Our End Of The Lake: Surviving After The 2012 Solar Storm (Prepper Trilogy) (9 page)

“We going to leave at first light or as soon as I wake up Stewart. As us country boys say, I feel like I been road hard and put up wet” I said venting how tired I was but I don’t think Stewart understood my saying. The party continued on for awhile and despite my own admonishment not to over indulge we did and I woke to the sun rising with the mung head.

“Wake up call Dump, I said to my traveling partner who appeared to my bleary eyes to be a beached whale.

Stewart stirred and sat up remarking “Blimey the world ends and we still gotta go to work”

“Dump wake your big ass up buddy” I said nudging him.

“I am awake, I just can’t move yet “Dump said rising up on one elbow blinking at the sun.

“Its early as hell and getting hot already” he moaned.

“Anybody wants some coffee” I offered

“You will not be putting that foul brew in me pot” said Stewart reaching for his tea pot.

“Hey compromise buddy, I just need some hot water and I am in charge of remaking the fire” I said staggering to my feet,

“That’s right you got instant, sorry it’s just that I got my pot seasoned just right” Stewart said while regaining his own feet.

“Dump you think that cousin of yours is going to object to some night visitors” I said

“Do what”? He replied still trying to orient himself.

“She ain’t going to take a pot shot at us appearing after dark in the middle of this shit is she” I explained.

“Oh, no, she probably just thinks the powers out and hasn’t even tried her car yet, she don’t get out much.” He said moving the Van as he used it for support to get up.

“Damn you said a mouthful then Dump, I wonder how many people actually don’t know the shit hit the fan yet” said Stewart observing my fire building tepee skills.

“My mom for one” I said with a twinge.

“It will be alright buddy” said Dump patting me kindly on the back.

“Gotta get home” I responded despondently and resumed my arranging some sticks and trash together to light.

“How old is she Dave”? Stewart asked.

“85 and feisty as hell, she’s been thru hurricanes she will be ok till I get there” I responded with a nod to myself.

“My Mamma is probably out in her garden cussing about the electricity because the well pump won’t work for her to water it” Dump said with a big yawn.

Dump and I had a cup of coffee and Stewart enjoyed his tea as we all contemplated our soon separating of the ways.

“Stewart, it’s been nice, we gotta head out. Want me to wash up these cups”? I asked gesturing towards them.

“No, I got the KP today, going to miss you blokes” Stewart replied extending his hand for a shake.

”You going to do well Stewart, but don’t lose Dumpies address” I said while getting my gear together.

“ Oh I am going to do fine, you mates even made me a proper hotel if your not going to be being taking your mats along with you” Stewart chuckled.

“Mats are free, laying on them costs a dollar” Dump said hugging him around the shoulder with a smile.

He looked at us seriously for a moment and said “Fare thee well”.

“And to you, Stewart.” I replied and we set off on our journey towards our destinations with the sounds of our temporary host washing up and whistling a tune; and now and then singing a few words, the only ones I could catch though were ‘Fare thee Well, Fare the Well…’ sending us off.

“Fine fellow” Dump said breaking my thoughts of what lay ahead today.

“That he was, entertaining to say the least” I exclaimed while re-shouldering my pack to the opposite side and already sweating out a few too many beers.

“Looks like some more early starts ahead “said Dump gesturing towards a line of people off in the distance.

NOT NECESSARILY THE RIGHT ANSWER

The Group in front of us grew in size as we approached and I could start making out faces. Leading the pack appeared to be a Georgia Highway Patrol Officer in full regalia and every age and race following up his advance.

“Hello” I said as we approached.

“Hi” came back the suspicious response from the LEO.

“How’s it looking down the way?“ I questioned him surveying the pack of bedraggled strangers.
Something wrong here I thought
. The wayfarers looked more subdued and fearful than I would have expected.

“Pretty bad multi car wreck a mile or so back, it’s kind of gory so you might want to change lanes” He said sizing us up through dark sunglasses.

“How about the way you came, any trouble?” he said expectantly, surveying the road we just came down

“Not too many wrecks” I offered.

“Many people?’ he countered.

“No, it’s pretty deserted most everyone seems to have headed for the nearest exit.” I replied eying the group who seemed to be making a point of not paying too much attention to our conversation.

“Any water?’ he asked pointedly.

“Uh yea, possibly there’s a Perrier truck over in the other far lane” I said diverting him from “Stewart’s store”.

“Was it open” he asked like I was supposed to produce my driver’s license or something.

“Didn’t look in it, I don’t like the taste of it anyway” I nonchalantly said back.

“Thanks” he replied and then waved his hand like he was leading a wagon train or something and said “Let’s move out”! and crossed over the median to the other lane.

Dump was looking puzzled and asked “why did you do that?”

“I got a feeling that gung ho freak might try to say Stewart was looting or something. I am wondering if some of those people following him are prisoners or just refugees putting up with him for protection.” I said watching the band of people moving off the road.

“They might just miss Stewart entirely over in that far lane. Did you really see a Perrier Truck over there?’ Dump inquired

“Thought I did...“ I said grinning and turning to resume our trek once more.

“That looks like a good place to crossover” Dump said gesturing towards a break in the median barrier ahead.

“Yea it does. You know I found 500 bucks under the mattress of the truck I was in yesterday. You need some?” I asked.

“That was a lucky find. Not much to spend it on out here but it might be useful later on. If I need some Ill holler at you” he said while already starting to sweat profusely as the day was warming up. We trudged along occasionally making small talk for the next couple miles and then took the exit ramp to the county road Dump directed me to take.

