EMP (Book 4): Desolation

by Ison, S. A.

  “That’s really nice that you’re writing all this down for her. I’m sure it will help.”

  Tomi shrugged. He hated to see someone struggle. That had always been his weakness. Mrs. Fidgwit came back in with a notebook. Tomi smiled up at her and began to write down a couple notes.

  “I’ve got to get back out to the register. Thank you again, Tomi, dear. I appreciate it. I’ll miss you.” She said, patting him on his shoulder.

  “Okay, Mrs. Fidgwit, I’ll make sure you’re set up and I’ll see if I can find someone to help you, once I’m gone. I’ll also send you my phone number, once I get a phone, okay?”

  “Oh, you’re just a dear.” She chirped happily and left the office.

  “What’s the first thing you’re gonna do when you get out tomorrow?” Officer Stoneham asked.

  “I’ve not a clue. I guess catch a bus to Elkhorn City and then head to my uncle’s house.” Tomi shrugged, writing in the notebook.

  “Well hell, I figured you’d go out for a beer or something.”

  “Nope, I never drank. After my father started drinking, and seeing what it did to him. I could never bring myself to drink.” He shrugged.

  “Sorry Tomi, didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.” Dawn said, her face pinkening. She patted her long dark braid, that hung down her back.

  “Don’t worry Dawn, it’s okay. I think I’m too old to get into trouble.” He smiled up over his shoulder at her.

  “You’re not old Tomi.” She laughed softly and shook her dark head. She was a pretty woman, and he could see what Liev liked about her. She was tough when she needed to be and easy going for the most part. She treated each inmate with professional kindness. There were few who gave her trouble, and those that did, answered to Liev.

  He grinned and wagged his head back and forth, stroking his beard, which was heavily salted. He heard her snigger. He flipped through the pages of the notebook and found more blank pages. He began to write down a step by step procedure that would help Mrs. Fidgwit. He looked up with the lights flickered and then both he and Officer Stoneham jumped when there was a loud explosion outside. Tomi looked out the window, which faced a back alley and saw nothing. Both he and Dawn got up and ran out into the main part of the store.

  The overhead lights were out and the patrons stood, unsure as to what to do. Tomi and Dawn headed outside, and Tomi located Liev and the other inmates, standing beside Officer Ellison. They were all looking out toward the street. Tomi looked in that direction and saw a transformer on fire. He then noticed that the cars and trucks on the street had stopped. He wondered at that and looked around. People were stepping out of their cars, all around him, along the streets that ran by the small mall.

  His skin prickled and he looked up in the sky, his eyes searching.

  “What? What’s going on?” This was from Ellison, who walked over.

  “Not sure, check your phones.” Tomi suggested, his eyes still on the sky. He turned in a small circle.

  “My phone’s not working.” Dawn announced.

  “Neither is mine, what’s going on Tomi, and what are you looking for?” Ellison asked, looking into the sky.

  “There, look way over there.” Tomi said harshly, pointing toward the northwest. In the sky they watched as an airplane began to turn, its wings dipping and then the plane itself began to turn and spiral, its nose pointed downward.

  “Oh my god, what is happening to that plane?” Dawn breathed softly, horror in every syllable.

  “I think we’ve been attacked.” Tomi said, biting out the words.

  Ellison didn’t take his eyes off the plummeting aircraft until it disappeared out of site. Then he turned, his eyes wide, uncertainty in them.

  “I think we were hit with some kind of nuclear weapon. I think it was detonated in the upper atmosphere. It caused an EMP, Electromagnetic pulse. It takes out every electrical component. It destroys transformers, like the one that exploded over there. It stops all cars, trucks, trains and planes. Like the one that just fell out of the sky.” He said, fear lacing his voice.

  “What? That’s crazy.” Dawn cried, her head shaking. Tomi could see she didn’t believe it. Her green eyes sheened with unshed tears, wide and fearful.

  “Your phones aren’t working right? Look, I’m not making this crap up. You know it as well as I do, don’t you Perrin. You were army. You know.”

  “Shit, shit, shit, shit. He’s right Dawn. Some bastard country has hit us and hard.” Perrin said, shaking his head, his color had gone to ash gray.

  “Hell, when does the power come back on and are, we going to get radiated? Are we going to die?” Liev asked, stepping closer to Dawn.

