Chapter 1 #2
As the avowed commander of the Diehard Patriots, Ethan was responsible for the Russians’ presence as he had been the one to invite them.
He had met them online, where he spent countless hours on social media platforms associated with far-right paramilitary organizations, like the Russian VKontakte, OK.ru, and Telegram, all in hopes of learning about combat tactics, survival skills, and other military activities.
He’d been impressed from the get-go with how closely the various Russian far-right groups shared his ideologies, especially about how the world had changed for the worse, as well as how far ahead they were in their paramilitary organization in comparison to their American counterparts.
Then out of the blue, Ethan had been contacted via Telegram by Viktor Mikhailov, a spare-time commander of a highly organized, well-established paramilitary organization in Koltsovo, Russia, which Ethan had located with Google Maps.
Flattered by the attention, Ethan had ended up talking directly with the man on multiple occasions, which was made easy by the Russian’s ability to speak flawless English, although with a decidedly British accent.
The man explained that he had spent several years in the UK under a work-study program a decade previously.
Impressed by Viktor’s fluent dialogue as well as his paramilitary experience and knowledge, Ethan was eager to chat over the course of several days.
In the process he didn’t mind being peppered with questions about Essex Falls’ size, population, layout, and reservoir.
Then Viktor took Ethan aback by offering to travel to Essex Falls along with three of his staff and remain for about a month for the sole purpose of training the Diehard Patriots, to turn the group into a true fighting force—provided Ethan could guarantee him a few non-negotiable conditions.
Although suspicious as to what the non-negotiable conditions might be, Ethan was immediately intrigued.
He was already convinced from his online research that the Russian right-wing paramilitary groups were some of the most experienced in the world, and the opportunity for the Diehard Patriots to be trained by the commander of one was like manna from heaven.
When Ethan asked what the conditions were, he was immediately relieved.
Viktor told him there were only two. He explained that under current world tensions, he and his staff would not be able to travel to the United States under Russian passports but instead would be required to come as Dutch citizens with Netherlands passports.
He then asked if Ethan would agree not to reveal their true origins to anyone whatsoever, including family and fellow Diehard Patriots, just to avoid potential misunderstandings and immigration problems. Before Ethan could even respond, Viktor added the second: that he and his staff would need Ethan to provide them during their visit with a large, isolated residence, preferably one with a functional outbuilding, like a barn or a big shed, as well as a vehicle capable of accommodating all four of them.
Relieved by the ease of fulfilling such conditions, Ethan had agreed immediately and the rest was history.
The four Russians arrived via Montreal in mid-June, requiring Ethan to drive up to Champlain to pick them up in his Ford F-150, which turned out to be a mild problem.
Although Viktor was slight enough for Ethan to describe as scrawny and of moderate height, the other three were sizable and muscular, especially the two younger ones, Alexei and Dmitry, who were both in their late twenties and considerably over six feet.
The third, Nikolai, was about thirty and close to six feet exactly, which Ethan could tell because Ethan himself was six feet precisely.
With Viktor insisting on riding shotgun, the other three had to literally squeeze into Ethan’s rear bench seat for the two-and-a-half-hour ride back to Essex Falls.
During the ride, they all introduced themselves, and Ethan became progressively more optimistic about their visit, especially after learning that they all spoke flawless English, so communication was not going to be a problem.
And all the Russians expressed sincere eagerness to begin a militia training program to turn Ethan and his group into a true fighting force.
During the rest of that trip, Ethan was treated to a series of humorous stories of the group’s trials and tribulations in getting there, first traveling to Amsterdam via Istanbul, of all places, which Ethan wouldn’t be able to find on a map.
To his surprise, the group had had to cross the US-Canada border on foot and then hitchhike to Champlain.
Because he personally had never been out of the United States, Ethan took it all on face value, especially since, at the time, he was pleased and super thankful for the obvious effort the group had made to get there.
