on the handles began laying in.

   The countryside began passing in the dark.  Elroy was on the handles
with the boys now, seeing how fast we could go.  Then we came to a slight
rise where four were required putting their backs into it to keep the pace.
Later when we came to a real grade, everyone was off pushing who weren't on
the handles.

   Downhill was great though, coasting on the brake.  No one working except
the brake man.  I think that night everyone was on a high as we charged
along.  By dawn we were on featureless flat semiarid desert rounding the
mountains.  I estimate we covered sixty clicks all told from the map.

   Well that didn't happen again because almost immediately we began
climbing again.  It wasn't steep but went on and on, never seemed to end
after that.  The rise in the grade was steady but continuous.  From the
look of our colour coded map, Flagstaff where we were headed was near four
thousand feet above sea level.  When I think back it had been an uphill
grade ever since we left the Colorado River.

   Sure we knew it wasn't going to be that easy all the time.  We knew
there would be towns and cities we would have to bypass.  We expected to be
hand pushing the hand trolley and trailer along roads as the decimated
cities would be covered with rubble and trees.  That would be the fate of
almost every military base, silo sight and nuclear power station.  We would
have to scout our way around those sights.

   We had no idea how San Diego and Los Angeles had not sustained the same
degree of damage as San Francisco which was a smoking pile of rubble. 
Perhaps the bombs meant for them went off higher than they were intended
too or they strayed or were intercepted.  Who knows?

   A roster was worked out.  One of the five men would take a break for
fifteen minutes in rotation.  We had Sam on lookout as the four men worked
the crank at an easy pace as we were on a slight grade making the work
harder.

   Travelling in dark hours.  Only occasionally would we travel into
daylight if the ground we were passing through wasn't suitable for hiding
as we always moved the hand trolley and trailer off the railway into hiding
of a daytime, covering them and ourselves with bushes if we were out in the
open.

   Water was a problem for us now.  We had a twenty liter container found
in a farm shed after we got the cart.  That extended our range but still
had to hunt for water sources frequently.  In the hills and mountains it
was easy enough to find streams originating from springs but the flat
featureless semiarid plains was another.

   Tim was our inspiration coming from a farming background.  He knew about
water divining.  He had cut two lengths of fence wire into one foot lengths
bending them at right angles.  He would walk along a dry stream bed with
the wires vertical in his fists with the right angle pieces pointing
horizontal and parallel out in front.  Sure enough the rods would move at
which point he would step out a distance indicating where we should dig.

   Not often he was wrong, as we soon struck wet ground in our holes.  We
would bury our collection of empty food cans we kept for the purpose below
the rim in the bottom of the hole.  We would then cover the holes with
clear plastic sheets holding them down with stones around the perimeter
with a pebble or two in the middle, heavy enough to hold the plastic down
over the open top tin creating a little hot house so the evaporated
moisture formed droplets as it condensed on the plastic sheet running down
would drip into the tin.  When we woke more often than not they would be
overflowing.  We never questioned the black art of water divining after our
first success.

   During the day the lookout would watch.  If the flow was good he would
fill the water bottles which would then go into the twenty liter drum.  On
one accession we didn't find water when we needed it.  Forced to go back to
a more likely sight to fill up then past half a mile further on in the same
stream bed finding ample water.  That was one of our most valuable survival
lessons.

   We had not seen sign of anyone for the whole week.  Sure we passed a
heap of isolated houses.  Yes we were seeing remains of humans and their
domestic animals but no one alive.  There were always stranded cars and
trucks littered along the roads, highways and freeways.  The initial blasts
from the bombs going off with the electromagnetic pulse destroying their
electronics systems, in some cases the vehicles jamming the roadways.  The
truck trailers had been broken open and pillaged without exception.

   It was the very next night just after sunset when we saw a camp-fire
back in on a hill.  It wasn't very large or a long way off.  We stopped
having a discussion.  We didn't want to stop.  Elroy had an idea.  We left
a survival manual with army issue pouch meal on top.  We fired a shot.  The
camp fire went out as we flashed a torch in their direction a number of
times.

   We went on our way hoping they could hear or see us in the still
moonlight night.  We had left a calling card.  We knew there would be more
survival manuals in the resupply pods as the captain was having more
printed before the flights.  The plan had been to distribute them at
intervals along the route.

   Now within a hundred and fifty clicks of the first resupply point. 
Another three or four maybe five days.  We needed water badly so there was
a day lost.  Before dawn we crossed a dry stream bed.  Before the hand
trolley and trailer had stopped, Elroy and Tim were scrambling down the
bank to look for water signs.

   They got an indication a couple of hundred meters upstream.  Elroy began
digging while Tim went on further upstream with little luck.  With
experience he walked down towards the bridge.  Shore enough, under the
bridge he got positive indication.

   Andrew began digging in the bed while Gerry took guard duty beside the
railway bridge railing as the highest point around.  The sun rose, well it
was getting clearer slowly.  Tim and Andrew were working further away from
the bridge downstream.  The girls were moving the hand trolley and trailer
further along where the bridge embankment met the valley floor.

   The hand trolley and trailer now off the railway where they were covered
with brush as we lined up on our ground sheet side by side to sleep.  I
felt Sam spooning into me then Dawn into my back.  I smiled.

   It was late when we left as we waited till the moon was past its zenith
so they would not see us coming with the moon outlining us from behind. 
Our water canteens were full with a little over ten liter's in the drum as
we headed for Williams.

   Our food was holding up as we were satisfied.  Another day at this rate
would see us near the outskirts of Williams.

   There was an army ordinance base a little over half way to Flagstaff, we
knew had been hit as was the area of Flagstaff beside it.  Both the freeway
and railway ran beside the army base.  The Harrier pilot had observed the
freeway was a mess, the railway line little better.

   One of the Freeway overpass bridges had collapsed onto the railroad, the
other was passable.  We would see when we got there.  We knew it would be
the toughest one we had encountered yet.  As we carried a simple light
weight hand held radiation detector with us, issued from the ship's stores
before we left.  We were going into hot zones and was better than nothing.

   The ships electronic technicians had converted the unit's nine volt
battery power supply to eight AA rechargeable batteries in four twin
holders Velcro strapped to the outside so we could recharge the batteries
with our solar recharger for the batteries in our night goggles and
standard spot sights on our M4 rifles.

   We were approaching the outskirts of Williams.  The first drop point was
about two clicks east out the other side of the township where two rail
lines merged.  The pods were buried next to the line on the north side. 
There was a small clearing between two larger ones which were hollows and
boggy when wet.

   The damage to the town was not too bad.  The township was in a shallow
hollow which would have sheltered it mostly from the shock wave of the
blast.  The building higher on the hillsides that were exposed were
matchwood.

   Flagstaff was just fifty clicks to the east, the army facility less. 
Elroy went out to scout around while the rest found a safe place to camp in
among trees for the day directly below a lake as we found a little gully
between the railway and road.  It was still a couple of hours before dawn.

   Elroy was back in an hour with the news the railway was relatively clear
as far as he went, as we settled down for the day.  The eerie part of it
was we were so close to a town there was no noise at all.  Out in the
forests you had the rustle of the wind in the trees.  Here it was dead
still.

   I don't think anyone of us slept well that day being so close to a town.
The men had dug a depression in the ground for us all to sleep.  The women
covered the hand trolley and trailer with our raincoats then covered with
tree limbs to disguise it's shape.

   That night Elroy went out with Gerry, they were going to walk the
railway in, then the Freeway out.  Looking for signs of life.  To date
there were no signs of life residing in towns.  We would decide when they
got back what we would do.

   It was three hours before they returned.  I remember we were all getting
worried till Tim sighted them with his goggles on the railway walking back
coming up silently in the dark.

   The news was good.  The pair had scouted the railway line right through
the town.  What took them so long was after inspecting the railway they
came back along the highway.  The highway being higher than the railway
sustaining considerable damage.  One of the road overpass bridges had
collapsed onto the railway.  Sure it could be bypassed, but the real
problem was the highway was littered with tree trunks and overturned
vehicles.  It was so bad it would have taken a week to clear with a
chainsaw and loader which we didn't have.

   We would use the railway.  It took all night to clear the rubble, trees
and light poles from the tracks.  The thing which gave us the most drama
was one of the warning crossing light boom towers which had not quite
ripped from its foundation jamming the track.

   Elroy was right the job was too much for us so we just went around it.
By the first signs of dawn, we were through the other side of Williams
approaching our hidden supply dump.

   We were on the branch line coming out onto the main line, it was now two
hundred meters beyond.  We pulled the hand trolley and trailer off the line
up a little sharp curved access road about twenty meters then into the pine
trees with plenty of cover.

   Elroy and Tim went out scouting immediately before it got too light, to
see if our cache had been disturbed.  They were back twenty minutes later
grinning their heads off.  The sight was secure.  We went to sleep for the
day.

   I remember I woke up about midday, it was bloody cold but we were coming
into summer.  We were over half way to the snow line, we were getting
glimpses of snow capped mountain peaks in daylight on better days.

   Sam had pinched half my covering ground sheet.  We were sleeping on our
sleeping bags sharing with Dawn.  It was a bit tight with the three of us.
Dawn seemed to gravitate to us.  Elroy was cuddled into her back so she was
warm sharing his ground sheet.  The other two girls were wrapped up between
two men each as I smiled.  Women were now a very precious commodity.  We
better look after them dam good.

   Elroy was out on the highest point looking for camp fires on dark to the
south.  It was now completely dark as we moved out towards the dump site.
The men were leading the women by the hand as we used our night goggles.

   The dummy grave was intact, it looked like it hadn't been disturbed.  We
pulled it apart from the top down till the short handle shovel was
revealed, hidden in there with the waterproof pouch which contained three
Phillips head screwdrivers.

   They were to remove the cover plate fastened over the fuel pod tank
where they had cut a wide strip off the top, to place the gear in the pod.
There was a code.  When we were finished with the pod we were to put the
screwdriver upside down in the first pouch to indicate the pod still had
stores inside.  If the screwdrivers were missing the pod was empty and not
to bother.

   The teams following us would know we had been into the first pod.  We
were to leave a record of our journey to date.

   Elroy and Tim began digging after pacing out thirty meters from the side
of the grave as the other two were on guard.  The bigger shovel really
helped.  Within an hour the pod top was almost totally exposed.  The
Phillips screwdriver was put to their intended use removing the fabricated
aluminium covers.

   The women were shocked to see the stores inside as each woman had a look
through the infrared goggles.  We pulled the ammunition out first. 
Refilling our empty clips doubling up on ammunition so we were prepared for
anything in the future.  We began digging out the clothing used to pack
round everything.  The women were issued with army clothes right down to
socks and boots.

   Boots, yes boots, we knew we were going to need boots.  The boots we
were using were issued us at boot camp.  Yes we had a ceremonial dress kit
with a pair of shoes but were still back at the ship in favour of boots
which would last us for many years to come.

   By the time everyone had been fitted out with a spare set of boots.  It
had made a hole in the supply pod.  The forethought of the planners back on
the ship had placed double the supply in the containers.  There were heaps
of raincoats, ground sheets and the lightweight sleeping bags.  I had to
laugh, we were on our way to the gulf war where it was bloody hot. 
Something was better than nothing at these altitudes, I'm sure the women
won't complain.  And oh yes we took our Iodine pills as we were heading
into hot zones.

   The food was the most welcome.  Here we were, in the dark, sitting
together, showing the women how to activate the heating device on the
pouches.  The aroma of beef stew was tantalising as everyone sat around
cross legged as the men showed the women how to eat with their newly
acquired mess kit.  It was perfect as the moon rose, bathing the field with
a feeble red glow.  I will remember that scene till the day I die.

   By daylight we had removed what we needed and more.  The tool box on the
trolley was filled with tools we would need.  There were proper shovels,
picks, mattocks, axes and saws, even crow bars.  Boy were we going to need
them shortly to get through the blast zones.

   We had retreated to our hiding place after covering the pod back over. I
was writing a report to be placed in the pod before we left.  There was so
much to tell.  I hoped the teams following in our footsteps had it easier.

   Reluctantly we left the next night.  We still had a mission to complete.
Elroy and Tim covered in the pod as Gerry smudged the area obliterating our
sign as we walked away.  We struggled with the hand trolley and trailer
back onto the tracks as they were much heavier now.  As we continued our
Eastwood journey.

   With much trepidation we approached the sight of the army base.  The
trees, power and telegraph poles were flattened for miles around as we
cleared the track as we progressed slowly.  Houses had been flattened as we
made our way slowly along the line.

   We wore our raincoats with hoods covering our heads wearing our gas
masks which we all had now.  We had a heap of replacement filters.  We
would discard the mask's filter as we passed beyond each hot spot.

   The team were working hard to clear the track for our passage.  I won't
boar you with the blow by blow details of clearing the track but as you can
imagine the work was hard and heavy at times.  Trees were our main problem.
They had all been flattened for many clicks in a giant radius around the
blast site.

   Huge areas of trees stripped of all their leaves and needles had been
moved unbelievable distances.  Most it seemed to us to have collected
beside the railway.  I remember it took us all night to go one click they
were so thick in one place.  I had to keep reminding myself the highway was
worse.

   It took us two weeks to clear our way through to the other side of
Flagstaff.  We were sending Gerry and Andrew back well out of range to
collect water in the drum from a spring we had found that showed no sign of
contamination.  Our food was coming from the rations.  Before we moved on
we restocked with the remainder of the food in our supply pod.  Sending the
men back with the hand trolley and trailer.

   Finally we were clear and heading for Albuquerque.  We crossed the
border at Lupton, we were now in New Mexico.  The map said we were one
point eight clicks above sea level.  That in the old feet is over six
thousand.  Fuck it was cold of a night.  We were glad we all had sleeping
bags now.  Well the good news was, we were slowly going downhill, so it
would get warmer eventually.

   Food is hard to find out here when you're travelling without spending
the time.  We were supplementing our rations with bark, roots and berries
as we went.  We checked likely dams and streams for fish.  We were just
making out.  The further east we descended in altitude, we were finding
more to eat, lingering longer beside rivers and streams where we hunted for
food.

   Travelling of a night had it problems, twice in the last week we had run
into trees blocking the line when the lookout was looking the other way.

   The line bypass Albuquerque we left the freeway I-40 at Mesita.  The
line heading south east about fifty clicks before we reached Albuquerque.
The line following Root 6 in a south easterly direction.

   Crossing freeway I-25 just outside a place called Belen as we continued
south east.  We rounded the southern end of the Manzano Mountains now
following Root 60 through Willard then on to Vaughan where the line
branched onto Root 54 up to Santa Rosa bringing us back near I-40.

   We were able to completely bypass Albuquerque as it was, according to
the Harrier pilot another smoking hole in the ground.  Well New Mexico is,
sorry, was an active military state.  Nearly every large city in the centre
of the US has a military base of one description or another.

   We had done a loop south in a fifty to seventy click radius of
Albuquerque.  Our second pod drop site was before the boarder of Texas and
Oklahoma, being near the extreme range of the Harrier.  There was nowhere
to hide out here in the open.  The pilot picked the township of Tucumari at
the junction of I-40 and Root 54 on the north side burying the pods of all
places in the town cemetery in the north west corner where he could land
being no graves except one stone cairn they left behind.

   The pilot knowing our plans, we would be angling north towards Wichita
to check on Tim's family on the way.  Seeing the cities of Albuquerque and
Amarillo in front of him through the long range camera were destroyed,
deciding then we would be forced north at this point to go round them.

   Railways north of I-40 in this area were real thin on the ground till
you got to Albuquerque.  We wanted to avoid that place like the plague. 
Apparently there was a nuclear weapons assembly plant there at one time. 
The pilot tells us someone made sure there wasn't now.

   One hundred click's to go along I-40 to our next supply point.  We
concentrated only on water supply as we traveled.  Not that there was many
opportunities along the way so we went like hell in dark hours till we
found a suitable dry stream bed as it got light, well relatively speaking.

   During the day we set up our water tins buried in holes covered with
clear plastic sheets covering the holes weighed down with stones around the
outside.  The heat of the day evaporating the water out of the ground, to
condense on the under-face of the plastic, to run down to the centre
weighted down with a little stone in the middle, so the water slowly
dripped into the tin while we slept.

   There was no bushes with leaves to put our plastic bags over.  We were
just getting enough from the stream beds to push hard of a night.  Our maps
showed we would find water around Mesita the drop point.

   We drew into the outskirts an hour before dawn.  Sure enough there were
deep channels cut to drain the melting snow water away from the freeway and
highway during the thaw.  We entered the town limits, crossing our last
level crossing as Elroy jumped off to run ahead changing the points for the
siding.

   That put us on the diagonal opposite corner of the cemetery within a
hundred metres from the drop point on the other side.  He ducked off to
check the sight as the first grey began appearing in the eastern horizon.
It had been a freezing night again.  The girls had opted to wear their
sleeping bags as they were sitting on the trolley unable to exercise.

   Elroy reappeared within ten minutes with a thumbs up, the sight had not
been disturbed as he dug into the toolboxes for the shovels and mattocks.
An hour after dawn, we were eating hot beef stew.  We didn't need
ammunition as we hadn't fired a shot with our M4's since being resupplied,
only our pistols to attract attention on the odd occasion we saw a camp
fire to leave a survival manual for them.

   There was bottled water, not as much as we would have liked but enough
not to have to go out searching for a day or two.  Food was our need as we
ate a full ration for a change.

   I suppose we had been lucky so far with the hand trolley and trailer, we
were way ahead of schedule.  The Harrier pilot's report had changed our
initial plans to head north east from this point then turn east bypassing
the major cities on I-40 heading up towards Wichita up in Kansas.

   Tim lived two hundred and seventy clicks west of Wichita up Root 54,
fifteen clicks north of a place called Meade where his family farm was
located.  Having an air force base in Wichita which no doubt would be
another smoking hole in the ground, we intended to give it a wide birth.

   Reluctantly that night we set out along the railway following Root 54.
It was about ninety clicks to the Texas border.  Two good nights run.  We
had packed the rear half of the tool box with extra ammo as we would not
find any more further east as we had no idea what we would encounter.  We
tied the long handle tools under the floor of the trolley.

   There was no problems reaching the Texas border, leaving New Mexico
behind.  By the time we got to Dalhart one hundred and fifty clicks into
Texas a remarkable change came over the country side.  It was miraculously
changed from semi desert, becoming fertile land.  This also had a change in
our attitude as on the fourth day into Texas we shot a buck deer.

   Well that was Sam.  She had my rifle on lookout duty on the trolley as
we were sailing along as she called out to stop.  She was resting the M4 on
the upside down cart wheel out to the side.  Firing from about a hundred
and seventy yards by the time the hand trolley and trailer came to a stop.

   Sam had seen something move bringing my night scope up she could see the
deer.  It wasn't a big one, it was straggly and just surviving by the looks
of it.  It was a bit tough but it was mighty tasty barbecued.  We spent two
days at that site smoking the remaining meat we couldn't eat to preserve
it.

   Having covered half the distance to the boarder of Oklahoma.  In this
corner of Texas the state of Oklahoma was a narrow strip about sixty clicks
wide jutting in between Texas in the south, Colorado and Kansas in the
north.

