Escaping Home

by Jeffrey Miller

  Nate laughed inside.

  “Well, I guess that’s a possibility; but what would your family say about…” Nate was cut off by a crackle.

  “Nate, this is Gene. If you have the means to do so, you and your family have a home here on our property. We have an available home sitting vacant,” Gene said. He must have been standing there listening to the conversation like his own father.

  “Sir, I don’t know what to say. Let me talk it over with my family,” Nate replied, not knowing truly what to say. He turned to look at his own father who nodded in agreement.

  “Let’s do it son,” Henry said.

  Nate got back on the radio.

  “Ok Gene, we will come there,” Nate said.

  “Good Nate. I can’t wait to see you again,” Sammie replied.

  Chapter 8

  New Motivations

  When Nate finished his conversation with Sammie, his father once again picked up the radio communications with Gene. They both were sharing a story about something and laughing as he and Ben left the shed. Suddenly, Nate was feeling something he had not felt sense he left Montana and discovered what transpired with the world’s economies. He felt a new motivation. Not even an hour earlier, he had no clue where they would go. He had, in the back of his mind, his friend John’s place up in Montana. He knew they would be welcomed. There was something else though…Nate wondered why he was quickly agreeable to the concept of going to that place.

  Nate pondered this thought all the way back to his cabin. Ben was strolling ahead of him, and Samson was by his side. Maybe it was the fact that Gene’s family had made him feel at home. Maybe it was because they were all so much alike. It could also be that Sammie made an impression on Nate. Nate figured it was likely all of the above. Nate felt fortunate. Having a motivation in this day and age was important. Things could, and often did, change in a heartbeat; especially with society in a downspin. Nate almost felt guilty for feeling happy. He knew not far away, there were many people starving, thirsty, and eager for some sense of normality. He wasn’t meaning to be insensitive, but knew anytime one could find a gram of happiness in times of sorrow…take it.

  Nate wished there was a way to help all of them. Reality though was hard. Even if he had 1,000 truckloads of food and water, it wouldn’t be enough. Most of the people were looking for that and more. They wanted the same things that Nate and his family wanted. Everyone wanted a home.

  Henry and Nate were making the final load out of the Tundra. Most of the food items and water would be stored near the trailer doors, making it easy to get to. The last thing to be placed in the semi would be the Ranger. Henry loaded up all the solar equipment, tools, and other valuables in the back of the Tundra. Nate also loaded up the Nissan with as much water as he could, and a few loaded up rifles and pistols. The Tundra also had over 30,000 rounds of ammo inside of it. Henry had his own large ammo boxes, but he placed them in tubs, concealed and dry in the back of the Tundra. All of Henry’s rifles and pistols were lying wrapped up in the Tundra.

  There were so many things that were being left behind. The only hope was that someday they might be able to return and find everything untouched. That was a dream. Betty stuffed all of her photo albums in the semi. She wasn’t leaving anything like that behind.

  For the most part, everything that was being taken consisted of the bare necessities. Everything had value; but could also, if needed, be used to barter. Once again, Nate would need to sit down and plan out a path, keeping them far from the metropolitan areas. Briefly, Nate considered using much of the metal in his dad’s shop to create a sort of ram for the front of the semi. But this was reality and not the movies. If he was scouting ahead and could see long before the truck that a roadblock was ahead, they would alter their plans. If they couldn’t, he would try to find another way. But, blowing through roadblocks at high speeds wasn’t something he planned. Trucks, even big ones, crash easily like that, and his parents would be inside.

  Henry was pretty well done with what needed to be loaded when Betty walked up to him.

  “Other than some jackets and winter coats honey, I have everything ready,” Betty said.

  Henry reached and pulled Betty close.

  “Thank you. You know it will be ok, right?” Henry asked. He looked into her deep blue eyes still seeing the young lady he first met outside a small tavern in Amarillo.

  “I know. I will admit, I am a little scared; but I trust you both.”

