Our End Of The Lake: Surviving After The 2012 Solar Storm (Prepper Trilogy) (24 page)

Jack and I got up the next morning and got ready to go to the distribution point. “You going to have to just put that CZ 52 in your waist band, all I got for it is the military holster that came with it.” I told him.

“I don’t think it’s the season for open carry yet.” he replied and shoved the pistol behind his belt in his waistband and adjusted his shirt over it.

“I got a rolling backpack suitcase and a fold up little hand truck to take, so we can take to carry back whatever we get. Will most likely be a case of MRE each and those things will make it easier to carry.” I advised putting the hand truck inside the suitcase.

“I can carry that.” Jack said and collapsed the handle and slung it on as a backpack.

“I got an extra backpack with a frame around here somewhere that would probably work, but unless I took the stuff out of the boxes it would be too awkward.” I said considering all options.

Jack headed for the door and said, “This will be fine, you can figure out what you want to do different next trip.”

“You know I bet most people, probably 70%, would choose to stay in their homes for as long as the food in their pantry lasted, and are not going to walk over there today.” I said thinking about how many folks might be showing up.

“ Yeah, but you know the whole entitlement thinking bunch from around the neighborhood are not going to miss a free anything, no matter how far away it is.” Jack replied as we were walking along.

“Well, there are a lot of people who are sitting around waiting for the power to come back on; and they haven’t realized yet it’s not going to, not any time soon.” I offered.

“Within a few weeks, when people realize the power will not be coming back on, is when it’s really going to be hell out here.” I suggested looking around at some people starting to make there way I assumed towards the distribution point.

“Well you know the entitlement crowd in some of these neighborhoods is going to say they are not getting their fair share and then the rioting, looting and burning will begin, you seen it before David.” Jack said, remembering some of my disaster relief stories.

“Hard to say how many folks will show up today, most people don’t have more than a few weeks worth of food in the house, so I imagine a lot of people may be getting pretty desperate already.” I concluded and asked Jack if he wanted me to carry the pack for awhile, but he said it was light and declined my offer.

I spied somebody driving their way around the stalled cars in a vintage model T. and admired the sight with my buddy.

“Now there is a brave soul.” Jack said wondering about the safety of what appeared to be the husband and wife team riding in it.

“Money ain’t going to be worth shit pretty soon.” I mused aloud.

“What are you planning on buying and where?” Jack replied

“I want something that runs or a bicycle etc., I got some silver and some cash, if I can get someone to let go of something.” I speculated.

“Good luck on that, but knowing you, you will find some creative way of doing it.” he said, as we both began to sweat as the heat of the day started to rise.

“They will probably announce Martial law today, if they haven’t already.” I told Jack.

“I was already worried about a curfew when coming in last night, but I figured who the hell would be out to enforce it this early in the game.” Jack replied.

“No one’s going to be able to create but a very tiny amount of new food in the city and then you will probably see everyone trying to get to the country. Eventually, virtually everyone must leave the city, because there will be nothing left to eat; if they don’t burn it down first or kill each other off in turf wars. The means to produce new food here will not exist, except for the very few folks who have gardens, if they can protect them.” I said to Jack sharing my opinions.

His only response was to say, “Desperate people do desperate things.” And we just kept on walking.

Most people, I thought, would find it impossible adapting to a lifestyle without the public and private infrastructure which brought the necessities of life to the masses. If you take away electricity, clean water, flush toilets, communications, wheels, a full cupboard, a universally accepted currency, and stores full of things to buy; it’s not hard to figure out what happens next amongst so called civilized people.

“Jack, when we get back, I want to fortify the house some more. That’s if you sticking around for another day or two.” I said hoping to have his help doing a little barricading and determent.

“I will stick around for another day.” he responded.

“I don’t know why I am going to the bother. I will most likely bug out within the next two weeks, but better to be safe than sorry.” I said despondently.

“Where are you going to go?” Jack said full of interest.

“I am pretty sure; I will be going to the Lake.” I told him and wondering, if perhaps he would consider tagging along, or at least travel part way with me.

“You know the highways are not a pretty sight these days, there are bodies everywhere. Some folks couldn’t handle the heat, the stress, fear, or they were unaccustomed physical exertion of having to walk 20 or so miles to get home and it triggered heart attacks, strokes, etc and they died by the waysides.” I said painting a gruesome scene of rotting corpses and stench.

“I saw a few nasty sights on the way in. I was glad it was night and Lois couldn’t see much with all that stuff packed on top of her.” he replied, now pouring sweat as the temperature had gone up at least 15 degrees since we left the house.

“You know what our dumb asses forgot, David? To bring some water.” he said accusingly to me.

“I didn’t, but we only got two small bottles in that pack.” I said proudly, but also wishing I had brought more.

“I still can’t figure out how the National Guard units could even be mobilized; since how do they mobilize, if no one’s personal vehicles run and all communications are down.” Jack directed my way in hopes of an informed answer.

“I don’t have a clue on that one, only thing I can think of is that they were already drilling or had some advance notice to activate, from NASA maybe.” I said wondering the same thing.

“You know it won’t be long until millions more people die on the interstate trying to get out of the cities, to get with relatives or friends out in the country, thinking there is food there.” I told Jack, while reaching to share carrying the pack for awhile.

“What else you got in that thing besides a couple bottles of water, I know that little fold up hand truck doesn’t weigh that much?” Jack said scrutinizing the pack while being happy he was relived of the burden.

“72 hour kit.” I said smiling.

