CHAPTER 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, September 4th

Deer Creek, Montana

An unexpected knock at the door startled Jennifer. After an endless night with little rest, she’d awakened only a short while before. What little sleep she had managed to get had been filled with dreams of Kyle: dreams where his airplane fell out of the sky, dreams where he walked through the door as if nothing was wrong, dreams where he stood alone on the edge of a deserted highway. Whatever the dream, they all resulted in tears.

Jennifer cinched her robe and opened the front door, allowing the muted, gray sunlight to illuminate the entryway. The weather had turned stormy during the night, and the ground was covered with puddles from rain that had been falling for most of the morning. She swung the door open and found a man in a sheriff’s uniform standing in front of her. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with a similar build to Kyle’s, but was maybe a couple of inches taller. His hair was short and dark, and he had brown eyes that were open wide and bored intently into hers. He smiled pleasantly as Jennifer greeted him.

“Can I help you?” Jennifer asked, pushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The fact that the man was wearing a uniform, along with the recollection that law enforcement had the duty to inform people when a family member died in an accident, made her heart skip two beats before assuming an accelerated rhythm with an intensity she’d never before experienced. She glanced around to see if a minister had accompanied him.

“Hi, sorry to bother you,” the officer began, an authoritative expression seemingly chiseled on his face. “My name is Doug Jarvis, Officer Doug Jarvis actually, and I’m here because of the situation that’s occurred. Are you familiar with it?”

“That depends on if there is more than one situation,” Jennifer replied, barely able to choke out the words, sure that he was preparing to tell her that Kyle was dead.

“The terrorist attack,” Officer Jarvis said with an earnest look. “Have you heard the vice president’s message?”

“Yes. I heard it yesterday.” Jennifer swallowed hard, her throat aching, tears percolating just below the surface. “What, in regards to the situation, are you here about?”

“Well,” said Officer Jarvis, “the vice president said that we need to work as communities to get through this. I thought it would be a good idea to get as many people together as we can, to come up with some ideas. I know it’s quick, but I thought the sooner the better, before things get desperate.”

Jennifer smiled weakly and let out a huge sigh of relief while gripping the door with both hands to steady herself. “Sounds like a good idea, officer. What are you thinking?”

Officer Jarvis seemed very enthusiastic. “Please, just call me Doug. I wore the uniform because I thought it might help people take me a little more seriously. You know, in case they hadn’t heard about the situation.”

Jennifer nodded. “Sounds like a good idea, Doug. What are your plans?”

“I thought we could meet this afternoon at 2:00, while there’s still plenty of light. We’ll meet at my house, just a few streets over.” He gave Jennifer directions and a description of his house, then thanked her and headed in the direction of the Anderson’s just as the light rain started up again.

 

Katy, Texas

Kyle and Ed worked in the garage packing the Jeep for their trip. The “looted food,” as Ed described it, along with items Virgie had gathered from the house, was carefully boxed and loaded into the Jeep. The driver’s seat was clear of any supplies, but every other inch of space that wasn’t needed for Kyle and Virgie was packed tight with food and other essentials. Kyle was tying a gas can to the front bumper while Ed worked on stacking boxes in the backseat.

“Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” Ed asked. “It seems like you’re putting your life at risk.”

Kyle’s hand slipped from the rope he was tugging on and banged hard against the grill of the Jeep. “I’m positive,” he said, shaking his hand to ease the pain. “You’re the one who needs to decide if you want to do this for me. Besides, everyone’s life is at risk right now, not just mine.”

After returning from their run to Wal-Mart the day before, Kyle, Ed, and Virgie had spent the rest of the day discussing how they were going to survive. It had been a long, emotionally exhausting conversation, but before going to bed, they had decided on a plan and were now in the midst of carrying it out. Virgie and Ed’s son had a large home on a couple of acres near San Angelo, an area that Ed thought would be safer than Katy. Kyle would ride with them to San Angelo, then start out for Montana from there.

After a night of packing, Kyle had spent the morning siphoning gasoline from cars that were stalled in the streets. He’d run into a couple of threatening neighbors, but the only real problems had involved spilled and swallowed gasoline. Kyle smelled of gasoline, his mouth tasted like a carburetor, and his head ached from inhaling the fumes, but he ignored it all, glad to finally be doing something that would get him closer to home.

“So, have you refined your plan any more?” Ed asked as he adjusted his seat to make more room behind it for another box of food. “Last night you were pretty vague.”

