“You don’t have to be such a smartass,” Mark said, pulling ten hundred dollar bills out of his wallet. He handed them to Gadget. “Run down to Northtown and buy yourself some new clothes. I want you to spend it all. Buy some new shoes and boots, socks and underwear, everything you need. Do it, now.”
Gadget looked down at himself and his face fell. “That bad, huh?” he asked.
“Just a little dated. You want to look nice for Tiffany, don’t you?”
Gadget stared at the money in his hand and then a shy smile lit up his face. “Yeah, I do,” he said. “Where are the keys?”
Mark grabbed the spare set that hung next to the door. He handed them to Gadget. “That was my dad’s truck. If you put so much as a scratch on her, don’t bother coming back. I’m not kidding.”
“I feel ya. Don’t worry, man, I’ll bring her back in one piece. Thanks, I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just get moving and keep the radio on. This thing might boil over at any minute.”
Mark watched Gadget as he carefully backed out of the driveway. He then walked over to the sofa and sunk down into it. His head hurt as he tried to get a handle on his current situation. He longed to have his old life back. For years, he had known better than to get involved with his neighbors. They were now firmly entangled in his life and he couldn’t see any way to be free of them. All he had wanted to do was help, but by helping, he had complicated his life in ways that he hadn’t even imagined. He found himself thinking of Tina, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she had taken a romantic interest in him. From the way she had described it; her marriage with Larry had been on the skids for a long time. What would happen if they were forced into an extended stay inside the shelter? Mark decided not to think about that. He picked up the remote control, but found that he didn’t want to burden his mind with the developing train-wreck on the news. Instead, he grabbed his blanket and he stretched out on the sofa. He then surprised himself by quickly falling asleep.
Mark woke to the sound of someone walking in the door. He looked up to see Gadget, carrying a handful of chain store shopping bags. Mark rubbed his eyes and checked the clock on his DVD player. Nearly three hours had passed. He sat up as Gadget walked into the living room. “You said to spend it all, right? I mean, you told me to do that, didn’t you?”
Sleepily, Mark nodded his head. “You needed some new clothes,” he said. “How did you do?”
“I think I did pretty well,” he said. “I found a lot of nice stuff on the clearance racks. You should have seen the crowds. You would have thought it was the day before Christmas.”
Mark scratched his chin as Gadget began displaying his purchases. The look of happiness on his face brought joy to Mark’s heart. He had done well for himself, choosing not only stylish outfits, but practical clothing, as well. This was what Marked had hoped he would do. Along with new boots and shoes, Gadget had picked up some toiletries and some over-the-counter medications. When the show was over, Gadget rushed up the stairs to change. When he returned, he wore a black, button-up short-sleeved shirt, over a pair of new blue jeans. He also smelled of cologne. “You got a hot date?” asked Mark.
“Very funny,” said Gadget. “You’re a barrel of laughs, man. No, for your information, I just want to look nice in case I run into Tiffany.”
Mark smiled. He wished he had been able to talk to the others about how Gadget felt about his old school friend, but they hadn’t given him the opportunity. He suddenly remembered what they had said about the news and he fumbled for the remote control.
“I think I’m going to take a glass of iced tea and sit out on the porch,” said Gadget. “It sure is a beautiful day.”
“You do that,” replied Mark, watching his friend as he limped into the kitchen in his new clothes. Mark aimed the remote at the television and President Crabtree’s face filled the screen.
“We will become a stronger, more vital America,” began President Crabtree. “An America bordered by Hudson Bay to the north, stretching nearly down to the Panama Canal. I won’t lie to you: plans have been in the works to unite our three great nations for many years, even decades. And while these plans were made in secrecy, they were made for the sole purpose of strengthening our great continent. By extending our borders and merging our governments, the North American Union covers over nine million square miles. Recent developments, outside of our borders, did play a part in pushing forward our time table for this merger. And while there are still plenty on I’s to dot and T’s to cross, we feel that this is the right direction to move and we are fully committed to seeing this merger through, to the end.”