   We were happy as we continued north east along Route 54.  We were doing
roughly twenty clicks per day on average.  In reality we were doing sixty
in a night then spending the next two days in a suitable location hunting,
fishing and gathering.  We had learnt our lesson, preserving our army food
stocks till we really needed them.

   Seeing more signs of human habitation now where the living was easier.
We avoided direct contact, leaving a calling card on the tracks where they
would be sure to find it after drawing their attention with a pistol shots
or two plus the flashing of the torch.

   Finally we crossed the border into Kansas.  It had taken us thirty three
days since we left I-40.  we had another six or seven days to go.  When we
were out hunting we would see signs of life like fresh boot prints or wheel
marks of push bikes or carts.  There were people around.

   Tim was edgy as we got closer to Mead.  We hid the hand trolley and
trailer on the outskirts of Mead in a gully hidden with our camouflaged
raincoats, ground sheets covered with bushes.  We headed off on foot as it
was about fifteen clicks to his farm.

   We decided to clear the town before light then walk during the day, we
would be there easily by noon.  Tim lead the way for the last three clicks
when we turned round the corner of their block heading west.

   I think we were all anticipating a rest and relaxing few days ahead of
us.  I had never been so wrong in my life.

   Tim was out of sight as the farmhouse came into sight over the next
rise. It was standing there intact with its white painted double story
sides.  It looked in good order as two other single story houses came into
view surrounded by trees around the main house.

   As we turned into the yard up the short drive.  I expected to find a
happy reunion going on in the yard but no.  Tim came running out of the
main house towards the closer of the other two.  We could see he was
visibly upset as he ran past us.

   We looked at each other as Sam went into the main house to look.  Elroy
went off to the second signalling Andrew and Gerry to look around. 
Everything looked as it should.  Three vehicles were parked in the shed
looking normal with two tractors parked in the farm shed as you would
expect.

   The boys spread out as I stood in the centre of the yard turning a slow
circle looking for some sign of life.  Tim came out of the house looking at
me as he headed for the second single story house.  His eyes were clouded
with tears.

   He met Elroy coming out of the house shaking his head at Tim.  Tim went
to look anyway as Sam came out of the main house shaking her head.  It was
Leanne who went to Tim to cuddle him in her arms as he stood in the yard
and wept.

   It was Gerry and Andrew who reported a number of recent graves up on a
rise that served as the family burial plot.  We followed Tim as Leanne
linked her arm in his as they lead the group up the rise.

   There were nine fresh graves.  We could see the ground heaped in the new
graves was about a year old with weeds starting to grow on the sides of the
mounds.  The first grave closest to the half dozen established graves was
still open as the pair stood looking down into it.

   Leanne held Tim as he was visibly shaking as he sobbed.  I looked in as
we came up to see the skeletal remains in the bottom of the grave.  We
could see a rusty barrel of a rifle sticking out from under the remains. 
It slowly dawned on me that we were seeing the remainder of a murder
suicide.

   The whole family were buried there.  Later when Tim could talk
rationally, we decided that his family must have been bad with starvation
and radiation sickness.  His father had shot his family burying his
children one by one then his four grandchildren.  Lastly himself as he shot
himself over his own grave he fell dead into the hole.

   Tim insisted his father would have left a journal on the kitchen table
but there was no sign.  We searched the house and drew the conclusion
someone had removed it.  Probably someone looking for food.

   The next day we buried Tim's farther finishing the grave.  It was Elroy
who said a few words over the grave as we stood around.  I was glad to see
the women surrounding Tim at his time of need.  We understood Tim's family
was strongly religious as I felt it was appropriate.

   I could not but think of my own family now and their fate.  Now more
than before, I had to find out.  We left the next day as we made our way
back to Mead to recover the hand trolley and trailer which we found
undisturbed.  Tim being with us.

   The map of rail roads we had, indicated we were going to have a
difficult time trying to get between Wichita and Oklahoma around Tulsa. 
Both towns had air-force bases so we had to assume they would have been
targets to be avoided.

   There were some sections between rail roads where we would have to push
the hand trolley and trailer along the roads.  Still so far it had been
relative easy.  We would pick paved roads where we could.

   Setting off that night after dark.  Somehow the events of the last two
days had changed us.  The mood between us was somber as we dwelt on our own
fate.  We had a mission to complete and as we drew closer to Wichita,
realising we had now traveled almost half way across the country.

   The plan was to slip between the two cities, heading roughly east then
descend back down onto I-40 to continue our journey.  We were in better
country now for hunting and fishing.  There was water in the streams with
more game to be seen as we seemed to have meat to eat more often than not.
We had become quite adept at smoking the meat for jerky.

   As we drew closer to Kingman our target town to turn south and east to
slip beneath the city of Wichita then around north east of Tulsa, our
portable digital Geiger counter began reading when we checked.  The ground
we were travelling over was slightly contaminated.  Not much but enough for
us to put on our raincoats, galoshes and hoods, wearing a fabric face mask
with goggles as a precaution.  We were within seventy clicks of Wichita to
our east and about to turn south.

   Tim was slowly returning to his old self with the attention of the
women. We all felt badly for him as we made our way at a fast clip.  I
think our recent experience had been sobering in the extreme, wanting to
put it as far behind us as possible.  Now with the added danger of
radiation exposure coming up, our spirits were at an all time low.  Yes we
had taken our iodine tablets.

   We were well provisioned with food as we had enough jerky to last us a
month supplemented with what we were gathering along the way.  Sure, we had
our navy issue rations in reserve but there was only so much room on the
two vehicles.

   Now we were approaching the outskirts of Kingman.  Elroy was out
scouting about.  He reported back having found nothing but looted stores
with lots of human remains with bullet holes in skulls with broken bones.
There had been a war going on here originally.  Hopefully there was no one
left.

   Heading out for Conway Springs, the next junction where we needed to
change direction.  In our planning stage we had spent weeks in the map and
photo room aboard ship planning our root on the assumption that every known
military base would have been a targeted and steer clear.  Well clear as
clear as possible.

   We had made a list of junctions and directions back on the ship we were
rigidly following.  We knew if we lost our maps we would be lost completely
as we were using the rail system in a manner and direction they were not
designed to be used as we chopped and changed rail road companies and lines
to achieve our aim.

   Heading for Wellington via Argonia Muni in a zig-zag pattern trying to
keep as far as possible from Wichita as we looped around the west and south
within seventy click radius.  It was getting a little easier as we were
slowly going downhill.

   Not one of us really slept for nearly three days as we traveled night
and day non stop to get around this hot spot.  Wichita was home to the
McConnell Air Force Base, being the home of the stratotankers and the first
on anyone's list of targets to restrict the bombers flying.

   It wasn't till we reached Independence did we rest up being about one
hundred and fifty clicks south east of Wichita and nine days from the
Oklahoma boarder.  We came across a ganger's shed by the tracks four clicks
from the outskirts where we holed up with a small flowing river close by
where we could bathe and wash our gear.  It was isolated from any roads and
we were able to get the hand trolley and trailer under cover with a set of
rails leading right inside the shed from the track.

   Elroy had picked up a cast iron camp oven at Independence on one of his
forays so we had a fire to heat our meals.  We were mentally getting back
to where we were before we visited Tim's home.

   We were heading south east to avoid Tulsa next.  This city was to be
skirted to the north east.  The National Guard and Air Force Reserve were
based there.  Logic tells us to stay the hell clear if we could.

   Starting off slowly for the first few days, after our break as we
gradually got back up to speed, in the first week as we settled into a
hunter gathering routine.  We were travelling one day in three again.  I
estimated it would take over a month to work our way down to I-40 at our
present rate.

   Being at three hundred meters above sea level now.  The nights were
definitely milder with the days hotter.  That didn't worry us as we were
moving at night as everyone took a turn on the handles as we were going all
right without breaks.

   It was becoming apparent our detours were consuming time.  Plus we had
taken a number of wrong tracks having to retrace our steps loosing
something like a week.  With our discussions we decided to take a more
direct rout in future as we were currently heading way out of our way north
to get to Joplin across the border in Missouri.

   There we figured we would follow I-540 straight down making one detour
out to the east then back as we worked our way south through the Ozark
mountains, another month was gone.

   Coming out onto I-40 at Alma near Fort Smith where there was a military
base marked on the map and no doubt a target.  We were heading east again
but there were still cities with military bases that had to be bypassed. 
Not as bad as we had just done but never the less we would go hundreds of
clicks out of our way to go round.  I think the military were taught a
vital lesson with the placement of military bases in major cities in among
their work force.  One bomb does both.  So even if their workers survived,
their habitat was contaminated.  Real smart of us Mr.  Sectary of Defense.

   About our next little adventure.  I'm not going to tell you exactly what
I'm about to tell you happened.  Yes we marked it on our map but only as a
dot.

   We were back on I-40 now, cruising east parallel with the Ozark National
Forest to our north and the river to the south.  Getting low on food again
we stopped in a lovely little timbered stream we crossed on the railway we
were following.  The novelty of seeing streams and rivers with water in
them had worn off by now after the deserts of the west and mid west.

   We needed to fill our water containers, deciding to stop well before it
was light making camp a little way on from a stream where we could get into
the trees easier with the hand trolley and trailer.  We were in prime
farming country deciding not to push on.

   Sleeping by the hand trolley and trailer we woke about noon.  Gerry and
Andrew escorted the three girls as they set of scavenging for food in the
surrounding trees beside the stream, picking a suitable tree they began
stripping the bark layers using their tomahawks.

   Elroy, Sam and myself spread out heading slowly up the valley beside the
stream towards the hills to the north looking for sign of game.  We had
ventured about three clicks making our way quietly up the stream bed with
no luck.  Sam was out on my left so far I couldn't hear her.  Elroy was out
to my right, I had no idea how far as you would rarely hear Elroy anyway.

   We had traveled about four clicks north from the others into the
foothills without sighting a thing.  I was starting to think there was
nothing to be found as someone was hunting the area.  I was making my way
slowly along the rocky stream bed trying to be quite as I dodged the
stronger stream flows with the slippery rocks.

   I looking the wrong way stumbling as I put my foot on a large flat stone
which rocked under me with my offset weight.  I cursed as I almost lost my
balance bending over trying to regain it when I caught a glimpse of
movement out of the corner of my eye.  I was being propelled forward so I
took another three steps ending up behind a large jutting rock from the
bank.

   Peering around the side, trying to see what it was as I clicked the mike
on the radio once.  After a minute Elroy came on quiet like.  "What." I
waited a little saying.  "I saw something move up ahead in the stream bed
about a hundred meters on the right, your side.  Didn't see what it was."

   Scanning the area again.  Slower this time using my sights.  Nothing.  I
moved out round to the next cover behind a large rock on the left side of
the stream.  A bullet whistled past the edge of my helmet then I heard the
bang as I dived in behind the bank.  Fuck that was close.

   Speaking into the mike quietly.  "He's about seventy meters up in the
stream bed on your side.  there's a very tall pine about ten further on,
head for that." I tried looking round the bank as I spoke to Sam.  "Sam
find cover, lay low and keep your eyes peeled." Two clicks.  I'm sure she
was, hearing the shot which was not a M4.

   Moving up slowly, easing my head up in among the grass as I slowly
scanned the area up ahead.  I could see anything at first.  Then as I
watched I saw a slight movement in the shadow of a tree below the bank
behind two large rocks.  I eased my rifle up ever so slowly till I could
look through the sights.

   Yes I could see a rifle barrel pointed in my direction with scope
sights. I couldn't see who was behind the sights.  "He's just below the
bank about ten metres this side of the big tree.  We want prisoners." I
whispered in the radio.  Two clicks.

   I had him lined up perfect now.  I saw movement behind as I heard in my
ear-piece.  "Distract the fucker." Elroy whispered.  I aimed just to the
right a little high so the bullet impact on the rock would shower the
fucker with stone chips with the bullet ricocheting up away from Elroy.  We
wanted this fucker alive for information.  I squeezed the trigger.

   The fucker ducked as I saw movement behind as Elroy jumped down.  There
was a scuffle then I saw a black fist rise and fall.  Elroy stood up
looking around for his companions.  "Get the fuck up here you're not going
believe this." I rose looking around then spoke to Sam.  "Anything Sam?"
two clicks.  It was all clear on her side.

   Climbing out making my way up the stream towards Elroy.  I was cautious
as I advanced.  I rounded the rock he was standing behind.  There was an
unconscious body spread eagled with a rifle and nap sack beside.  His long
hair was strewn across his face.

   Looking at the fucker lying there as Elroy grinned at me as he lent down
wiping the hair from his face.  "Fuck." I was astounded.  "It's a she." I
was dumbfounded as I sat down on a stone with my back against the big rock.

   Elroy was on the radio calling in Sam.  I looked around for others. 
Surly she wouldn't be on her own?  I shook my head as I watched for any
sign of movement as I picked Sam up coming in.  I think she was as
surprised as I as she knelt down beside the unconscious form.  The woman
was wearing good strong boots with men's jeans and exchequer green shirt.

   As we sat there waiting as Sam checked her pulse and breathing finding
she was OK.  Just a bruise on her chin where Elroy slugged her.  He began
laughing to himself looking at me with twinkling eyes saying.  "She almost
nail your hide boy." Elroy called me boy when he was joking.  If he was
standing beside me he would have slapped me on the back hard, I was spared
that indignity.

   What can I say, she stirred.  Almost simultaneously there was a clatter
of a falling rock further up the stream bed.  Elroy pushed Sam out of the
way as I took off across the stream climbing the rocky side slithering into
the trees hiding behind the nearest to the bank.

   I could see Elroy was struggling with the woman as she must have come
too or was playing possum.  He was trying to hide them behind the pair of
big rocks the woman had been hiding behind but on this side.

   Shortly a pair of women came into view working their way down the stream
bed quietly as the shots had alerted them.  I could see one had a rifle,
the other carried a nap sack with a small army issue mattock and tomahawk
in ether hand.  She appeared to me to being lead by the other girl.

   They were almost to the point where they would see the three behind the
large rocks.  "Stand fast." I ordered as I showed my rifle barrel to them
around the tree.  The girl carrying the rifle froze while the other bumped
into her as if not taking notice.  "Put your weapon on the ground." I
ordered.

   Watching as she did so.  I could hear her cursing to herself.  "Now move
forward away." I could see her surprise when she spotted Sam then Elroy
holding her friend with his hand over her mouth the other her body.  Her
companion seeing the people behind the large rock went over sitting beside
Sam looking at Elroy holding her friend.

   Coming out of hiding, I lowered myself down the bank advancing to the
rifle where I picked it up with my left hand.  It was CZ 252 sporting rifle
with sights.  These women were loaded for bear.  There was nothing said as
I came up slowly as I shouldered my weapon.

   I don't know if it was instinct or stupidity, I removed the magazine
from the CZ then the round in the breach.  Clipping the loose round into
the magazine, handing the magazine and the rifle back as I smiled saying.
"My name is Shane, we mean you no harm." She looked bewildered as she took
the magazine slipping it into her coat pocket then taking the rifle.

   She was still puzzled as she shook her head asking.  "You aren't the bad
men?" I looked at Elroy as I seen him let his woman go, she didn't move
which surprised me.  Elroy got up from behind her.

   Looking back at her asking.  "When did you see the bad guys?" she looked
at me startled replying.  "About three weeks ago.  Roy killed all but one
or two who got away.  One of them got him in the stomach.  He died a week
ago."

   Elroy was climbing the bank to recover his rifle where he had laid it
down to creep up on the woman.  Both women looked surprised as I took the
rifle off Sam handed it back to the first one.  I spoke into the radio. 
"You guys, there are bad guys about, two or more.  Keep low.  We have found
three women.  Keep your bloody eyes peeled, post lookouts."

   The second girl was surprised as I dug into her pocket taking the rifle
from her putting the magazine back in working the bolt, checking the safety
was on, handing the weapon back to her.  I looked at her asking.  "Do you
have somewhere to hide?"

   I asked her as she hesitated.  "We are the United States Marines Mam."
There are nine of us.  We need somewhere to lay low for awhile while we
restock.  If the bad guys are around we need a base to operate from as we
will hunt them down."

   She looked startled at my venom.  I pointed to Sam telling her.  "Sam
was a prisoner of the bad guys on the west coast.  The fuckers had over two
hundred women as captive slaves.  We took in near a brigade cleaning the
fuckers out.  We freed most of the women."

   Sam smiled at her nodding.  There seemed to be a change in the girl as
she smiled for the first time saying.  "My name is Jane, that is Kerry and
this is April.  We don't know her name but we found her in April.  She has
lost her mind being captive of the bad men."

   I'll tell you now, Jane and April are my third and forth wives.  Jane
would not go without April.  Kerry, well she hitched her wagon to Elroy.  I
still shake my head at that.  I tell them it's cave man mentality.  She is
his first.  You know when they got to know each other better those two were
like a hand in a glove together.

   They turned out to be our best hunters.  Kerry was always a better shot
than Elroy and still is.  I asked Jane where they hid out.  She was
reluctant to say until I assured her a number of times, we were there to
help.  Finally reluctantly both she and Kerry relented allowing us to go to
their home.

   I reported in to the others we would be off the air for a day or two,
stay in their present position laying low till we came for them.  I
informed them I believed we all would be staying for awhile.

   Kerry led off with Elroy following in single file.  I followed April who
had grasped Jane's hand following, as I brought up the rear.  It was simple
really we followed a stream higher into the hills.  We had to climb two
small waterfalls which wasn't difficult.  There were places where steps
were cut in the stone.

   At one point we changed across to the next valley heading higher into
the hills.  Kerry led the way up into a little steep side gully where they
had a concealed camp site set up.  We were to spend the night here as we
still had a half day's march.

   That night we had a little fire in the Dakota fire pit.  Those girls
knew their stuff as the pit was lined with stones deep enough below ground
to hide the flames with an air tunnel from a second identical holebeside
separated by a foot at the bottom, where a draft would rise to feed a fears
small smokeless fire where the coals in the fire would sit on a small sheet
of tin that fitted in the bottom of the hole.



   We shared our ration packs as we made tea from pine needles, which is
not bad at all the way we do it.  We had learn't early in our training to
live off the land, pine needle tee was exultant for medicinal purposes with
four to five times the vitamin C that oranges have also high in vitamin E
as well.  We sat round the fire talking.  Kerry sat with Elroy on one side
while April and Jane on either side of me.

   After the fire was out we unrolled our sleeping bags into a half cave
like overhang in the rock face.  I had to put mine beside April's as Jane
smiled at me.  I could see Elroy was pleased to sleep beside Kerry as Sam
slept on his other side.  I spent half the night sleeping spooned with
April then the other spooned with Jane.

   Breakfast the next morning was a piece of jerky each with a hot drink of
pine needle tee.  We set off in the understanding we had a half day's walk
in front of us.  We had not seen a road since yesterday.  There had been no
farms or buildings since yesterday morning as we walked steadily up a gully
into the park proper.

   To our surprise the gully we were following instead of pinching out into
the ridge opened out wider into a valley.  We couldn't see all the valley
for trees.  Kerry stopped us as she called then whistled.  There was a
reply whistle from up on our right.  We advanced slowly to see a stone
barricade on one side.  A head appeared over the top then when they saw
strangers a horn was sounded a number of times after it ducked out of
sight.

