by A. R. Shaw
“Thanks, Graham,” Marcy said.
“Hi there, Bang, you sleep well?” he said to change the subject.
He laid the rifle up against the bed and reached to pick the boy up. Then he took Bang and the rifle back into the main room to give the girls some privacy. Sheriff followed along.
“She woke me up with that racket,” the old man said to Graham.
“Be nice, Ennis,” said Tala, who sat with the blanket wrapped around her.
Graham watched Tala. She looked better, but she was not out of the woods yet. Her long glossy hair had come loose from the ribbon she’d had it tied in and hung loosely in waves well past her shoulders, giving her a wild look. Graham walked over to her and put Bang down beside her.
“This is Bang. Bang, this is Tala.” Tala put her hand on the boy’s head.
“Hi, Tala,” Bang said, and Sheriff nosed his head between them to sniff her out.
“Be a gentleman, Sheriff,” Graham said.
“Sheriff?” the old man asked.
Bang pulled Sheriff’s collar around and showed Ennis the star. “He’s a police dog, see?” Bang said.
“He’s a cop dog. Takes one to know one,” Ennis said and walked over to pet the dog.
“You were a policeman?” asked Graham.
“Yep. I’m retired now,” Ennis said.
Graham chuckled to himself, and Tala caught on and tried to suppress her own laugh.
“Do police dogs have special commands?” Graham asked. “He doesn’t answer to ‘come.’”
“Police canines are often taught in languages other than English. The ones we had were taught commands in Hebrew, believe it or not.” Ennis tried out several words to see if the dog reacted to any of them, but no luck.
“Tell me again. How’d you find him?” Graham asked Tala.
“I went to check on my nana at the nursing home, but she’d passed away. They were all gone. It was terrible. Then I noticed several were covered in white sheets. Except him,” she said, pointing at Ennis. “He was the one who covered them up after they’d died—even the nurses,” she said.
Graham looked at the man for some explanation. “You can’t just leave them like that, starin’ at you. It ain’t right,” Ennis said.
Graham felt Tala’s forehead again and said, “You still have a fever, but it’s not as bad as last night. Let’s get some breakfast into you, and you and Marcy both need to take more meds.”
“Is that one of the girls?” she asked.
“Yeah, Macy and Marcy. We ran into some trouble yesterday and Marcy got hurt,” he said. “She’s fine, but she has a deep cut and we’re trying to keep it clean,” he added.
“They’re twins?” she asked, surprised. She realized now she’d not really gotten a look at them the night before.
“Yeah, Bang and I found them walking up the highway with Sheriff here,” Graham said.
“He was keeping them girls safe,” Ennis speculated as he peered into the dog’s soulful eyes.
“Yeah, well, it’s a long story,” Graham said. He didn’t want to go into it. He walked over to peer out the front window, and after being sure that everything was safe, he opened the front door for Sheriff to trot out and relieve himself.
The cool morning air spilled into the cabin, releasing the stuffy sour smells trapped inside. Graham scanned the area for any signs of life. The cabin was circled by tall old-growth evergreens. They had been here even back when his second great-grandfather had bought the three hundred acres it was more or less centered on.
Graham saw the familiar dark trail leading from the west side, meandering down to the lake below where they could fish for their dinner later today. He descended the porch steps and walked over to their newly acquired truck to bring in the supplies they’d brought.
Bang showed up beside him, so he handed the boy as much as he thought he could carry into their new home. With six people, this meant that Graham would need to spread their food plan thinner and get busy hunting. It also meant he’d have to change out the composting toilet at least once a month. Although Graham had resented the extra work it took away from his fishing the previous summer, the facilities upgrade was worth it—no more walking outside in the weather to use the john.
Graham heard a rustling in the brush behind him and went to bring his rifle up when he saw Sheriff dart out after a hapless brown squirrel. “Well, at least you hunt for yourself,” he said to the dog.
