Jim sat behind his desk watching what passed for news now and wondered how the world came to this. He was worried about his students, his country, his school and the world in that order. It had been over a year since the Corona Virus first reared its ugly head in Wuhan, China. Contrary to promises made by nearly every world government and the various drug companies the virus continued to ravage the world unchecked.

Yet another proposed cure had failed tests. The mortality rates continued to climb, even in parts of the world with good health care. Those parts of the world once known as third world countries were almost completely unpopulated, the dead lying wherever they died, the few survivors unable to deal with them.

Current statistics showed the virus mutating and reinfecting many who had survived the original strain as researchers scurried to find effective treatments. China, Iran and North Korea were glowing, smoking charnel pits of nuclear devastation. Perhaps the world response to discovering they had conspired to develop the virus and release it on an unsuspecting world was unnecessary but it had occurred.

By the time the actual cause of the virus was discovered their population and even their armed forces were decimated by the disease. The disease mutated rapidly enough the previously developed vaccine intended for use on the population they wanted to save did not work. The world took no chances however and found the backbone to, once and for all, end the menace. All the nuclear powers launched simultaneously and overwhelmed what few defenses the “axis of evil” had, killing the leadership in their supposedly safe bunkers.

The remaining world powers had slammed their doors closed too late to stop international spread of the disease which had been carried across the world by purposefully infected carriers trained to dispense vials of the virus smuggled through customs. Stock markets plummeted, erasing trillions of dollars of value almost overnight. At first companies closed “for a short time” to prevent the spread of the disease, then, when their trained employees succumbed to the disease they closed for “an indefinite period”.

Food delivery, then utilities ceased to function and riots became the norm. Now, any vehicle moving on the streets had several vehicles of armed guards just to make sure it arrived at its destination safely. This is the future Jim faced. He was Headmaster of a private school for girls located just outside Atlanta, Georgia. He had seen the writing on the wall and stockpiled several semi truckloads of non perishable foods and supplies then sequestered his charges behind the walls of the school. He hired 18 ex servicemen to guard the premises. They and their families, if they had one, lived safely within the schools walls.

Jim was lucky. The Board of Directors was in the process of firing him for the excess purchases and expenditures when they were attacked by a gang breaking into the hotel in which they were meeting. None survived.

Jim sighed and muted the TV before he turned to look out the window onto the school grounds. He was scared and at his wits end. Attacks on the school were becoming more common. Each attack came closer to breaching the defenses. Three of his guards were dead from the attacks and two wounded seriously enough they were ineffective. Others had minor wounds and could still do their jobs, albeit with reduced effectiveness.

Jim jumped when his Administrative Aid knocked on the office door and pushed it open. He swiveled his chair around rapidly when he heard her say, “Sir, you have a visitor. I’m sorry but he insists on seeing you immediately.”

Before Jim could even ask how he got into the compound a tall well built man with silver hair pushed past her into the room. He was in Army combat uniform, complete with gear. Jim saw this, then the black Eagle symbol of his rank on his chest before he recognized the man standing just inside the door.

Jim jumped to his feet and smiled before he said, “Tom! What the hell are you doing here? And a Full Bull Colonel? You were just a Captain six years ago. Come in and sit down. What can I do for you?”

Tom (Thomas) Moore moved fully into the room and shook Jim’s hand before he took the proffered seat. “I’m afraid I don’t have much time Jim so I have to get right to the point. I wish we could trip down memory lane but we just can’t. We’re losing almost as many troops from combat as we do from the virus. The world has gone to hell and I’m in charge of trying to salvage something from all the chaos. That’s why I’m here.

“What you’ve done here has made its way back to DC. You always were one of the best and you’ve proven it once again. We picked up on one of your battles with one of the satellites and did some checking. There are people who want your young ladies and the supplies they think you have stockpiled. Soon, enough of them will gather together and overrun your position if we don’t do something.

“We’re setting up enclaves across the country to move as many people to safety as possible. I have vehicles and soldiers available now to move you and your people to a secluded fishing lodge in the Ozark Mountains. The nearest town is nearly 40 miles from it and has been completely emptied by the Virus. We will move you, your supplies and even add some supplies for you, then we will leave you to sort things out, hopefully leaving you unnoticed by the few remaining people in the area. My men have spent the last two weeks eliminating every person we can find within 100 miles of your compound.

“We are setting up safe havens across the United States and moving people into them as soon as we can verify they are disease free. First priority goes to young people and highly educated ones. You qualify on both counts since this is a highly rated college prep school with outstanding teachers.”

Jim heard yelling and large vehicles moving in the compound while Tom talked. He took a moment to look out the window to see soldiers herding the students into drab military busses while others began loading several military trucks with stored items. He said, “You aren’t even worried about asking whether or not we want to be moved Colonel? What about the girls parents?”

“Frankly, no Jim. None of you have a choice. Since we’re under martial law you have no choice. And many of the girls parents are dead in any event. This is a matter of national survival. You have been called back to Active Duty as of this morning Major. Here are your orders.”

“What? Tom, uh Colonel, what do you think I can do without a left leg and a crippled left arm?”

“Just what you’re doing now Jim. Take care of your students, this time as Commandant of the school and surrounding area of your new compound.”

The convoy left the school courtyard well before the sun rose the next morning. They were the only vehicles on the road, save for occasional military convoys. It took all the first day and most of the next night for the trip. Just as dawn was breaking the convoy lurched and bounced down a rough trail and stopped before a rustic looking group of buildings surrounded by an obviously new fence. There were defensive emplacements both seen and unseen.

The students were moved from the busses straight to their dormitories but staff was requested to meet in the lobby for a short briefing before they were allowed to rest. The soldiers began unloading the trucks during this time.

Col. Moore (Tom) walked to the front of the room and called for everyone’s attention before speaking. “Quiet. Quiet please. I know you’re all tired and probably upset because of this forced move. I’m sorry but it was necessary. The world as you knew it is gone. We’re in survival mode here trying to preserve everything we can of our civilization, our way of life. You have been moved here for several reasons, not the least of which is your and your students safety. When my troops and I leave, you will remain here under the command of Major Moses. He has been recalled out of his well deserved retirement to active duty for the duration of this emergency and placed in command of this compound and the surrounding area.

“Your security detail, all of which were prior service or retired military have also been recalled to active duty and will be augmented by another dozen specialists when we leave. In addition to the extra guards, we are leaving a Physician’s Assistant to care for your medical needs and to assist your nurse. You, your students and many other enclaves across the United States are the core of a new resurgence of the American Dream.”