   Kerry waved us on leading the way up around the hillside following a
well defined trodden path.  The trees thinned as we came out almost against
a small cliff face.  We could see up the little valley.  Trees had been
cleared to make a fertile paddock.  We could see tools laying around in a
fenced off section which was being tilled for planting.  No one was in
sight as they had dropped their tools and run by the looks of it when they
heard the warning horn.

   Kerry walked towards what was obviously an entrance to a mine.  I slowly
realised there were a heap of rifles aimed at us from behind stone walls
strategically placed either side of the entrance with firing slits covering
the stone entrance.  I could smell something cooking from within.

   Elroy looked at me as I shook my head slightly.  We were in deep shit if
they weren't going to be friendly.  "Put your weapons on the ground
slowly." I was surprised it was a woman's voice.  That order was barked at
us from inside the narrow stone walled entrance where a log barricade had
been constructed inside at an angle so there was room for only single file
entry.  I was impressed.  The men had done a good job of the defense. 
Their architect must have been a student of ancient warfare.

   Carefully I put my rifle down making sure the barrel was propped up on a
log of wood to protect the sights.  I removed my helmet as I saw Elroy was
doing the same as Sam was following.  I don't think they realised inside
she was a woman yet.

   Removing my pistol and knife then my flak jacket.  We began to see
movement as I stepped away as I removed my radio ear plug having turned it
off.

   Kerry and Jane had not left us but stood to the side watching as we went
through the disarming process.  April had gone off inside.  Heads were
popping up above the walls now still with pointed rifles.  They were all
women.  I was amazed as I asked Jane.  "Where are the men?" She shook her
head smiling saying.  "He died a week ago.  I believe you have been sent
for us.

   She moved away as more women came out of the entrance.  I counted
seventeen.  With the one on guard at the entrance to the valley.  They
lined up around us to stare as the obvious leader spoke to Kerry and Jane
about us at length.

   Elroy began talking to one girl as she seemed friendly.  "Are you the
army?" I heard her ask.  "Elroy shook his head in reply.  "No Mam we're the
marines." In a manner to portray we were infinitely better as he clarified.
"The army walks everywhere.  We ride in great ships." That seem to puzzle
her further as Elroy smiled adding.  "Mam were always the first ashore, the
army follow us." She smiled, understanding better.

   The leader strode through the girls to confront us.  "My name is Ingrid.
Are you really the United States Military?" I nodded confirming smiling as
she extended her hand towards me.  I took it shaking it warmly.  My first
question was.  "How many of you are here?" She grinned.  "Nineteen." I
shook my head as she smiled adding.  "There were twenty four but five left
to go south with a man from a settlement needing women."

   I nodded asking.  "How did you get so many women with no men?"
Apparently Roy who had built this hidey hole on his own was a survival nut.
He went to war on the local gang who were raiding over the countryside
collecting women as slaves, shooting their men.  "He freed us single
handed, got himself wounded but took out most of the gang.  The rest are
still hanging around somewhere in the river valley."

   Apparently the women were about to go hunting for the gang members.  I
assured her it would be our pleasure to join them as I got Sam to tell her
story.

   By now we were inside the tunnel leading into the hill with a chamber
inside where their sleeping quarters were set up with a shaft or which was
now a well in the centre.  Old Roy had been living here in the little
valley for years before Armageddon.  He had made the small cave entrance
his home slowly building the tunnel into what it is today.

   After we had exchanged stories, with their permission, Elroy headed back
for the rest of our party, Kerry went with him.  They were surprised we had
four women with us, all freed from captivity.

   Pointing out to them I had a mission to complete in Washington and would
move on but if the men and women wanted to stay they could do so.  I
doubted whether the land here could support that many people telling them
of my plans to find my family.  I knew of a similar valley further east
with a cabin where I could set up a farm and family for myself with a
number of other families.

   Elroy and Kerry returned with the rest of our party late afternoon the
next day.  We had caused a sensation yesterday but when Kerry and Elroy
walked in with Gerry, Andrew and Tim with the three women I don't think I
could see a face that wasn't smiling, myself included.

   This was the most bizarre situation.  Here we were outnumbered more than
four to one.  Jane and Kerry had some attraction to myself and Elroy. 
Gerry, Andrew and Tim found themselves surrounded, even Sam.  We were the
novelty of the moment.

   These women were really living off the land.  They had corn, wheat and
barley planted in the sunny side of the valley I could see.  We hadn't seen
them but they had goats, olive trees and fruit trees.  This place was just
a wonder of survival.

   Elroy and I spent three days with the women.  We were put to work
clearing trees higher up the valley for more paddocks.  The tree were going
to be cut in lengths for making fences to keep the goats out of the wheat
and corn fields constructed in the old stacked zig zag fashion, not needing
posts.

   Jane and April were with me up in the top paddock in the little valley
where Elroy and I were clearing trees on the sunny side for a new field. 
We were using a very old fashioned stump pulling winch to pull the tree out
of the ground, roots and all to clear the land.

   The four men and the accompanying women had gone back to the cave early
because it was too late to start another tree leaving Jane, April and
myself alone.  I can't remember how it happened.  Jane and myself were
doing something together when Jane was suddenly in my arms as we were lip
locked together then tearing each others clothes off.

   Boy I remember we went at it hammer and tongs.  I had not had sex for
nearly a week and I was busting.  After one of the most intense love making
session I'd had in a long time (well it was our first) I finally slipped
out of Jane as I shrunk.  We lay in each others arms when I became aware of
Jane giggling.

   Looking at her strangely as if there was something funny about my
shrunken dribbling penis.  She burst out laughing saying.  "You think your
finished but you haven't." Jane pointed behind me where I turned to look
there was April stripped naked sitting on her clothes which were neatly
laid out watching us.

   Jane laughed as she squeezed my slack penis to wake it up again saying.
"April obviously wants' her share." I must admit April had a beautiful
body. Her legs were long and thin, not too thin but beautiful thin.  Her
back was bent as she rested her arms on her knees with her breasts hanging
free with her ridged nipples resting on her upper legs.

   I suddenly realised under that unruly mop of hair was a most desirable
woman.  Her men's clothing had been hiding it.  "Be gentle with her Shane.
She's had a rough time with the bad guys."

   Jane had gotten up going to sit beside April with her arm around her
shoulder as I heard Jane ask her.  "Darling you sure you want Shane to make
love to you?"

   April looked at Jane with a blank stare.  April looked up at me with the
same blank stare.  Jane smiled at me saying.  "She wants' to try I think.
Be gentle with her.  Come and sit beside her and see how she reacts to
you."

   Easing down beside April opposite Jane.  I didn't touch her for a few
minutes then put my hand on her knee letting it slide up and down as I put
my other hand around her shoulders gently rubbing her upper arm with my
fingers.  She flinched a little as she felt my arm but settled as Jane
soothed her with soft kind words.

   Jane eased April down onto her back in the grass stroking her face as I
gently stroked her breast then rolled her ridged nipple between my thumb
and forefinger.  I felt her body tremor as Jane smiled saying.  "Kiss her
gently Shane." I reached up to her face with the back of my hand gently
stroking her cheek as I reached up with my lips kissing her nose then cheek
and finally her lips.

   At first there was no response from April.  I was disappointed as I felt
Jane take my other hand sliding it down between April's legs.  At first
there was resistance as I felt her body tense as I slid a finger up and
down then between her wet lips.  She was definitely excited.

   "Be gentle Shane." Jane urged me as I felt April shudder slightly as I
stroked my finger over her stiff clitoris.  Feeling her lips respond as I
eased my body weight onto her breasts.  I felt April's arms slide up onto
my shoulders.  I got the impression she was ready to accept me.

   Slowly sliding my knee over between hers.  There was initial resistance
then I felt her relax as I kissed her gently.  April did not seem to
respond now as I lifted from her lips to look into her face.  She was
staring straight up into the sky.  I was about to move off but Jane urged
me on.

   "Get between her legs Shane.  I think she still wants' to.  Be gentle."
I Lent down kissing April again.  I felt her lips respond a little as I
lifted my lower body shifting my weight with my other leg in between hers
as my weight settled onto her hips.

   There was a negative response from April as her body stiffened.  I held
still as I sensed panic rise as her body tensed.  Jane was stroking her
face talking soothingly as I slowly rubbed her clitoris.  I could feel her
slowly relaxing under me as I lay still just kissing and stroking her
gently.

   Smiling, I don't know what it is about April.  Even today she makes me
so hard.  Here I was not a few minutes after blowing my load into Jane I
was as stiff as a board again with the head of my erection resting on her
labia lips kissing them as I felt April relax under me as I felt her open
her legs wider.

   Stroking her clitoris slowly as I felt her body respond as I felt her
hold me tighter.  I took this as a sign as I eased forward as I felt my
head push slowly in between her wet slippery lips.  My head was half way in
as I slowly eased out then back in again.  I was still partly slippery from
Jane so I went in smoothly.

   I was about half way inside April when I felt her stiffen, I stopped.  I
don't know if I was hurting her as I warned Jane.  Jane began stroking
April's cheek again as I eased out feeling resistance as April slid her
legs over mine locking me to her.  I shook my head at Jane as I slid back
in.

   April stiffened again as I felt her body tremor beneath me.  I looked at
Jane raising my eyebrows as I pushed in harder.  Her body bucked under me
as I felt her arms tighten around my neck.  I pulled out then drove back in
harder as I felt April buck under me then go ridged.  Dam I could feel her
climaxing around my erection.

   I pulled my hand out from between her legs as I hadn't touched her
clitoris since she had frozen up.  I drove in harder as she shuddered again
as I settled my hands under her shoulders as I eased my upper body weight
enough so my chest was brushing her ridged nipples.  I felt her wiggle her
hips for comfort as her legs widened further as I widened mine inside hers
for better purchase.

   Kissing her as gently and passionately as I could as I began stroking
out slowly then back in deeper as her body shuddered then out and in again
as she arched allowing me to slide right home as she stiffened in climax
again as I began pounding into her relentlessly.

   Dam did April have muscles on her muscles.  I was sobbing with
excitement as I pounded into the girl as her body was ridged under mine.

   Through the roaring in my head as we were kissing passionately I heard
Jane screaming for me not to cum in her as she was ovulating.  Fuck, I
pulled out of April as I blew my load all over her belly as I gasped for
air.

   I lay on her prone body as we slowly relaxed.  I could still feel April
shuddering beneath me as I felt her hand stroking my cheek and ear.  To
date April had shown no emotion towards me apart from spooning in against
me of a night while we slept.

   Finally I eased myself off April as she released my legs laying there
looking exhausted.  I sat on the grass with April laying between us
stroking her breast as Jane stroked her face as I asked.  "Would you and
April come with me when I set up my farm after I've finished my mission to
Washington?"

   She smiled nodding saying.  "I think April and I would like that." I
smiled adding.  "Elroy and I will finish the mission then come back looking
for my folks.  I don't expect to find them at the house but in a cabin
where the farm will be.  Then when I'm set up I'll come back for you."



   I grimaced adding.  "You understand Sam and Dawn will also be coming
with us." I saw a shadow pass across her face then she smiled nodding.  I
grinned adding.  "Elroy will want to take Kerry.  Those two have really hit
it off.  Jane, I do expect to share my women with Elroy.  You will find him
a sensitive and gentle person but likes his sex hard and fast." She smiled
nodding saying.  I don't know about April though.  I'm surprised she
allowed you, you must mean a lot to her."

   I did feel good as I explained what the plan would be.  The four of us,
myself and Sam plus Elroy and Kerry would head off for Washington to
complete the mission.  On our way back we would look at the valley where we
went hunting, checking on my family then come back here for you, April and
Dawn.  I explained we would take seeds from here to start our crops in our
valley.  I was particularly interested in the olive and fruit trees.

   That night we made plans to hunt down the bad guys left in the area. 
This was a priority for the women.  The next day we left with the hunting
party.  The five men with a woman companion each.  Since our encounter up
in the high field April was sticking to me like glue.  Jane was having a
hard time keeping her distracted.  In the end Dawn and Jane took her up
into the higher field we had been clearing while they cut logs from the
felled trees while Sam and I slipped away to catch up with the party.

   I think the women were surprised that April fancied a man considering
her ordeal in the hands of the bad guys previously.  Perhaps her mind had
blocked the encounter causing her withdrawal into a simple child like
state. Well it was settled now, April would go with us when we came back
from Washington.

   Being a little worried to how the hell we were going to feed five of us
with nothing in the valley.  It was all right for Roy he had a few years
head start when he settled in this valley no doubt weekends first.

   We knew where the party's first camp would be roughly, one of them would
come back for us.  It was Elroy as I expected as he guided us to the camp
site.  Our intention was to gather intelligence first from locals the women
knew of.

   Taking two days.  We had a strong lead as one of the survivors had heard
a shot a day ago to the south east of their position.  It took us three
days to find a farm house where we found signs of life in the house with
boot prints of three leading off towards the river.

   They were fishing for food, no surprise.  On our map it was awful close
to a nuclear reactor.  We had a red radiation triangle on our map a mere
forty odd clicks away and a target.  Our portable Geiger counter was
reading background radiation, no higher than what is normal for these
times.

   It was two days before we found where they had camped by the lake.  We
decided they had something to do as they had caught enough fish to eat then
moved out.  It took Elroy some time to decide which way they had gone.  We
spread out into pairs so each had a radio.  We only moved at night.  This
made it doubly hard forcing us to use the main roads.

   Three or four times we saw a camp fire on the horizon.  We would arrive
too late to a cold fire and their calling cards remaining.  They were still
carrying tinned food.  Their survival skills were minimal.

   Elroy and Kerry were way ahead of us.  They had moved up in the daylight
hours.  They reported back they had heard a shot off to their right.  Their
target was settling down for the night just a click in front of them by the
river fishing again.  We decided to hole up and wait developments.

   Elroy scouted round finding there were four men with two hand carts
camping for the night by a stream.  It was assumed the two parties were
meant to meet as the group of three appeared to be waiting.

   Both parties were well armed but lacked skills, we decided over the
radio with each other.  Therefore they were bad guys.  It looked like they
were going to meet by the river and bridge.

   To us it wasn't an ideal situation.  They would have plenty of cover if
they had time to merge.  It was decided we would lay a trap for the party
of four first.  Elroy and Kerry would spring the trap first.  They would be
way out of sight to us but they would hear the gunshots.

   The idea was that Kerry would expose herself to the four first.  She
would then head straight for Elroy.  Hopefully they would take two down
before they woke up.

   Andrew and Gerry would be placed in between the two parties to stop
their advance to each other.  Tim and his partner were to slip in under the
bridge to the other side to cut any retreat across the river in a crossfire
on the bridge.  My job was to oversee the operation using my skills if
required.

   Tim and his partner were with Sam and I on the low hill ready to move
when Elroy contacted us.  The two pairs in the middle were finally in place
by dawn.  Elroy reported there was an argument going on among the fuckers.

   It was still going on half an hour later.  At times, Elroy reported it
was quite heated.  "They're preparing to leave," was the next message. 
"Go."

   "Kerry's going in." Kerry walked towards the sound of their voices. 
When she was emerging around a bush calling for someone they spotted her as
she spotted them.  She turned and ran.

   As hoped they shouted at her then started running in her direction into
the forest.  One was quick off the mark unslinging his rifle as he shouted
to his companions again as he tore through the trees.  He entered a large
clearing seeing the running figure half way across.  He was catching her
fast as he yelled with the excitement of the chase.

   He could hear his companion behind him calling excitedly.  The girl
suddenly dived behind a log in the clearing to his surprise.  He suddenly
felt exposed realising the girl had a rifle raising it to her shoulder as
he went to dive to the ground as a searing pain then numbness as his
unseeing eyes looked at the ground where he lay.

   Elroy was in position off to one side of the clearing.  He could hear
Kerry running through the trees making a hell of a noise.  She came into
sight looking behind her as she screamed again for her pursuer's attention.

   Smiling again as he watched behind her for pursuit.  Kerry jogged across
the clearing towards where her rifle was lying hidden behind the log they
had dragged their beforehand.

   He could see a pursuer enter the clearing at a run.  'Dumb ass' Elroy
thought as he watched from hiding as Kerry headed for the log.  He could
see a second figure running towards the clearing as he could see Kerry out
of the corner of his eye dive behind the log.  He leveled his rifle at the
second figure through the trees.

   Hearing Kerry's rifle bark as he squeezed his trigger.  The two shots
were almost like an echo as he saw the shape through the trees crumple to
the ground.

   Elroy swore as he saw a third shape turn and run.  He could hear the
fucker screaming his head off warning the forth.

   I heard the two shots from the different rifles almost together as the
radio next announced.  "Two down, two running south east." It was up to
Gerry and Andrew now.  They had positioned themselves on either side of a
little basin where a stream ran through.  If they came this way it would be
through here as they wouldn't use the open road now.

   I looked at our targets.  The three were now up on the bridge looking
towards the north west where the shots came from.  They didn't seem to be
alarmed, yet.

   Shore enough there was movement half an hour later down the stream as
two men came pulling the hand carts at a fast pace towards Gerry and
Andrew.

   There was a warning over the radio, one click.  Tim and Serra prepared
to move down under the bridge blocking any retreat for the three.  We
wanted a prisoner.  The idea was I would wing one I thought was the leader.

   A single shot rang out from the north of our position.  I was watching
the fuckers on the bridge as they scattered.  "You ready Tim." One click,
No.  I cursed as I looked down under the bridge seeing a slight movement. I
looked back to the top above to see one had disappeared.  Shit.  As a
report came over the radio from Andrew as we heard an exchange of fire from
that direction.  "Another down, one to go."

   "Tim I've lost one." I warned.  "He's down the other side of the
bridge." I aimed at the one standing up squeezing the trigger.  Before the
recoil of the rifle in my shoulder settled I lined up the second squeezing
as he ducked down.  I saw his body cartwheel across the paved roadway.

   "Two down." I reported.  "I can't find the third fucker.  He's gone to
ground." I warned.  I could see Tim and Sara slowly working their way under
the bridge along the frontage into the open now.

   I asked Sam to back up the pair as I looked all around.  There was
another shot out to the north.  "Four." It was Gerry's voice as I looked
around for my missing man.

   "Gerry get up here on the eastern approach to the bridge." Gerry was
closer then Elroy.  He was about fifteen minutes away.  I knew Elroy would
be running as fast as he could.  "Pull back Tim, your too exposed."

   I moved position which wasn't the smartest thing.  For a minute or two I
was exposed as I worked my way along the hill back down river till I could
see the bridge at a better angle.

   Tim and Serra were working their way back to cover near the first pylon,
when sudden movement caught my eye as I looked back.  Tim was sprawled on
the ground with the bad guy on top of him as they both tried to recover.

   I could hear Serra screaming as I could now see the bad guy had Serra by
the neck as he held the girl in front of him as a shield.  He was dragging
her back as she fort him as he savagely belted her in the side of the head
with his fist with a knife handle in it.

   Serra staggered under the blows, it was all she could do to stand up as
he dragged her back up the bank out of my sight on the other side.  "The
fucker has Serra as a hostage." I reported.  "He's working his way up the
north side of the bridge embankment.  He will try and get over the bridge.
Tim get up there, distract him."

   Tim went to pick up his rifle.  "No don't take your rifle." I warned as
Tim started scrambling up the bank after them out of my sight.  "Come on
guys where are you." I implored.  I knew they would be coming hell bent but
it wasn't fast enough.

