by Lynn Lamb
“If you are ready, tomorrow,” I said relieved. “Nine to five.”
“What days of the week will I work?” she asked.
“Every day, like we all do,” I told her.
~~~
We ended dinner, and I asked Lizzie to call a meeting for the morning. With that, we gave our thanks and went home to figure out our sleeping arrangements. Thankfully, Annie’s house is huge.
After picking up Bailey and putting the sleepy child to bed, I sat in the living room, trying to get a take on my busy day.
Ammie was the only other person who was not ready to retire to their room. She stoked the fire and sat next to me. She curled up on my side, head on my shoulder, like she always has done. Comfort.
“Laurie, I think you have too much faith in me,” she said. “I am afraid I am going to let you down.”
“Amanda, that’s impossible. You can never let me down. I want you and everyone in the Village to have options because life here has gone on, in spite of all odds. Hey, do you still have your cell phone?”
“Ah, yeah. I can’t seem to let it go, stupid, I know,” she said.
“Not at all. Go and get it. I’ll get mine and we can charge them up on my hand crank and look at the pictures,” I said.
We sat, looked at photos, laughed and stared into the fire for a long time. It felt good to have her here, safe and by my side. All in all, it was a win day for Team Patton. And we don’t get many of those anymore.
August 29
Bri was gone way before any of us got up. I could never do a job that required me to be up that early, especially now that a chill is starting to set in. I don’t know how to tell her how much I appreciate her taking on this duty.
The rest of us made it down to the Town Hall about forty minutes before the meeting. I brought Ammie to the medical tent and stayed with her for a bit. It reminded me of her first day of kindergarten. I couldn’t help but wax nostalgic.
“Hello, and welcome,” said Malcom. I could tell he was happy to see us. The smell of strong disinfectant in the tents stung my eyes and the inside of my nose.
“Hi,” said Ammie reluctantly. “Where should I start?” That made me proud.
“So, this is our medical tent. It started out as a triage, and now we are using it more as a day clinic. The emergency cases go up to the hospital, as you know. And quarantine is in the Hotel,” he began his orientation.
I slipped out and spotted Adam, looking a little lost among all of the people in the Square who were walking with purpose.
“Adam,” I called out. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“I dropped Bri off this morning at the wall, and I have been just hanging around ever since. I hung out with Annie in the kitchen for a few hours. This place really is remarkable,” he commented, still in bewilderment. The continuing comments about how amazing the Village is give me a glimpse into how bad it must be out there.
“Thanks, I agree. Do you want to keep me company until the Village meeting? Then, you need to come to the Council meeting right after that,” I told him.
“Sure,” he said. I think he was happy to have a place to go. He looked like a little boy. He was so lost.
“Don’t worry, Adam. You will fit in. It just takes a little time to get in the rhythm here,” I said.
“Not Bri. She went straight to the Colonel like she has been doing it for years,” he said.
“That’s because she has been doing it for years,” I started. “None of us were sure about what Jake was thinking, letting her join up at seventeen, but it looks like it wasn’t such a bad idea, considering. Don’t worry; there are a lot of people out of their element here, including me. Just wing it. Pretend you have been doing this forever. That’s what I do.”
We began the meeting on time. Jackson brought Bri with him to the stage, and I sent Adam to get Ammie so that they could join them.
“Good morning, Villagers,” a small cheer came from the crowd in the Square. “It has been a little time since our last gathering, but as the rumor mill might suggest, I have been rather busy.” An embarrassed little laugher rose.
I smiled and continued. “I am overjoyed to confirm that part of my family from Arizona has made their way to Monterey. Words cannot do justice to how I am feeling right now. Thanks to all who have expressed good wishes for my brother’s speedy recovery.
“I can’t imagine how you all are feeling about these recent events, but I hope that you can take the arrival of my family as a glimmer of hope that your family is trying to make their way home to you, too.
