Survivors of the Sun

by Kingslie, Mia

Deedee grinned broadly as they slid alongside. ‘Is Team Georgia tired already?

  Ruby looked up from the book she held on her lap, her reading glasses perched on the end of her nose. ‘Cheeky girl,’ she said, I am not tired at all.’

  ‘Well she wouldn’t be,’ Georgia thought, smiling, knowing that is exactly why she had said it.

  ‘Nor am I,’ Rebecca said, ‘are you?’

  ‘Of course not, just wondered, you know,’

  ‘So are we going ashore?’ Lola asked again.

  ‘No, not unless you want to, just thought we were a bit far off that’s all.’

  They began paddling again, this time at a more leisurely pace, the canoes side by side.

  After a time, Lola said, ‘You know how I’ve been reading that EMPact America report again?’

  Georgia nodded. She practically knew it by heart now herself, and guessed that Douglas had as well, because the report mirrored what he had been telling Lola. Lately Lola had taken to pouring over the pages late at night, squinting in the fire light, obsessively studying it as though somewhere in there, amongst all those words there would be an understanding or a solution to all of this.

  ‘Well, it just makes me mad.’

  ‘The report does?’

  ‘No, the fact that if the government had just spent that $200 million, that one dollar per person, and protected those three hundred high energy transformers, the ones the report keeps talking about, then we wouldn’t be in this situation.’

  Georgia nodded again, about to speak but before she could say a word, Lola continued. ‘One lousy dollar per person, can you imagine?’ Lola stopped paddling, holding her paddle out of the water as she spoke. ‘Can you imagine? That’s all it would have taken. How could they have ignored those reports?’

  Georgia opened her mouth once more, then shut it as Lola went on.

  ‘And the fact that they finally get it through Congress, only to have it fail in the Senate, what was wrong with those people?’

  This time Georgia remained silent, guessing it was probably another rhetorical question. Instead she waited for Lola to continue.

  ‘And because of them, and whoever launched the damn EMP in the first place, millions of people have probably already died. What kind of insanity was that?’

  The others were listening now, not saying anything, just letting Lola vent her frustration. They all knew what was in that report, Ruby and Deedee included. There was no need to keep it secret, or play down the content. It had already happened. Lola was only saying what they all thought and felt and there were times when Georgia just wanted to scream. Scream till her throat hurt, just with the sheer futile fury of it all.

  ‘Millions of people,’ Lola repeated, her voice suddenly flat. ‘If I hadn’t met you I would probably be one of them. Same goes for Ruby. And what’s with everyone being so damn aggressive, it seems to me it would make more sense if we all worked together, helped each other instead of all this never ending blood thirsty violence.’

  Ruby looked over at Lola, and there was a gentleness to her voice as she spoke, a mixture of sympathy and sorrow in her wrinkled features. ‘But that’s what war is, my dear, and we just have to keep calm and carry on.’

  At this Lola burst into tears, then tried to smile, failing dismally as she suddenly said, ‘oh Ruby, you are such a sweetheart, I am so glad we met you.’

  When the sun reached its zenith and the heat was more than they could bear, they found a little area of bushland and stopped to make a cup of tea, stretch their legs and let the dogs have a bit of a run.

  Georgia sat in the shade at the edge of the river sipping her second cup of tea, her jeans rolled up, enjoying the feel of the cool water on her bare feet. Lola sat nearby, occasionally asking questions about the house in Bethel.

  ‘So how many bedrooms again?’

  ‘Six.’

  ‘And how far is the nearest river?’

  ‘About two hundred yards away, from the back of the house, give or take a couple of yards.’

  ‘And it really has a water tank?’

  ‘Absolutely, two in fact.’

  ‘Are the neighbors friendly?’

  ‘Uh huh,’ Georgia said, now only half listening as she intently watched several crimson and green dragonflies darting back and forth amongst the reeds. She was imagining how she could make a delicate dragonfly brooch, using white gold, set with the finest Rubellite Tourmalines and Himalayan Emeralds.

  ‘So how can you be sure that…,’

  I could edge the wings with a fine line of one point diamonds, that would give it…,

  ‘Are you even listening to me?’ Lola asked suddenly.

