EMPulse

by Deborah D. Moore

  Matt, Aaron, and Adele came in, stomping the snow off their boots. Tanner’s eyes instantly flashed with racism when he saw Aaron and he quickly tamped it down.

  “Okay, Tanner, here’s the rest of our crew. I know all of us want to hear what happened and why you were so far off the aviation path when the EMP hit,” Jeff said.

  “EMP? Is that what happened?”

  “Apparently. Some guy in Avon heard a ham radio broadcast just before everything shut down. We were hit with three long range missiles, and if they took down the grid, they were armed with nuclear warheads,” Jeff went on. “It fried everything electronic.”

  Tanner nodded thoughtfully. “That explains why we just fell out of the sky.” He looked at the others. “We were on a fly-in hunting trip south of the Canadian border and on our way back. Our guide and the pilot were killed on impact, and we lost one other of our men from injuries a few hours after the crash. We stayed with the plane for another two days, waiting for a rescue that never came. That’s when we decided to try hiking out. When we saw the smoke from your chimneys, we changed directions and came here.” He looked around at the cozy room. “You’ve stumbled on a really nice set-up here, Jeff, and you’re fortunate to have such lovely ladies for company.” His eyes lingered on Adele again.

  “No stumbling involved, Tanner. This is the Geo Dome Resort. My resort, and we all live here. Everyone here is an employee or a paid guest. We were closed for November for upgrades and were finishing Thanksgiving dinner when everything quit. The next night we were hit with an avalanche, which buried most of the units,” Jeff explained, intentionally leaving out how the avalanche started. “And since you will be here for a day or so, let me introduce everyone.” Jeff did some fast thinking, taking into account all of the body language he saw emanating from Tanner, especially the way he looked at Adele. “This is Aaron, my right arm and best friend. He’s my can-do-everything handyman, and you’ve met Beth, his wife, head of the housekeeping department. Chet is the resort chef and former paramedic. To call Matt a waiter doesn’t do him justice; he has many talents. Gwen is a guest. Her husband died shortly after the EMP when his pacemaker quit. And this is Adele,” Jeff put his around her shoulders protectively, “my wife.” Adele stiffened at that announcement and Jeff applied the slightest pressure to her arm to quell her surprise. “Now, why don’t you gentlemen make yourselves comfortable, maybe take a nap if you need to. We have work to do. Matt, would you help Beth and Gwen bring in more wood? Chet, Aaron, Adele, you’re with me. We need to finish up those repair projects.”

  Jeff grabbed the shotgun and they all moved quickly before Tanner could question what they were doing.

  ***

  “What was that all about, Jeff?” Chet asked once they were out of earshot of the new arrivals.

  “I don’t trust Tanner. There is something hinky about him, and I sure don’t like the way he was looking at the women,” Jeff said. “Something feels wrong about the whole situation. Chet, do you think he’s military?”

  “No doubt in my mind, and from some elite group. Why did you leave out my military experience?”

  “If he knows you’ve got military in your background, you would be one of the first he would disable, if it comes to that,” Jeff explained. “Aaron, sorry, bud, but that man is a racist and he already hates you, especially for having a white wife. His mind could never understand how lucky Beth is to have you, and that may keep her safe from him.” He turned to Adele. “Tanner is the alpha of his group. I’m the alpha of our group, and if he had any designs on you, he now knows you’re taken and he’d have to go through me.”

  “I understand,” she smiled at him. “We do outnumber them though.”

  “Yes and no,” Chet commented. “We have more people and Bill is in no condition to be a concern, but the other three have high powered rifles and if they were on a hunting trip, they know how to use them. What do we have Jeff, a shotgun and a rifle? We’re outgunned if it comes down to that.”

  “I have this,” Adele said, removing her pistol from the holster at her back.

  “Like I said before, Jeff, if you don’t want her, I’ll take her,” Chet laughed and Jeff punched him in the arm. “How much ammo do you have for that?” he asked.

  Adele smiled at the antics. “I have a brick back in my closet, plus two more magazines.”

