Ichabod

by Mark Goodwin

  “What? Tell me.” Cami took a seat on the couch.

  “We picked up a radio transmission. Some guy, he’s making his own news show. Not that he had much news to share.” Danny sat next to Cami.

  Cami called toward the bedroom. “Nick, you’re gonna want to hear this.”

  Nick came into the living room. “Hey, guys, what’s up?”

  “They heard a transmission on the shortwave,” Cami said.

  Danny told Nick everything they’d heard.

  “That’s a start. Did you write down the frequency?” Nick leaned against the door frame.

  “No, but I haven’t changed it.” Danny handed the radio to Nick.

  Nick set the radio down on the counter and scratched around to find a notepad and a pen. “We need to keep a log. We should write down what we heard, when we heard it, and the frequency.” He scribbled down the pertinent information.

  Alisa added, “He said he’ll be back on tomorrow evening at the same time.”

  “Good.” Nick kept writing. “You said eight o’clock, right?”

  “Yeah, eight.” Danny said.

  Cami looked at Alisa. “You said you had something to tell us?”

  Alisa explained her ideas.

  Nick put his palm on his forehead. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. We would be able to use the shower right here in the RV. We’ve got extra water bladders, so we can make two of the camping showers. In fact, I’ve got some black duct tape so we can heat them in the sun, at least for the first shower they’re used for every day. I like the bucket idea also. The bladders will eventually wear out, and the bucket shower will be more resilient.”

  Cami went in the bedroom and made some noise as she tried to locate the spare water bladders. She returned and handed one to Alisa. “Why don’t you try rigging this one up, and we’ll see what we come up with for the other. We’ll use which ever design works better for all subsequent models.”

  “Awesome. Thanks! This is really going to help things be a little more normal.” Alisa grinned as she looked over the plastic pouch and tube.

  “What a fantastic idea. Hopefully we’ll be able to come up with some more inventions like that. The problem is, everyone is so tired from trying to keep up, there’s not a lot of time left over for creative thinking.” Nick walked Danny and Alisa to the door.

  Alisa waved as she walked down the stairs. “I hate doing things the hard way, so I’ll keep thinking. Good night.”

  “Sleep tight, guys. Danny, take the radio with you, in case you feel like scanning some more.” Cami handed him the shortwave.

  “And the radio log.” Nick handed him the notebook also.

  Danny kissed his sister on the cheek before he left. “Good night.”

  The next morning after breakfast, Danny asked Alisa, “Have you seen Steven? I need him to help me with the last two rows of corn.”

  “He’s helping Dana feed the animals.”

  “I thought you usually did that with her.”

  Alisa shrugged. “Guess I’ve been outsourced.”

  “Unemployed, huh? Can I interest you in a career in agriculture?”

  “What kind of retirement plan does it have?”

  “The same as all agrarian careers, a six-foot hole in exchange for a lifetime of service.”

  “Sounds too good to be true. It must be a competitive job market. Are there any positions available?”

  “As a matter of fact, one just opened up. And despite the less-than-optimum retirement package, it does offer a fantastic work environment and an opportunity to work with one of the best trainers in the industry.”

  “Now, you’re overselling. Let me get my boots.”

  Danny winked. “I’ll fill a couple jugs with water and meet you on the back porch. Don’t forget your rifle.”

  “Sounds hostile. What happened to the fantastic work environment?”

  “It’s just a formality, you know, insurance requirement.”

  Danny grabbed the water, a bag of seed corn, and made sure his pistol was secure in the holster that JC had given him. It was a cheap canvas holster that kept the gun secure via a strap which snapped shut. While it wasn’t the best, it beat the heck out of his old method of carrying his pistol in his waistband, which JC called Mexican carry.

  Alisa soon appeared with the AK slung over her shoulder. “I hope I’m getting paid for training.”

  Danny led the way toward the barn to get a hoe and a shovel. “Think of it as an internship. The life lessons and the experience should be considered adequate compensation.”

