After the Day- Red Tide

by Matthew Gilman

  “Chung,” the woman repeated. The man excited, nodding his head.

  “Aurora,” the woman said pointing to herself.

  “Ahwowa,” the man tried to mimic.

  She nodded in agreement figuring it was close enough.

  “John,” the man said pointing to himself.

  “Jan,” Chung repeated.

  “Close enough,” John said.

  Chung went back to the kitchen and started pulling out dried meat and veggies. Herbs were packed away in cans. The two men worked hard putting together something for their guests.

  “Do you think they are the pilots of the jets on the highway?” John said to Aurora.

  “Could be, makes sense. You don’t think they were in that battle your dad always talked about, do you?” she asked.

  “Let’s find out.” John said. “Chung.”

  Chung turned around to his guest.

  John pointed at Chung then turned his hand into a flat surface. He made a jet engine sound and motioned his hand flying around the room, then pointed back at Chung.

  Chung nodded excited. He ran to the closet and pulled out his old flight suit.

  “Holy shit.” John said looking at the Chinese star on the side.

  “They have been here a long time.” Aurora said.

  Dinner was served. A meal of deer jerky, smoked fish, and a salad made from the local greens. John pulled a bottle of liquor out of his bag and sat it on the table.

  Qi gasped at the bottle. He started to get excited mumbling in Chinese.

  Chung realized they had no idea what Qi’s name was.

  Chung pointed to Qi. “Chi.” he said.

  “Chi,” John repeated. Both men nodded. Qi pointed at himself and repeated it. He stood from the table and pulled mugs out of the cupboard.

  John poured glasses for everyone and the men smelled their glasses. Qi gulped his down and gasped a large smile on his face.

  John and Aurora sipped their glasses. John was happy to pour them both seconds which they took their time with.

  There wasn’t much conversation at the table but the two men still appeared more than happy to have someone for company.

  Aurora and John left after dinner and went back to the river where they said their goodbyes. The two men waved and hollered phrases in Chinese.

  “Do you think we should tell my dad about them when we get back home?” John said to Aurora.

  “I don’t see why, who are they hurting. They are trying to get by like everybody else.” Aurora said as they continued east. They were doing an opposite trip from Louis and Clark. Traveling east and collecting information on their travels about the rest of the country. It was an extended form of a honeymoon for them. Married before their trip, they were set on seeing the world beyond their town and thought this would be the way to do it. The trip would take years and they knew there was plenty of danger but being alive was dangerous. John held his brides hand helping her up the side of the mountain.

  They would travel to the east coast, see the ocean. Hopefully they would meet people along the way and have many stories to tell people back home when they returned. John hoped to tell his dad about a new America that he had helped protect and create years before. In the least he wanted to go back home to talk about an America that still had the potential of being great, where people were free and kind. A land where people helped one another and smiled with greetings happy to see you. A place where children could play and be safe. Where life was a common goal and everyone worked together to make sure everyone had enough. That was the America John Adams Jr. hoped to see. That was the one he wanted to share with his bride. As they set foot east they came closer to finding out what kind of America still existed.