SELF APOCALYPSE
Published by John French at Smashwords
Copyright 2012 by John French – All Rights Reserved
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Self Apocalypse
Chapter 2 A Plan is Needed
Chapter 3 Preparing
Chapter 4 Falling Apart
Chapter 5 Strength in Solitude
Chapter 6 Things Are Looking Up?
Chapter 7 Survival
Chapter 8 Silence is Broken
Chapter 9 Searching for Answers
Chapter 10 The Decision
Chapter 11 A Place of Rest
Chapter 12 Familiar Eyes
SELF APOCALYPSE
The sky filled with a deepening blood red as the sun began to disappear behind the mountains. The view from the cliff I stood on was amazing. It was almost enough to make one forget the troubles and burdens we were now facing. As I watched the sun fade from existence with only a brilliant patch of red remaining, my mind wandered to what tomorrow may bring. It was late spring now, so I still had time enough to plan my next move. I walked back to tonight’s lonely campsite hidden amongst the pines. What light was left was dimming fast now, and I hurried my steps in order to light a fire before it was completely dark. I carefully approached the site, scanning the area for any unwelcome company. I knew I was alone in these high mountains, but you can never be too sure.
My fire pit was already prepared, and just two strikes from my fire striker lit the blaze just as the day’s final bit of light vanished. Another night alone, not knowing if the chaos would end, or if I’d even be alive to have another fire tomorrow night. Ah, the warmth of the fire felt good. I hadn’t been able to have one in the last couple of nights. My presence would easily have been detected, and at this time the dark loneliness was a better option than a possible confrontation. I didn’t have a shelter yet, so tonight will find me in my blanket by the fire. But first I’ll be enjoying this trout I caught earlier this evening. It had been a while since I’ve had a hot meal. Hopefully this night would be the first of a few, or even better, many to come. Tomorrow I would set up an expedient shelter just to get through the next couple of weeks. I had also planned to leave some of my gear behind and scout the area. As long as I was safe here and had ready access to food sources, I would end up staying for a time while I regained my strength.
I laid down by the fire, watching the fish cook slowly and remembering the past events as they flashed back into my mind. It had been a long road to get to this point. A hard one too, and not without its peril or fear. Fear seemed to encompass everything now, causing the chaos that now ran amuck. I still had hope for the future though, and my faith was still strong enough to see me through.
I poked at the fire a bit and checked the fish, thoughts of events still flashing rapidly through my mind. I guess that’s what happens when you are alone for a good amount of time. I once heard that loneliness is like a dark shadow, a living creature if you will, that will slowly feed on one’s mind and fear until you die or become mad. I guess the creature was starting to nibble at my mind and emotions, but I have remained strong thus far and would continue to do so. I knew once I had beaten the lonely shadow lurking in the back of my mind, I could then turn it into a calming silence that I could live with. Yet, as I watched the flames dancing within the fire, those memories kept reminding me of what life once was.
No one saw it coming. I mean sure, we all knew it would happen, but no one saw it happening this way. You always heard some people speaking of the end of the world, and everyone knows about the end days in religion, but I guess this wasn’t really the end. At least I hope not. The signs were there though. Failing markets, fuel costs rising, cost of food becoming too much to bear. Some had to start deciding between gas to get to work, or food on the table. Unfortunately, without the gas there was no job, thus no food anyway. So most began to go hungry. Sure there was help available. That is until people couldn’t, or wouldn’t, help anymore. Even the government wasn’t able to help anymore. They did do a decent job though for as long as they could, but sound decisions made on their part earlier on would have prevented the whole problem to begin with I guess. They took it too lightly though, just like everyone else. Maybe that was the real problem. People not taking the issues seriously. Thinking they would be fine, it wouldn’t affect them, and that no circumstance could wreck the nation. Well they were right, it didn’t wreck the nation. The growing problems wrecked the entire world. Oh don’t get me wrong, some of us did see the problems and prepared. Some better than others. We were the ones that held out the longest, and have been in the best position since. However, the better part neglected to embrace the warnings and so sealed their own doom. That is part of what caused the mass hysteria. People not being prepared. No provisions. No plan. Just panic, fear, self destitution, and finally violence. We all bore witness to these horrific events. I just wish there was something we could have done to stop the chain reaction. But where could we have put a stop to it? Where did it really begin? And could we have really known? I took the trout off the fire and let it cool for a moment. My hunger wouldn’t wait long though, so I began tearing at the hot meat. After eating I laid down on my blanket and drifted off into a deep sleep.
Chapter One
Three Years Ago
“Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the
face of the sky and of the earth;
but how is it that ye do not
discern this time?”
-Luke 12:56
I woke as usual, heavy headed and not wanting to rise from bed. After hitting the snooze button a few times more I got up and headed to the kitchen. It was dim and dreary outside, the rain came as a steady mist soaking the world outside. I made a cup of coffee and sat down in front of the TV. It was my day off, but I would watch the news and opening bell to see how today was starting off. Already the day was becoming gloomier as news of violence and strife continued yet another day throughout the world. The news from Wall Street wasn’t any happier. Oil prices continued to rise and fall, then rise again as wearily expected. Precious metals seemed to continue their price dance upwards, and the market still seemed to show the illusion of good health. I would normally drink six cups of coffee on this day. However, today’s cup cost me the same as three cups did just eight months ago. So I would have two. No, better make that one. I would have to conserve the coffee as everything else due to the weekly rise in costs.
