Unearthly Snowbound

by Waggoner, Robert C.

Light laughter around the table showing respect to the old engineer. “Now let’s have some breakfast and get down to the business of running this country. I need your feedback and ideas about what we should do about this weather and how to adjust to a life of bitter cold.” She let that sink in as hot oatmeal was served with toast and strawberry jam.

  Some ideas were kicked around, but nothing really came out of the meeting. It was too early to do much policy planning until they arrived at Cheyenne Mountain. Greg asked Chuck and Bubba and he would check with his wife to find out what stores were needed in Omaha. Greg was still going day by day and when they arrived in Colorado he could breathe a little easier. This constant cold was bothering him as it would seem the train was slowly getting colder and colder. He asked the doctor to check the passengers and see how they were doing. The last thing he asked for was all to meet him in the dining car about noon to go over their lists. The colonel needed to be there too and he called him on the phone and asked him to come to the dining car about noon. By now it was ten am and nothing much to do but wait until they arrived in Omaha.

  Omaha proved a boon to the weary travelers. Even though it was still gale force winds and snow swirling making drifts to the tops of the building on their northwest sides, it felt a little warmer than Chicago to Greg as he stepped out to enter the old Union Station built back in 1931 as a showpiece for inspiration to others during the depression years. This was the first time Greg had seen this magnificent station. The doors were already opened by the colonel’s men and he walked into the waiting room with its giant windows and chandeliers that at one time must have cast a warm glow to the light brown floor. Now the blue waiting benches were empty and sitting like deserted church pews on a Monday morning. A few soldiers were searching around for some life, but none were found. A ghost station with the only sounds was the howling wind and echo from the boots of the soldiers.

  The colonel and his two teams of snowmobiles were out trying to find some stores to fill the order from the list he had made for him. Greg walked outside and faced full into the wind and wondered where everyone was. Like a nuclear winter had fallen onto the earth and now it felt like a giant ice cube in an equally giant glass. The cold was starting to penetrate his snowsuit and he hurried back to the train. He took his helmet off but left the suit on because it was so cold even on the inside of the train. Chuck had gone out to check with the engineer crews and he expected him to report back soon. He sat there thinking to himself and looked at the calendar on the wall behind the counter. He was not sure of the date so he looked at his watch which showed the correct date and time. It was January 18th, and they had been on the rail for only four weeks. With luck he thought they could be in Denver in a week or so. He thought about what Denver might offer when they arrived. Denver was a mile high and the winds would be sweeping down off the Rockies making Denver a deep freeze for its three quarters of a million people.

  Chuck entered the car and left his snow suit on like Greg. He sat down and asked the attendant for a cup of coffee if he had some. The attendant gave him a big mug of coffee with piles of sugar and creamer on the side. Chuck put five packets of sugarless sweetener and a like amount of creamer and stirred it with a spoon. His hands were shaking so hard he didn’t need to move the spoon as Greg laughed at his friend.

  Chuck said, “Wait young feller, your time is coming.” Chuck slurped his coffee and told Greg all was well and they would increase to thirty miles an hour if he gave the go ahead.

  Greg said, “By all means let’s get there as soon as we can so our passengers don’t get frostbite.”

  The sounds of snowmobiles were heard and a few minutes later Bubba came through the door with a big smile on his face. He too asked for a giant cup of coffee and he was out of breath from the battle with the weather. After a few minutes he started to tell his story when the colonel came in and when he sat down it looked like four snowmen sitting at a table.

  The colonel gave his report: “We found all that was on the list and a bonus. We found a hardware store with boxes of electric heaters and after a meeting with my electrician; he said we could run six to a car without overloading the circuits. In addition we are bringing to the train rolls of electric wire to run direct if there is an overloading problem. The train engines I’m told produce more than enough electricity to run our portable heaters. We have boxes of fans to distribute the heat.”

  Greg had a big smile on his face and said, “You guys have saved the day. Bubba will you take charge of this project and instruct the passengers to not move or touch the heaters on penalty of being thrown off the train.”

  “I’ve got it boss, I will lower my voice and the fear of god will be upon them,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

  Greg asked Chuck how long to Denver at thirty miles an hour. Chuck looked at the ceiling and thought for a moment and said, “If all goes well we should hit Denver in three days.”

  Greg excused himself and said he would report to the president the good news.

  Greg stopped off in his room and found the kids still buried under blankets trying to read up on Eskimos. Greg Jr. said, “Daddy we don’t understand this at all. Would you help us?”

  “Yes, but give me a little time to tell the president what we found here at the station.”

  Jasper was lying with the kids and his warmth help keep them warm. Greg petted him and left the car to report to the president.

  In the president’s car Greg found his wife and Janet, Carol and the Chief of Staff talking about something and they stopped talking when he walked in. Greg felt like he intruded and the president quickly put him at ease. She asked him to sit down and she was ready to listen when started in with his report. Greg had just started tell her about the success of the expedition when an agent came through the door with a portable electric heater. The heater was placed near where Jasper always laid and the president was ecstatic about the wonderful Christmas present. Every laughed and when the heater was pouring forth warmth, it seemed the meager heat raised everyone’s hopes for the future.

