by Cooper, DJ
Dystopia
Revelations
A Character Novel
Dystopia
Copyrights
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Dystopia: Revelations
The Betrayal
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Note from the Author
Resources
Composting
Rain Water
Gravity fed Solar Shower
Free downloadable files
Solar Hot Water
Wood Fired Hot Water
Solar Panels
Batteries
Solar Window Heaters
Cache
Morse Code
Bug out bags aka the BOB
A.N.T.S
Canning and preserving
Dakota pit or fire hole
Ham Radios
Lye Soap
Videos
Self Defense Videos
NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protection
Free Downloadable files
About the Author
Dystopia: The Dark Days
The Reset
Chapter 1
Copyrights
Copyright © 2017 D.J. Cooper
All rights reserved
ISBN – 13: 978-1981132102
ISBN – 10: 1981132104
Copyright © All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored, transmitted by any means, for profit or gain, without the expressed permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
This is a work of fiction. No techniques are recommended without proper safety measures and training. The author nor publisher assumes no liability for your actions.
Visit www.djcooper.co
Acknowledgements
Many helped bring this book to completion with words of encouragement, support, and help. Many things happened during the writing of this work, and there is so much I have to be grateful for. Writing this was such a great experience, sharing thoughts with others during this writing gave enormous amounts of insight and inspiration.
I’d like to thank my friends and family who supported and encouraged me to write this book.
Thank you to a great friend and classmate Conny Fuller who served as a beta reader, confidant, and emotion booster on this work, offering words of encouragement and a boost when times were slow.
A very special thanks to Rachel Jodoin, who is inspirational in her quest for knowledge. Always willing to chat up a new idea or thing for our characters to do along the way. A favorite moment was the day we went in discovery of the “Fat Wood,” described in the MCQ bushcraft videos (you can find these in the resources section of this book). Ever updating either her bug out bags or studying what herb is good for what thing, she is a shining example that you can better your position with knowledge and perseverance. She seeks all manner of knowledge and applies it to her preparedness skill set.
Finally and most importantly I’m so thankful for my children Chris and Jamie, who always believe in mommy even when she can’t believe herself. I love you both and am truly blessed and thankful for such amazing children.
Foreword
“One of the darkest evils of our world is surely the unteachable wildness of the good."
-H.G. Wells
This book took considerable time to write; the first book fell out like word vomit, the second I once described as bleeding through my fingertips. I wanted to bring you insights into the possibilities and the ways different people will play into the grand scheme in an SHTF scenario. Part of the struggle in writing all of these was the ever-changing landscape of the craziness that surrounds us; I wanted to offer real-life examples of how we all should prepare. Keeping with the premise of the first book it was difficult not to include the struggles faced by many today.
The story of the friends that must make it to their family is one of struggles and strife, full of betrayal. Rita betrayed on an ultimate level shows how each of us will adapt when the time comes. A new understanding of the things people will do in bad situations. Often I am reminded that the rule of law (ROL) only serves to keep the honest in line, once ROL disintegrates many of our friends and neighbors may turn to crime or even on the very friends they say they love.
The book enhances the understanding of the story of Matt and Destiny started in the first book. Living in a changed world and trying to survive. What would you do without your world of technology? Without fast food, fast internet, and instant gratification? In a world where you question the source of every meal? Could you survive? Could you make it on a journey of more than nine hundred miles?
Like the first two books, follow up to the story you will find a list of resources that I hope you will find as useful as I have. It is one thing to know about something; it is a whole different concept to put it into practical application.
I hope you enjoy Revelations as much as I did in writing it, I hope you can identify with the characters, and it sparks the questions in you that arose when writing it and that it encourages you to prepare.
DJ Cooper
Dystopia
Revelations
A Character Novel
The Betrayal
Standing there by the river, I pleaded with Morgan. Begging her to go to John and tell him what happened, “Why would you kill your husband? You have to know that Cindy can’t be trusted, don’t you know she was in on the plot to kill us all?”
Before I could say another word, I saw Morgan’s eyes dart to the right, and I knew someone was there. Turning, but too late. I tried to block it, but the rock came down on my head. Instantly, I felt dizzy. My head was swimming realizing that after what they did to Kevin, they planned to kill me. All I could think was, “What will happen to Matty?” Falling to my knees, the blood ran freely into my eyes and mouth; the thick warm ooze with a sickening metallic taste made me nauseous. A kick to the abdomen clinched it, and I vomited violently. Peering up at them, I could see someone coming in the distance. Hands and knees on the rocky shore, blood staining the cold white rocks. I collapsed with the icy river gurgling behind me. I reached out and tried to call for help. Just then another kick and I felt that icy water envelop my body.