I stared out the window while listening to an economist spilling his words about how we were still not affected by inflation. His words echoed madness in my thoughts as I pictured dollar signs being consumed with each sip of my coffee. I was almost lost in deep thought while watching the rain, when the phone startled me from my trance. I looked at the caller id. It was Ryan from work. I was hoping he was calling to tell me I was getting a raise. Most likely though, the way things were going, he was calling to tell me not to bother to come in anymore.
“Hello.” I tried masking my uncertainty.
“Hey, you enjoying your day off?” Ryan’s voice didn’t seem convincing, but it didn’t seem to hide ill intentions either.
“Actually”, I tried sounding enthusiastic, “I was hoping you were calling to have me come in for overtime. I’m worried about where my next cup of coffee is going to come from.”
I could hear Ryan’s low laughter, and could almost picture his smile as he spoke. “Yeah, about that. The coffee maker here broke and we can’t replace it, so you’d better bring in a thermos next week.”
I almost broke down in grief until the later part of his sentence sunk in and erased the coffee issue. “Next week? I’m in tomorrow. I only took one day off remember?”
“Yeah, about that too. Were uh, asking people to take the week off. The work just isn’t available right now. You can use your time on the books though, and you have been talking about taking some time. So here’s your chance. Consider it a turn of luck, not misfortune.” Ryan always tried to look on things in a positive manner.
“I guess you’re right. I do have some things to take care of.” What I was thinking was screw you, keep the no work available job. The only thing I had to take care of was making more money. “I’ll see you next week then. I’ll fill out a time form then ok?”
“Sounds good. Hey, cheer up. Things can’t go on like this much longer.” I could tell Ryan felt like he was lying to himself. He was in a very bad way, and unlike me had a family relying on him to boot.
“Well, we can only hope. I’ll see you next week Ryan.” I didn’t even wait to hear him say good bye. I just hung up the phone. Deep down inside I had a sick feeling I wouldn’t be seeing him next week.
I stood up and shut the TV off. I looked around my small one bedroom apartment. It wasn’t much, but it was somewhere to crash for the night and hide from my troubles. I didn’t need to hide from my troubles though. I needed to hide from the world right now. I looked at a picture of my father and me a few years back at our camp. Those were good memories. Before things went completely sour. He had bought fifty acres in the mountains fifteen years ago and called it our place to escape the real world. We ended up pulling a large camper on the property for a place to sleep in. Worked out slick too. He didn’t have to pay taxes on the trailer being there, so it wasn’t hard to hold on to the property. He left me the property and trailer in his will, but I hadn’t visited the place since he passed away. I was starting to think now would be a good time. I needed to get away from everything, and I also needed to come to terms with my father being gone. It was definite I thought as I looked about. I would start prepping now and leave this afternoon. If everything worked out right, I’d be building a fire at the old campsite just before sunset.
After taking a shower I began to pack my bag. I also decided to bring my old fatigues from when I served in the military. It was wonder they even still fit me. There was still a bow saw and axe at the camp, and if I remembered right there was plenty of wood still stacked. I wasn’t going to bother bringing up a propane tank. The nights were warmer now so I wouldn’t need the heater, and I could just cook over a fire instead of using the camper’s stove. I packed the rest of my clothes, some gear, a knife, and my fishing pole for the river, and I was ready to go. I looked over everything one more time then placed all of it by the door to go. I grabbed my wallet and glanced around the apartment again. Yeah, one more coffee I decided.
While I had my coffee I watched the news so I could catch the weather. I was hoping this rain would stop, or at least I was hoping for fairer weather in the mountains. The rest of the day looked bad, but it was suppose to clear up tonight. The next two days looked promising. I would definitely be able to get some fishing in. I finished my coffee, grabbed my gear, and out the door I went. I was already starting to feel better. Maybe this was exactly what I needed.
I loaded the truck and headed out. I was going to stop at a grocery store on the way up. I stopped to get gas first, and bought a cup of coffee to go. I shook my head. “So much for one cup today.” I said to myself. It didn’t matter anymore. I was going camping. I was going to escape everything for a time and recharge my batteries. Have you ever noticed when you’re excited about getting to somewhere the universe seems to intentionally slow you down? I found myself stuck in traffic only a hundred feet from the on-ramp to the highway. I could see my ticket to freedom, but I could also see the accident. I found myself stuck in this soup of disaster for almost an hour before the emergency crews were able to get traffic moving again.
As I drove onto the highway I took the last sip of my coffee. I’ll get just one more when I stop to get food. Yeah, that’ll be four. I guess I never really cut down. Might even be my downfall someday. I turned on the radio and just cranked it. I was feeling like nothing was wrong, and I had total control over my life.