Kyle shrugged. “Well, the goal’s still the same.. I’m just trying to figure out the best way to accomplish it. The drive today will tell me a lot.”

“You could wait things out in Texas, you know, till things get working again,” Ed said as he jammed the last case of soup into the backseat. “The weather’s warmer. It would be easier to survive.”

“We talked about that last night,” Kyle said, tying the last rope on the gas can. “Nothing’s changed. I have a wife and three kids in Montana who probably think I’m dead and are looking at going through a winter without electricity or heat. What kind of man would I be if I waited it out safe and warm in Texas while they struggled up there.” He thought a minute. “If I didn’t make an attempt to get back, I don’t know that I could face them when this is over.”

Ed smiled knowingly and looked at Kyle. “I understand that, but what you’re talking about is dangerous. It’s more than fifteen hundred miles, and you don’t know how you’re going to do it. What good would it do them for you to die on the road?”

“What good would it do me to go home next summer and find my family dead?” Kyle replied coldly. “The pioneers did it. They walked to Oregon and to California without roads or real maps. The worst case is I walk if I can’t come up with anything better.”

Kyle handed Ed another case of food, and Ed worked it in behind his seat. “I’m not trying to talk you out of it. I would just hate to see you die.”

“Is your Jeep going to be able to handle the weight?” asked Kyle, changing the subject. “It’s already riding pretty low, and there are still three people to get in.”

“We’ll be fine,” Ed said, glancing at the suspension. “Besides, I can go as slow as I need to. I don’t think I’ll be holding any traffic up. They made these old things pretty sturdy, not like the plastic cars we’re used to today.”

The men finished loading the last few boxes and went back inside the house where Virgie was busy closing and securing windows.

“Did you talk to Maria or Carlos?” Ed asked.

Virgie nodded. “I just got home a few minutes ago. I gave them a key and they agreed to keep an eye on the house. I told them they could have the food we don’t take.”

“Did they say what they’re planning on doing?”

“No, and they’re pretty scared. They don’t have a car that works, and Maria said they don’t have much food. She didn’t say anything about family, so I don’t know that they can go to anyone for help. I’m worried about them.”

“Did you tell them to get to a grocery store?” asked Ed. “There was a lot of stuff there yesterday. Not sure how much might be left, but it would be something.”

“I told them you had gone down there. Couldn’t tell what they thought of the idea. I suppose they’ll figure something out,” Virgie said with little conviction in her voice.

Virgie stood in the middle of her kitchen, surveying her home and taking inventory of what she was leaving behind. She was preparing to leave most of her worldly possessions, and the emotions of the past day and a half caught up with her. It started with a few tears running down her cheeks, which she tried to hide from her husband, but soon, heavy sobs shook her body, and she gave up wiping at her eyes. “I think this is too much for me to handle,” she offered as an explanation.

Ed took Virgie in his arms and pulled her tight. “We’re together, sweetie,” he said as he patted her softly on the back. “We’ll be alright. I promise.”

“I’m scared, Ed,” she said when she caught her breath. “I’m really scared. I’m not used to running from things. No hurricane’s ever even scared us off.”

Ed leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m scared too,” he said. “How could we not be? But at least we’ve got each other.” He gave her another squeeze, then they held each other, not saying a thing.

Kyle turned silently and headed out to the garage to wait.

 

Deer Creek, Montana

David looked up as his mother opened the door and came in the house. She had a concerned look on her face, one that he usually only saw when he was in trouble at school. “How was the meeting?”

Jennifer glanced up as she took off her boots. “Well,” she said, “we didn’t accomplish much, but it was good to have it, I suppose”

“Did you learn anything more about what’s going on?”

“No, someone at the meeting said they figured it was terrorists, then got all worked up about the government. That led to a big argument about politics, which was a waste of time. There’s going to be another meeting on Wednesday, and we’re supposed to inventory what we have for food, weapons, and a few other things. I wrote down a list of stuff. Then we’ll try and come up with a plan to help each other survive through the winter.”

“You say that so calmly -- ‘survive through the winter’. How bad do you think it’s going to be?”

Jennifer tried to smile at her son, but she could feel her lips start to tremble so she looked away, hoping he wouldn’t see the fear she felt. “I don’t know, David. I don’t think anyone does. That’s what makes this all so difficult. But we’ll make it.”

“Mom, where do you think Dad is? You haven’t said much since yesterday. We’re going to need him.”

