The Crash: An EMP Survival Story (EMP Crash Book 1)

by Kip Nelson

  “Now, me, I was raised just over yonder,” she threw a hand and lazily pointed west, “past the river. And every Sunday my parents would take me to church. I grew up in a small town that barely had fifty people in it. So we came to this church, and that was how I started to meet new people and, I have to be honest, when I was a little girl I didn't pay much attention to boys. I always liked reading. But one day, Willie walked into that church and, well, I must have been fifteen at the time, and by that point I was starting to wish that some of the things in these books were going to happen to me. Anyway, he walked in wearing his suit and he looked so handsome. When he looked at me and smiled I went as red as a beetroot!

  “After church was over he came over and said hello. I just ran away without saying anything, and for the rest of the week I turned it over and over again in my mind and scolded myself for being so stupid. I promised that if he was at church again I would say hello. And, of course, he was there the next Sunday. I still felt so nervous, but afterward I went up to him and I started talking. The words came out, and before I knew it we were courting. Then eventually we got married in the same church and Luke and Margaret came along...”

  All while she was saying this Mack tried to hide his amused smile, for the conversation had begun simply and now he was being given the entire family history. Behind him Margaret cringed and grimaced at Luis, who returned her smile, but didn't seem to notice the way her gaze lingered on him.

  The two women took the group around the farm, showing them the horses and the cattle, and all the machinery that they couldn't use anymore. There was a big well from which they drew their water, and there were still enough crops that they had enough vegetables to eat. There were also plenty of chickens. There were a couple of horses trotting about in the field. In the barn was all the feed for the animals. Elaine lamented that they wouldn't be able to get any more, although there seemed to be enough to last for a few good years.

  “It looks like you've got a good setup here,” Mack said.

  “It's not bad, certainly could be worse from what you've been saying. We have a roof over our heads and food on the table, so that's enough for now. Hopefully, we'll all be able to make it through this situation and get back to life as normal. Now, I'm sure all this walking and talking has made you work up an appetite. So let's get back to the house and get you settled in,” Elaine said, although given that she had been doing most of the talking it was a wonder she wasn't starving.

  They walked back to the house and cast admiring glances at what they had seen. Willie and Elaine were very lucky with all they had around them, and Mack hoped they managed to keep it that way. It would be a shame if it was threatened or taken from them. In a way, he was sorry he had managed to find the farm. If he could find it, then so could other people, including the group that had attacked the bunker. From what he had seen they would not be so easily deterred with just a shotgun.

  When they arrived at the house the three of them were shown upstairs to a spare room. Elaine apologized that they didn't have enough space to have a room for each of them. Elaine offered Grace the opportunity to share a room with Margaret, but she said that she preferred to stay with Mack and Luis. The three of them were relieved to be able to relax and give their muscles a rest. Margaret made a point to say goodbye to Luis, and offered him a warm smile. Again, Grace scowled to herself. Mack was a little concerned, as he noticed she was becoming more and more withdrawn, but decided not to say anything just yet. They took turns at washing up.

  Once they had settled in, Mack went down to see if there was anything they could help with. Elaine insisted that, for the time being at least, they were guests and deserved to have some time to relax, an offer which Mack and the others accepted graciously. Willie and Luke were nowhere to be found. Mack presumed they were doing some work around the farm. Grace and Luis took a nap while Mack flipped through some of the family’s books. It was nice to be in a proper home again, one that felt lived in, with people who were kind and good and friendly. It reaffirmed his belief that, at its core, humanity was a positive force, and that it could flourish even in these darkest of times.

  At dinner they all gathered around the table and shared stories. Mack expressed his gratitude for the food, as did Luis and Grace, although Grace barely spoke throughout the whole thing. Margaret had positioned herself next to Luis and the two of them were lost in their own world of conversation. Mack made a note to have a quick word with Luis at some point, for Willie was looking protectively at his daughter.

  “So how long are you thinking of staying?” Willie asked.

  “Getting tired of us already?” Mack said with an easy smile.

  “Nonsense!” Elaine protested, “And don't you talk like you're wanting them to leave, Willie. That's not very hospitable of you. You three can stay as long as you like,” she said, nodding firmly.

  “I didn't mean it like that. I just meant, what are your plans for the future? You don't seem like the type of people to stay in one place for too long.”

  “I guess not. Well, the thing is I was heading home on the plane and that journey got interrupted. The main thing now is to try finding new people, seeing if there's a way out of this. We're going to head up to the city to see if there are any survivors there. Hopefully, someone has set up an organization or something to get everyone through these hard times. Then I guess it's just a case of starting over. My wife is down in the southern part of the country. So ultimately I'd like to find her again, but we'll see. What about yourselves? Are you just going to stay here?”