* * * * *
I must have been having too much fun on the highway, because before I knew it I was at the last big town before the mountains. I got off on my exit and started my way towards the grocery store. I had to move quick. That last coffee was now bearing down on my bladder. I parked the truck and ran into the store on my newly assigned mission to find the bathroom. It wasn’t the cleanest of restrooms, but it provided the relief I was searching for. After washing up I went to get a cart and start my shopping. I avoided most the junk food this time. I remembered my last trip with dad didn’t turn out so well with the multiple Twinkies I had consumed. I couldn’t resist looking for the beans and hot dogs though. That was just one of those things you had to have just one night. As I was picturing myself eating beans and dogs by the fire, I realized I had forgotten something, a radio. There was a department store down the road though, so I would have to make just one more stop. I guess a flashlight wouldn’t hurt either. Wow, I thought to myself. I suppose I left in more of a hurry than I had thought. I did that a lot. I can’t remember how many times I found myself going back for things in the past, because I was always in such a hurry. As I was checking out I decided to take one more look at everything to see what else I was missing. It didn’t take long though to figure out I needed a cooler and ice as well. I found myself going back into the store after placing the food in the truck, so I could grab two bags of ice. Then it was off to the next store for a radio, flashlight, cooler, and a few more forgotten items. I found myself just laughing at my forgetfulness. I guess I was feeling better, because the laughter was something I had not had in a while.
The department store was pretty well organized, so it didn’t take me long to find the things I needed, (and some things I decided I wanted). “Never let a good shopping trip go to waste.” my mother would always say. So I didn’t. It had been a long time since I had bought things for myself that I didn’t really need. That felt good too. At this point in the trip I knew this was what I needed. I hadn’t felt this happy in a long time. I just wish it could have lasted forever, but I knew that I would have to return to the world’s problems soon. As I walked out of the store I noticed the rain had stopped, and the sun was beginning to break through the clouds. Things were definitely looking up for the better.
I loaded everything in the truck, and made sure it was all strapped down. “What the heck.” I said. “One more coffee. I’m feeling good.” I bought another cup of coffee and headed towards the mountains.
I had always enjoyed this drive. The countryside was so peaceful. There were plenty of cow farms to gaze at along the way. Soon the terrain turned more rugged, and the forests became denser. I turned onto the dirt road that led to the camp. It didn’t look like it was maintained anymore, so the previous logging operations in this area must have ceased some time ago. I hardly recognized anything along the road. Most of the fields had grown in, and there were some newer areas that had been cleared from logging after my last stay. Those clearings were grown in good though, so they must have cleared them that same summer I had been here. I was surprised to find that they weren’t operating in this area anymore. You would think that even with the economy the way it was, that wood would still be in high demand. Then again, new housing construction had almost come to a complete halt last summer. I also noticed that more and more people were buying used furniture rather than investing in the new. I guess things were bad for everyone. Even the town I had shopped in looked horrible. It had used to be a thriving place of commerce in this area. Now it just resembled a ghost down, decaying into dust and eventually history. That’s how things were though. That’s how they have been for quite a while now. Again I was reminded why I needed this little get away. To temporarily forget about the problems we were facing.
It wasn’t long before I found myself driving over that small hill just before the camp. I could see the camper nestled in the small valley, cradled in overgrown weeds and saplings. The river flowed softly by just beyond it. I couldn’t wait to get some fishing in, but I would have to get things straightened out first. It was getting late and the sun was beginning to set. I used what daylight I had left to get my sleeping gear into the camper and start a fire. I would take care of the rest and clean up around the camper tomorrow. Tonight I was going to relax and enjoy a quiet night in the woods.
Chapter Two
A Plan Is Needed
“Behold, I come as a thief.
Blessed is he that watcheth,
and keepeth his garments, lest
he walk naked, and they see his
shame.”
- Revelation 16:15
The tremble startled me from my sleep. The camper’s windows displayed the early dawn outside. Again the trembling came, and I sat up alarmed to the threat of an earthquake. The tremors were brief in their passing, but enough to warn me of a possible quake. The camper shook yet again then fell silent. I then heard something fall outside, and what sounded like something moving through the tall grass outside. I stood up and looked through the windows until I found the source of my natural disaster. He was pretty big for a black bear, and obviously looking for an easy meal inside my camper. He stood by the window, pushing his mighty paws against the camper shaking my dwelling as he did. I banged two pots together and yelled, which seemed to startle him greatly as he turned and ran for the tree line. No one has been here for quite sometime now, so the prospect of a new inhabitant must have shaken him up. We had bears come through our camp a lot in the past, but they never shook the camper before.
