Wisconsin Outpost: Homeland (Chapter Four)

Halfway down the trail to Hell, In a shady meadow green
Are the Souls of all dead troopers camped, Near a good old-time canteen.
urut this eternal resting place, Is known as Fiddlers' Green.

Marching past, straight through to Hell, The Infantry are seen.
Accompanied by the Engineers, Artillery and Marines,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen, Dismount at Fiddlers' Green.

Though some go curving down the trail, To seek a warmer scene.
No trooper ever gets to Hell, Ere he's emptied his canteen.
And so rides back to drink again, With friends at Fiddlers' Green.

And so when man and horse go down, Beneath a saber keen,

Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee, You stop a bullet clean,

And the hostiles come to get your scalp, Just empty your canteen,

And pat your pistol to your head, And go to Fiddlers' Green.

Fiddlers Green Author Unknown, Sung by the 6th and 7th Cavalry in the 1800s


Wisconsin Outpost: Homeland (Chapter Four)



As I ate I could not get the old song out of my head. Fiddlers Green. Mythical canteen just one turn before hell dedicated to Cavalrymen and scouts since time immortal. The song in my head meant things had me on edge. I was reverting to that old trooper. A thousand ideas sprung to mind, and I had few realistic opportunities. I also had a teenage girl who may or may not crack under the stress, friends I needed to contact and plans to be played out.

In my mind I played out the scenario of Rabid infected in Chicago or Milwaukee. How long till it spread here and the rate of infection. Each situation worsen as I was now flying by the seat of my pants, eating a hamburger and some French fries, I took from the freezer quick. Fried them up and set the table.

Susan’s eyes widen as she listen to another message. “Hughes says call him, ASAP.” He sounded panic. I closed my eyes and smiled. My directions were simple enough. “Finish all the messages Susan and then number in importance as you see fit.” I commanded her again gently. This would be trying. But she needed something to do and I needed to think.

“Excuse me.” I said as I finished my last bite of burger and then made my way to the sink with the dishes, rinsed them and made my way into the bedroom. I went in the closet and rummaged around Mary and my stuff looking for the lock box. I found it and then realized I did not know where the Key was. Mary had taken care of so much. I could not unlock the box, which had the revolver in it.

I was pissed, I had become so placated to “normal’ society that the only gun I had was locked up. Mary had a problem with guns; a bad incident with a bad boyfriend once. I conceded figuring if I ever did need it, I could probably take one away from somebody. Well I fucked myself there didn’t I.

I went through my RMA weapons and knives. I selected a boot knife and a forearm knife that could be easily hidden. Pocketed a quick release folding Gerber in to my pocket. I looked at the Gerber multi-tool. I breathed deep undid my belt and put it on. If I didn’t I would regret it when I needed it. That’s how it worked. I looked at the lock box again and tried to think where the key was. I looked in all the regular places, but nothing. Fuck was I a dolt. Well nothing to do now.

I sat back on the bed. Grabbed my laptop and typed in my bank page and ran through the security questions. The account showed a little over six grand. Plenty to make it for a while and get what I needed. I love direct deposit and withdrawal. I shut it down as soon Susan showed up with a paper and my phone. I looked at her expectably. “Ok you have twenty one messages, many were repeats and Hades called like twelve times. Finally figuring you were dead on his last message.” She breathed deeply. She needed to learn to breathe and talk at the same time. “It’s really bad isn’t it Papa?” She asked sounding like a little girl. I took the paper and scanned it. “yes” I breathed. “Yes it is, but we’re ok. Susan.” I locked her eyes. “We’ll be ok, I will show you how it’s going to be ok” I reassured her. “But how?” she snapped. Your friends, they said horrible things, unbelievable things. The news its full of craziness.” Her voice started climbing.

“Because..” I told her truthfully. “We thought about it.” I smiled. From that dark irony. “And I have a plan…”

She didn’t look convinced but at least she wasn’t whining anymore…..