“Without further ado, I would like to introduce my new nephew, Adam, and my niece, Brianna and my other niece, Amanda. They are finding the Village to be extraordinary. That is because of the non-stop dedication of everyone here. You have ensured our survival way beyond what I thought was possible. You have created a place for my newly reunited family, and all of us, to move beyond survival and to prosper in a real life. And for that, I thank you.
“Now, let’s move on to other business. Lizzie Burgess has been a big help in creating a system for you all to submit comments, suggestions and questions to the Council, but I will let her explain,” I finished and passed the microphone to Lizzie as I led my family off the stage to continue their day.
The Council meeting was assembled by the time I left the office to join them. Adam was sitting at the table looking pale. I was beginning to worry that this was all a little too much for him. I hoped I was wrong. Malcom and Jackson both brought their new apprentices to the meeting, and Bri took a seat next to Adam.
“Let’s start with reports on the state of your teams,” I said. “Annie, how is it going with the food?”
“Doc Malcom came to me the other day with some suggestions,” she began. “He recommended that we bring more protein into both of our daily meals. The problem is that most of the canned foods don’t contain enough protein and are very high in sodium, but we have no fresh meat. I know that Jackson has been hunting for deer, but maybe we need to develop a hunting team of some sort.”
“We have a lot of hunters in the Village,” said Lizzie. What would I do without her? “I could call them in today.”
“I am worried about the deer population,” Jackson said. “It used to be huge here, as we all know. We could rarely leave the house at night and not see at least one, but now their numbers are a lot less. Some were killed in the attacks, and maybe some moved on to find new food and water sources. We need to be careful of over hunting them.”
“I am concerned about radiation levels in the meat. We had some last night, and it tasted fine, but I don’t think you can taste radiation,” I said. “Doc, what do you think?”
“Laura, here is the long and the short of it,” he said. His serious expression unnerved me. “Everyone and everything has been exposed to radiation. We just can’t get past that. It will take years, or maybe even decades until we can get into the acceptable ranges. But we need to eat and drink to survive. Radiation is our new normal.
“So, I say yes to hunting. We will have to deal with whatever the radiation brings as we go. It is a calculated risk. I am going to gamble that the smaller the animal the better, like with fish and mercury. Before the war, we had unacceptable levels of mercury in our fish. The smaller the fish, the less contamination,” he concluded.
“I suggest that we look at hunting for smaller animals; rabbits, raccoons and squirrels. They stood a lot better chance of surviving the bombs and biochems because of their size,” Jackson stated.
“As much as I am grossed out at eating squirrel, I think that we need to get a group out there immediately,” I said.
Adam raised his hand politely. I smiled and nodded him on. “I would like to be a part of that group. Maybe we could combine the hunting for animals with hunting for supplies,” he said.
“Excellent idea,” I said with maybe too much enthusiasm. Good boy, Adam, I thought. Maybe he had more confidence with Bri by his side now.
Bri smiled wide
with pride. “I want in on that action, too,” she said. “And Dad will too, when he gets better.”
I hadn’t told the girls about the seriousness of his heart problem that had developed from the plague. I hoped that he would be able to hunt someday, though. Unlike me, he loved his guns.
“Great,” I said. “Let’s get it started today then, Lizzie.” She nodded as she took notes.
“Jill, thanks for getting me the blue prints. I love your ideas,” I continued. “How is the construction coming along?”
“Thanks for increasing our laborer numbers. The extra hands are a huge help,” she said. “It’s a big job, but it is coming. By the end of the week we should have the strip mall and some of the houses on either side behind our wall.”
“Great,” I said. “Moving on, how are communications coming, Joseph?”
“Not bad,” he said. “I fixed the ham again, so I am hoping that it’s ready to go out with our next Out-bound team. The new walkies from the last run are excellent. Everyone just needs to remember that they need to keep them charged in the sun for at least an hour a day. Next to a window is fine.”
