Our End Of The Lake: Surviving After The 2012 Solar Storm (Prepper Trilogy) (17 page)

“I guess we need to watch that expression now, Randy.” I said looking bemused.

“Oh, yeah. Right.” Randy said a bit worriedly.

“Stay safe.” I said while warming up the tractor.

“I will try.” he said waving as I put it in gear and began to rumble of with the trailer clattering behind me.

I glanced at his neighbor’s houses as I chugged down the access road. Nobody to home, it looked like, but who could tell with cars and lights not being visible. Ah, I thought it’s the houses with cars that are at home obviously, but empty driveways not necessarily and reminded myself to stay cautious.

I am considering losing this trailer; these narrow roads are making me think it’s sort of impractical. Those look like wild turkeys on side of the road up ahead. Yes that’s what they are; the birds started slowly moving to cover as I got closer.

You always see a lot of game on these roads coming up here. Me and my ex girlfriend Sherry counted 8 deer just in one weekend coming up here. I don’t think they will be so tame, as soon as people start hunting them for food again, instead of just for recreation.

I hear a chainsaw off in the distance, see life goes on. This situation is really bad, but not as bad as most people will think it is. We are not totally back to the 1800s yet. A lot of stuff still works by design or lucky chance; it’s just going to take a lot of getting used to.

Right now everyone is feeling the ‘cascading effect’ of an EMP event. If electrical power is knocked out and circuit boards fried, telecommunications are disrupted, energy deliveries are impeded, the financial system breaks down, and then food, water and gasoline become scarce. It is the being ready for this sort of thing and not panicking, that I have been preaching for years.

Even if people were not heeding the Sun’s warning signs NASA was monitoring, just taking an all hazards approach and preparing for something like a hurricane would help prepare them for something like this.

The government, all though it hasn’t done a lot of EMP planning, has done some and has hardened a lot of its strategic and tactical communications systems. The phone company and the government have the emergency communication system beefed up to handle this, somewhat; but I remember from my studies, even though they have special concrete bunkers housing emergency communication equipment, they made sure to leave it unplugged just in case.

I am not sure exactly what we got hit with, if I can find an undamaged AM radio, maybe I can get some news. I know we have hardened transmitters for such, but who knows if the operators could get to work that day. That’s the problem with planning for this sort of thing, too many what ifs and a government that doesn’t like to think outside of the box.

.The private sector owns and operates a large majority of our critical infrastructures and key assets, but most haven’t spent the money to prepare for anything like this, although the threat has been known for years.

I see my turn off ahead to get to Jenny’s cabin and start slowing down for it. There are not too many houses on this point and several vacant lots still available that not too many people want, so it is a short drive down the access road.

I do not see any vehicles; they probably were not even close to here
. I walk up to the door, knock, and holler hello. Nothing, just silence. I am considering going down to the lake to have a wash up before I carry on, when I hear, ‘Hello!’ and see a short old man walking towards the yard.

“Hi. I see Jenny and Lyle are not at home.” I said careful to say I knew the couple, because cabin owners look out for each other, and also because he looked to be wearing an old Ruger hog leg pistol on his belt.

“Nope. Name’s Bernie.” he said relaxing and going into friendly lake neighbor mode.

“Mine’s David. I was just coming by to check on them.” I replied.

“I haven’t seen anyone for over a week, except that neighbor across the slew over there.” he said gesturing at the large brick house about 200 yards across the finger of the lake.

“Donnie is a retired weather man, he bicycled his way over here a day or so ago and explained to me what he thought had happened.” Bernie said looking towards his house.

“I bet you didn’t know anything happened for a day or two.” I said knowingly.

“I thought the power was just out, but I did notice the lack of boat traffic on the lake and wondered what was up.” Bernie said looking at my old tractor.

“You like my old heap, it’s ugly and noisy as hell, but so far it’s been a good ol’ work horse.” I said while moving towards some shade.

“I used to have one similar back on my Daddy’s farm, they are pretty dependable.” he replied and joined me in the shade.

“I see you might be expecting trouble.” I said motioning towards his holstered weapon.

“I am not sure what’s going on, I heard a lot of gunfire last night and I figured better safe than sorry. So I grabbed my old .357. I like this old single action, the sights are big enough for me to see.” He said taking it out and replacing it rather quickly.

“I have a Blackhawk too, is that the 9mm/357 combo or just .357 model?” I asked looking down at the handle sticking out of the worn holster.

“It is just .357, I couldn’t find one of the 357/9mm combo ones with extra cylinder when I was looking.” he replied.

“I was about to start making me some lunch, would you care to join me?” Bernie said looking me over.

“I don’t want to impose.” I said not wanting to be offered more fish again and trying to possibly decline the offer.

“I got flapjacks and spam.” he said as if it was the biggest delicacy in the world.

“Hey, sounds good, I appreciate it.” I replied following him back towards his cabin.

“I got coffee, too.” he chirped opening his screen door to his house.

“You just made my day!” I laughed and followed him into his kitchen.

He had a Camp Chef outdoor camp oven perched on his regular electric stove and had it hooked to a big tank of propane instead of a canister.

“I always wanted one of those.” I said admiring it.

“She works great.” he said taking a old granite ware coffee percolator off the top and getting an extra cup out of his cupboard for me.

“Real coffee?” I exclaimed in anticipation and looking big eyed.

“I don’t like instant, if you want sugar or canned creamer I got that.” looking at me questionably.

“Black is fine.” I said receiving my mug and relishing its aroma as he sat down with me at the kitchen table.

“You going to stay at Jenny’s awhile?” he said taking a sip out of his cup.