It was a plan of sorts. I went through the messages. Hades had called a lot, Sissy, Joe and he were ok, Mike had succumbed to the flu. Hades was a disabled pheaker. Meaning as some hacked computers, Hades hacked electronics, reversing the direction of power and water meters, mechanical based locks that weren’t recoded and the like. Problem there was Hades was four hundred pounds of man battling depression. He was also my oldest friend and brother.

He was another problem I had to make an adjustment in my half ass plans for. I can sneak and move like Tanto thru anything. Hades cannot. Big problem is not a pun here. Sissy and Joe were roommates with a soap opera love affair. But Joe would be useful for what I needed. Hades first message was “Dude you have to come over and see this shit. No open air communications.” Which mean landlines were out as well? He was telling me things were monitored. The ten messages more with where are you? what’s going on? people are dying and the desire to share some awful secret he wouldn’t talk about until finally in a rage he called me blaming me for being dead. He was actually very dramatic.

Rumors of my death have been highly exaggerated. I remember the saying quite well. As I ran through the final message. It was finny to me.

If he was freaked out, he had to know something. Next was from Hughes and old army buddy of mine. We did our time together as medics, big plans of being Special Forces together, ole 18 Deltas with Charlie secondary, thought I could have done either. Both excited me. But life wove us down different roads. I became a businessman and educator, he became a US Marshall. He’s doing well, the family’s well. It was a good time in the Army. Then his voice broke. “Remember that night we talked about being Green Berets and how it would be in real life? We’re there! You watch yourself. Blackhawk out!”

So the government did know what was going on. He was in the middle, but he would be a good trooper. Especially if his family was safe. Couldn’t blame him there. A man will do most anything to save his family. I checked the date. October 20th 2007. The night we talked. The night he was referring to. We talked how the Berets work with Insurgents and locals. How sometimes political hands change, next thing you know Hogdie who you had been working closely with the last 6 months is now your enemy. Tough choices to make. We both had friends on the inside of that veil. You do what you have to.

Next was Henry, a good friend of mine we had a falling out over, well it’s no matter now. He was sick with the Super flu, He was saying goodbye. Three days later Julia called saying he was dead and she was sorry for everything that happen between us, “You know how stubborn Henry could be.” She had said on the voice mail. Yeah I did, goodbye old friend. I looked at that date. October 23rd. Fuck. I couldn’t make up for it now. I missed him and that was life. I went to the kitchen cupboard. Grabbed the bottle of Jameson rare and poured two fingers and took a slip. “Too you old man, I loved you!” I smiled at my memories of us as boys and young men, the good times. “May all your worries over, for living is hard.” I said as I raised my glass. It was the best eulogy I could offer. I pushed his thoughts away. I raised my glass to Blackhawk. “Stay safe brother, may we never meet while you wear that badge.” I wished as I finished the drink. The caramel liquid smoky and so tasty. I rescrewed the cap and placed the bottle back. There was no more time for pity parties. I went to my room and grabbed the phone.


I flipped it open and found Hades number. I looked at my watch. Six thirty seven. Hades was a night owl, but he suffered from sleep apnea, which means he could be sleeping at any time. About the fourth ring I was going to hang up and head over there, when he answered. “yeah, what’s up?” a familiar deep voice answered. The sleep still in it. “Old man, what’s the situation?” I piped. Fucked , fuck, and more fucked. Bro. got a minute?” He asked like that answered all the questions of the universe.

I smiled all brass tacks. This man just found a reason to live. I heard him get up; he was probably laying down sleeping. I could hear the shuffling of papers and the like. Then the clicky clack of keys on a keyboard as he signed in.

