CHAPTER 8
Deer Creek, Montana
After hearing about the radio broadcast from David, Jennifer had hunted frantically for a radio that worked. Getting no response from the home stereo or car radio, she’d finally found an old, emergency, hand crank radio in the basement and was now sitting, winded and stunned, on the front porch steps. She flipped the radio’s power switch off, then reached out and braced herself against the house as a wave of nausea washed over her. There were so many questions she wanted answers to, so many details that had been left unsaid. She rubbed her temples with her fingers, pushing hard to dull the pain and to avoid getting ill. Tears welled up in her eyes as the possibility that Kyle might never come home again swirled around in her head. She struggled to her feet and felt David’s hand on her arm, helping her up.
“Mom, what does all that mean?” David asked, his voice more sober than she’d ever heard before. “When is Dad going to be home?”
Jennifer fought to maintain control. “I’m not sure, Dave. I don’t understand everything. I’m sure your dad will be home soon. He’s a pretty tough guy,” she said, as much in an attempt to convince herself as it was to convince her son. “Will you go get me a paper and pen? I want to listen again and write some things down.”
David ran off, then returned with a pen and some sheets of paper he’d ripped from a school binder.
The broadcast was repeated after a five-minute break, and as David steadily cranked the radio, Jennifer jotted notes down with a hand she couldn’t quite manage to stop from shaking. When the broadcast ended, she ran inside to get Kyle’s flight information from the front of the refrigerator, sending magnets bouncing across the floor as she tore it down. She scanned the page to find the information she needed. His arrival time in Missoula was circled with a yellow highlighter, 9:45 P.M. He was to have left Denver at 7:45 P.M. after arriving there at 5:10. Her eyes flew to the next section. The flight from Houston was scheduled to leave at 2:08 CST. Jennifer did the math, adjusting for the time zones, and realized that Kyle’s flight would have been in the air for an hour when the attack occurred.
Breathing was suddenly difficult, and Jennifer’s breaths began to come in short, erratic gulps. She felt her knees weaken and stumbled over to a chair at the kitchen table. Her mind raced. What had they said about airplanes crashing? Did they say all of them?
“What is it, Mom?” David asked, his face ashen. “Has something happened to Dad?”
“David…I don’t know. Let me listen to the broadcast again so I can remember the exact words. You wait inside for me.” Her words felt hollow and meaningless, but she felt she had to be strong for her son.
Jennifer gathered her strength and went back outside to the radio. She switched it on and began to turn the handle. The vice president was talking about electrical power as the radio groaned to life. She turned the volume up with her free hand and hoped that somehow there would be more information this time around. Vice President Hamilton’s words crackled from the speakers, as calm as if he were relating the weather report. “…we have received word of dozens of airplane crashes…” The words were clear and hit her as hard as a kick in the stomach. She dropped the radio and burst into tears. “Kyle, no! Please, no!” she cried under her breath, her voice quivering. The vice president’s voice droned on about the military, then the volume gave out as the small charge the radio held began to fade.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up to see Emma coming towards her.
“What’s for lunch, Mom? Me and Spencer are hungry.” She paused when she got close to her mother. “What’s wrong?”
Jennifer wiped the tears from her eyes, swallowed, and fought to compose herself. “I’m not sure, sweetie. Can you wait a few minutes?” she said, her voice cracking.
“Why are you crying? Are you hurt?”
Jennifer’s throat ached, and her head hurt so badly she could barely see. “There was some bad news on the radio, Em. I’m not sure what it means, but it’s got me worried. I’ll be all right. I just need to lie down for a few minutes.”
“Okay, Mom,” Emma said, turning to leave. “Can I go to Lindsay’s house after lunch? Her mom says it’s alright.”
Katy, Texas
Ed, Virgie and Kyle ate their lunch on the back patio in silence, their thoughts consumed by the speech on the radio. They had listened to the vice president’s broadcast twice, and both times it was the same horrible news.
“I don’t get it,” Ed said, breaking the silence. “If the vice president said they’ve been preparing for this for thirty years, then why’s it so bad… and why haven’t they ever let us in on their little secret? It would have been nice to be able to do something to prepare! With that much time to get ready, I’d damn well be prepared for it if I was in charge. They should be able to just turn the power back on.” Ed’s face was red, and he pounded his fist on the table as he spoke.