Graham packed up as much as he could carry into the cabin, and as he entered the front room, all eyes were on him as if to ask a question. “What?” he asked.
“How do you use the bathroom?” Macy asked.
“Oh!” He sat the supplies down on the rustic dining table and addressed them all. “It’s a composting toilet, designed so the liquids are filtered up front and the solids go toward the back,” he said tactfully. “Then, there’s a canister next to the toilet and you scoop a layer of sawdust over it. There’s no flushing, it just drops down into a tank that I have to change out once a month or so. It’s pretty simple, really, and the venting system keep the air smelling fresh.”
“Mystery solved,” Macy said as she guided Marcy toward the bathroom.
Graham and Bang separated the food supplies on the dining table to take inventory. With six people, this wouldn’t last them more than a few weeks. In addition to hunting, he knew he’d have to make a trip into town to scout out more supplies.
“How many days do you think we have?” Tala asked. Graham thought she must have read the concern in his expression.
“About a week, I’d say, if we cut down to two meals a day,” he said, “for adults anyway. The kids can have a snack in between.”
Then he heard the girls come out of the bathroom.
“We need to have a group meeting after breakfast,” Graham said.
Tala started to get up, wrapping the blanket around her waist in modesty, but Graham noticed she tried to steady herself with one arm on the couch.
“Wait a second, there,” he said, walking over to her side.
“I just need to use the facilities,” she said.
“I’ll walk you over. You still have a fever, so take it easy,” he said, grabbing her jeans before he led her there.
Tala felt weak and defenseless, which scared her in this situation. Graham opened the door for her and she leaned against the bathroom sink as he reached in a long arm and laid her jeans on the counter. “I’ll be close by,” he said softly. “So just shout if you need anything.”
Tala swallowed hard. “Thank you. And . . . thank you for taking care of me last night too,” she said. She shut the door and took stock of herself in the little wall mirror. Her hair was a tangled mess, and her eyes looked dull and puffy and were marked by dark circles. Above all, she noted how gaunt her face looked. She was much paler than her typical pallor, but her appearance in comparison to the twin she knew as Marcy made her heart ache. The poor young girl must have gone through a rough experience to receive those kinds of injuries.
Tala had always been the strong one in her family. After her mother had died, Tala had helped raised her two younger brothers and made sure they attended college as her mother would have wanted.
Her father worked for the railroad and became quiet and distant after her mother’s death. He was the first in her family to succumb to the virus, followed by her two brothers and then Nathan, Tala’s husband, who worked for the postal service. They had only been married a year and Tala felt they’d finally turned the corner when they found out she was pregnant and told her father she was expecting. He was overjoyed at the prospect of having his first grandchild.
Tala looked down from her reflection. It was never meant to be, and in the end she’d even lost her baby. At the thought of her loss, tears came to her eyes once again.
She turned the tap on to a trickle and splashed cold water on her face, shocking the intrusive emotions out of her consciousness. This was a new day, and at least she didn’t have to take ca
re of the old man by herself anymore. He’d been tough to handle on her own. She counted herself fortunate to have stumbled onto Graham’s cabin last night, not having any idea what she was going to do. It was a godsend that he wasn’t dangerous, as far as she could tell, because she had been completely defenseless the night before.
Tala used the toilet then took care to clean herself, wrapping her refuse in paper. She followed Graham’s directions to shovel a scoop of the sawdust and hoped it covered the foul smell of the stale blood her miscarriage had caused. She felt dirty, and wondered if she could take a shower. She wasn’t sure if there would be hot water. She poked her head out the door and asked Graham, “Is it possible to use the shower?”
He looked over at her and said, “Sorry, I don’t have it set up yet. I’ll get it going so we can have warm water later tonight. There are washcloths under the sink though, so you can at least rinse off.”
“That’s great. Thanks, Graham, I feel really lucky even to have a bathroom these days.”
“I’m the thankful one,” he said. “I think I’ll need all the help I can get, especially with two girls.” Tala smiled and closed the door.
