The Siege of New Hampshire

Martin and Judy take Tin Man to Walter's house so he can have an extended radio session. They hear fragments of news about power plant repairs failing and a possible aid fleet to help New Hampshire. Malcolm, a new house guest of Walter's, relates how he escaped with a truckload of FEMA food, crashed through barricades and made it as far as Walter's house. Malcolm spoke of a relief mission called Operation Longbow.  On the way home from Walter's, Martin discovers that the town's dairy barn is on fire.

A distinctive boot print suggests a culprit that started the diary barn fire, but no one is found with such boots. Rations get slimmer still at the Simmons' home. A old hen becomes the household's Christmas dinner. Despite the austerity, decorating, singing, and giving simple homemade gifts lifts everyone's spirits and takes their mind off their sobering future prospects.

 

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Tempers flare as neighbors begin to suspect neighbors for the barn burning and a rash of petty crimes. Walter makes radio contact with the Coalition. Malcolm's escape prompted increased security at bridges. Operation Longbow may be called off. Susan insists that there are fire trials and logging roads over the mountains. The agent says that person with knowledge of those fire trails must travel to the site to scout a route for the food trucks. It could be a one-way trip.

While on patrol, Martin and Margaret discover Mara (living the wild woman life in their backwoods) just as she is being abducted by strange (and large) man. Martin and Andy show the residents of the Town Farm how to make pine fries to supplement their dwindling food supplies. On the way home, they stumble across an apparent murder scene.

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The crowd at the Altman's house learn that their deaths were no accident. They were murdered. The mob haul in the neighbor, accusing him. Martin finds himself appointed as defense attorney again. Before the trial, Mara meets Martin on patrol. She wordlessly leads him to where the shopping cart bandits had created a nearly-invisible hideout. Martin suspects that one of the bandits was the actual murderer. He rushes to alert others to gather up enough men to arrest the gang before they can escape.

A group of Cheshire men accompany the police chief, attempting to bring in the shopping cart gang from their hidden camp. One of the gang is suspected of the Altman murders. A shootout ensues. Martin coaxes one of the survivors into telling her tale as a refugee from grid-down Manchester, taken in (captive) by the gang. She becomes Martin's "start witness" in the trial of the accused neighbor.

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Candice is confronted about her conspiring with FEMA honcho Quinn to foment trouble in town. (the dairy fire, the gang attack, the Altman murders,) She runs, chased by a very angry mob. Martin and others prevent the mob from killing her but what to do with her now? A plan is hatched to tell Quinn that they'll exchange Candice for the corn FEMA stole.  The plan does not go as expected.

 

This is part one of Chapter 18, which was a bit long. Part two airs next week!

With Candice now in custody, implicated in helping Quinn foment trouble in Cheshire, the problem becomes what to do with her. Martin decides to take Trevor to the Simmons' home, freeing up room in the Town Farm's ad hoc jail cell for Candice. While getting Trevor settled in, a powerful snow storm descends quickly, with bitter cold and white-out conditions.

 

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Judy frets over the lack of contact with the Town Farm, where Dustin and Margaret were when a strong and sudden blizzard engulfs Cheshire. Martin helps search in near-zero visibility for his neighbor's son who started home from town but never made it.

Thugs and hunger were trouble enough. Now, they have to contend with the power of winter.

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Martin gets work that a group of men have started to raid homes on the south side of town. They are moving north, toward the center of town. They will pass Town Farm, where Margaret and Dustin were holed up during the blizzard. Martin missed riding with the other defenders, so had to trek to Town Farm by snowshoes. Trevor comes along. Passing the dairy, Adam is one of the attackers. He recognizes Martin and raises his rifle to settle an old score.

 

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