Almost everyone in the town had gathered to see the soldiers off. They were moving on to other areas to check for survivors and give aid, but they’d given the town a working radio and the frequencies to the base the army had set up between Red Deer and Edmonton. The soldiers had also spent the last two days recruiting any able body person willing to join them. They needed more people to work at trying to restore order to the province. No one was surprised to hear that the western and northern parts of the country had fared better than the east. They had been in contact with other units across Canada that had specialized communications equipment that had survived the pulse. The lower population base and existing farms of the prairies had gone a long way to keeping people alive. Hundreds of thousands of refugees had fled north and west from the huge cities in lower Ontario and Quebec and the army had set up a huge base in Thunder Bay to process them and send them further west. The logistics of feeding so many people were huge but the massive acres of farmland in the prairies would need the labour of so many to plant and harvest future crops.
There had been limited contact with the United States, but what they’d heard was similar. Cities emptied and people died on the road. Smaller population centres fared better and areas with strong leadership had started to rebuild. The criminal element did its worst to the population but with the old laws no longer functioning, justice was swift, often brutal, and most times, final. No longer would criminals have more rights than their victims, and if lawyers were not quite outlawed, they were strongly frowned upon if they tried the old way of delays and technicalities for their clients. The world no longer had the time or the patience for long drawn-out trials and appeals when just providing the basics of survival already exceeded resources at hand.
Generations of people who were used to instant gratification had to learn a new way of life. Entertainment, when there was time, stopped being about overpaid athletes, pop stars and movie stars. No one cared what the latest reality show star was wearing anymore. Local dances and bands filled that void, with card game parties and potlucks replacing restaurants and movie nights. For many towns, market day was looked forward to. People came together to barter or trade what they had and it replaced hours of mindless spending at shopping malls. One of the biggest changes for many people was that they now actually got to know their neighbours instead of just waving as they drove by. Life was much simpler, but it was hard. Medicines ran out and food was scarce until it could be harvested. People died and people lived and it would never be the same.
Alex stood with Dr. Mack a few feet away from her family and friends. They watched as soldiers loaded Cooper into the back of one of the trucks on a stretcher. He was going to recover, thanks to the quick work of the army surgeon and a few blood transfusions, but it would take a long time. When he had regained consciousness and was told what had happened, he had asked to go with the soldiers and be a recruit once he had healed. The army was taking quite a few people with them back to their base before continuing on their aid mission, and nothing the teens said could change Cooper’s mind. He didn’t have any family left in the town and felt he would always bear some of the blame for what his father had done.
Dr. Mack surveyed the crowds lining the street like they were waiting for a parade and sighed. Alex looked up at him, her eyebrows raised in question.
The doctor looked around them before saying quietly, “This is going to sound terrible but that gang saved a lot of lives.” At Alex’s horrified expression he held up his hand. “What they did to the people of this town was horrible and in a lot of cases, evil. But they also made everyone work and they took all the food from every house and store and rationed it out. If they hadn’t taken over, I have my doubts the town council could have gotten everyone to work together like that. There’s a huge amount of food being planted right now that will feed us this fall and winter. Without that gang, I don't know if that would have happened. People would have hoarded what they could until it was gone and then there would have been stealing and fighting among neighbours for any scrap they could find. Now we still have food in storage and crops in the ground. Look at all of these people, Alex. Most of them are in the best shape of their lives from the work they were forced to do. So many people in this town were overweight and unhealthy. They needed all kinds of medications because of that, but now they don’t. I’m not saying it was a good thing and if it had continued, people would have started to starve from the low rations, but a lot of people will live longer because of what they did here.”
Alex looked away from the doctor with a frown and studied the people lined up on the sidewalks. There were some that were too skinny and gaunt but the majority looked healthy and strong. Their faces were tanned from being outside and she couldn’t see anyone with a belly hanging over their belt. They did look good. She would like to think that her town and neighbours would have come together on their own but a small part of her knew that the doctor was right.
Alex was distracted from her thoughts as a woman walked towards her and her group from the army truck. She was completely out of place with her stylish hair and beautiful clothes. The woman’s high heels snapped against the pavement as she glided towards them. Looking at the beautiful woman, Alex thought she could have come from the pages of a magazine, not the world of the past six weeks. As stunning as she looked, Alex noticed that there was no depth in her eyes as she stepped past Alex without a glance.
“There you are, Lisa. I wasn’t sure if you would still be in the area.”
Alex had turned to watch the woman and saw Lisa looking at her with no emotion. Alex realized that this woman was Lisa’s mother.
“I wanted to let you know that I’ll be traveling with these soldiers back to the base. I’m told they have some electricity there and I would be more comfortable.”
When Lisa didn’t answer but just stared at her mother like she was a stranger, the woman nodded.
“Well then. Take care, dear.”
She turned away and took two steps before stopping. Alex could see her face and the expression that crossed it was like something had just occurred to her. She turned back to Lisa.
“You could come with me.”