  Henry had discussed with Betty his conversations with Gene, and the plans if they could make it there. Apparently, they had renters at one point, and when the collapse occurred, they fled back to Sheridan. Henry explained they were forever grateful to Nate for saving their lives the day they met.

  “I think we all are. If we weren’t, I would be worried,” Henry said laughing.

  Betty smiled and hugged her husband.

  *****

  Borger, TX

  Borger is the largest town in the county in which Fritch resides. The population was 14,000 on a good day, with most of its business coming from factories, oil refineries, and the like. In the past, the town attracted many oilmen, roughnecks, and people seeking fortunes. This activity led to an overall increase in card sharks, prostitutes, and drug dealers. The town acquired the nickname Booger Town because many criminals and fugitives from the law arrived. Things changed over the years with the town before the collapse made it the home to the world’s largest inland petrochemical complexes.

  Today, the population would grow from two different directions. The police that still existed in town were very surprised even though they had been given some early warnings about a large number of people headed their way. They even set up small roadblocks to stop would-be newcomers. This had little effect when they were fired upon and ran over. The horde of mass confusion now entered the small town. What was once a thriving producer of many things was now dead; with a population three times its ability to handle things even when times were good and the power was on.

  Early estimates of the numbers were way off from what was being reported across the Ham radios. The true number of evacuated people still moving out of the Dallas Fort Worth area was close to three million. Not all headed toward the west. Some reports had half a million headed into Oklahoma and Arkansas. The amounts of high-level radiation being released had killed thousands, and the number would grow over time. The town of Borger advised people arriving to go to a nearby emergency tent to receive decontamination procedures. Some did as asked, while others refused. Not many had accessible Geiger counters to use on arriving people to prove to them that they needed decontamination. For many of these people it was already too late; they had severe radiation sickness, and without medical care, they would eventually die.

  What no one anticipated was the fear of what would occur when people – even west of the nuclear plant explosion — would do. The fear was driving people away, even the ones who already lived out of the danger zone. These people mixed in with the sick and dying with their own motivations as they sought a new place to call home.

  Henry jogged to Nate’s cabin. It was something he tried to do often as possible; but today, he did so for another reason. He ran up the porch and banged on Nate’s door. It was dark outside, but one solar light was on. It was almost 9:00 P.M. Nate opened the door to see his dad standing in the dim light breathing hard.

  “Dad, what’s wrong?” Nate asked, his dad still trying to catch his breath.

  “Borger, they have been overrun,” Henry managed to squeeze out.

  Nate knew now they were making the right decisions.

  “Charlie said he underestimated,” Henry added.

  “By how much?” Nate asked, afraid to know.

  “He said maybe close to 40,000, but people are still moving through. He also said that he got news that maybe three million are spreading out to the west now. Who really knows, Nate?” Henry was slowing down his breath.

  Nate turned to look behind him. He saw Ben
sitting on the edge of the bed with Samson by his side.

  “Ok, I guess we need to move up the departure, dad. Let’s get out of dodge by morning if that sounds good?” Nate asked.

  “Son, that plan was just made for us,” Henry replied.

  The rest of the evening before finally going to sleep, Nate and Ben discussed the plans for the open road. He also broke the news to Ben that he wanted him to ride in the semi with his grandparents for safety reasons.

  “But dad, we drove here together in a golf cart,” Ben replied, always referring to the Ranger as a golf cart.

  “I know Ben; but things were not as bad then, believe it or not. It’s more dangerous out there now. We may get lucky and not experience anything; that is true. But if something happened to you or my parents, I would never be able to forgive myself,” Nate explained. “Ben, you have made me proud these past few days by being so strong. I know you can do this too,” Nate said.

  Ben slowly nodded his head in agreement. He didn’t want to, but he also didn’t want to make his father upset.

