The First Hours

by Christine Conaway

  All Teagan could think of were the animals trapped by the flames. If they couldn’t move forward, they were in serious trouble.

  “We have to go…” The top of a tree beside them exploded with a shower of sparks raining down onto the brush igniting it. It was clear the woods were a tinder box just waiting for the first spark. The voracity with which it burned indicated how dry everything was. Teagan began to cough, her eyes burned. It was hard to breathe. “Please! Can we go?”

  Once Teagan began to catch her breath, Ryan pushed off with a grunt, peddling through, dodging burning branches and debris flaming up all around them.

  Just when Teagan thought she was going to pass out from lack of oxygen, and they weren’t going to make it, the smoke began to thin. Though the smoky haze, she could see what she thought had to be the open fields, which meant she was almost home. There was no part of her the sparks hadn’t burned; the odor of burnt hair seemed to be her perfume.

  Clear of the fire, Ryan stopped, and Teagan jumped off. The pavement was hot, but there were still patches of grass smoldering along the road. Looking down, she realized why the bike had been so hard for Ryan to peddle. Both tires were flat.

  Ryan had saved both their lives; tears streaked the soot on her cheeks. He could have pushed her off and left her to find her own way through the fire, and it made her appreciate exactly what kind of person he was.

  “I guess we won’t be riding this thing anywhere,” he said. He slid his arm around the bulk of Teagan and her backpack. “Where’s your house?”

  Looking around for the familiar row of trees, she saw that nothing had been spared. The fields of hay were burnt and trees along the edges of pastureland still burned. Toward town, a wall of smoke and individual fires turned the sky ugly with black smoke.

  Teagan’s eyes searched for her house.

  Her heart sank when she saw the evergreens; now black branchless spindles, still smoldering. The house that had been her home forever, a blackened shell of charred wood. It had not been spared.

  Teagan pointed, unable to speak. She turned red, watery eyes to Ryan.

  “Oh my God,” Ryan breathed and caught Teagan so she wouldn’t fall. He pushed the bike forward, wheels grinding on the hot pavement; while guiding Teagan along. Every house along the road that Ryan could see was either a smoking pile of debris or still actively burning. He couldn’t see their small downtown with the haze of smoke obstructing the view.

  Teagan shook herself and pushed away from Ryan, a cry escaping her sore throat, “My Dad. I see him.” She began to run.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Simon nodded, but his silence hung in the air, which made Tom wonder how invested in their security he would be. Tom didn’t need anyone who couldn’t carry their own weight or wasn’t invested in keeping them all safe. They were only four at this point, but he had no doubts Teagan would be there soon, and if the guy they’d spoke to were right, she wouldn’t be alone.

  “I’m prepared to do whatever is necessary. I always thought I was alive for bigger and better than this town had to offer, but now, I guess I was wrong. I always felt stifled by the small-town environment, but you don’t know how happy I am I didn’t move somewhere else before this all hit. I’d probably be dead already.” Dramatically Simon added, “Poof…vaporized.”

  Tom thought he was probably right if the rumor was true. He didn’t know much about the radiation or the total effect of a nuclear bomb, but he suspected it wasn’t going to be good. Teagan knew more about nuclear bombs than he did. She’d paid close attention to Chernobyl and Fukushima when it was brought up in class and came home with ideas of what they should do to prepare for a meltdown of their own nuclear power-plants. She’d seemed to give up after googling the nuclear power stations in the U.S. and the safeguards they had in place. She explained to him they had multiple safety measures that were infallible. He thought she’d lost interest after that, but her knowledge was still greater than his.

  “Before we get to the house, I have one thing I’d like to say.” He didn’t wait for Simon to acknowledge him, “If you do even one stupid, unsafe thing, I don’t care how small it is, I will kick your ass out.”

  “That’s a bit harsh, but you don’t have to worry. I’ll treat everyone’s safety as if my life depends on it…which if you think about it, it does.”

