SAECULUM: Dystopian Global Collapse and Homestead Survival Novel, Book 1 by Joshua Morris

Author:Joshua Morris [Morris, Joshua]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11: More Prepping

As they continued to focus on their preparations and potential courses of action, the uncertainty of the future loomed large. Martin's enigmatic message had set them on a path of readiness and vigilance, determined to protect their family and face whatever challenges lay ahead.

In the following days, Jacob and Ana began strategizing about how to make their resources last. With the specter of nuclear warfare hanging over their heads, they knew they needed to be self-reliant, and stocked up to the brim. One concern was food, and Jacob believed that in a major nuclear conflict, they might face a nuclear winter of 5 years or more. He had tried to have enough food stockpiled for that many years, but maybe it was time to add more to that, maybe try for 6 or 7 years.

"We will have to butcher some more of the goats," Jacob suggested, his voice grave, sitting around the breakfast table one morning. "We can smoke or salt the meat to preserve it, and ration it carefully."

Ana nodded, her expression mirroring the gravity of the situation. "And the vegetables from the garden – we'll need to harvest and can as much as possible before it's too late. We might not ever be able to rely on the outside world for help anymore."

They spent hours each day working diligently, stockpiling supplies, and fortifying their homestead. The routine of farm chores had taken on a new sense of purpose as they braced themselves for the uncertain times ahead. They also took care to prepare their 7500 gallon concrete rainwater cistern for the possibility of nuclear conflict. This meant re-routing the gutters that had been set up to turn the cistern into a rainwater catchment. In a nuclear conflict, rainwater can deliver radioactive nuclear fallout material into any water supply. Even though 7500 gallons meant only 4 gallons per day, Jacob knew this would be enough for just drinking water and his water pumping windmill could supplement them for other needs.

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In the stillness of the countryside, just over the ridgeline where the home sat, the distant sounds of gunfire echoed ominously, emanating from the direction of the state highway, which led from the nearby military base to the town of Marshall.

With a sense of urgency, Jacob rushed to prepare their trusty drone for flight. The highway was 4 miles away, at the far end of the range of the drone, and he knew the drone was their best chance to gather information about the source of the commotion and whether it posed any immediate threat to their homestead. As the drone soared into the sky, its camera relayed a live feed to Jacob's smartphone.

The scene that unfolded before him was both chaotic and reassuring. A convoy of military vehicles, including armored personnel carriers and Humvees, was engaged in a fierce firefight with what appeared to be some kind of checkpoint or roadblock that someone had set up, probably some kind of vigilantes, maybe someone like Lester Cutshall.

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