When they arrived at Essex Falls, Viktor insisted on a tour of the town, which Ethan was happy to provide.
Most of what the commander wanted to see, Ethan understood: the grocery market, the hardware store, and the liquor shop.
What Ethan found a bit strange was his interest in seeing the town’s Municipal Water Department and his asking about the fastest route to Albany.
But Ethan didn’t care one way or the other.
At the time he was completely overjoyed they were there and had high hopes that there would be enormous benefits for his beloved militia.
After the rapid tour, Ethan had driven the group four miles out of town to the Bennet Estate, the large and elaborate Victorian house with a sizable barn that the Diehard Patriots had rented for the visitors’ use, paying by the week.
He also gave them the keys to a four-year-old Dodge Ram pickup truck that was parked by the main house for their use during their visit.
He then told them he’d be back at five to take them to a celebratory dinner at Ted’s Diner, the oldest restaurant in Essex Falls, where they would have an opportunity to meet the other two founders of the Diehard Patriots.
As far as the lectures, seminars, demonstrations, and full-scale paramilitary operations and tactics were concerned, he was hoping that their scheduling would start the following day.
“Oh, glory be, he’s awake,” Janet Huber said superciliously, interrupting Ethan’s thoughts.
The edge to her voice was immediately obvious as she emerged from the bathroom dressed in a bright floral sundress.
She’d caught him shirtless and wearing only pajama bottoms while staring out the window as if in a trance.
Averting her eyes, she headed over to the bureau to grab her shoulder bag.
“Don’t tell me you’re still pissed?” Ethan shot back with an equivalent edge.
“Of course I’m still irritated,” Janet corrected, turning to look at him and putting her knuckles on her hips with arms akimbo.
“What do you expect after you come barging into the house at four a.m., crashing around, making a racket, and waking me up out of a sound sleep. I mean it’s one thing if you boys insist on running around in the woods for half the night playing games, but it’s quite another if you don’t have the sense and decency to come into the house without disturbing me.
I am, after all, the one paying the rent. ”
“We were on a major militia maneuver, not playing games,” Ethan snapped, struggling to corral his growing anger at her obvious disrespect.
“And I was furious for good reason. Only half of our supposed instructors showed up. And let me tell you, we made a lot of effort and went through a shitload of ammunition. The whole deal was one hell of a major undertaking.”
“From my perspective, it was just a bunch of men acting like adolescents, making fools of themselves,” Janet said with a dismissive wave. “But be that as it may, you should be glad no one got hurt. And why does it matter if only half of the instructors showed up if the operation went as planned?”
“Because the two instructors that didn’t show up are the commander and his lieutenant, and we are paying good money for them to be here.
I’ve insisted they show up countless times, but Viktor and his sidekick Nikolai are more interested in a brewery that they set up in the Bennet barn than helping the Diehard Patriots, which is the whole reason they’re here. ”
“A brewery?” Janet questioned with obvious ridicule. “Why in God’s name have they bothered to set up a brewery?”
“I’ve got no clue. And I don’t even know it’s a brewery to be entirely honest. That’s just what JD said he was told by one of them he plays basketball with occasionally.
But you know what? At this point it doesn’t matter.
I’ve had it! Last night was the absolute final time they are going to stand us up!
When the operation was over, I took one of them aside and told him in no uncertain terms that their visit to Essex Falls was over and done and that they had to get their asses out of the Bennet Estate today at the latest ’cause the rent is due.
And I made it crystal clear that I would get the police involved if they didn’t vacate immediately.
And to be sure I got their attention I said that I’d let the cops know there was something fishy about their IDs.
And let me tell you, I’m truly serious! I’m finished making threats and being ignored. ”
“Whatever,” Janet said with a roll of her eyes. “I’m out of here. But closer to home, let me warn you, mister, that you’d better mend your ways in general or you will be packing yourself. You’re skating on thin ice here!” She then spun on her heels and marched out of the room.