Chapter 1
“Fear”
“Yet each man kills the thing he loves. By each let this be heard. Some do it with a bitter look. Some with a flattering word. The coward does it with a kiss. The brave man with a sword.”
-Oscar Wilde
October 14th
“Why am I wet? I’m so cold, and my head… it hurts, where am I?” Reaching for the throbbing gash on my head it felt heavy and a shock hit me. Choking on a mouthful of water, I begin to realize that this is indeed water. “I’m in the water; Oh My God! I’m going to drown! Open your eyes, open your eyes.”
My semi-conscious mind was screaming at me to wake up, and I realize where I’m. Regaining a sense of equilibrium and the magnitude of my situation. I frantically begin flailing and grasping at the water, reaching out for anything, the stinging cold of the water is all my limbs can feel.
My legs, were almost completely numb, and only dully registering the pain as I’m slamm
ed into a rock after rock. Fully awake now I realize that I’m in a river and it is getting faster. I don’t remember how I got here though. Lifting my head to look around; my head is jerked painfully back and I realize my hair is tangled in this tree.
“This is a tree? I’m on a tree; this is what is keeping me afloat. I’m ok.” My mind was clearing; I’m feeling calmer and thinking faster now. It becomes an urgent need that I must get out of this river. Rocks are slamming into me as this tree, and I float, spinning off them. Righting myself over and over, I hang on as we bob down the icy river. There is no way I am going to be able to swim to shore, my arms and legs feel weak and cold. I don’t know how I got in the river or how long I’d been floating, only that my head was pounding and I was so cold the shivering was making my arms and legs stiff.
Slowly it occurred to me, realizing that I don’t know a lot of things, what day it is, why I’m even near a river when I should be… “Wait, I don’t even know what I would normally be doing. I know my name is…is… I don’t even know that.”
The river moved me swiftly along. After freeing my hair from the tree I looked to either side; both shores were densely wooded, with large trees and walls of shrubs beneath its canopy. There was no sign of human occupancy, not a cabin or campsite. I was not only lost in my own mind, but in this stark reality as well. Setting my sights ahead, I spotted a bend in the river where the water pooled peacefully; I begin to kick frantically, trying to steer the tree in the direction of the quiet water. The current is too fast, and I’m not strong enough to make it.
Passing by the bend without even the slightest change in my trajectory, I collapsed back onto the log. Tears welled up; I’m too weak to exert any real force against this current. I can’t steer the tree, and I’m too scared to let it go. Without the tree to keep me afloat I know deep down, I’ll surely drown. Looking from shore to shore, I can see that there is no alternative but to let go of the tree. It has been my savior, my lifeboat, at this point it is all I know. It suddenly feels like my lifeline and the fear wells up inside me. Swallowing hard on the lump on my throat building myself up to shake off the terror. Deep down I know, if I’m going to live that… I must let go.
Preparing myself to let go of the tree, I’m stunned when with a thud it comes to a halt. The current nearly pulling me under the tree, I try to hang on. The smooth layers where the bark was missing were slimy from the algae build up on it. Grasping at it the slippery surface as it slipped by my hand. The icy water is sucking me into its frigid embrace as the water engulfs my head. My arm, even still,
sliding down the tree as the current drags me further into the darkness of the water. Finding a smaller branch I grasp it in desperation, barely able to make my limbs work, the cold immobilizing them. In a rush of adrenaline, I pull myself atop the mass of now, securely wedged, debris. Coughing and sputtering I lay across the web of branches and debris. I can now see my situation. I failed to see this pileup of trees from behind the tree in the water that even I now sit perched upon, thankful for another breath of sweet air.
Stranded about a hundred feet from the shoreline, here I find a place of refuge and a prison. The rocks here are larger than the ones I’d recently passed over, and I can see that there are also some larger trees caught in this cradle of twisted debris. Climbing further onto the mass it is fairly sturdy, and I can better see where I’m.
The shoreline looked a thousand feet off, both sides out of reach. Sitting down, I begin to cry. I’m feeling confused, and also starting to show signs of hypothermia. I can’t think, yet I know I must get out of this river and get dry or drowning will be the least of my worries. Right now my problem was larger, I’m more likely going to freeze to death.
