Months later Micheal boarded a flyer, on a mission to scout
a route to the West and find the New settlement, he noted breaks in the trees
where vegetation had failed to completely cover the interstate road system from
the past. Also, he spotted the railroads, but the foliage had consumed most of those.
After two hours of flying and scouting he noticed the battery was getting low,
Michael thought, it had been years since replacement batteries had been
delivered, these are degrading fast. He landed the craft in the middle of a
clear section of interstate, and set camp, wishing Sandra had been there dearly,
but she had to stay and take care of the pets. They were growing up fast,
Sandra often took them out hunting, the hounds and the wolf had no problem
finding prey. So, she played a big part in feeding the community, even though
she complained, Michael assigned her and escort squad of six people he
considered capable.
What he did not know was that his landing had not gone
unnoticed. As Michael settled in for the night, he forgoes a campfire fire and
curled up under the aircraft to sleep. Twenty members of a vestige tribe,
those who had attacked the bunker and escaped, searched for him and almost
missed but for moonlight glinting off the deployed solar cells. They moved in
closer trying to find the sleeping pilot, not realizing this was the same
warrior that had defeated their giant. Michael had, before going to sleep had
attached the hat on top of staff, to act as a sentry. When they got within
fifty feet the Hat lit up, the bright LED light blinding the raiders facing it,
Michael rolled out from under the wing, holding only the katana, he had packed
light for the journey. His back to the aircraft, he faced these raiders and
shouted a command to stop. The raiders hesitated for a moment, and one of them
spoke, why should we stop, we are hungry. Micheal said, well if you continue I
promise there will be a lot fewer to feed. I offer you what food I have. Before
the leader could reply one enraged warrior raced forward at Michael, he dodged
the spear and relieved the man of his head. The leader of the group shouted
hold, and the raiders paused again. I have the advantage here the raider said,
you cannot stop us with just one sword. Tell us where we can find food and
women. Maybe I will let you die swiftly.
Michael responded, "well we might need each other, turn and
look at the forest. At the edge of LED light, it looked like hundreds of red
eyes glowing in the night. The raiders staring at what was obviously a large
pack of wolves were filled with fear. Michael grabbed his Hat and signaled the
craft to lift off. He then ran and jumped, clinging to the under carriage by
one hand as the Drone rose in the air. He hung with one hand and watched the
wolves take down their fellow maneaters. Confident he was no longer in danger
from the Raiders, he muscled himself up into the saddle and flew the craft ten
miles west following the interstate. But this time he landed under a section of
overpass in its shadow and the craft would be near invisible.
He awoke to light rain, cursing his luck, he would be stuck
there for a while. The communicator on his belt buzzed and he chatted with
Sandra who was standing on the Bunker roof, she had been trying for hours to
reach him. Assuring her of his safety, they started talking about plans and she
shared with him tales of her hunts. Before their conversation ended. He directed
her to start training her horses to pull the buckboard wagons. He had found a clear
road west and they would soon need to travel when he returned.
The sun finally returned, and he moved the craft out into it,
to recharge. Hours later he was in the air flying over the location where
the Bunker pioneers were directed to stay within. They were quite easy to see,
they had already built many cabins, next to a river. Matthew and Jhon waved to
him, and he landed the craft nearby. He had wondered what the reception would
be like, Mathew spoke first, hello Michael, it's so good to see you.
Finding some places
to sit in the shade, the three start sharing news of events that had occurred
in both locations, respectively.
Our trip out here started out very roughly, Mathew stated, then
we stumbled onto the interstate, it was much easier than fighting through the
woods, he said. Then Jhon spoke up, and said can you believe this place, GOD
really did us a favor, the woods are full of game and the river teaming with
fish, the only thing we really struggle with are bears and wolves. It's sad the
bridge over the river collapsed, its only a hundred yards wide, but is deep and
has a swift current.
Come inside and let us have lunch, the wife just made steaks
Matthew says. As he enters one of the larger cabins, he is surprised by the
stone floor, almost polished, he wonders how they managed this. Matthew saw him
stare at the floor, laughed and said not a lot of magic, there tons of this
shale like stone about two inches thick and we gather clay from the river, pack
it into the joints, and shovel hot coals onto it, making it hard as ceramic.
Michael sits down to a rough-hewn table, and Mary, Mathew's wife, sets plates
for each, loaded with a large slab of meat, then next she adds a small bowl of
berries beside each plate. Michael digs in heartly, but concern creases his
forehead, this is meat he has never tasted, Jhon smiles and laughs, no need to
be concerned friend Michael, this is Buffalo. Just west of here the plains
start and the Buffalo come to the river to drink, the only difficult part is
getting the meat across the river, for that we use a raft. Michael then spoke
telling them about the challenges they were facing at the bunker.
Michael said, look friends we need each other, I can send
more people here if needed. The gifts I have to offer include horses and farm
equipment. We also have rifles, raw materials, pumps, generators, steam
engines, make a list of everything you need, and I will return with the items
you desire if they are in our inventory. In return we need your help, acquiring
and processing the meat for Heaven's population. To start with, I want you
to give your group and assignment, I need you to cut logs forty feet long, we
will need at least thirty, two feet in diameter. Jhon complained, Michael you
know we do not have anyway to move logs that size or our cabins would be much
larger he laughed.
Michael said not to worry I will bring equipment needed to
build a barge, we need to be able to get wagons across the river.
The next day he flew
his aircraft out west of the river, excitement filled his heart, it looked like
thousands of bison were feeding on the plains, he flew back to the settlement,
landed and left it to charge he would head back home tomorrow.
Promising all he would return in a month's time, he returned
to Heaven.