Dust (32 page)

I finished his sentence, “Will make us stronger.”

“Exactly,” Tanner said. “Stronger. Strong enough to fight. To go on. To face tomorrow.”

“To make it better.”

“You got it,” Tanner whispered. “And believe me when I say, what a better tomorrow it will be.”
 

25. Sunshine
 

The wheels of the garage door rolled upon the tracks with a thunderous roar when Burke lifted it with a vengeance. He wasn’t just inching the sun in, he was blasting us with it. We knew the day before that it wouldn’t be long. Levels had started to fall, and the temperature began to rise.

Nineteen days AB, we were freed from our basement prison. It was a miracle. Even though the information and statistics Tanner had given me indicated how it transpired in other cities, I myself doubted it would occur so quickly.

I was wrong. As if in the snap of a finger, the sky went from dark to light. It was over. When Burke raised that garage door, we found ourselves staring at a bright, white wall. The blinding effect and pain didn’t last long. I wasn’t running or hiding to protect myself, I welcomed the sun and waited with anticipation for my eyes to adjust.

Burke and Craig wore what I called power sunglasses. Thick and black goggles they had stolen from the military. Therefore it made sense that they would see everything first.

“Ah, warmth,” Burke commented it. “Feel it.”

“Ah, bodies.” Craig said, “Smell them.”

“Huh?” Burke quickly looked at Craig.

“Bodies?” I questioned and stepped closer. “As in plural.”

“Bodies.” Craig pointed.

It was difficult to see, but the shape of them came in. Five bodies scattered about the backyard. One of which, clearly was Tammy’s. I turned. “How did they all get here?”

“Fuckin Tanner,” Burke replied. “They probably followed him.

“No,” Craig disagreed. “We were burning wood. We were a smoke signal of life.”

Burke snapped a finger. “Good answer. All right, let’s roll these down the hill. We aren’t gonna be around here much longer anyhow.”

Roll them down the hill? I questioned to myself. Like they were trash. Opting to go back into the shelter where more upbeat and positive things were taking place, I left Craig and Burke to ‘roll’ the bodies on their own.

It was obvious the feel of the shelter had changed. Hope arrived and despair lifted with the nuclear cloud.

The short hall from the garage brought me directly into a sunlight filled kitchen. Dan and Davy had the door open, while they packed things up. Dan spewed forth figures to Davy who wrote them down.

“Inventory again?” I asked.

Davy smiled, “Yeah, we wanna know exactly what we have for when we go to the cabin.”

“Any idea, Jo, what’s stocked at the cabin?” Dan questioned.

“Same stuff.” I shrugged. “More canned goods. The amount, I’m not sure. Why?”

“Just trying to get a grip.” Dan answered. “We were thinking, get everything we can ready to go on the truck, except one five gallon water, and food for lunch and dinner. That should be enough until we leave.”

“Sounds good,” I said.

“Mom? How are we gonna fit everything and us in the truck?” Davy asked.

“Well, Craig is going out to find another vehicle. We may have to jump start it; but fingers crossed, we’ll get one. If not, we make two trips.” I told him.

From the living room, with struggling words, Rod spoke up “Moving day is going to be a bitch.” He tied a sleeping bag. “Look at all these blankets.” He motioned his hand out. “Are we gonna need all these.”

“I don’t know. Burke said pack them,” I said, “And the clothes too.”

“Yes, we know about the clothes.” Rod nodded. “Nicky is excited about the creek, she said she can’t wait to wash clothes. Go figure.”

“Speaking of Nicky. Are her and Matty …” I pointed backwards.

Rod nodded. “Assessing our agricultural future.”

“I’ll be back.” Smiling, I turned and walked to the hall. The bedroom door was open and the window was unblocked. Matty and Nicky looked perplexed as they stood above the long line of baby food jars. “What’s wrong?”

“Some survived.” Nicky answered. “Some didn’t.”

“It’s still early, though,” I winked. “It should be June. We can plant more seeds after we remove what dirt we need to at the cabin.”

“How much, Mommy?” Matty asked.

“Books say six to eight inches. I don’t know, Sweetie. It will be hard to tell.”

“No.” Nicky shook her head. “If Craig’s invention works, it won’t be. I can’t wait until he unveils it. Oh!” She said brightly. “Matty, let’s tell him to try it.”

Cringing, I held up a hand. “Give him and Burke a few minutes. They’re … rolling bodies.”

Nicky mouthed to word, ‘bodies’ to me in question.

“Yep,” I said. “So work on packing those jars a little longer.” As I turned, I saw Craig’s invention on the floor—or rather, a sheet that covered it. “I’m excited to see what this is too. I hope it works.” Stepping to leave, Simon blasted in the room. “Whoa. Whoa.” I stopped him. “Slow down.”

“I want to help with jars, Aunt Jo. Tanner Niles said I could.”