  “So we’ve evened the odds a bit. Now what?”

  “Now we wait and see if they cause any trouble,” Jeff replied. “I think we should tone down the food resources, Chet. How about making something really bland and skimpy for dinner tonight? We don’t want them knowing how much food is here. We might never get rid of them if they knew.”

  “Got it. I’ve always wondered how far I could stretch one can of soup and a bowl of rice,” Chet chuckled.

  “Aaron, how is the generator coming along?” Jeff asked.

  “You really think I can concentrate on that when my wife is back there with that asshole?”

  “No, of course not. Hey, where did we leave the rifle?” Jeff asked embarrassed that he didn’t remember what he did with it.

  “It’s probably still under the front seat of your truck, boss-man.”

  “Okay, we’ve stalled out here for an hour. Chet, you get supplies for dinner. Aaron, take the shotgun and go back to help with whatever Matt is doing. Adele and I will get extra ammo for the rifle and shotgun from my office, and then the extra magazines for her gun. I don’t want those guys knowing about the rifle. However, to make it available for any of us, I’ll make sure it’s loaded and leave it in the carport behind one of the shovels. Let’s go.”

  ***

  “Well, that meal was interesting,” Tanner said after dinner. “Being a restaurant, I would have thought you had more food on hand.”

  “Usually we do,” Chet said casually. “We were closed down for the month of November for repairs and cleaning. The freezers and coolers were shut down for sanitizing. I had already ordered the restock for the winter season, so somewhere in the state is a truck load of our food.” The lie came smoothly. “Don’t pay that bill when it comes in, Jeff,” he snorted.

  “You didn’t like the rice, Mr. Tanner? I thought the dish was rather innovative,” Gwen said. “Please don’t insult the chef, or these guys will make me cook, and then you’ll be glad you left for town.” Gwen had caught on real quick to what was going on, and played along with it like a pro.

  “Well, it’s getting late and I’m sure you guys want some sleep,” Jeff said, standing. “Who has watch tonight?” he asked looking at Matt.

  “I think it’s my shift, boss,” Matt replied. He got up from his chair and put another log on the fire and sat down again. Jeff exaggerated his limp and handed the shotgun to him.

  “Why do you have a night watch?” Carter asked. “I thought this place was pretty safe.”

  “For the most part it is. Guard duty also means keeping the fire going. You needn’t concern yourself with your safety or comfort for tonight.” Jeff held out his hand to Adele.

  “Goodnight, everyone,” she said stifling a yawn. Outside, Jeff lost his limp and they hurried to their condo and out of the increasing wind.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Chet served pancakes for breakfast, made from a box mix, with plain water and no syrup. He still had syrup, lots of it, and lots of powdered milk too. Jeff said to make the meals simple and bland and that’s exactly what he planned to do.

  “That was good, Chet, thank you,” Gwen said. “I still miss syrup, though. Are there any maple trees around here that we can tap in the spring?”

  “I’m not sure, Gwen. That’s something to ask Jeff, though don’t hold your breath. All I see are evergreens and more evergreens,” Chet answered, setting a few more thin pancakes on the now empty serving plate.

  “I will say those were hot and filling,” Tanner said, putting his plate in the si
nk of warm soapy water. He moved over to stand by the windows and gazed out at the lightly falling snow. “Don’t Jeff and Adele join you for meals?”

  “Usually,” Aaron answered. “Rarely for breakfast though. They’re still honeymooning.” Beth playfully slapped his shoulder and he pulled her into a quick hug and a brief kiss.

  Tanner turned away, disgust written on his face. His thoughts went to Adele. Beautiful, quiet, and blonde. He had a thing for blondes.

  “Tanner, Bill is worse. He’s burning up and I can’t wake him,” Walter said. “We’ve got to leave now and get to town.”

  Tanner hovered over the unconscious Bill. He pulled out his handgun and shot Bill in the forehead. “There, now you don’t have to worry about him and now we’re in no rush to leave.” The room went deathly quiet.

