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

by JEFF MOTES

  “John, what’s going on?” I ask.

  “I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure. I’ve just now received the answer.”

  “Well, what is it?”

  “Yesterday evening while you were sleeping, Sarge came over with the food and we had a good conversation. Apparently, Captain Kelly wants all the weapons we captured to outfit another squad, and he wanted to trade for them. So I made a deal with Sarge. He had to get it approved by Captain Kelly. It was a pretty hefty deal, but I think it was worth it.”

  “John, tell me what it is!”

  “I have traded the truck, all the weapons, ammunition, three of the Gen 1 NVDs I found in the packs of those bastards, fifty-five gallons of gas, and one hundred ounces of silver, for an armed escort of Perry County Militia to Jackson.”

  “Really? An armed escort? Where are you going to get the gas? Do you have more silver on you than the ten coins you showed me?”

  “The weapons and gear will be turned over to them immediately. We’ll give them the truck when we arrive in Jackson. They are going to have to come to Repose for the gas and silver. The silver will go directly to the men escorting us, ten ounces per man. They agreed to the arrangement a few minutes ago on the front porch. Sarge is working on the details. We’ll be leaving around noon. That’s about five hours from now. They’ll spend the night with us back home, then return tomorrow. The only catch is, there won’t be time to do our laundry.”

  I’m speechless. I can hardly believe what I just heard. An armed escort home! Today! I kiss John full on the lips, look him in the eyes and say, “John, when we get home you better find that preacher!”

  Chapter 57

  John

  Just in Case

  Day 11

  The moistness of Jill’s lips lingers on mine as she says, “John, when we get home you better find that preacher!”

  She goes inside and I sit there, looking into the trees surrounding the house, not really seeing them. My mind is thinking of this morning and the professions of love and commitment Jill and I made to each other. I didn’t know if I could ever feel this way again. I think of Kathy and a tinge of guilt enters my soul. Kathy was the love of my life, yet she is no longer here. Is it wrong to love again? Is loving Jill in the same way I loved Kathy being unfaithful? That’s been part of my dilemma ever since I showed Jill how to use my carbine back at the barn and those deep feelings began to stir. Is it right to love again and to love Jill as deeply as I do?

  Kathy and I were deeply in love. She helped make my life complete. She helped shape me into the man I am. No, it’s not wrong; Kathy would not want me to live life alone. What would be wrong is to live a life alone when I have so much love to give.

  I’ve tried hard not to mix my emotions too closely with Jill while we traveled. I haven’t wanted things to become confused and complicated and make our journey more difficult and perilous. Twice, I almost gave in and told her my feelings. The first time was yesterday, before engaging those evil bastards. At the time I measured my remaining life in minutes. Then again when she cared for me after saving my life. Last night when I saw her at the bathroom door, I knew there was no turning back. It was only with the greatest effort that I could restrain from drawing her close during the night. I must get her home safely, and to do so, I must think clearly. I must not let the fog of emotions sweeping over me divide my thoughts. All my efforts and thoughts must be concentrated on getting her home. No matter the cost, I must get her home. When we get there, I will find the preacher.

  The deal I made with Sarge was costly. In pre-The Day dollars, the deal would be worth nearly $20,000. Today the items I traded are near priceless. I would pay many times that value if it would get us safely home at this very moment. Based on the encounters we’ve had with evil men, the odds of our continued survival are slim. If Sarge’s militia had been evil bastards, we would all be dead now. The cost is high, but it is well worth it if it gets us home safely. Theo and Cassandra will be coming along as well. According to Sarge, the doctor was able to get Cassandra’s fever under control and has given her enough antibiotics for the next week to help stave off any infections from the brutal assault. That too has been costly. Ten of the hundred silver coins are for the medicines Cassandra will be using. I had to use the last ten silver coins I have with me to pay her medical charges.

