“Wait, wait, wait. So are you telling that there is this space drama extraterrestrial stuff trying to conquer our world? Are we in a movie or something?” Sheldon’s sarcastic words prove and define the limits of his understanding so I just bypassed his sarcasm and instead, moved on to tell him the serious part.
“I know that some nuke testing may be possible but in this situation, I am on the theory that these weird scenes, the simultaneous shut down of cars, elevators, bullet trains and possibly anything electrical is caused by a deadly space phenomenon. E-M-P an Electromagnetic pulse which will really make the life of people miserable.”
Sheldon’s brain must have been loading like an obsolete Pentium 3 Processor. His clenched face indicates his relative amnesia of not understanding a single word of what I said.
“I had enough for a day Ryan, thank you so much.” He shook my hand then he then left.
After Sheldon left, I walked towards Farah’s Ford Expedition, also dead. I then cranked the Expedition’s hood to open then replaced some fuses. I then hopped in to the driver’s seat and started the engine. The booming sound of the truck’s mechanism clearly brought life as a hopeful roadworthy vehicle. Skimming through the automotive mechanism of the truck revealed many problems that are to be solved yet --- my truck, my Excursion.
I then went out to get more fuses to have my starters in my truck replaced to anticipate the days to follow. After having installed the fuses in my Excursion, I brushed off some dirt, ran back to our house calling for my wife, Farah.
Chapter 2
It was really a long conversation but Sheldon’s obvious limited understanding about solar flares and the possibility of a natural EMP attack hindered him to appreciate the existence of deadly space phenomenon that could eventually wipe the human race. I could still vividly see Sheldon’s Merrell inspired footprints formed and molded on the semi-muddy farm road that connected my abode to his. Oh how do I envy Sheldon’s extreme innocence thinking that the massive power breakdown was just caused by a mere technical faulty wiring. I went up to the balcony of our house, gently caressing the wooden railings as my mind wondered into the horizons of all imaginations thinking “What if today is the beginning of the end?”
With the mixture of nervousness driven by my divine intention for self preservation, I couldn’t help my anxiety as my feelings of fear were just munificently treated by small sighs. The beauty of the earth still struck my eyes as the fiery orange-red sunset seemed to beacon in a point blank distance. What a beautiful it is indeed.
“Ryan!, Ryan honey!, where are you! Dinner’s ready!” Farah’s delighted voice came to close my distance. It’s time for dinner, although served an hour early.
“Alright honey, I’ll be right on a few seconds. I’m just here in the terrace grabbing some fresh air.” I replied without realizing that I am even hungry.
I stood up away from the rocking chair, a fixture deliberately placed to garnish our balcony. Who knows we might reach old age and rocking chair is a common place for old people. I took two steps then I reach for the screen door, grabbed the handle by my right hand, settled for a modest grip then have the door open. It was about six steps from the main door to the dining room but as my steps loomed down closer to my destination, the scent of a roasted turkey and beef stew literally immortalized our dining table. It seems that Farah altered Thanksgiving and put it in advance.
I paused as I realized the value of the occasion just to make the special, more special. I got three candles from our kitchen table drawer as well as a cigarette lighter. I then proceeded to place the three candles to function as our dining table center piece. I snapped the lighter’s ignition then in a few strides, it made fire. I held the lighter closer to the candle and before I know it, it is now illuminated. I pulled off my chair for me to sit after I performed a gentleman’s ritual for my wife to enjoy. We then sat to keep ourselves ready.
“What a perfect time and moment to set up for a date! It’s better late than never, honey. A date before the world ends would surely be meaningful.” Farah’s sarcastic words seemed music to my ears as her beautiful face became more dignified due to the candle’s rays.
“You must have been studying the EMP, CME, and the solar flare phenomenon so much. But before we settle for a long term conversation about this topic, may I have the honor to request you to say grace?” Farah smiled and nodded.
