Dark Destruction (EMP Lodge Series Book 4)

by Grace Hamilton

  She looked at him, “I'm trying. I really am.”

  Megan worried. Would their efforts be enough to save the lodge?

  12

  The three men stood staring at the bucket of mud they had hauled up to the dam.

  “Do you think the same mud mixture we are using for the cob bricks will work?” Wyatt asked Bryan.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know. The cob mix is thick. Maybe we should add in a little more water?” Wyatt stared at the muck in the bucket before grabbing a stick to stir it a bit and had to agree with Bryan. Pouring a little more water into the mixture of mud, clay and pine needles, Wyatt stirred until it seemed to be a workable consistency.

  “I guess this will have to do,” he said, peering into the bucket.

  “We'll try it. If it doesn't seem to be working, we will make it thicker. I don't see how this is going to do a lot of good in the first place, but I guess anything is worth trying,” Chase said, not looking at all convinced.

  “This is probably not the smartest thing I've ever done,” Wyatt said, tying the thick rope around his waist before tugging on it to make sure it was secure. He made his way to the slope, leading to the raging waters below.

  Chase laughed. “But it certainly isn't the dumbest. At least this stunt is for a worthy cause, unlike some of the other ridiculous activities you’ve attempted.”

  Wyatt had a flashback to crushing beer cans on his forehead and trying to race a train. He had always lived life to the fullest, but now that he had seen firsthand how precious life could be, he wasn't ready to take any more chances.

  Wyatt pulled the rope again to test its strength. While it wasn't exactly the kind of rope he would want to rappel off a mountain with, it would have to do.

  “Okay, hand me that bucket,” he said to Chase who was standing on the side of the slope. Bryan was on the walkway that spanned the length of the dam. If Wyatt started to slip, he would grab the rope and pull him up.

  Wyatt made his way down the muddy slope. The crack in the dam had turned the hillside into a slippery mess. He had no idea if the cob mixture would even stick to the wet cement but he was certainly going to try.

  They didn't have a trowel to spread it with, so he was relying on a stick and his hands. Not ideal, but it would do.

  Wyatt dipped a hand into the thick goo and slapped a glob on the wall above the crack. He used the stick to smooth it down and over the crack much like putty. The water was turning it into a gooey mud.

  “I don't think this is going to hold,” he said in frustration.

  “Try a thicker layer,” Chase advised.

  Wyatt grabbed a handful of the mud and slapped it on, directly over the crack. Bits of the mud and grass fell into the rushing waters below.

  “Put on a thick mass over the crack and smooth it out in a wide circle,” Chase ordered.

  Wyatt wasn't going to argue with him. He did as Chase said. He waited and watched to see if the mud over the crack would turn soft.

  It seemed to be holding.

  “Is it working?” Bryan called from above.

  “I don't know. It isn't turning into a watery mess, so maybe,” Wyatt replied.

  “Add some more and fill the hole as best you can,” Chase called out. Wyatt scraped at the contents of the bucket using everything he could grab with his fingers and packing it tightly into the cracks before smoothing it down with the stick. When he could see the bottom of the bucket, he signaled Chase that he was finished. Chase worked his way over to him and grabbed the bucket while Wyatt made his way back up the hill to solid ground. Reaching for the rope, he untied it from around his waist and dragged the rope up the muddy hillside after Bryan untied it from the rail.

  They all stood on the edge, staring at the patch. Bits of grass were poking out from the mud, but it appeared to be drying.

  It was unlikely it would hold for long, but even if it only held a day, it would help.

  If they had to come back every day and add another layer, he would do it. Anything to save the lodge and the people living there.

  “Let's head back. I'm sure Megan is getting anxious,” Chase said. “She wasn't exactly thrilled with you crawling down there to patch it.”

  Wyatt grinned. “She cares about my safety. What can I say?”

  “So, you still gonna pop the question?” Bryan asked.

  Wyatt nodded. “Yep, but I can't do it without a ring. I mean, I know we are all post-apocalypse and all, but the woman deserves some kind of token of my love.”

  “Where are you going to find a ring? Does Rosie have one you could give Megan? Like a family heirloom. You could start a new tradition,” Chase said.

  “I was going to look for one on our next trip into town. I had planned to make a run in the next week or two.” He waved his arm at the raging water beside them. “Then this happened.”

  Bryan looked thoughtful. “I bet Garrett could make you one. He knows a little something about metal working.”

  Wyatt was surprised. “Really? That's a great idea. I'll ask him. I don't guess I'll find a diamond to put in it, but I'm sure she would be okay with a simple band. She doesn't really strike me as the kind of girl who would like a lot of bling.”

  The three men laughed. “Definitely not. She will be thrilled to have something you put some thought into. That always makes the ladies happy,” Bryan added.

  “Thanks for the tip, Bryan. I would be lost without your romance advice,” Wyatt said with heavy sarcasm.

  “No problem, man. Gotta help a guy out when I can.”

  The three walked down the hill. Wyatt was feeling good about the future. The dam had a temporary patch, which should buy them some time to get the dike built. Every extra day they had, the more formidable they could make the wall.