There was no pleading or love in the statement. It was an afterthought.
Lisa cocked her head to the side and looked her mother up and down and her voice was filled with disdain when she answered.
“I’m sorry, Claire, but I’m not interested in being a whore. Besides, my family is right here and I couldn’t leave them.”
Lisa used the woman’s name instead of the title of mother which she no longer deserved. Claire Kelly lifted her nose in the air and rolled her eyes just like her daughter used to do, before turning on her heel and walking back to her future customers.
Alex looked at her friends standing in a group. Quinn sent her a smile full of love, Josh winked at her and put David in a loose headlock, Dara shook her head at his antics and laughed. Emily had an arm around Lisa’s waist and their heads leaning against each other’s in support. Alex started nodding her head. They had come so far together and she realized that home might be defined by a place, but it was being surrounded by the people you loved the most that made it HOME.
City Escape
Book Four
Part One - CITY
Chapter One
April Davis’ world had compressed down to three points of view. As she sat on the grass beside Main Street Disneyland her whole body was still. Only her eyes moved from the three points in front of her.
Mrs. Moore was staring after some of the students that were making their way to the gates of the amusement park. They were leaving, alone, no parents or teachers - just a bunch of kids all by themselves heading out to walk across the northern continent. The idea seemed to her insane and amazing at the same time.
April’s eyes tracked to her right where her mother was talking to the other parent chaperone and a still sobbing Ms. Scott. Her mother’s hands were flapping in the air and April had
the vague image of those hands flapping so hard that her mother rose into the air and flew away.
Her gaze moved away to the final point in the triangle, Mr. Carter. His body was still lying on the road with his jacket covering his face. No one had tried to move him and as people filed out of the park, many had stepped over him like he wasn’t even there, so still…so dead.
April shuddered and her eyes tracked back to Mrs. Moore still watching her students walk away. They had almost made it to the gates. Her mother, still flapping her hands. Mr. Carter, still dead. She kept moving her eyes. Teacher, flapping hands, dead body - until one of the points changed.
Mrs. Moore was no longer looking at the gates; she was now looking at April. With a frown, the older teacher came towards her and glanced over at April’s mother. Shaking her head, she lowered herself to one knee.
“Are you okay, dear?” Mrs. Moore asked.
April opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Her eyes slid away from her teacher to Mr. Carter’s body. Mrs. Moore followed her gaze and sighed.
“I’m sorry you have to see him like that, April. I’ll see if someone can help me move him off the road. I know that things are scary right now but we’ve got to concentrate on the living and making sure we stay that way.”
April opened her mouth to speak and again nothing came out so she just nodded her head and looked over at her mother.
Mrs. Moore patted her knee and stood up.
“We’ll be leaving soon so stay close.”
April nodded again and looked down at her tightly clasped hands. In the back of her mind, she wondered if she was in shock. Ever since the planes had fallen from the sky and everything electrical had stopped working, she’d felt like she was seeing the world through a haze. Nothing seemed real, like it was all a dream or a nightmare. She turned her eyes towards Mr. Carter’s body but her view was blocked by her friend, Jessica. The girl sat down beside her with a thump and shoved her black-rimmed glasses back up on her nose. Jessica’s short, straight black bob was held back by a pink and green plaid headband that matched her walking shorts and polo golf shirt. She was the smartest kid in their grade and she was scowling at April’s mother.
“I can’t believe your Mother! Why do you let her control you like that? I mean, she talks like you’re a possession of hers instead of a person. ‘My daughter doesn’t get a vote!’ I can’t believe she screeched that in front of everyone. How embarrassing! It’s not like you would’ve voted to go with Alex and the others anyway but she didn’t have to say that. I seriously don’t know how you stand her!” Jessica said in a huff.
It was an old argument between the two friends. Jessica had been rolling her eyes behind Mrs. Davis’ back for years and the familiar complaint seemed to bring April out of her daze. She finally found her voice.
“I don’t think my mom’s control issues are our biggest problem right now. What are we going to do, Jess? I’m scared and I don’t know if going to the embassy is going to solve anything. I mean, Mrs. Moore is probably right about them not being able to help us. What do you think?”
Jessica squinted her eyes and looked around at the group of students and adults on the lawn.
“Yup…we’re screwed!” At April’s horrified look, she explained, “First of all, it’s a consulate, not an embassy, which means it’s just a bunch of offices in a building somewhere. Sure, it might have some Canadian soldiers there but it’s not like this is some third-world country with a compound or anything. I mean, come on! It’s LA, not Iraq! Those guys are just politicians…paper pushers. They won’t be able to help us unless it’s just to get a replacement passport or something simple. Nope; we’re on our own.”
April stared at her friend in confusion.
“Why didn’t you tell them that? My mom wants us to walk through the city for nothing! If you think that way why didn’t you vote to leave with the others?”
Jessica just shrugged. “As if your mom would listen to me. Besides, do you really want to walk to Canada? I might be a brainiac but I’m a wimp. Do you see any muscle tone in these legs?”
