Caroline looked at her dad. “We’re doing better than getting by. It isn't so bad here. I mean dangerous, yes, but we’ve seen so many of our friends, neighbors and extended family members die trying to do better.”
“I understand that. I fled the city early. I didn't stick around to see what would happen, but I also hooked up with a group with survivalists. I would’ve surely been killed or died from starvation if I’d tried to make it on my own,” Bryan told them.
“My dad is a very smart man. He’s the one who saved us with his ingenuity,” she smiled at her dad who looked embarrassed by her accolades. “In fact,” she started, “We have a garden on the roof. It’s camouflaged so the gangs don't notice it when they’re in the buildings that surround us. We eat a lot of fresh veggies.”
Megan grinned at the woman. “Very clever. I would’ve never guessed there was a garden up there. Are there other gardens on other roofs around here?”
Caroline shrugged. “I don't know for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised. Some of the high-rise apartment buildings had rooftop gardens before the EMP.”
“We also have a rain catchment system up there. That's how we get our water,” Dick explained, excited to boast about their achievements. “There’s a small pipe that goes from the open barrel on the roof into another barrel down here. When we see the barrel getting full, we start filling pots and whatever else we can find. We usually have about a hundred gallons of water available.”
Wyatt whistled, expressing how impressed he was. “That’s amazing.”
“What about you guys?” Dick asked. “Where are you from and how have you been surviving?”
Wyatt filled them in, telling them about the lodge and how it had been stocked before the EMP. He told them about the garden and orchard and their own water catchment systems. He glossed over the incidents that had cost Jack his life and the most recent episode with the dam. Megan was relieved. She didn’t want to rehash those painful memories.
“So, it isn't so different living in the country than it is in the city,” Mary said.
“Well, we don't have the gangs. We’ve certainly had our fair share of trouble, but I don't think it’s quite as dangerous as what you’ve all been dealing with,” Megan answered.
“In a way, they had it easier—at least in the beginning,” Bryan said. “If you could sneak out and gather supplies at night, that sure would’ve made it easier to make several hauls. Our problem is we have to walk about thirty miles to gather supplies. Then, we have to figure out how to carry it all back.”
“Both situations have their advantages and disadvantages. If this blackout persists, I think we’ll have to leave here,” Keith replied. “The gangs are getting bigger and growing in strength. It won't be long before they find us. I’d rather not be around for that.”
The room grew quiet, everyone lost in their own thoughts.
Keith cleared his throat. “Now, how did you hear about the NRU and how are you going to get in? You obviously have a plan or have something to bargain with.”
Wyatt sighed and explained how they came to find out about the NRU. He told them about Neil and the box that held something extremely important and classified. Keith had the same look of disbelief as the rest of them had. It was far-fetched, but they were told that the NRU exists, and judging by Doyle's willingness to kill to get the box, it had to be valuable.
“The future of the country depends on us getting that box to the NRU,” Megan stated. “We think if it’s that important, it should give us the bargaining power we need to get JJ some help. I know it seems selfish, but we’ll do anything to help him.”
Mary began serving them a meal that made Megan's eyes bulge.
“Are these enchiladas?” she asked in awe.
Mary smiled. “Yes, they are.”
“How?” Megan asked, unable to form a coherent sentence.
The woman giggled. “I had a friend a long time ago show me how to dip cheese in wax. Before everything went dark, I’d been slowly stockpiling two-pound cheese loafs. I dipped them in melted cheese wax and stored them down here.”
“They didn't mold?” Megan asked, still in awe over the fresh cheese melted on top of the homemade flour tortilla. She was dying to jab her fork inside to discover what the filling was.
“This is a root cellar. The area over there is dirt. The earth keeps the cheese cool, preventing it from spoiling. It’s as good as the day I bought it from the grocery store,” Mary explained.
