American Exit Strategy: Book 1 (29 page)

Normally, Christmas night was a time for just relaxing. Not this year. Everyone was chipping in to get the house ready for the wedding the next day. Janice was straightening up the house. Karen was in charge of the cake. Matt was making the appetizers for the reception. Adam and Wesley were helping Matt, but doing more sampling than production. Shelly was trying on her dress for Mandy and Carissa.

The day of the wedding came. About 20 people from the church the Bairs attended came. Shelly's mother and father also came.

Shelly's parents brought her a couple of small Christmas gifts. Her mother, Mrs. Simpson, took her for a walk prior to the ceremony.

"Shelly," Mrs. Simpson began "Your father and I want you to be happy, but I hope you know what you are doing. If you change your mind, you can come back home with us tonight."

"Mom," Shelly replied "I love Wes."

Mrs. Simpson continued "I know you do dear, but your father and I have the feeling that you’re doing this because of all this end of the world nonsense. I know that Wes and his family think things are going to get worse, but they are a bit pessimistic. Once Anthony Howe takes office, everything will get back to normal. It always does. People thought the end of the world would happen in 2000. They had some idea that all the computers were going to shut down and we were going to start living in caves. We just want you to think for yourself. Be rational."

"I am being rational Mom." Shelly retorted "You and Dad are in denial. Wes didn't convince me things are going to get worse. It’s just common sense. Mom, there are no more Walmarts, we are on a five gallon a week gas ration and people couldn't afford more than five gallons a week anyway. Social Security has been cut by 15%, the dollar is crashing, cities are burning to the ground or being taken over by gangs, and people are dying just like Paul Randal predicted."

"Paul Randal triggered a lot of this Shelly. He caused a massive panic and that’s what set all of this off." Mrs. Simpson said. "Now he’s inciting insurrection against the government. That man is a terrorist. Please tell me you are not getting involved in that cult."

"Mom, you can't be serious. Paul Randall, a terrorist? Where did you get that?” Shelly quizzed.

"All of the news channels are saying he’s a terrorist. The man is trying to start a civil war. We have enough trouble without Paul Randall starting another war." Mrs. Simpson said.

"You are the one who need s to think for yourself. Those are the same news channels who have been telling you everything is going to be fine. You and Dad need to get out of Louisville while you still can." Shelly said.

"Well, I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree." Mrs. Simpson said. "But just promise me that if Wes or his family start taking sides with Paul Randall, you will come home. We will come pick you up. Just call us."

Shelly didn't say anything else. She knew it would just lead to more arguing. She returned to her side of the house. Her and Wes had been kept apart to avoid seeing each other before the wedding. Janice had insisted on it.

Shelly ran into Adam. "Are you ready?" Adam asked.

"Hair and makeup are all set, I just have to put my dress on." Shelly replied.

"I can see that. You look stunning, but I was refereeing to mentally and emotionally." Adam said.

"Absolutely!" Shelly exclaimed.

"All right then."Adam said. He had not been ready for such a convincing response. "We are sure ready to have you as part of our family."

"Thanks, that means so much to me." Shelly said.

"Oh, and a heads up, I may have made your father mad. Wes had warned me not to talk about guns and such, but we got into what I thought was a civil discussion about politics, and he walked away." Adam said. "Sorry, I didn't' mean to cause any friction for you today."

"Don't even think about it anymore." Shelly said. "I know it wasn't your fault. They believe what they want to believe."

Adam went to get dressed and Shelly finished getting ready as well. Her father came into the room after she was dressed. He gave her a big hug and started to repeat a similar lecture to what she had just received from her mom.

Shelly stopped him and said "Dad, we have been trying to change each other's minds for a couple of years now. Today, can we just accept each other and enjoy the day?"

Mr. Simpson agreed and he walked out to the yard where an archway was set up where they would exchange vows. Chairs were lined up on either side of the aisle. The archway way decorated with pine boughs and natural mistletoe that Wesley had shot out of the tree tops.

It looked little more like Christmas than a wedding, but there were no flower shops still open. Imported flowers were a thing of the past already. They had to work with what they had. It was a chilly 42 degrees outside where the wedding was but the sun was bright and everyone was warm from being inside around the fireplace prior to the ceremony.

Adam officiated the wedding. No formal registration was made with the courthouse. As far as they were concerned, a wedding was a promise between two people and God. Those who attended were the witnesses. In the mind of Wesley and Shelly, the government should have never been involved in marriage certificates. Like so many other areas of life where the government had interjected themselves, a wedding was none of their business.

During the reception, Mr. and Mrs. Simpson kept to themselves. Adam tried to be friendly, but he could tell they weren't interested in small talk.

Adam and Matt walked around to the barn with a couple of the guys from church that had shown up for the wedding. Matt had met Eddie Cooper and Frank Johnson at church, but only in passing.

Adam said to Matt "Frank here is the commander of the Eastern Kentucky Liberty Militia."

Matt replied "OK, I remember you were telling me you trained with them a few times."

Adam said "Maybe a little more than a few. We were always on the phone, so I didn't like to say much. I know 'militia' is a keyword for the NSA Prism program. The entire conversation gets stored in the NSA mega computer in Utah for review once certain keywords trigger the conversation."

Eddie added "Adam was our tactical commander because of his experience as a Marine in the sandbox."

Frank said "We’re going to start training two days a week if you would be interested. When I say two days, I mean 48 hours. Sleeping out in the cold and getting ready for whatever is coming. It makes more sense than training four or five days a week for a few hours at a time. Everyone has a family and things to do. This allows them to do both until the time comes to make a stand."

