Once Upon an Apocalypse: Book 1 - The Journey Home - Revised Edition

by JEFF MOTES

  One small bottle bug spray

  One bottle vanilla spray (“for my feminine side” John says as an aside and I chuckle)

  Two hand warmers

  One lens cleaning cloth

  One magnifying glass

  Two emergency Mylar blankets

  One tube sunblock

  One sewing repair kit

  One mini-fishing kit

  Two pair maxi flex gloves

  Various D clips and straps

  A small New Testament bible

  A bag of miscellaneous items.”

  “Did I miss anything?” John asks.

  “I don’t think so, but that’s a lot of stuff, John. How much does all that weigh?”

  “The stuff that I normally carry in my pack comes up to fifty-six pounds. It’s a heavy load. If it becomes more than I can carry, we’ll either bater some of it away or leave along the way. The extra MREs and water will add a few more pounds. If we have the four-wheeler, weight won’t be a big issue.”

  “May I ask how much all this stuff cost?”

  “All I’m going to say is, it cost a lot. If you count the personal defense items, many thousands of dollars. Anybody could have built a kit, maybe not on this level, but still pretty good, for a lot less. My priorities were to be prepared for unexpected events. Let’s pack all this back up so you’ll also know exactly where everything is in my pack.”

  “Okay, then we can do my kit. It doesn’t have near this amount of stuff,” I say.

  Chapter 38

  Jill

  Jill’s Pack

  Day 7

  “I’ll unload my pack and you can write,” I say.

  John takes the pen and pad from me and I start unloading my items on the bed. It’s not near the amount and type as what John has and it makes me feel a little embarrassed.

  “I guess I’ll start like you did, with personal defense. Are you going to make a separate list for me, or add this to your list?”

  “We’re in this as a team, right? So, everything I have in my pack is now ours, not mine. We should consider yours the same way. Still, it’s important to know what we have in each of our individual packs. I’m going to draw a line down the page just to the right of where you wrote my bag inventory, and add yours. That way our items will be listed together, yet separate at the same time. Sound okay?”

  I nod. “Yeah, it does. I like that.” Taking a deep breath, I begin my list.

  “Personal Defense

  One Glock 19, complete with pink highlights

  Two magazines

  Twenty-seven rounds of 135 gr. self-defense 9mm ammo

  Twenty-five rounds of 115 gr. full metal jacket 9mm ammo

  One IWB holster, pink

  One rescue knife

  One CRKT folding knife

  One Kershaw folding knife

  One can of Mace”

  “Okay, that’s it. My folding knife is just like yours. My dad gave it to me for Christmas a few years ago.”

  “That’s a good knife. I like those pink highlights. Did you do it yourself or have it done?”

  “My dad taught me how to do it, and I did it myself.” Grinning at John I ask, “You want me to highlight yours in pink?”

  John laughs. “No thanks, my feminine side stops with the vanilla spray.”

  “It doesn’t look like much compared to yours.”

  John says, “Well compared to mine it isn’t, but don’t compare it to mine. What you have here is a good defensive setup. Staying on your toes, this can get you home. I think with the amount of ammo you have; I would have gotten all self-defense rounds and skipped the FMJs.”

  “That’s what my dad said, but I wanted to save a few dollars. The FMJs were cheap.”

  John picks up my holster and looks at it, turning it in his hands. “This is a nice holster. Not my color, you understand. If we put my threaded barrel in your Glock, we would have to cut a hole in the bottom to allow for the extra length. I don’t think we should swap barrels since you’re already used to the setup you have. Besides, the suppressor is mostly going to stay on the carbine.”

  “I was only curious earlier, that’s all. I don’t want to swap barrels. For air, I have two N95 standard dust masks. That’s it. Plus, I can swim and hold my breath until you can save me.” Smiling, I look over at John. He rolls his eyes.

  “On to shelter,” I say.

