EMPulse

by Deborah D. Moore

  “You won’t get any complaints from me,” Adele said, relishing the thought of fresh salads.

  “I think we should bring back one more load… of wine,” Jeff grinned.

  “Good thing we didn’t blow out those candles yet,” Matt said.

  “The last person out should do that,” Adele reminded them. “And the first person in relights them.”

  Jeff took Adele’s larger flashlight, gave her a quick kiss, and went out the door, dragging one of the sleds behind him to retrieve some wine for their celebration.

  ***

  “Jeff seems to be taking an awfully long time,” Adele said, pacing. “I’m going to look for him. Aaron, can I have my small flashlight back please?”

  “Better yet, why don’t I go with you?”

  ***

  Inside the access room, they found a candle still burning, and rushed past the empty sled into the hallway.

  “Jeff?” Adele called out. They were met with silence. “I think you should lead, Aaron; you know your way around here better than I do.”

  They arrived at the junction where the hotel room corridor met with the restaurant and were faced with a wall of snow.

  Aaron aimed the flashlight at the walls and ceiling. Another window had given way and let in a drift of the icy cold snow. He handed Adele the light and started digging with his hands.

  “I’m going to bring some of the lit candles here so we can both dig.” The anxiety of knowing Jeff was trapped on the other side gave Adele renewed stamina and she hurried down the hall to collect the emergency candles.

  Five bright candles lined either side of the hall when she was done. She pulled on her warm gloves and started pulling at the hard packed snow.

  “I can see a faint light at the top on the right, which has to mean there’s less snow there,” Aaron proclaimed. “If we concentrate our efforts in that area, we should be able to get a tunnel to the other side quicker.”

  “This is going too slow!” Adele stepped down from the mound of snow they had made and dashed into the nearest room, returning with two wastebaskets. They both began scooping snow and slush, tossing it to the side.

  “Jeff?” she called out again, climbing to the edge of panic.

  “Hello? Is someone there?” they heard Jeff’s faint voice and started digging with renewed vigor.

  With a narrow passage three feet long, Adele stepped up and wiggled her way in. Another foot of scraping with the wastebasket and pushing the snow behind her, Adele broke through to the other side. She belly-slid down the other half of the window cave-in and landed at Jeff’s feet.

  “I’m so glad to see you.” He hugged her tight.

  “What happened?” Adele clung to him. “Besides the obvious.”

  “Nothing was out of the ordinary, the new ordinary, when I got here. I selected a case of wine and loaded a cart along with some booze, in case that’s a preference for some,” Jeff told her. “I heard a faint rumble and when I got here… so who else is on the other side?”

  “Aaron,” Adele said.

  “Only Aaron?” Jeff was dismayed and a bit disappointed.

  “No one knows there was another cave in or likely they would all be here digging,” she assured him. “Let’s get out of here. We can open the hall tomorrow.”

  “We’re not leaving this behind, babe, not after all this,” Jeff insisted.

  She climbed up the icy slope and called out. “Aaron! He’s okay. I’m pushing a box your way.” With the first box out of her way, Adele wiggled back to the other side and Aaron pulled her the rest of the way out.

  With Adele safely on her feet, Aaron took hold of the remaining box Jeff had pushed through and dragged it out. When Jeff saw Aaron reaching down the shaft, he took hold with both his hands and Aaron pulled him to safety.

  “Whew! That’s one narrow tunnel you two dug, and thank you.” Jeff gave Aaron a hug and then kissed Adele deeply. “Let’s get out of here, I’m starving.” He limped down the hall.

  “Jeff, why are you limping?” Adele asked, concerned.

  “That’s part of why it took me so long. When I was behind the bar collecting the liquor, I slipped on something and twisted my ankle,” he said. “I think a can of something burst and the liquid froze on the floor. I hate to say this but it really hurts. You two are going to be the ones carrying everything since I can barely walk.”

