Unearthly Snowbound

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  Greg was looking into her tired eyes and for the first time she looked her age. Even through her makeup he could see the fine lines around the eyes and a wide mouth. She was still a striking woman and even if she was not the president, walking into a room full of people she would turn a lot of heads. He leaned back in his chair and Jasper got up and laid his head on his lap. Greg scratched him behind the ears and stroked his soft coat. He looked down into Jasper’s big brown eyes and a look of, ‘you got to help this lady’ emanated from him.

  Greg asked her, “Would you send someone for my wife. I would like her here to discuss what you are offering me.”

  “Of course,” as she called for her Chief of Staff to come to the conference table from her office. Greg could have called his wife on the phone, but he needed the time to see what this monstrous job included in both the short run and the long run. He sat there with his arms crossed looking out the window. Jasper returned to his customary place at her feet. Even though the floor was insulated, it was so cold out the floor was no place for feet without shoes on. Greg noticed a thick rug was under Jasper and he was quite satisfied with her feet on him.

  Becky came in with a worried look on her face. She felt something was wrong and when Greg looked up at her, she saw his warm gray eyes smiling at her. The worried look disappeared and was replaced by a mouth full of sparkling white teeth and full lips he so loved to kiss. She moved around to face him rather than sit at his side. She wanted to see him as she realized this was no ordinary meeting. She felt a little tension as she and the president spoke of knitting and so forth while Greg sat there staring through his wife. His computer like mind was in high download and running programs and what ifs through and through.

  Both women stopped talking when he leaned forward and said to his wife, “The president has offered me a new job. Officially I will be her second in command. What that means I’m not so sure, but if the vice president were here, would that mean I’m third in command?”

  Hilary said, “No, you are second only to me. I’ve created a new position at this time of crisis and, if you accept, your title would be Vice Commander and Chief.”

  Greg looked at his wife and Becky knew she was supposed to say something intelligent, not a wifely comment, but a professional comment.

  “Greg, if the president thinks you are the man for the job, then as a government employee you must obey her orders. I for one think you are the fittest among us to lead us in our struggle against the odds we face.”

  Greg smiled at her and said, “I knew you would say something like that. Madam President, I can’t refuse an order and I am pleased to help out where I can,” he said with all the sincerity he could muster.

  Hilary smiled and said, “Thank you Greg. This is a load off my mind and now I will call all of the directors and staff to a meeting at dinner time.”

  She stood up, along with Jasper then both walked away back to her room. Greg and Becky left to take a much needed rest in their own room.

  Chapter 15

  Back in their small room the kids were reading some books from the president’s library. American history was one of the books both kids were struggling to read. Greg flopped down on the bed and his wife sat with the kids. In no time Greg was quietly snoring and Becky covered him up with a blanket. She read to the kids while he slept and after awhile all were taking a much needed nap. The trains started moving soon after all were sleeping heading into the dark world of the unknown. Outside the storm raged on. Dime size snowflakes swirled around the windows. Now the sounds of the wheels were made louder by the frigid temperatures and the creaking and groaning sounds came from the cars as they swayed back and forth on the ancient tracks leading out of the city.

  Inside the passenger cars people looked out the windows with concern that maybe more bad guys were lurking out there. Their fears were unfounded as the train moved slowly out of Pittsburgh up to Chicago. However, before Chicago they would pass through Cleveland. Before Greg had drifted off to dreamland, his last thoughts were of Cleveland. He was scared they would find a reception waiting for them as in Pittsburgh.

  Greg woke up with a start as the train came to a halt. He was groggy with sleep. He mumbled out loud, “Now what is the problem,” as he struggled to wake up. From the basin he poured a little water into the sink and washed his face. This time he didn’t want to look into the mirror. He slipped his parka on and left for the dining car to find out why they had stopped. Walking up to the dining car, which was his office, passing through the cars he reassured the people all was well and not to worry. He had a smile that put the people at ease. The rumors of him as their official new leader put a lot of faith back into the passengers. His reputation was growing and Greg played the role needed to calm.

  He walked into the dining car and was greeted by Chuck, Bubba and the captain of security. Greg sat down and looked at the captain and asked what the train was stopped for.

  The captain said, “We are picking up the snowmobiles and as soon as that is finished we will be on our way.”

  Greg relaxed and asked if there was some coffee available. Bubba got up to pour him a cup of fresh coffee. Sitting back down Bubba asked, “Greg what is your plan for Cleveland?”

  Greg’s answers to him were, “Frankly speaking guys I have no idea what we should or shouldn’t do in Cleveland. Expect the worst and be prepared for any eventuality. Every day that goes by with this weather will make people more and more desperate. It is kind of difficult to hide a train like this or keep it silent while moving through a big city like Cleveland or Chicago. One thing in our favor might be the weather being more severe next to the Lakes. In Chicago I would like to refuel the train and pick up what supplies we can before heading across the plains. My wife suggested we pick up some school supplies for the kids and adults. Maybe Chuck we could stop in a small town and make a run for an office supply store. I know it is asking a lot to find anything in this blizzard but keeping our passengers occupied and the children busy with school are very important. Also we need to find some musical instruments and sheet music for some lessons for all the passengers.”