“Oops,” I said. “That’s why it has been so quiet this morning. I was enjoying it. I will get mine into the sun as soon as I can.”
“Heh, right,” quipped Jackson.
“I have been in contact with several groups around California and throughout the Midwest,” Joseph continued, ignoring me and Jackson. “It seems that there are pockets of communities that didn’t sustain life threatening biochems and missile hits. We have been exchanging information on how each community has come together to make it work. I would say we are probably in better shape than most of them. Infighting and bands of Wanderers and gangs are the biggest threats out there. I have gotten reports to both Jackson and Mark on these problems.”
“I have been coming up with several scenarios that we need to become ready for,” Mark said. “The wall is going to be helpful, but not to bottle rockets, Molotov Cocktails, and good, old fashioned hand grenades.”
My stomach sank at the tone in Mark’s voice. How are people getting hand grenades?
“Jill and I have been talking about the wall and different ways to block these types of attacks,” said Jackson. “I guess that leads me into my report. My security team has discovered areas that indicate people have been living close by,” said Jackson. Bri took out a small notebook from her pocket and began to take notes as Jackson spoke. “And we have found bullet casings, not ours. It’s just a matter of time before they make contact with us; either friendly, or by way of attack.”
“I have made it very clear,” I began firmly. “I want everything possible done to defuse any hostile situations. Anyone coming to our door in peace should be invited into the Hotel, divided into two buildings, based on an initial health assessment by the medics. There is no reason for violence if we invite non-hostiles into our community.”
“You’re naïve,” said Jackson slamming his fist on the table and standing. I jumped, and backed away in my rolling chair. Mark took the arm of the chair and held it firmly in place so I couldn’t back up any further. He stood up and faced Jackson.
In a low, protective tone, Mark almost growled. “Sit down, Jackson. If you have something to say, you will say it respectfully.” For a moment, I thought things were going to come to blows.
“Fine, Jackson,” I said as I stood and he sat. “I’m naïve. But I refuse to let this Village become a war zone. We have seen enough of that, and that’s not what we want. Annie and Billy are developing a tin can, house to house warning system…”
“Tin cans on a string will not keep them safe,” interrupted Jackson. His face was now a bright shade of red; veins pulsing. “We need an actual alarm system. I would like you to just consider that we need the whole camp armed. We have enough guns with all of the collectors in the area.”
“No,” I shouted. I saw the anxiety on Ammie’s face and continued in a softer manner. “We will not become some kind of crazed mob out for blood because what might start with just defending ourselves, might end in blood. Find some other way.
“Now, onto supplies,” I said to Sampson, not interested in arguing with Jackson anymore. “How are we doing?”
I put Sampson on supply detail. He was always the first to volunteer for any job, even the disgusting outhouse details. His eagerness to help made him perfect to head up his own team.
“Water is a problem. We are starting to collect things that everyone needs, food, shampoo, soap. I am trying to figure out a ‘shopping system’ so that we can fairly distribute the goods,” said Sampson.
After the meeting, I went to my office to get a check on my anger. Not two minutes later, Bri knocked on the door, came in and took a seat. I could see a fire in her eyes; one that matched my own.
“Yes,” I said. I was not in the mood to hear what she had to say.
“Aunt Laurie, you can’t talk to the Colonel like that,” she said.
“The hell I can’t,” I said. “I know that he is an expert in security, but how did he get that experience? War, that’s how. I am sorry Bri, but that is the business of the military, and it was fine in the past. But now the world needs experts in peace.”
“He deserves respect,” she said, tone backing down some.
“Why, because he made it up the ranks? Bri, those ranks don’t mean a thing anymore.”
Part III: In Our Defense Against Man and Nature
October 10
An unprecedented first snow flake fell today in Monterey.
I have been so busy the last month and half that I have not been able to record the events in my diary. I have no idea why I feel the compulsion to, but nevertheless; I will catch myself back up to today.
