Nuclear Winter (Book 1): First Winter

by Nathan Jones

  Just as important as survival, it would make them both stronger when it came to dealing with the remaining Gold Bloc threat.

  Griggs abruptly straightened with a sigh. “Well, we appreciate your service bringing this to our attention. If you're with a group you'll probably want to get back to them.”

  That was a pretty obvious dismissal, but Lewis didn't really mind. He did want to catch up to the others. “Before I go, on behalf of Aspen Hill I was wondering if there's anything we should be aware of when it comes to protecting ourselves.”

  The captain gave him a thoughtful look. “Are you down in the valley east or west of the mountains, where raiders can get to you by road?” Lewis shook his head. “Then you should be fine. They've been keeping to their vehicles, staying mobile with lightning quick strikes. But you can also reassure your people that we'll be redoubling our efforts to secure our territory and prevent any further raids.”

  “Thank you, Captain,” Lewis offered his hand, and after exchanging a firm handshake he grabbed his bike and headed back up the road.

  So much for a pleasant and productive outing.

  Chapter Five

  Night Terrors

  Riding the backroads home had the potential to be confusing, since they passed quite a few branching trails and roads and didn't know the right route, but in the end it turned out to be pretty straightforward.

  For one thing up in the mountains where they were the ATV trail they started out on could only go one direction, the same as the highway itself. And when they took the first road heading south that looked like it was going anywhere through the hills, it turned out to take them all the way through and into the valley not far north of Aspen Hill's ruins.

  Lewis caught up to them not too long after that, to everyone's relief, and briefly described his talk with Captain Griggs and the news of the world at large. Together they made their way up Aspen Hill Canyon, walking their bikes more often than riding. Thanks to the unexpected delay, the slower route, and the fact that they didn't manage the same pace as Lewis and Jane had on their previous outing, not to mention having to once again pick their way over the collapsed cliff, the trip had ended up taking a lot longer. It was almost dark by the time they topped the eastern ridge overlooking new Aspen Hill's valley.

  Irrational as his fears for the town where, Trev was still relieved to see it was undisturbed. His imagination had produced a few awful images of blockhead raiders descending on the valley in the hundreds, even with the town as far from any road the enemy could easily reach as it was.

  On the way down Lewis motioned for Trev to speed up to coast alongside him. “I'm going to see all the kids home and have a talk to their parents about what happened,” his cousin said, grimacing. “I doubt they'll be too happy, but I'll own up to the bad decision to bring them along.”

  Trev nodded. “Me and Deb will report in to Matt about what happened. See you at home.”

  Calling back to the brown-haired woman, Trev stopped braking and let gravity speed his descent. Deb was soon right behind him, and together they turned onto the gravel trail and made their way into town.

  To his surprise Deb peeled off when they passed the shelter group houses, heading to her home without a word of explanation as he continued on to the town hall tent. Trev could only shrug, surprised that she hadn't stuck to his side like usual but deciding not to pursue the issue, and parked his bike beside the entrance to head inside. He nodded as he passed the defenders stationed there, on rotating duty at all hours to guard the town's surplus supplies and whatever food the citizens had put under their protection.

  Matt was inside with Trev's uncle Lucas, Ben, and Catherine. “Trev!” his friend called, hurrying over. “Where's Lewis? Lucas and Ben just got back from the refugee camp with a list of potential people to interview about joining the town.”

  “That was fast,” Trev replied, letting the tent flaps fall to keep the interior warm. Near the end of August, but the nights were already getting chilly. He didn't like what that meant. “I thought it would take longer to round up people who could be useful without letting the cat out of the bag.”

  Lucas smiled wryly. “Well it turns out when you give someone a chance at a good thing, like an invitation to a peaceful town that's pretty prosperous under the circumstances, they don't want to ruin it by blabbing it to other people who might want in. We were able to find some exceptional people who could point us to more potential recruits, and before we knew it we had 50 refugees to interview. They'll be hiking in day after tomorrow, for the offer of a free meal even if they don't make the cut.”

