“Isn’t it dangerous?” Danny asked anxiously.
“Well, I wouldn’t want to take a drink, that’s for sure.” Stan laughed. “Here, you hold the hose, I’m going to the next car.”
Danny’s hands were getting cold. He watched his dad move down the street, popping gas tanks open as he went. Some of the cars had collided in the middle of the street, and some were neatly parked along the curb, making Stan’s journey a zig-zag one.
Finally, when Danny’s hands felt numb, his dad turned around. “Is it empty yet?” he hollered.
The boy shook his head. The gas still dribbled out of the hose.
“This is taking way too long.” Stan returned and stood with his legs apart, studying the problem. “We’ll be here till next Christmas at this rate.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier to go to a gas pump?” Danny asked.
“Sure, it would if we had electricity,” Stan answered. “But if we had a pump of some kind, we could get it directly from the tank.”
The gas had stopped dripping into the can. Stan pulled the hose out of the tank and shook out the last few drops before wrapping it up. “It’s getting dark.” He said. “I need to think about this. Let’s go home and tomorrow we’ll reconsider our options.”
Miriam and Amanda were huddled in front of the stove when Stan and his son stepped in the back door. One candle burned between their chairs and a pot of watery stew bubbled on top of the heater. The two women looked up when they heard them stamping the snow from their boots.
“How did you make out with the gas?” Miriam asked.
“Not too good.” Stan hung his coat on the hook. “We need some kind of pump. Siphoning by hand is going to take too long. How did you make out with the tire lady?”
“It’s Jim Morgan’s wife and kids.” Miriam stood up and began to fill bowls with the stew. “Jim wasn’t home when the blackout happened so she’s been alone all winter. She managed to get a bunch of canned goods before they were all gone, but now they’re down to peas and water. The baby is too little to leave, so she couldn’t go very far.” She paused to wipe a tear from her cheek. “I asked her why she didn’t ask for help, but she said she hasn’t seen anybody, and was afraid to go out. Today when she saw Danny, she thought she could trust him because he’s just a boy.”
“It’s my fault,” Amanda said glumly. “I didn’t knock on that door because it looked deserted.”
“How did they keep warm?” Stan accepted the bowl and pulled a chair closer to the heater.
“Luckily they have a wood fireplace. She’s burned nearly everything wooden in the house and the fence and the neighbour’s fence. I told her we would bring her some wood. We can, can’t we?”
“Of course, we can.” Stan sipped his stew, then looked into his bowl. “There are peas in here!” he exclaimed.
“Yes, she was happy to trade some of her cans for a few pounds of meat.” Miriam smiled. “In fact, she insisted on it. Didn’t want to take charity, she said.”
“I’m going over there.” Amanda stood up and reached for her coat. “I feel terrible that she slipped through the cracks. The town doesn’t have much, but there was no need for her to suffer like that all winter.”
The door closed behind her. “I should go with her,” Stan said. He stretched his legs in front of the chair. “But I’m exhausted. What with carrying Ralph down the stairs and the gasoline search, I’ve had it.”
“What did you do with him?” Miriam asked, then held her hand up to stop his reply. “Never mind, I probably don’t want to know.”
When Amanda stamped her way into the house an hour later, the family was stretched out on their mattresses. Stan’s eyes shone in the firelight when he turned them toward her.
“Sorry,” she whispered. Leaving her boots by the door and spreading her coat over her own bed, she crawled between the covers. Her hands and feet were blue with cold and she curled into a ball. The fire crackled and she said a little prayer of thanks for these good people. In a matter of minutes, she was asleep.
Stan laid for a long time considering the problem of fuel for the truck. Siphoning gas tanks was too slow. What he needed was a pump. Miriam snuggled against his back and soon the room was filled with soft snores.
Chapter 23 – Gas
Stan and Danny opened the door into a fairyland. The snow twinkled and flashed in the morning sunlight. Water dripped from stalactites of ice hanging from every eavestrough. The tops of shrubs and hedges were poking through the snow.
“Let's start with the gas stations,” Stan said, donning his sunglasses. “They must have hand pumps for emergencies.”
Danny didn’t answer but trudged alongside. They tried to stay on the trails they had made but kept breaking through the frozen surface. By the time they had walked the half-mile to the station, they were exhausted.
Somebody had been there before them. The front window had been smashed and snow covered the entire store. The shelves were bare and the till stood open.
Stan laughed. “This must have happened the first week when people thought money had a use.” He pushed open the door to the garage and shivered. Sunlight filtered through a narrow window giving the room a modicum of light. In the corners, shadows gathered; abandoned tools lay scattered around, waiting for their owners to return.
“It’s colder in here than outside.” Danny hunched his shoulders inside his coat.
“Just look for anything that resembles a pump.” Stan rummaged in a metal cabinet. It’ll have a hose and some kind of lever on it.”
“I found a flashlight,” Danny blurted. Then, “Oh, it doesn’t work.”
“Stick it under your coat for a while,” his dad advised. “Warm the batteries up. That’s a wonderful find, Son, but keep looking.”