Kyle took a sip of warm water. “I agree with you. There should have been more warnings, Ed, but you don’t understand how vulnerable the electrical grid is, and there’s no practical way to protect it. I don’t know a lot about communications and the other systems, but I know about our power system. The only way to maybe protect it would be to bury every power line ten feet underground in a steel tube, and even then it wouldn’t protect much because ninety-nine percent of the stuff that runs on power would still be exposed. The problem is that almost everything in our country depends on electricity in one way or another. An EMP… it’s like…“ Kyle paused, searching for a way to explain and noticing that Virgie’s worried eyes were locked on him. “Virgie, I was telling Ed this yesterday… it’s like lightening hitting every power pole in the country at the same time, but fifty or maybe a hundred times worse. We don’t know exactly what it’ll do, but we know it will be bad.”
Ed began to calm down as Kyle spoke. “They should have warned us instead of letting us find out after the fact. It seems like the government was keeping secrets from us. Maybe they didn’t want to cause a panic, but now the situation is worse. ”
“Are you sure it’s going to be so bad?” Virgie interjected. “I didn’t see or hear a thing. I was at my friend’s when it happened, and everything just went dead. There wasn’t any noise or anything. Everything just shut off all of a sudden, and then there was nothing but silence.”
“Virgie, the vice president said the bomb went off three hundred miles above us,” Ed reminded her. “You’re not going to see or hear that.”
“It’s the electrons that do the damage, not the impact of the explosion,” Kyle explained. “They overload everything. Once they find a conductor, they build up and things start to melt, even the copper in the power lines. The best-case scenario is that just sensitive things, like computer chips, get cooked. The worst case is every wire and electrical appliance in the country will need to be replaced.”
“But look around, Kyle,” Virgie said. “Everything looks fine. I don’t feel any different. If you ask me, I think the vice president is just trying to scare us so they can raise our taxes or make some new law. I don’t want some politician telling us a bunch of lies. You can’t trust them, you know?”
“Virgie, I don’t trust them much either,” Ed said. “But you weren’t at the airport, and you didn’t drive across town with us. Something real bad has happened. Cars were dead, airplanes had crashed, and the whole city was stopped. People were walking, just leaving their cars and walking home. I was afraid to stop, thought someone might kill us for the Jeep. I don’t think the vice president is lying to us, at least not this time.”
Virgie shook her head in dismay and looked at Kyle. “How long do you think it’ll be until things can be fixed?” she asked Kyle matter-of-factly. “The vice president said months. He doesn’t mean it, does he? It’ll just be a week or two, don’t you think?”
Virgie and Ed watched Kyle as he thought about his answer. “I think a year would be best case. If the power lines are damaged, it could be a decade before everything everywhere is back to how we know it, if that even ever happens, and that’s assuming other countries are going to do all they can to help us. Obviously someone who doesn’t like us did this, and if they send their military against us, or against our allies, who knows how long it might take. It might take a lot longer than what I’m guessing. There are just too many things I don’t know to give a reasonable estimate.”
Ed rocked forward and bumped hard against the table, knocking his cup to the ground and causing Virgie to jump in her chair as the glass exploded on the ground. “What are you talking about?” Virgie asked, ignoring the broken glass. “A year? A decade? If ever? You’re joking, right? I can hear someone mowing their lawn as we speak. If a stupid lawnmower works, why can’t they fix the power?”
“It’s not a joke, Virgie. There’s nothing I’d like more than for this to be a joke, but I’m completely serious,” Kyle replied, trying not to let his own frustration and fear show. He understood how dire the situation was and was beginning to grasp the overwhelming challenge he had ahead of him to get home, yet Virgie and Ed seemed stuck on how long it would be until they could use their coffee maker. “Virgie, something simple, like a lawnmower, will work because it’s just a spark plug on a short wire. No electronics involved. I would expect basic things, like generators, old farm equipment, and a lot of older cars will be alright because they use cables and mechanical systems, but at some point, even if they work, all those things are going to run out of gas. Our refineries and gas stations, all that stuff, require electricity and computers to operate. We are in an unbelievably bad situation, and getting mad at the government isn’t going to put food on the table. I’ve been going over this in my head ever since the airport. Think about it, how long did it take us to get our country to where it is?”
“Since 1776, if you go all the way back, even before that, isn’t it?” replied Ed.
“That’s right, the better part of two hundred and fifty years. During most of that time, other countries left us alone, didn’t even pay us much attention until we were too big for them to do too much about us. Add to that the fact that we’ve developed most of the world’s technology, so we’ve always been ahead of these countries that’ve resented us. Over time, a lot of countries have come to hate everything we stand for. Hell, half of our own citizens don’t seem to like what we stand for. Now, in the blink of an eye, we’ve been put in a position where we’re third world, and they’ve got the power. I don’t see most of them doing much for us.