“Dear God Almighty, we thank you for the food we have. May this food replenish our bodies and spirit to strengthen us on the days ahead and to make us ready as always. Amen.” Farah then seized closing her eyes and went back to reality with me. As a matter of paternal obligation, I took the knife by my right hand and fork by my left. Subsequently I sliced and pierced through the roasted turkey and gave a portion to my wife, putting it on her plate to offer an act of being a gentleman.
“The only thing that we lack here is champagne. This would have been a perfect date. If only my Excursion’s engine functioned, I would have bought some champagne for you. My words filled with regret but some situations are beyond my control so I cannot do anything about it.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Farah replied. “Now is not the best time for us to talk about ideal dates because we both know that we have our entire life time to plan for it. Now if you may, let’s speed up our dinner. We have to go to Wal-Mart to get some supplies.” Farah smiled while demonstrating a fast hand signal to eat double time. I lay in silence leaving myself without a choice except to follow her lead. This is a supposed romantic date suddenly turned into a boodle fight. Dinner was finally done. And yes it was fast.
We just left everything on the table. What we are concerned about is the anticipated panic for supplies. Farah went out the house and on to her Ford Expedition while I was left closely behind to lock the doors and keep it secure. After keeping everything secure, I walk towards my truck, turned the engines on and started driving heading to Wal-Mart in a convoy.
We passed through Mountain View and unlike before, the place is now a disserted ghost town; a war-torn place that knows no government. The police department is still functioning though with a handful of police officers left. As we passed by them establishing our eye contact, Farah and I felt the insurgency as their eyeballs follow ours. Without any intention to pull over, we drove and passed by them ignoring the screaming sound of a trailing police officer asking us to stop.
“Car fuses! Change your car fuse! Get some car fuses to keep your vehicles running!” I shouted at the police officer as well as the crowd surrounding the police department. I know that I just have the understanding that they are wondering why our trucks are running. As a result, people begin to swarm and stampede to a nearby hardware store, spare parts supplies, and agri-vet farm store to loot for pertinent supplies. We stopped at Highway 60 crossroads just to take a glimpse of what is happening to this once lively place. What seemed to be a place of hope, laughter, and opportunity turned out to be a place of chaos as Farah and I could vividly see, restaurants and fast-food chains burned down to bits. A majority of nearby residents flung inside these food stores like vultures desperate for food and water. Everything was hell. Not from afar, I see Wal-Mart’s signage backed up in alternative busted lights. There was a mob of people looting out whatever they can find. Wal-Mart’s doors were seemingly lifeless filled with scavengers---humans without the slightest of etiquette.
We resumed driving. I was a head start in front of Farah. I can hear her truck’s engine zooming into my ears; an indication that she is still behind me closely steadying the ties of our vehicular convoy. I was about ten meters away when Farah’s truck engine has stopped suddenly; an indication the fuse I just installed is busted. I instinctively stepped on the breaks making my Excursion face into a full stop. I look back the rear window there is Farah ten meters away waiving her hand amid the cris-cross of people moving in different directions. I quickly jumped out of my truck and slammed the driver’s door shut. Standing up beside my truck I raised by right arm offering
her a vigorous “come here” signal. Good that Farah understood what I meant. She dramatically sprinted towards me exactly reaching my truck at an estimate of eleven seconds.
“Hey, my expedition just stopped running, the radiators must have overheated.” Farah’s words distorted as she was gasping for breath.
“It’s not about the radiator. It’s the fuse.” My voice lowered as people swarm in unto our direction. “Here, here, take this Farah.” I handed my new desert eagle handgun to her. “If somebody will come near you, shoot. You must guard my Excursion. Somebody might seal it. Also, give me the keys to your truck now!” Our eyes came to meet and at a halt, Farah tightened her grip on the gun as I tucked my wife’s car keys inside my right pocket for safety.
