EMP Lodge Series (Book 1): Dark Retreat

by Grace Hamilton

  She grimaced, “It is so harsh. I was one of those people, I guess. I just knew there had to be more, somewhere, anywhere.”

  He looked towards the sun that was starting to fade. “I wish we could save them all, Megan. I truly do, but I have to think of you and my family first. I have no problem sharing, but if we were to let anyone and everyone come into camp, we would quickly have nothing. We wouldn’t be able to survive here. The thing is, it’s harsh up here during the winter, which is why my dad chose this area. We really only need to worry about the threat of people for about six months out of the year.”

  “But you let Kyle in,” Megan pointed out.

  “Kyle will only be staying long enough to see if he can help Caitlin and Duke,” Wyatt said flatly.

  It was Megan’s turn to feel bad. These people had not only taken her in but were risking having a stranger there to help her daughter. She should consider herself very fortunate and blessed that they were willing to take care of her and her daughter. They didn’t have to.

  How many other mothers and fathers were out there with nothing to feed their children or worse, possibly sick or injured? It hurt her heart to think of the pain and suffering so many others were dealing with.

  She shook it off. “Well, I will be more than happy to help with the garden tomorrow after we get back from the school. We will also need to check those traps,” she told him. She couldn’t hide the excitement in her voice.

  He laughed, “Yes, we do. We have a busy day tomorrow. I want to show you the root cellar real quick and then we can clean up and get ready for dinner.”

  They walked to the door that was flat against the ground. Wyatt pulled out his flashlight and directed it on the stairs that led into the ground. Megan felt extremely special to see the cellar. It was very important and for him to share it with her meant he trusted her.

  Wyatt used the flashlight to point out a small button. Within seconds, the area was flooded with light. There were small LED strips attached to the front of the metal shelves that lined the walls of the cellar and hooked to a battery. The cellar itself wasn’t much bigger than a small bedroom but it was lined with tall metal shelves filled with canned food. An entire shelf was filled with #10 cans of freeze-dried food. Under each of the shelves were rows of plastic five-gallon buckets each with a label indicating dry goods such as pinto beans, rice, kidney beans, black beans, sugar, oatmeal. She stopped to look at him.

  “I’m guessing this was all your dad’s idea?” Megan didn’t think she’d ever stop being impressed by his dad’s foresight. She would have loved to meet him.

  “Mostly. I helped with these.” Wyatt opened one of the plastic buckets. A shiny bag was sealed inside.

  “What’s that?”

  “These are Mylar bags. We put all the dried food and some pastas in the bags, added a few bay leaves and oxygen absorbers, sealed the bags and put them in the buckets. This way, if we do get mice, chances are they won’t chew through the heavy plastic buckets. If it gets wet down here, the food will be dry inside the bucket as well.”

  “Why not just put the food in the bucket?” she asked.

  He resealed the bucket, “The Mylar bags will help the food last longer. The little silica gel packs absorb any of the oxygen sealed into the bag. Oxygen means moisture, which means spoilage. This stuff will last for decades in here.”

  “And the bay leaves?”

  He smiled, “My mom says they repel bugs. Now, I think it’s a little overkill, but she insisted and another layer of protection is always a good idea.” Wyatt grinned, “Always have backups for your backups!”

  Megan glanced around and was in awe of how neat and organized everything was. It was a lot like shopping at a warehouse store.

  “Thank you for trusting me to see this, Wyatt. This is absolutely amazing. I can’t believe how much work you guys put into this place. Just, wow. I don’t know what else to say.”

  He smiled, “It was a lot of work, but I have to say, it was well worth it. In the short-term, we don’t have to worry about constantly searching for food. We can focus on the long-term like the orchard and growing a garden while everyone else is busy trying to get through each day.”

  They made their way back out of the cellar and she helped him cover the door with the leaves and debris. Now she understood why they were so serious about hiding it. It really was more valuable than the contents of a bank vault.