  “One sleeping bag

  One gray/brown tarp

  The clothes I have on my back, but I’ll have our other clothes this afternoon

  One pair walking shoes

  One ball cap”

  John says, “This works, but I think I would have added a ground mat. You know, something to keep the moisture from seeping up into your bag. Of course, you could use a Mylar blanket to block water moisture. With some paracord, you could build a decent shelter with what you have. Combined with what I have, I think we’ll be okay.”

  I bet he hasn’t thought about the implications of the ‘one-man’ tent yet.

  “All right, on to water,” I say.

  “One 32-ounce stainless steel water bottle

  Two 16-ounce plastic water bottles

  One package water treatment tabs

  One small bottle unscented bleach

  Six coffee filters

  One Frontier emergency water filter”

  “That’s it for water. Now for food.”

  “Two complete stripped down MREs 3,000 cal

  Two packs single-serving Spam 500 cal

  Two packs single-serving tuna 300 cal

  Three packs of squeeze peanut butter 750 cal

  Two protein bars 400 cal

  Four single-serving oatmeal packs 600 cal

  One emergency ration bar 3,600 cal

  Six single-serving instant coffee packs

  Bag of condiments

  Small bottle canola oil

  Bottle honey

  “That’s it.”

  John says, “Hmm…that totals 9,150 calories. Combined with mine, it gives us 26,150 calories for about six days.”

  I say, “Moving on.

  “Cook kit

  One Stanley cook cup

  Two camp cups

  One utensil set

  One stainless steel cup

  One small bottle dishwashing liquid

  One scrubby

  Camp towel”

  “How do you like the Stanley cook cup?” John asks. “I thought about getting one.”

  “To tell you the truth, I’ve never used it.”

  He shakes his head.

  I go back to listing off my items.

  “Hygiene Kit

  One and a half rolls toilet paper

  One pack of wet wipes

  Two bars of soap

  Two washcloths

  One small bottle of body/hair wash

  One toothbrush

  One tube toothpaste

  One hair brush

  One bag of miscellaneous items”

  “That’s it for that. I don’t see my razor. I must have left it at Mary’s. Darn!”

  My eyes grow wide when John picks up my bag of feminine pads I had intentionally not mentioned.

  “You know you can use these for bandages.”

  I snatch the pack out of his hand, my face red. “That’s not what these are for!”

  Looking embarrassed, he says, “Of course not, I was only thinking…thinking out loud. Sorry.”

  I guess I’ll let him off the hook, but the little bugger doesn’t stop there.

  “When I left Leeds heading home, I thought I would be home in four or five days. We’re at day seven and we haven’t even made it to Montevallo.”

  “Yeah, so?” I respond, still a little annoyed.

  “If we get the four-wheeler and can leave here in a day or two, and it takes us three to four days to get home, it’s going to be nearly a week from now.”

  “Okay…?”

  “If we have problems, it could take us longer.”

>   “Your point being?”

  He looks up at me and asks, “Do you have enough of those pads?”

  My face really turns red now. What business is it of his if I do end up on my period? In a highly annoyed voice I respond, “What business is that of yours?”

  He reaches out with his hand and covers mine. “Jill, you better write that on our needs list. You know, whatever you’re going to need. Just in case.”

  Why does he have to think of everything! Is he always thinking days, weeks ahead? As I think about it, my annoyance dissipates. He’s only thinking of me. Why else would he even bring something like that up? Most guys would avoid that subject like the plague.

  “Thanks, John, you’re right. I will. Now back to other things,” I say.

  “Power Kit

  Six AA batteries

  Six AAA batteries”

  “Fire Kit

  One Esbit stove

  Twelve fuel tabs

  Two Bic lighters

  One magnesium fire starter

  One pack strike anywhere matches

  One medicine bottle of vaseline coated cotton balls”

  “Lighting

  One LED head lamp

  Two high output AA LED lights

  One emergency candle”

  “Medical

  One first aid kit

  One pack various over the counter pain medicine

  One bottle sunblock

  One bottle lotion”

  “Miscellaneous

  One nail clipper

  Various D clips and straps

  Twenty-five feet paracord

  One roll duct tape

  Twelve zip ties

  Two Mylar emergency blankets

  One mini-survival manual”

  “That’s it. That’s all I have.”