  Chapter 9

  Big Wheels Rollin’

  The morning came fast, or so it seemed to Nate. He didn’t sleep too much after going to bed late. He was up planning out the route he hoped to take. His real feelings and expectations to getting down the road in a big black moving truck were not too high. It was worth the shot for certain, but judging from what he saw on the way home last time, the roads would be fraught with major obstacles. Still it was the best option at the moment. He couldn’t expect his parents to leave so much behind. They worked hard all their lives to build everything up. He was actually surprised they agreed to leave. If the collapse had occurred ten years earlier, he doubted they would have left. They both aged much in the past ten years. He felt that they wanted to simplify their lives, and maybe this was the opportunity they needed.

  Henry had made arrangements for the rancher to come over early to gather up some cattle and Nate’s horse. Nate decided not to see Traveller off. He was afraid it would cause too much stress. It was already a difficult thing to leave the horse, even with someone he knew would take good care of it, but the stress was growing on Ben also. Ben was motivated greatly by the idea of getting to Texas to see the beautiful horses, and now they were gone.

  The agreed upon time for departure was 9:00 a.m. It was getting close to that time. Nate walked around his cabin hoping that someday he could return. When, or if, that day ever comes, he knew there might be a good chance many others may have staked a claim to everything. He was taking the documentation needed to prove he owned everything, including the rights to his parents’ land and home. They had turned it all over to Nate after he left the Army. Nate walked back into the main area after not seeing anything else he needed to take. Ben was sitting on his bed petting Samson.

  “We are ready, dad,” Ben said. Samson was wagging his tail. The dog somehow knew they were going somewhere and seemed excited.

  “I suppose I am ready too, Ben; as ready as I’m going to be,” Nate replied.

  The truck was loaded completely now with Henry and Betty standing at the front. They could see Nate, Ben, and Samson, walking up the road.

  “Well Betty, I guess this is goodbye to all of this,” Henry said.

  Betty smiled and looked at the profile of the strong man she fell in love with many years ago.

  “We didn’t have much when we met, Henry; we will build again. Who knows…we may be able to come back someday,” she replied.

  “I hope that’s the case. If not, someone may find themselves a new place ready to go,” Henry replied.

  They had no choice but to leave so much of what they owned behind. If they only had the one small truck and the semi, they could have loaded the entire trailer; but Henry knew getting all the way to North Wyoming was going to be difficult. It wasn’t that the truck couldn’t make it, they actually had enough fuel, but the elements along the way would be the primary issue. Weather, obstacles, and people trying to stop them were the concerns.

  “Everyone ready? Nate asked as they walked up.

  “Ready as we can be, son,” Henry replied as Betty walked over and hugged Nate and then Ben.

  Nate then walked over to his dad’s small Nissan Frontier. It was not as loaded down in the back; they were trying to keep the truck lightweight to save on fuel. Nate already loaded his weapons in the front seat of the small truck. He also had a small cooler and water bottles. Nate saw the old CB his dad mounted on the top of the dash. He could remember the old radio as a kid. In the back of the truck were a few small items, and some more five-gallon water containers strapped to the bed. On the other side were three five-gallon gas cans. His tundra was full of fuel, and they had a few in the back of it as well. Every bit of gasoline Henry and Nate had was with them. They also had one gallon in the back of the Ranger inside the semi-trailer.

  “Well, I have our route mapped out. Today we will shoot for the Texas/Oklahoma border. I have two written copies here. When we came home, I stayed in the mountainous regions as much as I could. I don’t think we will do that going north. I don’t want to use the interstates though, because…well, you know why. I think the back roads as much as possible east of the mountains will save us fuel and trouble,” Nate said.

  “Sounds right to me, son,” Henry replied.

  “The main thing will be our spacing on the open roads, not so much on the small back roads, dirt gravel, and one lane. Stay close. When we get on the larger ones, fall back some; maybe a mile…and let me scout it out. I want you guys to be out of any range in case there would be a roadblock or ambush. I will avoid it too, but we will just have to be vigilant and keep our eyes open,” Nate said.

