There was a corpse of what had been an elderly man sitting in a lawn chair, with an empty water glass sitting on the table. Next to the tumbler was a pill bottle. Stryker couldn’t see if it was empty as well, but he suspected it was. Apparently, the judge decided not to wait for the plague to kill him.
The remainder of the front of the house was the same as the back. He detected no movement, the window and doors were all shut, and there were no shadows on the corners of the house. He rose from the water and approached the house with the carbine again at the low ready. He walked up the stairs and past the corpse and pinched his nose shut with a forefinger and thumb. The sliding door opened easily, and he walked into a great room with the same sort of furnishings he saw in the judge’s office: heavy, expensive leather furniture. Another massive desk sat in the middle of the room facing the lake and river.
Stryker passed through the great room and entered the dining room that had a crystal chandelier over a twelve-chair table, and a sideboard on one side of the room. He then cleared the remainder the house. He entered the den and saw a desk that dwarfed the one in the great room.
Stryker walked to the back door of the house and waved for Elle and Haley to come in. They approached at a slow jog and joined him on the patio.
“The house is clear,” Stryker said. “If you want to look at it, go ahead. I’m going to get the body off the front porch and check out the energy systems.”
“Body?” Haley asked.
“It’s on the porch. I’ll take care of it.” Stryker left the room and came back with a bedspread, walked by the women and out to the porch. He laid the blanket flat, dumped the body into it by tilting the lawn chair up, folded the bedspread around it, and dragged it to the lake, holding his breath the entire way. He dumped it into the water from the front of the dock. He walked back into the house and saw that the women were not present, apparently checking out the bedrooms and bathrooms.
“This would be perfect for us,” Elle said, emerging from a bedroom and stopping in front of Stryker.
“This really works for me,” Haley said, after she entered the room from a nearby bedroom. “It has private baths and is really nicely laid out. We have a cool common area and all the privacy we want in the bedrooms. The kitchen has restaurant-grade appliances.
“It looks good to me, too,” Stryker said, after thinking it over. “I have to check the well but it is a definite possibility.” He walked over to the sink, turned on the faucet, and was surprised when dirty water poured out.
“That’s disgusting,” Elle said as she watched the black sludge spewing from the faucet.
“It will run clear in a few minutes. Just let it run,” Stryker replied as he hit the “on” switch on a coffee maker that sat on the countertop and smiled when the red indicator light came on. “Well, that’s a good start. But I still need to look at the pump and motor and check the panels and batteries. Why don’t you guys get the Jeep, park it on the side of the house, and unload it.” He handed the keys to Haley and went outside to start the inspection. A half hour later, Stryker entered the house with a look of satisfaction on his face.
“Is everything working right?” Haley asked.
“Better than right. This guy knew what he was doing. It’s all top-of-the-line equipment and it’s pretty new. Even the batteries are wet cell. They should last another ten years, at least.” When the women looked confused, he added, “wet cell batteries last a lot longer.” They both shrugged. “I also turned on the water heater so we can have showers in the morning. He had it on a timer so it only heated two hours a day. Like I said, he knew what he was doing.”
“So, this is a good possibility?”
“Very good. This setup will generate three times the power of mine, and it’s all newer. The house is 100 percent brick and would be easy to defend. The clearing is large and we have fields of fire that are totally open.”
“Whatever that means,” Elle said.
“Would you guys go through all the rooms on the main floor and see if there is any bottled water around? I can’t test the water to see if it’s safe to drink, but if it’s the only source of water, then we know it’s probably good.” Stryker went to the garage and found fishing poles and tackle, a fileting knife, and a net. He took three bass jigs out of the tackle box and tied them to the lines, then picked up the net and knife and walked back into the house. When Elle saw the gear, her eyes lit up.
“My God! We get to eat fish?”
“You bet. This lake has good fishing. At least it did. I’m guessing that it’s going to be excellent because there haven’t been many fishermen using the lake.”
“So we don’t need to look at the other two houses?” Haley asked.
“Nope. We’re not going to find anything better than this. The judge must have been a very wealthy man to build this place and equip it the way he did.” He paused for a moment, then added, “He also must have had a lot of pull to get this place permitted. There are no other houses within a mile. If you noticed, there’s about three acres of this lot that are completely surrounded by barbed wire. It would be easy to raise cattle and other farm animals here. No garden, but I’d rather create that than all the other stuff we would have to build at the ranch.”
They drifted into the kitchen and gazed at a gigantic refrigerator and a massive, six-burner Viking range.
“This guy must have been loaded,” Haley said. “The stove and fridge alone must have cost a fortune.” Stryker opened the door of the fridge and glanced inside.
“He was definitely a bachelor,” Stryker said wryly.
“Why?” Haley asked. Stryker opened the door fully so they could see the contents. It was filled with unopened bottles of wine, beer, and soft drinks. There was not a scrap of food.
“Anybody want a beer?” Stryker asked.
“Sure,” they replied. Stryker didn’t recognize the brands, so he shrugged, picked three bottles, and opened them with a church key that hung from a peg on the wall. He passed them each a beer and toasted with his. They all took a deep pull and smacked their lips.