  With Adele and Aaron carrying the boxes, Jeff scooped up the candles as they made their way down the hall, blowing each one out and then left them in the access room to be used the next time.

  ***

  “You get lost in the dark, Jeff?” Chet teased. The three relayed what they had done and what had happened as quickly as possible. Chet paled, knowing he would never have fit in that narrow escape passage.

  “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I sure could use a drink!” Aaron said with a shudder, poured a whiskey neat, and downed it.

  “I also twisted my ankle pretty bad, Chet,” Jeff said, chagrined. “Any suggestions?”

  “Lucky for you one of the things I brought back on the first trip was our first aid kit. I’m sure there is something in there.” He opened the large white plastic box with a red cross on it. “Basic stuff, in here is all. Band-Aids, gauze, tape, Neosporin, scissors, tweezers, Ibuprofen, peroxide, things like that. No drugs of any kind.” Chet gently moved Jeff’s foot in different directions to gauge the extent of the injury and then wound an elastic bandage around his ankle snuggly. “Luckily, it’s not broken. However, it is badly sprained. You need to stay off it as much as possible, and ice it for the swelling.”

  “Thanks,” Jeff said. “This also brings to mind that we should have some new rules. The first is no one ever goes anywhere alone, especially not into the hotel. Got it?”

  ***

  “That was incredible, Chet,” Beth said, leaning back in her chair.

  “I can tell it was well received,” he replied, looking into the empty pot. “I hope we can figure out a better way for me to cook, though. That small woodstove doesn’t have enough surface for everything I normally use.”

  “I’ll see what I can come up with,” Aaron offered. “And now we need to get you two back home,” he said to Jeff and Adele. He stood and grabbed his jacket, as did Matt. With Adele leading the way holding the bright lantern, Aaron and Matt half-carried Jeff across the snow along the now well worn path.

  “Before you go back, I have something for you,” Adele said after the two men had deposited their boss on the couch. She returned from her closet carrying a new, still in the box, kerosene lamp and a bottle of lamp oil. Even though she had purchased several at her mother’s insistence, she knew they really only needed one for the room they were in. This new, extended family she had needed one, too.

  ***

  “I hate the thought of crawling into bed feeling so grungy,” Jeff said after the guys left.

  “Ah, that reminds me: how would you like to wash up in some nice warm water?” Adele offered. His eyes lit up and he smiled.

  She helped him into the bathroom after setting the oil lamp on the sink. While he sat on the toilet seat, she pulled down a couple of washcloths and a hand towel. “I’ll be right back.”

  When she returned, she was carrying the pot from the stove she had been adding snow to all day. With the drain closed, she poured half of the water into the sink and added the washcloths.

  Jeff removed his shirt and dropped it on the floor. The water was pleasantly warm and he sighed when she washed his back.

  “I think I can do the rest,” he said, taking the cloth from her and wiping down his neck, chest, and armpits with more warm water.

  “And I know you want to ask,” she laughed. “My mom always had a pot of water heating on her cookstove. She always said, you never know when you might need hot water. It’s one of those lessons she
taught me that I never think about anymore. Since we no longer have running water, I think it’s a good thing to keep doing.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  “I know it’s only been three days, Adele,” Jeff complained. “I’m so used to being active this feels like three weeks!”

  “Tired of my company already?” she teased him.

  He caught her hand as she walked past. “I don’t think that’s possible. It’s just that—”

  “I know, Jeff. In fact, I thought it might be a good break to host a dinner party, with five of our closest friends,” Adele said, chuckling, because right now all they had were five friends, and each other.

  ***

  Aaron and his wife Beth arrived first, a reluctant and depressed Gwen trailing behind them. Matt came in carrying a couple of bottles of red wine, and Chet handled the large wooden salad bowl, per Adele’s request.

  “You don’t look any worse for wear, boss-man,” Aaron chided Jeff, who was still admonished to keep his foot iced and elevated.