I went back inside to check my truck’s compartment and grabbed one cellophane full of fuses then ran towards Farah’s truck. I looked back as I get closer into my wife’s Expedition and there I saw Farah aiming the gun at an old black man. I did not bother coming to her rescue because she was able to dispel the threat. Upon reaching Farah’s truck, I move swiftly to open the hood with the cellophane of fuses held by my mouth and with gritted teeth, I left the plastic hanging in a sway. I lifted the hood and blocked it with the built-in hood stand to keep it open. In a game of speed, precision and grace under pressure I changed the fuse with new ones and discarding the old busted ones. In a matter of two minutes, I was able to get things done. Luckily, no one tried to take advantage to steel my wife’s Expedition. If so, it would be a long knuckle fight.
“Farah! Farah!” I said screaming. “Wait for me; I’ll drive the truck there!” Farah gave me her two thumbs up sign signaling that I am good to go.
I got inside the Expedition then give it a start and in a few tries, the truck started. As a consequence, I stepped on the gas and drive past the people unto my Excursion. Now that I am close and as Farah’s front bumpers are just inches away from the rear of my Excursion, I got out of Farah’s truck and walked towards her.
“Okay here’s next.” Farah eyes await my instructions. “Let’s drive off to the garden supply store and get as many stocks as possible. I will go inside the store and I will be the one to get some supplies.” I told her in hurry. “You stay here and guard the truck okay?” she nodded her head in agreement.
I proceeded into the store’s entrance backwards just to make sure that Farah is safe. Drifting into the sea of people devouring everything on its path; yes! The theme of the scenery is a mixture of the survival of the fittest propelled by the exigency to meet up with the demands for days to come. Manners are not issues anymore as everything in the store’s pathway were laid open. People come and go with their own grocery carts, filling it in with anything they find. It was a shopping holiday for everyone without need of a cashier to attend to their payables. We were like parasites obligated to do commit the crime of theft; a crime legalized by the population because there is nothing left to do.
Feeling the coldness of night time, breeze touching my cheeks which made me look at my watch; it was 17 minutes past the hour of ten and as I wrestled through a multitude of people gaining a raise for their basic needs and panicking for supplies, I walk faster until I stopped into a corner. It is the shopping cart area. What a blessing in disguise!
My hands instinctively grabbed the handle bar of a shopping cart and push it to the garden and agriculture department. As I further strolled, my senses taught me that only few people were loading up agricultural products such as tomato seedlings. I rushed in further to join the seemingly increasing mosh pit of panic buyers whose thievery turned everything they have shopped for free. I loaded up five 100-foot hoses as well as a handful of wire stands for my tomatoes seedlings I picked up earlier this morning. The cart turned heavy not realizing that it was fully loaded with supplies. My shivering arms tendered a heavy grip on my cart as the weight weared my strength. A scent of adrenaline suddenly gushed through my muscle giving me extra power to push vigorously. Lower extremities increased its speed as I was pushing a well suspended jogging stroller. Aiming the front wheel directly at the exit door I saw hope making me push further and further hitting everything on it; people skidded aside as the front steel frame of the cart hit them but it doesn’t matter. This isn’t a case of “hit and run” anyway.
The Expedition is situated adjacent from the exit door. Farah’s gun glitters as she aims it to anyone that comes near. She stood gallantly protecting our trucks. With gladness, I pushed the cart towards her direction.
“Farah! Open your truck and help me transfer this…” Farah opened the rear door of her truck and as soon as the rear door was widely opened, both of us took alternate turns of throwing the supplies from the cart to her truck.
“Stay here and make sure your truck is locked. Always keep an eye to our vehicles.” I reminded her again as her feared feelings caused her head to nod without any objection. “I’m going to go back inside. Take care, Farah.”
