The Journal: Cracked Earth

by Deborah D. Moore

  I’m beginning to wonder if the earthquakes have had some kind of impact on the weather.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Over coffee and toast, the three of us discussed the snowstorm that was still swirling around us with an intensity I haven’t seen in years.

  “I think we should start melting some of this snow for our water needs,” I suggested. I’ve been through this before, years ago, and there is nothing like experience to show that a full pail of snow renders only two inches of water when melted. It’s a harsh reality for those who think it’s easy, and a dependable method of having water.

  “I suppose when I shovel the back deck I could shovel into buckets and bring them inside,” Jason offered. “Since I have to clear the deck anyway to access the generator, I might as well make it useful.”

  The first pail of snow took hours to melt down and produced very little water. I did this intentionally so John and Jason could see firsthand how little was gleaned from the melting.

  “If we start with hot water,” I said, pouring warm water from the pot on the stove into the kettle with the snow, “it speeds things up a bit. Once it comes to a boil, we will add snow.” It melted almost immediately. I added more and more again, until the snow stopped melting on contact. Then I let it heat and come back to a boil. Heating warm water takes a lot less time than trying to heat the frozen water we call snow, but it’s still time consuming.

  “Say, Mom, what if we now start using two pots? We can double the production.”

  Melting snow gave my guys a new project and kept them busy while the wind howled outside. It made me smile to see them work so well together. It then occurred to me that they weren’t too far apart in age.

  The storm raged on. It’s been thirty hours now.

  * * *

  The plows came by around 4P.M. on the afternoon of January 9th. There looks to be close to twenty-four inches of snow. It’s hard to tell truly how much because of all the drifting, and the winds are still blowing.

  The guys are continuing to melt snow, but are losing interest. It’s a lot of work for a small return. They’ve realized the benefit of having the generator for our water needs.

  Shortly after the plows came by, so did Karen. She waded through the drifts and got within twenty feet of the house. It startled me that she was wearing a face mask.

  “Karen, what’s up? Why the mask?” I asked while staying on the porch.

  “I needed to warn you,” she said. “Ken is sick. We think that he picked up a virus when he was being treated in the hospital.”

  “Are you okay?” I asked with worry when she put her hands on her knees and struggled to breathe.

  “So far I’m okay. I’m just out of shape,” she laughed. “Besides, twenty-eight inches of snow is no picnic to walk through! Are you going to clear your driveway soon?”

  “We’ll get right on it. So, what does Ken have? When did it start?” I asked, knowing John and I had been there not so long ago, in close quarters with someone who is now sick, maybe very sick.

  “So far it seems like any other flu, but I called Gray in and he called the ER. Anyway, there’s an epidemic of a nasty flu going on. I thought you should know, since, well, you were in the same room with us.” She paused. “Allex, it’s a really nasty bug. People are dying. Dying! We’ve gone into isolation. You should too,” Karen cautioned.

  Yes, John and I were exposed to Ken, before he was contagious, I hope. At least before he had any symptoms. Maybe we were okay.

  “We’ll do that, Karen. We’ll be okay. You need to let Anna know what’s going on,” I reminded her.

  “Already done that.”

  “Thanks. Did Gray give you any indication of an incubation period?”

  “It’s fast, 48 hours.”

  48 hours?? That is really fast, but if that’s the case, we’ll know soon enough if we were contaminated.

  After Karen left I called Jason and John together. I pulled out a bin containing medical masks and gloves from the front pantry.

  “We really don’t need these, at least not yet,” I said. “If John or I are contagious, which I doubt, then you and Jacob have already been exposed. We will have to wait and see. It won’t be long if we are. This is for if we have to leave here, be in contact with others, or if somebody comes here. I feel fine, if only a bit rundown and tired, but I’ve felt that way since the start,” I mused. I reached over and cupped John’s face with my hand. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine, really.”

  We no sooner cleared one major problem and another is on us immediately. The stress alone could do me in. I left the med box there in the kitchen, just in case. Face masks will keep us from breathing in germs, and also from breathing out those same germs. Physiological, I know… Suddenly I was very tired.

  I got the garlic and D3 vitamins from the cupboard, asked the two of them to take extra doses. I did the same. I knew that Jacob wouldn’t take them, but if we stayed healthy, so would he.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  JOURNAL ENTRY: January 11

  None of has had any signs of illness. No headaches, no fevers, no coughing. I think we’ve avoided the flu that Ken brought back from the hospital. I’m wondering who else might have it now? Ken was there, so was Gray, and Gray’s ambulance driver, Patty. Patty is Buddy’s wife, and she is also the secretary at the school.

  Uh, oh.

  * * *

  The wind had finally died down enough for the guys to get out and start clearing the snow. Jason did the hand work around the steps and porch, plus clearing off the deck so we could get to the generator. I think they are both tired of melting snow and are more than ready to appreciate running the gennie to pump the well. While Jason shoveled, John ran the snow blower up and down the drive. Although I’m anxious to talk to Anna about Patty, I know I won’t get to town until tomorrow. I just hope someone else has made the connection.

