Sweetness in the Dark by W.B. Martin Page A

Gale’s adjutant. He had attended the meetings in Ed’s absence and gave the security report. The Search and Rescue Units of each county had been activated and had seen good response. Some members had stayed home to protect their families, but the majority had reported. Now armed with personal weapons, these units were the local security needed to help the police and sheriff’s offices maintain control over the criminal elements.
    The adjutant continued reporting that road blocks had been set up at the predetermined positions to stop people from wantonly roaming through the state. This limited any armed gangs from wandering around the state and confined them to known areas. Regular troops were being brought in to deal with these threats.
    Troops were being moved on the local trains and trucks still running. If not killed outright, any criminals arrested were transported back to secure holding facilities. After ‘the Pulse’, the Governor had immediately declared martial law for the state, so anyone disobeying the law could be incarcerated immediately.
    “McCall is being brought back under control. We have had quite a problem up there, but it appears that the few remaining thugs have escaped up into the hills. That may work until this winter. If they come down, I think the locals can handle it,” the adjutant finished.
    Next to report was the Communication Advisor. She reported that the state phone system was slowly coming back on line. The State of Idaho had worked with the phone company to have a limited hardened switching capacity ready. Consequently, the state was in contact with local county officials soon after P-Day.
    “Yes, I got a call through to Helena yesterday. And the lines to Cheyenne and Salt Lake City are open, so we’re in touch with our adjoining states. I can report that our phone tree with all twenty states is generally working. News is a little slow to get here, due to only one person to report to, but we have at least some picture of the situation in each state,” the governor added.
    The Food Advisor stated that with the hardened local trucks, food was being distributed to local schools where food centers had been set up. An inventory of all the food in the state was almost complete, and as long as people didn’t get tired of potatoes, there was enough food to get through the winter.
    But everything depended on the safety of the trucks delivering the food. If the system broke down because of security, then people were going to suffer.
    “And northern Idaho, any reports?” the governor asked.
    “As we discussed long ago, northern Idaho is untenable. With no natural barrier between Spokane and Idaho, we knew mobs of people would flee the city and head into the rural parts. We’ve set up secure lines along the Montana-Idaho border because of the mountains. Also, the Clearwater River line is defended and we’re ready to blow the bridges at the first sign of trouble,” the adjunct offered.
    The adjutant added, “Eastern Oregon has performed admirably. They have communication by shortwave radio with our headquarters and they have taken steps already to cut off access from the Willamette Valley. The John Day River bridges have been blown and the Columbia and Snake River bridges from Washington are out. Southwest Washington and Eastern Oregon have thrown their lot with us.”
    “That’s good news. If Portland and Seattle send their millions our way, we’re all dead. We barely have enough food to take care of our citizens. But remind the front lines that any veterans or people with essential skills like farming or machining skills should be considered for admittance,” the governor said.
    Paul sat and looked at Amanda. He could tell by her facial expression that she was taken aback by the governor’s pronouncement. It was a shock. Already, Americans were turning on fellow Americans in a race for survival.
    Paul saw the irony in it all. Eventually, a people get the government they deserve ,