  “I suspect it does. I just didn’t want you to think that going off half-cocked had a place in our lives. For now, as long as you maintain that attitude, we’re good.”

  Carrie had thrown together grilled cheese sandwiches and canned tomato soup. Tom noticed the fridge stood door open and empty. She and Nancy had been busy. He realized that without power, the food would spoil quickly. He could start the generator to run the freezer, but he didn’t plan on staying long enough to let the contents spoil. They could either can or smoke the meat for later use. His problem was going to be how to move everything he wanted to take with only the two cars.

  “We need to find a trailer,” Tom announced as soon as he’d wiped the paper towel across his mouth. The sandwiches and soup were filling, and Tom felt overstuffed. He realized he hadn’t eaten since breakfast the day before.

  Carrie set her half-eaten sandwich down, “You know I have the bike trailer. You’d have to take the bikes out, but it is enclosed. You’re certainly…”

  “Bike trailer!” Tom interrupted, “Of course. How did I not remember that?”

  Carrie shrugged, “It was you who suggested I keep the bikes. Remember? Keeping the trailer was just somewhere to store them. I don’t think they’ll even start, let alone run, it’s been so long.”

  “But we removed the batteries and flushed the carburetors with airplane fuel, I bet we can start them, and that takes care of another problem staring us in the face.” Tom sat back with a grin. He knew the bikes were an answer to his prayers.

  Carrie frowned, but Simon had a grin from ear to ear. Nancy remained blank, her face devoid of any emotion and just pushed her sandwich around her place. She’d stirred her soup but hadn’t taken a bite as far as Carrie knew.

  “Nancy, you need to eat. If you’re worried about your parents, we can go by if you want, but tomorrow.”

  Nancy looked at Tom, and he saw the panic on her face. He didn’t understand what was going on there but apparently worrying about her folks wasn’t the problem. He knew to bring her parents with them was out of the question, but maybe Nancy would prefer to stay with them. Her exit from the family home didn’t indicate she had a happy loving home, and Tom had firsthand knowledge about the lowlife Karl was. He didn’t know much about her mother other than she was polite the few times he’d met her over the years when dropping off or picking up Teagan. They had never socialized outside of the girl’s relationship, and Teagan never had anything to say about Mrs. Wilson, and Tom had always thought a little strange but had never said anything lest Teagan thought he was judging her friends.

  As if she found the sandwich distasteful, Nancy took a small bite and stirred her soup again. She never lifted her eyes to Tom. He sure didn’t understand what the problem was and maybe he wasn’t meant to. He looked at Carrie, hoping for some insight, but she simply shook her head. He hoped it was an “I’ll tell you later,” shake, but he couldn’t be sure. One thing he was sure of was that they all needed to eat to keep their strength up. They had no idea what they would be facing in a very short time.

  The news about Carrie’s bikes would alleviate the burden on the cars, and they might be able to fit all of his provisions inside them. He had thought of making two trips, but this would be much better. He’d hated the idea of coming back for them, doubling the chances of anyone following them.

  All they had to do was to make it through the night, and hopefully, Teagan would show up. Tom had already decided to take the provisions and Carrie and Nancy up to the cabin and probably Simon too and then coming back for Teagan. In his mind he had already composed a cryptic message he would leave where she would easily find it and u
nderstand it. They did have the dry erase board they left each other messages on. Tom was sure it would be the first place she would look if he weren’t around. He figured he could make the four-hundred-mile trip in six or seven hours with the desolation of the cabin, there wouldn’t be traffic or an over-inflated population to deal with. The cabin sat in the perfect spot to remain secluded, and it was defendable. Sitting on the side-hill of a low mountain, the location would be perfect. One winding gravel road in with thousands of acres of BLM land; all forested for a back yard. The cabin, he and Eric had found while hunting would require some elbow grease and repairs, but he remembered a hand pump and a creek running just behind the cabin. The worst-case scenario would be they had to lug water by the bucket, but it would be better than trying to defend this place. He was sure eventually people would migrate away from the bigger towns and having to defend themselves against people who were hungry and afraid wasn’t Tom’s idea of surviving. Most people were aware that people who lived in the country, had gardens, raising animals for food and kept chickens for eggs would be a great resource to feed their families.

