The President nodded, “Thank God for little miracles. If conditions here get clear enough maybe we can move our people south, there must be a lot of empty space we can build up.”
No one said a word. The commanding general wondered if the President was thinking of invading and taking over one or two South American countries. He decided he better contact a few of his friends in service and tip them off they should be reviewing the militaries in the south. Someone in the ‘pit’ said, “Hell, we could cross into Mexico like they’ve been crossing into America. We’ll turn the tables on them.”
A group of others couldn’t help themselves, they laughed. Then they heard the President laugh and say, “That might not be a bad idea. General, other then the troops assigned to assist our people and the Canadians to move south, send a message to the other commanders to look into leading an incursion into Mexico.”
“Sir, how large of an incursion?”
“A large one.”
“Yes, sir.”
Chapter 19
As the Coats settled into their new Suburban, Jon noticed there were radios hanging under the dash and there was a rifle rack mounted against the passenger transmission tunnel. “This must have belonged to a police department.”
Erin shook the rack, “What’s this?”
“Rifle rack, let’s see if our shotgun or one of the rifles the army gave us fits.” Erin tried each into the rack, “They all fit, which do you want to keep up front?”
“Let’s keep the shotgun and the M4s in the rear.”
Frank spoke up, “Excuse me Mr. Coats, but I’m a very good shot with the M4. I’ve been using one for two years. I know how to shoot and clean one.”
“Well, in that case Frank, you get to be in charge of one of the M4s. Trinity is also a good shot so she gets to hold onto another.” Erin whispered to Jon, “That ought to keep their hands off each other.”
Jon smiled and nodded. He looked in the rear-view mirror and saw the twinkle in the two teens’ eyes. He whispered to Erin, “I think our little girl has her first real boyfriend.”
Frank looked at the line of vehicles, “Mr. Coats what are those huge tank-like vehicles with snowplows on them? I’ve never seen them before.”
“Those are army tanks, I don’t know what type. I’m sure Trinity told you we’re from Canada. We don’t have tanks like those. I don’t even know if our army had any tanks. They plow the roads and we drive in a long convoy.”
“Wow. I haven’t been out of the caves in over two years. Is everything like what I’m seeing, covered in snow?”
Jon laughed, “Yes. Everything is buried under snow and ice. When the wind whips up it hurts when it touches exposed skin. You have to be very careful outside. You’re wearing arctic uniforms developed by the States, I mean, you Americans, to be worn in the Arctic and in this temperature. The conditions will cause frostbite on exposed skin in less than two minutes so don’t open the window without me telling you to. Don’t go outside without covering your face and wearing the gloves you were given.”
“Wow. I didn’t realize it was that bad.”
“It is and it’s getting worse. The snow cover reflects whatever sunlight is making it to the ground back to space. We haven’t seen it above freezing for years. We’re going to see snowdrifts that are over twenty feet deep.”
“That’s crazy. I’m glad we had the caves.”
“How did that happen/ You know, all of you being in them?”
“We all lived in a small subdivision. Mr. Bear was like the leader of the families. He was the loudest, but was also usually right. He warned us to stock up on everything we could before the President announced we should. He told us he worked in the mines before they were closed. He knew about them. He made sure they were safe and, at night, and over every weekend, he led our parents to cut through the walls to create a little subdivision inside of them. He led us into the caves just when the snow began falling. He told us the weather would change in two years, so why should we leave. We boarded up our homes, locked them, and we moved inside the mine. Then after most everyone else in the area left, he led our parents on what he called search and grab runs where they broke into stores and took everything he told us to. He also found a way to break into a National Guard armory which gave us the weapons we used to keep the raiders at bay.”
“What do you mean raiders?”
“Outlaws on snowmobiles and trucks that are jacked up with huge tires wrapped in chains. They were also taking anything not nailed down. We fought them a few times, but our M4s out shot their shotguns. Most were armed with handguns and shotguns, but a few had AR type rifles. Ours were full auto. We drove them off and they reached an agreement with Mr. Bear which areas were ours and which they could have.
“Then, the really heavy snows came and the ice storms. My parents went out with a small group and didn’t return. They weren’t the only ones. Many didn’t return. Mr. Bear told me I’d be okay. I lived in a bunk room with other teens who’d lost their parents. We helped out in the complex, but as the weather got worse, the only ones who left the complex were Mr. Bear and his sons. Sometimes he
