Forgotten Forbidden America:: Patriots Reborn (35 page)

“We have a chance,” she said solemnly. “We want the right to live our life as we want, and that is worth fighting for.”

“I’m not saying we shouldn’t fight, but Nancy, seven to one.”

“Nelson, America has faced those odds before,” Gerald said as Devin yelled at the bubbles. “There weren’t even two and a half million people here in the colonies when the war started with Britain. They were a super power with a home population of ten million, not including their other colonies. Like George Washington said when the British landed a thirty thousand man army, ‘Only a protracted war will see us through.’ He knew they had the numbers.”

“Dude,” Nelson said, holding up his hands. “Don’t even go there. We had the second super power on our side: France. Gerald, most of the industry is in the Federal states under their control. We can’t even call another super power for aid.”

Gerald waited until Devin tired out some from splashing to continue. “Nelson, this war will decide the fate of the world. If the feds win, the freedom of the individual will forever be gone. The families with the money and power will decide the fate of all. You’re talking like we should just lie down and take it dry up the poop chute.”

Feeling exhausted, Nelson slumped back against the hot tub. “No, I just didn’t want to pass this war on to my kids.”

“Nelson, not only us but our parents and grandparents made the mistakes we are now paying for. It can’t be fixed rapidly because it was broken over time.”

Nodding, Nelson stood up. “Yeah, that’s what I don’t like. The other side is using terror tactics to force compliance, and we aren’t.”

As Nelson moved to get out, Gerald nodded. “That is freedom: the right to choose what to fight for. Do I agree with it all the time? No. But I don’t think it’s right to force people to fight unless they want it.”

“Yes, it’s those that wished not to fight and gave our rights away that started this shit.”

“Nelson, you’re not naïve. Our government has done some evil shit to its own people without cause or punishment. Name one federal agent that has ever been prosecuted for crimes against the population. That’s not America. That’s not what is written on the Declaration of Independence or Constitution. That is those sitting in government. Remember, money buys votes, and only those with money can influence an election.”

Nelson climbed out, grabbing a towel and drying off. “Yes, and money and power will always bust the little man who just wants to live his life with his family.”

“That may be true, but our founding fathers put in a catch: the right to keep and bear arms. That is the only reason we all aren’t in a camp now,” Gerald said as Devin started a fresh attack.

“Yeah, at least we can fight a war for the next decade to decide how this will turn out,” Nelson said, grabbing his gear and walking out.

After Nelson left, everyone turned to Michelle. “What? I don’t know where the hell that came from,” she snapped, getting up.

“Is he tired?” Gerald asked as he stood, which pissed Devin off big time.

“He just slept fourteen hours,” Michelle said, climbing out.

Matt took Mike from Ashley as he stood to get out. “Maybe he needs some more rest.”

Drying off, Michelle shook her head. “No, he’s not tired. I’ll talk to him and find out. He was fine when he woke up. Granted, I hit him with the marshmallows and midget.” Everyone stopped what they were doing and just stared at her, trying to figure that one out.

She looked up and saw the stares. “I don’t know, so don’t ask. He was fine till I told him—” Michelle stopped then dropped her towel. “Son of a bitch,” she said and ran out.

Matt grabbed a towel and helped Gerald dry the floor around the hot tub. “Midget and marshmallows?” he asked, glancing over at Gerald.

“Dude, it has to be some type of married thing,” Gerald said, grabbing another towel, and Matt shook his head.

“Then I missed something.”

***

Michelle ran to the cabin, bursting through the door and freaking the dogs out. Zeus and Hera looked around for something to attack. She ran back to the bedroom and found Nelson’s workout clothes in the dirty laundry basket. “How can men change that fast?” she cried out, ripping her workout clothes off and getting dressed.

Finally dressed, Michelle ran into the house and found Nellie and the girls working on breakfast. “Where’s Nelson?” she asked, buckling her vest up.

Nellie looked up. “Haven’t seen him this morning, dear.”

“I just saw him go in the machine shop,” Bernard said, walking in from the living room. “He in trouble?”

“Don’t know yet,” Michelle said, walking out of the kitchen. Stepping outside, Michelle heard noise coming from the machine shop. She walked over and down the ramp to the buried room and almost pushed the door off its hinges.

She found Nelson standing at a bench, using an electric saw to cut a quarter-inch metal rod in three-inch-long pieces. “Hey,” she called out, walking over. Nelson turned the saw off and set it on the table as she walked around him.

“What upset you about others going for supplies? I know you’re not mad because you didn’t go. That’s not you,” Michelle said, studying Nelson’s face. “Did they forget something you would’ve hunted for?”

“No,” Nelson said, picking up the dozens of three-inch-long metal rods, tossing them in a barrel that was halfway full of small metal rods.

Seeing Nelson wouldn’t look at her, Michelle stepped in front of him. “You’re acting weird. You’ve always known the idiots outnumber us. We screwed survival of the fittest long ago with modern medicine, stupid laws, and socialist programs,” she said, watching his face but not seeing a reaction. “It’s something about supplies, I know.”

Letting out a long sigh, Nelson finally looked up at her. “You’ve known me entirely too long and are way too smart.”

“Nelson, we have enough shit to last us two lifetimes here.”

Smiling, Nelson reached over and patted her hand. “Close but no cigar,” he said, grabbing her under her arms and picking her up then setting her on the table. “What have I always said wins wars?”

“Training, commitment, teamwork, and supplies,” she answered. “Nelson, we have all that. They may have more manpower, but that’s it. Will you just tell me please? I’m not in the mood to decipher male rationality.”