  “We don't need to go anywhere else. We have everything we need. Maybe eventually we're going to have to go out there and search for some supplies, but right now I think it's better for us to stay here, out of sight,” Willie said.

  They spoke a little more about the general state of the world, and Elaine was once again happy to lead the conversation. The meal was delicious and by the end of it, because the portions were so generous and their stomachs hadn't been used to such food, the trio's stomachs were fit to burst. They all sighed with contentment. Elaine seemed happy that her cooking had been so well-received.

  The light was dwindling, so they retreated into the living room and the conversation continued. Luis and Margaret seemed engrossed in whatever they were talking about, and at some point Grace had slipped away without Mack noticing. He excused himself to go look for her, and found her sitting outside on a fence, looking out at the sun that was dipping below the horizon. The sky glowed a deep bronze and the temperature had dropped a little. Grace was sitting with her back hunched and her chin resting on her hand. Mack walked up and leaned against the fence beside her. Neither of them said anything for a little while.

  “Are you okay?” he began.

  She grunted. Mack watched the stars emerge as the veil of the day slipped away. He spared a thought for the astronauts stuck on the space station. They were somewhere up there, looking down upon the Earth, most likely sparing a thought for all the people caught in the apocalypse.

  “What happened to sticking together?” he asked.

  Grace adjusted her legs and pulled her top down to cover her lap. She sniffed and cleared her throat, then pulled her sleeve over her hand once again and resumed her position. Her hair had fallen forward over her left eye and she had made no move to change its position. It reminded Mack of how she had been sitting when they first had been on the plane. Of course, at that point they had been handcuffed together.

  “I just wanted to get some air. Don't get me wrong, I like being with you guys, but sometimes I need some time alone.”

  “Do you want me to go back inside?”

  Grace paused. “No...” she sighed and then swung her leg over so she was straddling the fence and facing Mack. “I don't belong here, Mack.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I'm not used to being with people. The only time I've ever felt like I belonged anywhere was in cyberspace. All this is...it's a little too much right no
w.”

  “So you feel overwhelmed?”

  “Yes, very much so. You know, I knew things were going to be different when the plane crashed and we started off together, but I didn't know they would be like this. Your whole thing is talking to people; my whole thing is avoiding contact with people. I'm not used to talking with people this much, and I don't know if I can handle it.”

  “It is a big change, and we really haven't had a chance to process everything that's happened. But try thinking about it this way. You say you were closed off from people before, but you've told me you had your hacker group. You were still in contact with people. Connecting with people is a fundamental part of our nature. Maybe you just have to try thinking of it in those terms; instead of typing to them you just have to speak. I think if you give it a shot you'd be good at it. After all, we've done pretty well, and you don't seem to have a problem with Luis.”

  “I know, but that was just the three of us. Now there are these other people, and I just...”

  “Are you being entirely honest with me? Is there something else going on here? I said I'd listen to you if you had a problem. Is your gut telling you something or worrying again?” he asked. Grace's eyes glanced back at the house.

  “No, not this time. It's just...man, I don't know. It just sounds stupid.”

  “Try me,” Mack urged, and when Grace still didn't respond he took a more serious tone.

  “We said we would trust each other, right? And so far, I think I've proven that trust. I haven't told anyone about your past or that you were my prisoner. But we're not going to make it through this if we can't be honest with each other. I know we started off as officer and prisoner, but I'd like to think we've become friends. I've always been the type of guy to look out for his friends. So if you've got something on your mind then tell me, and try letting me help.”

  Grace rolled her bottom lip under her teeth as she considered his words and eventually exhaled deeply. “Okay,” she said, “but don't tell Luis this, and promise that you won't think I'm a dork.”

  “I promise,” Mack said.

  “Okay, so, the thing is I've never really been good with change, and I kinda got used to the idea that it was going to be just the three of us for a while. But now there are all these people, and if we go to the city there are going to be more, and I just...I'm afraid that I'm going to be lost in the shuffle. I hate the idea of needing other people.”

  “Is that because you're afraid they're going to leave you?”

  “Yeah, I mean, I'm nothing special. I'm more of an inconvenience to you than anything else. I just...I don't want to get into a situation where I'm feeling like I'm dependent on other people when they just can cut me loose without a second thought. I know it's irrational but that's, well, you wanted me to be honest.”

  “And I'm glad you have been,” Mack said, suddenly realizing Grace was a very vulnerable person who was going to need a lot of encouragement before she felt like she belonged in this new world.

  “You have to realize, though, that I'm not going to leave anyone behind, not if I can help it. And you aren't an inconvenience at all. You were the one who knew something was up with Kathryn and her family, and you're the one out of all of us who knows the most about EMPs. If we ever do find some kind of working electronics, you're the one we're going to turn to. But, like I said before, you're my friend as well.