  ‘Huh?’ Georgia looked over at Lola and grimaced apologetically. ‘Sorry, I got distracted, what were you saying?’

  ‘How can you be sure that the house hasn’t been taken over by someone else? What happens if we get down to your family home only to find it occupied or destroyed?’

  The same thought had occurred to Georgia, but she had persuaded herself that everything would be fine. ‘It is such a remote place I just can’t see that happening. I doubt a stranger would find it that easy to just move into it, it’s a pretty tight community down there.’

  ‘Yeah but what if it has?’

  She felt her stomach tighten at the thought. ‘Well then we will find another house to live in. Thing is Lola, you said it yourself earlier, millions of people have already died.’ She did not add, leaving millions of unoccupied homes.

  Georgia tossed the last of the tea from her mug and stood up. ‘What matters is getting down there, we can’t be worrying about what we cannot control.’ As she spoke she leaned down and began pulling her socks and shoes back on. ‘You heard Ruby earlier, keep calm and carry on, it is sound advice and pretty much all we can do for now.’

  Lola got to her feet. ‘I know, you are right, it is just that I can’t help worrying, everything is going so smoothly at the moment, I keep expecting disaster to strike.’

  Georgia looked at her, studying her face, her eyes still red from crying earlier, the scar above her nose an angry pink. Then she took her into her arms and hugged her, feeling more like her mother than a sister at that moment.

  ‘It’s going to be okay, after all, we have already beaten the odds, surviving this first month.’ she soothed, stepping back and brushing a stray lock of blonde hair behind her ear. ‘I promise, everything will turn out alright.’

  ‘Which of course,’ she thought as they set off once more, ‘I have no way of knowing, but what else can I say?’

  Chapter Forty Nine

  Georgia felt at peace with the world as they continued on their journey, gliding past Shepherds Cove, and then hour or so later, passing Crabtree Cove. There were houses of all description dotting the shoreline, everything from large awe inspiring three story mansions built from stone, ugly Whitestone block houses, cramped terraced condos and log cabins.

  But it was the smaller homes, the ones that looked as though they had been built from anything at hand that Georgia liked best. Despite their rustic appearance they looked welcoming, and spoke of an easy lifestyle. What added to the charm of these relatively small plots which ran all the way down to the water’s edge, were the wooden walk ways or concrete stepping stones that led through leafy trees to covered jetties. These sturdy structures were built for the most part from steel girders and metal poles and nearly all of them were furnished with well-loved old sofas, daybeds and wicker swing chairs.

  They looked so inviting and Georgia could imagine hot lazy afternoons seated in the shade, reading a book, listening to the sound of the lapping water, all the while cooled by the river’s breeze. She could picture the laughter and joy of parties and family gatherings at such places after a day of fishing or trekking, and neighbors coming from across the way to share a meal. But now for the most part, they were empty, just silence and shadows and the reflective light from the river, where once families had filled the air with the vibrancy of their presenc
e.

  In many ways this absence was disturbing, a harsh reminder of those statistics, and a harsh reminder of what drove them each day. Had everyone died? Gone away? Had cholera reached all the way down here? Or was there another reason, some other horror they had not even thought of, that had emptied all these homes? The peaceful feeling that Georgia had been feeling dissipated, and her skin crawled with the awfulness of it all.

  But then as the afternoon heat began to abate, they started to notice more and more activity. A woman hanging clothes on a line, sheets flapping in the light breeze around her. The sound of wood being chopped, reverberating in the air. Children playing with a black and white Kelpie as they passed, paused in their game and waved. Team Georgia and Team Lola waved back.

  ‘They don’t seem to be afraid at all,’ Georgia thought, as they glided on leaving the children behind them. Almost as if the problems of the rest of the world had not touched them at all. Then she wondered if these had been holiday homes, or if people lived in them all year round.

  They had not gone much further down river, possibly only a hundred yards, when they came to upon another row of covered jetties. A man and a young lad, around Jamie’s age sat on the edge of one, fishing. A tackle box lay open next to a bucket. The man, in his early forties by Georgia’s reckoning, was in the process of cutting the head off a fairly decent size fish. When he caught sight of them, he raised his hand in greeting.