“Sure, we’ve got a few allies: Australia, England, Canada, maybe some others like Israel. But Australia is an ocean away with only a tenth of our population, Britain is tied tight to Europe and most Europeans barely tolerate us, and Canada’s likely been crippled by the EMP just like we have. I don’t know that we’ve ever been in a position this serious. I hope I’m missing something and that you’re right, but I’m trying to be as honest as I can. I guess it probably depends on where you live, but I think it’s likely a year before we see any power coming back, and that’s just the first step.”
“How are we supposed to survive for a year without power?” Virgie asked. “We won’t be able to do anything, and our food will go bad. And we’re supposed to go through a summer without air conditioning? I don’t think so,” she said, crossing her arms across her chest, her defiance on display. “This is America, not the third world. There’s got to be something that can be done.”
“Virgie!” Kyle said, raising his arms and voice in frustration. “An EMP destroys everything! It’s not like it just trips a big circuit breaker that can be turned back on. Power plants will need to get new computers and new turbines, and most will need to be rewired. And that’s if they haven’t burned down. Transmission lines will need to be replaced, and we’ll have to do all of it with most cars and trucks needing to be fixed first. We don’t keep spare parts for every piece of equipment a power plant needs, just a few critical pieces scattered around the country. We have millions upon millions of miles of power lines that might need to be replaced. Who’s going to do that when no one can get to work and everyone is busy trying to find food? Your fridge, your computers, your vehicles are all dead, and all the wiring in your house likely needs to be replaced. Anything in a grounded metal box might be safe, but the rest is toast. You guys are amazingly lucky to have a vehicle that doesn’t rely on computer chips to operate, but how are you going to get gas once the tank is empty?”
“You don’t make very pleasant dinner conversation, you know,” Ed said, his expression blank and his voice lifeless.
“It’s never been my strong suit. How much food do you have?” Kyle was all business now, his patience having worn out.
“I cooked all the steaks,” Virgie answered. “There are still three left.”
“No, Virgie, not for lunch. I mean in your house. How much food do you have if you can’t buy anything from the store?”
“I’ve got a little bit in the pantry. Why?”
“I’m thinking that we need to find a way to get some food, and as quickly as we can. Think about it. Vehicles are dead, so nothing is going to be delivered. Power is out, and there are a whole lot of people in an area that’s not very big. How’s anyone going to eat?”
“Are you saying we’re going to starve to death?” Ed asked, his voice steady and matter-of-fact, his brown eyes darting back and forth between Kyle and his wife.
Kyle wasn’t sure how to read the look on Ed’s face, but he could see that his own sense of urgency was having an effect. “I’m saying that things are going to get bad in a hurry. People are going to start panicking, if they haven’t already. Anyone that knows anything about an EMP realizes how bad of a situation we’re in, and everyone else will figure it out soon enough.”
“So what do you recommend we do?” Ed asked. “Rob the grocery store?”
Kyle nodded. “I don’t know what else we can do, Ed. What are we going to do in a week or two when we’ve eaten everything in the house? I’d gladly pay, but my wallet burned up in the airplane along with everything else I own. I don’t think anyone will be at the store to take your credit card, but we can take it with us. If people haven’t started looting yet, they will soon enough.”
Ed rolled his eyes and let out a snort. “I bring you to my house, and now you try and get me to rob the supermarket? You’re insane, Mr. Montana cowboy. We don’t do that kind of thing in Texas. Maybe you do in Montana, but not here,” he said, his voice rising as well. “I don’t even know your last name, and you want me to go on a crime spree? You are out of your stinking mind!” Ed emphasized the last sentence.
“I don’t do that either, thank you very much,” Kyle said sharply. “I can’t believe that I’m suggesting such a thing, and under normal circumstances, I can guarantee you I wouldn’t. But these aren’t normal circumstances, Ed. We should have parted company yesterday in Denver and never seen each other again. I just want to survive and figure out a way to get home. If you have some generous neighbor who’ll provide for you, then you’re good. But if not, then we need to figure something out.”
Ed leaned forward, resting his face in his hands and rubbing his forehead. Kyle could hear him breathing heavily, but he wasn’t saying anything.
“Ed,” Virgie said softly as she reached out and rubbed his leg. “I think Kyle’s right. I’m scared. If it’s half as bad as he says, we won’t make it a month. You know we don’t cook much. We’re going to be getting hungry in a few days, maybe a week, then what’ll we do? I want to survive.”
Deer Creek, Montana
Grace patted Jennifer on the knee. “Jennifer, I’m sure things will be alright. We don’t know anything for sure.” The two ladies had been sitting on the Anderson’s couch for twenty minutes, ever since Chuck had answered the door and found his neighbor sobbing on their doorstep.