  “In other words, I’m not getting paid.”

  “You’re really catching on to the corporate culture. I think you’ll do well.”

  When they reached the barn, Danny opened the door and walked in.

  Steven’s voice called out. “Hey, I’m in the loft. Don’t get spooked and shoot me.”

  “You’re fine.” Danny pursed his lips and looked at Alisa. He picked through the tools, selecting an old hoe and a spade shovel which he handed to Alisa. “This will be good for busting up any large chunks of soil. Rocky only ran the disc plow over the field once because we’re trying to conserve fuel.”

  Steven came climbing down the ladder. “All the animals are fed. We can help with the corn if you need us to.”

  Danny picked several pieces of hay out of Steven’s hair. “Must have been a rough day for feeding cattle.”

  Steven glanced over at Dana who had just climbed down the ladder and was beginning to blush. “Uh, yeah. That loft is kind of dangerous. You have to watch your step.”

  “Yeah, tell me about it.” Danny nodded. “Catfish will be moving in up there today or tomorrow. That should put a damper on the ambiance. We only have the two rows left in the cornfield. You guys can go look for firewood if you want.”

  Alisa brushed some hay off the back of Dana’s shirt. “Unless you guys need a chaperone.”

  Steven grabbed an ax and a saw from the tool bench. “I think we can manage.”

  Dana led the way out the barn door without saying a word. Steven followed her with only a quick wave to Danny and Alisa.

  Alisa crossed her arms and watched them walk out of the barn. “Looks like nature is taking its course.”

  Danny took the tools from Alisa and leaned them against the support beam. He held her hand and spun the ring on her finger around and around. “You know, there’s nothing stopping us from rolling in the hay.” He leaned in and kissed her.

  She kissed him then pulled away. “Except those two rows of corn that need planting.”

  “I forgot to mention, this is union work; we get paid by the hour, not the job.” He leaned in for another kiss. “And Catfish is moving in up there. This might be your last chance to live out that country music video in the hay loft.”

  She giggled, bit her lower lip, and began climbing the ladder to the loft.

  Later that afternoon, Steven and Dana showed up at the back of the cornfield. Steven surveyed the row Danny and Alisa were working on. “You guys still not done yet? Nana said lunch will be ready in fifteen minutes.”

  Alisa was following Danny and covering each seed with the hoe as he planted them. “Management and labor had to iron out a few things to get through contract negotiations.”

  Dana furrowed her brow. “What are you talking about?”

  Danny fought back a laugh. “Just tell Nana we will be finished in a little while. Don’t wait for us; go ahead and eat. We’ll eat when we get back.”

  Steven looked at Danny curiously. “Whatever. See you in a while.”

  Danny and Alisa continued working diligently together to finish planting the corn. He glanced behind him to give her a smile from time to time. He’d been worried that rushing to get married along with the strain of surviving the unprecedented challenges of life after an EMP would strain their relationship. But for now, it was only pressing them closer together.

  At every moment, he was in a state of heightened awareness,
being conscious of every movement, every sound, and every potential threat. It kept him from ever being completely relaxed, but with each passing day, he was acclimating to the new reality and making a conscious effort to not let it affect the way he treated Alisa.

  Danny remembered the playful days back in the restaurant when he, Alisa, Steven, Dana, and the rest of the crew would laugh and joke with barely a care in the world. Those days were gone, but they were learning to laugh and play again in spite of the difficulties. Danny was learning to live life on life’s terms.

  JC’s family moved into their trailer on Nana’s farm late Wednesday afternoon. Catfish moved into the hay loft early that evening. The members of the Reese family were still sorting through their belongings and trying to decide what to bring and what they had to leave behind. It was no easy decision, but Korey had said that he knew the move had to be made sooner or later. It was agreed that Catfish would ferry a load of their belongings over to Nana’s for church on Sunday, then help the Reese family relocate the remainder of the items they’d be bringing, after lunch. Rocky and Pauline were still sitting tight in their home across the creek and had no immediate plans to move to what was now being referred to as Fort Jennie, a term coined by none other than the eccentric Catfish.