“Fishing, anyone?” Stryker asked. They nodded and picked up the poles and carbines and headed to the dock. Stryker walked ahead of them to make sure the body was gone and was relieved to see the current had carried it into the lake and away from the dock. “Okay,” Stryker said, “two can fish and one stands guard. We’ll take turns.”
Two hours later, after gutting and cooking the fish they caught on a gas barbeque grill on the patio, they all relaxed and watched the sunset as they ate. Elle had found some canned peas and carrots and heated them on the stove. Haley cooked some pasta and covered it with canned tomato sauce.
“I’m in heaven,” Elle said as she took another fish and tore into it. Stryker was amazed at how they ate. Normally slow and dainty eaters, they tore into the food like two lumberjacks, washing it down with long pulls of wine. They were on the second bottle and clearly not feeling any pain.
Stryker tuned out their conversation, which had something to do with designer clothing, and thought of the coming day. They would be back at the ranch by noon after stopping at the trading post. He still had six gold coins and whatever they could find in the judge’s house tomorrow.
Everyone fell silent until Elle said, “I guess we’d better clear the table and do the dishes.” They all got up reluctantly and moved inside. Stryker turned on a single table lamp that emitted enough light to allow them to see, but not enough to be seen from a distance. He moved through the house, checking all the windows and doors, before moving back to the kitchen. He locked the patio door and snagged a beer from the fridge.
The women were sitting on bar stools on the other side of the island in the kitchen, each with another full glass of wine. Stryker joined them and they chatted for a few minutes before he went to bed in the first of three adjacent bedrooms. He woke up at the sound of footsteps down the hallway. They were giggling as they passed his bedroom. He rolled over, got up, checked the doors and
windows again, and went back to bed.
Stryker rose the following morning before sunup and went to the kitchen after pulling on his pants. He padded barefoot down the hall, opened cupboards until he found a jar of freeze-dried coffee, and put a pot of water on the stove to boil. He made his cup of coffee and walked onto the patio. There was still mist over the lake and he watched as the sun seemed to glance off the horizon as it rose. He finished the first cup, made a second, and walked down the hallway to where the women slept. The first bedroom was empty so he walked to the second and quietly opened the door. A gentle light filtered into the room through the closed drapes. Haley and Elle were still sleeping, and had kicked off the sheets during the night, revealing their nudeness. It had been a hot evening; with the windows closed and locked.
Both had breasts that spilled away from their torsos as they slept on their sides facing one another. Both wore contented expressions and looked the way women only look once during their lifetimes. It was that odd mixture of girlishness and maturity. They seemed like sculptures chiseled by some ancient Greek or Roman artist. Stryker stared at them for a while, mesmerized by the beauty of the scene, then stepped quietly back and softly closed the door.
“I don’t know if I should feel like a pervert or just be grateful for the view,” he muttered as he walked back to the kitchen. Then he thought about how important these young women were to him. He had lived without purpose for so long that having someone to care for gave his life meaning again. He vowed to do everything he could to protect them and attempt to give them a shot at something resembling a normal life. As he walked through the house, a realization came to him: he and Sarge needed these woman as much, or more, than they needed them. It was a troubling thought, not because Stryker hated needing anyone for anything, but because it made his own motives questionable. Was he taking care of them because he was doing the right and honorable thing? Or was it because he needed something to look after, the way widows often get pets once they’re alone?
He walked out to the patio and continued sipping his coffee. A few minutes later, he heard a door slam, and presumed it was the bathroom door to the bedroom they slept in, but picked up his M-4 and moved into the house in case he was mistaken.
“Good morning,” Haley said cheerfully as she moved to heat the water. She was wearing a t-shirt and panties.
“Morning,” he replied.
She stood over the stove for a moment and made her coffee. “Elle will be out in a minute,” she said.
“I’m on the patio.” He moved back out the sliding glass door and sat at the table sipping his coffee. A few minutes later, they joined him, both carrying coffee mugs, fully clothed, and looking cheerful.
“Sleep well?” Stryker asked.
“It was too hot,” Elle replied.
“Yeah, I didn’t want to run the AC until I know the batteries can take the load. So I thought it best to leave it shut down.” They glanced at each other and then Elle spoke.
“We heard you open the door earlier, and it didn’t close for quite a while.”
Stryker wasn’t sure how to answer, so he thought about it and said, “You’re both beautiful young women and I enjoyed the view. I’m not a robot and I’m not ashamed of admiring beauty. So shoot me for being a man who likes looking at women.” He went back to sipping his coffee and studying the sunrise. A pause that seemed awkward to Stryker ensued and finally Haley spoke.
“You know, we’re both twenty-two and have been locked in a dorm room with two gay guys for close to two years. We had no attention from men in forever and I guess I like the fact you liked looking at us.”
“I did. I didn’t know the two guys were gay,” Stryker replied.
“So you think we’re pretty?”
“Understatement. You’re pretty with your clothes on. You’re devastating without them.” They both smiled and glanced at each other.