   It seemed to take ages for the bad guy to appear half dragging Serra up
over the railing onto the bridge roadway.  I passed up a perfect body shot
as he had the knife at her throat and I could see blood.

   The fucker knew roughly where I was as he held Serra's head in front of
his in my direction.  "Tim distract him keep on your right side of the
bridge." I could see Tim pleading with the fucker as I could see Sam
climbing up to the railing now with her M4 resting on top.  I had no head
shot.  I could feel myself sweating.

   Sam was twenty meters away with an almost perfect body shot.  I aimed
for the fuckers elbow with the knife to her throat.  "Tim distract him,
jump off the bridge." I watched as Tim ran to the side of the bridge away
from my side jumping over.  "Take the shot Sam, now."

   I could see the look of astonishment on the fuckers face as Tim jumped
off the bridge.  I squeezed the trigger.  My rifle bucked in my hands which
was a surprise as I had been concentrating so hard.  By the time I had
settled my rifle there was a second shot as I re-aligned my sights.

   The fucker was laying there on the bridge roadway on his back with a
hole in his heart and one and a half arms.  I could see Sam running with
her M4 ready but the fucker didn't move.  "OK people, he's down and out,
it's over."

   Sam went to Serra who was laying on her back sobbing with blood weeping
down her neck from where the fucker had cut her pressing the knife against
her throat.

   Three figures came onto the bridge at speed with full backpacks.  "Check
on Tim he's on the right hand side over the edge." I watched as Andrew
walked along the bridge edge looking for Tim calling him.

   I was now lookout as I changed modes widening my horizons as I looked
for danger.  With all that firing going on announcing our presence.  Elroy
was checking the bodies.  One was still alive but not long for this world.

   Tim was stuck in the mud.  He had landed awkwardly hurting his ankle. 
Sam thought it was a sprain as she couldn't feel anything broken.  Serra
was helping to look after Tim.  Lucky bugger, I had enough of my own.

   The four out in the country side were dead.  Buried where they fell to
cover our tracks.  The three at the bridge (now known as Tim's bridge) were
pushed out into the current to float downstream as fish bait.  We had
learnt from the survivor this was two raiding parties joining into one. 
They had two women locked up in a shed on the outskirts of a town close by.


   Five days it took us to find the women.  They had been without food for
nearly ten days.  If no one on the bridge had survived we would never have
known about them, they would have died.

   We spent a week on that farm till the women were fit enough to travel.
We were down to fishing and pine bark with the occasional deer from the
foothills for jerky.  They were becoming much more plentiful now.

   Half the crew were sent home with Tim after a few days.  It was Elroy
and I, Kerry and Sam plus two girls to help with the patents.  We kept the
bigger cart to carry the two girls following when they were ready.  We took
it in easy stages where we stretchered the girls the last few clicks when
it became steep.

   When word of our pending arrival became known at the farm.  Gerry,
Andrew, Dawn and Jane followed by April plus six girls came out to meet us
as we climbed into the foothills.

   After a week of R and R, Elroy and I prepared for the continuation of
our trek.  I still had dispatches to deliver and I wanted to check on my
folks.  I had been increasingly worried as the survivors we were finding
were young fit people.  We had hardly seen older people or extremely young
ones.  Well one or two.

   The women needed men here at the farm to do the heavy work of clearing
plus sires for the babies they need to keep this place going.  I intend to
leave the girls here till we knew what was ahead and check out the valley
where my family should be in the forests on the western end of North
Carolina as I decided to go there first.

   There was lots of places in those mountains we could set up safely if
need be.  It was eight hundred clicks from any serious military target
being what I considered safe as you could be in this country.

   Kerry and Sam were coming with us.  Kerry and Elroy had grown an
attraction to each other.  I never saw two people that went together like a
hand in a glove, they were sole mates.  It was unthinkable to separate them
even back right at the beginning.

   Myself, I had to do some fast talking to get Dawn and Jane to stay. 
Right or wrong Dawn wanted to come.

   With teary farewells, with April distracted by the other women we
slipped out of the valley to continue our trek.  We recovered the hand
trolley and trailer from their hiding spot the next day continuing on.

   Finding we could travel faster than before now we were 'light'.  We were
a leaner meaner machine as we covered nearly eighty clicks the first night.
We could see lights on the horizon.  The power station was intact with
normal background radiation reading as we past.  That was something.  They
would be happy to learn that was still running in Washington if they didn't
know already.

   We didn't stop, continuing on.  We could run for a week before we needed
resupplying.  That took us out past Memphis where we were forced to don our
raincoats and filter masks to get through the hot area there quickly as
there was little alternative to go round without backtracking a long way.

   Finding ourselves in the south west corner of Tennessee on the other
side of Memphis heading for Nashville.  The next week we would have to
restock our supplies.

   Stopping at a river refuge park where we hunted and fished for two days
to replenish our supplies then two days more smoking the meat.  By the
week's end we were approaching Nashville.

   Nashville was a hot spot as expected.  The military transport base there
was an obvious target.  Unfortunately we found the railway passed by the
bottom end of the airfield within one click.  We waited for a day before
the wind to die, covered up in our raincoats and masks again.  We waited
till the wind died after sunset then ventured into the city.

   There was no signs of life as we approached the city and didn't expect
to till we were well out the other side.  There was no moon tonight which
slowed our progress to less than walking pace as there was debris on the
tracks to be cleared.

   We were forced to run the hand trolley and trailer along the nearby
streets in one place to go round where a goods train had derailed.  The oil
and chemicals must have burned for weeks by the look of the damage to the
area, even the sleepers were burnt out of the ground.  The rail was just a
twisted mess.

   Being near noon the next day when we cleared the city limits where we
found a large stream to immerse ourselves, our exposed gear and the hand
trolley and empty trailer to wash down any contamination.  Our Geiger
counter was certainly getting a work out.

   Taking us the best part of a month to reach Knoxville.  Because the rail
line was not continuous along interstate I-40, remember I told you we were
using the network of lines as they were not meant to be used.  We had to
divert south east to Chattanooga following I-24, then back up north east to
Knoxville, which added just over a hundred clicks to our journey.  To the
north it would have added twice as much to the trip as none of us wanted to
push the hand trolley and trailer along the interstate I-40 for two hundred
odd clicks.

   I was getting excited now as I was almost home.  Three weeks maybe four.
Another two hundred clicks.  Tomorrow we would branch off following I-81 by
the end of the day which went all the way up past Washington eight hundred
clicks away on its way clear to the border below Montreal.

   We still had to stop and look for food.  Dad and I had been down this
far once on a hunting trip with a friend of his so the scenery began to
look vaguely familiar.  We were beginning to see more sign of people.  We
didn't stop till the end of the week to ask for information.

   My concern was the army ammunition factory near Blacksburg had been hit
and I wanted to find out as radiation could have spread as far as
Princeton. So Elroy and I crept up on a camp fire outside a log cabin not
far from the tracks.  We could see two people there talking quietly by the
fire.  As we watched, one got up going to the outside wooden table.  She
was obviously heavily pregnant outlined by the shadows of the fire.

   I felt Elroy slither away from me towards the fire leaving his rifle. 
The woman was taking a bowl of plates back into the cabin as I smiled at
the domestic scene.  I kept watch.  The figure by the fire visibly
stiffened as a shadow rose up behind him.  I grinned as I could see and
exchange between the pair.  I bet Elroy tapped him on the shoulder the
fuck.

   Hearing the guy outside call the woman who came outside as I watched
Elroy sit beside him.  I was watching for her reaction as she froze.  Elroy
was talking to her as she stood before him looking nervous.  I watched him
calm her as she sat down on a stool by the fire.  Two taps.

   I eased up as I backed into the fire light checking around in the dark.
"There on their own." I heard Elroy say over the radio.  I began to relax
as I took notice of the couple.  "This is Allan and Sissy, there on their
own." Elroy made the introductions.

   After ten minutes we were relaxed with them, announcing we had women
with us and could we bring them in.  With their permission I called in the
girls.  It turned into a long night.  We had a lot to learn.

   The east coast was a lot more advanced then the west coast apparently,
despite the damage.  The Military were in control with the country under
martial law.  The country was now controlled from the Mount Weather
Operations Center as the capital had been hit hard.

   We had no idea where that was but Allen thought it was in the top end of
the Appalachian Mountain range in a mountain called Blue Ridge Mountain
about eighty clicks due west of Washington.  Our map did have it marked as
a dot only.

   Talking well into the night.  The girls going to bed when Sissy was too
tired to keep her eyes open.  We talked on till there was nothing more to
say then turned in.  Elroy and myself slept in the lean-to outside.

   The next morning Kerry and Elroy went out hunting for meat.  We wanted
to stock right up for our final day before we diverted off I-81 to go round
the other side of the range of hills at Kingsport about a day from here. 
Then it would be one fifty clicks as the crow flies to Princeton but the
railway followed the river which wound repeatedly from side to side adding
probably half the distance again.

   Leaving half the meat with Allan and Sissy.  We set out.  For some
reason I was getting nervous.  I was getting into my beloved forested hills
now as we drew closer to where I-77 cut its way across into the valley
which we were working our way up.

   We crossed the state line into West Virginia.  There was no sign board
on the railway to greet us but I knew we were across the line from our
position of the town of Bluefield around us as we passed through the rail
yards.

   Finally I-77 came into sight coming down into the valley from our right.
The trees were taller than I remember but it was some time since I had seen
this part of the valley.  The railway and roadway were running parallel now
for the next six clicks then turn north west climbing up around the next
two hills into Princeton.

   There was one slight problem.  We had to change rail lines at this point
to travel west.  The elevation difference of the two lines was in the order
of fifteen metres.  Using the road surfaces would take us hours of pushing
the hand trolley and trailer so we chose the option of continuing on north
for another twelve clicks till the lines met at the Kellysville rail yard
then return on the other line.  We agreed it would be six of one and half a
dozen of the other.

   Taking the easier option to continue cranking.  It was going to take us
another half day or more.  It was daylight now, we were getting bolder. 
Allan had informed us there was a steam train running once a week down to
the munitions factory just started up he had heard about.  He was not sure
from which end but thought it was down I-81 side.  As the munitions complex
had not been hit.

   I was not worried as I knew the lines joined to this valley further up
with Blacksburg over near I-81 which would make our trip to Weather
Mountain that much easier when we went to deliver the dispatches.

   It was getting on towards dark as we climbed the gradient up into
Princeton.  It was eerie coming into my hometown where there was no sign of
life.  Princeton is an old world town with its old business centre.  No
modern flashy stuff here.  Princeton would have seen its peak in the
fifties when the country around was supplying farm produce for the cities.

   Passing the industrial estate where my dad worked as a fitter and
turner. We could see the smoke from a fire at one of the factory buildings
where someone had taken up residence.

   Finding ourselves in what used to be the station yard.  The old station
building had been turned into a museum many years before when the passenger
service was discontinued.  Now every window had been smashed in the
building and the interior looted.  What could have been of use except a
lamp or two.

   Making our way through the yard out the other side where we lived in one
of the semi rural properties with a bigger yard than normal.  We didn't own
it but it was home.  We were on foot now having hidden the hand-trolley and
trailer as we walking down the road which lead to our street.  We could see
every house had been trashed.  I was apprehensive.

   As soon as I turned into our street I could see my father's pickup
parked in the drive.  That was his pride and joy.  Tears began running down
my cheeks as I could see every window in it was broken.  We were at the
front gate as Elroy ducked around the back of the house.  To my horror
every window was broken in the front of the house.

   The front door had been kicked in off its hinges as I went in at the
ready.  The house was a mess, it had been trashed.  I searched from room to
room without finding a sole.  I hadn't really expected to find them here.
The electronics in dad's pickup would have blown up with the EMP pulses
with the bombs going off.  They would have walked or rode push bikes to the
valley.

   It was Elroy that distracted me calling me from the backyard through the
broken kitchen windows.  I went out through the broken back door hanging
open on one hinge.  I saw it as soon as I stepped onto the back porch. 
There by the back garage was a grave.  That had not been there before.

   Tears were filling my eyes as I came up to stand beside Elroy.  It was
all I could do to read the crudely painted names in black on the white
painted single cross.

   Stan and Joan Anderson RIP.  Suddenly the floodgates were opened as I
stood there crying like a baby.  I felt Sam then Kerry's arms hugging me as
the emotions poured from me.  I would never see them again.  I had lived in
hope that they had somehow survived.  I remember thinking before when this
all started if anyone would survive it would be them.  It slowly started
dawning on me that it was only mum and dad.  Where was Rachel?

   I shook my head to clear it.  I looked around.  The garage was empty. 
The bikes weren't there.  I mean it wasn't empty but there was no skeleton
and no other grave marked or unmarked.  I went back through the house
seeing things I had not seen before.

   Down in the cellar finding my parent's had survived for some time by the
looks of it.  Then I noticed the empty shell casings on the stairs.  There
were bullet holes in the door as I looked further by torch.  The fuckers
had broken in here.  My parents had put up a fight.  I know my farther
would not have let my mother suffer.  He would have shot her before the
end.

   The more I looked the more of a story I was told.  Rachel had been here
later.  I'm positive she was the one to have buried our parents.  It was
her hand writing style on the grave cross.

   I found the message scrawled on my bedroom wall.  'I Killed the fucks.'
Then underneath.  'Gone hunting.' It was in the same black paint as on the
grave cross.  Below that was a little upside down heart with what looked
like a tongue poking out the bottom centre.

   Laughing through my tears as I looked round at the others.  "She's alive
She has gone to the valley." Was all I could get out.  To me that kind of
balanced out my emotions.  My parents were dead but my sister was alive. 
That could have been a year or more by the looks of the house.

   It was dark now.  We set ourselves up in the garage for the night. 
Elroy and Kerry had a wonder round the neighbourhood coming back not having
seen anything while Sam made love to me which put me to sleep until the
early hours.

   Laying there with Sam in my arms as I thought things out waiting for
dawn as the eastern sky was getting lighter.  Rachel was alive, my heart
was singing.  I could do nothing here now.  I had got the message.  I must
leave a message for her if she comes back.  I smiled as I knew exactly what
it would be.

   Getting up when it was just light.  I went looking for the paint pot
which Rachel had used I knew I would find it somewhere obvious.  oIt was in
my bedroom wardrobe.

   Opening the tin with a screwdriver using a thin stick I had flattened
the end till it frayed.  I painted a mirror image heart under hers which
now looked like a tongue licking an upside down bum.

   Hearing movement behind me then Elroy's voice.  "You were fucking her."
I looked around and smiled as he and the girls came into the room to see
what I was doing.

   "Leaving her a message only she will understand." Elroy raised his
eyebrows adding.  "I can understand that." I smiled commenting.  "Rachel
will know it's me.  I licked her bum as a dare when she was thirteen, then
I accidentally took her cherry while we were fooling around not long after.

   Shaking my head as images flashed through my mind as I smiled.  "I blew
my load inside her.  We didn't know anything about pregnancy or
contraception back then and thought she was pregnant.  When we found she
wasn't Rachel talked mum into getting her on the pill.  Dam we were at it
all the time after that.  We didn't want to go out with anyone else but
each other.  I think mum new or suspected.  Once I remember she covered up
for us from dad."

   I was quite as I looked at the wall.  I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder.
I knew it was Sam's.  I put my hand up over it squeezing it saying.  "I
love her Sam." I felt her hand squeeze my shoulder again.  I went on.

   "If she wants babies she can have Elroy's." I blurted.  Sam squeezed me
again as I heard Kerry giggle.  Well that seemed to be that.

   In the back yard by the graves later.  We were talking about my parents
and discussing how they must have been caught here before they moved out. I
put my arm around Elroy's shoulders saying.  "Rachel you know has the
tightest fanny I ever pushed my cock into." He looked at me surprised, then
I added.  "Of course If I let you loose on her that will be the end of that
with your bloody great cannon."

   We laughed at my joke.  We shared our women between us.  We were
brothers.  Elroy was more a wham bam man which the girls liked, but they
also liked my softer gentler approach.  Sam liked me straight after having
her insides reamed out by Elroy.  She would turn right over into my arms
and let me slowly and sensually bring her to a sloppy second sometimes
third climax.

   Kerry didn't know what she really liked yet.  I think she was a little
weary of me when she found out from Jane that April had gone ballistic with
me in her.  Dam wait till we get Elroy in her.  I think Kerry wanted to be
faithful to Elroy.

   Well I seem to have brought things to a head.  That afternoon when we
had settled down to sleep in the shed we were both getting frisky with the
girls.  Our sex talk earlier seem to have triggered it.  I could feel Sam
wanted Elroy first, that was the mood she was in.

   Elroy as usual was little on foreplay and stripping Kerry's pants down
her legs.  I put my hand out to stop him mounting her, then I spoke to
Kerry.  "Darling come with me first." I could feel she was reluctant but
did at Elroy's urging.

   We had only done it once before.  Yes we had been laying side by side
when I felt her hand on my arm as Elroy had rammed her to a climax as she
tried to squeeze the muscle out of my arm when she came.  After that she
would look at me in an unguarded moment.  I would smile then look away.

   My tongue slipped down over her clitoris.  Dam she almost went into
orbit as I heard her clamp her mouth shut.  Her body was stiff as a board
as I twirled her clitoris.  She came hard as she dragged my head into her
crutch as hard as she could.

   I don't know if it was Sam's grunts and groans beside us as Elroy reamed
Sam's insides turning her on as she groaned with pleasure, or the fact I
had licked her sensitive clitoris.

   She was urging me up on her as I felt her legs widen as I settled in
between.  I was hard as a rock as I settled then pushed into her slippery
love tunnel.  I felt her legs lock over mine as she widen hers as I settled
widening mine for power strokes.

   I touched her clitoris with my finger as she shuddered under me as I
slipped in further.  Clamping her mouth with mine as I felt her tense, then
I began rubbing.

   Her back arched as I rammed right in deep.  Kerry was dragging her short
nails over my back as I went to town.  Sam was screaming in Elroy's mouth
as I felt Kerry shudder with her second climax.  Dam I wasn't going to last
as I felt Kerry drag her vagina down my shaft.  Fuck this woman was as good
as April.

   I remember trying to hold back as I felt her excitement climbing again.
I couldn't hold any more as I felt my first spurt as I rammed in hard as I
exploded in a long series of pulses.  Kerry was screaming in my mouth as
she went stiff as a board again.

   Taking me some time to get it together.  I could hear Sam beside me
gasping for breath.  Kerry's chest was heaving under me as I eased up on my
elbows.  "Your all a bunch of exhibitionists." I panted.  Elroy chuckled as
the girls giggled.

   Elroy and I looked at each other in the dim garage light then changed
places as the girls opened their arms as I slid straight into Sam.  I
noticed my erection was still hard as I began sliding.  Sam was a little
sore as I felt her flinch so I went for her clitoris.

   Kerry was groaning with excitement.  I had left her soft and sensitive
as she began to stiffen.  I tried to be quick with Sam rubbing her clitoris
full on as she shuddered and writhed under me.  Her climax was quick and
smooth as I was a little slower as she clamped her muscles waiting for mine
as I sped up to the peak spurting deep inside.