~ ~ ~
Ennis walked into the kitchen, eyeing Graham. “Where’s breakfast?” he demanded.
Graham picked up a Snickers bar and thumped it against the old man’s chest. “Here you go.”
“I can’t eat that,” Ennis said. “Don’t you know how to make bacon and eggs? I don’t know what I’m doin’ here.”
“I don’t see any pigs or chickens around here—do you?” Graham was getting a little irritated with the old man.
“Boy, you are underprepared,” Ennis declared with a chuckle.
“Look, right now we’ll have to make do with what we have; after breakfast, let’s have a meeting to discuss our situation. If you have any constructive suggestions, I’m all ears,” Graham said.
The old man looked at him and shook his head. “This is a fine mess for sure,” he said.
“You got that right,’ said Graham. “Listen, Ennis, I know you’re playing the cranky old man bit, but you’re more with it than you let on. So cut the crap. I need your help. You have any suggestions, then make them. You might have gotten away with that in a nursing home, but not here.”
He heard a scratch at the door, so he opened it for Sheriff, who was waiting to come in. The dog sat on the porch with two dead squirrels at his paws and looked up at Graham with a silly grin. Graham reached down and petted the dog’s head. “Thanks, boy,” he said. He bent down, picked up the offerings and brought them into the kitchen.
“Well, I’ll be,” Ennis said, “that dog is something.”
Graham retrieved a knife and took the squirrels outside to the gutting log, where he and his dad had cleaned fish and game in the past. He made quick work of the two squirrels.
He knew the girls would probably be too squeamish at the prospect of eating squirrel, but Graham would just cut it up and pan fry it, making gravy with the drippings and the canned milk they had; he’d serve it over the box of instant grits he’d brought in earlier. He hoped they wouldn’t ask about the mystery meat, because they needed all the protein they could get right now. Satisfied with the idea, Graham set to work. He wasn’t a great cook, but his mom had taught him the basics, at least.
Tala had finished getting herself presentable, and as she emerged, passing Graham on his way to the kitchen, he thought she looked better, but still worn out. Ennis had nodded off in a chair, snoring loudly with the dog by his feet, and from the bunkroom came the voices of the three children.
“Sit down, Tala,” Graham said, noticing how frail she looked as she leaned against the dining table.
“I wish I could do something,” she said. “I should be cooking breakfast.”
“Another time; I’ve got it under control.” Graham filled a glass of water and took her some meds as well as a few crackers.
“Macy,” Tala said as the girl came into the kitchen area of the big room, “would you happen to have a hairband I could borrow?”
“Sure,” Macy said. She hurried away and returned with one, sweeping her gaze over Tala. “You look kind of weak. Want me to braid your hair for you?”
“Oh yes, that would be so nice. You’re a sweet girl to offer.” Tala’s relief and gratitude sounded genuine. She must be even in worse shape than he’d imagined, Graham thought, if even the effort of braiding her own hair was too great a task. He’d have to make sure she rested; he did not want her to get any sicker.
While Graham prepared breakfast he watched Macy separate Tala’s raven black tresses and begin the familiar ritual. He saw Tala close her eyes, obviously taking comfort and maybe even pleasure in the process. Macy tied the long braid off with a pink band she’d brought and said, “There you go. I love your hair.”
“Thank you, Macy.” Tala fingered the thick braid. “You did a nice job. How’s your sister doing?”
“She’s okay, it was just a nightmare. Our mom and dad both died.” Maybe saying it out loud would somehow make it real to her.
Tala reached out and held Macy’s hand. “I know, dear. All of my family died too. You’re lucky to have your sister, you know?”
Graham saw Macy’s chin tremble and quickly spoke. “Thankfully, we all have one another here,” he said, hoping to bring a bit of optimism into the room.
Tala pulled Macy close, hugging her. “Graham’s right. Just the smell of what he’s cooking makes me feel thankful.” The aroma from Graham’s creation brought the other children out of the bunkroom, and it seemed to wake Ennis.
