AFTER THE DUST SETTLED (Countdown to Armageddon Book 2) (19 page)

     “Anyway, it’s passed by
close human contact. John and his family have their own house sectioned off between places he can go and the places they can go. Since he has to go out in it every day, he has to stay away from his own family in case he’s a carrier.”

     “And one of his girls already has respiratory problems. She’s already high risk, and may not survive if she catches it. He and his wife are terrified. And I want to help if I can.”

     “How?”

     “By taking the wife and the girls away from there. Bringing them up here temporarily. The CDC says the plague will run its course after a few months. Once John tells us it’s safe again, I can take them back.”

     “Are you sure they’ll want to come?”

     “No. I haven’t asked yet. I wanted to talk to all of you about it before I got their hopes up and you all talked me out of it. There’s a chance they won’t want to. That they’ll prefer to just ride out the storm like they’ve ridden out everything else.”

     “This plague… how deadly is it?”

     “John says it’s treatable with antibiotics. He says most healthy people survive it, but may be bedridden for weeks or even months. The ones most susceptible to dying from it are the elderly and infants, and those with preexisting health problems.”

     “I’m okay with it. But you’d better be damn sure about it being safe. We’ve got a pregnant woman here now, remember.”

     “Oh, that reminds me. That’s another thing. Hannah, she’s a certified midwife.”

     Linda and Joyce’s eyebrows went up and they looked at each other. They’d spent hundreds of hours on the internet before the blackout, researching things they thought they’d need, and then printing out reference material.

     They thought they’d covered everything, from how to kill common garden pests to treating people having heart attacks. But because of their ages, the thought of printing out how-to information about having babies never occurred to them. They didn’t have a clue how to be on the receiving end of childbirth.

     “I don’t have any problem with you bringing them back. But what will it do to our food supply to add three more mouths to feed?”

     “It shouldn’t be a problem at all. In fact, it should be an asset. Just like when Tom joined us. It was an extra mouth to feed, yes. But it was an extra pair of hands to help with the chores, and an extra person to help raise food.
We were able to grow enough additional food to cover what he eats, and a lot more.”

     “I agree. With three extra people, assuming the girls can help, we can plant a bigger crop than we did this year.”

     Zachary, who had been eavesdropping on the whole conversation, yelled from the security console.

     “How old are the girls?”

     The group cracked up laughing.

     Scott asked, “Why?”

     “Because I’m the only one who doesn’t have a girlfriend. Even Duke has Duchess. The cows all have girlfriends. So do the pigs and chickens and horses and rabbits. I’m the only living thing in this whole darn place who doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

     Joyce said, “Zachary Harter! I always thought I was your girlfriend.”

     “I’m serious. It’s just not fair.”

     “Well, to answer your question, Zach, I don’t know. But if we decide to bring them here, you’d probably want to be careful not to fall for a girl who’s only going to be here for a few months.”

     Scott turned back to the others and asked, “Shall we put it to a vote?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-39
-

 

     “John in San Antonio, this is Scott. Are you listening in?”

     “Hey, Scott. How are you, buddy?”

     “I’m okay. Probably a lot better than you. I hope things are better there since the last time we talked.”

     “Not really. It’s an ugly world down here. Most of the people who aren’t already infected are staying indoors so they don’t catch it. I guess that’s a good thing, actually. But the people who are already sick are bearing the brunt of the burden, keeping the crops watered and such when they should be in hospitals.”

     “So the hospitals are still operating? How are they getting their supplies?”

     “Turned out FEMA had mass supplies of bandages and medication and stuff stored somewhere nearby. They won’t tell anybody where, but they have helicopters that fly in every couple of days with cases of saline solution and penicillin and other meds. I hope they don’t run out, because the deliveries are the only thing keeping a lot of people from dying.”

     “Any good news?”

     “Yeah, actually there is. Hannah and the girls are still healthy. Every night I
fall on my knees and thank the good Lord for that. And you’re not the only one who had an idea of bringing in crops. Some of the farmers north and east of San Antonio got their old tractors started and have been dragging farm trailers full of produce into some of the neighborhoods over there. We’ve told them not to get too close to anybody, so what they’re doing is dropping their trailers and leaving them. Whenever they return with another full trailer, they’re taking back the empty one with them.”

     “Well, we’re ready to come tomorrow night. That is, unless you need more time to consider my proposal.”

     “Proposal? I’m sorry, Scott. I’m already married.”

     Scott laughed, and it occurred to him that it takes a very strong man to make jokes under such circumstances.

     “That’s good, John. I don’t think you’re my type anyway. I’ve talked it over with everyone here and explained the situation with the plague down there. I also explained what you said about you being worried about your wife and little girls. We want to help. If you and Hannah are willing, we can bring your family back with us until the plague blows over.”

     There was a full minute of silence on the other end. And when John came back, his voice was changed. It was obvious that he was moved by Scott’s offer.

     “I… I don’t know what to say. I would love to send them to a safe place. But… are you sure? I mean, you’ve never even met them, and you’d welcome them into your group?”

    Joyce had been standing behind Scott listening in. She tapped him on the shoulder and held out her hand for the microphone.