   Feeling Kerry's hand on my arm as she stiffened into a shuddering climax
with Elroy close behind.  We slept in.  it was well and truly dark when we
prepared to leave.

   Knowing I would never see the place again as we walked out the gate, I
didn't look back.  We were heading north.  We needed to stop and hunt
tomorrow.  We had no trouble with water as we were beside a river.  Our
next goal was to get to the ammunition factory just up the road.  There I
hoped now we would make contact with the military and hopefully through
them, headquarters.

   We had about ninety clicks to go but to make sure we would hunt when we
got into suitable ground for meat.  Which was two days later just before we
emerged out of the hills we passed two little valleys.  The first one was a
little rough finding wild goats.  We soon had a young male in our nap sack
skin and gutted ready for smoking.  We would eat well again tonight.  We
spent the next day smoking the meat.  We were ready to go the day after as
we wanted to approach the factory in daylight hours.

   Packing our gear for hopefully the last day then made our way out onto
the track.  We seem to be weary now we thought we were near the end of our
journey.  Elroy shook his head grinning saying.  "It was the girls the
other night." It was followed with good humour banter as we made our way
along.

   By midday we were approaching our last bend in the river.  Our map told
us the munitions plant would be in sight.  Our index called it Radford Army
Ammunition Plant.  We had deliberately picked the south river side track
which seemed to have access to the back of the plant which was closer.

   Our map didn't show a tunnel but there was one almost as soon as the
plant came into sight across the river.  There was a guard on the tunnel.
He was half asleep as we came rolling round the bend mid afternoon.  The
look of disbelief on his face as we came rolling up was priceless.

   He made the challenge as we stood there waiting.  I returned his salute,
informing him I wished to see his commanding officer on an urgent mission.
That started the ball rolling.  He was on the field telephone to his
sergeant.  I spoke to the sergeant explaining our mission.

   We were allowed to advance into the plant through the tunnel then over
the river bridge where someone would meet us at the factory gate on the
other side shortly.

   By the time we got to the gate, backing the trolley into the siding a
sergeant arrived at the gate with a key.  He had ridden a push bike from
where ever he had come from.  We were to park the hand trolley and trailer
on a short shunting siding inside the gate.

   He was shortly joined by a lieutenant, also riding a bicycle.  We
gathered almost immediately that there was little or no word from the west
coast.  Our news was eagerly sought.  I explained we carried dispatches for
Washington from the Colonial of our unit and Captain of our ship. 
Explaining we were making our way up to Washington to deliver them.

   The Lieutenant invited us to accompany him where he promised us food and
a place to stay.  We had to walk five clicks.  They were sorry but there
was no other transport available.  Both he and the sergeant were keen of
news of the west coast.  We had to explain it was almost a year since we
had left.

   Arriving at their headquarters, news was buzzing through the building.
We were treated like royalty.  The commander was keen to see us having just
gotten off the phone to command with the news.

   When the commander heard the news the power station 'Arkansas Nuclear
One', Lake Dardenell was operating when we went past not having been hit
that we could see.  We did explain we hadn't stopped.  This news was
sensational.  The commander was on the phone again with the command centre.
Then we were assigned his secretary who took notes on everything we said.
Our priority seemed to have jumped a few notches.

   We were given a house in the officers' quarters for our use taking us
two days to 'debrief'.

   An intelligence officer arrived two days later on the ammunition train
to receive the dispatches and debrief us again.  That was a novelty seeing
a museum piece nearly seventy years old out working pulling a train of
trucks and vans to deliver materials and collect munitions from the
factory.

   Finding very quickly they had a rifle range to test the ammunition.  We
soon had use of it where Kerry and I spent a couple of hours a day after
dinner test firing their ammunition.  Five hundred meters was the maximum
on the indoor.  A thousand on the outdoor range where I became reacquainted
with the M107 50 caliber sniper rifle.  I just loved the way the explosive
shells blew away the cinder blocks we used as targets at a thousand meters.

   By the end of a full week with the intelligence officer he went back to
the control centre.  Our orders were unchanged.  We were still in the
marines although in the capacity as reservists as our discharges were
overdue.  This allowed us to keep our weapons and equipment.  The girls
were also enlisted in the reservists allowing them to be issued with full
kit plus M4's.  Kerry of course insisting she be issued with the night
scope the same as mine.  I don't think they would deny us anything.

   I was offered a special M4 they had there for evaluation.  It had a
specially hardened barrel.  It would stay accurate longer.  It had been
made by the manufacturer's best gunsmith mostly by hand, I jumped at the
offer of such a gem.

   As far as I was concerned our mission for the military was at an end. 
We could continue our quest, to find my sister and establish a farm.  Then
go back for the girls in the Ozarks, bring them to the farm then settle
down with my family, firstly to survive then to raise kids for the future
of the country.

   Our hand trolley and trailer had been taken into the workshops for an
overhaul.  One of the engineers was a train enthusiast.  With the
commander's permission he went ahead doing an upgrade.  When we saw it next
it wasn't recognisable.  The up and down handles with the central crank
tower was gone.

   The old deck was missing, there was now a pair of seats on each side
frame over the wheels you ride like a motorbike, with Four operators
sitting two each side facing each other with a 'T' handle between them on
each side as they pulled the handles back and forward with a short much
easier stroke.  It still ran the same axle gearing in the centre but had a
lower reduction leaver which made it easier on grades.  We soon found two
operators could run it comfortably even with our load.  The trolley had a
floor lower down in the middle which fitted more of our gear than the older
trolley.

   We had all been fitted out with new and spare uniforms plus spare boots.
We were laden down with as much ammunition and food as we could carry.  The
commander personally seen us off as we glided out the gate on the
hand-trolley and trailer as he saluted us.

   We were independent, on our own again as we turned down I-81.  We had
one more mission to complete.  Find my sister.  I knew where she would have
headed.  We had spent a fortnight down there on our own when I finished my
training before being deployed.  I smiled at the memory of her young body
in my arms, buried in her to the hilt.

   There was a little over two hundred clicks to go.  That would take
almost two weeks by rail as we had a way to walk from the nearest point
about forty clicks from the railway which taking it easy with the girls say
three days.

   Well with the new hot rod hand trolley we were a week and a half.  We
hadn't come up this way.  To our amazement there were signs of life almost
everywhere.

   We hid the hand trolley and trailer in an old dilapidated shed that was
falling down.  Elroy and I had to leaver the shed up as the girls pushed
the hand trolley and trailer under then we covered it with our camouflage
nets we carried now.

   Walking was a strange experience for a change.  Yes it took us three
days as we still only moved at night.  We didn't want to get into an
argument with anyone.  Camping under bushes out of sight during the day. 
We didn't need to hunt as we were on army rations since we left the rail
line.

   The third night as the waning gibbous moon was shortly to set as we made
a cold camp on the last ridge off the track waiting for daylight.  Three
hours later as the sun climbed above the eastern ridge I led my group into
our hunting valley.

   Things were quite as we eased down the track on the side of the ridge. I
could see there hadn't been a vehicle over this track for a very long time.
I know others hunted this valley system on accessions.  I could see where
one side of the track had been used.  Perhaps Rachel had been up and down
here recently.  We had four clicks to go to the cabin my dad's friend had
built in his younger days.

   The trees seemed taller from the last time I was here with Rachel over
two years ago now.  I felt good that I would see her shortly as I started
grinning inwardly as we had a click to go.

   You could not have floored me any more than if you had struck me with a
sledge hammer.  I just stood there as we rounded the last bend seeing the
cabin.  I could not believe it as the others had stopped too.  I started
advancing slowly.  I became aware of Elroy unslinging his weapon beside me
as we advanced together.  I had mine in my hands now holding it at the
ready.

   The cabin was only a charred stone chimney remains.  The rest was burnt
to the ground.  I was shattered.  This was where I was hoping to set up a
farm initially.  We would clear the forest to grow produce.  There was
flatter cleared ground over in the next valley we could plant crops.  That
dream was now fading as I looked at the charred ruins in disbelief.

   'Where was Rachel?' I looked around there was no sign at all.  The last
time we were here we had camped further down where we wouldn't be
interrupted by anyone coming in unexpectedly.

   This sight had been chosen so high up the side of the valley not for the
view which was magnificent but for the spring that seeped out of the rocks
further back in the hill.  I walked back to see if it was still running. 
There was shrubs covering it which took me some time to find.  It wasn't
like that last time I was here.

   I kept shaking my head, what the hell happened here.  I couldn't find
any bullet marks or cartridge casings laying around the remains of the
cabin.  It looked like there wasn't a fire fight.  I breathed easier.  As I
could see no signs of a skeleton in the ashes.  Someone had used the
fireplace recently as the ashes were fresh not weathered like the burnt
cabin remains.

   We deposited our back packs behind the cabin remains.  We did a slow
sweep further down looking for sign.  Elroy thoughthe found sign but it
could have been anyone.  We looked further down the gully where we used to
hunt together but there was no sign.

   Late afternoon we heard a rifle shot way up the other end of the big
valley.  It was a long way off.  I pulled my M4 of my shoulder, I let one
go, then ten seconds later another, then another ten seconds a third.  That
was a signal, someone had arrived at the cabin.

   I began to worry as it got dark.  There was no sign of anyone.  Neither
my dad's friend or his family.  With the lack of any sign about I was
beginning to think they hadn't made it.  A hunter at the other end of the
valley didn't mean anything.  They could have come in from the south west
where there was a large lake a few clicks over.  In the old days sometimes
we would go fishing there.  There was fishing cabins.

   We had supper, talking about what we would do tomorrow when it started
to rain.  We began unpacking our little single man tents which would keep
us dry.  I felt something poke my rib thinking it was Sam's doing when I
realised it was the barrel of a rifle.

   I froze as I realised there was someone behind me when my companions
were in front.  "Hold it we have company." I had my hands up not moving a
muscle.  I looked left then right not seeing anything.

   The cloud cover was blocking most of the light from the blood red moon.
I could just make out my companions shapes as they had also froze.  I felt
another prod then a voice I thought I was never going to hear again say. 
"Who's your friends Shane?"

   I whirled around dropping my tent as I felt a solid little body wrap
herself around me as I yelled, "Fuck Rachel.  You scared the fucken crap
out of me," as I threw my arms around her body as I began crying my heart
out.

   I don't know how long we held each other.  It must have stopped raining
as we didn't get very wet.  I remember kissing her and kissing her.  I
remember hearing her laughing and crying as she held me tightly kissing me
back.  It had been two, long, long years.

   Finally after some time we were talking at ten to the dozen as we tried
to tell each other our stories.  Then Elroy settled us down asking if I
would introduce my sister.  That brought me down to earth as I was
surprised I had forgotten them.  I blushed as I stammered an introduction
to Elroy and the two girls.

   Rachel hugged Elroy saying how I wrote about him in my letters to her,
thanking him for being such a good friend.  He got a second kiss which he
smiled at Rachel.  Then I introduced Sam explaining how she was my
companion which I saw the briefest flash in her eyes as she glanced
sideways at me.

   I said to her.  "They know." Rachel blushed then looked back at the
smiling Sam.  I think that changed things as Rachel hugged Sam tightly. 
Then I introduced Kerry as Elroy's partner.  The two girls hugged.  I could
only smile as Rachel turned and flew back into my arms.  Dam it was good to
see and feel her.

   It was Elroy who settled things asking.  "Rachel where's your camp?" She
let me go grinning at him in reply.  "You're standing on it." He looked
down not seeing a thing.  There were some flat stones like stepping stones
with an old broken tree trunk lying on the ground.  Rachel reached behind
lifting what looked like a tree trunk back which reviled itself as a trap
door.

   She smiled saying, "I live here." She stepped over the tree trunk
disappearing down steps.  It was coming back to me.  The dugout, I had
completely forgotten about it.  Our father's friend had made a dugout
behind the cabin as a store and shelter.  We had played in there as kids.
How could I have forgotten that as I had both Rachel and Pam his daughter
stripped bare playing mothers and fathers down there.

   I laughed remembering that was the first time girls had held my penis,
getting it hard as a rock.  I must have been nine or ten.  Boy do I
remember that.

   I grinned at my companions as I walked towards where Rachel had
disappeared.  I could see the log steps of a vertical ladder with just
enough room to get down in my bulky flak jacket.  There was a light at the
end of the short tunnel which led into the hill.

   Rachel had modified the entrance from a flight of steep wooden steps to
a trap door which was less than half the size of the original entrance.  I
could see the modifications she had made as I crouched from hitting my head
as I entered the bunker.

   Yes it was as I remember now.  She had put extra uprights in the roof
but it was the same.  The bunks were the same, on one side they were two
people wide for husbands and wives.  On the other were the singles for the
kids.  I can remember sleeping in there before the cabin was finished top
and tailed with Rachel.  I would put my foot up in her crutch and she would
do the same to me as we went to sleep.

   Rachel was smiling as she made room as I went to the end where the food
was stored.  The bunker was about fifteen feet wide but nearly sixty feet
long being nearly six feet high inside almost right through.  It was
completely lined with pine logs, even the floor.

   I could see the stores were mostly gone.  The plastic barrels were
empty. Rachel was living off the land.  She looked lean and healthy, very
unkept but what would you expect as I stripped my vest off as Elroy and the
girls did theirs.

   Elroy climbed back out where I could see him handing down our packs and
M4's as the girls stacked them on the single bunks with the weapons where
they were easy to get at.  I was surprised at how bright the light was in
here.  I could see those new led lights were running of the twelve volt
deep cycle battery system.  There was a panel of photo cells in among the
trees up the back which charged the battery during the day.  That same
battery had been going for about ten years as I remember.  Initially it had
powered a little dash light globe out of a car.  What a difference between
incandescent and led globes, technology.

   Rachel had seen to the trapdoor then removed her coat.  We were
arranging our selves around the narrow table on each side.  This was a
table which could be raised up into place like a caravan table.  The bench
seats were permanent on the bottom bunk sides for sitting with or without
the table.  There was enough room for a person to walk sideways past each
side of the central row of columns and bunk seats, just.

   There were two half tables, one opposite each bunk with their seats. 
The table tops folded down in half with each half folding against the other
half hinging on long bolts on either side of the centre uprights.

   I held Rachel's hands across the table.  I told her we had been to the
house and seen the graves.  Her eyes teared up as she explained.  "I was
away hunting.  We were going to move as soon as we had enough." She looked
into my eyes with steel in them through the tears.

   "A local gang found Mum and Dad living in the house, forced their way
in. Dad must have been wounded badly it looked like he shot Mum then
himself.  They took all the food and guns.  There were six of them, that
Ted Turner was one of them.  I found them and killed every last one while
they slept.  They had Dad's rifles so I know I got the right ones.  I came
up here expecting to find Uncle Max and Aunt Doris but they never showed. I
didn't go looking for them." Uncle Max and Aunt Doris were not really our
uncle and aunt but dad's and mum's best friends we had grown up with them
and their kids.

   Her eyes watered as she squeezed my hands tightly.  I could not speak
for some time.  When I did I asked.  "You been here alone all that time?"
She nodded breaking down sobbing as she held my hands against her face.

   When she quietened she confessed.  "I just hoped and prayed you were
alive.  We figured your ship was still in the Indian Ocean when it all
started.  We hid in the cellar for months and months till the gang found
us."

   Telling her our story, it took about two hours as we got into our
sleeping bags for half of it.  I slept with Rachel wrapped in my arms.  I
vowed to never let her out of my sight again.  As we were unaccustomed to
sleeping at night in total quite underground, we were up early.  I think
having slept in beds for a week recently had taken the edge of our
hardness.

   I left Rachel sleeping, slipping out of bed to join my companions.  The
girls had a fire going in the cabin chimney to boil water for pine needle
tea.  We were eating jerky when Rachel appeared.  She smiled at me as we
hovered around the chimney saying.  "I shot a dear yesterday.  In the
excitement of hearing your signal I forgot about it.  We better go get it
before something else does."

   We set out when the sun rose above the valley rim.  Rachel leading the
way.  We were keeping an eye out after Rachel informed us there were others
using the valley for hunting from the large lake to our west.  This lake
had a number of fishing shacks around its edge which some were inhabited by
survivors.  They were hunting further and further afield so the game in the
valley was being wiped out at a fast rate.

   This was devastating news.  Here I thought we had a shangri la, to find
my dream was just that.  It was obvious that this location was too close to
the east coast and logically when you thought about it one of the closest
havens the survivors would head for.  We might have to head further south
west.

   We spent the next two days smoking meat.  We had plenty of time to
discuss the situation.  I think the four of us decided we should go back to
the valley in the Ozarks.  Find another valley down there for ourselves
which made a lot of sense.  Rachel would come with us, I never thought any
different.

   I smiled as I saw Rachel was getting on with the girls.  As the girls
had survival stories of their own the three had a lot to talk about.  I
don't think any of us could imagine the loneliness that Rachel had endured
over the last year or so here on her own, after our parents died.

   She was fortunate enough to have had a substantial food supply to keep
her for the first year, venturing outside of the bunker only when
necessary. Having no instrumentation, not knowing what the radiation levels
were outside and fortunately didn't get sick then die, as most had done.

   It turned out it was Rachel herself who burnt the cabin.  Venturing out
of the bunker one night to find a group of men had installed themselves in
the cabin.  Fortunately she had disguised the entrance to the bunker with
bushes, the intruders had not noticing it so far.

   While they were away hunting gathering, she burnt it to the ground to
stop others installing themselves then set about altering the entrance to
the bunker to be more concealable.  At the time the sky was getting lighter
during the day as the dust in the upper atmosphere slowly dissipated.

   Elroy and I took a long hike up the ridge to the west.  We ventured down
the western slopes towards the lake.  There were indeed a large number of
fishing cabins on the lake shore, lots more than I remember.  We counted
over a dozen fires and cabins that were occupied.  We had a hard discussion
on the way back to the bunker.  As Rachel had said the area was being
hunted out.  It couldn't be my dream any more.

   There was nothing for it.  We would head down I-81 the way we had come
going back to the Ozarks.  Hopefully we would find a valley of our own to
set up down there.  Or there was the Ouachita forests to the south.  We had
to go back for the women so we would start from there.

   We left three days later carrying as much food as we could.  We sealed
the entrance to the bunker, leaving in the late afternoon heading back
along the way we came in.  Retracing our rout back to the railway to
recover our mode of transport which we hadn't planned to do for weeks.

   This was the first time Rachel had been out of the valley since entering
eighteen months ago.  We were all heavily loaded with the food we could
carry.  The only thing I wanted to take was the charging system with the
bunker lights.  We would get a suitable battery out of an electric fork
truck somewhere down the line where we didn't have to lug it far.

   Camping under a bridge beside the river for most of the next day.  We
were back to travelling at night as we slipped past the little settlements
along the way.

   Finding the hand trolley and trailer untouched under the collapsed shed
where we left it.  An hour later with Kerry and Rachel as lookouts we set
of heading south.  With approximately twelve hundred clicks to go.  We
laughed at the distance as we had just completed more than three times
that.

   By the end of the night we were in familiar country, we were almost at
Allan and Sissy place.  We had done well and about an hour before dawn we
doubled up on the handles with the girls as we stepped up the pace to get
there and spend the day with them to tell them our news.

   At daylight we were about twenty clicks short as we decided to continue.
We found the spot where we had taken the hand trolley and trailer off the
line previously repeating the process, hiding them as we had previously.