  Trev couldn't bring himself to smile back as he finally got to his news. “Lewis is seeing the kids all home safely. He sent me to tell you what happened.”

  That got their attention. “What do you mean?” Catherine demanded. “Is everyone okay?”

  “We're all fine, but we did run into trouble.” He briefly explained what had happened, starting with talking to the refugees on the way to the battle front, then hearing the sounds of fighting and investigating and what he and Lewis had seen. He also described Grigg's news of the world and Lewis's thoughts about what it might mean for them and everyone else.

  When he was finished there was a brief, grim silence. “Blockheads raiding, huh?” Matt said after a few seconds. “I think that settles your question of bringing in the wounded and disabled veterans.”

  “For or against?” Trev asked.

  “Definitely for.” His friend sighed. “Even if they'll have some hurdles to overcome, they're experienced soldiers and should be able to help out. That sort of professional training and experience will put them miles ahead of most of our defenders in spite of any disabilities, just in case raiders do come around again.”

  Trev nodded at the logic. “How many do you think the town can take in?”

  Matt glanced at the other town leaders, who all nodded. “We were considering taking in 50 people total, between the refugees and the veterans. So however many refugees we take, that'll determine the number of veterans.”

  “But you invited 50 people to be interviewed,” Trev pointed out.

  Catherine nodded. “Our recruiting standards are rigorous, and we'll definitely be weighing in the ability to hunt and fight in that. Even more rigorous now, when we might need the veterans more than whatever skills the refugees can bring.”

  “All right.” Trev took a breath. “Let's talk about security measures, then.”

  The gathered leaders nodded and motioned for him to go on.

  “First of all we'll need to be more careful going out on expeditions,” Trev began. “I think with the blockheads gone and the military protecting the area we got a bit too complacent. Like that was all it took for things to suddenly be back to normal.”

  Lucas laughed wryly. “I doubt that's going to happen any time soon.”

  “Secondly the town itself. The attack on those refugees may have been an isolated incident, and the military is definitely going to tighten security after this, but even so I'd suggest we also take added precautions securing the area. More sentries farther out, to give better advance warning of lightning raids where the enemy is in and out in minutes. I doubt a small group of raiders can throw anything at us we can't handle, as long as we've got time to prepare, but we need to be certain we have that time.”

  “It couldn't hurt,” Matt agreed. “But seriously, do you really think blockheads could get vehicles up here? They'd have to drive through half a dozen military emplacements and refugee camps in the mountains if they took the back roads, and Aspen Hill Canyon is blocked.”

  “There are some spots they could trailblaze a path up into the mountains on ATVs, or even rugged trucks or SUVs,” Trev argued. “At the very least we should watch those. And while I doubt they'd risk abandoning their vehicles to sneak into the mountains on foot, we can't rule out the possibility.”

  His friend nodded. “Precautions never hurt. As long as we're not taking too much manpower away from prepa
ring to survive the winter. How many more people do you need?”

  Trev had carefully thought it over. He would've liked more, but he'd shaved it down to the bare minimum for just the reason Matt provided. “One extra emplacement running 24 hours, split into however many shifts you want. I'd recommend six four-hour shifts. I'll train the people taking the shifts on what areas to pay extra attention to, and what to look out for.”

  As part of his duty leading the town's defenders Trev had spent hours and hours scouting around the town, personally covering everything within a mile of the valley so he had a good idea of the terrain. He wanted to know the best places to put lookouts, as well as the best options for using the terrain against any enemy as well as preventing them from using it against the town.

  Which was an important consideration, considering Aspen Hill was in a valley. If they didn't take precautions an attacker could seize the high ground on two sides, not to mention controlling the only road leading past the town. Which would be disastrous.