“He did, did he? Where is Tanner Niles?”

“In my room.” Simon answered.

“Thanks.” I started to leave.

“Packing.” Simon added.

It made me pause. Everyone was packing, but why did I think Tanner’s was different. I left and went to the other bedroom.

I saw him placing things into a duffle bag that appeared already stuffed. Knocking once as a warning, I stepped in.

“Hey, Jo.” Tanner smiled. “Look.” He twitched his head toward the window. “The sun.”

“I see.” I walked in further. “Tanner, are you … are you leaving?”

He chuckled.

“I’m serious. I thought you were coming with us to the cabin.”

“I am.” He zipped up his bag. “But not yet.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have to get back down to the rescue station. I need to see if there is still a country. If I am still on active duty. The sooner I get there, the sooner I can find out.”

“Then what?” I asked.

“Well … if there isn’t anything, I turn around and come right back, head to the cabin tomorrow with you guys.”

“And if there is?”

“Then I have to do things right. I have to stay at the station. Finish what I started. Leave properly without causing a problem.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

Tanner lifted his bag. “It was my life, Jo.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just afraid you won’t show.”

“Jo,” He said my name as if I were being ridiculous. “I’ll be there. Now, come on walk me out.” Tanner started to leave.

“You’re going now?”

“The sooner the better. Didn’t Burke tell you? He knew I was leaving right away.”

“No, he didn’t tell me. You should have told me.”

Tanner stopped. “I thought I did. I mean, last night I said that if the levels were normal today I was heading to the station.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think you meant as soon as the garage door opened.”

“Then when? When was I supposed to go?” Tanner asked.

Slowly, I nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“And I’m flattered,” Tanner said. “Thank you for caring.”

“I’ll … I’ll walk you out.”

“Good.” Laying his hand on my back as a guide, we both looked at each other when we heard the excited cheers coming from the garage. Curious, we hurried that way.

Everyone applauded Craig. And as if he were accepting an award, he nodded to each person, with a look of pride upon his face.

“Look, Jo!” Nicky said excited. “Craig’s invention works.”

Geiger counter in one hand, Craig lifted a metal rod. “Now we can test, food, water, dirt, all for radiation it works.”

Tanner asked, “You made that?”

“Put it together myself,” Craig boasted. “What do you think?”

“I think that is awesome. Good job.” Tanner shook his head. “Do you want me to pick one up at the station, that way we have a back up for the one you made?”

Craig looked down at his invention. “You guys have these?”

“Yes.” Tanner answered.

“Great. Thanks. You could have told me earlier.” Craig turned and stormed out, murmuring, ‘asshole’.

Tanner lifted his hands in defeat. “I didn’t know he was building one.”

Simon tugged on Tanner’s pant leg. “Are you leaving, Tanner Niles?”

“Yeah, I’m leaving little man.” Tanner bent down and lifted Simon. “Do me a favor. You rest. OK? Listen to Davy.” After a kiss to Simon’s forehead, Tanner set him down, and turned to Matty. He crouched before her. “We’ll finish that story when I get to the cabin.”

“Don’t be too long,” she said.

“I won’t.” Standing, Tanner faced Davy. He laid a hand on his shoulder. “Take care of your mom, OK?”

Davy gave a closed mouth smile and a nod.

Extending a handshake, Tanner faced Burke. “You’ve been great. Keep that arm splinted. Got that.”

Burke grumbled. “Right.” He shook Tanner’s hand. “Thank you for everything. Even though …”

Sounds we hadn’t heard in forever caught our attention. A motor and a squeal of breaks.

Burke’s head cocked. “Was that a car?”

“Sounds like a jeep.” Tanner said. “Let’s check it …”

“Guys!” Craig, out of breath, stood outside the garage door. “You’re not gonna believe this. You are not gonna believe who it is.”

Everyone rushed out.

I whispered a hopeful, ‘Mona’ and followed the crew. Turning the bend to the driveway, I saw it wasn’t Mona. But the presence of him walking down the driveway overwhelmed me nonetheless. My knees buckled, my heart raced and I plowed through everyone to get to him. Tammy’s son Mick had arrived.

Mick was thinner, but otherwise, surprisingly he looked good. He looked very good. He wore camouflage gear and a military cap. I rushed to him and didn’t give the teenage boy a chance to respond, I grabbed him and hugged him.

“Oh, my God. You’re alive. You’re alive.”

“I’m strangling,” Mick grunted.

“Give the boy air.” Burke pulled me back.

My hand shot to my mouth, and I tried to catch my breath. “We thought you were dead.”

“Why would you think that?” he asked.

“We couldn’t find you.”

“I would have been here sooner, but they …” He pointed behind him. “Got hold of me.”

Two soldiers approached. Immediately upon spotting Tanner, they stopped, saluted and acknowledged him as ‘Captain.’