The two of them rooted around for an hour. Stan pocketed some batteries and a tire gauge. That reminded him he would need tires too. They found a cage full of old tires behind the shop, and he told Danny they would come back later for a closer look.
At the second service station, they found what they were looking for. A portable pump was still sealed in the box, complete with instructions. Danny whooped in glee. They were one step closer to getting the old truck mobile.
Back at home, they pulled the pump out of the box. “It looks pretty simple,” Stan said to his son. “Put one tube in the gas tank, the other one in the gas can and squeeze this little bulb.”
They loaded the empty gas cans on the sled and headed down the street.
“We’ll go further away this time,” Stan said. “All our neighbours have probably cleaned out the cars around here.”
They stopped beside a red Mustang with a crumpled fender and flipped the gas tank lid open. The new pump worked like a charm and they soon filled two cans.
“This looks like Will Thompson’s car,” Danny commented. He peered into the driver’s side window. The car was empty except for a pile of cigarette butts stuffed into the ashtray and an empty beer bottle.
“C’mon, Son let's keep going.” Stan was already walking to the next car, a blue Nissan. “The more gas we get, the further I can drive.”
They filled all the cans and set out for home as the sun was setting. Stan popped the new batteries into the flashlight, and for once, they had light to show the way home. They both thought the day had been a profitable one.
Tomorrow, Stan thought to himself, he would find some tires and set out to find his daughter.
Chapter 24 – The Drive East
The truck tires spun uselessly in the snow. Stan leaned on the back fender and yelled, “Give it gas, Danny.”
Dirty slush shot out covering his boots and pants. The truck settled deeper.
“Should I try again,” Danny asked anxiously.
“No, it's no use.” Stan stepped back and surveyed the situation, The old tires were buried in the frozen snow. In front of them, it was a solid sheet of white to the end of the alley. I need a tow truck, Stan thought glumly. His son watched hopefully f
rom behind the wheel.
“Let’s dig out a trench,” he said finally. “We’ll put the new tires on and then try again. Maybe we can get some help with the pushing.” The trouble is, he thought to himself, is that wherever I go, it's going to be the same. No snowplows cleared the highway. I’ll probably need to shovel a lot.
He had hoped to drive to the garage and change the tires, but now he had to bring them here. He’d better look for a good jack, too. He had promised Miriam that he would start out today, but now, he wasn’t sure about that. He hated to tell her. The past few days she had seemed to come out of her depression, what with Amanda and the lady down the street, and the possibility of finding Tara. She had started humming when preparing meals and she didn’t spend her whole day staring at the fire. Now, he might have to bring her hopes down again. He sighed heavily.
Sure enough, it was dark by the time they had hauled the tires from the garage and installed them. Extra gas cans were secured in the back of the van and the tank was full.
“Okay, Danny. Let’s try it again.”
During the day the snow had melted and patches of mud were showing in spots. The truck roared to life and before Stan could push, it lurched forward and died.
“Sorry, Dad.”
Stan slapped the fender with a gloved hand. “It’s okay, Son. It moved! So tomorrow, I’m sure we can get to the street and onto the highway.”
Stan spent a restless night, impatient to get on his way. Beside him, Miriam stared at the ceiling. “Which way will you go?” she asked finally.
“I can only go as far as my gas supply will let me,” he answered. “I’m heading east first, toward Prince George. It seems to me that a bunch of kids would want to go to a city. And I can check on my parents at the same time.”
She wriggled closer to him and reached for his hand under the covers. They were both aware of Danny sleeping close by, and Amanda stretched out near the door. He squeezed her hand. “If she’s out there,” he said, “I’ll find her.”
Miriam nodded in the dark. “I know you will.”
They were all up before the sun. Miriam came out and climbed behind the wheel of the truck. The other three pushed with all their might. The truck roared and strained through the snow and mud, but eventually, they were out of the alley.
Stan helped Miriam out of the truck. She looked doubtfully at the snow-covered pavement. “Don’t worry,” he reassured her. “I might have to shovel a bit, but every day the snow goes down more. Look,” he pointed. “You can see pavement in a lot of places.”
“Maybe Danny should come with you,” she said. “He could help you clear the road.”
“No.” Stan shook his head. “You need him here to help you.” He lowered his voice. “You heard Doyle. There are sights out there no twelve-year-old should see.”
“You’re right.” Miriam kissed him on the lips. “Be careful and we’ll see you soon.”
Stan hugged her tightly before stowing a thermos of soup and jars of water behind the seat.
He shook hands with Amanda and he hugged his son. “Look after your mom,” he said. “I’m trusting you.”
Danny nodded.
Stan climbed into the driver’s seat and with a wave of his hand was on his way. They watched as the old panel van fought its way through piles of snow and around abandoned cars. It reached the end of the street, turned and disappeared from view.
He was gone for nearly two weeks. The snow had disappeared from much of the front yard and tiny crocuses were poking through. Miriam was surprised at the number of people who appeared, pale and thin, from abandoned-looking houses. Amanda had started spending nights at the station so she could be available for those who needed help.
“I hate to say it,” she told Miriam one evening after supper, “but we’re going to have to start picking up bodies before it gets too warm.”
“Are there many?” Miriam looked at her in surprise.
