The Siege of New Hampshire

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 mu...

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. Author's Note: Podbean Ads have turned out to be a disappoin...

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...

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.   Consider supporting thi...

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 O...

While on his way to a town meeting, Martin is ambushed by Joni's angry/jealous husband. At the trading session, Walter and Sally have some mysteriously new food products to trade. Martin finds his much-dreaded opportunity to have his 'talk' with Joni. Andy improves and negotiates staying with the Simmons'.   You can help keep these stories coming by becoming a member at: Buy Me A Coffee or Patreon...

Martin wears a disguise into town to avoid arrest. News from the outside world tells of a tightening siege but also some plans by the Coalition to get aid to New Hampshire. All of Clyde's corn is stolen! Now what do the townsfolk do for food? As snow falls, the Utopians' camp is abandoned, except of Andy, who is unconscious from hypothermia. If you like what you hear, consider supporting this podc...

After cleaning their bountiful catch and a hearty feast of fish chowder, Hendrick Brothers Trucking sets out on its return trip. They are accompanied by a squad of National Guard, their HumVee disguised as a bread truck. The plan is to tempt a group of notorious highway bandits into attacking. Martin ends up far more involved than he expected.   For additional content, consider becoming a member a...

Hendrick Brothers Trucking finally makes it to the seacoast to trade firewood for fish. Martin meets a little old man who wants to take his schooner out fishing. The man coaxes Martin into crewing with them for a share of their catch. The fishing trip turns out to be a bigger adventure than any of them planned. For additional content, consider becoming a member at: Buy Me A Coffee or Patreon

To thwart Clyde's arrest order, Martin volunteers to go with Charles and Tyler on their first trading trip to the seacoast. On the way, a group of desperate men emerges from hiding, intent to rob Hendrick Brothers Trucking at gunpoint.   For additional content, consider becoming a member at: Buy Me A Coffee or Patreon

Knick-knack lady misunderstands Martin's interest in her metalworking tools, offering herself in exchange for food money. Compromise averted, Martin finds a family cold and near starvation. He shares his food and helps them collect firewood larger than what a carving knife could provide.  With Joni's metalwork, Filter H is a success. While taking a quick shakedown cruise in the Hendrick brothers'...

Despite Margaret's help managing the food supply at the Town Farm, it's obvious that they don't have enough for the winter. At a town meeting, Landers offers Clyde Graedig a two-year abatement on his property taxes in exchange for corn for the town farm. Clyde declines the offer, preferring instead to insist that he should be made a selectman. In fact, he insists on being chairman of the board of...

Martin acts as surrogate lawyer for the captured gang member at the ad hoc arraignment/hearing held at Town Hall. Some townsfolk, especially Charles, want the accused to be shot for the murders. Martin frets that representing Trevor will ruin his standing in the community. Susan comes along for moral support and the opportunity to speak frankly.

Martin helps the folks at the Town Farm start cutting new wood to help them have heat during the coming winter. Their shortfall of food supplies spurs Martin to go up to Town Hall to suggest that the town acquire some of Clyde's corn for the Town Farm. While at Town Hall, Martin becomes embroiled in what to do with the gang member prisoner.     Now there is a Patreon page for Siege fans. Check it...

Martin and Margaret help out at the Town Farm. Most of the residents there exhibit little hope. Martin and the Hendrick brothers continue to try and convert Charles' old truck to run off a gasifier but they run into failure after failure in trying to produce clean enough gas to run a truck engine. The promise of potentially lucrative trade with people on the coast heightens the sense of failure. M...

The story continues. Margaret gets talked into helping with the Town Farm. Martin discovers a food source that might help the less-prepared residents of Cheshire get through the winter. Here is the link for those asked who asked how they could 'buy me a coffee': https://www.buymeacoffee.com/microland

While giving the survey a little more time for results, Mic takes you along on a little morning audio tour of his New Hampshire homestead. Photos to go with the tour are HERE Results from the survey soon.

A brief review of Book 2 and The Power of Community. Also, announcing a short survey about Book 3. That survey is at:  https://freeonlinesurveys.com/s/6IDbzuU3  and is open until 5/24/22. Lastly, a bonus question. :-)

The people of Cheshire take stock after the first big test of their mutual defense groups. They repelled the attack, stopping all of the robbers, though not without some casualties. Following the grim task of cleaning up after the fight, Martin returns home. His blood-soaked clothing dampens what might have been a triumphal greeting.   This is the last chapter in Siege Fall: Book 2 of the series.

Amid a background of daily life and still trying to get the bigger gasifier working correctly, a call comes in. Trouble, in the form of several carloads of gang members are headed for Cheshire. Martin and the Stockman Hill Company drop everything and rush into town. When they arrive, the assault is already in progress. Several houses have been ransacked by hungry gang members. The Stockman Hill me...

Margaret confronts Martin over his volatile behavior since returning from Canterbury. He has no clear idea just what's upset him. With the Perez family joining the Simmons, the food supplies need to be recalculated. Homemade hominy is a promising solution. Work begins on the Hendrick brothers' gasifier truck. The men in the Stockman Hill area begin to form a neighborhood defense group, though the...

The caravan of trucks and trailers arrive at Cauloff's farm. All in all, the group survived the gang ambush with relatively minor damage. Martin remains upset over many things, the most obvious being Eric acting as the playboy with Susan. At the Simmons house, an already tightly-wound Martin snaps at hints of impropriety by Adam Dunan. Martin's outburst of rage has the whole house on edge.

The convoy arrives in Canterbury to pick up the cows. While at the dairy farm, Martin becomes upset over Eric Emulari's untoward attentions to Susan and Margaret's trading away her pistol for a few bottles of rennet. All of that turmoil takes a backseat to the trouble the convoy encounters on the trip home. Someone lay in waiting for them to drive through.

The convoy of trucks and trailers depart Cheshire, bound for Canterbury to fetch some cows. En route, they stop in the state's capital, Concord, for an interview by the governor. Following that, is a rancorous meeting in Representatives Hall as the FEMA Assistant Director and the Governor both make their cases before the legislature for whether New Hampshire should accept federal aid (and the many...

The second half of Chapter 12: During the town meeting, an opportunity arises for the town to adopt some milk cows in Canterbury. Several folks raise objections for why the town can't take in the cows. Martin deflects each complaint with a solution. Jeff Landers and Martin have also been requested to speak with the governor in Concord about some weighty matters. Martin helps the Perez family get t...