Granny B changed channels several times and then stopped when she heard. “ … it was a solar flare.”
“Hell! No! It was the Chicoms. They tried to wipe us out with the damned Covid back in 2020 and just tried to finish the job.”
“You idiots are wasting our time. No one knows what happened. Period! Case closed! The US Government has a broadcast every evening at …” Static noise filled the air and then a sharp whistle. “ … on your FM dial to listen to … “ More static. “is now our president.”
“Someone is intentionally blocking the transmission of the government’s program channel. They’re probably blocking the program,” Jackie said.
Rick said, “I’ve tried the entire FM range on my radio back at the ranch, and have only heard a few crackpot stations and looped messages from the last minutes before the lights went out.”
Tom asked, “Have you tried the radio lately?”
“No.”
Tom wondered what had happened to the country he’d loved so dearly. “Let’s try FM and AM radio again.”
Kate looked at Tom. “What can a destroyed government do for us?”
Tom nodded. “I was thinking the same thoughts. I want to know what happened, and I want to think the government has started to rebuild the country. However, there isn’t much the government can do to make life better for us in Oregon's hills and mountains. I don’t think a convoy will show up to pass out food and arrest the thugs, criminals, and new dictators.”
The others paused and reflected on Tom’s words. Kate moved closer to her husband. “I agree with Tom. We need to keep making our own lives better and maybe help others when possible. Let’s challenge ourselves to find ways to help others improve their lives without placing ours in harm’s way.”
Granny B applauded the comments. “We probably have it made compared to most folks in our country. We’ve been preparing for this disaster for over thirty years and haven’t missed a meal. The rub is staying safe and anonymous while helping others. We can’t take in every Tom, Dick, and Harry who comes along. Maybe we can spread our wisdom while planting supplies and weapons to enable others to fight and survive.”
Rick chuckled. “Kinda sorta like a guerilla insurrection?”
Tom nodded and looked at Granny B. “Granny, you could educate people while Rick and I work with the others to arm and feed the ones willing to fight.”
Granny B looked confused as her brow wrinkled. “Ya mean teach classes?”
“No! Give short bursts of training over the radio. Nothing long enough to allow anyone to get a fix on our location. Maybe we could find a way to make copies of survival skills and distribute them,” said Tom.
Kate rubbed her hands together as Tom spoke. Eager to talk, she said, “Let’s get back to the ranch and get the others’ input. I think we can come up with several things to make people’s lives better. Anyway … I hope we can.”
The Ranch
Tom asked Alice and June to prepare supper while his team cleaned up and rested from their trip. He asked everyone to hold their questions until after supper. Tom didn’t want to be explaining how Granny B killed several scumbags with poison while his friends were eating. He patiently waited until they cleared the table and the dishes had been washed before bringing up the Hogan gang.
Tom gave an overview and then asked his grandma to tell her story. At first, everyone had a grim look on their faces, which quickly turned into a smirk and then outright laughter. They laughed the loudest when Granny B told them the rustlers' leader crashed into one of his sons while both were doing the outhouse two-step and didn’t make it to the shitter in time.
A short while later, Tom brought up the idea of helping other people to his friends. The others had barely caught their breath from laughing too hard when Kate stood up. “We’ve all come to the realization that fighting and killing evil people is part of our new way of life. Try as we may, we can’t stop bad people from doing bad things. We can eliminate them when they run afoul of our team, but can’t make them better people. Perhaps we can help some people from going to the dark side by teaching them how to survive, find food, and grow food.”
Tom broke in before the group discussion began. “We plan to use shortwave radio to broadcast segments aimed at helping folks improve their lot in life. Each survival tip will have to be only a few minutes long to keep us from being found. Now, give me your thoughts.”
As expected, Tom heard a variety of ideas and wrote them in his logbook. “I’ll write up everything you bring to the discussion, and then we’ll divide the ideas into groups of like items.”
Granny B had edible and poisonous plants covered. Rick had weapons, Greta pushed for raising rabbits, and the others volunteered where they were needed. Tom decided he’d be the coordinator and keep everyone on target.
The initial plan was to have Granny B give the edible and nonedible plant training over the radio to provide the others with time to develop several training tips. The radio broadcast was named Granny B’s Survival Tips. The team had their assignments and worked on their own broadcasts in their spare time.
Everyone was excited about the upcoming broadcasts and helping people. However, Tom had to slow them down by reminding them they still had a full day’s work to do at the ranch and the new cave location. “Sorry, but you have to work on the survival tips in your spare time. We have to run the ranch and prepare for winter.”
“Tom’s right. Winter will be our first real test since