“It seems” he started. “They went too far and now were fucked.” He used the word fuck like it explained everything. He complained. Another pause as he typed more. It amazed me how quick those pudgy kong-like fingers flew across the keys. “Hades what’s your chest size?” I asked. “Ahuh sixty two I think.” He stated “and pants” I inquired. “forty eight thirty two. WHY?” He questioned. “I’m gearing up.” Biting my tongue on the commenting on his size. It was hard as it really put a wrench in my plans. However loosely I put it together in the last ten hours. “Give me an hour and then you can brief me.” “OK. Bro” he said. I thought and then said again. “Give me two.” He jumped in. “bro?” he questioned. “Yeah bud?” I inquired. “Don’t stop for anything” pause “Just like the brush runs. It’s on.” He told me. “Papa out” I said as I closed the cell. I was reverting to that old cavalry trooper again. Once a Cav man always a Cav man. Hell I even had the crossed sabers tattooed on my arm.

Fuck, the brush runs. Back in the early nineties we needed extra money and we did a few jobs when I was young. We ran guns; the feds found out because we weren’t the only ones. They started nabbing wankers up north who talked. The message was clear. No stopping to get captured. Like the Spartans. Never retreat, never surrender. We were ready to do what it took. We had promised shipments, we delivered. Thankfully no one talked about us. Those promised shipments and we were in and out everything went off without a glitch. Funny, when you look back you were saved from the life of a common criminal by luck. For Hades not want me to trust the cops or anyone. It was indeed bad. I called to Susan and told her to get in the car. She asked ‘where are we going” I winked. “Shopping” I retorted

We got in the car. The streets were empty only the random person or couple in their yard or walking their dog. Some had masks, surgical mask. I pulled into the gas station and slid my card in the card slot. It went threw the motions and accepted it.Good. That meant all was ok so far. Least the financial system was still in effect. I filled up the tank; it only took seven dollars and eighty two cents. Funny how you remember your last legal fill up. Too funny. I went in and used the ATM machine removing my limit of two hundred dollars. I could with draw up to four hundred. So I slid my card in again and did just that. I got a coffee and snickers, a monster and Twix for Susan, and yes three cartons of Marlboro lights. What the fuck, the world was coming to an end. Might as well enjoy life. I paid on my debit card and we took off.

Fleet farm seemed a good place.

As we rode threw town downing our drink and eating our candy bars. Susan commented how no one was out, there were a few cars we passed on the road but everyone we passed or saw on the road seemed leary. Again my great grandma’s friend’s words rang about Germany in world war II. The parking lot was nearly empty. I avoided wal mart and depatment store. But every place only had a few people. A skeleton Crew staffed the store and not a lot in stock. They had plenty but you could tell many items had signs “on back order” I knew what I wanted right away. I shoved a cart to Susan and grabbed one myself. I saw something across the way, a brown motorcycle jacket with a rounded color strait zipper and sleek, not like a biker jacket maybe a few steps up. I looked it over and pulled at the leather. I tugged it this way and that and then I bit it hard. I pulled this way and that again. The leather held. It even came with an insert. Even though there was only a skeleton crew. A staff member found me and asked. “Sir Can I help you?” I looked at the jacket. And shrugged. “Damn fine piece of leather. You should really get yourself one.” I piped as I through the jacket in the basket and made my way to the carharts.

There was always a staff member somewhere they could see us after that. Not that I cared. In the carharts Susan piped up. “Papa what are we getting here?” I looked around there was minimal people, but I guess that didn’t matter. “Think of 28 days” I said. “The rabid infected will come here. Carharts are rip and cut proof or lack of a better term. But more importantly they are bite and scratch proof and come with installation.” I showed her the inside of the forty eight bibs I was looking at.

She looked between horrified and puzzled and recognition of what I was saying. “Are you saying...” She trailed off she waited. “What I am saying.” I said as I stared at her, giving her my best teacher stare. Waiting for a pupil to get it. “Is we will make it through winter and into spring and carry on with a normal life.” I started nodding and she followed suit. “Are you with me?” I asked . Her face snapped from that weird shocked look to indignant woman so fast my eyes widened. “Where the fuck else am I going to go Papa? You’re the last of family!” She smiled “besides Johnny said you would always have a plan for anything.” She smiled.