Now that I was awake, I decided I should make coffee. I now wished I had brought a propane tank so I could make it inside. I wasn’t exactly sure if the coffee would attract the bear back or not. He seemed to be long gone though. It didn’t take long to re-kindle the fire with the embers that were still burning from last night. After I got some hot coals started, I placed the metal percolator by the fire. Before long I was enjoying that first cup of coffee, and watching the sun rise over the surrounding hills. It was so peaceful here. I wished I had done this much sooner. As I enjoyed my coffee, I decided that I would spend more time at the camp. Even if I just came up for the weekend it would make a difference. I started to realize it wouldn’t hurt to have someone around to share it with either, but I always had problems finding a woman in my city that didn’t mind spending weekends in the mountains. They didn’t exactly have strip malls in these hills, and the only day spa was the slow moving river by the camper. That reminded me, I had been itching to get some fishing in. I drank another cup of coffee, gathered my fishing gear, and headed over to the river’s edge.
I could see some rises on the other side of the river. Isn’t that how it always goes? Just out of reach, you know? I fished for a while before I finally reeled in an eight inch brookie. Not bad for a slow morning I thought. I didn’t waste time cleaning him out, and pan frying him on the red coals left in the fire pit. It had been a long time since I had trout for breakfast, or at all for that matter. The bear was obviously gone, as he didn’t come back to savor the aroma of my fresh catch slowly cooking. I turned on the radio and found a station that came in pretty clear. There weren’t too many of those here. A little music and another cup of coffee after breakfast would see my early morning come to an end. It was amazing how time seemed to just float by while you were out here. It was as though you couldn’t get as much done as you would back home. I’m sure I was moving slower than normal though, now that I was relaxed.
I didn’t waste any more time. I began cleaning up around the camp, and got the rest of my gear into the camper. I chopped some of the wood that was stacked, and started to sharpen the blade on the scythe. I only managed to cut down half the tall grass I wanted to before I needed to jump in the river to cool off. It was extremely hot out today, and the humidity was almost too much to withstand. A quick dunk in the river was all it took to refresh myself. I was actually ready to cut some more grass just to warm up again. I had completely forgotten how cold the river could be. I cut the rest of the grass down, and tried cutting back some of the bushes. That didn’t work out so well, so I took out the shears and used those. By late afternoon the area was looking more like a homestead than an abandoned camp. I started feeling good about the whole ordeal and decided to take another dunk in the river. Once I was cooled off I rummaged through the cooler to see what I could fix up for a late lunch. Peanut butter and jelly was on today’s menu. While I was eating I looked proudly on today’s accomplishments. That’s when I saw that the camper windows were still shut. Just the screen door was letting in air. I walked into the camper, (which now was acting like an oven), and opened the windows. There was a slight breeze starting to kick up outside, so it would cool off by the time I went to bed. At least that was theory.
I finished my lunch then went swimming one more time before picking up the tools. I spent the remainder of the day fishing until the sun began to fade. I couldn’t resist jumping into the river one more time. I would be cool the rest of the night now. All in all it wasn’t a bad day. Tomorrow I would have to remember to open up the camper in the morning. It was already beginning to get a little chilly out. It’s funny how the mountains vary so widely in temperature. I sat by a small fire for time planning out tomorrow. I would go for a hike, and most likely do a little more fishing. Man, is it great to be on vacation, even if it was mandatory.
It was a little after sunrise when I got out of bed. I didn’t wake to any tremors, but I did hear something snooping around outside. I opened the camper door, and sure enough that big bruin was sniffing around the camp again. “Go on now.” The bear just looked up at me, then understanding my soft words returned back to the woods. He was obviously curious about his new neighbor. I just hoped he wouldn’t do anything to the camper after I left to return home. I went straight to my new morning routine of starting a fire and brewing the morning’s coffee. I turned on the radio for some music and enjoyed another peaceful start to a new day with a fresh cup of coffee. I made a small lunch and day pack for the afternoon, and began to plan where I would go hiking. I chose the rocky peak overlooking the camp. I had climbed it a few times before with my father. It offered a demanding view of the camp and valley below. The other surrounding peaks where heavily wooded, and had always proved to be a tough climb with the thick undergrowth. I sipped the last of my first coffee and deciding to finish the rest later, I slung on my pack and set out for my afternoon destination.
It was already proving to be another hot day. The weather had changed fast. Not two days ago we were still getting raw and cold patterns. It seemed someone had just flipped a switch and presto! Summer is here. The hike up wasn’t so bad, though it was a little tougher than I had remembered it to be. I watched the camp slowly shrink in size over the next couple hours as I ascended the rocky mountain side. It was only late morning when I reached the summit, but I was definitely hungry enough to have lunch. I sat on a large boulder that lay near the top of the peak, and broke out my food and water. The view was great. I always liked having lunch on mountain tops. There was something about having a meal while overlooking other mountains and the valleys below that seemed to just stop time. Almost like nothing else matters, there is only then and there and nothing else exists beyond that point.