Jennifer’s stomach sank. She had avoided talking about Kyle and had tried to stay busy with the kids to keep Kyle off of all of their minds, but it hadn’t worked. “Well, David,” she started, choosing her words carefully. “We don’t know where he is. He was supposed to leave Texas just before this thing happened, and now we don’t have any phones, so I can’t call him. I’m sure he’s fine. He just isn’t going to be home when we thought.”

“Do you think he’s dead? The guy on the radio said that airplanes crashed.” David’s voice cracked, and Jennifer turned to see that he was fighting to control his own emotions. Her son was so much like his dad, she thought. Not just in the physical sense, but also with his direct way of dealing with things and not finding any value in trying to hint his way around things.

“I don’t think he is,” Jennifer said, reaching out for his hand. “I worry about it too, but we really don’t know. The broadcast didn’t say every plane crashed, just that there were reports of airplanes crashing. I choose to think that he’s alive, and that he’ll be home to help us as soon as he can. That’s how we need to face this, so we’ve got to be sure and be here for him when he gets back, whenever that is. You understand?”

David smiled at his mom and nodded. A tear ran down his cheek, but he didn’t wipe it away. “I miss Dad,” he said, his voice quivering. “He’s been gone for a long time already. I hope he gets back soon.”

“I’m sure he wants to be here. He really loves you kids. He told me…,” she caught herself and changed her wording. “He tells me that all of the time.” Jennifer paused, looking at David until his eyes met hers. “You know, until he gets home, you’re going to have to be the man of the house.” She waited and let the statement sink in. “Am I going to be able to count on you?”

David nodded. “I’ll do what I can.” He thought a minute, then added with a half smile, “Does that mean I’ve got to get a job?”

Jennifer laughed. “No, not for the time being at least. But you never know what tomorrow might bring. Speaking of which, I told Mrs. Anderson that we would come over and help her with her garden in the morning. She thinks she can get some more things planted before the season’s over.”

David rolled his eyes and laughed as he wiped at his tears. “Farming me out already, huh. I hope you’re getting good money for me.”

 

Katy, Texas

Riding low and sluggish, Ed backed his jeep down the driveway and onto the street, the suspension straining under the load. Kyle looked at Ed and raised his eyebrows.

“We’ll be fine, Kyle. Your worrying isn’t going to help us get there.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“But you were thinking it. Just kick back and relax. Enjoy the sights of Texas. You never know when you’ll be back.”

Kyle grinned and tried to adjust himself to get more comfortable, but the boxes of food stacked around his feet made that difficult. “This should be interesting. I hope the freeways are passable.”

Ed mumbled a reply, and Kyle could see Ed’s knuckles go white as he gripped the steering wheel tighter. After a couple of turns they approached the intersection where the Wal-Mart they had visited the day before sat. Kyle turned towards the building as Ed slowed to make the turn onto the freeway on ramp.

“Think there’s much food left?” Ed asked, glancing over his shoulder at the store.

Kyle peered at the building. “I don’t think so. It looks like all the doors are wide open, but I don’t see many people. I can see a couple of guys coming out, but it doesn’t look like they are packing groceries. I think they’re carrying a TV or something.”

“A TV?” Virgie asked from the back seat.

“Yeah, it looks like a TV. Either the foods all gone, or they don’t understand the situation. Hope they don’t have a long walk home.”

“Maybe they know something we don’t,” Virgie volunteered. It was obvious from her tone she was questioning their decision to pack up and leave.

“Let’s just do this, okay, Virgie?” Ed caught his wife’s eyes in the rear view mirror. “I’m scared too, honey, but I think we’re doing the right thing. If I’m wrong, we’ll come back home as soon as we can. Is that a deal?”

Kyle heard Virgie agree as they accelerated towards the highway. A mass of cars filled the road, looking normal other than the fact they were frozen in place. Kyle let out a low whistle. “This looks worse in the daytime. You can really see the extent of the disaster.”

“It’s not any worse than the airport. At least there’s no one being burned to death.” Ed shifted gears and angled towards the center lanes where there were fewer cars. “This all had to happen on a long weekend at rush hour. Not that there’d ever be a good time for it, but there are sure a lot of vehicles.”

“Watch out for that man up there!” Virgie yelled as she pointed at a figure 30 yards in front of them, her voice on edge.