  Jacob is happy with the gooey cookies that I made today. He needs the calories. I think the guys will enjoy a few too, after they finish their snowball fight they think I don’t see.

  Tufts came out again and moped around, and then curled up behind the woodstove. He really doesn’t like all the people in the house. In spite of that, I think he’s adapting.

  * * *

  Anna looked like hell when I arrived at the office. She had the flu. Joe let me pass only when he saw that I had on a better mask than he did. I insisted that John wait in the car. Even with a mask and gloves I wanted him away from any exposure.

  I leaned against the door jamb of Anna’s office, not wanting to get too close. “How are you feeling?” I asked. It was a stupid question, but knowing the symptoms might be good.

  “Like a truck hit me and then backed up.” She took a breath and coughed behind her mask. I stood there waiting for the spasms to subside. That cough was deep in her lungs.

  “How are you feeling?” she managed to wheeze out.

  “I’m fine,” I said, not moving so much as an inch. “I’m worried about you. The town needs you. John and I were both exposed to Ken, but it was less than twenty-four hours after his exposure. We aren’t sick, neither is Jason or Jacob. I’m keeping them all isolated, though John is out in the car. He wouldn’t let me come here alone, and I wouldn’t let him come in,” I chuckled. “Anyway, I’m guessing there is a window before the new host is contagious, and we were lucky.”

  “Your mask is different from the ones Gray gave us,” she said weakly.

  “Mine is an N99. Yours looks to be surgical. Why no gloves, Anna?” Even knowing what I had on under my mittens, I was still careful not to touch anything.

  “Gray gave us all some, however, I don’t see the point,” she said as another coughing spell hit her.

  “You need to be at home and in bed.”

  “I know, I know,” she replied putting her head down on her desk. “But there’s something that I need to do first.” Although it was hard for her to stand, she insisted. She gave me the oath of
office to be her official and legal deputy. I told her that I didn’t want the job. It was only when she promised that it was temporary that I agreed.

  “Now,” she went on, “I’ll go home when I bring you up to speed on the school situation. When Karen noticed Ken was sick, she called Gray and he immediately made the connection that Patty had been exposed too, however, she had already infected two teachers and from there it went from bad to worse.” She paused to take a sip of water from a bottle of water. “Don’t worry. Patty isn’t any worse, and she’s in isolation at home. We’ve closed the school for classes indefinitely but it’s open as a triage area for the sickest.”

  “How many are sick?”

  “Close to half the town,” she answered. “Some seem to have a natural immunity, like Gray. I don’t know what we would do without him.”

  This flu spread really, really fast, and so far, no deaths. I hope it stays that way.

  I took off my mittens, surgical gloves and mask when I stepped outside. They all went into a plastic garbage bag that I had in my pocket. After I tied it shut and set it in the back seat John drove us home in silence.

  * * *

  Most autistic children have an obsession-like focus on something, often letters or numbers. Despite being a high functioning Asperger’s, Jacob is no different. His plastic letters are like a security blanket to him.

  “If he doesn’t want to do his homework, then we take away his numbers and letters until he’s does, and today it’s his math,” Jason said. He knew his son well. Jacob is really smart, but like any nine year-old, was always looking for a way out of schoolwork. Like any nine year old autistic boy, he can be very stubborn.

  “Maybe we can try a different approach,” I offered. I got my sprouter out of the cold pantry and washed it. Then I got a jar of mixed salad seeds, mung beans and the bucket of wheat berries. Once everything was set up, I called a pouting Jacob into the kitchen.

  “We’re going to grow something today, Jacob, and I need your help.” He wasn’t interested until I told him he could have one letter for every twenty-five seeds he helped me with. That boy really loves to count. He counted out fifty, then one hundred, then two hundred mung beans and put them in the sprouter. When it came to the wheat berries, he protested.

  “Nahna, these are too small to count!” he exclaimed out of frustration.

  “Then we need to count them in a different way,” I explained, and retrieved my measuring spoons. I instructed Jacob to take the two hundred mung beans out of the sprouter and measure them with one of the spoons and then put them back. Next he used the same measuring spoon to measure the small seeds.

  “Nahna, we have one big T of the big seeds, and one big T of the small seeds!” he happily proclaimed.

  “That’s right, Jacob. Sometimes we don’t have to count, we can measure,” I said. He seemed pleased with himself. “You will still have to count small seeds so I know how many letters to give you.” He frowned, then I explained the other spoons. He caught on to what I was getting at real quick. Jacob was doing double digit multiplication in his head long before his classmates were introduced to the concept on paper. He took the one-eighth teaspoon and carefully counted the small amount of seeds that he scooped out then did the math in his head and gave me a number. I have no idea if it was right, but the figure wasn’t the point. I gave Jacob his baggie of letters back.

  “We’re not done, Jacob.” I brought out a packet of very tiny seeds. He took one look and picked up the tablespoon measure and put a spoonful in the last sprouter unit. I gave him his baggie of numbers.

  Jason beamed; John looked astounded.