  “I’ve had a good nurse,” Jeff said, “and she won’t let me do jack-shit.” Meanwhile, Chet was busy undoing the elastic bandage.

  “She’s done a good job. The swelling has gone done considerably,” Chet informed him. “Another day or two and you can start walking around again. Please take it easy, boss, okay?”

  “I got it, Chet.”

  “So what’s for dinner, Adele?” Chet asked. “I’m anxious to try someone else’s cooking.”

  “Grilled steaks, rice pilaf with mushrooms and peas, biscuits, and your salad, though I’m considering keeping the salad for myself,” she answered with a mischievous grin. Chet cocked his head in surprise. “If you can pull all that off on that woodstove over there, you can have my job,” he said, still uncertain she could do that.

  “I don’t want your job, Chet, I’m just happy with something to do and Jeff is happy with some company besides me. Right, dear?”

  “Still, I hope you don’t mind me taking notes.” Chet handed her a glass of the ruby red wine Matt was pouring from the freshly opened bottle. He wandered over to the woodstove and lifted the lid from a deep pot, noticing it sat elevated on a metal trivet to prevent scorching. Inside was the rice and mushrooms waiting for the peas. A fry pan with a lid revealed biscuits ready for turning. “Jeff, this woman is a keeper. I’m impressed, Adele. I’m still wondering how you’re going to grill the steaks.” He lifted the lid on another large pot to find plain water.

  “I’m hoping you’ll help me with that,” she answered. “What I did though, to collect enough snow to melt so we could wash, was dig out the grill that was buried on the deck.” She pointed to the glass door. “I got tired of it being so dark in here during the day that I worked at exposing the window. Partway down, I discovered the grill. We got more light, we got more water, and we got the grill back.”

  “Jeff, if you don’t want this woman, I’ll take her,” Chet said with a grin.

  “If you try stealing her from me, I’ll fire you,” Jeff replied.

  ***

  “Those steaks were perfect, Chet, thank you for doing that,” Adele praised the chef.

  “Everything was perfect. May I propose a toast?” Jeff stood, leaning on his good foot. “To eating well in spite of our problems.”

  “So what’s been going on while we’ve been cooped up?” Adele asked the others.

  “We’ve been back in the hotel, and cleared out the hallway again,” Aaron said. “I wanted to check with you first, but I think we should board up the windows in the main hall. I know there are some sheets of plywood in my shop that would work. It would be better to have it dark than to get trapped again.”

  “Good idea. I think we’re going to see a lot of shifting snow packs as the weather warms,” Jeff replied. “Have you brought out any other supplies?”

  Matt was standing by the windows, waiting to make a comment. “Um, Aaron, didn’t you say a few days ago that you had some ideas for fixing the generator? That sure would make it easier on all of us.”

  “Yes I did, but I haven’t had the time to really look into it, sorry. If I can borrow your lantern tomorrow, Adele, I’d like to check out my workshop. From a long view, I think it’s completely buried, so there is no light in there at all,” Aaron said.

  “Of course,” Adele replied. “There’s only a couple bottles of fuel left though. If you can refill them somehow, that would really help.”

  Aaron laughed. “That project is a piece of cake.”

  ***

  Four men dressed in white camouflage insulated suits watched from a nearby hill in the early morning light. Two lay on their bellies with binoculars while the other two stood among the branches of a stately spruce tree, well hidden from view.

  “What do you see, Walter?” Tanner asked. After their plane went down on Thanksgiving, killing the pilot and guide, Tanner had assumed leadership of the hunting party.

  “There appears to be seven people; four men, three women. Though in heavy gear it’s hard to be sure.”

  “Women?” Tanner smiled.

  “Why don’t we just go down there?” Walter asked.

  “Are you stupid? No one in their right mind walks into a group of unknowns, especially if they’re outnumbered,” Tanner admonished him.

  “Bill is getting worse. Maybe they have a doctor or know where we can take him. At the very least, maybe they know what’s going on,” Walter pleaded.

