by Stalter, D
“Wow!” Allison said. “I never knew. And the land your great-aunt took and sold is our land? Why didn’t your dad buy it back when it was for sale? Before we bought it?”
Peter shrugged. “He never considered it part of the family farm. All that happened long before he was born.”
They had just turned on to Highway 34 and were approaching the underpass.
“I see a couple guys up there,” Peter said. “There’s a gun in the glove box if you need it. But it looks clear. Keep your eyes open. Here we go.”
They made it under the underpass with no problems. The men on top watched as they passed but made no move towards them. “I guess they aren’t hungry or desperate yet,” Peter said.
He turned west towards Walmart. This road ran parallel to the interstate and Allison could see vehicles in the ditch next to the roadway. A green SUV was slowly moving east. Several people were trying to get it to stop either by jumping on it or by throwing things. The SUV kept up it’s slow crawl through the maze of stalled vehicles. Allison wondered how far away from home they were and if they had any chance of making it there. A tear rolled down her cheek.
Day 2 – Allison Meets With Chief
The entrance to Walmart was blocked by police vehicles. Deputies were manning each entrance. They'd been joined by a few civilians. Allison recognized the deputy from yesterday. Peter stopped and Allison rolled down her window. "Hi. Remember me?"
He stepped up to the car. "You were in the white Jeep coming off the Interstate yesterday when that guy tried to run me over."
"Have they decided if it was an attack or a solar flare?"
"It's sounding more like a solar flare. We have gotten reports that the U.S. wasn't alone in the problem. Canada's grid is also down and there are some unconfirmed reports that Europe is also without power."
"How long til we get power back?"
"Well, from what I've heard, it's not going to be a simple fix. Too many problems on a system that was already overtaxed. When the flare hit, it might have been a minor inconvenience if the whole grid had been stable. But it’s been unstable for years. When it hit, the weak system was totally fried. They need new parts to start rebuilding it. And that's hard to do when factories don't have electricity."
"Surely there are some parts that were stored in a safe place."
"When and if they find those parts, they'll use them where they think they need to be used. And I can bet it won't be right here." He turned to look out over the Interstate. "I have no idea how we are going to take care of all these people until we get power back. They say it could be years."
Allison lifted her hand and wiped sweat from her brow, "Well, that's one of the reasons I'm here. I think we can take some people. I can give a warm bed and food in exchange for helping out around the farm. Do you know where I can find Chief McCall?"
"I think he's still here. I can call him on the radio to make sure and tell him you're on your way."
"Tell him Allison Walters. He knows me. I helped form the Search and Rescue team years ago."
Peter leaned across the seat. “Tell him Peter is with Allison.”
They watched as he walked to another deputy and took the radio. A minute later he returned and said, "He's on the north side of the Walmart parking lot. He'll be watching for you."
Peter put the truck in gear. Allison smiled. "Thanks so much!"
They drove across to the north end of Walmart's parking lot. There were dozens, if not a hundred people lined up at the north end of the lot. She recognized a few.
Allison saw Chief McCall separate himself from the group at the head of the line and wave them forward. Peter eased to a stop next to him and Chief McCall walked over with a smile.
McCall was dressed in his normal 'police chief' attire - dark blue pants with a white shirt. The shirt looked like he'd slept in it and had a huge gray stain on the left side. His sandy hair was tousled and the dark circles beneath his bloodshot eyes matched the stain on his shirt.
He gave them a weak smile. "I can’t tell you how happy I am to see that you guys have joined forces. I was hoping you would. I can’t think of two better families to help each other out.”
“Deputy Green said that you will help out with housing and feeding. I can't tell you what a relief that is. We've got about 6,000 people needing food and shelter for the winter. How many can you take?"
Allison brought her right knee up and turned in her seat to face him. "I need to lay it on the line, Frank. I want you to understand where I am coming from so there is no doubt what I need and what I can offer. It will be a hard winter. We have firewood, but not nearly enough to heat night and day until next April. We have food, but not nearly enough to feed a bunch of people through the winter. I have a greenhouse that I can heat with wood and grow fresh vegetables, but I need extra hands. James can hunt, but if we are taking in people, he doesn't have time to hunt all day and still keep up with everything else. We are also concerned about security. We don't know if there will be hordes of people coming out of Chicago or Rockford. We don't know if we will have to defend our farm. We hope not, but I'd rather be prepared. Extra people would provide security. If we are going to be taking in extra people, we need more supplies. I have cash, but I need to go shopping at Walmart and at the lumber yard."
McCall wiped his eyes and nodded. "Tell me what you need."
"You've been out to our place." Allison waited for him to nod before she continued. "The shop in the barn is 60 X 50. Right now, it is an open area, but it has 6" insulated walls and the interior is finished. I think we can get 30 - 50 people in there eventually, but first we will need to buy lumber and build walls."
McCall's eyes grew wide. “How are you going to fit 50 people into a 60 X 50 space? That's not much bigger than my garage."