“We are only a 30 minute walk away, are you crazy? No, you’re a damn Prepper, never mind.” he said and, I think, picked up the walking pace just to punish me a bit for dragging the item along.

“It’s only a small one; I took the food out of it. Look, if you had been through what I have, you are never going to be without some basic survival gear again, no matter how short the trip is.” I said indignantly

“I guess.” Jack wearily said, knowing it was pointless to pursue the matter.

“Jack, watch your ass up here. It’s hot and some people will be getting all irritable and feeling froggy, unless there are several guards.” I advised as the shopping center came in sight.

“Yeah, I remember you told how after Hurricane Fredric that people started pulling guns on each other in the food stamp line, just because it started to drizzle rain.” he replied looking around to see how many people were coming down the same street we were on. There were only a few, but up ahead it looked like maybe thirty or so people had the same idea as we did to get here early.

“The crap usually starts with a shoving match or some idiots start cutting in line, and then the National Guard or the cops got to threaten to butt stroke somebody; but if not too many troops are around, it can get out of hand fast.” I said looking around at individual groups to see if I recognized any neighbors.

“Dang, they already hit the dollar store pretty good.” I said pointing out the debris strewn about and broken door glass on the shop at the far corner of the center.

“Let’s wander over to the end of the center; I want to see what it looks like on that road.” I said to jack and heading in that direction. There were only a few scattered fast food restaurants, a bank, a muffler shop and…what was that I see and peering closer in the distance.

“Hey Jack, come here and see what Santa Claus left us.” I said in a sneaky tone and pointing up the street.

“What are you looking at?” he said looking in the general direction, but not seeing what it was that had sparked my interest.

“Look on the side of that Muffler shop.” I prompted.

“You mean that trailer with the two ATVs? Will they run you think?” He whispered and getting inspired.

“I think so, probably have to push start them. Should be any simple engine should also work (Like ATV’s, riding lawnmowers, gas powered golf carts, etc.)” I said with interest in the prizes I had spotted.

“Do we come back and get them tonight?” Jack asked already contemplating a plan.

“No, I think we try to snatch them while everybody is concentrating on the government handouts and ride them back home the back way.” I said getting devious and grinning at Jack knowingly to his return of a devilish grin.

“One of us needs to wander over there and have a look around without paying too much attention to what it is we think has value. Just in case, we get observed.” I said while scanning the street and the parking lot folks that were halfway paying attention to our wandering around, but far enough away not to hear our conversation.

“Go ahead; I will wait on you here.” Jack replied.

“Ok, but look for Sherry and crew, they ought to be coming up here pretty soon and I need to give them that two way radio I brought.” I told him, while looking in the direction I expected them to arrive.

Jack replied, “Will do.” and I sort of meandered my way down the street towards what I hoped was rolling gold.

Dang, who the hell would break into a Long John Silvers Seafood fast food shop I thought, while walking by it? They had to been just looking for money, no other reason to get in one that I could think of. Got to be money, the Bingo arcade on the other side of the street was obviously broken into, too. Shit, I forgot about that Diplomat motel up on the bypass about a ¼ mile away. Anyone still staying in there is going to be showing up desperate and irrational today. Ok anyone around here
I considered, while scanning left and right and seeing Jack observing me at a distance and looking around the lot at the new arrivals keeping a watch for Sherry and crew.

I casually wandered over to the closed bays on the shop and peered in. There was a truck on one lift and a car on another.
That truck must have been hauling that trailer, maybe, I proposed. Let’s have a look at the trailer. Damn gates padlocked no keys in them. This little field trip is going to be noisy and obvious I got to thinking.

Ah ha! Somebody has already broken in the side door of the business. I cautiously pulled the door back and looked inside. Well there were plenty of tools around to get the padlock off and screw drivers and such to get access to the ignition wires.

Wait a minute, I bet if this truck went with that trailer, the keys to those things will be up in the cab. How the hell do I get into it, with it up in the air on the lift like that?
I thought and began looking around the room once more.

‘
I see said the blind man to
…’ echoed in my mind, as my gaze fixed on the roll around tool rack. A bit of pushing and shoving, pulling out a few drawers and I climbed my little stairway to heaven, up to the door handle and climbed into the cab. A quick search of the glove box produced two sets of keys. Bingo!

I was all full of myself and my ingenuity, as I proceeded to climb down back on to the drawer of the tool chest, when I damn near turned it over.

Careful David! There is no hospital for fools or thieves anymore,
I thought while easing back off of it.
Well, it ain’t theft if its not being used, and it won’t be the last thing I need to abscond with to survive these days, so quit thinking in that vein
. I admonished myself. I eased back out the door and headed back towards Jack.

As I neared Jack, he asked ‘Any Luck?’ by raising one eyebrow.

“Oh, yeah.” I responded grinning like a goat eating briars and jingling the keys before pocketing them.

“Sweet! Is that Sherry and friends coming this way?” he said turning to look at three girls trudging along and one pushing a little green plastic garden wheelbarrow?

“Yeah, that’s them.” I said moving to meet them halfway and noticing two of them had on mostly empty packs.

“Hey, David. Surprised to see you, Jack!” Sherry said as she walked up to me and embraced me.

“Damn, there are a lot of people here early.” her sister Sandra said surveying the swelling mob of people milling around.

“Well, if they are this early and this many, then real need is starting to show its ugly face.” I surmised.

Betsy had immediately unslung her pack and groused at Sherry by saying “We would have been here a lot earlier if you hadn’t spent half the morning adding unnecessary shit to these packs just to come up here.” giving her a snotty look.