   It was about eleven in the morning when we approached the cabin.  There
was no fire, looking deserted.  Elroy went in as we stood guard as we
watched Elroy approach the cabin from the trees.  He opened the door
letting it swing wide as he looked inside from the side of the door.

   We watched him duck inside as it was quite.  For a few minutes there was
nothing then Elroy came on the radio.  "Come in." was the short message.

   I went in next finding Elroy with his helmet off bending over the bed in
the cabin.  I was puzzled there was only one person in the double bed.  I
looked round, the cabin was empty as the girls came through the door.

   Allan was laying on the bed looking extremely thin and frail.  I could
hear Elroy asking.  "Where's Sissy Allan?" I could hear Allan's weak voice
saying something.  Elroy looked around at us saying.  "Sissy died in labour
having the baby."

   I don't think I had ever seen Elroy cry before, tears started running
down his cheeks as he looked at us.  Sam went to the bed to look at Allan.
I remember staggering outside to cry as Rachel followed.  I led her round
the back where we could see the fresh dug grave.  I hung onto Rachel for
some time.

   Kerry, then Sam began to organise things.  Allen hadn't been hunting or
gathering since Sissy died so they were making a fire.  An hour later Sam
was nursing Allan against her on the bed spoon feeding him the content of a
ration pack.  Kerry and Rachel had gone hunting, coming back with a good
size deer after dark.

   Without question we were stopping with Allan as he obviously lost
interest in life after Sissy passing.  I think Elroy was going to make sure
Allan didn't waste away.  Allan was too good a man, to let go like that.

   Allan had picked up after having an army ration pouch serving of hot
corned beef inside him.  That night after checking on the hand trolley and
trailer we slept out under the lean too again where we could watch the
cabin.  I believe Sam and Kerry slept with Allan as Rachel slept on the rug
in front of the fire.

   It is said the two girls rejuvenated his interest in life.  So they say.
I would never interfere with the ways of women.  I know better.

   The next morning Allan was looking frail but better.  We had a
conference among ourselves out in the yard, deciding we would take Allan
with us as good men were needed where we were going.

   By the end of the week, Allan was well on the road to his physical
recovery.  We had come along in the nick of time.  Perhaps if our timing
had been a little better Sissy and the baby might still be alive.

   Allan was bundled up in his warmest clothes then installed on the
trolley with the girls surrounding him as we set off for the next major
town on our root which was Knoxville a bit over forty clicks down the line.

   What I remember about Knoxville was getting lost on a dark knight in the
hump yard on the way up.  This time we kept to the left side of the yard
avoiding the lines with marshaled trains still standing on them.

   By morning we were out the other side heading for Chattanooga. 
Nashville was almost three hundred clicks away as the crow flies being the
first hot spot we had to negotiate.

   Chattanooga was a fair way south out of our way by another hundred
clicks.  It saved us I don't know how many days pushing the hand trolley
along the interstate, for an extra three days work.  We were doing almost
eighty clicks a night now, a lot easier with the new rig.  The extra two
days taking hunting gathering and smoking the meat.  It was easy to get
water on this side of the continent.  Every stream we passed was flowing.

   The intelligence officer had given us new updated maps.  He had taken
ours as we had marked it as we were showing our route.  We had circled the
hot spots we had come across along the way.  The news that San Diego and
Los Angeles were contaminated and not destroyed had been welcome news.  Off
course we had no idea what was in the dispatches and were never told.

   We were heading for Memphis at a fast clip seven days out of Nashville.
We knew the line was clear all the way through besides we had a half moon
and we were going like a train.  Then suddenly without warning something
buzzed pass over our heads then I heard a bang of a rifle.  I looked off to
my right quarter where the shot came from as I stood on the brakes.

   I looked at Elroy nodding as he snatched his rifle up from beside him on
the trolley tray.  I looked back at Kerry, she had her rifle up already as
I pointing to go with Elroy as I stopped the hand trolley and trailer.

   Motioning for the girls to push us back as Sam and Rachel jumped off
pushing backwoods as I leaned on the leavers in reverse.  I jammed my foot
on the brake realising we had backed out of danger.

   The track was slowly descending into a small cutting through the hill.
We were safe where we were.  I locked the hand brake on as I grabbed a
camouflage net plus my rifle as I pointed to Rachel to grab the bag of food
as I made my way up the shadowed cutting side, sliding over the rim through
the tall grass.

   There had been no further shots.  We were not seen in the dark as I
crawled my way slowly towards the highest point.  I then set about pulling
out tufts of long grass to clear a place for Rachel and I to lie.  They
obviously had no night vision.  I whispered to Sam to take Allen down into
a depression about twenty meters behind us and hide under a camouflage net
to watch and cover our backs.

   "I'm in position above the hand trolley." I whispered into the radio. 
Two clicks.  "Were out to your right about half a click, heading to get
round the fucker." I was searching with my sights.  I had an idea of
direction now checking each likely spot.  Nothing.  "Gone to ground." Two
clicks.

   I gave Rachel my binoculars telling her what to look for.  Fortunately
we were on the east side when the sun came up being behind us.  I warned
Sam she had to watch all around behind us.  Two clicks.

   We lay waiting as I knew Elroy and Kerry were way out to our right
working their way round anticlockwise behind their estimated position.  I
thought I had seen a bush sway watching it for some time.  Another moved a
little further on.  "You just into the pine trees Elroy?" two clicks.

   I smiled as I did another search with my scope.  It was getting lighter
in the east.  I had drawn our camouflage net over Rachel and I, so we were
almost invisible as I began another search.  I thought I saw movement
between two rocks on the fringe of the trees.  "I got one.  Two fifty
meters in front of you on the tree fringe between two rocks." Two clicks.

   This was now a game of patients.  I explained to Rachel what was
happening.  I explained it was our job to try and spot the baddies.  Elroy
was trying to get round them so they would be caught in a crossfire.

   I explained there would be more than one.  Someone had got trigger happy
too soon springing the trap too early.  If we had gone on another hundred
meters out of the cutting onto the flat we would have been in big trouble.
Explaining we had an advantage with high ground now.  I could see the train
line rails now without my night vision.

   "Be awake it's getting light." I directed Rachel to sweep the left side
from the track and I would do the right side.  I thought I spotted another
laying beside the track in the ditch about two hundred and fifty meters
down the line.  I searched the other side, nothing.

   I warned Sam.  "We could have one on our side as there's one laying by
the track so watch our back and your right.  Two clicks.  I saw Elroy
slither up behind a tree.  He was watching something in front of him.  He
gave me the thumbs up.  I gave him two clicks as he disappeared again.

   "We have two so far." A number of clicks.  It was light enough to see
now.  The east was a red glow.  There were long shadows on the far hills to
the west.  My scope was being flooded as I clipped the day cover on.  Now
it was too dark.  "Wait till it gets lighter I can't use my sights yet." I
took Rachel's rifle using her sights but nothing was moving anywhere.

   I realised it was Dad's rifle, his favorite.  I had always thought it a
great privilege to shoot targets with it.  I couldn't see Elroy now.  He
had moved.

   I picked my rifle up testing the sights.  I could just make out the guy
lying in the ditch.  He would be feeling exposed about now being surprised
he hadn't moved into cover in the grass as the east was getting lighter. 
The shadows on the western mountains were slowly sliding back towards us as
the sun was soon to rise.

   About twenty minutes later there was one click on the radio.  The
warning signal.  "Elroy?" two clicks.  "Kerry?" two clicks.  "Sam?" One
click.  "you got someone coming in?" two clicks.  "Can you deal with it?"
Two clicks.  I spoke to Rachel.  "There's a guy coming in behind us be
ready, watch our left sector there might be another."

   I was watching my guy when I heard a M4 go off behind me.  It surprised
me as I felt my rifle recoil.  I must have been squeezing the trigger a
little too hard.  Shit.  As the rifle settled I could see my guy flailing
around on the ground.  I had only winged him.  I looked for the guy out on
the right.  He had moved too.  Fuck it was all going to shit.  "Sam?" Two
clicks.  I felt a whole lot better.

   "I winged the one on the railway, let him squirm a little." We could
hear him hollering two hundred plus meters away.  Would he bring out his
mates?  I heard the M4 behind me again.

   "Sam?" "He moved." I smiled knowing the tone of voice.  Like I done
nothing wrong, he did.  I forgot about Sam.  My fucker was still screaming
and writhing on the ground.  I looked around for Elroy's man.

   "I see him Elroy.  He's trying to see his mate on the line.  He's behind
that horizontal fallen pine pointing towards me.  "I have one." It was
Rachel beside me.  "Got a shot?" I asked.  "Yes." Well take it.

   The report was loud.  I felt the shock wave.  Dam that thing was a
canon. I looked up to see a body diving over backwoods into the ground
spread eagled.  I looked around for Elroy's guy again.  His head was up
again then down.  I heard a shot just as he ducked.

   "I can't tell, he ducked." I saw movement.  "He's bolting." There were
two shots from Elroy's direction, M4's.  I didn't hear any in return.  I
couldn't see anything.  Another shot from Elroy's direction, a M4.  There
was a break in the trees towards the railway.  The trees gradually got
thinner.

   "There he is." It was Rachel beside me.  I looked up to where she was
pointing.  I settled as I concentrated.  I could see him now about four
hundred away going flat out at an angle across and away.  I lead him for
what seemed an eternity slowly squeezing the trigger as the rifle bucked. I
waited for the sights to settle lining him up again then he did a cartwheel
in mid air and lay motionless.  "Fuck." I heard Rachel breath out beside
me.

   I grinned at her winking.  "Keep a lookout." I warned her.  I talked to
Elroy.  "I think that's all.  Sweep the area then be a good boy and have a
little talk with our friend." I could hear Elroy grinning.

   "You want to check your guy Sam.  Be careful." I slithered around in
time to see Sam pull the netting back getting to her feet advancing towards
the prone body lying among the long grass.  "Keep to the left in case I
have to shoot him."

   "He's dead?" A thumbs up.  "Now check the other one to your right about
three hundred around." I watched the partly hidden form through my sights
as Sam approached.  He didn't move.  "He's dead." I clicked twice.

   I could see Elroy in the clearing leaning over the body.  He looked up
in my direction.  "Fuck man that's near five hundred meters." I grinned. 
Two clicks.  I could see Kerry further out moving through the trees making
a sweep of the area.  She was a smart girl that one.

   I was standing now, sweeping the area all round using the binoculars. 
There was nothing to see.  I believed that was all of them.  We did an
inspection of the bodies.  We removed their boots and trousers.  Their
shirts had holes but we took them too.  The girls at the farm would
appreciate the clothing, especially the boots I'm sure.

   Kerry had found their camp.  They seemed to be there for some time
waiting for passers by on the old highway adjacent.  They were opportunist
robbers.  There appearance was rough and unkept.  We were startled as a
shot rang out.  "You all right?" I asked Elroy guessing what happened as it
was a pistol shot.  Two clicks.

   Leaving that night.  We had destroyed their guns taking what ammunition
they had as it fitted Rachel's rifle.  They had probably taken it from
someone else.  The four bodies were lined up side by side in view of the
highway and railway in a depression so passer's by would see.  Their broken
and bent rifles used as markers.

   We had been lucky.  Elroy had got out of the survivor that they had
heard us coming a long way off having woken them.  They were still sleepy
as they got into position.  One of them had accidentally fired too early
which had saved us.

   They had been roaming the countryside living rough.  Killing and robbing
when they could for food.  The survivor had pleaded with Elroy not to leave
him like that with a shattered ankle, so he didn't.

   We were subdued for a number of days.  We had been lucky the bandits
were dumb.  Well if they were smart they would have made a living off the
land but were too lazy.  They found it easier to rob and steal from
survivors.

   Memphis was about a week away as we passed an army ammunition storage
area.  There was no one in sight that we could see as it was daylight as we
were looking for somewhere to camp for the day.

   Things were settling down again as the bushwhacker's incident faded into
the background.  We were doing OK.  The line had looped way to the north of
I-40 about 20 to twenty five clicks at the moment coming in at an acute
angle as we were watching the Geiger counter meter starting to move higher
from its normal background readings.

   I seem to remember we got lost in one of the yards on our way through
before but didn't have that trouble on the way back as between us we
remembered, as there's no sign posts on railways.  We had passed ten clicks
or so away from the air force base on the other end of the international
airport.  We wore our raincoats and filter masks with our equipment
securely covered with ground sheets.  And yes we took our iodine pills.

   We were relieved when we crossed one of two train bridges into Arkansas.
We were about four hundred clicks away from the valley from this point. 
Before the night was finished we had found a river with plenty of water
with a ramp where we washed our gear plus the trolley and trailer down. 
Camping under the trees for the day.

   Allan was picking up now he was eating.  I think between the girls and
the encounter with the bandits his depression over the death of Sissy had
been turned around.  That was the first time I had been alone with Rachel.
We crept away finding a bed in one of the farm houses where we made love.
Dam I had missed her.

   She was slowly coming around to our way of thinking.  Getting used to
the idea that she would share me with the other women and herself between
myself and Elroy.  I think she liked the idea of being with Elroy.  I don't
know what it was with him but the women had this fascination with his hard
earthy nature.

   Sam and I discussed it sometimes.  She described it as the brute power
of him where my nature was soft and gentle.  I wanted to be there when he
stuck his power pole into Rachel the first time.  I grinned to myself
knowing she would go ballistic.  Well Rachel had that experience to come.

   Sam had given Rachel a five year patch from her back pack stock when
they were back in the dugout.  I explained to her we didn't need kids for a
few years as all the women were using them.  Not having had birth control
for two years she would certainly have fallen pregnant to the first man
that went near her.

   I held her sleeping form in my arms as she murmured in her sleep
cuddling in harder.  I stroked her hair with my finger tips then stiffened
as I understood her next murmur which was clearer.  "Daddy." I slowly
relaxed then I smiled as the jealous feelings rose in me then passed in a
flash.

   I reasoned I can't complain, I wasn't about when she needed me.  Dad
was, she thought the world of him.  Rationalising the situation she
substituted one incestuous relationship with another.  I hope she made him
happy before his death.  Yes of course she would.  Rachel never did things
by halves, I can attest to that.

   We decided that this spot was so beautiful and isolated we would stay
another day or two.  Elroy and Kerry went out hunting taking Rachel with
them.  Leaving Sam, myself and Allan as we set to work in the house.  We
spent time cleaning it up as there was no broken windows for a change, not
one.

   Sam and I spent an hour on the bed in the farm house.  For a person
brought up as a monogamist the events of the past year now going on for two
years, polygamist was becoming a far better sounding word.  I think it's
easier on the ears.  Harder on the...  I do smile a lot more you
understand.

   The country was going to need children, lots and lots of them.  We had
been thrown back into the past almost to the stone age where we were hunter
gatherers.  We would take giant leaps forward with every generation now as
farmers.  We needed to get ourselves established again.

   I think we all enjoyed the break.  I noticed Rachel was friendlier with
Elroy after their hunting trip.  When we were together last we had spoken
about sharing ourselves around.  I promised I wouldn't get jealous if she
went with Elroy or Allan.  Telling her about the time when Sam was under
Elroy with Kerry under me side by side in our parent's garage floor where
we were camped at the time.

   I also mentioned that I knew she had been with Dad.  She stiffened in my
arms as I stroked her face to reassure her it was all right.  She burst out
laughing when I told her she talked in her sleep.

   Organising with Elroy for him to take Rachel to bed that night while we
ate supper.  Sam was going to keep Allan happy as Kerry was going to spend
the night with me.

   Rachel started off with me in my room as we had a soft beautiful climax
together.  I think she went off harder than usual knowing in a few minutes
she would be under the bull as the girls called him.

   We lay together side by side listening to Elroy and Kerry in the next
room.  As we listen to Kerry groaned through her climax I slid out of bed
holding Rachel's hand as she slipped out behind me.  I wiped her groin and
inner thighs where my sperm run down her legs.

   It was quite now in the next room as we padded down the hallway leading
Rachel by the hand.  As I turned into the bedroom we could see the two
figures lying side by side under the blanket.

   "Hi you two." I announced our arrival.  Kerry was on the right side of
the bed as I went to her side as Kerry threw her half of the blanket back
against Elroy.  She slipped out of bed holding a towel to her groin as she
opened her legs letting their fluids leak onto the towel.

   Elroy was sitting up on his elbow as he pulled the blanket back to let
Rachel into bed beside him.  He smiled whispering.  "Come on darling.  Come
enjoy yourself." I felt Rachel's hand stiffen in mine as I drew her to the
bed.

   I took her into my arms kissing her tenderly until I felt her relax then
eased her onto the bed.  As she settled back I noticed her legs were
opening as she made herself comfortable.

   Seeing movement out of the corner of my eye at the door guessing Sam and
Allan were there watching as I stroked Rachel's cheek to reassure her as
Elroy reached over rubbing his fingers over her right breast.

   Rachel stiffened gasping as his fingers touched her body.  I sensed
Rachel was going to get up so I leaned down kissing her passionately as I
slid my hand down her belly over her soft downy mound pushing my fingers in
between her slippery lips stroking up to her clitoris then back down again
then again till she relaxed.

   Rachel shuddered as I began stroking her harder.  Elroy took advantage
of the distraction easing his powerful muscular frame over Rachel as he
pushed his knees in between hers as I felt her open hers reluctantly wider
for him.

   I felt Elroy's great tool slide down the back of my fingers dribbling
fluid as he lowered his hips onto hers as his head centered at her crutch
as I kissed her harder as Elroy settled his weight on his elbows.  I rubbed
her clitoris harder with my thumb now as I opened her labia lips wide with
my first and third.  I tapped the end of his head with my second to draw
him forward.

   I felt Elroy's head still slippery with Kerry's juices push against my
fingers as I drew them up out of her entrance, resting them on his shaft as
I stroked her clitoris with the tip of my thumb now.  Rachel gasp as she
felt his size at her entrance.  Elroy pushed a little harder as Rachel
gasped then shuddered as I now worked her clitoris from the side with my
fingertips.

   Elroy settle more as his head pushed mine out of the way to claim her
lips.  "Shane." A nervous Rachel gasped as she looked wildly in my
direction as I smiled in the semi-darkness.

   I heard Elroy groan as Rachel gasped as I felt his head push in a little
more.  Elroy was now kissing her passionately as I worked her harder. 
Elroy moved out as I felt Rachel stiffen in anticipation as he pushed back
in.

   Rachel squealed as her body stiffened under him.  "Fucken hell, it's
fucken enormous." She yelled as he pulled back as Rachel scrambled to get
her legs over his locking him to her in an attempt to keep him in there.

   I smiled as I worked her clitoris slowly now as I felt Elroy push in
hard.  Rachel screamed as her body stiffened.  Elroy's head was almost
inside her.  "Do you want him to stop Rachel?" I asked loudly.

   Rachel's reply was to reach out pushing me away.  I shook my head
grinning back at Kerry who was sitting on the side of the bed at the bottom
as she smiled knowingly as I walked on my knees towards her.  Rachel's body
was as stiff as a board under Elroy as I watched his arse press down
between her open legs.