That I did not like because right now my only plan hinged on the end of the world.

She went on, “He once said in a joke my Dad is the man you want around if Werewolves jump through the front window or zombie Martians land. And anything in-between. “That kind of hurt. I missed Johnny. But I could worry about him. If he could he would get home, if not. Well I wouldn’t think about that.

We went through the store, a summer pair and winter for everyone, though she wanted to try it on. I had to explain it was not a fashion show. Which she caught with an “oh yeah.” I picked up us both a pack of six dark colored tee shirts, Underwear which when she considered to buy them away from me. I laughed. Which I do not blame her. That’s a personal issue. I suggested strongly she stay away from thongs of the like, bikini or boy shorts would be better. She looked at me with a strange. Papa how could you look till I told her firmly she would not be fucking anyone for a while and most bets were going to be on comfort; with that she took forty dollars and went on her embarrassed way.

I picked up some cargos and a two hoodies and cold weather gloves, a couple of beanie hats, briefs for Hades and socks. We would need them. I went for timberland boots for this winter. Both extreme and regular. I ended up filling the other cart with dry milk, camping health bars, dry soup and noodles, anything that was freeze dried, powered or sealed. These were picked over, but not as bad as I hoped. Finally when that was full. I went to sporting goods counter. No one was there. I picked up the phone dialed Zero. “Hello” a voiced asked. “Yes I am in sporting goods, I need assistance.” I stated and hung up. A moment later a page came over the intercom “customer assistance needed in sporting goods.”

While I looked through the glass cases; I saw a sharpening stone. On the near rack, next to camping supplies. A nice one, twenty two fifty. I threw it on to one of the two heaping carts. I saw some an iron skillets and some eatery with I plied into the carts finishing their space. Enough for ten people. Cups, spoons, forks knives and plates. I found couple of bandoliers and a three ammo pouches. That should work I figured. Least it was a start.

“May I help you?” a older man asked in his fifties. A thin fellow with a receding hair line who seemed friendly enough. I smiled. “Yes. The 870 Express Deer slayer.” I said pointing to the camouflaged shotguns. I did not like the hunter cammo design. But hey they did have three of them and I hate scrounging ammo. If we all had the same guns it would be something. I would have preferred a M14 or something that held more ammo, but I figured with five of us we could probably hold our own in most situations. Besides I had a plan for the infected and the trash alike. “I would like three of them.” I told the old timer. The man looked at me and my cart and went behind the counter and grabbed the forms. “Planning a trip young fella?” He quirked as he set to the form taking a pen from his pocket. “Getting the hell out of dodge.” I replied. He never took his eyes off the forms. “Can’t blame ya, with the flu and all, nasty rumors coming in from everywhere.” He said as he started to scribble. “Nothing but end of days all over the news.” He paused and then continued. “After Maggie and all, I just keep showing up to work.” I tightened my lips. Maggie was probably his wife. I figured the flu got her too. “I bet, you should head somewhere though.” I offered. He looked up and smiled in that way old men will once their mind is made up. “Ah me and a few boys from the corner used to get together for cards.” He pushed the paper work at me. “License please” he asked. Then pointed to the spots for me to fill out.

“We all stay at the tower, figure we could hole up there least for winter; at least. There’s three of us, all ex marines.” He coughed. It wasn’t the flu the smell of old cigars was rich on him. “Well expect old pete he’s a fly boy. Flew missions in Nam.” I smiled. Filled out the areas, name address, yes it’s me; yes I am in a stable mind. Blah, blah, blah. “ Well I bet you boys will be fine.” I said as I filled out the forms. But still you should have a plan to get out of dodge if you can. But I am sure you have.” I slid the paper work over to him. He checked my ID and looked at me. I smiled. Then picked up the forms. “Oh we do, Son, just like you.” He smiled.” I winked and he went off to fax me stuff away.