  “Nate, how far do you want to try to go today?” Betty asked with her arm over Ben’s shoulder. Nate was happy his parents took to Ben so well.

  “I think if we can get into Oklahoma and find somewhere tonight way off the beaten path to settle down for the night, that would be good,” Nate replied.

  “Ok, that sounds good,” Betty replied.

  There was a brief moment of silence as everyone stood around just looking out and over the pasturelands. The cattle were now gone, having been picked up early in the morning. Traveller was already grazing on his own part of a new pasture. Betty had some of her chickens in the semi near the back. Henry drilled holes into the rear door for ventilation and mounted temporally a small coop onto the floor.

  “I will say a short prayer for us,” Betty said, recognizing the moment was appropriate for a word to God. Her words were straight forward, and even included thoughts and prayers for those moving into the area.

  “Thank you, Betty. That was a good way to say goodbye for now,” Henry said.

  “Ok, let’s get rollin’, Nate said.

  Ben climbed up into the cabin of the semi after hugging Nate. Samson was hoisted up some, but then managed the climb pretty well once he got a paw on the seat. Betty was helped into the tall truck by Henry. Once in, she shut her door. Henry walked around and shook Nate’s hand.

  “Lead us away, son…and be careful. Just know I got your back if needed. I can still out shoot you,” he said with a friendly wink.

  Nate laughed as he walked to his small truck.

  Nate led them off the property and up to Country Road 152. The small little 4x4 was moving pretty good. Nate saw his dad behind him staying close. The truck looked enormous in the review mirror. It was already getting pretty dirty and that was ok. Nate didn’t want the thing to be shinny and catch anyone’s attention from a distance. So far, the short trip to the county road was uneventful. They saw a few people they knew riding horseback in open fields with rifles strapped to their horses. Nate waved at them and they waved back. They probably were wondering where in the world they were all going. Soon though, they would all find out from the rancher what was going on.

  Nate picked up the CB mic and spoke.

  “Everyone comfortable back there?” Nate asked. A crackle, and then hi
s father replied.

  “Doing well. I see that old radio still puts out well,” Henry replied as he grinded the gears to keep pace with Nate.

  “Just don’t kill that truck. I know how much you love grinding gears” Nate said, trying to keep the attitudes light hearted.

  “You just keep driving, and don’t get any bullets holes in my truck,” Henry replied, laughing.

  “Henry! Don’t say things like that. You will jinx that boy,” Betty exclaimed.

  Henry rolled his eyes at her words.

  “Bullet holes might help this old beater,” Nate said with obvious sarcasm.

  Ben was enjoying what he heard. He was also enjoying the back of the cab and the soft bed. The truck looked so new inside. Betty had commented on the fact, and wondered if it was originally stolen. She searched the truck for papers, but found nothing. It had plates, but those could be stolen also, and with the current state of affairs, it didn’t matter. She wondered what they would do with such a truck if they actually made it all the way. She looked over at Henry who was focused on the road and his son driving ahead of them. She never imagined any of this five months earlier. How quickly life changed.

  Nate sucked down a small bottle of water as he drove. The windows were down because the temperature was cool. He looked at the radio, it was turned off. He powered it up just to see if anything was being broadcasted. He was scanning through the presets but heard no sounds. Next, he flipped through the AM stations; one station at a time. On 590 AM he briefly heard the voice of someone trying to speak. It was faint. Then he realized it was some channel out of Mexico. He hadn’t taken the time to stay up on his Spanish. Nate looked at his watch, it was only an hour since they left. They drove fifty-four miles. The roads he led them on were short, and with many turns to get where he wanted to go. So far, the way was clear. He thought about Fritch and felt guilty for not staying and trying to help. He would have to deal with the guilt some other time; but for now, he saw the main road ahead. They were now on Country Road 119 headed north. This road would take them right up to the Oklahoma/Texas border.