Our End Of The Lake: Surviving After The 2012 Solar Storm (Prepper Trilogy) (8 page)

“You Yanks I always heard were armed to the teeth; sounds like its going to be a bloody war zone.” Stewart said disgustedly.

“It beats the blood bath that’s going to happen in your country, Stewart. Your government disarmed the populace. How are the regular folks going to defend themselves?” Dave aimed in his direction.

“Yeah, seems I heard London is about half Muslim or foreigners now, and on top of that you got your own gang problems.” Dump said pointedly.

“Then, you got your soccer thugs that like to fight and play anarchist.” I offered.

“Too right! Too Bloody well, right! There’s going to be mayhem aplenty alright. In me own homeland, the Bobbies can’t take care of gangs now, let alone the ‘mayhem’ this whatever it is that has come upon us.” Stewart said angrily.

“Gangs run like military organizations and since enlistment ranks were low, we have let too many gang bangers into the military by lowering standards and they have brought back what they learned from that training to the streets.” I said ominously while reaching for another hot beer.

“Hey, guys, I don’t have the energy for it, but if someone wants to get a Co2 fire extinguisher off one of the vehicles around here we can have cold beer” I said hopefully.

“I ain’t getting up, but I want to know how it’s done” Dump said with an eye towards Stewarts direction.

“Me neither, I am worn out, but do go on with the story David” Stewart said almost apologetically.

“Well when I was in the Field Artillery we used to take one of those red carbon dioxide fire extinguishers off one of the tracked cannons and put the beer in a duffel bag and , WHOOSH! Cold beer I said laughing.

“Cool, would a pillow case work” Dump said contemplating.

“Should, but those duffels were sort of nylon canvas material, I don’t know if it would work or not, because cotton is pretty porous” I said trying to envision what might happen or not happen.

“Well, I’m not volunteering now, at the moment mind you, but I would be willing to give her a try later.” Stewart said rubbing the stubble where his beard was soon to be.

“I am just glad enough to be quit moving at the moment.” I declared and got assenting comments all around.

“Guys, I am not to worried about anyone invading our camp tonight, because this disaster is young; but lets talk a bit about that, because I want to go to sleep soon.” I said speculatively to my bunk mates.

“I been thinking about that, I will take a watch if you want David.” he offered in my direction and glanced over at an attentive Stewart.

“Well, I don’t see a high risk of a unguarded camp, but let’s kick it a bit. I think we need as much rest as we can get, while we can, and others coming our way if we let this fire go out won’t even know we are here, if they pass in the night.” I said considering the possibilities.

“Light discipline is a must, no telling what kind of moths will come to our flame if we were all sleeping. “Dump said looking pointedly towards Stewart’s passion for building bonfires.

“Dumpie, how long you been listening to Blake and crew kicking it?” I chortled.

“Light suppression,” I said laughing out loud “is one of those terms we bandy about, when I am not supposed to be smoking a cigarette at night.” I stated while firing me one up.

Dump got a devilish grin on his face, made worse due to the flickering flames of the campfire in back of him and responded with, “They say a sniper can see you light cig at a mile at night.” Dump produced from his overheard stash of soldier lore.

‘That’s a fact Truck; I used to have to hide under a poncho to keep smoking these damn things before. Hey! Anyone seen a cigarette truck, out here anywhere?” I said producing a loud laugh out of Stewart. He held up a crumpled half pack of smokes

”I was on the look out for one and had half of mind to try to charge you for these, but seeing that we are all brethren of the coast now, like a bunch of pirates, you may have them free with my compliments.” he said passing them over to me.

“Thank you, Stewart!” I exclaimed not even bothering to make remark about the brand name and deposited them in my shirt pocket.

“That just earned you a new pair of socks. I was going to wrestle a dollar out of you for… Rental mind you, like leasing shoes at the bowling alley.” I said smiling.

”Damn! Show you two a street corner and I bet you would own it in a week.“ said Dump grinning.

“Stewart, you don’t really have anywhere to go, you want to consider joining the Dump Truck Tribe? I need a resourceful soul like you. My last statement took Dumpie unawares and he turned to Stewart and said, “Come on the more the merrier! The Truck Tribe, I like that, awful nice of you David.” he said beaming in my direction.

“How about it Stewart?” I asked.

An uncomfortable Stewart squirmed in his chair and responded after a momentary pause.

“Gents, I am honored to be asked, and kindly fellows you are to have a use for an old man, but my travels need to be towards my kith and kin, if I ever want to see the shores of my own land again.” he carefully said with what looked like to be a tear welling up in his eye in this dim light.

“Stewart, do you have much family back home?” I softly asked, recognizing he was troubled.

“ Well, me Mum and Da passed awhile back, but I have my connections and my heart back home as I guess we all have our obligations and friends needing us about now.” he replied suppressing a show of emotion among men towards tears.

“Yes, my friend, I got worries and responsibilities a plenty too, that I sort of put out of my mind till now.” I said dolefully.

“Let’s talk about some brighter things and consider our dinner for the night, what’s everybody willing to share for the pot?” I inquired digging in my improvised pillow case bag for some Campbell’s chicken noodle soup.

“Hey, I got two of those.” said Dump producing his scavenging out of a similar sack, all the while looking like a bald, beardless, tattooed Santa Claus.

“I got ZILCH in the soup department, but I foraged us up a good fry pan out of a car over there, that has some more pots and pans in it.” Stewart said producing it.

“Well, it might taste a bit nasty, but for foods sake, Dump and I got a couple of cans of Tuna to add to it, so we got something to stick to our ribs past noon tomorrow.” I suggested.