  John smiles. “That’s a pretty good kit you put together, Jill, pretty darn good.”

  Betty comes to the open door and knocks to get our attention. “Jill, honey, if you’re ready I’ll help you with the clothes.”

  “Okay, Betty, thanks. Give me about five minutes.”

  When she walks away I ask John, “Do we have enough to make it home?”

  “I had plenty of reasons for making it home,” he looks over at me, “and I have even more now. I promise you, I will do everything I can to make sure we make it home safely.”

  Though he didn’t really answer my question, he gave the answer I needed to hear.

  I smile. “I believe you, John.”

  Chapter 39

  John

  The Honda ATV

  Day 7

  Watching Jill walk out the door, I think to myself, That is one heck of a woman.

  “Dear God, we need Your help to make it home. Help me not to falter. Give me courage, wisdom, and strength not to fail Jill, Will, Lizzy, and our other family. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

  Things have got to be getting pretty bad now around the large cities. More people are going to be on the road, trying to find relief in more rural areas. People are going to become more desperate. Desperate people do desperate things. More people also means more predators trying to take advantage of them. This is the time I expect roving gangs are going to start developing. I use the term “gangs” loosely. Gangs are going to be groups of people wanting to do nothing but steal, murder, rape, and pillage. Some might look like some inner city gang, others might be wearing camouflage hunting shirts with a wad of tobacco in their mouth. If we don’t encounter some on our way home, I’ll be surprised.

  That’s why I’ve decided to travel at night. Using my NVD, IR laser, and suppressor will give us an advantage at night we wouldn’t have during the day. I wonder how many of those evil gangs out there have bought NVDs. Probably not many, unless they were organized before The Day. Those are going to be the most dangerous ones right now, those organized before The Day. I’ve been to the online forums and read the discussions. Many have accumulated weapons and training, intending to use those assets and skills to steal the things they need. We can’t afford to risk confrontation with these groups. We’ve got to go slowly and quietly. If we do have to take action, it must be fast, aggressive, and decisive.

  The wildcard, I think, is going to be the government. Is it going to slam the hammer down, oppressing everyone attempting to create order? Or…or what? Is it going to completely collapse? What is the military going to do? Roving gangs are one thing; a roving rogue military unit is another. What I think the government should do will be exactly what they won’t do. I hope not to see anybody with the government, period.

  With a heavy sigh, I gather my things to go take a shower and wash my grease mop hair.

  ***

  Jill comes back into the bedroom. She looks over at the table where I’m sitting and adding to the “Need Item” list.

  “Whew, that was a job washing clothes by hand,” she says. “Is this what we have to look forward to for the near future?”

  I look up, slightly perplexed, realizing I haven’t made any plans for being able to wash clothes after an EMP attack. Hmm…wonder what else I missed?

  Jill glances at the list. “That’s getting long,” she says. “How are we going to pay for all this?”

  I reach in my pocket and bring out two gold coins and ten silver coins.

  She says, somewhat surprised, “I thought you gave those to Mark?”

  “I didn’t give Mark everything I had. I told you I wasn’t completely unprepared.”

  “Yes, you did, and you’re full of surprises.” She sniffs my hair and makes a funny face. “You don’t stink this morning.”

  Betty knocks on the wall beside the open door. “Mark is here.”

  ***

  Mark is sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of hot coffee. It’s 11:00 a.m. He has a smile on his face as he stands up. That’s a good sign.