  Eventually, they could dig a trench that would provide even more protection. They could funnel the water to a pond and create an irrigation system for the garden. This could end up being a very good thing.

  It would all work out. Life was good and getting better.

  13

  Megan walked back down the hill from where the dike was being built to the lodge. She could smell and feel the dampness in the air. She prayed it didn't rain. There were clouds in the sky, but they didn't appear to be rain clouds. A rainstorm right now would destroy all their labor before they began.

  She yawned as she made her way through the thick trees that created a wall between the disaster waiting to happen above and the lodge below. She was exhausted. Megan, Wyatt, Bryan and Evan had all gotten up with the sun and started on the brick building. They were willing to do what it takes if it meant getting a good night's sleep down the road. The sacrifice would be worth it, they told her, as they trudged up the hill earlier that morning.

  The three men stayed up at the work site, continuing to make and stack bricks. Megan was going to check on things and get the rest of the work crew going. She also wanted to check on Caitlin. The kids worked hard yesterday and her daughter had complained about not feeling well last night. Megan hoped it was the exhaustion and not something more serious.

  Rosie would know what herbs to give Caitlin if it did look like there was something going around. Megan thought back to a couple of months ago. Amy had started to feel ill and by the end of the day, all five kids were vomiting and feeling miserable.

  When everyone else in the house started to come down with symptoms, Brenda explained they were likely dealing with the norovirus. No matter how much they tried to enforce handwashing, with everyone using the same outhouse, things weren't as clean as they should have been. The virus was likely picked up when Frankie drank water directly from the stream. They knew they weren't the only people who lived around here. If others were defecating in or near the water source, it would contaminate the supply.

  All it took was one mistake. They had all ended up paying the price. The kids had learned their lesson and proper handwashing was followed. They had all recovered, but it had certainly been a rough week at
the lodge.

  This, more than anything, frightened Megan, and was one of the problems with living in such close quarters. If one person got sick, it usually meant the rest were going to get it. It wasn't if, but a matter of when. They were lucky that they had yet to meet anyone carrying any more serious viruses. Megan and the rest of the adults could not afford to get sick right now. They needed every ounce of strength to get the dike built.

  “Good morning,” Rosie said when Megan walked through the back door.

  “It's quiet in here,” Megan commented, surprised not to see the rest of the group up and about.

  Rosie chuckled. “You wore them all out yesterday. Here,” she said, handing Megan a cup of coffee. “Drink up.”

  “Has Caitlin been downstairs yet?” Megan asked.

  “No, I did check on all of the kids and they’re still sleeping. Caitlin looked fine. I felt her head and no sign of a fever,” she said. “I think she's just worn out.”

  “Good. I think it's best if we let the kids have a day off. What’s your plan for today?” Megan asked Rosie.

  “I'm going to get that compost spread out in the garden. We will need to get some seeds in the ground soon.”

  Megan started to say maybe they should wait, but stopped when Rosie gave her a look.

  “Don't you dare doubt yourself, Megan. We'll be fine,” Rosie assured her.

  “We should probably have someone help you here.”

  “Garrett was just in and he volunteered,” Rosie said. “It would be great if he could start turning that one section of the garden. I will spread the compost while he does the shoveling.”

  “Did you get the plastic put up in the greenhouse yesterday?”

  “Yep and Linda had been kind enough to split the seeds she had stockpiled. I was able to get some different herbs started in the greenhouse,” Rosie explained.

  “Awesome! What did you get?”

  “I already had a few, but with the new baby coming, I jumped at the chance to get more peppermint. If the baby has colic, the peppermint will help soothe the tummy. I also got some thyme. If anyone gets a chest cold, the thyme will go a long way to breaking up congestion,” she explained with a great deal of excitement. “I didn't even know what all she had given me. It was all in a can and I forgot all about it.”

  “That’s amazing! I hope we do get to see them again,” Megan said wistfully.

  “I'm sure we will. Every time I chop up some fresh rosemary or smell the oregano in the many tomato dishes I hope to prepare this year, I will think of them fondly.”

  Megan laughed. “Me too. I can't wait to taste fresh herbs again. And of course, I know you have a million different ways to use them to keep us all healthy,” she winked.

  “I don't know about a million, but with all of the plants that grow wild in the forest and what we have growing in the greenhouse, we won't have to be so worried about the lack of medicine. I'm going to be starting some new plants from what we have growing already. Since I’m about out of seeds, I’ll be doing fresh cuttings to get them started. My goal is to have a bunch of plants on hand to use for bartering this summer.”

  Megan was intrigued. “That’s a great idea, Rosie. I think with your knowledge and the plants you can trade, they will be very valuable. I can only imagine what they will be worth to others. How do you get a tiny herb to grow without a seed though?”

  “I'll show you.” Rosie said, grabbing one of her mint plants from the counter. She picked up her scissors and carefully separated a stem from the rest of the bushy plant.

  “I make a nice clean cut, about halfway down the stem,” she said, snipping the plant off. “Now, some plants, like rosemary, are a little thicker. I’ll make the cut a little higher on the stem to get the newest growth. I don't cut any stems that have flower buds at the top.”

  “Do the herbs flower?” Megan asked, trying to think if she had ever seen such a thing.