“I just as soon have the soup and Beer.” Dump countered making a face.

“I am in agreement.” Stewart said looking similar to Dumps grimace of my culinary suggestion.

“Fine by me, but your belly is going to be touching your backbone soon enough and it won’t sound so bad.” I made them recognize, but did get in agreement that it was a bad idea for this evening.

“David, you want to stay with me awhile when we get to Newnan? Now, before you object, I got plenty of relatives living mostly close and they would take you in on my say so and you could restock and regroup a bit.” he said inquiringly.

“That’s awful nice of you Dump, and I may yet take you up on that, but I gotta get home. Can we talk more on the prospect” I said while not burning any bridges.

“Sure, just want you to consider it” he said forgiving an outright refusal of hospitality and possible stupidity on my part.

“We got a long road up ahead, Dump, all options are on the table, and I am thankful for your generosity, but I got folks needing me that are on my mind.” I said wistfully.

“Understood.” is all he said.

We all contemplated the fire light in silence for a bit, and the possible or improbable need to smother this soothing fire at the moment.

“Dump, can we go country route from here and get off the main drag?” I said, considering what I needed to explain next.

“Oh yeah, I been thinking about that, we can get off at the, uh, I think next or the one after that exit to head in my direction, but it’s out of the way for you.” he said studying me.

“I have some worries what an exit is going to look like off this maze.” I declared, thinking about my next statement before I carried on. “It’s going to look like a rock concert or a flash mob as folks wander in, and overwhelm what ever resources might be there” I suggested.

Stewart considered this possibility and its ramifications for a moment. ”David, what do you think the world trade center downtown Atlanta is going to look like come next week”? He said cautiously.

“Going to be hell, Stewart, every foreigner from every country is going to try to make their way there that got stranded in the city or highway.” I let that sink in for a moment.

“Stewart, not to alarm you, but make you aware; people that are different from mainstream in society start to get hated for whatever reason, after a disaster if recovery is not quick.” I said sympathetically, but directly.

“Shit, I am no better than a Paki blighter in this town, then.” Stewart said, thinking about his colonial roots and problems caused in his own cites. He went on further, looking off in the distance, as he could envision Koreans, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, Pakistanis, etc. all converging on one spot in a myriad of languages and confusion and being set upon by the locals, like this was somehow their fault or that they were not worthy of the same respect as humans as those that had more historic roots in the area.

“Dump, could you, I mean, would you give me your address in case I need to, what did you call it Dave, “Bug out” if it gets too bad?” Stewart said pleadingly.

“No problem, welcome to the Dumpie clan, if you need too, oops Tribe, right David?” He said extending his oversize mitt in Stewart’s direction, which was received and shook heartily.

“Let me find a bit of paper and pencil.’ Stewart said, while rummaging in his luggage.

“David, I got an old spinster cousin on the outskirts of Newnan. We should be able to make it to in a day or so, if we going the back way. “Dump said speculatively.

“A rest and a friendly face a day or two from now, might just be exactly what we need to recharge our batteries, my friend.” I said in agreement.

“Stewart, I’ll draw you map, or better yet, we find a regular road map in the morning and I will mark a route out.” Dump said turning towards the older Brit and grabbing another can of suds.

Almost simultaneously, Stewart and I said we had maps from today’s treasure hunt.

“You know that’s kind of dumb of me not to pick one up, just because I knew where I was headed.” Dump said a bit apologetically.

“Gotta think ahead. Right, Dave? Home may be where the map tells you, not your senses, I think you said.” He said eying the cans of soup sitting on the ground in front of him.

“Always have an alternate route and be ready with a detour at the worst possible moment is a plan indeed Dumpy.” I replied while digging out my key ring.

“You know how to use a P38 Truck”? I inquired producing one and handing it over for his inspection.

“Heard of them but never played with one” he replied unfolding the tiny can opener attached to the key chain.

“ Give her here , I know about such” said Stewart and half opened a can as a demonstration before passing it back to Dump to finish and practice on,

“Hell that’s about as quick as a regular one” Dump said gleefully reaching for another to start on.

“Its all in the wrist, once you master the technique there is nothing to it.” Stewart said reaching for the opened can and pouring the contents into his fry pan.

“Tell me a bit about your cousin Dump”/ I inquired.

“Well she is big as a house but not hard to look at” he began before Stewart and I started laughing at his description.

“Runs in the family” I said smirking at Dump

“See I told you he was a smartass” Dump said to Stewart handing him the other can but not taking any offense.

“ She’s had many a suitor but lives at the old family place by herself and just well, likes it that way and aged enough that men don’t come around much anymore” He said describing his relative.

“Hell of a cook though, Dave, if there’s something left to cook after the refrigerator and freezer turned off Dave, you’re in for a feast. She’s raising chickens though so I reckon we eat either way” he declared.

“Sounds like a winner to me! How far do you think her place is”? I questioned trying to discern the map in the dim light.

“I dunno, 8 or 12 miles, it’s a bitch to think about hoofing it versus driving it.” He contemplated.

“Well one day’s forced march” I offered.

“Probably, but you said something about staying out of the noon day sun and walking more at dusk like we were in the desert ‘ He countered.

“Well if we got a destination in mind we don’t have to pace ourselves that strictly “I contemplated.

“We will be there by 7 or 8 at night if we just take it light” I said hopefully.

“I am figuring about the same” Dump said rubbing his feet.

“Soups on” said Stewart digging in his picnic basket for some bowls and pouring straight out of the pan a portion for each of us.

“Don’t need to soil a spoon I will just sip it out of the bowl with my beer” Dump said.

“Even though at the moment we got lots of water to wash with, I second that” I declared.