"My ceilings are 18 foot tall. I'd like to start out by bringing in four or five men with carpentry experience. We will build two floors with 10 rooms varying in size from 8X12 to 12X12. Later, we can add more rooms along the side walls. We will put two to three people per room. That still leaves enough space for a 36 X 38 common room. That's assuming that I can get what I need at the lumber yard."
McCall leaned back in his seat. "Not the Hilton, but I can see that it could work. Probably a lot better than what we can offer them here in town. Who did you have in mind for carpenters?"
"I don't know. I was hoping you would have some recommendations."
"I can think of one or two right now. One of them is standing in that line looking for work. Do you know Steve Mattern?"
"I don't think I do."
"Let me go get him." McCall climbed out of the truck and approached a man wearing jeans and a dark hooded sweatshirt. After exchanging a few words, the man nodded and followed McCall back to the truck.
"Allison Walters. Steve Mattern." Allison offered her hand. Steve was about 25 years old and his hands were rough but his fingernails were clean. He took her hand and gave a gentle squeeze. "Frank says you are interested in exchanging room and board for work."
"I am. You do carpentry? How about plumbing and electrical?"
"I know my way around plumbing but I doubt you'll need an electrician any time soon."
"Actually, I have some solar panels and inverters. I could figure it out myself, but if I had someone who knew electricity, it would be easier. It's not a requirement of the deal." She smiled.
"Well, you're in luck. I do know a little about electricity and I have set up a solar system."
"Do you do any hunting?"
"I deer hunt. I used to squirrel hunt as a kid."
"Do you have your own guns?"
"Yes."
"Married? Girlfriend? Any family?"
"No family. No girlfriend."
"What I can offer you right now is food and a warm bed. Our plan is to build a sort of bunkhouse to house about twenty to thirty people - maybe more later. We will need hunters and laborers and security as well as cooks and gardeners. Are you interested?"
&nb
sp; He grinned. "When can I start?"
"I'd like Frank to come with me to the lumber yard and try to work a deal out for supplies. Without lumber, we won't be able to house that many. Want to come along and help?"
"I'll help with whatever you need."
Frank reached in his pocket and pulled out his keys. My truck is right here. “You drive. Wake me up when we get there."
Allison - Lumber Yard
R&T Lumber was surrounded by eight-foot-tall chain link fencing. The brown sided main building sat in the middle of the fencing. The north and east side were long sheds stacked to the ceiling with lumber. An old man in jeans and a Chicago Bears sweatshirt with the sleeves ripped off was stacking 2X4’s in the shed closest to the closed and locked gate.
Allison put the gearshift into park in front of the gate. The old man looked up and then went back to stacking lumber.
Beside her, Frank opened his eyes. “Hmf. The gate’s locked?”
“It appears that way.”
Frank opened his door and stepped out. Steve and Allison followed suit. They walked to the gate. The old man continued to ignore them.
Steve wrapped his fingers into the links in the chain and rattled the fence. “Hey, Rolly!”
Rolly turned to face them. A look of recognition crossed his face. “Steve! Chief McCall! Sorry, I didn’t recognize you.” He set the 2X4 he was holding on the stack of wood and strode towards the gate, his hands fumbling with a huge ring of keys. “I didn’t think there was any reason to open this morning. I was just stacking wood and then planned on heading out to Walmart to volunteer for one of those work details the messenger said you were organizing.”
He found the key he was looking for and unlocked the gate. He hauled it open while Allison got back in the truck and moved it into the lumber yard. She watched as he pulled the gate closed behind her and replaced the padlock. He turned back to McCall. “What can I help you with?”
“Rolly, do you know Allison Walters?”
“I know the name. You married to James?”
She nodded.
“Yep. I know who you are. What do you need?”
“I’d like to buy some lumber. I have cash.”
“You know,” he said scratching his head. “I thought a lot about it last night. If this blackout is something that is going to be around for a while, then real money won’t be worth much. I think I’d be better off working out some sort of bargaining system. But, I haven’t had time to figure out how to do it. For James, I’d be happy to sell on credit until I figure out what sort of bargaining system I want.”
He turned to Frank. “Have they determined if this is a long term situation or will life get back to normal soon, Chief?”
Frank shook his head. “We don’t know much, but I think it’s safe to assume that it’s for the long term. It was a massive solar flare as we thought. Canada was affected, Europe, Russia, China. At least Mexico and North Africa as well as India. We have heard that Australia seems to be unaffected, but if they are, they are the only continent that has been unaffected.”
“What do you suggest I do?”
“James and Allison have a plan to build a bunkhouse to house a bunch of people. They need help around the farm. People need a warm, safe place to stay. They’ll be taking in people who want to be a part of their group. Think of a commune without the hippies. I think it’s a good plan. And I can vouch for them.”
“Allison says that she’s got facilities to start a winter garden. And men in the group will hunt. What they can bring to our community will be life-saving. I suggest you sell her what she wants.”
Rolly turned to Allison, hands on his hips. “What exactly do you want?”
“I need a lot of things including lumber and stove pipe for a wood stove. We’ve got some barrels we can build a stove out of, but don’t have any stove pipe. I also want to pick up some plumbing supplies to have on hand and some electrical supplies.”
“Electrical? What’ll you do with that?”
“We have solar panels.”
