Zero Hour: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Fiction Series (The Blackout Series Book 2) by Bobby Akart
Authors: Bobby Akart
Ads: Link
chair by the fireplace and laced up his tennis shoes. “We’ll have to protect ourselves. The laws will still exist, but the process of enforcement and administration will disappear. Our previously publicized and stable laws will no longer act as a deterrent to those using the collapse of the power grid as an opportunity to do bad things.”
“What’s a military tribunal?” asked Alex.
“The executive branch and the military are probably the only functioning parts of our government right now,” replied Colton. “If the police or National Guard arrest somebody, they will be brought before a military court to face justice. What that entails is anybody’s guess. Before the collapse, the rule of law governed our nation, as opposed to being governed by arbitrary decisions of government officials. Now, I’m afraid the government will make up the rules as they go.”
Madison pointed to the shotgun propped next to Colton by the fireplace. “We only have one gun. Are we giving it up?”
“Not a chance.” Colton laughed, picking up the weapon and weighing it in his hands. “Nor will the owners of the other three hundred million weapons in the United States.”
“Didn’t they do it in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina?” asked Madison.
“Yes, and it turned out to be a disaster,” replied Colton. “They beat up an old lady. They shot another man’s dogs. It was a public relations nightmare because the police focused on easy targets—law-abiding citizens. The gun confiscations did nothing to deter the criminals who roamed the French Quarter.”
“Should we hide the shotgun?” asked Madison.
“Nope. I’ll take my chances with the gun-confiscation directive. I won’t take my chances with protecting you guys against the evildoers of the world.”
Madison stood and retrieved the radio from the coffee table. Alex tried to stop her. “I want to listen some more, Mom.”
“I know you do, Alex,” started Madison, who picked it up anyway. “You and I have to cut and staple the landscape fabric to the windows so your dad can nail the boards up today. Besides, when we’re not using the electronics, we should keep them stored away in the Faraday cages.”
“Why? The storm has already passed,” protested Alex.
“I remember the picture of the hole in the Sun you showed me. It looked like it had a few more solar flares in its belly ready to fire at us.” Madison tucked the radio away and sealed the lid with the handle of the galvanized trash can. As the lid snapped shut, someone pounded on their front door, startling all of them.
Chapter 10
DAY TWO
11:00 a.m., September 10
Ryman Residence
Belle Meade, Tennessee
“Who is it?” shouted Colton through the door as he held the shotgun nervously. There was no answer. He repeated his question, only louder this time. “Who’s out there?”
Still no answer. He turned to Madison and Alex, gesturing for them to look out the back door and the kitchen side door. They ran at a low crouch and reached their appointed doors. The sound of clicking dead bolts reminded Colton they weren’t following their protocols for keeping entryways locked.
He moved to the living room and peered through the curtains. There wasn’t anyone there. Rather than opening the front door to a possible ambush, he left through the kitchen door and moved along the outside wall of the house. Many things went through his mind. Am I prepared to shoot someone? How does this gun work?
He immediately chastised himself for not learning the basics of the operation of the Remington shotgun. He took a deep breath and channeled a character on The Walking Dead television show. He pumped the fore-end, which generated a loud, metallic sound. C LACK—CLACK . That would scare me away , he thought to himself.
Colton, the adrenaline pumping through his body, steadied his nerves to confront the intruder and swung into view. Nobody was there. He pointed the gun in all directions, swinging it
“What’s a military tribunal?” asked Alex.
“The executive branch and the military are probably the only functioning parts of our government right now,” replied Colton. “If the police or National Guard arrest somebody, they will be brought before a military court to face justice. What that entails is anybody’s guess. Before the collapse, the rule of law governed our nation, as opposed to being governed by arbitrary decisions of government officials. Now, I’m afraid the government will make up the rules as they go.”
Madison pointed to the shotgun propped next to Colton by the fireplace. “We only have one gun. Are we giving it up?”
“Not a chance.” Colton laughed, picking up the weapon and weighing it in his hands. “Nor will the owners of the other three hundred million weapons in the United States.”
“Didn’t they do it in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina?” asked Madison.
“Yes, and it turned out to be a disaster,” replied Colton. “They beat up an old lady. They shot another man’s dogs. It was a public relations nightmare because the police focused on easy targets—law-abiding citizens. The gun confiscations did nothing to deter the criminals who roamed the French Quarter.”
“Should we hide the shotgun?” asked Madison.
“Nope. I’ll take my chances with the gun-confiscation directive. I won’t take my chances with protecting you guys against the evildoers of the world.”
Madison stood and retrieved the radio from the coffee table. Alex tried to stop her. “I want to listen some more, Mom.”
“I know you do, Alex,” started Madison, who picked it up anyway. “You and I have to cut and staple the landscape fabric to the windows so your dad can nail the boards up today. Besides, when we’re not using the electronics, we should keep them stored away in the Faraday cages.”
“Why? The storm has already passed,” protested Alex.
“I remember the picture of the hole in the Sun you showed me. It looked like it had a few more solar flares in its belly ready to fire at us.” Madison tucked the radio away and sealed the lid with the handle of the galvanized trash can. As the lid snapped shut, someone pounded on their front door, startling all of them.
Chapter 10
DAY TWO
11:00 a.m., September 10
Ryman Residence
Belle Meade, Tennessee
“Who is it?” shouted Colton through the door as he held the shotgun nervously. There was no answer. He repeated his question, only louder this time. “Who’s out there?”
Still no answer. He turned to Madison and Alex, gesturing for them to look out the back door and the kitchen side door. They ran at a low crouch and reached their appointed doors. The sound of clicking dead bolts reminded Colton they weren’t following their protocols for keeping entryways locked.
He moved to the living room and peered through the curtains. There wasn’t anyone there. Rather than opening the front door to a possible ambush, he left through the kitchen door and moved along the outside wall of the house. Many things went through his mind. Am I prepared to shoot someone? How does this gun work?
He immediately chastised himself for not learning the basics of the operation of the Remington shotgun. He took a deep breath and channeled a character on The Walking Dead television show. He pumped the fore-end, which generated a loud, metallic sound. C LACK—CLACK . That would scare me away , he thought to himself.
Colton, the adrenaline pumping through his body, steadied his nerves to confront the intruder and swung into view. Nobody was there. He pointed the gun in all directions, swinging it
Similar Books
