Atop the Mountain. Part I

We were the travelers, people with some money that packed their items and left. Once small business owners and merchants, we lost our homes and most of our possessions but we still had knowledge and some goods. Bale was the one that provided our transportation. He wasn't the most popular of the group, but he had the largest means of transportation. We scrounged all the fuel we could to fill the tanks and alternate tank and packed all our supplies together.

Others we knew did the same. They formed groups at different locations and started their adventure at the same time. Twelve groups left that morning. Most were business owners, some were trusted friends and employees, all had been middle class and since the overturn, had lost everything.

The rich found hideaways, places others couldn't reach. We were at the outskirts of the huge metropolitan areas and knew it was only a matter of time before we'd suffer what from the atrocities of those living inside the cities. We were close and escaped through the uncharted areas. What once was a comfortable, easy life, now changed to one of survival.

We maintained contact with the few friends that chose to remain. No matter how we begged, they insisted that it would be all right, that we were foolish for leaving it all behind. Father knew, he knew the signs that foretold the coming of the end of our civilization. First, it was the breakdown of the family structure. Children lived in separate areas for most families. If you could afford it, your child lived with you, others went to the school. Next, we saw the dramatic increase in prices, fuel began to cost more, everything went up in price and we all suffered. After the collapse of the financial system, we were desperate.

We elected a leader we believed would carry us back to our original strength, but it became worse. Anger grew on all fronts, the cities became unsafe. Businesses closed their doors and the workers, left without funds, lost everything as did the business owners. The very wealthy found isolated spots away from the fray. They had other means. They had their own small islands of fortune, not just money but things. They had ample food and supplies for they had the assets and foresight to stow them away ahead of time. Foresight, that is a funny term to use. They knew what was ahead. Not all of them knew, only those that were the key to the election.

The new leader brought only anger between the classes. He attacked the rich, yet lived the same life as they, he was one of them. Without us realizing, we elected a man that helped to create the mess we now knew. It was part of the plan. Close businesses, starve the poor and only the very wealthy would survive. It was a plan for cleansing the society of the weak and the poor, but we didn't know until it was too late.

As we boarded, Bale contacted the other groups. We were rendezvousing on the other side of the solar system. We would find another planet, another area that would sustain our life forms. We would find a solar system where we could be free again. There were only twelve ships but over 900 families that left that day. I called my friend Alon to say good-bye. We cried. We talked of the time when we would see each other again, but we both knew it would never happen. She worried that I was in danger and I had the same emotion for her. We both promised to talk once a day. I kept that promise to the end.