Mark felt physically sick. He quickly changed the channel and saw scenes of civil unrest. One channel showed a huge groundswell of people that had gathered on the Mall in Washington D.C., another channel showed marchers in New York City, while still another channel showed all-out rioting in Miami and Los Angeles. The next channel had a recently retired, Four Star General, weighing in on the Presidential Order. He flat out stated that the United States military would vigorously oppose the Order. Mark shut off the television as reality set in.
Mark walked into the kitchen and took a look out the window. He sighed, seeing that Tiffany had taken the bait. She and Gadget were standing out by the mailbox. Mark cursed his luck. He had wanted to get Gadget moving on setting up the antenna for the ham radio. He quickly made himself a peanut-butter sandwich and then he slipped out the back door. He walked across the field and into the woods. A few minutes later, Mark stood inside the storeroom of his shelter. He found a notebook and a pen and he began to take stock of his provisions.
What he found there helped ease his troubled mind. The shelter was equipped to easily accommodate three adults. The quarters would be tight, but they could manage. Mark would give his sleeping quarters up to Tina and he and Gadget could bunk out in the living area. There was enough food to last the three of them for at least six months. And while the food wasn’t fancy, it would nourish them for the duration of their stay. Mark pumped the well and fresh water spilled from the spigot.
He examined his bookshelves, finding them filled with plenty of reading material. The first aid cabinet was full, as was the medicine cabinet. He checked the LP tanks and the dates on several cartons of batteries. He hoped there were enough of these to last, but there was no way of being sure. They would have to rely on candlelight as much as possible. He then checked the propane supply for his small generator. Feeling better, Mark left the shelter and returned to the house. He began packing up his clothes and other odds and ends. There was no sign of Gadget or Tiffany, and Mark assumed they were out in the Quonset hut. Mark lugged two suitcases out to the shelter and quickly stowed them away.
He returned to the house and found Tina waiting for him. She wore fresh makeup over a face that seemed drained of emotion. He invited her inside. “They’re all out there,” she said, pointing to the woods. “Except Jumbo, he’s out looking for Tiffany.”
“I saw her about an hour ago,” said Mark. “She was with Gadget.”
“Does he have your truck?”
Mark walked over to the window and saw that his Ford was gone. And while he knew it shouldn’t bother him that Gadget had borrowed his pickup, it did. “I guess he does,” he said. “I borrowed it to him, earlier.”
“I hope he takes her to China.”
Mark bit his lip and turned away. “I don’t see any reason to hit the bunkers, not yet, anyhow. We might as well take advantage of the time we have left.”
“That’s what I tried to tell everyone, but would they listen to me? Larry has got everyone all whipped up and the poor kids are scared to death.”
“What about Jumbo? I thought they didn’t want him down there.”
“What could they say to him? Besides, guess who owns all the booze?”
“I’m guessing that would be Jumbo.”
“You would be correct. I have another bit of news that might interest you.”
Mark sat down at the kitchen table and motioned for Tina to take a seat. “What’s that?” he asked.
“I told Larry that I wasn’t joining them out in the shelter. Do you want to know what he said? The son of a bitch said he was relieved. He didn’t want me out there.”
Mark took Tina’s hand as she began to weep. “I’m sorry,” he said. “The guy is a jerk.”
“He said that he’ll explain things to the kids and for me not to worry about them. I’d ask you if we could take them in, but I know they’d be happier over there. At least they’ll have their cousins and friends to play with. Do you know how much that hurts?”
“I have a pretty good idea,” said Mark, grimly.
Tina continued to cry and Mark got up and returned with a box of tissue. He set it down in front of her and sat back down. “Thank you,” she said. “Do you want to know what hurts more than that? My very own sister thinks it’s a good idea that I’m not joining them. She said the stress might be too much for her and she’s worried about losing her baby. Glick, that bastard, agrees with her. I can’t believe it. They seem fine with good old Larry being down there. I just know he’s been telling lies about me.”