After finding Jennifer a box of Kleenex, Chuck had sat quietly in a chair on the other side of the room, ready to help if needed. “I’m sorry to be a bother,” Jennifer managed to get out, wiping her eyes and pausing to blow her nose. “I just needed someone to talk to. I don’t want to worry the kids any more than I already have, and I can’t call anyone on the telephone.”
“Jennifer,” Grace reassured, “don’t be silly. We’re glad to be here for you.” She took Jennifer’s hand. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
Jennifer smiled weakly and squeezed Grace’s hand.
“You said that the president had a speech on the radio,” Chuck said. “Can you remember what it was he said?”
Jennifer nodded and pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of her pocket. “It was the vice president. I wrote took some notes.” Jennifer smoothed out her notes and read them to Chuck. “He said that there was a nuclear missile, he called it an EMP, and that they don’t know who did it. He said that power and phones for the country have been destroyed, and then he said that a lot of airplanes had crashed….” she trailed off again as fresh tears streaked down her cheeks.
Grace rubbed Jennifer’s shoulders. “Let’s not talk about it, Jennifer. You can worry about that later,” she said as she shot her husband a dirty look.
Chuck shrugged his shoulders and mouthed “sorry” to his wife. “I’m sorry, Jennifer,” he said. “I didn’t mean to make things worse for you. Do you mind if I look at your notes?”
Jennifer shook her head and handed him the tear-stained paper. “My writing’s messy,” she mumbled.
Chuck took the paper from her and scanned it. …4:08 P.M. EST…all North Amer…nuclear 300 miles up…destroyed elect system…EMP… comm...trans…planes crashed/dozens…30yrs prep…govt/ltd function…military protecting…months/years to fix…don’t panic/obey laws…organize in communities…PRAY…more broadcasts.
Chuck handed the notes back to her. “Do you remember what radio station it was on?”
Jennifer shook her head. “I don’t. It was an AM station. I’ll check for you.” She was forcing herself to breath deeply in an attempt to calm down.
“Did he say that every airplane crashed?” Chuck asked, trying to sound hopeful.
“No, he said dozens that they knew of. Not sure how to take that, but Kyle’s flight had probably been in the air for close to an hour.”
“Well, there are thousands of flights in the air all the time, so odds are he made it. He’s probably worrying about you as we speak, and likely tried to call, but the phones are down,” Chuck said, his tone still upbeat. “He’ll be back before you know it, and until then, you’re welcome to come over here as much as you need to.”
Katy, Texas
Ed wove in and out of cars on the street, seeing his neighborhood with new eyes. It hadn’t changed physically since he’d driven to the airport the day before. The sun shone, leaves fluttered in a light breeze, and kids rode their bikes down the sidewalks or played in their yards. The neighborhood hadn’t changed, but the perspective Ed saw it with had reset 180 degrees. He scanned the faces of the people he saw, worried not only for them, but by them. How would things be in a day? A week? A month? He wondered. Would those people survive? Would he? When people got desperate, how would they act? Was he looking at someone who would help him, or someone who would hurt him?
“Kind of creeps me out a little bit,” Ed stated, almost in a whisper. “Notice how everybody stares at us as we drive by?”
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing,” said Kyle. “Probably wondering why your car’s working and no one else can go anywhere.”
“I was wondering that too. Why do you think that is?”
“I’m pretty sure it’s because of how old your Jeep is, and partly due to the fact it was parked on the bottom level of the garage at the airport and had several layers of concrete above it. You said it’s what, a ’78?”
Ed nodded.
“It wasn’t until the mid eighties that everything in cars went computerized. Now, everything is run by computer chips, and they are extremely sensitive to any kind of power surge. That’s why, when you handle computer boards, you’re supposed to wear rubber gloves or ground yourself, because even a simple static electric spark can ruin them. Your Jeep is all mechanical, no computer chips to cook.”
“Guess it’s a good thing I bought this. When I was a kid I always wanted a Jeep. Finally picked this one up about five years ago and have been working on it ever since. I was close to being done, but it doesn’t look like I’ll get there now.”
Ed swung the Jeep into his driveway and pulled forward into the garage. Kyle jumped out and lowered the garage door as Virgie appeared in the doorway.
“Did you have any problems?” she asked Ed as he climbed out of the Jeep.
“No,” he replied, shaking his head. “It was the perfect crime. We killed all the witnesses.”
Kyle laughed uneasily, knowing how hesitant Ed had been about the whole affair. “It went okay, Virgie. Others were already there, but the store was still pretty full. We squeezed as much as we could into the Jeep, and Ed watched for police the whole way home. He was sure that even though the Jeep was about the only thing on the road, the police were going to pull up behind him and haul him off to jail. I don’t think you need to worry about him turning to a life of crime.”
Virgie didn’t laugh at either of their attempts at humor.