  The train spent the night in the station with guards on duty all night long. Meanwhile the electrician was busy running wires from the middle engine to the front and back cars. In reserve they still had the tail engine which was running only at an idle. In addition some canvas rolls were located and more insulation around the doors was tacked up. The tape was of no use as it was too cold to use, but staple guns worked well once they were warmed up. Rivet guns were also used by the troops to put in the insulation where needed. They quickly ran out of electric heaters so another team was sent out to find more of the units. By the next morning they were underway and the cars were much warmer and the passengers only had sweaters and sweatshirts on. The knitting had produced countless wool socks and the doctor said that prevented frost bite in the older folks with poor circulation. Wool hat of rainbow colors sat on everyone’s head looking like a skiing expedition on its way to the Colorado slopes for the weekend. Wool gloves of various colors were without exception on all hands aboard the train.

  Greg and company spent the remaining time with his family and various meetings with his staff of veterans. He spent hours poring over books about climate and growing under grow lights and hydroponics. The president’s secretary on the next day had come to Greg’s room with a box full of DVD’s and said to look these over they might be of some use. Greg looked through the box to discover subjects he had been looking for in the way of research. He found a disk that was a how to on solar heating; a disk on growing vegetables in poor light; a variety of things to occupy ones’ time on a boring train ride. He set up a computer in the dining car and spent hours looking at various things such as geography, geology and on and on.

  When Greg wasn’t sitting at the computer he had the kids from all the cars learning on more than one computer in the dining car. In the next town or city he planned to pick up more computers and software. He told his wife she was now in charge of the new school of learning.


  A new excitement took over the train once they had located more computers and had they set up and running. Becky had a schedule made up and any adult that was qualified helped with the learning process.

  As per Chucks schedule the train arrived in Denver in the morning of the third day.

  Chapter 24

  The Union Station in Denver is one of the oldest train stations still being used today. The first one burned down before the turn of the Century and it was rebuilt in the early nineteen hundreds. The windows are three stories tall and the ceiling is over sixty feet high. Giant oak benches give an Old World touch to the massive station. It’s fully equipped with a kitchen and all the amenities for business travelers and tourists. The basement is huge and that is where the colonel found some citizens who were stranded by the snow storm. Greg wanted to look around while Chuck checked the fuel level for the trip down to Colorado Springs. Stepping down onto the newly built platform and walking through the already cleared of snow doors, he was amazed at the grand old station. The colonel came up from the basement with the chief of police who was picking up some relatives for Christmas when he got stuck in the storm while waiting.

  He told Greg that the power went out Christmas day and by the time he tried to drive back to his office, the road was blocked by cars and trucks abandoned by the occupants searching for a warm place to ride out the storm. Even hardy Denver people couldn’t cope with the onslaught of this storm. He went on to tell them they have made do with search teams finding food supplies and blankets. Even though the old oil heating system had been replaced with electric forced air, they got by with some help from an old timer to clean out the oil lines and fire up the boiler. Enough fuel was found to keep it warm enough for everyone to not freeze.

  Greg didn’t tell him the president was here for security reasons. He told him they were a government train searching for cities alive with people. Greg said, “Chief, how long can you hold out here under these circumstances?”

  “I’m not sure, but if we could get some relief from the weather we can mobilize our forces and make do with what is available. We are a tough bunch of cowboys here and given a chance we will do all right,” he said with pride in his voice.

  Greg thanked him for his report and told him someone in a month or so would be up from Cheyenne Mountain to check on them.

  Greg left to find some warmth in the train and find out if Chuck had a plan to head south. Chuck was waiting for him in the dining car talking to Bubba.

  Chuck said without Greg asking, “We are ready when you give the word.’

  “Chuck when all the security teams are aboard, let’s make it so.”

  Greg had found a disk about the history of Cheyenne Mountain and NORAD. In the middle part of the nineteen fifties, in conjunction with Canada an early warning system for approaching enemy aircraft was established in Cheyenne Mountain near Colorado Springs. In the next few years an underground facility was built deep in the mountain. By today’s standard it would survive a small nuclear attack, but with the advent of smart bombs there was doubt it would not survive direct hits from missiles directed by computers. All forms of communication could reach anywhere in the world to friendly sites and bases of the United States and Canada. The climate was an important part of the installation and Greg had made special note of that part of the site. He hoped some good scientists occupied the facility.

  What Greg did know was it would be a real surprise when the President of the United States rolled into town. A smile crossed his face knowing the military base commander would be relegated to a man receiving orders rather than dictating orders. He expected a receiving committee of military in Colorado Springs.