  Chuck listened carefully and said, “I know a town just before Cleveland where we used to stop our train and have lunch. Next to the small station was a general type store with school supplies and of course other assorted items?”

  Greg said, “Let’s make that a stop then and would you guys make the necessary arrangements?”

  The Arctic front continued its way south. While the train was moving to Cleveland, the front was just beginning to envelope San Francisco. From Vancouver BC to Portland Oregon the storm took its toll on the population. Just a few days before it was a drought; and now the West Coast lay under a blanket of snow with gale force winds hammering the landscape. The weather forecasters had warned the population but nobody took heed of the warning. Most knew a storm was coming but none could imagine the severity of it. Temperatures dropped more than eighty degrees in one day. An unoccupied newspaper building in Seattle had an outside window thermometer that only registered to minus thirty. The needle lay against the peg and in fact the temperature without the wind factor was minus forty degrees. Factor in the wind and it was unthinkable how cold it was outside. For some of the unlucky ones caught on the roads without finding some shelter, froze in their cars or trucks when their fuel ran out.

  Fortunately word had hit Northern California and preparations were made for the approaching storm. Before the looters and other hoarders raided the supermarkets and hardware stores, the National Guard were called out and martial law was declared state wide by the governor. As a result California was better prepared than any other place in the union. In addition to California, the whole of the Southwest and Southeast made do with what was available and settled in for the long wait until spring; if it came at all. What was written in the later history books was a fair distribution of goods for the masses of people to survive on for a while.

  Two days later the slow moving train came
to the small town Chuck said was a good place to find some supplies. He dressed up in his Arctic suit and rode on the back of a snowmobile to the town’s general store. All was quiet except the noisy snowmobiles. They were left running because if not they might never start again it was so cold out. It was morning and what light fought its way through the snow clouds you still had a hard time seeing twenty feet in front of you. Flashlights in hand they made their way through the drifting snow near the front door. Two soldiers with snow shovels dug a path through the snow to the door. Ironically it was locked or frozen shut. A soldier kick the door open and the bell above the door rang out into an empty store. Large duffel bags were used to clean out the storage of items they desired. Chuck had written a note before he left the train saying the United States government would reimburse the store owner after he took inventory. Many trips were made to and from cleaning out the store of most everything in stock. A smile on Chuck's face broke out when he noticed there were no batteries or flashlight in the entire store. No canned goods were evident and whoever took them he hoped they would survive this calamity.

  Back on the train and not so far from Cleveland, Greg and his staff met to discuss what might be confronting them in the Cleveland Union Station. As predicted the wind was blowing full gale force off the Great Lakes. Chuck was more than familiar with this route having traveled many times through Cleveland and Chicago. He stood at the window of the forward engine trying to determine where they were in relationship to the Union Station. Darkness was coming.

  Chuck radioed Greg that he thought they were getting close as he scanned the way ahead looking for the tall tower of Union Station. A few minutes later he could see the tower as the blowing snow was blocked by the tall station building. He radioed Greg and the colonel they were coming into the station now and he would stop the train with the troop car in front of the doors of the platform.

  Greg was inside the troop car in radio contact with Chuck in the front engine. He told Chuck when to stop and as they pulled up to the station, all was quiet, but through the drifting snow against the door a faint light could be seen casting a yellowish glow through the frozen windows. The colonel readied his men and after a few minutes of silence, nodded to Greg.

  Greg said, ‘Colonel take your men and check it out. We will wait here for your report from inside the station.”

  Inside the beautiful old station, the floors still gleamed with shine even in the dim light of the creeping night coming. As usual with grand old stations, an underground area existed. After clearing a pathway to the back doors the captain and his armed team explored the station. Inside the troop car Greg and the colonel were talking while the other soldiers manned the machine guns. The soldiers were not as nervous as the last time in Pittsburgh and felt they were protecting America from the bad guys. It was very cold in the troop car as the door had been opened and the bitter cold overwhelmed the weak heat from inside the car. No one complained as they were dressed for the conditions: wool liners inside their gloves and wool stocking hats with eye holes making the soldiers look like bandits themselves.

  About fifteen minutes went by when the captain came back to the car to report. The captain took off his helmet and a little out of breath said, “We found them sir. Like before hundreds of them under the station. Even the mayor is down there and he is on his way up to speak with you.”

  The colonel said, “Station your men front and back of the station and keep a vigil. Also when Chuck and his team go looking for fuel, make sure an armed team accompany them.”