Ed slowed and steered the jeep to the extreme left side of the roadway. The man waved his arms over his head, so Ed slowed even more.

Kyle rolled down his window and leaned towards the man. “Can we help you?” he asked as Ed drew to a stop.

The man was wearing denim shorts, a Rocket’s t-shirt and a faded Longhorns ball cap that was wet with sweat. His neck was sunburned and red and he wiped the sweat from his face with the back of his hand. “Do you have any room in there? I’m trying to get home.”

Ed motioned towards the boxes stacked to the roof in the back seat. “We’re stacked full. I’m really sorry. Where are you headed?”

“Columbus. My wife’s home with our two little girls. I need to get back home.” He scanned Ed’s Jeep. “Could I ride on the hood or something? It’s going to take me all day to get home otherwise.”

Ed bit his lower lip. “Alright, I’ll give you a ride, but I’d rather you stood on the back bumper, it’d be too hard to see with you on the hood.”

“Thank you so much,” the man said, relief washing over his face. “You saved me a day of walking.” He hurried to the back of the jeep and climbed on, then tapped on the side window to indicate he was ready.

“Don’t drive too fast,” Virgie directed from the back seat. “He could fall.”

Ed ignored the comment and shifted back into gear. They covered the 33 miles in just under an hour’s time and let their rider off at the highway exit. Ed was watching him in the rear view mirror when Kyle spoke up.

“Heads up, Ed. There’s another guy flagging us down.”
Ed swore. “At this rate we’re never going to make it. When do we quit stopping to help?”
“That’s your call, Ed. I’m just along for the ride.”

The man stood in the middle of the highway about 50 yards in front of them, blocking their way and waving his arms over his head. “I’ve got a bad feeling, Kyle. Open the glove box and get my gun out. Hurry!”

“What was that, Ed?”

“I said get my damn gun out of the glove box.” Ed came to a stop about 10 feet in front of the man, and leaned out his window. Kyle opened the glove box and grabbed the handgun. His heart was pounding, and he could hear Virgie breathing hard in the back seat. “What can I do for you?” Ed called to the man.

“I need some help. My girlfriend’s over there in our car, which isn’t working. We need a ride.” Kyle glanced in the direction the man indicated and saw a large, blonde woman emerge from a beat up Ford wagon.

“I’m sorry, but we’re too full. There’s a town back there. Maybe someone there could help you.”

The man shook his head. “We need a ride.” He moved alongside the jeep.

“I said I’m sorry,” Ed continued, “but we’re too full.” Kyle pressed the gun against his leg, keeping it out of sight. Ed eased off the clutch and began to inch forward.

The man grabbed hold of Ed’s door. “I said stop!” he shouted, then pulled a gun from the waistband at the back of his pants.
Ed stopped the Jeep. “Don’t do anything crazy, alright?”
“Or what? Cops going to arrest me? I’m tired of asking. Everyone just ignores you. Now I’m telling. Get out of the car!”

With the gun tucked under his leg, Kyle held his hands up. “Don’t shoot anyone, okay? I’m going to get out. I don’t want anyone hurt.” He opened the door and started to climb out, concealing the gun as he did so.

The man’s attention was on Ed. “See old man. It’s not so tough. Turn off the car and get out.”
Ed turned the jeep off and opened his door while Kyle helped Virgie from the back seat, all of them watching the man intently.
“Ashley. Get in the jeep!” the man shouted.
Kyle watched the man’s girlfriend lumber around to the passenger side of the jeep.

Ed stepped away from the jeep and looked at Kyle. Kyle barely nodded and watched the man tuck his gun in the back of his pants and climb into the driver’s seat. Ed came towards Kyle.

“Hey, I need the keys! You think I’m stupid?” came a voice from the jeep.

Kyle swung the gun up and ran to the window. “Keep your hands on the steering wheel and lean forward!” he ordered. “We’re taking our jeep back.”

The man seemed to weigh something in his mind, then closed his eyes and leaned forward. Kyle grabbed the man’s gun and handed it to Ed. “Now get out of the jeep!”

The two groups switched places in less than a minute. As soon as the passenger door closed, Ed punched the gas and the jeep lurched forward. “Just so you know, we’re not stopping anymore. Kyle, keep my gun in your lap and check the other one to see if it’s loaded. If anyone else tries to flag us down stick a gun out the window and make sure they see it. Our next stop is San Angelo.”

Kyle and Virgie nodded mutely in agreement.