  17

  Kyle stayed with the little girl, waiting for his chance. Everyone was busy. Most of the men were outside, making a terrible racket. The women were in and out of the house, taking care of laundry and cleaning. Everyone was distracted. It was just him and the little girl.

  He needed to make sure she never woke up.

  Carefully removing the small Altoids can he had in his pocket, he looked at the nightshade berries he had tucked inside. His grandmother had told him about the highly toxic berries a very long time ago and he had been using them for years. They were the perfect weapon and most people never even realized they had been poisoned and were sure to die. It was a no fuss, no muss way of taking care of those little problems that crept up now and again.

  Except that, she didn’t die. Given her present condition, he hoped that giving her a bit more would do the trick and his problem would be solved—permanently. If anything, he was doing everyone a favor. She didn’t look as though she was going to wake up, so why drag out the inevitable. He should be lauded for his practical thinking.

  Kyle moved towards the edge of the bed with the intent to squeeze the berries into her mouth but the damn dog moved so fast Kyle nearly screamed. The dog was growling low and baring his teeth. He moved back and extended his arm to reach the girl. He nearly lost his hand when the big dog snapped at it.

  Kyle growled right back at the dog in total frustration. “Fine,” he seethed. “I’ll take care of you first and then this stupid child.”

  “How’s it going in here?” Rosie asked, popping her head in the door. It was the third time she had done so.

  Kyle smiled, “Just great. I was checking to see if she had a fever.”

  Rosie walked over and put her hand on the girl’s head and then her cheeks. “Feels okay to me,” she said before giving him a quizzical look.

  He turned on the charm, “Oh, good. My hands are always so cold; it’s tough to tell without a thermometer.”

  Kyle watched Rosie walk out the door before turning to glare at the dog who was watching him very closely. This wasn’t going to be as easy as he first thought. He needed a new plan.

  The group had all come in once the rain started to come down. He overheard Wyatt talking about taking Megan into town tomorrow. That may be his only chance to tie up the loose ends that threatened to destroy all that he had built up.

  THE SUN WAS JUST COMING up, when Megan woke up. Caitlin felt warm again. She would ask Rosie for more of the tea to help bring down the fever, again.

  Sliding out of bed, she dressed quickly. She wasn’t going to waste another hour; Caitlin wasn’t getting better and needed medicine. Her only option was to get to that school and pray there was something there. Houses nearby or shops in town that were abandoned would also be searched she decided.

  Megan felt desperate and was willing to do anything to find a cure for her daughter. Now she knew what Wyatt was talking about when he told her why they hid everything. The need to survive and to protect one’s children was incredibly strong. It isn’t something one could simply shut off. It consumed her and she could imagine the parents of other kids who were starving, sick or injured. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

  When Megan walked into the kitchen, she was surprised to see Wyatt and Chase quietly chatting in the kitchen and sipping coffee. The fact she hadn’t heard them was even more surprising.

  “Hey, sleepyhead,” Wyatt said in greeting. “I’ll pour you a cup,” he said quickly grabbing a cup and pouring her a hot cup of coffee.

  She eagerly took it and sipped the
hot liquid, savoring the taste and relishing the feel of the caffeine racing through her veins.

  “Chase is going with us. He needs to look for some supplies to finish the fence. After Albert had finished his shift in the nest, he checked the traps and two of them had been triggered but there was nothing in them, so he reset them for you. If we leave now, chances are, we’ll get back early enough to check those traps and possibly move them if you spot a better game trail.”

  Megan agreed and looked up when she heard footsteps on the stairs and saw Kyle coming down.

  “I’ll keep an eye on Caitlin,” he volunteered in a voice that conveyed concern. “Hopefully, I will get a clue as to what is making her ill.” He turned to Wyatt, “I will also check on that dog, I mean Duke,” he quickly corrected.

  “Thanks, man. We really appreciate it.” Wyatt really hoped he was just on edge and Kyle was who and what he said he was. It was hard not to be suspicious of everyone. Unfortunately, it was the way it had to be.