The camp seemed so small below me. It looked very clean and well groomed from this vantage point too. I hadn’t done much behind the camper, but after seeing the potential from this point of view I would probably try and clear some more later on. It was actually a good size piece of property. The yard anyway, the property itself was much bigger, but I wasn’t about to start clearing trees. I just needed a good size yard. I stayed on that boulder staring across the surrounding expanse until just after noontime. I figured it was time to dunk myself in the river again then do some more fishing. If I could catch a couple more trout I’d have that for dinner and save the dogs and beans for tomorrow. I started down the mountain side keeping my eyes on what appeared to be an approaching storm in the distance. After an hour I picked up my pace, now realizing that the distant clouds were now racing in fast. I could see flashes of lightning a long ways off, and the long rumble of thunder soon met with my ears. I was across the river from the camp in under an hour. The whole descent took me about only two thirds the time it did going up. At this point sweat was pouring from me like I had a natural spring flowing from my pores. I didn’t take the time to slowly cross as I had done this morning, but rather jumped in to cool my body temp. Even with the approaching storm I couldn’t resist. The heat was just too much.
Shortly after dropping my gear and changing, the wind began to blow harder. I turned the radio back on, and the first thing I heard wasn’t music. It was the local emergency broadcast. Apparently this was a severe storm, and it was coming right over my camp! I took whatever loose items were hanging around and put them in the truck and camper, then warmed the pot of coffee I had this morning as best I could before the rain began falling. There wasn’t even a sprinkle. It just started pouring. Just as I was entering the camper with the coffee pot, something hard hit me from behind. I fell to my knees on the camper floor and set down the coffee pot. Whatever it was, it felt like I had been pegged by a rock. I could feel the welt starting to form. Then I heard more hitting the camper. Hail. Thankfully it was only nickel size. I couldn’t imagine what would have happened if it had been the size of a golf ball.
I sat down at the small table and watched the storm throw its might upon the campsite. I couldn’t help but wonder if the hail had dented the truck badly. I poured a cup of my lukewarm coffee to help pass the time. The hail stopped and the rain began to lighten up, but the wind and lightning continued to play its part strongly. After the lightning passed, the clouds and rain remained overhead. I turned on the radio and found a news station to listen to while I tried to enjoy my rainy afternoon. At least I had gotten out and gone hiking this morning. I was even more happy that I had gotten my work in yesterday before all this. There was always a chance that the rain would stop, and I could still get some fishing in and a fire started before bed. So I wasn’t too worried about planning a cold dinner. Yet, things really didn’t look too promising at this point.
I took a sip of coffee and turned up the radio. They were discussing something that happened in the market today. I tried tuning the station in a little better. I never really cared for the static background sound you get with weak reception. It’s almost as if the radio is trying to subliminally torture you in the back of your mind. I got it tuned as best I could then turn the volume up just a bit more. Something was definitely going on.
The voices crackled slightly as the airwaves were transmitted through the speakers. “As turmoil continues in the Middle East, oil prices found their way to one hundred and thirty-five dollars a barrel. The ongoing struggle for new governments have seen the complete destabilization of the area, and is now threatening the oil enriched regions of Saudi Arabia. This afternoon the president insisted that drilling in the U.S. is not an option, and that our country will continue to seek alternative options and endure. The House is scheduled to meet early next week to discuss the crisis and our future options.”
This was great news I thought as I realized I had to fill up before going home, and had not planned on being robbed at the pumps. I thought about the rising fuel costs, as I listened to other interviews discussing how the potential rising of fuel costs mixed with a large natural disaster could potentially bring our country to a halt. It would have to be big though I thought. Right now I was more worried about the gas bill on the ride home. I decided to take a ride into town now and fill up. I could also solve my possible cold dinner problem by grabbing something to eat in town.
I shut the radio off and poured the rest of my day old coffee down the drain. I grabbed a light jacket and the truck keys as I headed into the rain. I thought it might be a good idea to get as much fuel now as I could. So I took the three five gallon gas cans we had at the camp. At least I would have an extra fifteen gallons at today’s price. I hopped in the truck, turned the keys, and started my journey to town. I decided to keep listening to the news on the way there, so I turned the radio on. It wasn’t long before I couldn’t take the same monotone conclusions anymore. So I found some music and just cranked it.
* * * * *
As I drove into the ghost town I was shocked to actually see the town busy. Maybe everyone came out at night, because it was nearly a ghost town that first time through during daylight hours. I realized what was going on as I passed each gas station. The cars waiting in line at the pumps were long enough to reach out into the road. One gas station had a line that went about fifty yards down main street. The parking lot at the local diner was almost void of cars though. So I pulled my truck in deciding to fill my stomach before my gas tank.
The diner was dimly lit. Maybe they were trying to conserve electricity. I couldn’t help but notice that the few people who were here were just drinking coffee. It made me wonder if the poor souls even had a few extra dollars for a meal to go with that cup of coffee. I was sure most the folks in town were still unemployed. A majority of those people had probably already stopped receiving benefits from the government. As I sat and ordered a hot coffee for myself, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was going to be in the same situation soon. I really had no idea what was happening with my job.
The waitress came out with my dinner. She was about my age and not bad looking I thought. She smiled as she placed my plate in front of me, and I couldn’t help but smile back.
“You new in town?” she said still smiling.
“Kind of, I have a camp not too far from here. I haven’t been here in quite a while though.”