   Kerry opened her legs for me as I knee walked in between them sliding an
arm around her waist as she slid hers around my neck drawing me against her
as I guided my erection in between her crutch as I felt her wet slippery
hole pushed straight in her up to the hilt hearing her sigh.  Yes Elroy had
been in there before me and she was wet and sloppy.  I grinned as I felt
her open her legs wider as I ground my pelvis bone against hers.

   We knelt there watching the action on the bed as Elroy's beautiful
sculptured arse slowly working up and down about an inch at a time now.  I
could see him press harder into her then slowly pull out.  He was doing a
perfect job of breaking her in.

   We were still locked in each others arms neither of us moving knowing
what was coming with the pair on the bed, waiting for it to happen.  Kerry
was motioning Sam in with Allan to sit on the other side of the bed
opposite us.

   I heard Sam whisper to Allan then she led him to the bed as Sam sat down
with her legs wide for Allan as he knelt between them.

   Rachel gasped loudly on the bed drawing our attention back.  "Oh fuck,
it's going in." she gasp loudly.  "Oh fuck." She groaned again as we could
see Elroy pushing in and out in short little strokes now as his golden
brown arse rose and fell slowly faster.

   "Wait." I heard Sam tell Allen as they were hugging like Kerry and I.  I
heard Rachel muffled groan again as Elroy covered her mouth again with his.
As Rachel was stiffer if that was possible as Elroy slid back and forth on
top of her.

   I could see Elroy's strokes getting longer as he was stroking in and out
three inches now.  Rachel was shuddering as stiff as a board.  Knowing
Rachel she was continually climaxing.  Dam that turned me on as I jammed up
into Kerry harder.  I was getting close as I felt Kerry squeeze me with her
muscle strongly.

   Elroy was loosing control as he was getting faster and harder.  Rachel
was groaning continuously breathing heavily through her nose.

   She was getting louder even though Elroy had his mouth clamped over
hers. Dam she was turned on as Elroy was heaving into her harder and
harder. He must have been all the way inside her now, stretching her vagina
nothing like dad or I had ever stretched it.

   Elroy was ploughing into Rachel almost in a frenzy as Rachel arched her
back bowed like a bridge arch, accepting his deep thrusts with her legs
locked over his as she dragged her nails up his back as she tried to get
him in deeper.

   I began sliding in and out of Kerry as she locked her legs over my bum.
I could see Allen doing the same to Sam.  Rachel was taking us to a peak of
excitement.  Elroy had lifted off Rachel driving hard into her full length
as Rachel screamed the house down then Elroy blew his load into her
grunting loudly with every spurt of his orgasm.

   I just lost it Into Kerry, I think she came before me tipping me over
the edge then she relaxed flopping back on the bed exhausted.  I heard
Allen groaning as Sam held onto him tightly.  Fuck what a fucken turn on
that was.

   Rachel had gone quite.  I looked at her as she lay there under Elroy. 
He was up on his hands with his arms locked, their bodies still joined at
the hip.  Elroy was sweating profusely, dripping onto Rachel's body.  I was
relieved, I could see Rachel's chest slowly rising and falling.  She had
passed out.

   I pulled out of Kerry.  Well I slipped out of her sloppy love tube.  She
gasped as I came out as I knee walked up to check on Rachel putting my hand
on the side of her neck feeling her strong pulse of her temporal artery.

   Elroy smiled at me as he shook his head saying.  "Man that's the best
fuck I ever had.  She's so fucken tight I'm stuck inside her." He gave a
grunt as he pulled out of Rachel.  There was a loud audible plop as he came
out of my sister.

   There was a reaction from Rachel as she moaned loudly then opened her
eyes saying.  "Fuck, that fucken hurt." She looked at Elroy who was smiling
down at her then lent down kissing her tenderly.

   Rachel twisted under him pushing him up with her hands saying.  "Not
again you dam great horse.  Get off me I'm too dam sore." I could see the
disappointment in his eyes or was it hurt as he rolled off of her onto his
side.

   Rachel rolled onto the side of the bed sitting up then she staggered
towards the door groaning with every movement she made.  Kerry went after
her then Sam with a towel and washer.

   Elroy looked at me smiling saying.  "Boy she was tighter than your arse.
The best fuck I ever had.  That girl's got muscles on her muscles.  You
lucky bastard." I grinned at him replying.  "Thanks a lot donk, now she'll
be out of action for a couple of weeks." He grinned at me saying as he
shook his head adding.  "Fuck Shane she's one hell of a girl."

   Allen had staid, still sitting on the side of the bed as I became aware
of him smiling asking as I watched Elroy wiped his deflated penis.  "You
enjoy yourself Allen?" he smiled nodding saying.  "I think we all came
together.  Boy those girls are something."

   When Kerry came back we were talking about the next few days.  I think
we wanted to stop here a few more days.  I agreed as I'm shore Rachel would
appreciate not having to ride on a bumpy trolley till her vagina was a
little recovered.

   She announced Rachel had gone to bed in my room while Sam had gone to
Allan's room after she attended to Rachel.

   That night Rachel slept spooned back into me as I had her head resting
on my arm holding her breasts.  She confessed to me that that was the best
sex she had ever had.  It was also the most painful one she ever had.  When
I took her cherry was not as painful as that.  I ground my slack erection
at her pucker going to sleep.

   We spent another three days there.  I think we all yearned to have a
house of our own.  This one unfortunately was too exposed and too close to
a city.

   On the fourth day we set out taking it easy.  The condition of the track
got better the further away from the city.  Rachel was sitting on the
folded blankets to cushion her rear.  If she was uncomfortable she didn't
complain.  I loved that girl.

   It was the second week when Rachel slept with Allen.  He was the first
one since Elroy.  He had promised to be as gentle as he could.  They had
slept a little away from us as I enjoyed Sam and Elroy Kerry.

   We were not in a hurry now.  We were doing two hundred clicks a week
which was about average but we took it easy.  We were into our forth week
when we took the detour into the power station siding.  We were stopped at
the front gate.  We could see they had power.  We didn't understand then
that even when shut down there was residual heat in the reactor system. 
Giving enough steam to run one small auxiliary generator to power the plant
on standby.

   I passed on a letter through the armed guards at the gate to the manager
from the operation centre.  When he heard our story and we heard his, how
they had survived all that time.  They had freezers for their killed meat
which help.

   We promised to give them our trolley as they needed to contact the
control centre and make a number of trips.  Well we were going to become
farmers, we didn't need it any more.

   Two men from the plant accompanied us as we continued our journey early
the next morning at a fast rate.  By late afternoon we were where we left
the track.  The men disappeared back the way they had come at a great rate
of knots.  They would be home and in their beds by midnight if they were
lucky.

   We buried what we couldn't carry wrapped in ground sheets.  When we were
down this way again we would pick it up and take it back.  We found a
decent farm shed with hay to camp for the night, digging a pit for a fire
heating our beef jerky and boil the Billy.  It was our second last night.

   I think we were all happy as we set out early the next morning.  Rachel
was on deck again still a little gun shy of Elroy.  Shore she would talk to
him, joke with him even cuddle with him.  Sleep with him, no not yet.  She
was close but not quite that close.

   She was with him in his arms at dusk, watching the beautiful blood red
sunset together with Sam and I plus Allan and Kerry as they cuddled
whispering in her ear.  I imagine he was telling her she was the best he
had ever had.  I imagine she was telling him that may be so but he wasn't
going to get a sniff.  I smiled.

   It was our last night, we were camping in their little hidden permanent
camp in the little gully under the overhang rock they used as a base for
collecting food.  Tomorrow we would be there.  We had not seen a sole since
leaving the railway.  Not even a camp fire out to the horizon near dusk
tonight last night or the night before.

   We were starting to feel safe again after the ambush.  I don't think any
of us slept soundly that night knowing our trek was at an end.  The rest of
our life was about to begin.  Yes we were still listed as reservists.  If
we were needed they knew at headquarters roughly where we could be found.

   Sleeping in after our restless night.  Having a lazy breakfast we packed
and set out on the last leg.  As usual Elroy was out scouting with Kerry
and Rachel.  I smiled.  She made an excellent scout.  I could catch
glimpses of them out ahead walking silently through the trees as they
surveyed the ground ahead.

   It was late afternoon when the lookout spotted us coming up the draw as
we drew her attention with our whistle giving the arrival signal.  She blew
her horn then we climbed up through the gully into the hidden valley.

   Hardly had we got our packs off as we were swamped with bodies.  I was
so happy to see Dawn, Jane and April who were clinging to me like glue.  I
had missed them, yes really.

   We spent the night relating the stories of our adventures.  Allen was
accepted immediately after his loss of Sissy and the child became known. 
Within three days he had a small following which pleased us.

   The news we brought of survivors on the east coast was taken well.  But
the news of their spread into the hills in large numbers was not.  It meant
the natural food resources was being put under pressure for many years to
come, perhaps a generation or more.

   I pointed out to the women because of this development we would be
settling in the vicinity as neighbours now, changing our plans after
finding a suitable place as our intended valley was overrun.

   It was good to be back in among our team.  The three had certainly not
been wasting time.  There were three completed cabins near the mine.  There
was another two being constructed further up the valley on the plateau
where the forest was being cleared on fertile ground.  Not to mention the
five women maybe six who were pregnant.

   Gerry, Andrew and Timothy were indeed settled in.  the women had formed
a pool having a raffle with their names being drawn to be allowed to become
pregnant.  Ingrid had indeed been guiding the direction of the group.

   No one questioned her leadership.  I think our presence was accepted as
a necessity for the heavy jobs as well as sperm donors plus keep the women
happy.  Ingrid would have been happy if all the women were bi but that was
a little too much to ask.  We treated her as an equal which made her happy
as we made a point of not interfere with her running of the valley.  Ingrid
herself was quite prepared to become pregnant for the cause.

   We settled into a routine in the next few weeks.  There was an
established hunting party for meat once a week.  The goat heard was
doubling and by the time the babies were due there should be enough for
meat and milk.

   Our first job was to go south to the Quachita National forest where a
group of five of our women had gone to join three men.  We were to check on
their well-being.  That would be a three hundred click round trip.  Taking
over three weeks if I and Elroy went alone using the roads.

   They were established by the big lake.  Our mission was to go down there
and check on them.  If the girls were being mistreated to sort things out
or take them away.  Ingrid looked us in the eye with her stony stare which
indicated her meaning.  She explained she had a bad feeling about the
situation down there.

   We were given the new cabin up on the plateau for our use.  The boys
were finishing the bunk room floor.  All our mattresses were laid out on
the kitchen floor to sleep.  I don't think any of us minded.  As Elroy and
I had our women around us.

   One of the tasks we had to complete was impregnate two women each from
the main bunch so the stock base was diverse as possible.  We had dinner
with the lucky candidates then took the first two out to two tents erected
where there was some privacy to do the deed.

   I don't know what it is with me.  When I find myself pushing into a worm
wet vagina with my mouth locked on my partner's, and my fingers rolling her
nipples I get lost in the senses and feelings of it all.  I get so lost I
don't surface till it's over after achieving a near perfect climax with
her.

   It came as a shock to me having sex with a girl I didn't love, to my
astonishment it didn't make any difference.  I always achieved the same
ending.  It made no difference to Elroy ploughing in and out of the girl in
the next tent on his way to his second climax when I was only half way
through my first.  That is how we each made love.  Elroy could no more try
to bring a girl gently to a climax as I could ram the shit out of them to
have mine.  I smiled working harder as the girl shuddered under me.

   Yes Elroy was snoring sound asleep as I was finishing my first orgasm
with my partner thinking about my second.  I can now understand why Kerry
went to bed with me.  I was totally different to Elroy.  Yes we made a good
team.

   Elroy had a second girl now, she had made friends with Kerry.  I smiled
as Kerry seemed to accept her prescience as Judy talked to her while giving
her a hand with the chores in the cabin.  Her love filled eyes following
Elroy wherever he was in sight.  I smiled at Kerry when her eyes met mine
as I shook my head.

   For some weird reason April kept hanging around me since we got back.  I
realised I had feelings for her now.  She would sit in my lap of a night
time after supper in front of the fire making it hard for the other girls
to get time with me.

   We found if I gave her a climax with my fingers in her bed before bed
time she would go to sleep so I could attend to my other duties.  I did
have Elroy's help taking up the slack for me the fuck.  He had slept with
all but April.  Sam was a regular with him and now Dawn since we were back.
Rachel still hasn't had a second round with him yet but I can see it's not
far off.

   Even April was in his lap while I was hugging Rachel in my arms.  April
had come to me finding my lap full.  Elroy who was sitting beside me
reached up holding her hand, before anyone realised she had slithered into
his lap and arms as she lay back against him.

   I had never seen Elroy so gentle.  He wrapped his arms around her arms
and upper body as he settled her in his lap.  I don't know if she thought
it was me but she lay back into his body as I watched Elroy slowly stroke
her nipples through her shirt with his fingers.

   Her eyes were suddenly fearful as she looked directly at me.  I nodded
my head as she seemed to calm, laying back against Elroy enjoying herself
as she did with me.  I think I realised April was more aware than she made
out some times.

   Now she had her hands over his as he was squeezing as well as rolling
her nipples through her shirt.  It was getting late near bed time now, an
hour after dark, the fire was getting low when I saw them move.  I realised
Elroy had his hand down in her open pants fingering her pussy.

   April began writhing around as his finger worked between her legs.  Not
long after April cried out then collapsed into his arms breathing heavy. 
She clung to him as he lifted her placing her in her bed to go to sleep
then he took Sam to bed with him as it was her turn.

   The next night I had Jane in my lap straight after dinner.  April looked
disappointed but took Elroy's hand again as he reached out.  Reluctantly
she settled into his lap.

   It was not long as I watched Elroy squeezing her breasts tweaking her
nipples.  She would groan sometimes looking at me to see if I approved
which I did with a smile.  Yes she could enjoy herself.  I grinned
inwardly, boy she didn't know what was coming.

   By arrangement the others were going to camp outside till Elroy was
finished with April.  Jane and I were going to stay to keep April calm.  It
was not long before Elroy had his hands in April's pants with them undone
wide as he rubbed her clitoris.

   April and I had fooled around a number of times like this so she wasn't
too perturbed as Elroy eased her trousers and pants down to her knees.  Now
she had her legs wide open at the top.

   Jane and I moved our bag over beside theirs then stripped naked.  Now
April was not embarrassed as we cuddled in again.  I watched Elroy pull
April's pants and undies down with her socks.  We had built the fire up so
it was really warm in the kitchen now as I smiled at April stroking her arm
to reassure her.

   Elroy had removed his clothes having sat down in the bag again pulling
April into his arms playfully as he tickled her undoing the buttons of her
shirt at the same time.  She didn't really need to wear a bra so she was
almost naked when her shirt came off now just her singlet remained.

   Jane and I were tickling each other too so April was comfortable as
Elroy had his hands up under her armpits pulling the garment off as Elroy
stopped tickling now kissing her naked breasts.

   I had put Jane in the bag with her legs wide open as I kissed my way
down her belly in between her crutch.  I had done this to April many times
now, she knew what to expect as Jane screamed with pleasure as I nipped her
clitoris pulling it with my teeth.  I could see April smiling as Elroy
stroked her clitoris as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he sat
her on the side of the bag like I had Jane with her legs open wide.

   Elroy was now licking her clitoris as she squealed with pleasure as she
rolled her head from side to side squealing as he sucked as if she didn't
want it to stop as I watched his fingers sliding up and down inside her
flooding vagina.

   April came hard on Elroy's mouth, I told him to just go straight into
her informing him she could take some punishment.  He went straight on
towards her second as Jane and I moved each side of April as I leaned in
over her chest from the side smothering her with kisses as she lay over the
top of the bag with her hips over the side exposed to Elroy.

   She was getting close to her second as I had bent her head as I kissed
her neck so she couldn't see Elroy between her legs as her second climax
was getting close.  I signaled to Elroy it was time as Jane put her hand on
her clitoris as Elroy lifted off working it hard as I kissed her
passionately as I felt Elroy position himself.

   April stiffened slightly as I sensed Elroy rubbing the head of his
erection up and down April's Venus slit.  I felt April's body move as Elroy
pushed in solid.  I felt April stiffen as I had my eyes open to see hers
fly open with surprise as I smothered her mouth with a passionate kiss.

   I felt her body shudder under me as Elroy jammed into April solidly as I
felt her stiffen in pain groaning with protest in my mouth as I kissed her
harder.  She gasped as I sensed Elroy withdrawing then he drove in hard as
April's body shuddered with the impact as his bloody great pole tried to
enter her canal depths.

   April tried to escape my grip as I held her tightly.  She screamed
louder as Elroy pushed hard into her again.  She was crying with rage as
she did when she was hurt as she began to fight.

   Then it happened as April arched her back as Elroy pushed again.  This
time she didn't scream as I looked up at her face.  I could see indecision
then she seemed to accept his thrust with a grunt as he drove his head into
her tight body again.

   She was waiting for his next thrust to my amazement.  I watched her
stiffen as she sensed Elroy tense to thrust again.  She gritted her teeth
as she thrust up as Elroy grunted thrusting harder.  "Oh fuck April." He
groaned as he was stroking longer.  Then he ploughed into April again.  Her
body was ridged under him.  As Elroy groaned again.  "Oh fuck." Which he
repeated over and over with every thrust as April's eyes were closed tight
with her jaw locked rigidly as her body arched as he pushed in and out of
her.

   April was climaxing on him continually.  I knew that would happen as I
smiled as her body did not move.  I slapped Elroy's arse to stop as he
looked around at me as I smiled then locked Aprils leg over his then the
other as he began moving again as I watched April push up onto him again.

   I had no idea where this was going as I watched her take his monster
trying to drive more into her deeper.  Even Elroy couldn't keep this up. 
As he got faster with firmer strokes.  April was lifting them of the bed as
Elroy drove deep into April as he held her tightly kissing her fiercely as
I watched his balls bouncing up and down as he spurted his seed into
April's body.

   April's body was trembling as she was still ridged under him as she
carried his full weight.  Slowly she collapsed as they were clinging to
each other.  They lay there for so long, I could see Elroy's sperm flooding
the sleeping bag between their legs.

   There was not a whimper from the pair as they lay in each others arms. I
could see both were still breathing till April settled then moved as Elroy
lifted as his weight was too much for her.

   She kept him locked into her groin as I think her body was still
rippling around him as she quietened.  Finally she released him as she
groaned as he slid out of her still half hard.  April was now a fully
fledged member of our family.

   Elroy and I were away by the end of the week.  We had decided not to
take Rachel or Kerry so we could keep up a fast over the ground pace.  We
were using roads which made it easier as we headed into the national park
by the end of the first week.  This park was huge, covering almost two
million acres according to our book map.

   We had a fair idea where to find the women.  From the map the lake
looked huge with inns and outs worse than the Norwegian Fjords.  There were
half a dozen smaller lakes around the north east with their edges lined
with boat sheds and cabins.

   Our map showed some of the lakes were heavily populated around the edges
with yellow and other lakes with none.  The big lake where we were headed
was populated in three or four spots.  We decided to head for the most
populated section which was closer to the road access first.

   Spending the first week observing the boat sheds and cabin's from the
forests opposite.  We could see no sign of the women and men combinations
described.  We were looking for five women and three men.  One of the women
was very short and dumpy we couldn't miss her according to Ingrid.

   Moving on to the next cluster of cabins with boat sheds on the south
side.  for such a big lake it wasn't exploited for recreation in the past
like some of the smaller lakes.