  The trio emptied their packs to make room for any supplies they may find, keeping just the basics; water, fire-starting tools, first aid kit and some rope. Each of them wore their knife on their belts and had a canteen that attached to their belts as well. This freed up their hands while ensuring they had the basics in the event of an emergency.

  Wyatt instructed Megan to leave her flashlight at home. He gave her a headlamp that was actually brighter with its LEDs and she didn’t have to carry it. When she didn’t need it, she could wear it around her neck. Wyatt explained the importance of keeping their hands free and keeping the most important gear within easy reach.

  Wyatt and Chase were also each wearing chest holsters with mean looking guns holstered in each. Wyatt had offered one to Megan but she passed. If they ended up finding supplies, she didn’t want to add to the weight of her pack with a gun; especially if both Wyatt and Chase were armed. They put on light jackets over the holsters. Wyatt explained they didn’t want to advertise they were armed. Being armed indicated they had something to steal. They wanted to look as nondescript as possible and simply blend in. If they encountered anyone, they didn’t want to flaunt they had weapons.

  ROSIE HAD JUST EMERGED from her room upstairs and was making her way down. Wyatt had pulled her aside and they had a quick, quiet conversation.

  “You’ll keep an eye on Caitlin and Kyle?” he asked her.

  “Of course, son. What’s going on?”

  Wyatt leaned down to kiss his mom on the cheek. “I don’t know but something doesn’t feel right.”

  They left the security of Wyatt’s land as the sun was coming over the mountain, creating a beautiful, picturesque scene that reminded everyone of better days. The brilliant reds and pinks that streaked across the sky were worthy of a picture, but obviously that wasn’t going to be possible.

  The talk had been kept light, with Megan somewhat reserved. Yesterday, it had taken her a while to warm up, so Wyatt wasn’t too concerned. She would talk when she was ready.

  As they crossed the rough terrain, Wyatt took the opportunity to show Megan how to cover her tracks. It was something the group had been doing when they ventured too far from the property. They didn’t want anyone finding the cabin. Megan listened and nodded.

  Because she was, “navigationally challenged” as she put it, Wyatt wanted her to learn how to use a compass. He had brought his along and showed her the right way to find direction. Many people just held the compass, not realizing it needed to be laid flat in the palm of the hand. But, he didn’t want her to rely solely on a compass. He gave her a few other tips about finding the right direction.

  He started with the one that most people knew; the sun rose in the east and set in the west. Since they were out at sunrise that was a good way for Megan to get an idea of the direction they were headed. He explained that at noon, the sun would be due south. She could look up in the sky and be able to determine the rest of the directions from where the sun was.

  “I always wondered why people looked at the sun. I mean, I knew there was some reasoning behind it, but I never bothered to learn. I always carry my GPS unit or have my cell phone. I guess I should say had. They don’t work worth a damn anymore.”

  Wyatt nodded, “Exactly why people who depended on gadgets and technology are failing right now. People became dependent on a device always telling them where to go and assumed they would always be available.” He looked around and hollered for Chase to hold up. “I want to show you another method, but we are going to have to stay put for about thirty minutes.”

  Wyatt explained he was making a sundial. They walked to an area that was relatively clear. He grabbed a stick and stuck it into the ground. The stick created a shadow. He put a small rock at the end of the shadow. He told her they needed to chill for about fifteen minutes while the sun moved.

  While they waited, they talked more about life before the EMP. The talk also turned to plans for the future. Wyatt had many ideas and got very excited when he talked about all the possibilities. They were living in almost a pioneer kind of situation with land available to those willing to work the soil.

  It had already been three long months and with no sign of any progress being made to restore the government or infrastructure, he had a feeling it was a clean slate. The strong who survived would be rebuilding. The ones who were killed or died in the aftermath would have no claims to their lands or homes. Bank records would likely be destroyed because everyone depended on electronic record keeping.