“Macy, can you help me dish this up?” he asked, tapping the cupboard where the bowls and plates were kept. With his other hand, he reached into a drawer for cutlery.
They all dove into the hearty breakfast, commenting on how good it tasted, never asking what the mystery meat was, but when Tala gave Graham a little wink from across the table, he knew she’d guessed.
“All right, gang, before we clean up, let’s talk about a few things,” Graham said. “Tala, what was your job before the pandemic hit?”
“I taught first grade. Not a skill that will help us here, I’m afraid.”
“And Ennis, you were a policeman?”
“Yeah, but that was over twenty years ago, in Seattle,” Ennis said.
“Can you still shoot?” Graham asked him.
“Maybe,” Ennis answered doubtfully.
Tala spoke up. “I can shoot. My dad made sure we all knew how.” She issued a sad sigh.
Bang walked away from the table while the conversation continued and returned shortly after with his bow and arrow for all to see.
“Boy, can you shoot that little thing?” Ennis asked him.
Bang was a bit afraid of the old man and nodded, then looked down.
“He’s pretty good at it,” said Graham. “He got a coyote that tried to sneak up on us. The girls here were armed with a ruler and an ice scraper when we first met them,” he added, poking a little fun at them.
“We didn’t have anything else,” Marcy said tersely.
“Well, that’s the problem I’m getting to,” Graham said. “Rule number one: No one leaves the cabin unless they’re armed or accompanied by someone who is. Understood? Right now, we have five rifles and two pistols between us. Later, we’ll try to find more. Tala, you know how to fire your piece?”
“Yes, my husband bought it for me and we practiced at least one weekend every month,” she answered.
Graham nodded, and then looked over to Ennis. “Do you think you can handle her rifle?” he asked. “I mean, when it’s loaded?”
Tala spoke up. “I have shells for it. It was my husband’s rifle.” She sound a little embarrassed.
Graham looked over at the old man and repeated his earlier question, “Can you handle a rifle?” he asked.
“I can handle it.” Ennis spoke a little gruffly, making the girls jump.
“All right, then, I’ll get it ready for you. We can
’t afford any accidents,” Graham said. “That leaves one pistol and three rifles.” He looked at the girls.
“I want the pistol,” Macy said.
“I don’t think you can handle the Garand, Marcy, so that leaves Campos’s rifle. Do you think you can work it? I’ll show you how.”
“I don’t want it. It was his,” Marcy said, remembering.
“Marcy, look at me,” Graham said. “It’s ours now, and you need to learn how to use it.
“I’m not touching it.” Her tone offered no possibility that she’d be persuaded otherwise.
“I’ll learn how, Graham, if you show me. Then she can have mine,” Macy said.
“No,” Marcy said to her sister.
“You have to learn how,” Graham said.
Tala reached over and placed her hand on Graham’s arm, quieting his next comment. “Marcy, how would you like it if I taught you how to use my pistol? It’s lighter. I’ll take the other rifle,” she said.
“That’s a good idea,” Ennis said, trying to put in his two cents.
Graham thought it was kind of Tala to offer and could see now she would be a great asset with the girls. They were fifteen, and though they’d gotten along fine so far, he knew Marcy’s attitude could be a problem.
The next subject he brought up was cabin security and daily routines, and who would be responsible for which daily chores to keep things livable. Someone would always remain behind in the cabin to guard their supplies. They also decided, as a group, that any thoughts or concerns would be discussed at the evening meal. When they both felt better, Tala and Marcy would be in charge of meal preparation and food rationing. The rest would go on daily hunts and scavenging trips. Graham expressed his concern for the need to get enough supplies in before the coming winter snow took hold. It could be a long and lean winter, he warned them all.
“What do we do if we see other people, and what about the boy we saw?” Macy asked.
“We shoot ’em,” Ennis said.