“So what brings you to town tonight? If you’re looking for fun the theater and bowling alley are out of business, and most the bars are too.” She gave me my receipt and stood staring with that smile in anticipation for my answer.
I looked at the receipt then back to her. She was still smiling. It almost made me laugh. I took another sip of my coffee, “I came into town for gas and a hot meal. I guess everyone else had the same idea too.”
“Well, enjoy your meal.” she said. “Maybe I’ll see you around, if you start visiting your camp more.” She turned and headed out to the kitchen.
I couldn’t help but watch her as she walked away. I glanced outside and could see one of the gas stations from my window seat. The lines were still long, so I just took my time eating my meal. I left the money for my dinner on the table when I finished, and placed an extra ten for a tip. “What the heck.” I said knowing very well she probably doesn’t even get tips anymore. I threw my jacket back on and headed out.
“Bye.”
I turned to see the waitress waving at me. Her smile still remained, hiding any problems in her life that she might be burying deep inside. I waved and returned her smile before opening the door to leave. Outside the town sounded busy, and arguments could be heard from the gas station I had been watching from inside. I guess I would avoid that one. I could just imagine how they would treat an outsider in line at their pumps. When I got to the truck I noticed the gas cans in the back had been untied. Someone had obviously checked to see if I had gas in them. I checked the gas cap on the truck, and the ground underneath. No sign of siphoning. I got lucky I suppose. People were obviously worried about hoarding gas now.
It took almost an hour to get gas before I headed out. I watched the attendant come out and close two pumps while I was filling. Gas was definitely going to go up now. The demand and gas frenzy by us all would see to that. As I drove back to camp I kept thinking about what had happened in town. It soon became apparent that the next thing to worry about would be food. I couldn’t help but think about the long term effects. Prior military training had taught me that proper planning prevented piss poor performance. So it was time to prepare. I probably should have seen this earlier, but preparing for something big just seemed crazy at the time. Even now I couldn’t imagine things getting worse. I mean sure, our economy wasn’t the best right now, but could it actually have the potential to come to a screaming halt? Either way I knew I needed to have some kind of plan in place. Even if it was just a short term deal. I wasn’t going to be a casualty if something did happen. Yeah. It was time for a plan.
Chapter Three
Preparing
“It is better to hear the rebuke
of the wise, than for a man
to hear the song of fools.”
- Ecclesiastes 7:5
The next day found me on the river banks fishing. I had always found it easier to think things through while fishing. It was a relaxing way to clear one’s mind. Not to mention it had its benefits of providing a meal as well. My mind wandered to the strange dream I had last night. I was standing in an open field with my father to my right and a small crowd of familiar faces to my left. My father was telling me to prepare for the coming storm, while the crowd was laughing and continuously saying, “What storm?” Then I remembered a time as a child when my father had made preparations for a snow storm in November. Friends of the family had all mocked my father, because we were not even expected to have our first storm until mid December. That January a fierce storm had devastated the region. People were without power and heat for almost three weeks. Some didn’t even have running water. The stores were mobbed and shelves became bare within hours, and so they remained for nearly a month. The majority of folks had very little and had to use supplies sparingly. We on the other hand, were fine due to my father’s early preparations. He had told me he didn’t predict a big storm. He just wanted to make sure we were going to be in good standings if something did happen. He was right. He was about most things. Not only did we have enough supplies to last a month, but we also had a generator for power and enough food to help friends and neighbors in need.
It was a good lesson learned. Like now, I had no idea what tomorrow was going to bring. However, I wasn’t going to be the one to show up to a store of empty shelves when something did happen. I had to come up with a good sound plan. I wanted to not only be ready for a short term downfall, but I wanted to be prepared in case the gates of hell opened up. I decided I would have a small ration of supplies in my apartment, but I would begin to heavily supply the camp as my base of operations. If things got real bad, I could just come here to weather the storm. I was going to make sure I had six months of supplies. It was just me, so I wouldn’t need to stalk too much. Besides, this would give me an excuse to come to camp more often. Maybe even see that waitress again. A grin formed on my face as I pictured her in my head smiling at me. There was something about her that I couldn’t quite place yet. Her smile and green eyes had given her the look of innocence, yet her red hair told me she meant business. My mind quickly shifted to my present surroundings as my fishing pole nearly doubled over. The large trout on the other end of my line definitely meant business. I fought with him for about five minutes before landing what I knew was going to be a filling lunch.
I headed back to camp and started a fire. The trout was too big for the pan, so I took out the grill we had always kept for the fire pit. I burned down the fire into red hot coals, then kept the flames small while my lunch cooked just above. The smell was enough to make anyone drool. Which is probably why I soon caught sight of my fat nosy neighbor. The bear was sitting on the other side of the river watching me. I banged a couple pots together and yelled towards him. He didn’t move away as fast this time, but he took off just the same. Maybe he was starting to size me up, or maybe he felt something coming too and was planning to stock up on my inventory. Either way, I was going to buy bear spray when I got back home. I was going to bring my rifle along next time too.
