MacArthur's Freehold

Chapter 10

Chapter 10 -- VRGXRMZAZXNRSCXF

With Jessica driving and Tracy in the back seat, they set out on a tour of the area. There were few roads that were wider than necessary for two vehicles to pass if necessary, and they occasionally intersected with narrower trails which wound off into the forests. The first stop was on a hillside overlooking a lake that appeared to be artificial, or at least having been modified. The road ran down to and about a third of a way around the lake, which appeared to have been made by building a levee across a small valley. A couple of small boats were on the lake, each with two occupants who appeared to be fishing.

"This is one of several small lakes we've built." Tracy told them. "Since we produce as much food as possible here, the lakes help. And besides fish, they serve as a water supply. Up her wells have to be deep to get to water, so for irrigation we use the lakes. Down there to your right is one of several small farming plots. Let's go by the range."

They crossed the levee and went back into the forest. Jessica seemed to know the area and navigated without much direction. A quarter of a mile or so later, overlooking another shallow valley, Carter could see a wide flat area with a wide grassy area several hundred yards long, with clusters of buildings along the sides. Jessica drove on down the hill to one end, where he could see what looked like a row of covered shooter positions, and looking down at the other end what looked like target holders.

"As you can see" said Tracy, "we have a couple of shooting ranges - the long one is four hundreds long, where he could see what looked like a row of covered shooter positions, and looking down at the other end what looked like target holders.

"As you can see" said Tracy, "we have a couple of shooting ranges - the long one is four hundreds long, the shorter one is indoors in that long white building. I would guess you know something about guns. There's an urban combat range as well as one with an outdoor environment. You'll get some time in out here."

"With a four hundred yard range, I would guess some, I guess you would call it, sniper training." Carter said.

"Exactly" Tracy replied. "We'd like something larger, but four hundred yards is a quarter mile, which is a little big. There are a couple of places, one in Texas and another in Arizona, with thousand yard ranges. Not that it's ever likely to have to shoot a target that far away, but you never know. How are you skills?"

"Being a cop, I was naturally trained for proficiency with handguns, so most of our practice was at short ranges. Most urban gunfights are at fairly close range. I did a little rifle practice, but it was on a hundred yard range."

"We try to prepare for all eventualities. Of course, we're not, we would not be bound by any regulations. We practice close range, as in close enough to touch. And we practice with knives, as well as unarmed and improvised weapon combat. Even grenade practice - you just never know."

The tour continued, another lake, another patch of crops, and occasionally a large metal building, looking somewhat out of place with no other buildings around. Carter supposed it was part of the policy of scattering and hiding assets. Certainly any intruders would have a hard time finding anything other than trees, unless they knew where to look.

Occasionally they passed a small group of cabins much like the ones he had seen upon arrival. There were usually four or five, separated by several hundred feet. Tracy told him that the members who lived on the site occupied them.

"They give us eyes all over the place" she said. "They know the place like their own backyards, since it is their backyard. Any trespassers will be spotted and dealt with quickly. In normal times that means they are advised of their error and escorted off the property. In other normal times it would probably mean something else. We're getting close to the perimeter now, I'll show you the warning signs."