  “Okay, time to take the next measurement,” Wyatt said. He put another rock at the end of the new shadow. “Okay, now visualize a line that connects the two rocks. It would kind of be like doing a dot-to-dot,” he instructed Megan. “If it helps, use another stick to make the line.” He picked up a stick and did just that. “The two rocks represent the sun’s movement from east to west. The first rock is the west and the second is the east.”

  When Megan looked confused, he clarified, “The shadow is going to move west to east because the sun is behind it.”

  “Oh, gotcha. Okay, so what is the stick on the outside for?”

  He pointed to it, “This stick is your east-west line. From there, you can figure out north and south. Got it?”

  Megan smiled at him making Wyatt wish that Chase wasn’t with them. “Thank you so much! I feel so much more confident knowing how to find my way without GPS!”

  Chase got up after lounging against a rock during the navigation lesson, “We need to get going. Hard telling when it will start raining.”

  Megan looked up, the sky was clear. She knew weather changes could move in fast this high in the mountains, but she was curious as to why Chase expected rain. Maybe he had some weather device. It was odd living in a world without a weatherman or being able to check the weather any second of the day via an app on her phone. It left one feeling kind of exposed. Sure dark clouds told you something was coming, but it wasn’t like before when you got a day or even a week’s notice that a big storm was coming in.

  Chase saw her looking at the sky, “Red sun at night, sailors' delight. Red sun at morning, sailors take warning.”

  Megan couldn’t help but laugh, “What?”

  Maybe it was a Navy thing, but they were not near water and there was no sailing on the agenda.

  Wyatt laughed, “Oh yes. That is something you learn quite well in the Navy. A red sky at sunset typically means high pressure, which means a nice clear day. A red sky in the morning, like we just saw, means low pressure. Low pressure systems bring rain.”

  Megan’s head was spinning, “Holy cow. I can’t believe I managed to live this long without this very basic knowledge. I think you guys have a lot to teach me,” she told them both.

  Wyatt shrugged, “We all have something to teach.”

  They continued moving down the mountain. Megan was anxious to see what they would find. Her daughter’s life depended on her finding some antibiotics. She was praying for a good find.

  “Oh, look, racco
on tracks,” she pointed to the ground.

  Wyatt and Chase both came to see. Now it was her turn to flaunt her knowledge. They looked at the ground and laughed at the little foot prints that looked like a human hand.

  “If we follow these tracks, there is a good chance they will lead to water.” Megan added that any animal track would likely lead to water or at the very least lead to a den. If they were hunting, that would be a good place to start.

  As they made their way down the mountain, there was an exchange of information. Megan shared her knowledge about identifying various tracks. Wyatt had plenty of knowledge to pass on about navigation. Megan’s habit of plucking dried moss from the trees earned her praise from Wyatt and Chase.

  Megan explained how hard it had been to start fires right after the EMP. She had torn up phonebooks, old bills and used the packaging from the food they ate. It had been a real struggle. She had even raided a newspaper recycle bin that sat in the parking lot of the grocery store she used to go to. Someone had beat her to it and she only got a few, wet pieces of paper.

  Wyatt told her how impressed he was with her resourcefulness and gave her a few more tips. He pulled off some of the bark from a birch tree and described how it was as good as paper was. They didn’t have any cedar trees in the area, but he explained that she could pull off the bark and use her knife to scrape the fibers that clung to the bark. It was very flammable as well.

  Megan laughed suddenly as the guys both looked at her. “Something you wish to share?” Wyatt asked her.

  “When I was in high school, my biology teacher was talking about using a tampon to start a fire and he actually demonstrated it in class. He ended up setting off the smoke alarm and our whole building had to be evacuated but it did work. Granted, I’d say both tampons and sanitary napkins are probably worth more than gold to some now.” Megan was still grinning.

  Wyatt chuckled but Chase scowled. “What?” Megan asked him but she could already guess the answer.

  “I think I’ll stick to birch and moss,” Chase informed them as both Megan and Wyatt laughed.