I pushed and strolled towards the entrance wanting to get back as fast as possible. The anxious voices of disoriented people turned the shopping store into a horror house of screams and cries --- an indication of despair. The bins of potatoes were already empty but when I looked down, bags of Yukon Gold and Kennebec potatoes as well as onions, broccoli, and cauliflower were scattered on the floor. I picked them up and loaded it in the cart including seed pockets that I can find. I moved towards the automotive section and took as many car batteries, fuses, spark plugs, brake fluid bottles, a number of empty red 5-gallon plastic gas cans, three 5-gallon kerosene containers, 3 emergency lights, and five LED flashlights. As I pressed on the cart forward, I could see Farah aiming his gun at point blank range to a red-faced man dressed with a leather jacket and bonnet who is trying to get the keys. I hurriedly shoved the cart to my wife’s location and took me 10 seconds to reach her.
“Get the fuck outta here or I will blow your fucking head off!” Farah screamed against the man, mad --- like a werewolf.
“Give me the fucking keys, bitch! Too bad, your pussy boyfriend is not here to save you.” The man replied.
Spectators who are clamped around the gun pointing scene seemed to back off gradually. They must have been scared off with the desert eagle hand gun my wife is holding with her right pointer finger closely touching the trigger.
I tapped the man’s shoulder and as soon as his head could turn and look at me, I gave him a powerful southpaw punch which hit him on the button. Yes I got him by the temple which eventually put him down to sleep. I felt I was reenacting the “Pacman” knocking out the “Hitman” a few years back. What a relief.
“Sleep tight; don’t let the bed bugs bite, asshole!” I gritted my teeth as I was not satisfied of putting him to sleep in just one punch. Seriously, I want to maul him to death. There is no law and no crime enforced anyway.
We unloaded the round two of supplies from the cart to Farah’s truck and as soon as we are done, I got the cart, and rammed it over the face of the red faced man as goodbye kiss.
“Farah, get inside the Expedition as I will also get inside my truck. Let’s go home.” I told Farah clearly.
“This time Ryan, let’s make it fast maybe somebody’s robbing our house now. Good thing we brought our two babies honey!” Farah replied with a smiling compliment.
I head off to my Excursion with Farah following me closely. I slipped my watch and looked at it. It was 10:45 in the evening. What a fast drive through shopping I had. I laughed and sigh looking occasionally to the back window. Seeing Farah close by sends me contentment.
When we passed through the darkened fruit and berry bushes land, I stepped on the breaks to stop. I grabbed my safety LED flashlight to illuminate the roadside. I stepped out coursed my feet into the rough finished farm road. It was cold and I can feel the midnight air fast approaching. Farah’s truck horn sounds but when I aimed the lights at her, she also went out the truck.
“Will you help me grab some things?” I kindly asked my wife a favor.
&nb
sp; “What do you want us to load? For sure, these next batches of reserves should be in your truck now.” Farah replied smoothly.
“Grab some garden and potting soil. There are bags on my truck.” Farah got some soil as instructed. “While I will snatch some peach, apple, cherry and pear trees as well as a few thornless blue and black berry bushes.” Both of us did it swiftly.
“Load it up as fast as possible Ryan! Our car fuse might be busted by now!” Farah held up a conservative warning.
“Do not worry honey we will get this done in no time!” I sarcastically replied.
The last supplies of trees, bushes and fruits were finally loaded inside my truck turning it into a greenhouse. I could still feel the sweat dripping of our daces as well as maps of sweaty secretions left on our shirts.
“Let’s just pray that our truck engines will continue functioning until we reach home.” Farah replied with faith while I just hopped in my excursion with my fingers crossed.
Chapter 3
Both of us continue our driving; still on a convoy with my wife as the trailer. Good thing that Farah’s prayer a while ago was answered. Although it was a Hail Mary gamble but God is just so good. Farah’s truck is loaded with store supplies while the back seat of my Excursion is filled with fruits and blueberry bushes. I didn’t care less about my truck’s upholstery because I know that Ford made it sure that every facet of my Excursion is durable. I wouldn’t have preferred to buy it if I was skeptical.
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