After lunch I started to organize the camp a little better. I decided to build a small shed for the tools and gear. I cleared the rest of the tall grass behind the trailer. I would plant a garden there if ever needed. I began to make a list of supplies I would need for a long stay, and materials for making the camp a little more suitable for such a stay. I needed to rebuild the outhouse this fall, but it was still good for now and the camper also had a small bathroom for emergencies. The shower in the camper would suffice. I still needed to check the heater and stove, so I was going to have to bring a tank of propane next time.
I turned on the radio after I was done. It was evening now, and the cool mountain air began to fill the camp. It seemed like it was going to be a fair night this evening. I was covered in sweat from the day’s labor, so I jumped into the river and changed into dry clean clothes. I realized I was going to have to figure a way to clean my clothes if I stayed for any long periods of time. A small wash tub and board would be in order. A chuckle rose from me as I pondered on whether you could even buy a washboard anymore. The radio echoed through the camp while I enjoyed dinner. The radio reminded me that I needed batteries, and lots of them. That wasn’t the best solution so I made plans to purchase a wind up radio for the camp. Something that would run off either batteries or a dynamo, in which case I would be covered in any situation. That is unless the radio stations were taken off the air. I laughed at the mere fact that I had even thought about something as crazy as that. Who knows though, it didn’t have to be a disaster. They could just lose their jobs too. Again I laughed. Well, at least I was finding humor in my worse case scenarios.
My laughter stopped when the emergency broadcast system came on.
The radio beeped for what seemed an eternity before relaying some useful information. “The National Weather Service has issued a severe…” oh great here we go again. I looked up at the blue sky then felt the bump that still marked my back from the last attack. That hail storm was like receiving an air strike from Mother Nature. By the sounds of it the camp was about to receive another one. Only they didn’t mention hail this time. Maybe I would get lucky and the system would pass on by. I brewed up a pot of hot coffee ahead of time though. Just in case.
I spent another hour by the fire before I noticed any clouds coming in. It was getting late out anyway, so I put out the fire and used what daylight was left to pack away the gear I had laying about. When I picked up the coffee pot I felt the first drop of rain. Still, the wind wasn’t picking up yet. Maybe the brunt of the system would indeed pass me by. I lit a candle and sat at the table to have another cup of hot coffee. I took out a piece of paper and pen to jot down some of the ideas I had for the camp. I began to feel the weight of my tiredness pushing down on me. Not even the coffee could keep my eyes open. I got my bed ready then blew out the candle. I laid in bed for awhile with my thoughts until sleep finally found me.
I woke to the heavy drops of rain pounding the camper’s roof. Darkness filled the camper, and I looked to my watch for the time. It was only one in the morning. There was no thunder or sign of lightning outside. The storm must have gone around me, unless I slept through it. I rolled over and closed my eyes again. Tomorrow I was going to make more plans for preparing the camp, and then enjoy my last evening before I headed home the following morning. I was going to head out early to make sure I was back at a decent time. The thought of going back to work in a couple days now seemed somewhat dreadful after spending the last few days here. I was looking forward to spending more time at the camp this summer. I was determined to make this camp a permanent part of my life.
When I opened my eyes again, they met with the morning light that filled the camper. I heard a rustling outside and didn’t even bother to look out the window. “Git!” I shouted. I heard the bear as he crashed into the undergrowth in the woods on the other side of camp. I shook my head and smiled. My smile soon turned to frown though when I realized that bear was going to probably wreck the camper while I was away. Then again, he hadn’t touched it before I came. An idea suddenly flashed through my head. I was going to make a scare crow. Sounded crazy, but it just might work.
I started a small fire for coals so I could make fresh coffee. Afterwards I went right to work fashioning a new campmate. I used a pair of jeans I had in the truck and a tee shirt. I stuffed them with the grass I had cut when I first came up. When the coffee was ready, I had a cup then went right back to work. I mounted the figure on a one inch pole I fashioned from a sapling I cut down. I decided to place my hat on his head and just buy a new one when I got home. Now for the genius part. I tied three cans to a thin rope from each arm to act like bells. They clanged together even in a slight breeze. That would be the part I hoped would confuse the bear. Maybe he would think it was me hitting pots together. It was worth a try anyway.
I was going to wake up early the next morning to see if the scarecrow startled him any. I wouldn’t have to wait that long though. I started cooking the hotdogs and beans at lunch. The aroma must have found favor with that old bruin, because I saw him standing near the camp after I had gone in the camper to get a drink. I watched him from the window. He was standing there staring at my new camping buddy. I guess he wasn’t sure what to think. It looked like he was about to walk closer to the camp when the wind kicked up. The cans rang in a horrible symphony, and the bear jumped around and moved briskly back into the woods. Well it worked for now. I figured sooner or later he would figure it out though. Until then the camp would be safe.
After lunch I marked out where I wanted to put a shed for the gear, and then marked out a spot for a second smaller shed. The smaller one I was going to have to be raised off the ground like a small tower. I would use that for food while I was staying here. That way I didn’t have to worry about a bear trying to get into the camper or my truck. I figured just because it hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean it won’t in the future. I worked a little more on the list I had started last night, then decided to just fish the rest of the day.
