Free Executive Orders: Part 2 of the Homeland Series by R.A. Mathis Page B

vehicle.
    “What’s wrong with him?” A guard sneered as they hoisted Hick’s into the back of a cargo truck.
    “He’s just tired,” Alex said with a smile. “He’ll be ready to go again tomorrow.” He and Cole climbed aboard.
    Once ten men were in the cargo hold, guards raised the tailgate and tossed in two MREs. Alex scrambled for one of the bagged meals. Others dove in. Cole was shocked at the dog pile of scratching, clawing, biting to get a share of the food. They looked more like ravenous beasts than human beings.
    The bag ripped open. It’s contents scattered on the floor. The scrambling intensified. Alex grabbed an olive-green metallic pouch. A ragged man jumped him. Alex’s eye went wild. The man swung at him. He dodged the blow. The man grabbed for the pouch. Alex launched into him, biting the man’s ear. The man howled in pain. Blood ran down his neck. He released his grip. Guards laughed outside as Alex darted over to where Cole and Hicks sat, his chin wet with gore.
    Alex tore the package open and removed a beef patty. “Here.” He tore it into three pieces and shared it with Cole and Hicks. “Our daily bread.”
    “This is it?” Cole held up the paltry morsel.
    “Until tomorrow.” Alex popped the food into his mouth, closing his eyes as he chewed.
    “Two meals for ten men.” Cole ate his portion. “If we don’t escape, we will die here.”
    “That’s what I tried to tell you last night,” Alex said, still chewing his dinner, “I can get us out.”
    “Yeah, right. Through the front gate.” His words dripped with sarcasm. “Or we could grow wings and fly out.”
    “You think I’m crazy.”
    “I know you’re crazy.”
    The engine started and the truck lurched into motion.
    Alex said, “I told you. I built that camp. I know every inch of it.”
    The truck sped up. Autumn air rushed through the canvas awning and bit into grimy flesh.
    Cole pulled his collar to his neck. “You have a plan?”
    Alex nodded. “It’s risky, but it’ll work.”
    Cole glanced at Hicks. The private hadn’t touched his food. His face was twisted in pain.
    He looked back to Alex. “Whatever it is, I’m in.”

7
    HANK
     
    Freeport, Tennessee
     
    “We need more food, Sheriff!” a man in the crowd shouted.
    “My kids are starving!” a woman yelled.
    Several hundred ravenous citizens filled the Food City parking lot this wintry morning. Hank was doing his best to keep the crowd from becoming a mob, wondering how much longer that would be possible. He had already increased the guard to four officers at all times. It looked like even that was no longer enough.The lines grew longer as more people exhausted whatever food stores they had in their homes. Each day saw more mouths and less food. Hank knew it was the mathematics of famine. The mood grew angrier as stomachs grew emptier.
    Hank looked to his deputies guarding the door. The men nervously gripped their shotguns as they looked back to him for reassurance.
    “We’re doing the best we can!” He tried to calm the crowd before it became a mob. “We have to make the food we have last until Spring.”
    “I’m hungry now!” An angry man replied. He was Hank’s neighbor.
    “I know it’s hard, Frank. We’re all suffering, but we have to stick together!” Hank pleaded.
    “Too late for that, Hank! I’m goin’ in there and gettin’ all the food I can carry!” Frank turned to the others. “Who’s with me?”
    The crowd cheered and rushed toward Hank. He drew his pistol. “Stay back!”
    The deputies readied their shotguns.
    Pop! Pop! Pop!
    The crowd ducked all at once. Panicked screams went up from the throng.
    Hank looked at his men. None had fired. The shots came from the other side of the parking lot.
    Agent Sanger stood with four of her own officers at the far edge of the gathering, her smoking pistol aimed up in the air.
    “I know you are hungry,” she said. “How would you all like to go to bed with full bellies