  The screen door opens and Jill steps out with some MRE bread covered with peanut butter and jelly. She gives one to me and says, “Breakfast.”

  I take one and bite into it. It’s toasted. I glance up at her in surprise.

  “I used a fork and held it over a burner. I hope it’s not too dark.”

  “No, it’s just right.”

  “John, I don’t mind wearing my dirty pants again, but would you mind if I hang on to your shirt?”

  “You are welcome to anything I have, even my razor,” I say with a grin.

  “You will appreciate my use of your razor soon, I promise. By the way, I need to check your stitches. Betty said they would need to come out today.”

  “Has it only been a week since leaving the barn? It seems like a lifetime.”

  “That was the first time I thought I lost you. I can’t think about it.” She walks close and runs her fingers through my hair, locating the stitches. “It looks good, John. I think I can take them out now. You’re lucky that monster only hit you on the left side of your head. Otherwise this may have come back open.”

  Her touch is working on me and I want to pull her close, but refrain. “It wasn’t luck. His left arm was broken.”

  “Is that why he was screaming?”

  The image flashes back before my eyes. The descending knife, my imminent death, and Jill fighting to keep me alive. “That was one of the reasons. He was just too big and too strong for me. You saved my life, Jill.”

  “I told you not to worry about it. That’s what little….” Then she stops and kisses me. “I love you, John Carter. That is the last kiss before we get home. Think, John, stay focused. Keep us alive long enough to find that preacher.”

  I help Jill tidy up the place and make the bed. I retrieve my razor from the bathroom. Looking at the extra hairs in it, I chuckle in amusement. I guess I better get used to it.

  “Jill,” I call out, “I filled both toilet tanks with water if you need to use them.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Come here, I want to show you something.” When she reaches my side I tell her, “I included three Gen 1 NVDs in the trade. There were five NVDs in the packs of those bastards. I didn’t tell Sarge and the captain about these two other NVDs, since I figure they would have insisted they be included in the deal. I don’t want anybody to know we have these.”

  “My lips are sealed. Do they work like yours?”

  “Yes and no. They have similar controls, which are simple, but they don’t work as well as mine. It will be easier for me to show you. Let’s find the darkest room.”

  “There’s a large closet in the kitchen. It must have been a pantry, though it’s empty now, except for a few non-food items.”

  “That’ll work.”

  Jill leads us to the empty pantry. I leave the door open for some light, though it is still dim in the room. “All right, I’m going to turn this Gen 1 device on. Look through it.” She does. “Now I’m going to close the door.”

  “To start with it was pretty good,” Jill says. “now I can hardly see anything. Did you put the cover on or something?”

  “No. All NVDs have to have some light. Some require more than others. This Gen 1 requires more light than my Gen 3. In complete darkness, neither will work unless you use an infrared source. Both units have a built-in IR illuminator. I’m going to turn yours on.”

  “Yes, I can see now.”

  “Now use my Gen 3.”

  “Wow, it is really bright. Did you turn the IR on?”

  “No, it’s using the light from underneath the door.”

  “Wow, I can see where the Gen 3 has a m
uch greater advantage over the Gen 1 units.”

  “It does, but this Gen 1 device will work pretty well outside under starlight. I wanted you to see how it compared. Let’s put these up. Hopefully, we won’t need them anytime soon.”

  ***

  I find some note paper and envelopes in a desk drawer in the great room and start writing notes. One to my father, one to Will, one to my brother, and the last has no name on it.

  Jill comes in from the porch. “What time did Sarge say he was coming?”

  “Around lunch.” Checking my watch I add, “Probably in an hour or so.”

  “What are these for?” Jill asks, glancing at the letters.

  I hand her the envelope with no name. “I want you to keep this envelope in your pocket at all times until we get home. It is not for you to open. If something happens to me, go to Repose and give this to my father, Will, or my brother. Promise me you will keep it with you at all times.”

  “I will. Nothing is going to happen to you, John. We are going to be home today. Why can’t I read it?”