Seven hours later, with daylight rapidly fading away, the Jeep finally slowed as it approached an older, one-story house on the western outskirts of San Angelo. They turned and drove up a driveway lined with a dozen tall trees, the branches creating a thick canopy. The headlights illuminated a collection of children’s toys and bicycles scattered around a well-maintained front yard, and a red pickup and an old lawnmower under a carport. They came to a stop, and as they climbed out of the Jeep, Kyle heard the front door swing open, followed by the shouts of two young children. A small girl, about six years old and dressed in a pink flowered sundress, came running towards them, followed closely by her younger brother, wearing only a pair of light colored shorts. Their shouts of “Grandma!” and “Grandpa!” filled the air as they danced excitedly next to the new arrivals. Not far behind the kids followed a tall, skinny man, who appeared to be in his early thirties. His clothes, a blue Nike t-shirt that was faded and stained and an old pair of cut-offs, reinforced his surprised expression, which said he wasn’t expecting company. He threw his arms around Ed and Virgie and gave them a long hug, squeezing his parents tightly and kissing Virgie on the cheek. He released them and stood beside his father, the resemblance between the two men, even in the dim light, obvious to Kyle.

Ed was the first to speak. “It’s good to see you, son. How’s your family doing?”

“We’re doing pretty good, all things considered,” he replied. “It’s such a relief to see you.”

“Son, I want you to meet Kyle Tait,” Ed said, motioning for Kyle, who was still standing by the Jeep, to come over. “Kyle saved my life on Friday. Kyle, this is my son, Donovan Davis.”

Kyle and Donovan shook hands. “And these two little munchkins,” Ed said, reaching down to tickle the kids who were hanging on his legs, “are Cheyenne and Logan. But they’re trouble, so you’d better watch out for them.” Ed grabbed his grandkids and wrestled them down onto the grass, causing them to laugh wildly and scream for help.

The three adults watched Ed wrestle with his grandkids for a moment, then Donovan turned to Kyle. “Sounds like there’s a story to how you met my dad.”

Kyle pursed his lips and nodded slowly. “Yeah, I can’t say it was under the best of circumstances, but we’re both here, so that’s what counts.”

As the men unloaded the contents of the jeep, Kyle gave Donovan a quick rundown of the events of the past two days. When the Jeep was empty, they gathered in the kitchen and assessed the stacks of food. “Doesn’t look like much, does it?” said Ed, a note of disappointment in his voice.

“Well, it’s more than we had an hour ago,” responded Donovan, sounding genuinely happy. “We’ve got a fair bit, plus a couple of fruit trees out back, so we’ll make things work. Don’t worry about it. I’m just so glad you and Mom are here.”

“Where’s Wendy?” Virgie asked from the living room. “Is she stuck somewhere?”

“No. She’s working at the hospital. She was there Friday when the thing happened; she had me worried to death because she stayed there Friday night and didn’t get home until last night. She rode a bike back in this morning and doesn’t think she’ll be back home until sometime tomorrow. I guess a lot of people didn’t come in to work on Saturday, and there are a lot of folks showing up who need help. It’s a pretty bad situation.”

“Do they have power?” Virgie asked.

“Wendy said they have generators and enough fuel to run them for about a week. After that, they’re in trouble. She said that even with the generators, most of their equipment wasn’t working. No one can figure out what’s going on.”

They settled in the living room and continued their conversation. “So how was your drive out here?” Donovan asked.

Virgie shuddered at the question, and even in the flickering candlelight, Kyle could see her tear up.

“It was real bad, Son,” Ed replied. “I guess I didn’t know what to expect when we left, but there’s nothing that can prepare a person for what we saw. The road was covered with stalled cars, and people, sometimes entire families with little kids, were walking down the side of the road like third world refugees. We gave away half our water in the first hundred miles before we decided we couldn’t help anybody else. I think your mother rode most of the way here with her eyes closed. She couldn’t bear to look at the people we were driving past. I know I’m going to have nightmares about that for the rest of my life.”

Kyle and the Davis’s spent the next few hours sharing more details of the past two days and discussing plans for the next few while a single, flickering candle kept the darkness at bay, both in a literal and a figurative sense. Kyle had sensed a feeling of relief in Ed, and a significant upswing in Virgie’s mood, since they’d arrived. For all of them, it felt as if some small victory had been achieved. And while they knew there would be plenty of struggles ahead, they savored the sweetness of that feeling late into the night.