There was a knock at the door and Mark looked up to see Jumbo standing in the window. “Come on in,” he called, “the door is open.”
“Oh, this is just great,” hissed Tina.
Jumbo walked inside and looked around the house. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” he asked, in a voice filled with innuendo. “Have you seen Tiff? We’re moving into the shelter and she seems to have wandered off. She didn’t leave with that little gimp, did she?”
Mark got up from the table and he strode over to Jumbo. “That little gimp lost his leg in the war, defending assholes like you. The next time I hear you call him that, I’m going knock your teeth in.”
Jumbo laughed. “I was only making a little joke, I’m sorry. You don’t need to be so damn touchy. No, I’m serious, where is my wife?”
“We don’t know. I think they ran somewhere in my pickup.”
Jumbo nodded. “That’s what I thought. I ran uptown to look for them, but didn’t see your truck. Look, when they show up, will you tell Gidget to send my wife out to the bunker? The shit seems to have hit the fan.”
“His name is Gadget, Jumbo,” barked Tina, “Gadget!”
“I knew it was something like that. Say, did Tiff bring my .380 over here? I’ve been trying to find it.”
Mark felt another surge of anger. “You know damn well that I bought that gun from her. You want it back? Cough up six hundred bucks.”
“That gun was mine, Mark. It wasn’t hers to sell. I want it back. You know I’m good for the money.”
Now it was Mark’s turn to laugh. “You ungrateful lump of shit,” he spat. “You’d still be in jail if it wasn’t for me. Tiffany used that money to buy groceries to feed your kids. She had ten bucks to her name. No, you won’t lay a finger on that gun until you come up with the money to buy it back. Now, get out of my house.”
“Why are you so hostile? I already said I was sorry if I interrupted anything.”
Tina flew up from the table and began flailing away at Jumbo. “Get out of here!” she shouted, “you rotten bastard!”
Playfully, as if it were all some kind of game, Jumbo defended himself against the tiny woman and he backed out the door. “Mark, would you please tell Tiff that I’m waiting for her?” he asked, as if nothing had just happened.
Mark scowled, but he nodded his head.
“Thanks buddy. Good luck, we’ll catch you later!”
Mark was so angry that he saw sparks. He turned to face Tina and knew that she saw those same sparks. “You want a beer?” he asked.
“You’re damn right, I do,” grunted Tina. “God, I think I hate Jumbo more than his rotten wife.”
Mark returned from the refrigerator and handed Tina a can of Coors. She popped the top open and drank, thirstily. Mark did the same, standing in the doorway as he watched Jumbo drive back to his house. “What is with that guy?” he asked.
“He’s just full of himself. Actually, I’m glad you bailed him out. Now they’re all stuck with him.”
“They sure are,” said Mark, turning to face Tina. “Look, there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. It’s about Gadget and Tiffany. They went to school together and well, Gadget sort of has a crush on her. He doesn’t know what type of a person she’s become.”
“You mean a husband stealing whore?”
“Those wouldn’t have been my exact words, but yeah, something like that. Look, he’ll be crushed when he finds out the truth about her. I don’t want him to be hurt. He’s a good man who has had his fair share of bad luck. Do you follow me?”
“Are you serious?” she asked. “Mark, you should have told him about her, right away. He should know the truth about that dirty rotten skank.”
“Maybe, but maybe not; please, would you do that for me?”
Tina lifted the beer to her lips and drank until the can was empty. She belched, tossed the can in the trash basket, and walked over to Mark’s refrigerator. She returned with two more cans of Coors. “Fine,” she grumbled. “But I’m not going to like it.”