Rolly’s eyes grew wide. “Is that so? You sound like one of those preppers.”
Allison felt her face grow red. “I am not a prepper! What’s with you people?”
Rolly held his hands up, palms facing Allison. “No offense, missy. I wasn’t putting you down.”
He sucked his bottom lip. “I figure this might be a good place to start bargaining. How about I sell you what you want, but as part of the bargain, my wife and I join you on your farm.”
“I don’t see a problem with that, but you have to understand that in order to make this work, we will all have to contribute to the daily work. We will have hunters, gardeners, general laborers and cooks as well as security to protect us from things we don’t even know will happen.”
“Not only can I hunt, I also trap and my wife is one of the best gardeners you’ll ever see. She cans shelves full of produce every year. She’s also one hell of a cook.”
Allison stuck out her hand. “Deal!”
With a wide grin, Rolly shook it. “Now, you got a list? How do you plan on getting all this home?”
“I will bring the hay rack back to pick up what I need. I didn’t have time to make a materials list, but I’ve drawn up rough blueprints with measurements.”
Steve held out his hand. “I can figure out materials for the bunkhouse build while you look for the other supplies you need.”
Frank stepped forward. “I really need to be getting back to the work crew. Can Steve handle this here, Allison?”
Rolly touched her shoulder. “If you have a list of other things, I can gather those while Steve works on his list. Then, we can use my truck to deliver the load this afternoon. We’ll settle up at delivery.”
Allison stuck her hand in her back pocket and pulled out the list of plumbing and heating supplies she had made. “I also think we need a couple more guys to help build the bunk house. Can you think of anyone? I can pay cash or if we think they’d be a good fit for our group, I can offer them a room. But, I’d have to meet them before I offer them a spot.”
“Yep. I know a few. I’ll get ahold of a couple. Bring that list here and let me take a quick look.” They leaned over the paper while Rolly studied the list. “I don’t see any problems. We’ll see you this afternoon.”
Allison turned towards Frank who was leaning against a stack of insulation bringing to life the term “asleep on your feet.” She walked over and touched his arm. “Frank, we are ready.”
Frank jumped before wiping his hand across his eyes. “Geez. I’m so freaking tired.”
“You need a couple hours to recharge. Why don’t we head back to Walmart, help me get a few things and then sack out in the back for a while. They can spare you for a few hours.”
“Walmart isn’t open.”
“I’ve got cash.”
“You keep saying that. Just how much cash do you have and why do you have that much?”
“Today is my grandson’s birthday. I took $10,000 out of the bank yesterday. He was supposed to come up today and we were going to take him car shopping. With the end of the world at hand, I figured this would be a much better use for the money. I hope he comes, but for now, I can’t waste time worrying. I can only trust that he stayed home. He’s a smart boy with a good head on his shoulders.”
They waited for Rolly to open the gate. “I really can’t let you into Walmart. We are still working out the logistics with the manager. Do you have a list of things you need and I can work on it? I’ll get you as much as I can, but it may not be for a day or two.”
“Some of these things are critical,” Allison said. “Like medicine and toilet paper.”
Frank shook his head. “They are needed here as well.”
“But, don’t forget, you have the hospital with a pharmacy. There are four pharmacies in town plus a bunch of doctor’s offices. I’m sure you can spare some medicine. Same with toilet paper. All the businesses here in town have supply rooms stocked with cas
es of supplies. I’m sure once you do an inventory, any person who wants to work together with the town will share their resources.”
“We hadn’t thought of that.”
“Want me to come in tomorrow and we can go over some new ideas?”
“What time?”
“I’d try to come early. Probably as soon as I get the construction guys going. You need to get some sleep. You can’t think like this.”
They pulled into the Walmart parking lot where the group of people had dwindled to about a dozen. Allison saw a couple small groups gathered seeming to go over plans. Peter’s truck was parked away from the groups.
“How about meeting here tomorrow morning about nine?”
“Sounds great. But you need some sleep. Make sure you get it.”
Allison - Home Again
James was behind the barn when the truck pulled into the driveway. He walked out to meet them.
“No luck?” He looked into the truck. “Looks like you scored at the farm store. What about Walmart? What about the lumber yard? They wouldn’t let you buy anything?”
“As a matter of fact, I got everything we needed at the lumber yard and they are delivering it this afternoon.”
James’s jaw dropped. “You have to be kidding me?”
“Well, there is one little deal I had to make. That guy that runs the lumber yard, Rolly, well I had to agree to let him and his wife move out here. He can hunt and trap. She is a gardener and a cook so I think they’ll fit in just fine.”
“Rolly is a good guy. I’ve met his wife, Mary, a couple times. She seems nice enough. Come see what I got done while you were in town.”
Allison followed him around the corner of the barn. Her eyes widened. Where there had been nothing this morning, nestled a four by four building complete with a door sporting a half-moon. Allison had no idea where he’d found the piece of screen covering the cutout half-moon.
“Come here.” James took her hand and led her to the door. He opened it to reveal a plywood seat complete with a hinged door covering the hole. “That will help keep the smell down. All I have to do yet is paint it.”