“So when are you making your move on Erin?” Haley asked.
“When I know I can love her and not the idea of her. When I can think of a woman and not see my wife. It’s going to be awhile,” Stryker replied without hesitation. “We all need to be honest about these things and I’m not going to lie about it. I feel an attraction to your sister, but I can’t just act on my feelings without knowing my acts will follow. Only the greedy and stupid do that.”
“You’re a good man, Stryker, and I know that you’ll take care of Erin if you guys hook up,” Haley said.
Stryker barked a laugh. “I don’t hook up. I don’t have casual affairs and I don’t sleep with women I don’t love. Call me old fashioned, but that whole culture eludes me.” He thought about what he said and added, “I’m not trying to belittle your generation; I’m just saying I come from a different place and time and I just don’t share what I think are your values. The Marine Corps is not exactly a bastion of progressive liberal thought.”
“I think the values we don’t share probably don’t matter very much,” Elle said. “We want the same things, we share the same fears, and we try to lead the best lives we can. The rest is pretty trivial.”
“I was thinking along those lines this morning,” Stryker replied, wondering if he should go into it with them now. He decided to plow ahead. “Before Sarge and I found you guys, we both lived meaningless lives. All we wanted to do was survive and not much more. Since you all came into our lives, I think we both have a sense of purpose again, and that’s important to us. At first, the purpose was simply to protect you from harm; but this morning I realized that wasn’t enough anymore.”
“Was that when you were playing Peeping Tom?” Elle said, giggling briefly.
“Ahh, no, it wasn’t.” Stryker cracked a grin. “I think we have to try to lead more normal lives. I don’t know if or when we can do it, but a big part of that is going to be trying to find other people so you two can experience the things that I had. You’ve got a lot of life ahead of you.”
“You’re only ten years older than us,” Haley said.
“It’s an important ten years. I found the woman of my dreams and married her. I had a daughter I loved dearly. I rose to the top of my chosen profession and enjoyed the respect of my peers. Those are all very important things in life.”
“Look, Stryker,” Haley said, “I agree with you, but don’t worry about it. We’re fine for now, and if things come up to make life better, believe me I will be all for it. But for now, let’s just accept things for what they are. We’ll be fine. Maybe we don’t have as much toughness as you do, but we did okay locked in a dorm for two years. This is much better than that.”
“Yeah,” Elle chimed in. “What she said.”
“Okay,” Stryker said. “Preaching is over. Let’s go through this place and see if we can find trade goods. Look for anything you would be willing to trade for and we can head into town. Both of you need to strap on your pistols first thing in the morning from now on. You must get used to wearing them because trouble doesn’t wait around while you look for your weapons. First stop is going to be the mall, so we can get clothes for Erin and you two.” Both women’s expressions lit up.
“I can shop for Erin,” Haley said. “I know what she likes and her sizes.”
“I just thought of the upside of the apocalypse,” Elle said. “No more credit cards or student loan debt.” Stryker just stared at her, wondering if she was serious. She shrugged and added, “I’ll start upstairs.”
Stryker went to the garage while Haley started in the kitchen. All he found that was tradeable was a case of unopened boxes of assorted flashlight batteries. He took one last look around, sighed, and went back into the house. Haley had placed all the canned and dry food in the cupboards on the countertops.
“We can’t trade any of that stuff,” Stryker said as he passed. He went over to the desk and starting rummaging through the drawers. They mostly contained legal papers, but he found a key in the top drawer and picked it up.
“What kind of stuff are we looking for?”
�
�Anything made of gold, flashlight batteries, and anything else that is rare,” he replied as he continued to stare at the key. “Why don’t you check the bedrooms?”
“Okay.”
The key was small, obviously not to a door or vehicle. Made of brass, it gleamed in his hand, seeming to hold the promise of something valuable. “This has got to be a key to a lockbox or safe,” he muttered to himself.
Stryker glanced around the great room again, then walked into the master bedroom. After looking under the bed and in the walk-in closet, he stood and thought for a moment. The judge was a smart man. The placement of the house, the materials used, and the off-the-grid systems were carefully planned.
Normally, lock boxes and safes are found in master bedrooms or closets. People want to be close at night to the things they value. It feels safer to most. This guy was smarter than that. Stryker wondered: Where is the last place a burglar would consider looking? What is the most unlikely hiding place for the stuff you considered so valuable it has to be locked up?
His eyes swept the room while he pondered the problem. Finally, he walked back through the great room and opened the hall closet. After pushing aside several coats, he examined the interior. A small throw rug covered the floor with a pair of work boots sitting on top. He lifted the boots out and set them down, then pulled the rug out.
“Bingo,” he said, eyeing the small floor safe. He inserted the key, turned the lock, and opened the door. He pulled out a soft, purple velvet pouch that had some weight to it. He untied the drawstring and opened it wide. Pouring the contents into his hand, the gold coins quickly overflowed and fell on the rug. He placed all the coins back in the pouch. Walking into the kitchen, he waited for the women to return. They came back empty-handed and stopped in front of him.
Stryker: A Post-Apocalyptic Tale Page 15
