The Myriad Resistance by John D. Mimms

said as my stomach growled, “I’ve always been partial to Vienna sausages and Froot Loops,” I said, pointing to the colorful box with the toucan.
    â€œVienny weenies and Fruity fowl!” he proclaimed as if calling out an order in a restaurant. He dumped a can of Vienna sausages on an iron skillet and they began to sizzle. It wasn’t exactly bacon or sausage, but I was so hungry I didn’t care.
    The cook reached down under the table and produced a large bowl covered with a white cloth. He set it on the table then leaned forward and whispered as if he held a deep secret.
    â€œI picked these this morning. Want a scoop or two on your cereal?”
    He lifted the cloth and revealed a bowl brimming with blackberries. I enjoyed wild blackberries as a kid and I jumped at his generous offer.
    I sat down by Barbara and Abbs while I finished my breakfast. I listened with great interest to the conversation. It seemed things were going to be moving a little faster than I anticipated.
    â€œEurope is a little more humane than us,” Derek said. “They are sending Impals to the island of Cephalonia and Lemnos off the Greek coast. The British and French are sending theirs to the fourteen Channel Islands, half of which are uninhabited.”
    â€œWhat are they doing about the ones that are inhabited?” Burt asked.
    â€œI hear the European Union is offering anyone who has to relocate a very generous settlement. Most will probably be living better than they were,” Danny said.
    â€œWhat about the rest of the world?” Barbara asked.
    â€œNot really sure,” Danny said. “We haven’t had a whole lot of contact lately from Asia or Africa. All we can hope for is that they handle the situation by keeping the best interest of all involved in mind.”
    â€œWe are the only ones who have anything like the Tesla Gate?” Charlotte asked.
    â€œYes, I believe so,” Danny replied.
    I decided to jump in because I asked a question burning at me since I first heard of the infernal contraption.
    â€œWhere did the Tesla Gate come from?” I asked.
    Danny stared at me for several moments with a stoic frown. He then he jerked his head to suggest later was a more appropriate time to address it. I saw by the disappointed faces around the table that the question was on everyone’s mind. It seemed strange to me that these things, these Shredders, could have come into existence and implemented so fast.
    â€œSo what does Europe have to do with our situation?” Taylor asked.
    Danny finished the last swig of his water bottle before he answered. “I have been in contact with an old buddy of mine, Admiral Jack Dyson of the British fleet, since this whole thing began. I’ve kept my ear to the ground in Europe, so to speak. I talked to him a few days ago and he was horrified by what I told him our government was doing.” The colonel paused and took a deep breath before continuing.
    â€œHe told me that whatever Impals I could get out of the country; they would be welcomed at the island of Guernsey in the channel. It is the only place where any space is available.”
    â€œHow many do we have here?” I asked. I calculated a rough estimate in my head based on what I saw last night.
    â€œRoughly about one hundred-twenty,” Danny said.
    â€œGood God, the government has been putting that many through the Shredder every fifteen minutes … and we only have one hundred-twenty?” I asked in disbelief.
    â€œIt’s the best we can do in a short time, Mr. Garrison. We don’t have the resources the government does when it comes to rounding them up. Besides, every Impal here is here by choice.”
    â€œSo how are we getting them out of the country?” Taylor asked.
    Danny turned his agitated gaze into a wide smile as he turned to face the rest of the table. “Boats,” he said.
    Before anyone could ask him to elaborate, he did. Sam