  “Chickens!” Tom spoke aloud, “We need to find some chickens.”

  Everyone laughed as if he’d just told the joke of the century.

  “Chickens? You’re kidding, aren’t you?” Carrie finally choked out.

  Shocked that she of all people couldn’t see the benefits of having chickens, Tom exclaimed, “Fresh eggs and fried chicken?”

  “Where are you going to put them? In the back bedroom because unless my memory has failed me, you don’t have a chicken house.”

  Tom realized he would have to tell them his plans sooner rather than later, but she was right in one sense, he hadn’t seen anywhere up at the cabin they could turn into a chicken coop. Maybe he would have to put that part of his plans on hold at least for a while. Then he realized that livestock and poultry would be the first food to be slaughtered. He was sure no one would think of the benefits of breeding them or saving seed from the crops.

  Slowly Tom understood how ill-prepared he was. He had no way to plant nor the seeds to plant. He hadn’t given self-sustainability enough thought. The way it stood now, the only plentiful food sources they would have available were fishing and hunting. While protein would be needed for survival, so would vegetables and dairy products. He couldn’t imagine living without bread. Stuck up on a mountain without any growing space, would be a detriment, but clearing land to plant on would bring its own set of problems. Obscurity is what he was after. Out of sight, out of mind would seem to bolster their chances of survival.

  Tom yawned and covered it with his hand, but Simon had to comment, “I’ll take the first watch and wake you in a couple of hours.”

  “I’ll take it with him,” Carrie volunteered. When Tom began by shaking his head, “I won’t take no for an answer, Tom. You have been up longer than any of us. You seem to forget you are a mortal just like the rest of us and your body needs rest.”

  Tom nodded gratefully because until Carrie brought it to his attention, he had been ready to protest, but as soon as he’d heard her words, Tom realized just how tired he was. He sighed and stood, “Two hours. We all need some sleep, and it’s late.” He looked at Simon and saw Simon wasn’t listening, “I mean it, Simon. You wake me in two hours.”

  “Yes, boss! Two hours no more or less.”

  “Don’t be a smart ass or I’m liable to rethink your value,’” he mumbled as he headed for his room. Tom had to force his feet up each step, dragging them as he went. He wished he’d built a single story to save his weary bones.

  Tom shut the door behind him. Sitting on the edge of his bed, pulled his boots off. Fully clothed, Tom stretched out relishing the feel of just having his boots off. He spread his toes out with a groan and wished he had gone with Simon’s four hours. He knew he wasn’t the only tired one, and that was the reason he had insisted on the two-hour time constraint. He wondered if any of them would ever be well-rested again.

  The way he saw it, their existence would be in peril twenty-four-seven for the immediate future and maybe beyond that. There was a reason someone had chosen to nuke them, and it wasn’t just to bring this country to its knees. There had to be more to it than that, but he wondered why they wouldn’t have used an EMP. Why destroy it and make it inhabitable?

  Tom settle into sleep before he knew it but was jarred awake by someone screaming his name. He flew off the bed and ran out of the room, hands grappling for his sidearm. He realized he’d left it on the nightstand and ran back tripping over his boots. He landed under the edge of the bed and scrambled up. One hand latched on to his boots while the other searched the table for his gun and bolted to his feet and out of the room. As soon as he realized the hallway was filled with smoke, he dropped to his knees and crawled down the stairs to the living room.

  He saw Simon and Carrie frantically trying to put a burning torch out on the living room carpet.

  Tom yelled, “Behind you,” Simon jumped, saw what Tom was yelling about and grabbed the burning drapes from the window. Fire flew everywhere. The sheer curtains Teagan had been so proud to put up went in seconds, flames falling like raindrops onto the carpet.