  “If you need to use it, then you’ll see it. But unless you do, you don’t need to know what it says. Trust me. These other letters, please keep in your pack. They are important, but not as much as the other.”

  Bending over, she wraps her arms around me from behind the chair. Kissing me softly on the neck, she says, “I trust you, John. I’ll keep them like you asked.”

  “Hey, weren’t there some empty Walmart bags in the pantry?”

  “Yes. There was one of those bag holding things full of them. You want them?”

  “Yep. How about helping me with a little project? Grab the bags and meet me on the porch.”

  I get the duct tape from my pack, and when I step out onto the porch, Jill is already there waiting.

  “I’m going to see if I can find a shovel. Will you take the duct tape and cover all the reflectors on the truck? All of them.”

  “Sure, but why? We’re going to be driving during the day.”

  “Just in case.”

  I head to the utility shed in search of a shovel. In the shed there is an assortment of yard tools, including a shovel. I take it and walk over to the sand pile I saw earlier next to the porch. Sarge must have had a paver project planned out before The Day. I fill two dozen bags and carry them back to the truck.

  “I’ve got everything covered,” Jill says, stepping beside me. “What are you doing here?”

  “A little extra protection, just in case.”

  “What is it with you and ‘just in case’?”

  “I don’t know, Jill. Thinking about ‘just in case’ through the years has saved both our lives so far.”

  She puts her hand on my shoulder and asks, “What are we doing for ‘just in case’ right now?”

  “Improvising armor for the door.” Using my multi-tool, I remove the window crank from the door and, with some difficulty, take the plastic inside panel off.

  Jill says, “That’s hollow inside there.”

  “Not completely.” I reattach the crank handle and let the window down. The space is still mostly empty, but now the glass is inside the door panel. “Start passing me some of those bags please.”

  Jill does, and once we’ve filled as much of the void with the sandbags as we can, I reinstall the side panel and crank handle.

  “You won’t be able to let the window up and down,” Jill says.

  “We’ll have to drive with them down. Let’s do the other side.”

  The other side requires eighteen more sandbags. Leaning the truck seat forward reveals a narrow storage space behind the seat. I say, “Let’s grab our gloves and fill this space with those pavers.”

  Once everything is complete I say, “If we get in a bind and come under fire, get as low in this truck as possible. The engine block will provide some protection up front.”

  “It’s going to be tight in there with the four of us and that floor shift.”

  I smile slyly. “Yes, it is.”

  She slaps me on the arm and says, “Behave.”

  My interaction with Jill, traveling together, caring for each other, it seems so natural. “Jill, I can’t explain it. I feel so comfortable with you.”

  She smiles. “I feel the same way with you.”

  ***

  While I’m washing up, Jill calls from the front, “John, they’re here.”

  I walk outside and see Sarge and eight other men, all heavily armed. They have two trucks. Theo and Cassandra get out. Jill goes to Cassandra and hugs her.

  Sarge says, “I have sandwiches. Let’s go over the plan while we eat, then hit the road.” There are a variety of sandwiches. The bread is homemade. There are sandwiches of deer, pork, and chicken, along with some peanut butter and jelly.

  “Bruno, fill the water jugs on the back of John’s truck and let’s get the ramps ready to load the ATV,” Sarge instructs. Turning to me, Jill, Theo, and Cassandra, he says, “I’ve already gone over the plan with my guys. Since we are as large a group as we are, I think we can travel during the day. We could travel at night using the NVDs you provided. If we were fewer in number I probably would, but in this case I think speed is our best friend.” He hands Jill a GMRS radio. “John, I’m going to assume you’re driving, since Theo has been complaining about that transmission all the way back here. Jill, you operate the radio. Your call signs are as follows, Cat 1 for John, Cat 2 for Jill, Cat 3 for Theo, and Cat 4 for Cassandra. The radio is preset for the right channel and security code. Each of you look at it and memorize it in case something causes the radio to go off channel. My call sign is Duck and the operator in the lead truck is Dog. You’re not going to need the call signs of everyone else. If something happens, try not to get involved. These boys and I have been training together for a while. Most are ex-military. John, only get involved if you absolutely have to. I know you have skills, but we function better when we work as a team and you’ve had no time to train with us. You others don’t get involved, period, except to protect your own lives.”