They all took seats around the room. Mary invited them to dig in, with the promise of seconds if they wanted it. Megan had hoped to show some good manners, but she couldn't resist and stabbed her fork into the enchiladas. The cheese stretched as she put the fork to her mouth. She knew she looked ridiculous, but the cheese made her forget all about being polite.
“How are you cooking down here?” Bryan asked around a mouthful of enchilada.
Dick answered. “We have a solar oven on the roof that we use most of the time. We can't use fire because it will create smoke and alert the gangs to our presence. We use it after we’ve done a check from the roof. If there are other fires going, we can usually get away with our little plume of smoke. We have a propane stove that we use on occasion as well.”
“Propane?” Megan said with mild shock. “Aren't you worried about carbon monoxide poisoning?”
Keith shook his head. “This place isn't airtight. There’s plenty of ventilation and we have a vent directly over the stove. What he didn't tell you is we conserve the propane and rely on solar power for most of our electric needs.”
Dick grinned. “I thought we weren't supposed to talk about that?”
Keith shrugged. “I think these folks are okay. You aren't going to steal our panels and batteries, are you?”
Megan shook her head. “Nope, no way to carry them back,” she winked. “Solar power down here?”
“Panels are on the roof. Batteries are in a hidden compartment upstairs and the wires run down here. It’s basically like electrical wiring. We’ve had plenty of looters ransack the house but no one bothered with the equipment, thankfully. We have several batteries that allow us to cook, have lights and charge our laptops, if we had a use for them,” Keith explained. “I am—or was—an electrician. It was easy for me to hook everything up.”
“Wow!” Wyatt said, envy clear in his voice. “We have to get solar set up at the lodge. It can't be that hard, right?”
Keith shrugged. “Not really. The important part is the batteries. Panels are fairly easy to come by, but it’s the darn batteries that are a problem.”
Megan decided right then that’d be at the top of their list. They had to get their hands on some solar equipment. She knew it’d be tough, but maybe they’d get lucky. They had to be storing up good luck with all the bad luck that had plagued them in the past.
They finished eating their dinner. The conversation moved from surviving in the new world to their pasts and talks about the future. Megan liked Mary and it was evident Willow did too. She even allowed Mary to hold JJ for a while. Mary couldn't stop gushing about how cute he was and how she absolutely loved babies.
“I have some diapers I can give you,” Mary said, noticing the makeshift diaper JJ was wearing.
“You do?” Willow exclaimed in excitement. “We have some and we’ve been using disposables while we’re on the road, but we used the last one this morning. At home, it’s easy to wash the cloth diapers, but out here, it isn’t possible.”
Mary handed JJ to Willow and disappeared into a room. She came back carrying a package of diapers and a rattle that was still sealed in the original package.
“I've kept these on hand in case we happen to have a baby in the house,” she said with a sly smile looking at her daughter.
Caroline blushed. “Mom, I told you, I don't want to have a baby, especially now.”
“Well, sometimes these things happen and it’s better to be prepared,” Mary said.
She took the rattle from th
e package and handed it to JJ who tried to grip the handle. Helping him, she waved the rattle as his eyes lit up and seemed to focus on the noisemaker.
“Are you going to try to get to the NRU tomorrow?” Dick asked.
Megan sighed. “We hope to, but Doyle got away with the box. He could be long gone by now. Without the box, we have no bargaining chip.”
Caroline shook her head. “If he has something of value, there’s no way the gangs would let him leave. If they spotted him, they’re going to be keeping close tabs on him. He’s probably hiding out, biding his time before making an escape.” She laughed. “Your friend may have met his match with these gangs.”
“How are we going to get home?” Willow asked. “If the gangs are as ruthless as you say and have Doyle and his guys pinned down, what makes you think we can even get to the NRU or back home?”
“I think we can help you with that,” Keith said.
Wyatt looked at him. “I have a map. Any help, tips and advice you can give us would be appreciated.”