  ‘How are you doing?’ he called over the water.

  ‘Fine, just fine,’ Georgia called back, noticing the now obsolete fairy lights strung all around the edge of the roof; yellow and green, red and blue.

  ‘Stop a while,’ he said, ‘and share your news.’

  He seemed very relaxed, genuinely happy to see them and the young lad was smiling ear to ear, waving excitedly all the while. They slowed their paddling and then brought the canoes to a virtual standstill, staying some fifteen to twenty yards offshore.

  ‘After all,’ Georgia thought, ‘there’s no harm in just talking from over here.’ They might learn something new and as far as she could see, he wasn’t armed.

  ‘Have you come far?’ he asked. As he spoke, his eyes lingered for a moment on Lola, who much to Georgia’s amazement, was busy running her fingers through her hair and brushing at her top. Then as Lola noticed his gaze, she looked down and away flushing ever so slightly.

  ‘Yes, from Kansas City,’ Georgia said, trying to hide a smile at Lola’s reaction.

  He whistled softly. ‘Not bad,’ then added, ‘why don’t you come ashore? We can visit.’

  Georgia indicated her shotgun, ‘we are armed, and prefer to stay that way.’

  He shrugged as though it was the most normal thing in the world to ask. ‘Sure, I understand, just keep the safety on.’

  The canoes clunked against each other, and as Georgia glanced at her companions, she could see the hope on their faces. Clearly this was something they all wanted to do. Even Ruby apparently, as she had put away her reading glasses and book and now sat expectantly, back straight, with her handbag firmly clasped on her lap.

  As Georgia weighed up the pros and cons, Lola reached over and grasped her arm.

  ‘Please can we go ashore?’ she asked with all the fervor of a teenager, desperate to go to a party which was rumored to be parent free.

  Georgia did not answer her right away. She was tempted. News and updated information was something they all craved. But one of us has to have some common sense, we can’t just drop all precautions willy-nilly the first time someone smiles at us. ‘Is anyone sick?’ she asked.

  The man’s face broke into another smile as he shook his head. ‘Wise woman, and no, cholera did not reach us. How about your party?’

  ‘No, we were lucky. We quarantined ourselves once we found out about it just to be certain though.’

  ‘Can we?’ came Lola’s pleading whisper once more. ‘Can we, please?’

  ‘Yes, Okay,’ Georgia hissed back, somewhat riled by Lola’s persistence, ‘just let go of my arm.’

  As they slid into the landing bay, the boy put down his fishing rod, and leaned down, reaching for the rope tied to the bow.

  ‘Want me to fasten you?’ he asked.

  Georgia hesitated for a moment, then nodded. ‘Yes sure,’ then added, ‘thank you.’

  The man offered a hand to Georgia to help her out of the canoe, then before she could take it, he withdrew it and wiped it thoroughly on his jeans. ‘Sorry, might be a bit fishy.’ He grinned ruefully, as he held it out again.

  ‘No problem.’ She smiled as he helped her up onto the deck. His grip was pleasant, strong, firm and dry.

  ‘Thank you,’ she murmured, acutely aware of the sight they must present. Their scruffy hair and clothes looking very much the worse for wear. Jamie and Deedee not helping, their faces daubed with white clay and charcoal, and feathers in their bandanas. But his gaze showed no sign that he had noticed their unusual appearance. He just looked genuinely happy to see them.

  ‘You’re welcome,’ he said, smiling broadly. While the others held the canoe firmly against the sides of the dock, the man gripped Ruby’s hands and effortlessly lifted her to her feet and onto the jetty.

  ‘Don’t get too many visitors these days,’ he said, once they were all out of the canoes. He held out his hand, ‘I’m Tom, and this here,’ he paused as he ruffed the boy’s hair, ‘is Bryce, my grandson.’

  Georgia introduced her party, including Badger and Millie who had run off round the back of the covered jetty, finishing with ‘and this is Ant, our wee Boston terrier.

  ‘Cute puppy,’ Bryce said, reaching out and stroking Ant.

  ‘She’s not a puppy,’ Deedee said, staring at Bryce in that old Deedee way of hers. Her tone implying that any idiot could see that.