  Wednesday evening, everyone presently abiding at Fort Jennie gathered around the radio in Nana’s living room to listen to the eight o’clock broadcast from Pickens Radio. Ranger Dave had no new information but did announce that Sunday evening, a group from his community would be playing some bluegrass music directly following the eight o’clock update.

  “Wow, bluegrass, that will be cool.” JC was seldom moved to such excitement.

  “What does anybody from New York City know about bluegrass?” Nana scowled.

  “I listened to country when I was in the military. I guess you could say it was a gateway drug to the harder stuff.”

  Steven lowered his eyebrows. “We’re still talking about bluegrass music, right?”

  JC snorted. “Yeah.”

  Nick smiled. “It will be nice to have some form of entertainment. I think we could all use the distraction. An idea that Melissa brought up to me earlier today was the need for a larger communal cooking and dining area. For now, the best solution seems to be eating in shifts. I think we can put together some rough picnic tables in the courtyard to eat at when the weather is nice. JC has volunteered the wood from his cattle barn for the tables. Hopefully we can have those together by Sunday so we can all eat lunch together, then have a place to listen to the radio as well.

  “It would be a very big project and consume limited resources to build a permanent shelter for the picnic tables, so I think the best solution for inclement weather would be to revert back to eating in shifts at the dining room table. I’m opened to hearing what everyone else thinks.”

  Danny nodded. “I agree with your plan. It makes sense.”

  Nana said, “I can’t fix enough food for all these people in that little kitchen every day. I’m gonna need a place to cook outside. Besides, we have to cook with wood whenever we can so I can save the gas for bad weather. It’s gonna have to have a roof on it. Don’t expect me to be out there cookin’ in the middle of the summer with no roof over my head.”

  Jack looked at JC. “Dad, since we’re tearing up the barn anyway, can we use a section of the metal roof to make a shelter for Miss Jennie’s outdoor kitchen?”

  JC nodded. “We can do that.”

  Nana hugged Jack and kissed his cheek. “God bless you, child.”

  JC stuck his hand in the air and made a circular motion. Next, he moved his hand back and forth. His family, even little two-year-old Annie, understood the military signals, rallied around him, and began moving out. The Castell family bade everyone good night as they retired to their travel trailer.

  Dana yawned. “I’m turning in for tonight.” In a very conspicuously inconspicuous manner, she glanced at Steven, said, “Good night,” and turned to go upstairs.

  Likewise, Steven made eye contact with her, said, “Good night,” and quickly looked away.

  Danny chuckled and looked at Alisa, who had also witnessed the poor acting meant to throw Nana and the others off the scent of what was going on between the two of them.

  Nick and Cami were next to leave. “We’ll see you guys in the morning,” Cami said. “And your shower bag worked great, Alisa. Good job with that.”

  Once all the good nights were said, Danny and Alisa headed up to their room. It had been another long day, and they would sleep well.

  CHAPTER 13

  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

  1 Timothy 5:8

  POW! Danny jumped out of bed and grabbed the AK from the corner of the room.

  Alisa sat up in the bed. “What was that?”

  “Gunshots! Here! Take the Glock and lie in the floor. Hide under the covers until I get back. Just leave a space big enough to see if anyone is coming in here. If you see someone, shoot them!” Danny threw on his jeans and stuck an extra magazine in his back pocket.

  “No, Danny. I’m coming with you!”

  “No, you’re not. Do what I said! I’ll be back.” Danny softly closed the door behind him and gently walked down the stairs.

  Steven was up and had his shotgun. “Where did it come from?”

  “Sounded like the back. Put your boots on. If you step on something sharp, you’ll be down before the shooting starts.” Danny looked out the front window.

  Steven quickly stepped into his boots but didn’t bother lacing them. “Ready.”