  “Good morning, John. Good morning, Jill.” He shakes my hand. “I’ve had some success. I was able to trade for a 1998 Honda Rancher 400. It’s a little old, but it’s in great shape. It’s a 4x4 with front and rear racks. It has a full tank of gas and I was able to get two five gallon cans of gas. I need to take it to Uncle George’s shop while he’s running his generator and attach a bracket to the back to hold the fuel cans. The cans are the old metal military type cans. Oh, also, I got you a Ruger 10/22 with three ten round magazines and a 325 round brick of bullets.”

  I respond, “Wow, Mark, I wasn’t sure you would be able to do it. Thanks. You have the Honda outside?”

  “Yep, it’s out there. One more thing…” He takes something out of his pocket. “I had these left over.” He places five silver coins on the table. “Sorry, man. I wish I could have brought all of it back, but the only thing the guy wanted that I had was silver coins and I just didn’t have enough myself.”

  “Not a problem. I have a few more items I would like to get if they can be bought or traded for. I left the list in the back. I’ll be right back.”

  ***

  I pick the list up from the table in the bedroom and look it over. Jill needs to look at this too. I call out, “Jill, can you come here a minute?”

  She walks in and I hand her the list. “Look this over and see if we need to add anything.”

  She scans through it. “Do you think we will be able to get all this?”

  “Probably not, but I think it’s worth a try.”

  “It seems complete to me, if Betty will let me keep the clothes I’m wearing. I’d really like to have two bras.” I can’t help it, I blush again.

  We go back to the kitchen and I hand Mark the list. “Check this out and see what you think. If you can’t get any of this, it’s not going to be a major problem for us.” Inside I’m thinking, Not getting those pads could be a major problem.

  Mark scans over the list, occasionally remarking about the items. “Tarp 12x16, brown or green. Shouldn’t be a problem. Tire repair kit, I’ve got that in my shop. Two large men’s shirts, I’ve got that too. One woman’s shirt.” He gl
ances up at Jill.”That shouldn’t be a problem. Freeze dried food.”

  Betty says, “We have plenty and will share whatever you need.”

  Mark continues, “Feminine…” he looks back up at Jill and they both blush a little, “that shouldn’t be a problem. These other items aren’t going to be a problem either.”

  “Do you think the remaining silver coins will be enough?” I ask.

  Mark slides the coins closer to me. “This list isn’t going to cost you anything. Let’s go and check out your rig.”

  Everyone gathers at the Honda. I walk around it. The tires look good. I pull the dip stick. The oil is clean.

  Mark says, “The guy had some oil and a filter, I changed it before bringing it over.”

  The seat is intact. I get on and crank it up. It starts easily. I drive it around a little and bring it back and park. “I think this is going to work. You did good, Mark, real good.”

  Mark has a smile on his face.

  “I do want to take all the light bulbs except the headlight out and remove or cover all the reflectors. The plastic of the four-wheeler is green, so it won’t stand out like a sore thumb in the woods.”

  “I can handle all that for you when I mount the bracket to hold the fuel cans,” Mark offers. “Uncle George, you don’t mind if I use your shop later do you?”

  “No, Mark, I don’t mind at all. Betty, this old man sure is hungry. Have you got anything to put a smile on my face?”

  “Yes, y’all come in,” Betty says. “Meatloaf sandwiches and iced tea.”

  Everyone heads to the kitchen, and Jill and I fall behind. She’s walking beside me. “I think this is a good start,” I say. “I’d like to leave tomorrow night.”

  She looks up with a puzzled expression. “Why tomorrow night? Why not tomorrow morning?”

  “I want to use the darkness as cover. Using the NVD, I should be able to drive without a problem, though I won’t be able to drive very fast and may have to stop frequently to give my eyes a break.”

  “I can understand that. Why not tonight then?”

  “I don’t think we can be ready by tonight. Mark still has to mount the bracket for the fuel cans. I want to drive the Honda around a little and make sure it’s not going to die right after we leave. I also want you to get some driving time and we need to get you some trigger time on the Ruger. Besides, I still don’t have enough strength. I think I need one more day.”