  Walter grabbed Tanner’s arm. “Why did you do that? We could have saved him, you coldhearted son of a bitch!” Tanner backhanded him and he slumped to the floor, his gray head rested on Bill’s unmoving chest.

  “Hey, man, what are you doing?” Aaron angrily stepped up to Tanner and got in his face.

  “Back off, boy,” Tanner growled, raising the gun again. Carter picked up his rifle in support. Beth pulled on Aaron’s arm, moving him away. Walter wept.

  Gwen ignored Tanner and knelt beside Walter, placing her hand on his shoulder in comfort. “He was your friend, wasn’t he?” she asked quietly.

  Walter shook his head. “He was my brother!”

  Everyone looked at Tanner at that statement and backed away.

  “Yes, he was your brother, so what? He was dying and you know it. I put him out of his—and our—misery.” He looked down at the oldest member of his group and shook his head in pity. “Get a grip, Walter. He never would have survived the trip anyhow.”

  ***

  “Was that a gunshot?” Jeff stood, alarm lacing his voice. He and Adele had just finished a breakfast of hash browns and eggs when the report filtered through the walls.

  “Sounded like it to me,” Adele said. “We better check.”

  “You stay here,” Jeff said. “Please. We need at least one armed person on our side not over there. Let me find out what’s going on first.” He slipped on his boots, wincing at the pressure on his ankle, pulled on a hooded jacket, and was out the door before she could protest.

  Adele quickly changed from her morning attire of sweats to jeans, a sweater, and a vest to hide the gun she added, and then she waited.

  Jeff grabbed the loaded rifle from the carport and burst through the front door of the large dome. “What’s going on? We heard a shot.” He took in the scene quickly: Tanner and Carter had guns focused on everyone in the room; Gwen was kneeling beside Walter, who was softly weeping beside Bill.

  “That bastard killed Walter’s brother. Shot him in the head so they wouldn’t have to take care of him.” Chet’s voice was low and dangerous.

  Jeff spun around and glared at Tanner, his knuckles going white as he gripped the rifle stock. “Have you no respect for anyone, Tanner?”

  “Respect? Now that’s an interesting concept,” he replied dryly.

  “Yeah, you ought to try it sometime,” Jeff said with contempt.

  “Drop the rifle, Mr. Atkins.” Tanner’s voice was soft, low, and mean.

  “And if I don’t?”

  “Then I’ll shoot you. Your choice.”

  Jeff lowered the rifle and set it on kitchen island.

  “That’s better,” Tanner said. “Now that all this is out in the open, I don’t have to be someone I’m not. I was getting real tired of playing nice. Now, I think I’ll go pay your lovely wife a little visit.” Jeff lunged at him, but Tanner was quicker. He swung the gun and caught Jeff alongside the head, sending him to the floor. “Carter, keep an eye on everyone. If they misbehave, shoot ‘em.” He shrugged on his jacket and was out the door before Jeff regained consciousness.

  ***

  Because of the angle of the domes and the height of the snow, Adele didn’t see Tanner cut across the snow covered yards. She was washing dishes when the door opened.

  “Jeff?” she called out.

  “Not quite,” Tanner answered. She spun around to face him.

  “What are you doing here?” Her voice was strained but steady.

  “That should be obvious by now, little lady. I’ve come for some fun.” His eyes gleamed with a madness Adele recognized, one she had seen in Kyle many times.

  “Fun? If that means sex, never! You’re a pig. You smell bad, and you’re disgusting.” She laced her voice with all the contempt she felt.

  Tanner reached out and backhanded her across the face, sending a trickle of blood oozing from the corner of her mouth. She stumbled and backed up to the work island. The memory of Jeff’s gentleness washed over her and comforted her, and the memory of Kyle’s abuse hardened her resolve. She only stared at him, saying nothing.

  “Oh, I think you liked that, didn’t you? You like a bit of roughness, is that it? Or maybe a lot of roughness? Yeah, I’m gonna have me some real fun now.” He turned away from her, readying another punch. He didn’t want to hurt her too much; he wanted her awake and aware, crying and pleading when he took her. The thought excited him even more.