  ‘Well she sure looks like one,’ Bryce said, unperturbed. Then he added, ‘want to come and see my tree house?’

  ‘Sure,’ Jamie said, looking over at Georgia, ‘can I?’

  Georgia hesitated and Tom seemed to understand her hesitation.

  ‘It’s just there,’ he pointed. ‘They won’t be out of sight.’

  She smiled gratefully at him. ‘I guess it is okay then.’

  ‘Pull up a chair,’ Tom said, as the two boys ran off and Deedee followed, allowing just enough distance between them to make it clear that she wasn’t that interested.

  Georgia looked around, there weren’t any chairs as such, but there was a swing seat and two faded sofas. ‘Lovely place you have,’ Georgia commented, as she helped Ruby sit down, then sat next to Lola on the other sofa, tucking her legs beneath her.

  ‘Yes, love it here,’ he replied, ‘bought it a couple of years back as a holiday home.’ Then added, almost to himself, ‘become a bit more than that now though,’

  Rebecca stood uncertainly, hugging herself, as though she were not sure whether to follow the Apaches and their new friend or sit with the adults. Georgia sensing her discomfort, patted the seat next to her. ‘Come sit down,’ she said, moving over to make room as Rebecca flopped down next to her.

  ‘So can I offer you some freshly made lemonade?’ Tom asked. ‘Waters been boiled,’ he added as he saw their expressions of doubt.

  ‘That would be lovely,’ Lola said, speaking for all of them.

  ‘I’ll be right back, just nip up to the house and grab the jug and some glasses.’

  The four of them sat in silence, watching him walk up the pathway to the house and after a moment Georgia stood up to examine several faded black and white photos she had spotted, tacked to the back wall.

  They were fishing trophy type photos, and one of them was of an older man, possibly Tom’s father, judging from the likeness, posed next to the long body of a weird shark like creature. It was at least six foot long, probably weighed in at around 120 pounds and had the trademark dorsal fin. But instead of the familiar snub nose, this creature had a long flattened out snout, which was about a third of its entire length. It looked prehistoric
and terrifying. There were sharks in this lake? How come no one had thought to tell them?

  She felt slightly sick at the thought, remembering how Lola, Deedee and Jamie had gone overboard and the only real concern was being able to swim ashore while avoiding the guards on the bridge. And all the while, unbeknown to them, this terrifying creature was probably circling beneath them, slashing at the water with that bill like thing?

  ‘Oh my God,’ she exclaimed, ‘you have to come and see this.’

  Just then, Tom returned, carrying a fat bottomed blue jug, filled to spilling in one hand, and a stack of glasses in the other. ‘Grab a glass,’ he said as he held the precarious leaning tower out to them. As he filled their glasses, he tilted his head towards the photos. ‘Know what that is?’

  Georgia shook her head. ‘Some kind of shark, I guess.’

  Tom laughed. ‘God no, it’s a spoonbill paddlefish, it’s a filter feeder.’

  Whatever that is.

  ‘That’s a fish?’ Rebecca gasped.

  ‘Heaven to Betsy,’ Lola breathed, staring up at Tom, ‘I am ever so grateful that I never caught one of those.’

  Georgia raised an eyebrow. Had she really seen that? She had! Lola had actually batted her eyes lids at Tom!

  ‘Really interesting creature, the paddlefish, the species is over 300 million years old, and closely related to sturgeons of the order Acepenseriformes.’

  They stared at him blankly.

  ‘Sturgeon fish? Where caviar comes from?’ he prompted.

  ‘Ah,’ they all said. That, they understood.

  They settled back down on the sofas. He suddenly turned in the direction of the children. ‘Hey Bryce,’ he yelled, ‘don’t forget to ask your guests if they would like a drink.’

  ‘Sure Pop,’ came the reply from somewhere in amongst the tree branches, this was followed shortly after by, ‘nope, none of us are thirsty.’

  Once Tom had poured himself a drink, he pulled over an old crate and sat nearby.

  For a moment, they all sipped politely at their drinks. The sun sending crazy reflections from the water’s surface darting back and forth against the underside of the roof.