Mark shook his head and laughed, a moment later, Tina joined him. Their situation had become so bizarre, that all there was left to do was laugh. They stepped outside into the warm sunshine and sipped their beers. While they were out there, they talked about many things. They relived the horrors of the double suicide, both wondering if they hadn’t made a mistake about burying the bodies in the woods. From out there, they could hear the sound of the excavator as Larry buried the concrete. They watched as Jumbo loaded up the trailer he had hooked to his John Deere riding mower, with cases of beer and alcohol. Mark listened as Tina seemed to come to terms with her own situation. The anger was slowly replaced by bitter acceptance.
They continued to drink, which was out of character for Mark. He had always prided himself on knowing when to stop and what his limit was. Today, he tossed all of that into the wind. If ever there had been a day to do so, Mark felt this was that day. Never a big drinker, he felt buzzed after only a few beers.
As the sun sank in the west, Mark felt his inhibitions slipping away. He and Tina sat on the bench, thighs touching. Occasionally, she would grab his leg to make a point. It had been a long time since he had felt a woman’s touch and he found that he enjoyed it. Their eyes met, several times, and finally, Tina commented on it. “What’s happening?” she asked.
Mark shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know,” he replied. “But it’s nice.”
She snuggled next to him. “Yes,” she said. “It’s very nice.”
They watched the sunset together, not knowing if it would be the last one they ever experienced. They listened to the crickets, unsure if they would ever hear them again. They watched the moon rise, as if it were for the first time. Gradually, they both opened up to each other. They shared secrets and dreams and fears, and as the sun disappeared, they shared their first kiss.
Chapter 18
Mark woke early the next morning. Quietly, he dressed and crept down the old stairs to fix a pot of coffee. He wanted some time to himself. He needed to gather his thoughts and fully examine his situation. Once he got the coffee going, Mark walked over to the window and he pressed his nose to the glass. The Ford was still missing. He could not imagine a plausible scenario to explain the disappearance. While the old pickup was his pride and joy, it was merely a possession. Mark was worried about Gadget, and he even found that he was concerned about Tiffany’s safety.
He poured himself a mug of the strong brew and he brought it into the living room. He sat down on the edge of the sofa, right next to an old framed photograph of Josie. Silently, he spoke to her spirit, apologizing for not waiting four seasons before becoming involved with another woman. He felt better after the apology; he knew she could see what was inside his heart. He had not planned any of this. Somet
imes, matters of the heart took no heed of time tables. Life just went on. And while Mark still felt some guilt, it was a guilt he knew he could live with. Josie was gone and she wasn’t coming back.
Mark drank his coffee and refilled his mug. Feeling as if he had made his peace with Josie’s spirit, he found the remote and turned on the television. After nearly muting the sound, Mark began scrolling through the channels. The images he saw only reaffirmed his worst fears. The country was in serious turmoil. There was now rioting in every major city and the talking heads were speculating that President Crabtree would declare Martial Law, perhaps as early as that morning. There had been mass resignations among Crabtree’s administration, each pointing to his decision to circumvent the Constitution and annex Canada and Mexico into the Union.
Mark tuned into a local station and found that things were no better in his home state. Overnight, Governor Macy had called up the National Guard to help curb the rioting. Downtown, landmark buildings were in flames and many demonstrators had been shot. Local hospitals were overflowing with casualties and the call was out for volunteers.
“Good morning,” whispered Tina. She stood at the bottom of the steps, dressed only in one of his white cotton t-shirts.
Mark smiled and stood up. He walked over to Tina and wrapped his arms around her. “Good morning,” he said. “How did you sleep?”
“I slept like a rock,” she said. “Your bed is really comfortable. I didn’t want to get out of it.”
“Why did you, then?”
“I smelled the coffee.”
“I’ll go and get you a cup.”
“No, I’ll get it. What’s going on in the news? That doesn’t look good.”
Mark let go of Tina and turned to face the television. He shook his head. “No, it certainly doesn’t look good. We’ll have to keep an eye on things. Today might be the day to head underground. Are you ready?”
“Are you serious? I hope I have time to shower.”
Mark leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. “I’m sure there’s enough time for that.”
Bunkers Page 15