  “The nuclear weapon is exploded up too high for radiation. It just takes out the power. And it isn’t coming back on, not for years, maybe not forever.” Perrin said softly, dread in his voice.

  “Then what the hell are we going to do?” Dawn said, looking at the men and then around them.

  “Let’s get back into the store, fast. Get the guys and let’s get in there.” Tomi said and started walking back to the sporting goods store. He made his way to the back of the store and into the office. Mrs. Fidgwit was there, frantic.

  “What is going on Tomi? What happened to the power? Is my computer alright?” She asked.

  “Hold on a moment Mrs. Fidgwit.” He said, holding up a hand. Perrin, Dawn, Liev and the two other inmates walked in. Tomi gave Perrin a hard look and then looked to Mrs. Fidgwit, nodding his head slightly.

  “Mrs. Fidgwit, can you give us a few moments? Appleton and Brown, go with her.” Officer Ellison asked, leading her out of the office.

  “All right, I’ll close down the store, if the powers out, we can’t make sales.” She said and left the office.

  “Look guys. We only have a very short window of opportunity.” Tomi said, his dark brown eyes meeting those around him.

  “What the hell are you talking about, Tomi? What’s going on?” Liev asked, pulling his hair back and retied it.

  “We’ve been hit by an EMP. Here in about a day at the most, maybe two, shit is going to get real and it’s gonna go sideways.”

  “Shouldn’t we go back to AFC?” Officer Dawn Stoneham asked, both her hands up on her head, as though to hold her brains in.

  “Dawn, unless you want to walk all the hell way back there, or go home, you’d best get to stepping. There is nothing working. We’re fucked.” Perrin said, not unkindly, his hand hovering over his mouth. Tomi thought he was trying to hold back a scream.

  “Look guys, I’m going to head to my uncle’s place. He’s a prepper and he’s got room. Ya’ll are welcome to come with me. It’s going to get deadly Dawn. I know you can defend yourself and all that. Do you have a boyfriend or husband, or girlfriend?” Tomi added the last, just in case.

  “No, but…”

  “Would you like one?” Liev sidled up beside her, grinning. She snorted and rolled her eyes and elbowed him hard. He backed up, grabbing his ribs, grimacing.

  “Look Dawn, and listen up, this is important. As soon as assholes realize the police aren’t coming, they’re gonna have a field day. With no active law enforcement, the bad people are going to become really bad. There will be nothing and no one to stop them from doing you harm. Also, in a week or two, there isn’t going to be any food, anywhere.” Tomi explained.

  “Christ, the stores are full of food. Don’t you think you’re jumping the gun?” Dawn said, her eyes wide and looking between Tomi and Perrin.

  “No, Dawn, you don’t understand. Stores don’t have more than a few days to a week of food in stock. There won’t be any more trucks bringing in food. There won’t be any gas being pumped or brought in, we’ve now lost that ability. There isn’t any water coming into the homes and you can pretty much count on the sewage backing up in the bigger cities. God, the big cities are going to be a living nightmare. Dawn, we’ve gone back in time over a hundred years. People are used to instant stuff, you know this. It is mid-September and
so if they’ve not planted anything, there ain’t gonna be any food. Whatever food there is, is just now being harvested. If folks can’t preserve it, it will go bad quickly. That will stop on the huge farms.” Perrin added.

  “So, I’m going with you?” Liev asked, now serious.

  “Of course, I can’t let you run loose. Perrin, you and Dawn can come as well. Unless either of you have some place to go that is safe and has plenty of food.” Tomi offered.

  “God, god. I mean, Jesus H. Christ. This is just happening too damned fast! It’s just too crazy, too ridiculous.” Dawn sputtered, tears beginning to splash over her flushed cheeks.

  “Thanks, Tomi, I’ll come. I live in a small ass apartment and all I have in the fridge is orange juice and takeout.” Perrin said, his forehead wrinkled with worry.

  “What about Appleton and Brown?” Liev asked.