  “Yes. Some do, like rosemary, dill and oregano. It’s easy to get the seeds from those herbs after they’ve dried, but taking cuttings helps speed things along.”

  Rosie grabbed an empty jar and filled it about three quarters full with water.

  “Now, I stick the cutting into water and wait a few days. Roots will form and shoot out from the stem. I’ll leave it in the water for a couple of weeks until it has a nice, healthy root system and then I transplant it.”

  “That's awesome. So, can we do that with cuttings from the fruit trees?” Megan asked, getting an idea.

  “Yes, same thing. We cut a section from the new growth of the tree. Pop it into water and wait about a month for the roots to form. Then it would be ready to plant. I think I know where you are going with this and it is an excellent idea!”

  Megan smiled. “Well, we could plant more and increase our harvest and trading fruit trees for other goods is also an option.”

  Rosie agreed. “Just remember, it will take a few years before any of the fruit trees actually bear fruit.”

  “That seems like forever, but if this stretches on, it’ll be a good idea to have a steady source of food. Even if the power is fixed and things go back to the way they were, fresh fruit is always going to be a luxury. I imagine it will be a long time before grocery stores are open and stocked again.”

  “This is true. And, fruit is expensive in general.”

  They both sat in silence.

  “Rosie?”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you think it will ever be like it was before?”

  “No, I don't. Too much has happened. I think the EMP has shown people how vulnerable we all are. I know I will never go back to the way I was before. I don't want to. I never want to depend on anyone else to take care of me and mine. I took way too much for granted and I can't imagine ever falling into that false sense of security again.”

  Megan was relieved she wasn't the only one who felt that way. While she would certainly love the perks of electricity again, like hot water on demand and a refrigerator, she couldn't see herself living in the suburbs surrounded by people who were friendly in normal circumstances, but would turn on each other should disaster strike.

  “I don't think I can either. I mean, we go back, get settled in, get complacent and boom, another disaster strikes. I think if it all goes back to semi-normal, I am going to buy land in the boonies. I’m never going to be dependent on businesses and the government for my survival. I want to be far away from society.”

  They had all learned similar lessons. Being in the city with everyone fighting for the same limited resources had been extremely dangerous. Wyatt's father had lost his life because of it.

  Rosie slowly nodded her head. “That's smart. I hope everyone learns the same valuable lesson. We can't take anything for granted ever again.”

  Megan had a feeling Rosie was talking about more than grocery stores and electricity. She had lost two of the most important people in her life post-EMP, plus her daughter before that. All too often, people took their loved ones for granted, assuming they would come home. It made them all appreciate each other a bit more and gave them the strength to overlook some of the annoying habits they all had. It had taught them patience, forgiveness and understanding.

  “Okay, well, enough of that, I need to get back to work,” Megan said, breaking up the gloomy atmosphere that had suddenly settled in the room.

  She stood and stretched her back, trying to relieve the painful knots before she had to get back up to the site and start working again.

  “Sore?” Rosie asked.

  “Yeah, a little. I'll be fine,” she answered.

  “I have some of that dried white willow bark. I'll mix up a tea real quick. That will help relieve the pain.”

  The mention of the willow bark brought back memories of Greg. They had gone on the hunt for the bark to use as an aspirin substitute.

  “That would be great. I'm going to check the goats and make sure the chickens didn't escape last night,” she said, heading out the door.

&nb
sp; Misty greeted Megan at the back door. Of course, she wasn't in the pen. She never was.

  “Hey, girl. How are your new feathered friends?” she asked rubbing the goat between the two horns on top of her head.

  Misty turned her head and pressed into Megan's hand. She loved her head being rubbed.

  Megan was relieved to see the chickens walking around the pen, pecking at the ground. They seemed healthy enough.

  She moved the wooden pallet they used as a gate and walked into the pen. She got down low to peek inside the covered area they had made for the goats to sleep. The chickens had made themselves right at home last night.

  Megan's heart raced as her eyes focused. In the corner of the shelter was an egg. It was their first egg! She wanted to scream and shout in excitement. She reached in and carefully grabbed it, being extra careful with her precious cargo.

  “Good girls! I don't know who left us this little gem, but I thank you oh so much. For the two who didn't leave me an egg, get busy!”

  The chickens ignored her and kept scratching and cackling among themselves. Megan carefully carried the egg into the kitchen and held it up for Rosie to see.

  When she walked in, Rosie was dumping the coffee grounds from the percolator into an old bucket they used for kitchen waste. The grounds were going into the garden soil.

  “Look!”

  “Oh my! Would you look at that!” Rosie exclaimed.

  “I can't believe it. Soon, we’ll have fresh milk and eggs. It will be like old times,” Megan declared. “The kids are going to be so excited.”

  “We need to get a rooster,” Rosie said, appearing deep in thought. “While three hens are great, we need more chickens. There’s only one way that is going to happen.”

  Megan laughed. “I’ll certainly keep my eyes open for a rooster.”

  Rosie took the egg and put it inside a cup for safekeeping.

  “How long can we keep the egg without refrigeration?” Megan asked, suddenly worried about eggs going to waste.