  They couldn't just huddle up among the houses in an attack. They'd have to get out there and hold the ridges, or even directly attack their attackers if they wanted it to end well.

  Matt chuckled. “Just one? No need to be stingy where our safety is concerned. We'll give you that and also another person to patrol, for the time being.”

  “All right, I'll take care of it tomorrow.” Trev turned to leave.

  Before he could Catherine called him back, motioning to the sheaf of papers in her hand. “You lead the town's defenses, so your perspective on these recruits is important too. We want you on the interviewing committee. Come take a look at these resumes the refugees filled out and see what they have to offer.”

  Trev bit back a groan. He'd had an early start and a long, difficult day, and wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed. Instead he nodded and accepted the papers. “All right. Let's start with the ones the rest of you like best.”

  * * * * *

  Trev started awake at a hand on his shoulder, staring blindly into the near complete darkness of his family's cabin.

  “Huh?” he whispered in near panic. Being awakened from bad dreams of blockhead attacks would do that.

  His dad's voice answered, equally quiet. “Deb's at the door, asking for you.” He hesitated, then continued. “She's, ah, very distraught.”

  Nodding, although his dad probably couldn't see it, Trev pushed aside his covers and stepped into his boots, then pulled his heavy overcoat on over the undershirt and basketball shorts he was using as pajamas in a single room cabin filled with five people and little privacy.

  As he carefully picked his way towards the dim light coming from the door he sensed more than saw his dad heading back to bed. He hadn't heard any knocking, but then again he'd been wiped out from the day he'd had and probably sleeping like a log. Nobody else seemed awake, although you never could tell.

  Deb was a dark silhouette outside, sitting with her back to the wall next to the door and her knees pulled up to her chest. From the sounds of it “very distraught” might've been putting it mildly; gasping sobs escaped the brown-haired woman, the sort you couldn't avoid when you were freaking out and doing your best to keep it under control.

  Trev shut the door and crouched down beside her, starting to put a hand on her shoulder before he remembered her fragile state. He paused with it hovering a few inches away and spoke instead. “Deb?”

  Even cut short, the comforting gesture was a mistake. She flinched away from him with a shuddering gasp, and for several seconds panted as she fought for control, the occasional sob breaking free. “S-sorry,” she finally stuttered. “I know it was selfish to come at this hour. I woke your dad up, and probably everyone else, and I woke you up, and-”

  “Deb,” he cut in gently, lowering his hand and settling back on his heels. “It's all right.”

  She took a few more unsteady breaths. “I can't be asleep right now,” she said dully. “Knowing we were only minutes away from, from them, that if they'd decided to keep coming up the road instead of turning back we might've ended up like those poor people, that I might've ended up back-”

  The brown-haired woman cut off as her silhouette shuddered violently and another sob escaped. Trev heard a soft thump as she leaned her head back against the wall. “I feel terrible for waking you up, but I couldn't be alone. I mean, I know there were all those women and kids sleeping around me and I wasn't really, but they're all strangers and it felt that way.” He caught the faint glimmer of her eyes as she turned to look at him, voice pleading. “Could, could you just sit with me for a little while?”

  “Sure.” Trev settled down on the neatly arranged large rocks they were using for a step in front of the doorway, leaning back against the door. “Do you want to talk about our lives before the Gulf refineries attack?”

  “Okay,” she said quickly. “Anything so we don't have to sit in silence.”

  “All right.” Trev shifted slightly to a more comfortable position. “Well you know I grew up in Aspen Hill. I mean not here but the blackened ruins we passed on our trip yesterday.”

  “I know,” she said in a small voice. “But can you not talk about yesterday?”

  Right. He was an idiot. “So anyway I lived there with my parents and Linda and Jim, and Uncle Lucas and Aunt Eva lived just down the street with Lewis and Mary. Me and Lewis are a lot older than our siblings, and our parents shared babysitting since my mom worked, so we were practically brothers growing up. Still are, really. I was enough older than Linda and Jim, and even Mary, that the line was pretty strongly drawn between sibling and someone to play with. I mean I love them, but we were never super close. Especially when I had to start babysitting them as a teenager when I wanted to hang out with friends.”