  “I'm glad you've been around so I can talk to you about Anna and things like that. Truth is, you're the one who has kept me sane and focused. And just because there are other people around doesn't change that. But if it makes you feel better, I don't plan on staying here for long. We still have things to do.”

  “To get back to your wife,” Grace said in a hollow voice.

  “Yes, hopefully.”

  “What will happen to me then?” Grace asked, sorrow plain in her eyes. Mack reached out and squeezed her arm tightly.

  “There is a place for you in this world, Grace, you just have to stop fighting and let it happen. But I promise I won't abandon you. Now, do you want to come in?”

  “I think I'm going to stay out here a while. It's nice and peaceful,” she said, turning back to the horizon.

  “Okay, well, don't stay out too late. I think they're going to make us earn our keep here tomorrow.”

  He patted her on the back and then turned to walk away. As he took a few steps away Grace called out to him and thanked him, which made him smile. He was glad he had been able to make a connection with her. Even though the EMP had separated him from his beloved, at least it had given Grace a second chance to make something of herself.

  Meanwhile, Margaret and Luis had been talking in the sitting room, and as the night had continued, they too, slipped out. Margaret offered to show him her favorite place in the whole world, and who was Luis to resist an offer like that? The two of them walked out into the night and strolled around the farm. Conversation flowed easily between them, and Margaret seemed enchanted with everything that Luis had to say.

  “You must have seen so many things on your travels,” Margaret said, eyes wide with a thirst to know everything about him.

  “I don't know about that, I've just been going across the country, trying to find out more about myself and the world around me.”

  “That's so romantic. You're like one of those old heroes that just went off into the sunset, never to return. I've been stuck on this farm all my life, and it doesn't look like I'll be going anywhere anytime soon. Dad made it very clear he needs all the help he can get.”

  “I'm sure you'd soon start missing them if you did leave. It's nice that you're all so close.”

  “If it's so bad, why aren't you with your family?”

  “It's just...it's complicated.”

  “Well that sounds like a story right there,” she said, trying to use her charm to get him to open up. Instead, Luis changed the subject and asked her where she was taking him.

  “It's just a place I've been going to since I was little. It gives a good view of the area. I used to pretend there was a big kingdom out there filled with monsters and knights, and one day I'd be taken away and have to take my place as the princess.”

  “And be rescued by a knight?” Luis said, cocking an eyebrow.

  “Hell no! I'd be the one rescuing him,” Margaret replied, punching him lightly on the arm. They both laughed as they strolled along to the mystery destination.

  “You know, I've never known a girl like you. They don't make them like you back home.”

  “That's because there aren't any girls like me, but you hardly know me at all yet, Mr. Luis.”

  “Then maybe I should get to know you better.”

  “Maybe you should,” she said, and began to increase her pace, skipping in front of him. “What do you want to know?”

  “Everything!” he called out, and by now they were running full tilt, laughter bursting from their lungs as quickly as the air they were breathing.

  Margaret yelped as Luis almost got within reach and his hand brushed against her arm, but she twisted out and ran forward until she was captured against a tree. Their chests were heaving and as they looked in each other’s eyes they saw the stars reflected in them, and a whole new world was opened up to them. Their breathing slowed and grew deeper, and the rhythm of their hearts melted together.

  “We're here,” Margaret said softly, and tilted her head up.

  Luis' eyes followed and he saw a web of branches. Margaret grinned, and before Luis knew it, she had shinned up the tree and was climbing the branches expertly, cajoling Luis to follow her. Never had he climbed a tree before but he wasn't going to let that stop him, not when there was a beautiful girl waiting for him. After a few failed attempts he finally made it up the tree and clambered across the branches to join Margaret, who was sitting atop one of them, staring out over the horizon, much like Grace was doing at that very moment. Luis gasped in astonishment.

  “It's beautiful,” he said.

  “Yes, it is,”
she replied, and smiled at him warmly.

  He turned to look at her, and the two of them shimmied closer together so their dangling legs were touching. As their feet swung they occasionally brushed each other, causing a flush of emotion to rush through both of them.

  “So Luis, you left your family behind. Did you leave a girl behind, too?”

  Luis laughed. “One of the reasons I left was because I couldn't get a girl.”

  “Why?”

  “What do you mean why? Why couldn't I get a girl?”

  “Yeah, is there something wrong with you?”

  “Uh, I don't think so. At least, I hope not,” Luis said, running his hand across his head, feeling slightly uncomfortable at this blunt line of questioning.

  “Although, I guess there was something wrong with me from their point of view.”

  “Why do you think it was so hard?”

  “All the girls I knew seemed to want someone who could drive and had a job and direction in their life, but I never wanted to be some guy who just had a job. I wanted to do something I was passionate about, I just never really found out what that was. So I left and now I'm here.”

  “Well, now nobody has a job, so maybe your prospects are looking better.”

  “Maybe,” he said, “and what about you? Do you have a guy somewhere?”