Megan sat back and let the men talk about the route. She was enjoying the company of Caroline and Mary. Even though they were huddled in an underground room, it felt cozy and peaceful. The Douglass family had made their little hideout very homey, which helped detract from the fact there were no windows or natural light.
JJ seemed happy and so far, there’d been no more crying episodes. For now, she was going to take advantage of the normalcy of the moment, which was few and far between making every single one count.
21
Megan yawned, quickly covering her mouth and apologizing to her host.
Mary smiled. “It's okay. I hope you’ll feel comfortable enough to sleep here tonight. I can only imagine what it must be like to sleep with one eye open out there. It certainly can’t be very restful.”
“I am tired. It was a bit of a rough night and I think we could all use a good night's sleep. It’s going to be another difficult day tomorrow I’m sure,” Megan replied.
Caroline carried in a load of blankets and set them beside Megan. The four women quickly made up four beds. Wyatt stood from the small table he’d been sitting at with Keith, Dick and Bryan.
“Do you have it all planned out?” Megan asked, fighting back another yawn.
“Yep. Keith showed us where the gangs tend to hang out. He also pointed out the area he thinks Doyle would’ve sought refuge. We have a route planned with a backup, in case we’re cut off or can't get by because of the gangs,” he explained.
“I can’t tell you how glad I am you found us, Mary,” Megan said, meaning every word. “You not only saved our lives today, but you’ve probably given us the golden ticket so we can make it to the NRU tomorrow. You’re truly our hero.”
Keith groaned. “Don't go getting all sappy. You'll make her cry.”
Megan smiled. “It's true. I mean it. You're an awesome lady. You're not so bad yourself, Keith,” she joked.
He guffawed and said his good night. They all crawled into their makeshift beds before Mary shut off the light.
The four of them laid side by side in the darkness. The sound of gunfire rang in the distance. The cement and the earth around them muffled the noise, but it was still there. Megan imagined what Mary and her family had been dealing with the past year and a half. The constant threat of violence and the sound of gunfire would be very hard to live with day in and day out. It would chip away at their feelings of safety, which could wreak havoc on a person's mental health.
They were a strong family and she admired them. Together, they’d defied the odds and managed to survive in a city filled with violent gangs and limited supplies. She wondered if other families in the area managed to survive like the Douglasses had.
Megan dozed off, the sounds of violence fading away as her body finally gave way to sleep. It wasn't long before she woke with a start. Panic enveloped her. She couldn't see a thing. It was pitch black. Her hand automatically reached out to feel for Wyatt. When she felt his body, she relaxed. Her mind slowed down and she could orientate herself to her surroundings.
“You okay?” Wyatt asked in a gravelly voice.
“Yeah, fine. I wonder what time it is,” she mused.
There was a faint glow from Wyatt's watch. “It's after six. We need to get moving soon,” he said.
“What? Are you serious? It feels like I only went to sleep.” She yawned. “Do we wake our hosts?” she asked in a hushed voice.
“I'm sure they’ll hear us,” Willow said in the darkness. “JJ is going to be awake any second now.”
As if on cue, JJ started to cry. Willow moved around and Megan knew she was feeding the little guy his breakfast. A light flipped on and Mary stepped into the living space.
“Good morning, everyone. I hope you slept well,” she said in a singsong voice.
“Thank you very much for your hospitality,” Bryan said, moving to a sitting position.
They all scrambled up and got busy cleaning up their mess.
“We should be going soon,” Wyatt said, helping Megan fold the blankets they’d used.
Keith walked into the room. “Why don't we go up to the roof and take a look. I'll grab my binoculars and point out the buildings you’ll want to start looking in for this Doyle guy.”
They made their way up to the roof. Megan was amazed by the neat little garden that although was small, appeared to be very prolific. She saw Roma tomatoes and realized the tomatoes that topped the enchiladas last night had come from here. The Douglass clan was very resourceful.