  The ride down to Colorado Springs was uneventful. The passengers were very excited to finally get off the prison train. Chuck was in the lead engine still doing his ever diligent job making sure a safe ride was completed. He didn’t know what the next trip would be. He and Greg had talked about whether or not a rail went up to the installation. Greg felt sure a track must run up there to transport the heavy machinery and supplies into the installation. Chucks job was to investigate the possibility because if not, buses must be found or army trucks used to transport the passengers. In this weather, trucks would have a hard time making the trip and the backs of the transport trucks were not heated and the passengers would freeze before arrival.

  It was mid morning when approaching the station in Colorado Springs. If the sun was shining you would see a winter wonderland stretching for miles to the east and to the west stood the imposing Rocky Mountains. The city was a blanket of snow and only the tallest of building stuck out of the drifting snow like candles on a birthday cake. The snow engine had done its job clearing a path for the rest of the train to follow. Now as the Western Explorer as Bubba had dubbed the name of the train pulled into the station all eyes were on the doors and the platform. The train was instructed to stop with the troop car opposite the doors to the station just in case of hostile activity.

  It proved unnecessary as not a sole was found anywhere in or under or around the area upon investigation. Greg was sorely disappointed no troops were present. He was sitting with the president who was surrounded by secret service agents in case of some terrorist attack. The president had a worried look on her face. “My god, Greg, where is everyone?”

  “I’ll be damned if I know Madam President,” he said with a bit of despair in his voice. “However, I’m getting a little angry and don’t know who to take it out on.”

  The president stared out the window saying nothing. The colonel had reported to Greg and left knowing Greg and the president needed some time to figure out their next move.

  Chuck came in looking like a frozen Popsicle. He was still in his Arctic suit and gave off the impression of a guy much younger than his years. The medicine worked well and he was fully recovered, much to everyone’s relief. The president listened while he gave his report with full attention. Hilary was bent upon getting to the Mountain soon as possible.

  Chuck said, “I found what we were looking for. It’s no problem as the track switch is just ahead of us and I sent a team to make sure it was thrown in our direction. A lot of snow is blocking the way and it looks like it hasn’t been used for a long time.

  “Can we make it Chuck?”

  “The snow here is even lighter than on the plains. We should have no trouble pushing it out of our way. We have to make sure all the engines are functioning for the trip. I found a map in the station and it looks we have an hour or more to reach our destination.”

  “Ok, thanks Chuck. When all is ready we will pull out and head to the base.”

  “Madam President, you know Fort Carson is next to the base and there we should find our military and the base commander. No one knows what to expect so we will go slow and be on the alert as we approach the Fort.”

  Hilary nodded her agreement and said, “You know Greg, I have a bad feeling about this and sure hope we find some responsible people where we are going.”

  “Me too, I have a feeling of disorganization and sure hope I’m wrong.”

  “Well, we will soon find out what lies ahead of us,” she replied with a grim look on her face staring out the window at nothing.

  The train pulled out a little while later with a train load of anxious passengers. The troops were sullen as they slowly made their way south. The colonel was with his troops and Bubba was entertaining his passengers, but no one was paying any attention to him. All were deathly quiet and staring out the windows watching the snow blowing around the cars. Bubba gave up and went to the dining room and had a cup of coffee. He was relaxed knowing what ever happen nothing could be as bad as cooped up in this train for a month. He sat there talking to one of the train’s staff about the weather. Bubba drinking cup after cup soon tired of the waiting and moved back to walking up and down the cars making conversation.

  Becky and the kids were in their room reading and not paying much attention to what was going on outside their room.
Her faith in her husband and the president was enough for her to relax. The closeness to her kids the last month had grown into a relationship that books were written about being the ideal family. The kids had never mentioned missing TV or the phone or talking to their school friends. On board the passengers and kids had grown to a community in itself. In times of hardship and crisis Americans were known to come together and take on whatever faced them. Losing was not in the American vocabulary; only winning was acceptable. For Becky and the kids reading about American history had bolstered her belief in her country.

  About two pm the train slowly made its way into Fort Carson. Greg called Chuck and said for him to stop the train and he would send out a scout team to see what was what around the base. Chuck stopped the train and Greg called the colonel and told him what he wanted. The colonel said he would lead the team himself and radio back with a report. Greg hung up and said to the president, “We will soon see what is going on around here as the colonel and his men will inspect the base.”

  The president looked at him and then back out the window.

  Time seem to stand still inside the president’s car. The minutes ticked by as the sound of snowmobiles faded into the wind soon after stopping. About thirty minutes later a radio report from the colonel saying he found a skeleton team of troops huddled up in the mess hall. Greg asked, “Is there an officer there?’

  The colonel told him only a sergeant was in charge and he didn’t have much information. “I will return with him and if you order I will transport him in the main car,” he said referring to the presidents’ car.

  Greg said, “Yes that is what I want you to do.”

  A few minutes later the colonel arrived with a petrified young sergeant following the colonel into the president’s car. The soldier was even more scared when he recognized the lady sitting at the end of the table. The colonel said, “Soldier you are addressing the Commander and Chief of all military forces and I expect you to address your superior in a military fashion,” he said with distain and authority.