  “They can come, and we’ll see if Mrs. Fidgwit will want to come as well. We’ll have to take what we need from this store. I’m pretty sure it has everything we’ll need. Let’s get backpacks and fill them with food, camping gear. Let’s see what we can find and get the hell out of this town and on the road. I’d say we have a good eight hours before dark. The farther we are from this place and people the better. We’ll need a good map and a compass. We’ll also need to get weapons, we’ll need to be well armed, because folks are going to come at us, especially you Dawn. Men are going to want you, cause you’re so pretty, they won’t care that you don’t want their attention. Make sure that you arm yourself well.” Tomi advised in somber tones.

  “Okay, but we better get Mrs. Fidgwit in here, or she’ll think we’re stealing from her.” Liev said rocking from one foot to the other, antsy to get going.

  Perrin opened the door and waved the Linda Fidgwit in. She came in, looking at the four people in her office.

  “Mrs. Fidgwit, please listen to Tomi, and understand, something really bad has happened.” Perrin said, sitting the woman down. She looked up expectantly.

  “Mrs. Fidgwit, do you have some place safe that you can go, with family or a husband? The power is gone and it isn’t coming back on, not ever, probably. You saw that those cars on the road, stopped and dead in place?” Tomi said and at her nod, he continued.

  “Okay, what has happened is called an EMP, that means an electromagnetic pulse and it essentially puts the whole of the U.S. back a hundred years or better. There is no power to run computers, banking, shipping food and so on. Pretty soon, people are going to break into this store, maybe in a day or two and they’re going to tear it apart. If you have a safe place, we’ll take you there. Or you can come with us, I’m going to my uncle’s cabin. He lives down near Elkhorn City. He has plenty of food and supplies.”

  “But, won’t the military help? The government? FEMA?” She asked, her eyes beginning to fill with tears.

  “No mam, unless they’ve got hardened vehicles, you know, vehicles that aren’t effected by the EMP. If the military does come, then they’ll be hitting the bigger cities. Otherwise, no one is coming here, not any time soon. We’d like to take what we need from your store. Food, water and camping things. We’ll take you with us, so you’ll be safe or we can take you home. Whatever you want.” Perrin said gently, holding her hand. Tomi saw the woman’s fear and confusion. It was a lot to take in, and they didn’t have a lot of time.

  “I don’t have anyone. It’s just me. This place, it’s all I have. How will we get to your uncle’s home, Tomi?” Linda asked, now weeping softly and wiping at her eyes.

  “Linda, we walk. We’ll pack what we need and carry it out of here on our backs. You’ll have to change clothing though, what you’re wearing isn’t suited to walking and being outdoors. We’ll want to dress warmly, not so much for the day, but at night, it is getting colder.” Tomi said, smiling gently.

  “Can’t I go home and get some clothing?” She asked.

  “How far away do you live?” Tomi asked her.

  “About a half hour from here. More or less.”

  “Linda, that would take us three days of walking.” Perrin put in.

  “Three days? Oh my god, I can’t walk three days in these heels.”

  “Okay, do you have someplace you want to go, that is safe and has a lot of food. A relative?” Tomi asked her.

  “No, no one, I told you, this place is all I have.” She began to weep harder. Tomi looked up at Dawn, who was pale, her own eyes tearing up. Liev had his arm around her shoulder.

  “Dawn, can you help her put a pack together? Also, get her outfitted in heavy duty outdoor wear, camo stuff. Good shoes and good socks. Help her get food and camping things together. Liev, me and Perrin will get supplies together and we’ll carry the bulk of the supplies. We’ll all need to get new clothing, I don’t think you want people knowing you’re with law enforcement. That might get you killed. Let’s get this done as fast as we can and get out of here.” Tomi suggested, looking at each of them.

  “Shit man, this is real, isn’t it?” Liev said, his face as pale as milk.

  “Yeah brother, let’s go. See what Appleton and Brown want to do.”

  Tomi went out into the main sales floor and went to the area that held camping equipment and backpacks. He found what he wanted and watched as Liev went to talk to the other two inmates, or rather ex-inmates. They’d all just been set free. Tomi watched the interlocutors, their arms waving wildly. He heard their raised voices and noted that Liev was shrugging and pointing out the window. Perrin walked over to the trio and began speaking to the men as well.