“I always tell you that we need more because there won’t be any more, right?” He asked, and Michelle nodded. “The feds understand that very well. They are emptying the countryside of the one thing they can control: supplies. Now Gerald and even you see we need massive amounts of shit if we are to fight this war and have a chance to win.”

“Well, you should be happy,” Michelle said. “How do you know I see it?”

“You just wanted to know what was in those trailers. When I told you, you never got mad because you understand. What’s my other saying about war?”

“The side that wins the war is the one that breaks more of the other side’s shit.”

“If you don’t have a lot of stuff to start out with, the enemy doesn’t have to break much,” Nelson said with a long face.

“Babe, guerilla forces have been fighting for centuries with next to nothing.”

“True, but they have to fight a long time to have any chance of winning,” Nelson said, pushing away from the table. “I really don’t want to pawn this war off on our kids.”

“If it calls for it, it will be their decision,” she said, rubbing his face. “What else?”

“We need to find out who’s close and form teams to sweep the area. We need to be ready to come to the aid of each other if attacked. If the feds are moving troops here to stop the Free States, it’s about to get rowdy around here.”

Michelle nodded. “We can move that up. I’m sure the others will agree.”

“We need to start making examples of those that collaborate with the feds.”

Raising her eyebrows, Michelle cocked her head. “Getting a little medieval, aren’t we?”

“The other side has already started.”

Nodding, Michelle looked him in the eye. “So what constitutes collaboration? A mother accepting food and shelter as they hold her hostage, forcing her husband to fight? A man fighting because if he doesn’t, his family dies?”

“Yes to both,” Nelson told her with no emotion. “What right do they have coming after my family because someone else threatened theirs?”

“Okay, I’ll give you that, but you’re talking about genocide,” Michelle said.

“Like I said, they are already doing it.”

“Nelson, if the population is scared of the rulers, they won’t fear the attackers. We found that out in World War 2. It didn’t matter how bad we bombed the civilians. They wouldn’t revolt because they feared the Nazis more than the Allies.”

“Maybe, but we stopped the Nazis from making supplies, so we took out one of the requirements for war.”

Jumping off the table, Michelle wrapped her arms around Nelson. “Babe, we will get through this. Our kids will be able to say they helped restore America.”

Pulling her tight to his chest, Nelson smiled. “I know, but I’m just worried.”

“Took you long enough,” Michelle chuckled. “What are you doing?”

“Making the parts for the caltrops,” he said, letting her go.

“Well, show me what to do,” she said, pulling out her gloves.

Grabbing the saw, Nelson turned it on and showed her how to cut the rods so they were pointed on both ends. When Michelle had the hang of it, he started bending the rods using a vise. It wasn’t long until Nellie came out with Olivia to bring them breakfast.

They worked until noon and stopped when Olivia came to get them for lunch. “Daddy, you and Momma need to come and eat,” she said, running over to Nelson.

Nelson turned around, catching her as she jumped up. “Is it something good?”

“Fried chicken, and I helped,” Olivia said proudly.

They walked out and found Gerald and Nancy waiting for them on the front porch. “Find out what crawled up his…” Gerald stopped as Nellie came up the steps and popped his arm.

“You’re playing with fire today,” Nellie growled, walking past him as she headed inside.

“I wasn’t going to say it,” Gerald told her as she walked inside. “So what had your panties in a wad?” he asked, turning around to Nelson.

Nelson put Olivia down, shaking his head. “Not in the mood right now.”

“Fair enough,” Nancy said with a grin, stepping between them. “I have a surprise for you two.”

They both looked at her in suspicion. “What?” they asked together.

“I want our projector mounted in the barn in two days, and set it up like a movie theater. If it remains quiet here, I want both of you to wear your favorite Star Wars outfits,” she said with a grin. “Before all this started, I hacked in and got a copy of the next movie.”

“It wasn’t finished with production yet!” Nelson shouted.

“Yes it was,” Nancy smiled. “I used the NSA’s network to hack in before I met Gerald in Arkansas.”

Nelson looked at Gerald with a big grin. “Man, the last one was awesome.”

“It was good to see the old group teaching another generation again,” Gerald mumbled, staring at his sister. “You tell me this just now?”

“Yep,” Nancy said, spinning around and heading inside. “I just watched it to make sure it was a good copy before telling you.”

“You watched it without me!” Gerald screamed, chasing her inside.

Michelle busted out laughing as she hugged Nelson. “I’m not wearing the slave outfit to the premiere, so forget it.”

Wrapping his arms around her, Nelson grinned. “That is a good thing because I wouldn’t be responsible for my actions in front of the others.”

“Daddy, can I wear one of my costumes?” Olivia asked, bouncing on her toes.

“Of course, stinker.” Nelson smiled, picking her up. “Which one do you want to wear?”

Michelle stepped away, heading for the door. “The fact she has choices on her Star Wars costume is not right.”

“Hey, I bought you several,” Nelson said following her.

“Nelson, if we don’t have thirty costumes for us and the kids, I’ll kiss your butt,” Michelle laughed, opening the door.

Looking down as he walked past her through the door, Nelson mumbled, “Eighty-seven if you count the four infant costumes.” Michelle busted out laughing, following him inside.

Luckily for the feds and their allies, the area remained quiet because Gerald and Nelson talked seriously about getting a nuke. Their reasoning was that if anyone came around during the movie, they would nuke D.C.

Two days later, everyone at both farms gathered in borrowed costumes to join in on a little piece of the old world. In a land of sorrow, a little needed happiness flourished.

The End of

FORGOTTEN FORBIDDEN AMERICA: PATRIOTS REBORN

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