April shook her head in exasperation and stood up.
“This isn’t a joke, Jess! We have to do something or tell someone!” She frantically scanned around, looking for Mrs. Moore.
Jessica was right about one thing; her mother wouldn’t listen to anything she said. It didn’t seem to matter that April had just turned seventeen; her mom still treated her like she was twelve and tried to control most of her life. She was used to her mom’s voice drowning out her own but this was too important to let go, so when she spotted Mrs. Moore heading down the street to a security guard she took off after her.
When April caught up, Mrs. Moore was already discussing what they should do about Mr. Carter’s body with the older guard. He was in his late sixties and wore the familiar white hat with the red mouse-eared badge on it. He was explaining the situation as April tried to get her breath back from her mad dash after the teacher.
“It’s been almost two hours since we lost all power and most of the staff and guards have left to check on their own families. I can try and find someone else to help me with the bodies. There are a few more lying around the park. I don’t think anyone will be coming to get them and I can’t in good conscience just leave them lying where they fell.” He looked very old and tired to April when he removed his hat and rubbed his bald head.
Mrs. Moore gave him a sympathetic nod.
“May I ask why you haven’t left yourself?”
April noticed the man’s name tag read, “Walter”, as he looked around the park before answering.
“This is my home. I’ve worked here for forty years. I have no family left in the States to go check on. I think I’ll just stay here and clean things up as best as I can. I’ll bury the bodies and then do my rounds, make sure everyone’s gone from the park and the tunnels and lock it down.” He looked at Mrs. Moore sadly. “That’s all there’s left for me. I don’t know what else to do.”
Mrs. Moore nodded. “Well, thank you for seeing to Mr. Carter, and good luck to you.”
Walter just gave her a small, sad smile and wandered away.
April watched the guard as he moved away and gave a start when Mrs. Moore placed her hand on her shoulder.
“April, did you need to speak to me?”
“What? Oh…OH, YES! I don’t think my mother’s plan is going to work.” She quickly explained what Jessica had told her about the consulate and watched as Mrs. Moore’s face fell in frustration. The teacher held up her hand to stop April.
“Forgive me, dear. You and Jessica are absolutely correct and this is something I know. I was distracted by getting the other students on their way and didn’t give our situation much thought. The Canadian Embassy is in Washington, DC. You’re right about the consulate here being nothing more than offices. They’ll be no help to us at all. Let’s go find your mother and see if we can come up with a different plan.”
Just as Mrs. Moore suggested this, there was a loud screech and Mrs. Davis started to scream April’s name. They hurried over to where the rest of the class was waiting and Mrs. Davis barrelled through them and grabbed her daughter’s arm roughly.
“There you are! DO NOT do that again! I turned around and you were gone!” she exclaimed in a shrill voice. “You’re to stay with me at all times from now on. Do you understand, young lady!”
In a hushed, embarrassed voice April responded, “Mom, let go! I was right there on the street with Mrs. Moore.”
Mrs. Davis shook her head and pulled April closer. “I don’t care! You stay with me!”
Seeing April’s red face, Mrs. Moore stepped in to try and defuse the situation.
“Mrs. Davis, your daughter was just reminding me of a mistake we have all made.”
Before she could continue, Mrs. Davis looked at her daughter with condescension and said, “Really, what could she possibly know about this situation?”
The nasty tone her mother used h
ad April flushing red again and looking down at her feet. Mrs. Moore took a step towards Mrs. Davis with a glare. When the teacher continued to glare and not speak Mrs. Davis’ face reddened as well and she stammered out, “I mean, she’s just a child - what could she know that we don’t?” she said in a softer tone.
Mrs. Moore stared at the woman for a few more seconds before nodding. “She reminded me why going to the Canadian authorities would be a mistake.” Mrs. Moore explained the problem as Mrs. Davis started to sputter.
“Surely you’re wrong! They would have a secure area with armed guards to protect us! I’ve seen such things on television and in movies,” she insisted.
Mrs. Moore explained, “An embassy might be gated and guarded, but those are only in capital cities. A consulate general is usually just offices where you can go for passports and visas,” as April’s mother shook her head.
“We have no choice - we have to go there. There’s nowhere else for us to go! Now, I’m going to round everyone up and we’re going to go to our hotel to get our luggage.” And with that, Mrs. Davis dropped April’s arm and stomped away.
April watched as her mother’s hands started flapping again as she tried to round everyone up.
“It’s like the only voice she can hear is her own,” April said quietly. She was shocked when she realized that she’d just said such a thing out loud.
Mrs. Moore patted her arm and nodded. “She will have to hear mine. I’ll not allow her fear to get my students killed. Now, could you please get me a head count, April? With ten of the students gone I believe we should be at eighteen total students, parents and teachers.”
April nodded and started to skirt around the group while counting heads. Ten gone…she wished it were eleven. Walking to Canada would be easier than staying here with her mother.
Chapter Two
STRANDED: Box Set: Books 1-6 Page 60
