Free Self Apocalypse: The Beginning by John French Page A

throwing money away like it was worthless print from some game board.  Most people were not excepting cash though, and I found myself trying to barter for certain needed items with the few gold pieces I had on hand.  I didn’t know it at the time, but revealing I had gold was a very bad mistake.  I had no idea that there were shady characters in the market watching for opportunities such as this.  Even though I did not notice them, they noticed me and were watching closely.  They must have inquired as to I was, because I would later meet them in not so good circumstances.
     
    I placed my purchases into my pack that I had brought along, and headed back into the winter’s cold and misery.  I fueled up the sled before I rode back to camp.  That cost me the rest of the money I had on hand, and two of the candles I had purchased.  Thankfully the ride back to camp was uneventful and not too cold.  I started a fire as soon as I got in, and unpacked my new supplies from town.  I was extremely excited to have found coffee.  I was able to get three large cans which should last me into the summer if I continued to ration it.  I didn’t think twice about having a cup of hot coffee now though.  I needed something to warm me up and restore a little energy.
     
    The water warmed on the stove as I turned on the radio.  I was dismayed to find that I couldn’t get any reception from one of the only two stations I received here.  It was a private station too, and was a great benefit in providing some music in times of need.  There weren’t any storms on the horizon, so I wasn’t sure why the station wasn’t coming in.  My day seemed to be turning a bit gloomy with the thought that the radio station had gone off the air.  It was the only thing I could of as only static noise rang out from the speakers.  I turned the dial until I was able to receive the government broadcasting station.  Their music selections weren’t too bad, but not exactly my listening of choice.  Beggars can’t be choosers though, and I would have to deal with it.  It was just another sign that the times were still troubling and possibly getting worse.  If that was even possible.
     
    The water was now ready, and I removed the kettle from the stove pouring myself a cup of coffee.  I was thankful to have a small filter system to make single cups of coffee.  It was the only way to do it without having to waste coffee by percolating an entire pot.  The water continued to slowly dissolve through the grain filled filter as the news now broadcasted over the airwaves.  First was the weather, and my general area was forecasted as being fair for the next few days.  Updates were given for the distribution of supplies.  I wasn’t amazed that none of the points of distribution were remotely close to this area.  I had barely sipped my coffee when the sudden news of war sounded out from the radio.
     
    I continued to slowly sip away at my coffee listening to the horrible news of war on a massive scale now devastating regions of the Middle East.  This new world conflict wasn’t just about oil either.  Sure, some of the nations were now invading parts of the Middle East to secure their own interests in the black crude, but the violent eruption had started in that region in attempts to gain greater borders and other resources.  Amazing enough, the U.S. was not involved.  We had already brought back the majority of our forces home to aide in our own restoration.  Now the remaining deployed forces were being called back to reinforce our own borders.  Our oil stockpiles were now being released, mainly for the government, and resources were being applied to drilling in country.  A little too late I thought, but about time.
     
    That night, the government radio station reported loosing contact with most of its sister stations.  It was not receiving word from the military, and no one had been able to reach D.C. that evening.  There was apparently a