  His fist was in mid-swing when he caught sight of the 9mm pointed at him, and he laughed, momentarily dropping his hand.

  “That is unexpected, but you don’t have the guts to shoot me,” he said, taking a step closer.

  Adele pulled the trigger, blasting a hole in his chest from four feet away.

  ***

  Chet applied a cold wet towel to Jeff’s face, wiping up the blood welling from the gash on his temple.

  Walter stood and faced Carter. “What are you doing, John? Tanner is crazy, we both know that. You don’t have to do what he tells you, not any more. Be reasonable, these are good people.” Walter pulled his sidearm and aimed it at Carter. “What would your wife think if she saw you like this?”

  “It doesn’t matter anymore, does it, Walter? We’re never going to see our families again. They are safe at home in Florida and we’re stuck here in this godforsaken corner of Montana, likely forever.” His voice was shaking now. “All because… because of…”

  “Go ahead and say it John: All because of Tanner!” Walter yelled at him. “He was the one who wanted this damn hunting trip! You served with him, you should have known he was nuts, yet you, yes you, talked me and my brother into coming. And now Billy is dead, and that nut job is over there doing God knows what to that nice lady. It’s as much your fault as it is his.”

  While Walter had Carter distracted, Matt rushed him. Carter saw the movement and reflexively pulled the trigger, sending Matt flying backward, where he collapsed against the wall like a ragdoll. Walter then shot John Carter, his cousin.

  “I didn’t want to do that,” Walter choked out. He looked to the others staring at him when they all heard the gunshot from the other unit. “Here,” he set his gun down on the table, “someone go save her from that animal!”

  Aaron grabbed the pistol and ran out the door, leaving his jacket behind. Halfway across the snow mound, he met Adele coming toward him. When she saw him she collapsed to her knees.

  “Adele, are you hurt?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “I shot him. He was going to rape me and I shot him,” she sobbed. “Where’s Jeff? I need to see Jeff.” Aaron helped her to her feet and took her back to the group.

  Jeff was coming around when Adele and Aaron opened the door. The carnage was worse than she imagined. She dropped to her knees beside Jeff, crying, and hugged him.

  ***

  “Oh, Matt.” Jeff lifted Matt’s head and cradled it, gasping for breath as the tears flowed. Adele knelt beside him, offering what comfort she could.

  They dragged Tanner’s body out of Adele’s condo and left it in the woo
ds, minus the heavy snowsuit that one of them could use. Matt, Carter, and Bill were laid out in a row next to Lane Swanson and the doors locked, until spring would let them dig appropriate graves. Beth and Gwen washed the blood from both units. It was a solemn night for everyone.

  ***

  “That was an incredibly brave thing to do, Adele,” Jeff said, holding her tightly in the dark.

  “I had no choice. I could not, would not, let him touch me!” She involuntarily shuddered.

  “Try not to think about him. He’s gone, thanks to your quick thinking. Let’s try to get some rest. I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be another busy day.”

  They lay in bed, cuddled in the warmth of several blankets and each other.

  “Have you noticed how quiet it is now?” Jeff murmured into her hair. “There is no refrigerator humming, no clocks ticking, no ambient white noise that says the power is on. Now we can hear what’s under all that.”

  “What is under all that?”

  “The sound of darkness,” he answered.

  “Hmm, I think I’ve had enough darkness in my life to last me forever,” Adele sighed. “Do you think this will ever end?”

  “I don’t know, why?”

  “I think about all the money I’ve saved over the years to enjoy ‘later,’ and now it seems that ‘later’ has arrived and it’s all gone, for good,” she answered wistfully. “And you know, I don’t miss it.”

  “If you think you’ve lost money, you have no idea,” he said flatly.

  “What do you mean, Jeff?”

  “Did you ever wonder how I could afford to build all of this?” he asked.

  “I’ve wondered, but it’s not my place to ask.”

  “I won the lottery.”