   We spent another few days watching without exposing ourselves.  We were
getting low on food.  Tying a couple of fallen logs together as a crude
raft we fished of a night.  There seemed to be an abundant of fish
available.

   Seeing a number of families and groups settled in where there was
available accommodation.  Not the people we were looking for though.  There
were families and groups with young children which ruled them out as the
ones.

   Working our way around the lake in an anticlockwise direction.  The map
was telling us there was little population in this direction.  After three
days walking I was getting worried we had gone in the wrong direction. 
There was only one spot on an inlet marked in faint yellow on the south
east corner taking us a week to walk the shore line back in the trees.

   The spot was marked as a fish nursery, thinking it worth a try.  We
arrived about noon establishing an observation post two hundred and fifty
meters to the south east of the main cabin across an inlet which we could
see was occupied as there was smoke coming from the chimney.  There was
activity around the cabin then down on the other shoreline opposite our
position on a side inlet.

   Hitting the jackpot.  There was a very pregnant short dumpy girl hanging
out washing on the line in the yard.  We could see two men working on the
shoreline just out of our sight on the right inlet.  We realised we would
have to move position tonight to the other side of the inlet so we could
see what was going on around the boat shed and shoreline out the back where
the two men were working.

   During the afternoon we observed four of the five women we were looking
for.  Their descriptions matching the ones Ingrid had described to us. 
That night we would move our position.

   Late in the afternoon a third man came out of the cabin staggering as if
drunk.  We observed him stagger out into the yard with two women in pursuit
arguing with him.  We could hear them from our position.  We looked at each
other as Elroy said.  "We'll get closer tonight." We watched as the big guy
staggered around the back to the boat shed where shortly a small row boat
left the shed side working its way out of the inlet out towards the main
lake body.  He didn't go too far out before he tied up to a floating
anchored fish pen, starting fishing, as we hankered down waiting for night
fall.

   The fisherman returned on dusk after we observed him cleaning fish in
the boat throwing scraps into the fish pen.  Eventually emerging with a
bucket.  Our position was not perfect as we could not see all that was
going on around the cabins or boat shed.  We were going to moved right out
around to the point across the inlet on the west side of the cabins where
we decided we could observe most that went on around the cabins and boat
shed.

   Moon-rise was not going to happen till about midnight.  About nine we
slowly made our way back out to the main south ridge while it was dark,
then following it north west in the pitch dark finding our way with our
night vision goggles.  It was about four clicks right round to move our
position one hundred meters but it gave us a chance to inspect the small
little spit of land and cabins close up plus the boat shed out the back
before we moved on.

   There was a still in the small tool shed out the back, with little room
for tools as the place was packed with bottles and jars.  We went on to the
boat shed where there were two boats.  One a large work boat that was up on
blocks and looked like it hadn't been used for ages.  The other was the
dingy about twelve foot long seating five but comfortable with two, as it
sat up in the air on davits.

   We then moved south down the access road which was now used for foot
traffic.  Two hundred meters we turned west making our way through the
forest into the gully then up onto the next rise where we turned north to
make our way out along the headland jutting out into the lake which brought
us opposite the cabins about a hundred and fifty meters across on our
right.

   The moon was up now as we could see well enough without the goggles.  We
found a suitable spot closer to the shore line than we would have liked in
a depression between two trees.  We dragged an old dead log at right angles
between the trees than scalloped the earth out so we could lay on the
ground behind peering underneath the log across the inlet a hundred meters
away.  We used our rain coats to cover us as camouflage at our backs as we
settled down for the day.

   For all intents and purposes the families looked normal till about
midday when the third male appeared from the first cabin, looking worse for
wear.  Immediately he began arguing with the women working in the front
yard vegetable garden.  He disappeared back into the cottage then wasn't
seen for an hour until we sighted him out the back cutting wood for his
still.

   The other two men were out in the boat seeing to the fish cages,
anchoring a new one beside the others.  We could see them scooping fish out
of one cage into the new one.  It looked like they were feeding them the
scraps from the house before they left.

   It was an impressive setup.  They would have a continuous supply of
fish. There was a long net floating on buoys across the common narrow
entrance off the inlet out a little further from where we were looking out
from.  This would keep the stray fish that jumped out of the pens contained
in the inlets.

   With the substantial garden they were working around the cottage and
cabin it was easy to see how they were surviving.  The big guy was nowhere
in sight but there was smoke coming out the shack stove type chimney where
the still was.

   The two men were with the women in the garden all day.  just before dusk
they went out in the boat to one of the pens scooping fish into the boat.
they spent some time out there cleaning the fish, arriving back at the boat
house about half an hour before dark.

   The kitchen lamp was lit in the cottage as the woman were preparing
supper.  It was obvious they ate together being an economical way to
utilise their food.  we settled down to sleep when the light went out and
three went off to the other cabin.

   The next day it was obvious the big male spent the night in the shed
drinking.  the next afternoon when he surfaced there was a fight among the
three men.  He was a strong man still in his prime beating the two smaller
men.  He almost beat one senseless.  Elroy and I looked at each other as he
commented.  "Ingrid was right to be worried." I nodded adding.  "We got to
do something as I raised my rifle.  He shook his head adding.  "I'm working
on an idea, let me think it through first."

   We observed the group for the next two days.  Elroy explained what he
had in mind.  I thought it a good idea as we discussed different aspects of
the plan refining it.

   On the third day we put it into operation.  In the late afternoon when
an argument was in full swing out the back behind the tool shed among the
three males.  Donning our raincoats with the pockets full of stones to
weigh us down, we took the bamboo tubes we collected from a garden clump a
dozen clicks back the way we came in.  Entering the water heading to the
centre for the fish cages.

   We could breath all right through the tubes as we walked along the
bottom of the inlet.  I tell you I soon learnt to breath out through my
nose because the tubes were too long to breath in and out with.

   It was still early as we stumbled over old logs and branches on the
bottom making me grateful we had worn our boots and clothes.  The fish
cages loomed into view as we headed under.  I held Elroy's tube while he
removed his coat then slid up to the surface with his hands sliding up the
mooring lines.  I watched as he used his short tube from his belt to
breathe without surfacing, then it was my turn.

   Elroy began gesturing to me to join him as I felt him take both tubes as
I removed my coat taking one stone out of the pocket as I rose to the
surface sliding up the anchor weight rope.  "He's on his way." Elroy
whispered as I broke surface under the net float.  I peered round the pen
floats to see the boat making its way towards us with the big guy rowing.
We ducked under with our short tubes hiding in between the two nets of
adjacent pens.

   We could see the bottom of the boat hull making its way towards the pens
now, when it was about six meters away it tied up to one of the anchor
ropes of a pen.  We were waiting till he began scooping fish into the boat
when Elroy moved towards as I followed as we slipped around the outside of
the boat where he had his back to us as we reached up together to grab the
boat's gunnel with both hands together.

   I saw Elroy spit out his tube as I followed suite, as Elroy nodded I put
all my weight on the side of the boat as did Elroy as the boat rocked to
our side violently hearing a startled cry from the occupant as the movement
of the boat threw him back wards towards us as we both clambered onto the
gunnel of the boat with our combined body weight.

   Elroy reached up grabbing the back of his shirt collar as he staggered
back off balance falling, dragging him down hard onto the gunnel as I
grabbed the closest of his flailing arms holding him tightly, I aimed the
rock I was carrying at his head hitting him hard then dropped it into the
water.

   We dragged his limp body out over the gunnel side into the water with
hardly a splash.  Elroy took him under as I found one of the small floating
tubes thrusting it down towards Elroy.  He was waiting then water was blown
out as he began breathing while holding the body under water.

   I peered up over the gunnel of the boat to see if we had been observed.
All seemed quite at the cottage.  The shadows were now longer, being
difficult to see.  The stream of bubbles had stopped a minute or two now as
I felt the body start to move as Elroy began working it around to the bow
of the boat.  I began pulling on an arm to help as we maneuvered his inert
form around the boat to the cage side.

   Between the two of us we pushed it up over the pontoon logs into the
fish cage where the fish would gradually devour the corps.  We recovered
our two shorter bamboo tubes then ducked under pulling ourselves down the
heavy mooring ropes to find the concrete mooring block where we recovered
our ballasted raincoats slipping them on then blowing the water out of the
the longer bamboo tubes headed for shore as the inlet was now in deep
shadow near dark.



   There was no sign of life in the cottage for about an hour after we were
back in our observation post.  one of the men came out onto the porch
calling the fisherman with no reply.  There was a delay then.  "Come on you
drunken bum wake up." He projected very loudly in his direction then he
disappeared inside.

   It was two hours later when both men came down to the shore line in the
dark as two women stood on the porch.  They called and called with no
reply. Eventually they went inside then a couple went off to the other
cabin for the night.

   Daylight wasn't an hour old when there was movement around the cottage.
One of the men came down to the shore calling the fisherman.  Of course
there was no reply, he was busy feeding the fish.  The man went off to the
boat shed then appeared with a large truck or tractor tire inner tube
stripping his clothes off he paddled his way out to the boat and cages.

   He found the boat empty as he scrambled aboard.  He looked over into the
cages seeing the body then calling to them ashore.  When one of the women
came out he passed the news on which saw the five women and remaining man
assemble on the shore to receive the news their companion had died in a
drunken accident.

   Grinning to ourselves as we watched the goings on across the inlet.  No
one seemed real upset at his passing.  In fact he made no move to remove
his body from the cage, instead rowing ashore beaching the boat then spoke
to his companions.  We think they agreed to leave him out there as fish
food.  It was our opinion he was finally doing some good.

   We waited and watched for two days as life settled down in the little
community.  To us life went on as normal.  On the second day we watched as
the two men went out lifting the fish net to lift the fish to the surface
where the fish were scooped into the one cage with the body.  Now all the
fish would be fed.

   Deciding to move the third day.  We hiked out of the area where we shot
a buck.  We cut it up then walked back in with the meat.  We surprised the
little community as we arrived late afternoon explaining who we were.  When
they realised Ingrid had sent us we were accepted immediately by the women,
a little guarded by the men.  We declined their offer to stay in the bunk
house as we explained we were out looking for a suitable location to start
another community of our own.

   The fifth woman we had not seen till the other day we found had been
beaten around the face.  Then Elroy got upset drawing his side arm with the
two men in his sights, it was explained the man who had done the beating
had left them for good, he calmed down.  He issued the two men a warning.
If they so much as laid a finger on the women in anger he would come back
and kill them.

   The beaten woman was taken outside on her own as Elroy and I sat either
side of her on the front steps calming her then asked if she wished to
leave with us going back to Ingrid.  After a long pause she declined.  I
did ask her if she felt safe with the remaining men which she replied in
the affirmative, we took her inside.  The same offer was put to the
remaining women whom declined.  They must have felt safe in their present
environment with the two men.

   We did stay the night and the next.  Yes we stayed in the bunk house. 
Yes we were visited by the women of a night.

   We left on friendly terms with the men with the promise the women would
be treated better with the threat of a revisit unspoken.

   Elroy and I worked our way around the lake at a more leisurely pace
looking at the country as we traveled.  There was some mighty fine farming
country to the north of the lake.  Some settled some not.  Elroy and I had
decided where ever we settled we would settle together as we were brothers
and did not need to be spoken about.

   We made our way back north into the Arkansas River valley with its
fertile farm land.  I think we were both looking for something like the
valley the girls were in where we had some security.  If we didn't find
something down this way we would look along the Ozark.  There were
literally thousands of vacant farms in the area unfortunately most had
roads running right by with little or no security.  Some were occupied but
we didn't fancy such open living.

   Crossing the big river we headed back into the Ozarks.  Strange it felt
like home as we took the now familiar root into the hills.  I think we were
both looking forward to seeing the women again.  Spending the last night in
the camp with the overhanging rock.  We could see it had been used recently
by the girls out on a hunting party.  We discussed plans endlessly of what
we would do when we found a place and how we would set it up.  We both
vowed we would raid the older deserted farm houses for wood stoves for the
women with hot water coils for our cabins so the women didn't have to cook
on open fires.

   We would take the team with as many woman again, slinging a stove under
a couple of wooden poles, carrying the dam thing back to the mine.  We had
seen one in a mine adit way back at the beginning, not taken a lot of
notice.  Well I think that would be our next project.  Make life more
bearable if not comfortable for the women.

   Swamped we were, by our women when we entered the valley.  I must
confess it was beginning to feel like home.  Ingrid was pleased with the
outcome of our little foray to check on her women.  There would be another
trip next year to check on the progress of the fish farm.

   Elroy and I went out searching the surrounding valley's for a suitable
place to settle.  It made sense that if we were close by, Ingrid's group
could support us and we them.

   As it turned out instead of taking weeks to accomplish our task, it took
months.  We would go in a different direction every week.  The next valley
to the east was suitable but there was a road on the next ridge with
habitual residences in the form of a hunting lodge.  The lodge showed signs
of occupation recently.

   There was a valley a little north of the girls which looked promising
with a dead end road along the eastern ridge line with a four wheel drive
track leading down into the long valley below.  This valley had flatter
sections which could be farmed when cleared.  But the valley would be ideal
for raising goats.

   After almost six months we decided to try settling into the ridge cabin.
There was no cooking stove only a large pot bellied stove in the middle of
the cabin for warmth.  I can tell you it gets mighty cold up here in the
middle of winter.  Below zero some seasons as it was over a thousand meters
above sea level.

   Elroy had it all planned.  The first thing would be to build a watch
tower for our security.  There was a sharp knoll up the back a hundred
meters behind the cabin where most of the valley could be observed from six
meters up.

   We were going to plant trees across the intersection at the beginning of
the road with fallen trees to obscure the entrance which would be hard to
find once a table drain was dug across the entrance so it looked more
natural.

   Yes there were roads on the other ridges but all the best places had
roads leading to or by them.  We had made the decision to make a go of it.
Well we had a head start with a strong well built log cabin.  It would do
to sleep and shelter in as our mind set changed from hunter gatherers to
farmers.  We would run goats as a readily available food source.

   Our guns would be stored away as we went to work clearing the easier
parts of the land.  Being fortunate to have a ready supply of man and women
power from Ingrid's group.

   Another cabin would be started further down where it's sheltered better
from the elements where there is a fair sized flat with spring water close
by.  I sometimes think the decision was made for me as quite truthfully I
couldn't make up my mind.

   We had numerous trips down into the big valley.  On one occasion we went
in mass to recover wood stoves from abandon farmhouses that Elroy and I had
sussed out beforehand.  You see we had one of the coldest winters in living
memory that year.  It's marvelous how you can get motivated when your
freezing your arse off with the girls threatening no sex till their little
tushes were happy and warm.

   At the same time we recovered two water tanks.  We picked plastic tanks
being lighter rolling them back along the roads as we loaded a stove, one
each trip onto the cart with the girls carrying the removable parts.

   There were very few people settling up in the hills.  Down in the big
valley where it was fertile flat ground, survivors were moving in.  I don't
think anyone of us fancied living down in the open without security and
quite happy to live back in the hills.

   A year on, we have a thriving goat herd and just as thriving flock of
chooks.  Elroy discovered a small flock running wild in the foothills while
out hunting with Kerry and Rachel.  He left the girls keep an eye on them
as he heading back to the hidden valley to round up all hands for a chook
safari.

   They set up the camouflage nets in a little gully then all hands rounded
up the chooks, herding most of them in behind the nets.  Now both
communities boast a sizable flock.

   We then organised a scavenge party to hunt for chicken wire and pickets
to construct chicken coops.  We have a plentiful supply of eggs.  We
surmise someone must have housed them in a shed initially, hand feeding
them through the worst of the radiation clouds then for some reason let
them go or they escaped and were never rounded up.  I might remind you this
state was second to none producing broilers for the market before the war.

   We have heard of a crowd down near the border having got an oil well
going with steam propulsion.  Scuttlebutt has it they have built a crude
refinery and producing kerosene for oil lamps.  Elroy is going down there
shortly to see what is needed to trade with them.  We are modifying the
cart to carry a two hundred liter oil drum.

   Being a farmer is bloody hard work.  Tilling the ground to plant crops
takes a lot of time.  Cutting out new ground leveling off getting rid of
roots from the preceding trees makes you appreciate the old days in the
military where a fifty click root march was a breeze.  But then we were all
a lot younger.

   The girls are good.  They work side by side with the men, just as hard.
Some of them are pregnant.  But I mentioned that as Dawn my second cuddles
into my back with her arms around my neck down my chest as I sit there with
tears running down my face.  Just too much has happened to get where we are
today.

   Sam has given me another boy.  We won't know if it's mine or Elroy's for
a few days.  What does it matter, as long as it's healthy and strong to
survive the harsh life it will have to lead to survive in the future.

   Judy, Elroy's second gave berth the week before last.  It was a girl. 
He has two girls and a boy now.  I'm lagging behind by one which gives him
great pleasure to remind me on occasions.

   I'm thinking I might take a break, accompanying Elroy when he goes down
south.  It will be like old times just him and me.  The last time we were
out there were vast improvements.  There was land being worked by survivors
now at almost every turn.  Neighbour is helping neighbour with seeds and
livestock.

   To see a cow in a paddock deemed to be a miracle.  I mean horses is one
thing but a cow.  How the hell did they survive.  Talking about horses we
are looking for a plough horse.  We hear there's a market set up in the
town of Ozark having the only bridge to the south side, occasionally there
are asses for sale we understand.  I hear their real good plough animals in
difficult ground.

   Yes we sound like farmers.  I think we both have got the military out of
our systems.  Once you're a father your life changes.  Mind you I would not
look forward to setting out to travel from one side of the country to the
other again, I like sleeping on a flock mattress of a night cuddled up to a
warm bum.  I think a trip down to the boarder and back is far enough these
days thank you very much...  Well?

   We might take Rachel.  She is the only one either not pregnant or with a
baby, although by the time she gets back she will be.  I grin to myself, as
Dawn hands me a mug of pine needle tea.  I do miss sugar and salt but we're
surviving.  Don't get me wrong we have carrots and beat for their salt plus
we boil hickory roots as we have a heap of young ones growing just for the
salt in their roots.

   Elroy has discovered a wild hive of bees.  He is currently making a hive
box from the survivors manual.  If he can get one going we can expand the
hives to trade for other foods and tools along with the chooks and goats.
Maybe we can get enough for a plough horse.

   Elroy is a fair hand at carpentry.  He is talking about setting up a saw
pit shortly to saw logs into planks.  He has an idea of making bee hives
for sale.  He also knows how to make wooden barrels, being taught as a
teenager.

   Next winter I have in the back of my mind to borrow the hand trolley and
trailer from the power station.  I can see we will be running short of
boots next year.  Both Elroy and my boots have seen better days.  There's
still a whole swag of stuff in those buried fuel pods we could use,
especially ammo and M4's.  It will be bloody freezing out on the higher
plains in the middle of winter.  Maybe I might leave it till after the
following spring planting...

   I look across at Elroy on the other side of the kitchen table, sitting
there on the bench seat, bottle feeding his latest in his arms.  I grin at
him as he looks back at me with that expression he knows I'm cooking up
something saying.  "What?" With that look in his eye.  I'll have to talk to
Gerry, Andrew and Tim, next time there over with their wives and kids.

   *