  Tanner, former Black Ops, thought about what Walter said. “Maybe we should do that, Walter. We go in seeking help, recon the situation, and go from there. No one does anything without my say so.”

  Bill stepped out from the cover the tree gave him. A light sheen of fever-sweat glistened on his forehead. “Good, I don’t think I can take another night out in the open.”

  The four men moved toward the compound slowly and in full view, Tanner and Carter in front, Walter following behind holding up a weak Bill. They stopped a hundred yards from the first occupied dome.

  “Hello!” Tanner called out. “Anyone here?”

  Jeff and Chet stepped out of the dome, surprised to hear a strange voice.

  “Hello, there,” Jeff replied, surprised at the arrival. “Where did you come from?”

  “Our plane crashed last week. We’ve been on foot ever since. Can we come closer?” Carter asked, hoping to create trust.

  “Sure.” Jeff was put at ease by the polite distance and request. Adele had been watching the exchange from inside. She picked up Jeff’s shotgun and joined them. Her handgun was snug in its holster tucked in the back of her faded jeans and covered by her new down jacket.

  “Ma’am,” Tanner acknowledged her presence when they were within a few feet, his eyes lingering on her pretty face. “One of our group was injured during the crash. We were hoping someone here could help or direct us to a doctor.”

  “Come inside and get warm and we’ll take a look at him,” Jeff offered.

  “That’s much appreciated, Mister…?”

  “Atkins, Jeff Atkins. Adele, would you get the others?” he said with underlying meaning.

  She handed Jeff the shotgun, looking squarely in his hazel eyes as if to say be careful. She slipped on her snowshoes and disappeared over what looked like a hill to the recent arrivals. It was easy for her to surmise that Jeff wanted everyone together in case this wasn’t what it appeared to be.

  Jeff led the four men to the dome entrance and helped with Bill when he stumbled. “You can leave your gear over there,” he pointed. “Without water and power cleaning up in here is difficult, so we’re careful about tracking stuff in.”

  The four men unzipped and removed their jackets and lowered the matching bibs to waist level. Walter helped Bill get his bulky white suit over his injured arm.

  When Jeff saw the torn sleeve and the dried blood, he got Chet a
bowl of warm water and a cloth to clean the wound. Since the clotted and drying blood had glued the material to Bill’s skin, Chet first soaked the shirt and then peeled the sleeve back, revealing a long cut and a massive infection. At least that part of their story seemed true.

  “What the hell happened?” Chet asked.

  “When the plane went down we were tossed about quite a bit. Bill was impaled by a chunk of metal. How bad is it?” Walter asked.

  “I won’t lie,” Chet said, pouring some peroxide on the wound, “it’s bad.” Bill passed out from the pain and Chet took the opportunity to probe. “The cut is really deep and septicemia has set in.” He wrapped the arm in fresh bandages and faced Tanner, recognizing who was in charge. “I don’t have any antibiotics. He needs a doctor or he’s going to die.”

  “Where do we find a doctor?” Walter asked, even more worried about Bill.

  “The town of Avon is about ten miles down the road. Even though it’s only got a population of about a thousand, there’s a good hospital there,” Jeff answered.

  “Would you mind if we rested a bit first?” Tanner asked, stalling while he sorted out the situation and the options in his head. “We’ve been on the move for days with little to eat or drink. I have to be honest: we’re exhausted. We saw your smoke this morning and headed here. I don’t know if we could make those ten miles without some rest first, and maybe something to eat—if you can spare it.”

  “Sure. Beth, can you get our guests a bowl of soup?” Jeff said over his shoulder, keeping an eye on the three men who insisted on standing in spite of their professed exhaustion.

  After they finished a bowl of hot soup and guzzled a bottle of water each, everyone relaxed a bit. “Thank you, that really hit the spot,” Tanner said, while Walter tried to coax Bill into having some soup. He thought it was a waste of food.