  Tom shoved his feet into his boots and slid his gun into the back of his pants. He ran for the kitchen where the fire extinguisher hung beside the pantry door. Returning to the living room he saw it wouldn’t be enough, but he aimed it toward the biggest fire anyway. As he suspected it was like peeing on a forest fire. He realized he only saw Carrie and Simon.

  “Where’s Nancy?” Tom screaming to be heard over the roar. The fire had a life of its own, and nothing they were doing was going to extinguish it.

  He saw the smudged looks of confusion on both faces and dashed down the hallway, yelling, “You two get out!”

  Tom didn’t stop to see if they’d heard but barged through the bedroom door to find Nancy in a struggle with an unknown man. He pulled his gun out but quickly jammed it back in his pants and lunged for the couple who seemed to be locked in a horrific dance. Tom grabbed the man by his hair a jerked him off Nancy throwing him into the corner and pushing Nancy toward the window. He grabbed the desk chair, slamming it into the glass, shattering the window. He was grabbed from behind by his hair, and jerked to the floor, “Go!” he screamed at Nancy.

  Tom, jerked his head free, feeling the loss of hair and maybe some scalp, leaped to his feet, prepared to fight for his life. The man was taller than Tom and robust, but Tom felt he had the advantage. He was in better physical shape, and the man was already winded from his battle with Nancy.

  The fire had progressed to the doorframe lighting up the room interior, Tom was losing his second advantage. The broken window seemed to suck the fire into the room. Tom was backed up to the dresser and grabbed for anything to defend himself with. His fingers closed around something heavy and realized it was one of Teagan’s swimming trophies. He used it as a club and hit the man as he was lunging for him, across the face. The man fell silently onto the bed, rolled and hit the floor.

  Tom scrambled for the open window. He flung himself through it, landing hard on the rose bush planted outside.

  Pushing off with his feet, he ran and found Carrie, Nancy, and Simon at the side of the shed. Simon had his gun out as did Carrie, but from the puzzled looks on their faces, they couldn’t see anyone to use them on. Tom thought about the guy in Teagan’s bedroom but saw there was nothing they could do for him. The house was an inferno.

  “What the hell happened?”

  “I was sitting at the window and out of nowhere the window shattered, and the burning torch came flying in,” Carrie told him.

  “And where the hell were you?” Tom got in Simon’s face as if he held the man responsible.

  “I was watching the back.” The front was so wide open, I thought it would be easier for Carrie to watch it.” He stepped forward, “Nobody could have stopped what happened. Not even you!” he growled.

  Tom sagged becaus
e he knew Simon was right. “Sorry. We need to…” he looked around. His house was burning, and there was nothing he could do about it. Tom felt tears welling in his eyes and turned. Everything he’d worked for was gone. How would he leave the note for Teagan? She would be as devastated as he was and without any way to connect, they’d be forced to stay until she got home.

  A little voice inside his head reminded him, “If she gets home.” He brushed the thought aside. There was no way he was going to believe she wasn’t going to make it. He couldn’t. There would be no reason to leave if she wasn’t going.

  Tom’s shoulders sank with frustration, as he watched his home go up in smoke. Tom looked behind him and saw Carrie and Nancy, both with tear stained sooty faces. He understood he had to change his thinking. He’d invited the two women to the safety of his home, and he couldn’t put their safety in jeopardy. If he had to, he would send the three to the cabin and look for Teagan alone. He had hoped Eric would have come before this, but with no sign of him, he wished he had stopped and checked on his friend. They had been so close. Eric and his wife Gloria would have been valuable assets to have around whether they stayed or went to the mountains. Without shelter, staying was no longer an option. They needed shelter, and the shed wouldn’t be adequate without extensive remodeling. If he remembered correctly, the detonation of a nuclear device high in the atmosphere would fill the air with dust particles and debris blocking the warmth from the sun. He wondered about the chances of producing a nuclear winter. Tom knew they needed to get to a safe place long before winter set in.

  “I think I should make a map and catch up with you guys. I can’t leave until Teagan gets home and my heart is telling me she’ll get here just not when.”