  Danny turned the knob of the front door carefully. “We’ll go out the front and try to flank them.”

  Steven followed him out the door and around the side of the house. Danny walked low, next to the structure, and peeked around the corner, near the chicken coop. Just then, he saw a bright light shining near the trailer and heard JC’s voice scream, “Freeze!”

  He saw a dark figure silhouetted against the tactical lights from JC and Nick’s rifles. The figure dropped a dead animal and a shotgun.

  “Don’t shoot. It’s just me,” Catfish’s voice called out.

  Danny shook his head. “It’s Catfish.”

  He and Steven walked around the back to see what all of the commotion had been about. Nick and JC approached from the other side, lowering their rifles.

  “What happened?” Danny asked.

  “Seen a coon headin’ for the rabbit hutch. Once they figure out where to get free vittles, they’ll be back every night. Coon is good eatin’, too.” Catfish bent down to retrieve his shotgun and his kill.

  “It better be. It just cost the whole compound a good night’s sleep.” JC did not sound happy about being woken up over a raccoon trying to get in the rabbit hutch.

  “What ‘cha want me to do, JC? Let him clean out the rabbits and the chickens so you can get your beauty sleep? Trust me, you could sleep till the resurrection and it wouldn’t make you no purdier.” Catfish seemed hurt by the lack of appreciation for standing guard.

  Nick rubbed his weary eyes. “We need to protect the animals, but we also need to sleep past . . .” he paused to look at his watch. He sighed. “Past 4:30.”

  Danny looked at JC. “What about Jack’s air rifle? Maybe it could be a permanent part of the night watch arsenal. Whoever has night watch can still eliminate threats to the smaller livestock, and everybody else can sleep right through it.”

  Steven yawned. “If we hear a gunshot, then we’ll know it’s a real threat, and we can come running.”

  JC nodded. “Good idea. Think we can wait till tomorrow to dig it out?”

  Catfish held the dead raccoon up. “Don’t bother me none. I’ll be gettin’ this one skinned out. If there’s a chicken or rabbit missin’ come mornin’, don’t blame it on me.”

  Nick waved as he returned to the RV. “But that was a good drill. Everybody did a good job hand
ling the threat.”

  “Thanks.” Danny turned to go back inside.

  “Think you’ll be able to go back to sleep?” Steven asked.

  “Not a chance. Nana is probably already up, which means everybody might as well get up.”

  Steven set his shotgun in the corner when they came in the door. “I want to check on Dana, make sure she’s alright.”

  “She’s probably huddled up with Alisa. Come on up,” Danny said.

  Nana was waiting inside with her housecoat and shotgun. “Did ya get ‘em?”

  “Just a raccoon trying to get at the rabbits. Catfish killed it,” Danny said.

  “He eats those nasty vermin. He best not think he’s cooking that filthy coon in my kitchen.” Nana went back into her room and closed the door.

  When Danny and Steven got upstairs, both of the girls were hiding under the blanket, on the floor behind the bed, just as Danny had instructed Alisa.

  “All clear?” Alisa stuck her head out.

  “All clear,” Danny said.

  “Hey,” Dana said as she crawled out from behind the bed.

  Steven smiled at her. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “I’m fine. Thanks for checking.” She smiled back.

  “Okay, then. See you at breakfast.”

  “See you there.” She waved as he walked out the door and down the stairs.

  “I’m going to try to go back to sleep.” Dana carried the old revolver which she kept by her bed.

  “Good luck. Nana’s already awake.” Danny grinned.

  Dana gave a disappointed sigh and closed the door behind her as she left.

  “I guess we can lie back down until Nana starts banging pots and pans.” Danny laid the AK on top of a stack of buckets containing the long-term storage food they’d brought from Savannah, prior to the EMP.

  Alisa lay down and covered her head with the comforter. “It’s worth a shot.”

  Danny curled up beside her and closed his eyes.

  It seemed like only seconds later when he heard Nana call up the stairs.