"I am going to talk it over with my wife before I give you a commitment, but I am definitely interested." Matt said. "How many guys are we talking about?"

Frank said "We were 85 in November. We took off the month of December for Christmas and New Year’s. We’re going to start back up on January 2nd. So far we’re looking at around 400 men with the old guys and new recruits."

"I guess people are motivated now." Matt said.

"Yes" Frank said "But we have to be more careful than ever who we discuss the militia with now."

"Why is that?" Matt asked. "The Second Amendment prescribes the need of the militia. I would argue along the same lines as Paul Randall; it’s not about a right. I think the Second Amendment was spelling out a duty of the citizen to join a militia."

"I would agree with you" Frank said. "But the government has convinced the Tories that the Bill of Rights is an obsolete document."

"What are Tories?" Matt asked.

Eddie answered "In the American Revolution, the Tories were the colonists who were loyal to the crown."

Adam said "We like the term because it's so descriptive of our modern loyalists and because it's unrecognizable to most of them. Very few of them have any knowledge of history beyond 1960."

"If they did, they wouldn't be Tories." Eddie said.

The men all laughed. They continued to fill Matt in on what level of training they had done up to this point and what type of training they intended to begin in January.

Meetings like these were going on all over the country. Brothers, cousins, friends, church congregations and coworkers were spreading the word.  A decentralized militia was swelling. The people in the heartland of America were in a much better position than those in the cities. They were prepared for the worst. They did not want war nor did they seek violence, but if it was to be shoved into their lap, they would meet their aggressors with valiant effort.

Matt and Karen went home to get Miss Mae and came back to Adam's to stay for a few days. They gave their house to the newlyweds so they could have a simple honeymoon. Karen did her best to fix up the house and put out some nice candles and things for Wes and Shelly.

Adam offered to let Shelly's parents stay the night before heading back to Louisville. They refused and headed home. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson never arrived home and no one ever heard from them again.

CHAPTER 41

"To contract new debts is not the way to pay old ones."

-George Washington

Anthony Howe peered out the window of the New York Governor's Mansion in Albany. The snow was a blanket of purity over the grounds. He thought of the snow as a symbol of a clean start to the new year. Christmas was gone now, but looking out the window of the opulent home into the snow reminded him of the Christmas carol, "Good King Wenceslas". It was rather like that. "I am something of a king." he thought to himself. "In just over two weeks, I will go from being King of New York to being King of America."

He had hoped and dreamed of someday being King of The World. "I suppose that dream has been beaten into submission and snatched from my palm." he muttered under his breath.

Despite the lies he told the press, Howe knew there was no way out of this mess. He had seen the intricacy of the debt. He knew the true cost of the wars and of the precious dependants of the state that had kept his party in power for so long.

The snow and brutal cold weather in the North had calmed much of the violent riots. Although, the news stories of theft and murder for goods and property kept rolling in. As he considered the chaos being reported in the major cities, he thought perhaps Paul Randall could be right about the die off. If he was right about the majority of the die offs being in the major population centers, he would have to devise another method of retaining power besides the election. 95% of the counties that had voted for him were in large metropolitan areas.

Howe recalled the conversation with Al Mohammad from the New Years Eve party the night before.

"Howe" the president had said "I’m not going to sugar coat this. The Treasury is going to be tapped out on February 1st. You are going to have to hit the ground running. You will have 10 days after the inauguration to secure another loan from the IMF. I think you learned your lesson, but don't try to dictate terms with them. They are short on funds and short on temper.

You are lucky you have someone like me to coach you through this thing. When I came into office, I got a note and a briefing from my staff. "

Howe had told the president that his continued "coaching" wouldn't  be necessary after the inauguration.

The president insisted in such a way to let Howe know that he wasn't taking "no" for an answer. He was very polite about it, but with a tone that told Howe if he had to threaten Howe again with the information he was holding, it wouldn't be pretty.

Howe contemplated in his mind how he might find a permanent solution for this present conundrum, but he dare not even murmur it with his lips. Perhaps an accident or maybe an assassination intended to take his own life would befall Al Mohammad. That would certainly remove all suspicion of his involvement.

There were plenty of positions of power to be awarded to those who would prove their loyalty to Howe's throne. He would just have to be very careful about who he enlisted. Anyone who would not kill for him was undeserving of a seat at the table.

His mind wandered back to the issue of the collapse at hand. Unemployment was now well above 30%, even with the creative calculations of the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Howe knew that number was just to instill a sense of false hope. The real number was closer to 70%. Inflation on consumer staples had now surpassed 100% just since the election.

Howe knew the IMF would ask for a bail in, if America was to secure more credit. There was no other option. He had to keep the country running at any cost.

What other assets did the country hold? What else could the US Federal Government seize to keep the Titanic afloat for one more month?

FDR had bought the people’s gold in the 1930's. Perhaps he could do that. He could exchange an emergency issue of Treasury bonds that paid the market rate for privately held gold. It might be difficult to get the small holder to turn in his gold, but there were plenty of gold funds and gold IRAs to raid. Besides raising money, gold confiscation would be a slap in Paul Randall’s face. The 007 traders could suppress the price until the exchange was made, then push the price back up.

401k plans were also fair game. After all, it was untaxed money. A simple emergency rule change would allow him to exchange them for more government bonds. And Howe Clancy could facilitate it all for a reasonable fee.

Howe said to himself "This is a bigger job than I signed up for. But if anyone can do this, it is me. When the smoke clears, Howe Clancy will emerge as the most influential company in the world. Then, I will be the de facto King of The World."

Keep watch for
American Meltdown, Book Two in the Economic Collapse Chronicles
.