A short while later he returned with a smile as I was adding more propane tanks to the bottom of my cart and a single burner. “You’re good to go.” He unlocked the case. “So you said three? Well here they are. "I suppose you’ll be needing ammo while you’re at it.” I smiled. “You got it.” I said. "How much?” He inquired. "Last time I bought a gun or anything was eighteen years ago.” I admitted. “Well, I can give you a box of slugs or Buckshot. That's five shells. For around five seventeen” He looked at me. Then smiled “Or a Box of two fifty for two sixty seven and ninety six cents.”

I ran through the numbers and flinched. He smiled. “Been awhile?” he asked “yeah” I admitted again. I was in the Cav last I bought.” I shook my head, I remembered buy shells for about Twenty five cents apiece, fifty for good ones. “A thousand of each; slug and buckshot.” I said without reservation. “They smoothbore I asked. Inquiring about the barrels of the shotgun. It made a difference. “Yep.” He said as he stacked the shells on the counter. “You can fire anything threw them with decent results. He said. “Cav huh, the 1st?” I smiled. “No six of the sixtieth.” I said. Referring to where I served. No one heard of it, they always jumped on the 1st; Vietnam’s traded our horses for helicopters. They were a unit to be reckon with. Everyone knew who the 1st Cav was. “ I was in Knox, mainly dismounted. Which said a lot of my old unit.

“Well that will be heavy and your full” He said pointing to my cart. “I’ll tell you what. You pay for the guns and ammunition here, take those carts to the front. I will meet you there. And help you load it all.” He looked at me. “If that’s a right by you?” he added. “That would be awesome.” I said as I handed him my card. He accepted my card and scanned everything. That fucking number keep jumping up. Finally he said. Thirty four ninety four ten.” He looked at me. I smiled sarcastically and he giggled. “Things aren’t cheap are they?” “Nope.” I said between clinched teeth.

“Ah” he said light heartedly. “You won’t be sorry you have them; if it gets as rough as people say.” I smiled at his genuine hospitality. “No, I imagine you’re never sorry in that situation.” I said. “No Sir, you’re not. He added seriously.

I made the transaction and headed to the front and ran into Susan there. I did not know how much was in the carts. But I figured I had about a little over two grand left to be safe. The cashier was a young girl who really did not seem there. Who could blame her? Life wasn’t a cup of daisies for anyone. About three quarters of the way thru I saw Barry; the gun guy at the door with a flat bed cart. He nodded to me and I smiled and nodded back.

“One thousand and ninety seven dollars and forty four cents.” I heard the girl say. I looked “huh” I said out of habit. “One thous…” She started. “Oh yeah.” I cut her off and handed her my card. She ran it through. “Are we camping?” Susan asked. “Sort of” I said as I took my receipt. And headed to the door Susan in tote with the other cart.

We walked to the sable and I opened the hatch with the push of the button. We loaded everything in to the car. As I shut the hatch. Barry stuck out his hand. “Well you be safe” he said as he smiled. I shook it firmly. “You too; Marine.” I said as he shook my hand. “Semper Fi” We said at the same time. He smiled “Fort Knox” I said in way of explanation. As it was the Marine training center for those who went Armored or mechanized. He nodded.

It’s something you have to have served; to understand, we would not be the only ones out there, there was hope. As dark as it got, I know there are others, old marines, young kids, Worried Mothers, ex service men and woman, law enforcement, just plain survivors who are cutting, trudging, and shooting a way forward in this next challenge of humanity.

As Susan and I pulled out to meet Hades and the rest. I smiled. We could make it. I did not know where, but I knew how and about where we could go. I knew we could do it, just a few more steps.

Of course for those steps to be achieved we needed just one thing

Just the end of the world.

I thought as I opened a pack, Fished out a smoke and lit it.

Fuck ‘em

Fuck the bleakness and doomsayers…

Fuck the super Flu and the Infected……

This is my home and you can’t have it……

I was born and raised here.

You can’t have it

We won’t let you

I won’t let you………