“Afraid so.” Amanda sipped at her cup of hot water. “Some of the people at the senior’s home seemed to have starved to death. I don’t know if the staff ran away, or if they just ran out of supplies. And some of the cars on the highway have people still in them.”
“What will you do?” Miriam asked.
“I think I’ll go door to door and see how many able-bodied people there are to help. We can’t leave them. It’s not only dangerous to our health, but it’s disrespectful.”
Miriam nodded. “I can help. Why don’t we make some flyers asking for assistance? You can set a day.”
“We should have some kind of reward for helping.” Amanda wrinkled her forehead in thought. “We don’t have any food and money is useless, so what could it be?”
“How about wood?” Danny spoke up. He had been half-listening while worrying about his dad. He wondered where he was now and how long he would be gone. Now, he added, “Everybody needs wood. I can cut enough to give everybody a bundle.”
Amanda smiled across the stove at him. “That’s a good idea, Danny. But it might turn into a bigger job than you think.”
“I’ll manage.” He said stoutly.
************************************************************************
Miriam bolted awake when the back door slammed against the wall. A dark shadow loomed against the night sky. She took a deep breath, preparing to scream.
“Damn.” The shadowy form muttered.
She relaxed. The voice was familiar. She sat up, shivering as an icy wind blew through the kitchen. The door closed with a soft click.
Stan turned towards the mattress. Her pale face reflected the moonlight shining through the kitchen window.
“Sorry,” he said quietly. “The wind grabbed the door right out of my hands.”
Miriam became aware of the rattling windows and the wind moaning around the house. Danny slept on, exhausted by a day of chopping wood and pulling it out of the forest on his sleigh.
“You’re alone,” she said softly.
“Yes.” Stan struggled out of his parka and boots. He walked in his stocking feet over to the mattress and lowered himself onto it. “I can tell you everything in the morning.”
“Tell me now,” she demanded. “I need to know.”
Stan hesitated. “I didn’t find her.” He pulled his overalls off and laid down on the mattress. “I’m really tired, Miriam. I haven’t slept in days.”
“Do you think I have?” she whispered angrily. “Do you think I could sleep, wondering where you were, and where my daughter is?”
“I know.” Stan reached out to pull her closer, but she turned her back and curled into a tight ball. “Please, Miriam. Let’s talk in the morning. I don’t want to wake Danny.”
She didn’t answer, but when she turned to face him, he was already snoring, his mouth hanging open slightly and his beard moving with every breath. She snuggled closer. Her nose wrinkled with the smell of him, but she laid her head on his shoulder and drifted off to sleep.
They woke up to the sound of wood being dropped into the heater. Danny already had his coat on ready to leave. An empty bowl sat on the counter, scraped clean of the cold stew he had eaten for breakfast.
When he saw they were awake, he grinned down at them. “Hi, Dad. When did you blow in?”
“Blow in was right.” Stan sat up. He was still wearing the same shirt he had left in. “Did you hear the wind?”
“Not really. I didn’t hear anything until an hour ago when I woke up.”
“Where are you going?” Stan shook his head, trying to wake himself up. Miriam rolled away from him, wrapping the blankets more tightly around herself.
“Getting wood.” Danny pulled on his gloves. “It’s a long story,” he said to his dad’s inquiring look. “You’ll have to ask mom.”
“Wait.” Stan held out his hand. “I need to tell you about my trip, and I want you both here.”
The boy looked towards his mother. She poked her head out from the blankets and nodded. Danny began stripping off his outerw
ear. “I’m guessing you didn’t find her,” he said glumly.
“You guess right.” Stan pulled his overalls on and padded over to the counter. He looked into the pot sitting on the end. It held chunks of meat and a few carrots. Grease had congealed on the top of the liquid. “Why didn’t you heat this up?” he carried the pot over to the stove.
“I guess I was in a hurry.” Danny grinned. “And I didn’t want to wake you up. You both looked so peaceful lying there.”
By this time, Miriam had stood up and wrapped her fleecy robe around her. She had kept her woollen socks on while she slept. She moved closer to the heater and held her hands over it.
Stan glanced around the room. “Where’s Amanda?”
“She’s been sleeping at the station,” Miriam said. “With the warmer weather, more people have been coming out of their houses. She’s staying there to be available to them.” She pulled a chair over beside the stove and sat down. “We’ve also formed a team to search for all the bodies in town so they can be moved before it gets too warm.”
“That’s why I’ve been cutting lots of wood,” Danny piped up. “I give it to anyone who helps.”
“How many are there?” Stan dipped a finger into the stew to check how hot it was. He was hungry enough to eat it cold but trying to restrain himself.
“How many bodies, or how many helpers?” Miriam scowled at him. “Get a spoon.”
“Both.”
“Lots of bodies.” Miriam took a deep breath. “Thirty in the hospital alone.”
Stan paused the spoon halfway to his mouth. Suddenly he wasn’t as hungry. “And helpers?”
“Twenty, counting me and Amanda,” Miriam said. “And most of us are pretty weak. But we can’t leave them. It’s not healthy or respectful.”
The Incident | Book 3 | Winter of Darkness Page 10