  “We’re still not done yet! Now comes the fun part. We need to water the seeds so they can grow.” With the seeds in the different layers of the sprouter, Jacob added some water. “In a few days they will sprout and we can eat them, but you need to help me water them every day, okay?”

  “It takes daddy’s seeds in the ground a lot longer to grow, Nahna. Why are these different?” Jacob questioned.

  “It’s because they are different, plus we will eat them sooner so they don’t have to get as big.” He seemed satisfied with the answer and then carefully walked the unit over to the table where it was close to some sunlight, and took his letters to the other room to play.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  I really don’t feel the need to go into the town every day. Right now, every two days or so might be necessary to stay in the loop with this flu epidemic, especially since now that I’m the Deputy Supervisor and Anna is sick. Maybe Monday, Wednesday and Friday; or maybe Monday and Thursday; it will depend on how Anna is doing. Once she’s better, I won’t come in so often.

  We stopped at the offices first. John is still my shadow, which is okay with me. I really do feel safer with him nearby. The main door was unlocked, and I couldn’t find anyone inside. Since it was warmer in there than outside, I had John come in to keep me company, while I sanitized Anna’s desk. With gloves and mask, I cleared all of the papers off, glancing through them to see if she’d left me any notes. They all went into a cardboard box that I had sprayed down with disinfectant. I emptied the pen holder into the box, the sticky notes and everything that she might have touched, until the desk was empty except for the phone, which I sprayed liberally. The place stank of cleaner, and now I was confident the room was clean. I sat down to use the phone now that I was comfortable touching it. I still left my gloves on though.

  The first call was to the cable company. Yes, service was suspended because of non-payment. Geesh, it’s been only nine weeks. I had paid all my bills in early November before anything had happened. It’s only January 14th. I explained where I was and that without power I couldn’t pay online. She took my debit card number and said that it would be turned back on by the end of the day. The rep then told me that not all channels were available anymore. Most of the news stations were shut down by the government.

  Swell, now the news is censored even more than it was before.

  Before making any other calls, I set up my laptop and managed to get online with the township server. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to with my personal computer, I had only used the township’s equipment. Only 2,759 emails behind. I skipped over to my online banking to check account balances. Everything looked to be intact and since I haven’t spent anything in weeks, I had no idea what the dollar was worth. I got into bill payment and set up automatic transfers to keep things paid. If we had any power at all, some normalcy would be very welcomed, and that made me think. I switched sites and looked up my account with our power company. They aren’t delivering any power, however, I’m still being charged the $25 per month surcharge. If we ever get power back, everyone is going to have a huge bill that has nothing to do with electricity. I went back into my banking and set up an automatic payment for that $25.

  Next call was to my cell phone company. When I explained where I was and that it was their tower that was down, they agreed to suspend but not cancel my internet service. They also saw it reasonable to credit my account for the prior five weeks of cell service, as they could see it hadn’t been used. The rep was nice, and helpful, and said the first time there was activity on the phone, charges would resume.

  I had one more personal call to make, but would do it after I called Tom White. He must have been sitting right there, because he picked it up on the second ring, and had apparently programmed the phone with caller ID. Makes me wonder if there are those he doesn’t want to talk to. I also wonder how long it will be before I’m on that list too.

  “Allexa, how are things up in Moose Creek?”

  “Cold, snowy, and overall, crap. Half of the town is down sick with this flu. I’m okay so far. Anna is sick and I haven’t seen her in a few days, so I don’t really know what her status is. What is going on, Tom? Is there any relief in sight? And what about food? That would help us out a lot. And can we get any kind of meds? That would really help Gray out.”

  “Do you have any idea how many you
have left in town?” he asked.

  “Not a firm number, maybe fifty. Does it matter?”

  “Not really, because I have only so much in the way of resources,” he said, sounding more tired that I felt. “I will try to get you a load of food, but I can’t make any promises. If, and I do mean if, I can get something together, where do you want it?”

  “I understand, Tom, really, and we appreciate all you can do. I think the best place for any delivery would be the Fire/EMS hall. Somebody is always there. When was the last time you had any sleep, Tom?”

  “I was taking a nap when you called,” he said with a faint chuckle. “I’ve been sleeping on the couch and haven’t been home in a week.”

  * * *

  The next day, John and I went over to the school to check in with Gray. I wish I hadn’t. At least John didn’t see what I did.

  Fully gloved and armed with my N99 respirator, I made my way to the gym area. It was horrible. The six blue cots from the emergency storage locker at the fire hall were set up along with countless numbers of mattresses lining the floor. I counted twenty beds. People were coughing, wheezing and moaning. One person was having a seizure. I didn’t know what to do, so I stood there quietly, taking it all in. That’s when I noticed the one mattress on the floor off to the side: several lay on it, none were moving. Gray lifted his head off of the table where he’d been napping.

  He saw me and motioned for me to come closer. “Don’t touch anything,” he commanded. I nodded, and held up my double gloved hands knowing he could see the two different colors of gloves. I stepped closer.