One major occurrence here in the Village has been the quickly dropping temperatures, as I mentioned. Some of the Villagers were scientists in their past lives, and they say that we could be in a nuclear winter for a decade or longer. If that is the truth, our continued survival is doubtful. The snow that we wished for as children is not a joyous occasion to most of us adults. What the future will bring is obviously yet to be seen and hard to predict. Nevertheless, the snow has begun to clean the lingering ash and grit from the skies.
More people have become sick since the attack. Cancer has hit some of the Villagers, and the hospital has tried to keep up. We have lost eighteen souls in the hospital to it so far. The Out-bound teams have tried to hit some of the other hospitals for more chemo, but those hospitals no longer stand. Ammie and Doc Malcom have been working closely with Charlotte to grow foods that can help us build our immune systems back so that more of us don’t fall to devastating disease. Crystal, Jared’s mother, has been diagnosed with cancer in the past month and she is fighting hard, yet again, in order to stay on this earth with her son.
Mark, Bailey and I have finally moved into our own place. When Jake got out of the hospital, we decided that we would move into the beautiful home next door to Annie’s place. I felt a little guilty moving into such an elegant and large house, like I was taking advantage of my power as a leader.
Dozens of Villagers helped us in the lengthy cleanup in our new house, and I am grateful. They don’t seem to have a problem with us taking it. I love the proximity to my family, while still having some privacy. There is still thick plastic over the windows where glass had been, and it is keeping the freezing chill out.
Bailey is in love with her new room. We had some donated pink paint for the walls, and Annie gave her the girls’ old doll house. Bailey’s heartache over her parents seems to be healing some, but I am careful to watch for her sad moments.
Jake has settled into Annie’s house. He is still too weak to work, though. All of the females in his life, including me, dote on him. I am so relieved he made it through the worst of his illness.
The Village itself is doing well. We had a grand opening for the wall that now protects most of the Village. I haven’t told anyone, but I think it is terribly ugly.
Jackson added some militant booby traps to it. One day I took a can of spray paint and created the Village’s first graffiti with two quotes:
Seven Deadly Sins
Wealth without work
Pleasure without conscience
Science without humanity
Knowledge without character
Politics without principle
Commerce without morality
Worship without sacrifice.
― Mahatma Gandhi
A few days later, I added this:
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.
― Albert Einstein
I don’t feel at all guilty for my deeds.
After Jackson’s outburst at the Council meeting, we had exactly two incidents of people coming to the wall. I sent Mark to diffuse both situations with an invitation for the strangers to become Villagers. In both cases, the small groups apologetically took the offer.
Bri and Ammie are both adjusting well to this new life. Bri is enjoying her new role and responsibilities. Ammie has decided to stay in her medical internship, but she has also been studying engineering under Thomas Stevenson, our resident engineer. He has been working on wind turbines in addition to helping to install solar panels when they come in with the Out-bounders.
Adam is also embracing his new role. He goes out for long periods with his team, searching for anything and everything we might need. He is also helping to blaze new trails in and out of town.
That is my update; for better or worse.
October 11
The snow is falling steadily, six feet in twenty four hours. We have enacted a moratorium on school and work, except for security. Now, all Village households have a walkie, so we are not cut off from each other. I think that we are all having flashbacks from the last home internment, however.
As I look out over the landscape, I see a beautiful blanket of white. It’s as if Mother Nature has tried to cover over humanities’ sins. If only she could erase them. Perhaps in time she will.
Bailey has never seen snow until now. I checked with Jackson and he said it is safe to play in it since it was packing nicely. So, Mark, Ammie, Bri and Bailey are outside working on an upside-down snowman. I can see their big smiles from my window, and I can’t think of anything more beautiful. Annie is in the kitchen baking cookies for when the Village can leave their homes. I smell them right now, and I might have to go over and inspect them soon. You know, for the Villagers.