“No, I am headed to Montgomery, but I think I will drop that trailer over there.” I said looking across the table.

“I heard that thing rattling all the way down the drive. Might be a good idea if you trying to travel faster or quieter.” he remarked looking out on the lake.

We talked about my trip in from Atlanta and what conditions of the roads were in, while he puttered around the kitchen putting together a meal for us. I asked him which roads he suggested, because I did not really want to have to drive all the way through the middle of the small town Tallassee to get back on the interstate, in case someone decided they wanted to take my trusty old ride.

“Well, you can go back down the way you came in and just head due south, when you get a chance.” Bernie offered in between bites of one of the best meals I’d had in a while.

“I always get turned around up here. Which way is South from here that skirts the towns?” I complained.

“If you got a watch, I’ll teach you a neat trick.” he said nodding in affirmation and carrying on after I held mine up.

“It’s called orienting by watch: Hold the watch level, point the hour hand at the sun. South is midway between the hour hand and #12 in the smallest angle.” He said demonstrating

“That’s a useful thing to know thanks.” I said trying it out for myself.

“Hey, David, you could do me a favor since you’re headed that way. I got a friend I want you tell I am ‘doing ok’ if you would.” While watching me, but already reassured I would stop on my way.

“His name is Roland Stiles. He has a horse farm about 10 miles from the interstate and he will show his appreciation for you stopping to tell him I’m okay.” he said, meaning there could be a reward in doing it for him.

“He doesn’t happen to have kin in Newnan named Philburn Stiles does he?” I inquired.

“He sure does, you know Philburn?” he asked excitedly and gazed at me intently.

“I just met him about three days ago.” I laughed and carried on. “Boy, do I have a story for you!” I replied draining my cup and starting to gather up the dishes.

“Those dishes can wait; I want to hear about how you come to know that old skin flint uncle of Roland’s. Lets go down to the dock, where it’s cooler.” he said and pushed his chair back and lead the way.

“Well, he is not so tight fisted anymore.” I replied and commenced to tell him how I acquired the tractor and how Philburn had to ride home on the back of an ugly purple girls bicycle.

“Ha! Ha! HA! That is the funniest shit I have heard in a long time. I need a beer after that. You want one?” He said pulling a burlap bag up by a rope that was soaking in the water at the edge of his pier. “I can’t wait to hear about the look on Roland’s face when you tell him that story.” Bernie said chuckling and handing me a beer

“So that’s my tractor story.” I declared and popped the top on a semi cool can of refreshment.

“I don’t know Ray, but if I ever get to see him, I sure want to shake his hand for getting one over on ol Papa Stiles.” Bernie said still sniggering and looking towards the tractor we had been discussing.

“What do you want me to tell Roland when I see him?” I asked, turning back towards Bernie and enjoying the lake view once more.

“Tell him, if he can, to check on me come Christmas, I would be obliged, if he don’t get by before then. Come to think of it, tell him late fall might be good, I don’t have any wood cut for winter and I will probably be burning whatever I can get in order to get by.” he said reconsidering and growing silent.

“I saw a house around the bend with about half a cord stacked up. If no one’s to home I will transfer it here, if you want.” I offered, wanting to repay his kindness of food and libations.

“Which one, that old blue house with the green looking shutters you say? Those folks live in Birmingham; they hardly ever make it down. I would dang sure be obliged if you would David. I won’t be much help cause of my high blood pressure, but I will help you to get it.” He said looking very grateful.

“You just enjoy the hay ride up and back. If anyone is around to object, I want a local to explain what it is we’re doing and I would like the presence of that old hog leg of yours around, too, if I run into any trouble.” I said while sucking the bottom out of the can.

“I will go you one better than that, I will get my 20gauge and ride shotgun,” he said laughing and going for another pull on the rope to get us each another beer.

“David, I got a proposition for you.” he said looking at me determinably

“I am listening.” I said.

“Let’s go get that weatherman over there to help.” he said rising and waving at the neighbor on the opposite side of the slue, who had just appeared and was looking in our direction. “Hey!” He yelled over to the man, while waving his hands and gesturing for him to come to the edge of the water, so they could hear each other.

“I need your help moving some firewood, can you help?” he called back across the water.

“I can ride my bike over later.” the man reluctantly called back.

“We got a tractor that runs!” Bernie yelled gleefully back.

“Do what?” the perplexed man called back.

“Hang on a minute.” Bernie yelled, then to me, “David, can you fire that thing up and pull it around the house so he can see?” Bernie asked me while yelling out again, “Just a minute!” to his near, but far neighbor.

“That thing’s cantankerous, but I will get it going.” I said hurrying towards it.

“Just sit tight over there. I got something to show you.” Bernie hollered back across water as the other guy made a motion towards his gazebo and headed that way to take a seat and wait for the unknown surprise.

Bernie headed over my way to watch me sweating over cranking the old beast. He was pretty good about not offering too much advice and when it fired up he hopped on the fender beside me, just like he had done the same thing a hundred times before, and pointed towards the backyard of Jenny’s cabin. As we rounded the house I could see the man had already heard the thing and had jumped up and was beckoning for us to come on over looking like an overzealous sports fan.

“Be there soon!” Bernie tried to holler back to no avail and just waved the guy back to his house.

“Let me get my shotgun and grab the rest of the beer and we can go over there.” he said dismounting.

Bernie came back and climbed up in the trailer and situated himself, while I put the beer in an empty tool box welded to the frame on the side of the engine.

“All set.” Bernie hollered and I liked to have took the poor guy of his feet, as I released the clutch and brake and headed up the drive way.