  Trev paused, slightly worried about her silence. “How about you? Do you have siblings?”

  Deb stirred just a bit. “I did. I might still.” The glimmer from her eyes vanished as she looked away. “I don't really want to talk about it. Can you keep going? I-I like hearing your voice.”

  “Okay.” Trev wasn't sure exactly what to say, so he talked about small little details he remembered from growing up. Thinks like learning Mary's humming was really a telltale about what she was thinking or feeling at the moment, and teaching Jim to play basketball for his junior team on the hoop in front of Lewis's house, with their cousin often coming out to join them. How Linda had managed to make her way into the popular girl's clique and how their house was often practically off limits to the rest of the family when she entertained guests, and how Trev prompted a shower of giggles every time he passed by where they hung out in the living room.

  He spoke fondly of family outings, and frequent sleepovers with the cousins at their house or the Halssons' so one or the other's parents could go on a trip, and playing night games with the neighborhood kids in the summer. Fishing with Lewis and Lucas, and July and August nights spent camping up in the mountains eating hotdogs and s'mores and exploring every inch of the land his uncle owned up there.

  There were a lot of memories, even ones that were minor irritations at the time that he could look back on fondly now. In fact, he remembered things he hadn't thought of in years, especially not since the Gulf burned and his mind was filled with far more pressing thoughts of survival. It was nice in a way.

  Deb was quiet through it all, aside from the occasional sniffle. He didn't know if he was boring her or not, but every time he fell silent to let her speak, or asked her for some detail about her own life, she just told him to keep going.

  Finally, after what felt like over an hour, during one of his silences her shadowy shape abruptly stood, looking down at him. “Thanks. I'll let you get back to sleep.”

  Trev stood as well. “Do you want to sleep here tonight? We could make up a cot for you, or you could take mine and I'll crash by the door. My family wouldn't mind having one extra, and I could talk to them about you coming to stay with us in the morning. I don't want you to feel li
ke you're alone.”

  Her soft laughter drifted through the darkness. “Easy there, cowboy. We haven't even gone on a date and you're already asking me to move in with you?”

  He felt his face flushing with embarrassment. “I didn't mean-”

  “Duh,” Deb cut in teasingly. “Besides, being crammed in with your immediate family doesn't exactly scream romance. I appreciate the offer, but let's put that idea on the back burner, huh?”

  “Sure,” Trev said, wondering what exactly that meant. At least her cracking jokes seemed to imply her spirits had improved. He watched as her shape flitted through the darkness to her cabin, heard the soft creak of a door opening and closing.

  Then, a sudden massive yawn reminding him how exhausted he was, he shuffled back inside and collapsed into bed.

  * * * * *

  The next day Trev spent a lot of time setting up the new lookout position and patrol route and getting the new volunteers trained on what to look out for, as well as how to instruct the defenders who came to relieve them at the end of their shifts. Once that was done he hurried to finish all his other work and catch up on what he'd missed yesterday.

  He had an idea. It wasn't a good one, maybe, and it could be argued there were far better things he could be doing with his time, but he was going to take a page out of Lewis's book and build an extension for his family's house.

  Nobody had ever claimed having extra living space was a bad thing, especially not in this case with how crowded they all were in there. And while Trev would've liked to say it was for his parents so they could have some room to themselves, the honest truth was that if he wanted to get married at some point he needed to have his own place, same as Lewis and Jane did.

  There was an obvious connection to be made here with what had happened with Deb last night, but his mind refused to make it. It just made sense to have his own room, and now was the time to do it while he still could. He'd talked to his parents about the idea that morning, and they were fully on board and supportive of his reasoning, encouraging him to go for it.