     “John, this is Joyce. I’m Scott’s girlfriend. I just wanted to tell you that Scott has kept us informed from the beginning about your ordeal. We’ve never met you or your family, but in a way we’ve come to know you from the things you’ve been telling Scott.

     “We’ve all wanted to help for a long time. But I’d be lying if I said we weren’t being a little bit selfish at the same time. Scott has said that Hannah is a midwife. We have a young pregnant girl in our group. It’ll be her first birth, and we can probably handle it if everything goes well. But if things go wrong, it sure would be nice to have an expert around to help. So Hannah would be helping us at least as much as we’d be helping her.”

     John lowered his voice, and was now barely above a whisper.

     “Can you guys still hear me?”

     Puzzled, Scott turned up the volume on the receiver.

     “Yes.”

     “Since we’re being honest, I have to tell you something that Hannah doesn’t even know. I’ve been light headed and dizzy the last couple of days. Enough of my fellow officers and the civilians I deal with have come down with the plague to make me familiar with the symptoms. It starts with light headedness and dizziness. Then a couple of days later the cough starts. Then the vomiting and nausea. Then dehydration and loss of consciousness.”

     Joyce covered her mouth and her eyes widened.

     Scott said, “Oh, my God…”

     “No. It’s okay. The survival rate is eighty percent or better if the sick make it to the hospital in time. And I will. I will probably be there for many days, or even weeks, while I recover. And once I recover I’ll be immune. I won’t have to worry about catching it again.”

     “And Hannah doesn’t know?”

     “I haven’t had the heart to tell her. And to be honest, I’ve been terrified that while I was in the hospital, they’d be defenseless without me here to protect them. Your offer is a godsend.”

     “Are you going to tell her?”

     “Yes. I’ll tell her before they leave. Our marriage is based on honesty and trust. She won’t be happy about leaving under these circumstances, but she’ll do it for the girls’ sake.”

     “Okay, it’s settled then.”

     “Scott?”

     “Yes, sir?”

     “There’s one more thing. Like I said, the survival rate is eighty percent or better for those who recover in the hospital. And I’ve always been a lucky guy. So I don’t anticipate any problems. But if I run out of luck…”

     Joyce leaned over Scott’s shoulder and keyed the mike again.

     “You shouldn’t have such thoughts, John. But since you are, don’t even ask. Hannah and your daughters will have a home here as long as they want to stay. With or without you.”

     “Okay, thank you for that. When do you expect to arrive?”

     “We’re shooting for midnight tomorrow night. Can you have your wife and daughters there by then?”

     “Yes. I’ve them start packing today. How much room will you have for suitcases?”

     “The truck we’re bringing has a full sleeper cab. It should be plenty big enough for them and for several suitcases.”

     “Okay, then. We’ll be ready. I’ll have her drive my patrol car, and I’ll get a ride with another officer. I’ll wear a surgical mask and sit in the back seat. I know my girls will get a kick out of seeing that. And seeing their mom drive a police car.”

     “Okay, then. See you tomorrow night.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-40-

 

     It was only ninety miles from the compound to the back of Scott’s old house in San Antonio. Almost a straight shot, following the high tension power lines.

     They could easily make it in three hours, if they didn’t encounter any problems. But they couldn’t count on that. So they planned to give themselves an extra hour, just in case.

     Just before sunset, Scott opened the gate to the compound and told the others to stand back. He spotted Tom as Tom slowly backed the big rig out of the compound and into the front yard.

     Then Tom stepped out of the rig and he and Scott said their goodbyes.

     The tension was heavy in the air. No one knew what or who was out there. There was a chance the road under the power lines had been blockaded by marauders. Or that somebody would see them coming in time to get a bead on them and shoot out their tires.

     Or to shoot them as they drove past.

     They had no idea when they planned their departure how much light there would be as they traveled. They looked up and saw a crescent moon, in its last quarter. And lots of clouds. They’d have no trouble seeing, with the night vision goggles they’d be wearing. Scott hoped that there was no one out there wanting to do them harm. But perhaps the lack of a full moon would make it easier to slip by unnoticed.

     The
tractor was dark blue in color and would be running without lights. They’d already removed the fuses for all of the lights, including the brake lights. The electrical pig tail that would normally run between the tractor and the trailer was intentionally left unconnected.

     Scott wished the trailer wasn’t painted white. And that it didn’t have Walmart painted on each side. If there were marauders out here, and if it was light enough for them to read the Walmart logo, they
’d likely see the truck as a gold mine.

     But in the end, it was what it was. There was nothing they could do about it. They
would be as careful as they could, and hope for the best.

     Everyone other than
Jordan assembled in the front yard to say goodbye. Jordan was at the security console, pulling his regular shift. He and Scott had already spent some time together earlier in the evening, and had said their goodbyes then.

     Outside, there was a heavy pall in the air. It was a feeling of sadness. Of the possibility that this could be a final goodbye.

     Joyce fought hard to keep from screaming, “Don’t go.”

     She looked at Linda, who was looking longingly at Tom. It occurred to her that Linda was probably thinking the same thing.

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