  Tomi found a small camping stove and set that aside. He also found several cans of butane fuel. They’d have to split the stuff up, or it’d be too heavy to carry. He also found a box of LifeStraw and picked up a handful, he’d give everyone a couple. He also picked up packets of potable Aqua tabs, they’d use those for water purification as well. He also found boxes of wet wipes packets, that would be lighter than TP and less bulky. He watched as Dawn, still very pale, lead Linda over and they picked out backpacks for themselves. Liev joined Tomi.

  “Brown said he’d come with us, Appleton said he was going to head to Beattyville, he’s got family there.” Liev said.

  “Isn’t that near Lexington? Christ, he’ll be lucky if they aren’t over run there.” Perrin said, coming over and choosing a backpack. He also took some of the Lifestraws. Tomi handed everyone a box of wet wipes. Then he shrugged.

  “He can walk it, it will just take a hell of a long time. I hope he knows that.” Tomi said.

  “Hey, here are some of those solar lanterns, they’re really cool. Everyone can have a couple, their nice and light weight. Appleton said he knows about the long walk, he said he’d make sure he had enough supplies. I think he was a little wafflely, and he might change his mind.” Liev said as he tossed everyone boxes of the solar lanterns. The lanterns had clips, so Tomi secured two to the outer pack. They’d soak up the sun that way and be useful this evening. He also found paracord, and other odds and ends.

  He walked over to the clothing section. His own boots were good, soft leather and worn in. He picked out a few pairs of socks, wicking underwear and found hunting long-sleeved shirts and pants. The color would let him blend into the woods.

  “Hell, I hope they have something in my size.” Liev said, a pair of new boots over his shoulders.

  “I hope you’re not going to wear those, you’ll be blistered up in a day.” Tomi nodded to the boots over Liev’s shoulders.

  “No, but I figure if this is the end of the world, I ain’t gonna find another size fourteen boot anywhere.” He laughed.

  “Shit, you’re right about that. If I have room, I’ll get me a pair of boots as well. I’ve got clothes at the cabin, but I was a hell of a lot younger and thinner back then.” Tomi said, a frown creasing his face.

  Linda and Dawn walked over, and Tomi thought Linda looked a little wilted. He felt for her, it was hard to take all of this disaster in. He thought she was in her sixties and hoped she’d be ab
le to keep up. It was going to be a long walk.

  “Linda, does your store carry rifles? Ammo?” Tomi asked her.

  “Sure does, here are the keys, it’s in that next room. Get what you need.” She said, handing over a ring of keys.

  “Dear, do you know how to fire a weapon?” He asked softly?

  “Sure do. Get me a .38 special. That’s easiest on my hands. They’re arthritic.” She smiled, but her mouth trembled. She was trying to be brave. Tomi smiled and nodded, patting her on the back. He and Liev walked to the door and unlocked it. Inside were shelves and display cases with weapons and ammunition boxes stacked.

  “Oh man, I want that one.” Liev pointed at an AR15. Tomi grinned. He unlocked the display case and pulled the weapon out. He walked over and found shells and magazines. He handed them to Liev.

  “I think we’ll need some tactical vests if she has them or make them ourselves. Don’t forget we’ll need first aid kits too. I got a camping stove and some canisters of fuel. We can divide that.” Tomi said, looking at the other weapons. He picked a hunting rifle, a Weatherby, for himself, he also picked out a Sig Sauer P365, along with 9mm ammo. He also chose a hidden holster, that would tuck inside his waist. He also picked up several micro magazines.

  “I think you need to carry a Glock, Liev, get that shoulder holster over there and extra mags. You’ll need to load those up now, and carry as much as you can.” Tomi instructed.

  “Cool, I’ve shot this kind, when I was a kid. A friend of mine had one. Illegal back then.” The big man laughed.

  Tomi also looked at the knives. He picked out a folding one and also a fixed blade. He changed out of his inmate scrubs and into the woodland fatigues and hunting clothing. He also tucked an extra set of clothing into his pack. He pulled several more boxes of 223 Remington 55 grain ammo for the AR15s. Opening the boxes, he began loading the mags he had. Liev changed into his as woodland camo as well and began filling his magazines with 9mm for his Glock. Tomi had chosen several weapons that used the 9mm rounds. That way, they had rounds that fit both the Sig Sauer and the Glock.

  Dawn, Linda, Perrin came in. Dawn stood opened mouth, looking at him and Liev.