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little but they seem like they are never satisfied and there are just too many showing up now to give them all food.”
    “We quit giving out any more food.  We always offer them clean water but that is all.  Many come here and do not even have a pot to cook anything in.  They left their homes but brought no supplies of any kind with them.  I’m not sure what they were thinking or even if they were thinking.”
    “We noticed the same thing.  Many have gotten pretty mad when we told them we had no food to give away.  I see both of you are carrying pistols.  I guess we will have to do the same.  I don’t know how any of those people are going to get through the winter.”
    “I was thinking the same unless things straighten out real quick around here or the federal government comes in with a lot of aid and supplies.  I just don’t think that will happen.”
    “In the past FEMA has been very slow to react and those were only localized events.  I have to assume that this is nation wide.  I don’t think anyone can expect any salvation from our government.”
    “This is a massive bad deal for everyone.  You know you can count on me if you need any help.”
    “Bad deal is an understatement.  And yes I know we can count on you.  I better get back to the place.  I don’t want to leave the family alone for very long anymore with the way things are now.  I just wanted to check in with you guys and see if you were OK.  Stop in if you are out my way.”
    “Will do and thanks for coming over.”
    “Nice to see you again Beth.”
    I figured everyone around here on the farms and ranches were having beggars show up.  It sounded like Sam had not had any violent encounters yet and for his sake I hope he never did.  Our place was one of the farms that many would come to first if they traveled this road out from the city so we would have to deal with most of these refugees first.
    Beth was obviously thinking as we walked back towards the house and then she spoke.
    “Why do you think the TV and radio stations shut down?”
    Gradually all TV and radio stations had dropped off the air.  We had received no news for quite some time now and it was sorely missed.  Cell phone service had also stopped but land lines still worked.  At least our house phone was still working the last I checked but I feared it could stop working at any time.
    “I don’t know but I would guess a number of things.  As things got worse and worse many of those working at the broadcasting stations maybe left town to live with family that were in rural areas.  Or maybe with all the violence the workers just stayed home in the hopes that it would be safer there for them.  Also everyone working at the stations would get their paychecks from the advertising that the station sold and I’m sure companies just dropped all their advertising when things got bad.  So with no advertising that meant the stations had no money for payrolls.  And who would risk their life going to work when they were not getting paid.”
    “I sure miss the news.  Anything could be happening and we would know nothing about it.”
    “Loss of communications is awful, I agree.  I’m just happy the electric power is still working.”
    “Don’t even say that.  You don’t want to jinx it.”
    The next day we had bad trouble.
    I was outside doing clean up in our garden plot when I heard a motor and I ran around the house to see the road leading past our house.  There was a motorcycle going way fast up our driveway.  I started to draw my pistol but then I recognized the rider as Gavin, a more distant neighbor and I ran up to meet him.
    Gavin got the cycle stopped and that was when I noticed the blood on his right side.
    “Mob coming your way.  I wanted to warn you.  I got to get home right away but I needed to warn you.  They have guns and they are quick to use them.”
    Beth had run up by now to hear this.
    “Gavin you have been shot let us patch you up before