  “No problem, Sarge,” I say. “Are y’all going to be using the AKs?”

  “No, I left them back at camp. We haven’t tried them out yet and I won’t take an untried weapon into combat. Besides, I much prefer a real rifle like the M1A. John, you will be driving in the middle. I’ll be in the rear and Anderson will be up front. Any questions?”

  “No.” The others respond likewise.

  Sarge looks over at his sand pile, then at the truck. Looking back up at me, he says, “Good idea, son. Good idea.” Sarge barks out, “All right, you ladies,” and in a softer tone, “and you real ladies, take your potty breaks now. There’ll be no stopping for the powder room along the way. John, get your gear, weapons, and ATV loaded up.”

  After doing so, I stand at the driver’s truck door waiting for Jill. She and Cassandra walk down from the porch, Jill towards me, and Cassandra towards Theo. It is a tight fit with all four of us in the truck. I crank the truck and reach for the stick shift between Jill’s knees.

  “Hey, watch those hands,” she chides. “We haven’t found the preacher yet.”

  I laugh and Sarge bellows, “Let’s move out!”

  Chapter 58

  Jill

  Leaving Marion

  Day 11

  John’s hand moves close to the inside of my legs each time he shifts the transmission, but I don’t mind, not really. They’ll be closer once we’re home and find the preacher. When we’re on the highway and getting up to speed, he won’t be having to use the shifter as much, anyway.

  John is mumbling under his breath.

  “What’s that, John? I can’t understand you.”

  “I’m sorry, Jill, with all the talking, planning, and getting things ready to leave, I forgot to pray with you. I was praying for us and our families.”

  “Thank you. We need God’s continued protection.” After a pause, I ask, “John, do you think we are in the end times of the Bible? I mean, do you think Jesus coul
d return soon?”

  John remains silent for a few moments, then says, “We’ve been so busy trying to stay alive, I haven’t had time to think about it really hard. I believe Jesus could return at any time. Whether we are living in end time events, or are getting close to them, I don’t know. What I do know is, for such a time as this, God has brought us together. We are here now, and as long as God leaves us here, we must do the best we can, with the best we have, to live and help those around us live.”

  “Yes, we will, John. I will be by your side through thick and thin.” He reaches over and squeezes my hand.

  The air flowing through the window is warm. Theo and Cassandra are quiet. Cassandra has had such a traumatic experience. I thank God that John was able to save me from a similar fate. I hope she can recover mentally and physically from the event. Theo hasn’t spoken much at all. His face is still swollen. It’s actually worse than John’s. They seem like nice people, especially considering what they’ve been through. They were certainly gracious in thanking John and me.

  John is driving the truck at almost normal speeds. It seems so different after riding on the ATV for several nights, creeping along. I wonder if he made the right decision driving slower at night versus driving fast during the day. I shudder to think what would have happened if we had come across those evil men while traveling during the day. Yes, John made a wise choice. He seems to be pretty good at that.

  Home today!

  It sounds so good. I’m anxious to see Lizzy and Mom. Soon I’m going to be a wife again. This time I’ll have a real husband. John seems to be concentrating on the surroundings. He is always observant. He called it “situational awareness.” It’s worked well so far.

  “John, what’s the first thing you’re going to do when we get home?”

  “Find the preacher.”

  “That’s good. What about the second thing?”

  He grins and looks down at me.

  I blush furiously. “Don’t answer that. Besides that, what’s in store for us? I mean, what do we do?”