I was ready to hit the road. I started driving south on the interstate. About 20 miles north of Bakersfield, I turned toward the small town of Wasco. About half a mile outside of Wasco, I saw a road block that consisted of a tractor and trailer pulled across the road. I stopped the APC at the road block and opened the door. I stepped out onto the pavement. I yelled, "Hey! Is anyone here?"
A voice yelled back at me "What do you want here?"
"I need some fuel and something to eat would be good." I said.
"Put your hands on your head and walk around to the front of your vehicle." The voice called back.
I put my hands on my head and walked around the APC.
A couple of guys in police uniforms started walking toward me. Both were armed with shotguns. As the first approached me, the second guy went around and opened the side door of the APC.
"Where the hell are you from fella?" The guy standing in front of me asked.
I told him I was traveling south and trying to avoid major cities.
"You have any bites or scratches?" he asked.
"No, but I’ve got some guns and ammunition to trade for fuel." I said. "Can I put my hands down now?" I asked.
The second guy walked back to where we were standing, "Holy crap Tom, he’s got a whole load of guns and ammo."
Tom said "Ok, you can put your hands down now."
I lowered my hands and walked with Tom to the side door on the APC. "Damn, that is quite a load. Where did you get it all?" asked the guy named Tom.
"I found a gun store in a town about 120 miles north of here that hadn't been looted." I said.
"Jimbo, I’ll ride into town with him, then I’ll send someone out to keep you company." Tom said to the other officer.
Tom and I got into the APC and he proceeded to give me directions as we drove into town. Tom directed me to city hall where I parked the APC in their small parking lot. Tom and I got out of the APC and walked up to the administration building. Inside, we made our way to an office marked "MAYOR". Tom opened the door and motioned for me to enter.
There was a fellow inside who appeared to be at least 350 Lbs sitting behind a large wooden desk. He looked up as we entered the office." What’s up Tom?" the guy asked.
Well mayor, this guy, "Ralph" I interjected. Tom continued; "this fellow, Ralph has some guns and ammo he wants to trade for some food and gas."
"Is that so?" asked the mayor. "What exactly has he got to trade?" said the mayor.
At that point he stood up and reached his hand across the desk, "Lex Marshall, glad to meet you Ralph" he said in his best politician’s voice. "Where are these guns and ammunition you have?" asked the mayor.
"Downstairs in my APC, it’s parked in the lot." I said.
"Well, let’s go have a look." he said.
The three of us trouped down to my APC. I opened up the side door. The mayor said, "Whew! What all do you have in there, son?"
"I’m not sure of the exact count. I just cleaned out all the weapons and ammunition I could that I found in a sporting goods store up north." I said.
"How much of it will you part with, and what do you want in exchange?" The mayor asked.
"I’ll need to keep a rifle, shotgun a couple pistols and plenty of ammo for each. The rest of the weapons and ammunition you can have for a tank of diesel and a couple days of meals while I rest up. I’ll be on my way south in a couple of days."
The mayor said, "You’ve got a deal son. Tom, get some of the deputies to unload and inventory this stuff over at the jail. Then take this young man to the diner and get him fed."
"Ok mayor, if you say so." Tom said.
Tom and I got back in the APC and he directed me to the police station. "I’ll get a couple of people to unload this stuff." he said. Tom returned in a couple of minutes followed by three guys in orange jump suits pushing a rolling cart each, and two guys in police uniforms. "Ok, Ralph if you will separate your weapons and ammo, they can unload the rest." I pulled out a security style shotgun, a case of shells, a scoped .306, a 9mm pistol to match the one I had holstered and a case of ammunition for each. I shoved these weapons and ammunition into the passenger seat.
"Take the rest of the weapons and ammunition. Just leave the rations and clothes." I said to Tom. Tom gave these instructions to the uniformed men and they instructed the prisoners to load the weapons and ammo onto their carts.
Tom looked over at me and said, "We could really use these supplies. Between the constant assault from Zombies wandering in from the outlying areas and the armed gangs coming north out of L.A., we are getting pretty low on ammunition. Some good old hunting rifles will be useful. Especially with them equipped with a good quantity of ammo." The prisoners had emptied the APC on to the sidewalk and were now packing it into the station for inventory and storage. "We’ll be over at Fred’s, bring me a copy of the inventory when you’re finished." Tom said.
"Sure thing sheriff." said one of the uniformed guys.
Tom and I got back into the APC. "Turn left at the street. Fred’s is about two blocks down on the right." Tom said. I pulled into the parking lot of Fred’s Bar and Grill. "The best burgers and cold beer in town, but the hamburger might be ground deer." Tom said with a smile. "It wasn't big cattle country around here before the Zombies and most of the beef we have is being used to grow our herd. Most of our red meat is courtesy of the hunters. We only have an abundance of beef in the spring when we weed out the steers. We should have a decent cattle herd in four or five more years. Right now we are concentrating on getting a dairy and breeding herd going. We already have a decent chicken ranch and a hog farm operational so chicken and pork is available."
After a burger that was indeed the best, not to mention the first I had eaten in over two years, and three beers. The door opened and a uniformed guy entered and walked up and handed Tom a printed list:
7 each .30-30 rifles, 5000 rounds of ammunition
9 each .306 rifles with 3200 rounds
3 bolt action .22 rifles
8 assorted .22 pistols
6 assorted .38 pistols
8 each assorted AR type .223 rifles
……8000 rounds
12 each assorted 12 gauge shotguns, 7000 12 gauge shells
5 each .45 pistols, 1500 rounds
6 each 9mm pistols 1000 rounds
7 each .357 pistols 2000 rounds
……4000 rounds of 5.56 ammunition
……1500 rounds .38 ammunition
……8000 rounds of .22 long rifle ammunition
"Most of the police departments long guns were either shotguns or M 16’s chambered for 5.56 NATO ammunition standardized per Home Land Security Regulation. So because of supply problems, we never had great quantities on hand. This should set us up pretty well for a while. The mayor will be tickled pink. I guess we should run this list over to him." Tom said.
As we left Fred’s, Tom walked over to the bartender and told him to run a tab for me. The Mayor would stand good for it. I drove back to the mayor’s office, and we went up to his office.
Tom knocked twice and walked into the office. The mayor looked up and Tom handed him the list.
"Well…well…well…. I guess you get your diesel and food." said the mayor shaking his head. "You are welcome to stop here anytime you pass through. I’m sure Tom or I will stake you to a meal." he added. The mayor gave me directions to a hotel downtown and said to drive on over. He said he would make a call and arrange for a room for me he also gave me a typed letter he and Tom both signed instructing any and all merchants to extend me credit to be honored and paid in full by the city. I thanked the mayor shook his and Tom’s hands and walked down to my vehicle. Before I could get into my APC Tom caught up with me. Tom said to meet him at Fred’s around 8:00 pm and he would let me buy him a beer. I told him I would be there.
At the hotel I was shown to a room. After a shower and my
first shave in almost six months, I decided I would do a little shopping. I notice that when I walked out of the hotels front door I was being followed by a deputy. I guess that was better than being put into a holding cell until I left town. Walking down the street, I went into a general merchandise store and picked up 4 large tote bags and a daypack. The letter the mayor gave me worked like a champ. I signed the receipt and left. I returned to my APC and loaded the tote bags, dried food into three, and ammunition into one. I stowed the tote bags in behind the driver’s seat and drove over to Fred’s Bar and Grill to meet up with Tom.