Keith walked to the edge of the roof and squatted down before using the binoculars to scan the area. “There,” he said pointing to an area. “That’s my guess for where they’re holed up.”
Wyatt took the binoculars, looking through while Keith directed him where to look. “I see it,” he said. “It’s riddled with bullet holes. Are those old or new?”
“I’d guess most of them are new, judging from the noise last night,” Keith confirmed. “Look around and you’ll see the gang members have the building surrounded. I'm thinking your friends had a rough night.”
Megan hooted. “Good!”
Wyatt continued to look around the area through the binoculars.
“Here's the great thing about the bad guys holing up in that particular building,” Keith started. “I worked on that building once upon a time and there’s an entrance into it that no one knows about. An air vent is blocked by a dumpster secured to the wall with a chain. All you need to do is go down the alley, which is sheltered by the surrounding buildings. Once you get there, cut the chain, pop the screws out and crawl in through the ventilation.”
Wyatt put the binoculars down. “Really? That’s great! Thanks, Keith.”
Keith turned and looked at Wyatt. “I know you don't want to hear this and it isn't what we’d planned, but I think you should hang out here until tonight, use the dark to help conceal you. With the sun already up, it’ll be dangerous, even with the buildings hiding you,” Keith explained.
Megan sighed, she was ready to get that stupid box and get it to the NRU.
“It's okay,” Wyatt told her, recognizing her frustration. “This gives us time to plan our route better. We’re walking into a lion's den. We need to go over every little step and make sure we can get out of there alive.”
She agreed. “I know. It feels like we’re always waiting. Hurry up and wait.”
They managed to get back into the basement without being seen. Megan wondered how they passed the time.
“Don't you get claustrophobic in here?” she blurted out.
Caroline sighed. “At times. It can get a little crowded. We go to the roof a lot. We sing, play games, read,” she drifted off.
Mary laughed. “It does get stuffy and I do miss the sunshine, but really, what’s the alternative?”
Megan understood, but once again, was so very thankful they had the lodge where they could roam about. When Caroline served them cucumber sandwiches, Megan began to feel gui
lty. They had to repay them for their kindness and generosity at least with more than the asparagus she’d added to the enchiladas last night. She started digging in her bag, trying to think of what she could give them. Really, the items in her bag were limited and necessary for their own survival. She came across a small box of dental floss and figured it’d be something, even if it were small.
“Here,” she said, handing the floss to Mary.
Mary took the floss, looked at Megan with an odd look before smiling and thanking her.
Megan felt like an idiot. “I'm sorry. I wanted to give you something, anything to repay you for everything you’ve done for us. Unfortunately, we had to pack light. The only thing I could find was the floss.”
Mary laughed. “Well, I can't say I was an excellent flosser before the EMP, but I guess it’s more important now than ever.”
“No, no, no,” Megan said, even more embarrassed than she’d been. “The floss can be used for other things. I was thinking you could use it like string to dry some of the fruits and veggies you’re growing or use it to hang socks to dry. Heck, you could use it to slice that wonderful cheese of yours.”
“Oh, that is so clever! I never thought of that,” Mary said looking at the floss with more excitement.
Megan laughed. “At the lodge, everything serves a second or third or hundredth purpose. We’re always trying to think outside the box. Nothing is as it seems.”
Mary nodded. “We tend to get stuck in the old ways. We’ve tried to be a little more open-minded, but we’re certainly not that advanced. I think we could learn a lot from you guys.”
Megan got an idea. “Hey, Willow, what do you think about staying here while we go and see if we can get the box. You can fill these guys in on some of the things we do around the lodge.”
Wyatt quickly backed up the idea. “That's a great idea. Would you mind if Willow and JJ stayed for a few hours?”
Mary's face lit up. “That’d be delightful! I’d love it!”
Willow hesitated before agreeing to stay behind. “It would be for the best if we stayed out of harm's way. Good idea, Megan.”
EMP Lodge Series Box Set | Books 1-6 Page 92