The day went by fast. Probably because I wasn’t looking forward to the drive back. I finished the dogs and beans that night, and most all my other provisions. I burned the fire a little later than usual as well. I wanted to ensure I enjoyed my last fire. No coffee tonight. Just the fire and some cold drinks from the cooler. The ice I bought hadn’t lasted more than two days, so I had been keeping things cool by filling the cooler with the cold river water and changing it regularly. Not a bad idea, but I don’t think it would be safe for meats. I was lucky the hotdogs didn’t make me sick. I figured they were precooked anyway though. After a nice night by the fire I put out the flames and packed it in for the night. Once again I found myself just lying in bed with my thoughts running crazy in my head. It seemed everything was flashing through my mind. The camp, the week, tomorrow, my job, the waitress, the bear, the walking outside the camper. The walking outside the camper. What was that? Something was walking around, and it wasn’t the bear. It almost sounded like a human slowly walking by. One slow crunch on the gravel slowly followed by another.
I quietly sat up and grabbed a flashlight. I kept my movements slow and deliberate as I moved to look out the window. The moon was half full and gave a little light. There was a shadow moving around where my truck was parked. It was tall too. I apparently had company. I wondered if it was someone trying to siphon my tank. Then I realized how far in the woods I was. That’s when I really wished I had brought my rifle. I had no defenses, and could already see myself listed as a missing person. Then the real horror struck. That’s if anyone was missing me to begin with! Maybe Ryan would report. No, he would just assume I quit and wasn’t answering his calls. Yep, I was screwed. The hell with it I thought. I decided to show aggression up front. Maybe that would temporarily scare whoever it was off long enough for me to get in the truck and the heck away from here.
I moved slowly to the door and opened it without a sound. The shadow was still by the truck, but was now moving in my direction. Here we go. It’s now or never. I yelled at the top of my lungs, “You want trouble!”, and turned on the flashlight. There standing in the beam of light, obviously not registering what I had said, was a large bull moose. He obviously wasn’t out to seek my demise, but I still wasn’t sure what his intentions were with my truck. He stared at the light a while longer while I just gazed in amazement and relief. Then he headed in the direction of town. I closed the door and shook my head. “Never a dull moment.” I laid back down and closed my eyes. I couldn’t believe my camp was raided by a moose. I fell asleep fast after that. That night I dreamt of a moose ramming my truck, and bears eating my scarecrow. I was definitely going to need that rifle, as well as psychiatric help in the morning.
When I woke up I took a look around the camp. No bear. Maybe the scarecrow had worked. I began to pack the truck for the long ride home. After I locked up the camper I took one more look over the week’s labor. Not bad, I thought to myself. I reluctantly got in the truck and drove away towards town. I planned on stopping at the diner for my morning’s coffee. The ride into town was quiet as I hadn’t turned the radio on. I just enjoyed the last views of the countryside. I was going to have to figure out a new budget in order to buy supplies for the camp, and to purchase gas to get there. That was going to be the hard part now. Maybe it was time to downsize to a small pickup truck.
When I got into town I couldn’t help but notice it was silent again. Not like the other night during the crazed dash for the pumps. I stopped in at the diner for my coffee. The waitress I had seen the night before wasn’t working that morning. There were only a couple more people there, so I just had my coffee and went my way. I couldn’t help but think that the diner would be out of business before I came back. I hadn’t seen many people there the times I had came in. Maybe they got most there business in the afternoon. I stopped by one of the gas stations to grab another coffee then hit the road. Before long I found myself on the highway and back into the city limits. The trees were few now and the buildings plenty. I wasn’t so happy about having to readjust to the noise.
I didn’t even bother putting stuff away when I got into my apartment. I just threw my gear down and laid on the couch turning on the news. The news was full of the chaos and distrust at the pumps this weekend. The government was expected to release half of our emergency stockpile on Monday to try and ease the tensions. There was even talk of eliminating the fuel taxes until the price of oil eased to more moderate prices. I could see that this whirlwind wasn’t going to stop anytime soon though. Prices were already too high for everyone. I could just sense there was a bad storm brewing, and I was sure that everyone else felt it too.
I couldn’t believe how exhausted I was from the past week. It was like it all caught up to me at once. I know I got plenty of sleep while I was at camp, but I guess I just wasn’t use to the fresh air and labor anymore. I ended up turning in early and didn’t get out of bed until Monday morning. That’s when I guess it really started. The whole turmoil. The beginning of the end. At least for me that is. It started well enough with a cup of coffee and a bagel. The morning ended with a termination at work due to the place shutting its doors. I guess I should have seen that coming, but I did have my suspicions during my week at camp. At least I got paid for that week. I didn’t waste time applying for unemployment. It was when I arrived at the unemployment office that I understood how messed up things were. There were just so many people there all trying to save their homes and feed their families. After a couple of hours I decided to apply online and save myself the torture of standing in the summer heat.