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 some
of the railroads but the foliage had consumed most of it. After a few 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 dearly Sandra had been there, but she had to stay and take
care of the pets, they where 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 men he considered equals. 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 the 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 will offer you what food I have, before the other 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. 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 was obviously a large pack of wolves, were filled with fear,
Michael signaled the craft to lift off, he then ran and jumped clinging to the
under carriage by one hand he hung and watched the wolves take down their
fellow maneaters, as he rose in the air. He muscled himself up into the saddle and
flew the craft about ten miles west following the interstate. But this time he
sat down under a section of overpass in its shadow the craft would be near invisible.
He awoke to a light rain, cursing his luck, 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, he directed her to start training
her horses to pull the buckboard wagons, that he had found a 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 the Bunker pioneers were directed to stay within. They were very easy
to see, they had already built many cabins, next to a small river. Matthew and
Jhon waved to him, and he landed near by. He had wondered what the reception
would be like, Mathew spoke first, wow Michael its so good to see you, our trip
out here started out very rough, 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
is bears and wolves. Come inside and let's have some lunch, the wife just made
some 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 them 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 men if needed,
but 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're in our inventory. I want you to give your group and assignment, I need you to cut logs forty feet long, we will probably 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.