Part of the key to Casey's plan involved bribery. He carried all the money, almost a quarter of a million in various bills. He had been taking money out for months, and closed his account just before the banks closed, and the ATMs went down.
Money may or may not be worth anything, but Casey knew the hearts of men could be swayed by money. He also had the women give him all their jewels. Jamie turned over her engagement ring immediately. "No, wear it for now. I'll let you know when I need it." Casey kissed Jamie on the forehead.
In the small group, an order of roles had been arranged months before this day.
Joe was the natural and appointed leader. He had the weapons and the experience. Casey was in charge of the cash. All jokingly called him "the Bankster." Tammy was in charge of the bug-out bags and the camo clothes, and Jamie was in charge of Father James, who was to be protected down to the last "man". Jamie, of course, Miss Organization, had helped Tammy with the stuff in the bags, but her duty was to be the shield and guard for the priest. Father, of course, was to be the spiritual adviser and confessor to the small group, and when they reached the safe haven, if they did, Father would say Mass for all who has made it there. Others knew where to go months ago.
No one was thinking that far ahead at this time. One of the odd ways to get away, planned by Casey, was the old canal which cut through the old city. It ran north-south, in one direction and east-west in the other,and had been built as a connection to the old large canals. In the summer, vacationers rented canal boats and traveled north the sixty to seventy miles of canal into a smallish lake bordering Canada, or south about two-hundred miles out of the state at an angle into Vermont. At this time of year, boats would be rare and the group knew they could be obvious from the narrow canal to the shores, especially when going through the many locks. They had practiced a run both ways last summer, taking a holiday together. Casey and Joe voted for Vermont, but Jamie and Tammy had voted for Canada. Father James was the deciding vote for Vermont.
Joe had purchased a boat and stocked with two months supply of fuel, blankets, clothes, meds, food and ammo for six people. He was not sure the plan would work, but there were two possible safe havens established at either end of the canal.
One was just over the lake into Canada, a medium sized camping ground full of Catholics, who over the years had bought sites there. The camp grounds was run by Arnold Mead, an old Navy man and one with a special gift of discernment, as well as a great sense of humor.
Captain Mead only had one stipulation for those buying camp grounds. One was that the owners to be had to be practicing Catholics, and two, as he did criminal checks on all of them, they had to be willing to pay for the check, and do it. With children in the camp, Arnold adopted the role of the commander of safety. Twelve families were already there with about ten children. They wanted Father James to join them. But, the group vote had pushed the decision to go to Vermont, which became a sign to all. Arnold and company would have to do without this particular priest. All this had been decided about three months before this day of darkness.
The so-called safe haven in Vermont was much less organized. There was no Arnold and no camping facilities. There was no lake, no propane gas, no septic tanks, nothing but trees and small openings in the trees. But, the advantage was that Father James owned the property. He, as an only child, had inherited it from his parents. On one small plot of flat land was an ancient log cabin. Once, there had been a working well, but a stream did fall from some hills onto the property and a small pond held this water. The water was good, clean, cold. Sometimes fish found a way into the cold pond.
Jamie also had wanted to go to Arnold's because the campsite was closer to F. D., where Derek was stationed, at least for now. She knew that her reasoning was not completely objective. She sighed just once, and then, plunged into the new plans for Vermont with a passion.
Of course, the most dangerous part of the plan was getting out of the city. Once at the canal, one had to take a chance of boarding the canal boat and then chugging up the canal, or even quietly using side oars. Danger surrounded each step, but try they would, for the sake of Father James and future Catholics. The Church must carry on, and this little group of the Church Militant had determined to set up a chapel wherever they stayed.
Now, as Joe looked out the window at the armored cars, he noticed a hole in the barriers. Two blocks on the right, barriers had been pushed aside and not straightened. He watched the police carefully. Once in awhile, one would leave the group and move through the hole into complete darkness. After many minutes, even a half-hour, the man would return with boxes. Supplies? Lunch? Joe watched.
Jamie and Tammy had changed into camos. Two reasons had been suggested by Joe for this garb-one was to confuse soldiers into letting Jamie and Tammy by at a distance, and, second, because camos did work to a point. Father James was offered camos at first, but decided on civies. He said he could never pass as a soldier, and right he was. He looked and acted like a professor of philosophy.
Casey worn normal street clothes, dark jacket and jeans and Joe wore camos. He felt at home in his old gear
Now, the plan was to watch the movements of the police to try and find both the time and way to escape the apartment block. Joe noticed that some guys from downstairs, two known to the women, had tried to leave with bug-out bags and were forced back in. No one was hurt, but all were virtual prisoners.
Joe wondered why the police were not doing door to door searches. Then, it dawned on him. They had no reason to search. The populace of the city were all the enemies now. All were under curfew and martial law.
to be continued...