“You know you might be able to buy a gun of some sort off my cousin, she inherited a bunch of them from her uncle and father awhile back and I don’t think she ever did much of anything with them.” he advised me.

“Damn, that would be great Dump!” I said looking down the mostly desolate two lane road we had begun traveling on.

“How far do you think we have to go now?” I asked while thinking it was time for another break.

“Maybe 5 or 6 miles as the crow flies.” he replied.

“Let’s take a break under that billboard and rest for a bit.” I said heading off the road and into the weeds.

“We’re making better time than I thought today. What’s your watch say David?” Dump asked.

“I got 2.30. So maybe we’ll get there about 5.30 or 6.” I guessed.

“How far is your place from your cousins”? I said while retrieving a bottle of water from my pack and some cheese crackers.

“About 18 miles but it’s in the opposite direction from the way you want to go.” he replied while cracking open a can of Vienna sausages.

“You want to hang around my cousin’s a day or two?” he said between mouthfuls.

“I could use a day to rest up, my feet are pretty sore from these dress shoes” I said dreading the next 5 miles.

“I will hangout with you; I don’t have to be right back for any particular reason.”

“Good maybe we’ll see another beer truck on the way.” I joked.

“I imagine my Cousin’s got some if my relatives haven’t been visiting and drank it all up.” Dump said with a sigh as he retied his horseshoe pack.

“Well, let’s get ‘er done” he said resuming our march under the broiling sun.

HOMECOMING

“Come on and cut across this field Dave, might save us a mile or two” he said while looking for a good place to hop the barb wire.” This acreage borders the cross roads and runs almost up to my cousin’s property.” Dump said gingerly stepping over a low spot in the rusty barbed-wire fence.

“Looks like who ever own this sold off most of their cattle or changed pastures.” I remarked while picking my way across the field.

“Yea appears so, if he sold them, I bet he regrets it now.” Dump said avoiding another cow pie in his path.

“There’s a fish pond we can visit back in here tomorrow if you want, but I think probably we’d rather just lay around the house recovering.” he said navigating our way cross country.

“I like that second option better. Any hope of scrounging up a bicycle from one of your relatives, Dump?” I said wishfully thinking.

“Might be one in my cousin’s garage, I’ll remember to ask her later.” he added.

“We will get back on the road up here; her house is only a few hundred yards away.” Dump said gesturing towards a mail box up the road.

We were following the driveway towards a big wooden house with a wrap around porch, when we heard the screen door slam and a stout pudgy women appeared and hollered “Bill, so nice to see ya!” and sort of waddled down hurriedly towards us.

Dump speed up and met her half way and they hugged one another.

“Martha, how are you doing” Dump now called Bill said all smiles and holding her out to arms length.

“Fair to middlin’. Come on to the house.” she said as she herded us towards the porch.

“Phew! Bill what you been doing you smell awful”. She said turning her nose up.

“Been walking for a couple days”, he said plopping down in a chair.

“Why would you need to do that for Bill” she declared with concern.

“Martha this is David” and she and I exchanged pleasantries as I took up residence in another chair next to Dump.

“Told you she wouldn’t have noticed” said Dump in my direction.

“Noticed what?” she said crossly eying Dump anew.

“Martha we are in deep shit, the worlds been hit with a thing called EMP and the lights wont be coming on anytime too soon” he declared and proceeded to explain for the next hour just what that meant.

“Well I wondered what knocked the power out a few days ago and I was thinking about going over to your Uncle Jakes and see how they were getting on, but you say no cars will work?” Martha questioned while shuffling for her keys to go out and prove it to herself.

“This is like a bad Sci-Fi movie David” Martha said addressing me skeptically.

“Bill said you were some kind of FEMA folk, are they going to be coming to help out during this?” she demanded to know.

“I explained, not for a long time to come.” but left her with a little hope on a possible arrival someday.

“Well I know you boys is hungry, Bill get your friend something to drink out of that cooler and ill fix up some supper.” she said bustling about.

“I had me some frozen milk jugs in the freezer that I put in there and they are not quite melted yet so the drinks will still be cold” she added.

Dump handed me a coke and resumed his seat.

“I got lots of meat in the freezer that will need cooking; you boys want to have a cook out tomorrow?” She inquired

“Sounds good to me” I offered while Dump agreed also.

“ I got a bunch of old blankets wrapping up the freezer so I might get a few more days before I need to get it out there” she considered.

“Hey Martha, you got any bicycles in your garage?” Dump asked and I turned to see the response.

“I just got my old one from when I was young, tires probably flat but there’s a pump in there” she said pointing in the direction of a barn like building.

“Mind if we have a look” said Dump rising.

“Help yourself, but you won’t be able to ride it I don’t think Bill, maybe David could. David if you get it going, you mind delivering a message for me about a mile from here?” she said looking at me.

“Be glad too” I said willing to do most anything at this point to get use of a bike.

Bill and I walked over to the shed and opened the door. Assorted tools and junk was everywhere but leaned up against one side was an ugly old purple girls bike complete with banana seat, ape hanger handle bars with streamers, a bell and a white basket in front. The tires were only half flat and after locating the pump we filled them up and wheeled the bike out of the shed.

“Your chariot awaits.” Dump said with a flourish towards the frilly machine.

“Well there’s no doubt folks will see me coming on that thing.” I said mounting it and taking it for an experimental spin around the yard.