  Greg put his helmet on and gloves and went out the door to meet the mayor of Cleveland. He had an extra helmet and an Arctic suit for the mayor so he could go outside without the fear of frostbite. They would walk back to the president’s car so as not to let the cold air inside the cars when they passed from one to another. Greg looked around the fine old station. He had been here a few times in the past and loved the clean appearance and Old World charm it exuded. He wondered when or if it would ever be like it was in the past: people hurrying from place to place amid a loud rumble of trains arriving and departing; and the almost continuous announcements of schedules of arrival and departures.

  Now the eerie silence made the place feel like a tomb. He felt a pang of sorrow, but shook it off as up the stairs walked the mayor dressed in what looked like three layers of clothes giving him the appearance of a homeless man in the middle of winter. He huffed and puffed as later when he stripped down to one layer of clothes he was an overweight man of about fifty. Drooping jowls that dripped drool like a dog and he was constantly licking his lips. His bulbous nose made even redder due to the extreme cold twitched as he talked with his hands flying around like he was making a speech for re-election.

  Sitting around the table were both the directors of the FBI and CIA; the Chief of Staff; Greg and of course the president with Jasper at her feet. Standing in the background were Janet and Carol with the ever present secret service men.

  The president after the mayor calmed down said, “Mr. Mayor, please tell us your situation as calmly as you can. We are all under a lot of stress and rational thought and actions will win the day.”

  The mayor looked a little shocked at the eloquent voice coming from the president. He had always thought speech writers wrote everything a president said.

  He replied, “Sorry Madam President, I lost my head there for a minute. We have been under a lot of pressure as you must know. We have been attacked by roving bands of hoodlums and lucky for us my bodyguards and some other army veterans have saved the day for us a few times now. When your men came down the stairs looking like more bandits, we were a little terrified until your captain assured us they were the good guys.”

  He went to report their situation as he constantly wiped his large nose with the back of his hand. Finally after a full report the president turned the meeting over to Greg.

  Greg after listening to the story from the mayor, said, “We should probably outfit more of his people with protective arms. I will see to it that the colonel and his men give the new defenders a quick lesson in handling firearms. Also we should look to fortify the doors leading in and out of the station.”

  The president nodded her agreement and rose up while thanking the mayor for his report.

  The mayor and Greg, after the mayor struggled into the Arctic suit that was too small for him, made their way back to the station doors. He bade the mayor good bye and good luck. The mayor waved his hand half way up as the suit prevented him from raising it all the way and disappeared into the station. Inside the troop car Greg relayed his orders to the colonel.

  The colonel said, “We can do that. Give me a couple hours and I will let you know when all is in place.”

  The colonel turned to the captain and rapidly gave out the orders to take care of the arming of the newly formed station security. He then left to confer with the mayor and check out the strength of manpower needed for station security. Greg meanwhile, returned to the president’s car after asking if anyone had seen or reported back Chucks search for fuel. After no one had heard from the fuel party, he left word for Chuck to report to him in the dining car.

  The president was waiting for him to return. She was sitting talking with Becky, Janet, Carol and the two directors Melvin and Robert. Greg stripped down and entered the car. He gave a sigh and all noticed he was under a lot of pressure. He sat down heavily and asked for a cup of coffee. Hilary decided to give him time to arrange his thoughts so she continued her discussion with the group. She had the full group’s attention as Greg caught part of the conversation alluding to a new formation of the structure of the newly formed government such as it is. Greg dropped back into thinking about the roving bands running around Cleveland. It was quite possible that they had been seen or heard. Caution leaving the city was on the top of his list and he was struggling with staying here for the night or leaving under the cover of darkness.

  Greg finished his coffee and a sandwich and looked at his wife an
d smiled. He loved her more than ever and wished they were home snug in their warm house enjoying the holidays. Becky reached over and took his hand in hers and squeezed it with eyes that said it will be all right, don’t worry. His gaze went from his lovely wife to the president. The president wrapped up her discussion and looked at Greg. All eyes turned to him and he said, “I don’t think we are out of the woods yet. From here to Chicago will be a real test against what I fear as some real desperate bad guys. We must remember that most likely the prisons and jails were opened up and we surely have some guys running around out there with brains enough to challenge a train knowing full well warmth and food is about that is not frozen solid. In addition, we know nothing of the team sent to the snowmobile factory.”

  He went on to tell the group about fortifying the station and Chucks’ search for fuel. Everyone was thinking grim thoughts as a knock on the door produced Chuck. He looked all in and the strain was evident on his face and movements. The cold was starting to take a real effect on his old body. Greg made a note to find someone to assist the old man. He’d be better in a supervisory capacity than out on the front lines.

  Chuck sat down not without some trouble with his old bones. A cup of soup was placed in front of him from an aid with foresight. He gulped the soup down and color returned to his pale face. Next some coffee and cookies were placed in front of him and he sipped the coffee and ate one cookie. Sugar he didn’t much care for, but he knew the sugar would give him some energy. Jasper came up to him and laid his head on the old man’s lap. Chuck fed him a cookie and scratched his head. Chuck said, “Jasper is probably the smartest one here. He knows who will feed him and he keeps warm next to the president’s feet.”