It doesn’t feel that cold, but I can see my breath in the air. Looking up at the sun, I realize I have no idea if it is rising or setting. I hold my hand up to shield my eyes from its burning bright light and note that it sits about three fingers above the tree line. I should check it again when I figure out how to get off my small island.
Sitting quietly on this brush island, trying to figure out what has happened and what to do. Looking around I realize for the first time, that I smelled something, it was faint but very distinct. It was fire; I smelled fire. Someone was out there; maybe they would help me. I called out as loud as I could, “Help me.”
My voice wasn’t very strong, and it was hoarse and quivering from the cold. I tried again, “Help me, please, somebody.” Calling out repeatedly and getting no response, I felt helpless. Looking up at the sun I didn’t even have to measure to see that it was definitely setting. Fearing this would be my last day on earth, I was saddened to think that I wasn’t even sure if anyone would miss me. I had no idea if I had any family or even friends.
Sitting here atop the mass of broken wood, I sank into despair. Thinking of what my life would have been as a lonely woman. Telling myself that no one came in search of me, I sink further into despair, thinking, “I must not have anyone.” It was the dark road my mind was taking me. A stroll down pity lane that would surely get me killed. I continued wallowing in this self-pity, “I probably had a cat,” That was actually funny, and laughing to myself, I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head to clear it again, “This is helping nothing, get up and get off this damn island, there has to be someone.”
Looking around at my small stand of broken branches, I find some smaller wood and collect a few pieces. Asking aloud to myself, “I know I can use these to help me float to the shallows. But how can I make this work?”
My plan seemed solid, and I considered my options until I realized I would either need to hold them or lash them to myself. I knew I would need my arms to help propel myself to the sandy shore; it was but a mere hundred feet away. But at this point a hundred feet might as well have been a thousand, it looked just as insurmountable.
Holding up the smaller branches it was obvious that they wouldn’t work, they just couldn’t hold me afloat. Tossing them aside, I set to looking for some I could stretch under my arms. I found two branches that would work, they were nearly as big around as my leg and each about four feet long. These would have to do; I placed them in a void across two other branches jutting out in the direction of the beach. The water rushed beneath, and a moment of terror gripped me as I recalled landing on this island of mine. Pushing back the fear, and positioning myself into the void, I was ready. With the logs stretched across my chest and under my arms, I prepared to launch my small raft. I knew that I would need just to do it, or I would lose my nerve. I placed my feet on the debris behind me and pushed off with every bit of strength I had left.
I was amazed; the force managed to launch me nearly a third of the way to the shoreline. Kicking furiously and dog paddling with my hands I was making headway. The water was less fierce and actually slowing as I entered the pooling area of the inlet. My eyes fixed on the shoreline; it grew larger with every kick. Feeling encouraged and believing I might not actually die, I kicked harder. The water was colder than I remembered and I was beginning to shiver uncontrollably, but I couldn’t let it stop me.
My head, still pounding and the exertion making the pain more evident by the second. I kept going. “Not much further.” I told myself, “Just keep kicking.” I could feel consciousness slowly slipping away, yet, I continued to kick. Peering through the darkening circle of my vision, I saw the sandy beach of the inlet coming closer. I could feel the bottom of the inlet beneath my feet. I tried to stand and walk in, but my legs would not lift me from the water. Laying across my makeshift life raft, I pushed myself closer to shore until I felt the logs strike the beach. Reaching out, I grasped a handful of rounded pebbles, at that moment, the darkness overtook me, and the world went black.
Blinking at the bright light and feeling the warmth on my face, I realized the sun was up. The night had slipped by without my knowledge. I lay across the logs, most of my body still in the steaming water. The right side of my face sticky, I thought it might have been sap from whe
re my head lay on the logs. Wiping at it with my arm revealed it was blood. I tried to rise and walk to shore but quickly fell to my knees.
My legs would not carry me. On hands and knees I crawled out of the water and onto the beach. Laying back on the dry ground I soaked up the warming rays of the sun, and I must have drifted from consciousness again. Opening my eyes and finding the sun directly overhead told me considerable time had passed. My body felt better from the heat, and my clothes were partially dried making them less irritating. Remembering my trip down the river, I quickly sat up. Just as swiftly, I felt the rush to my head and darkness closing in again.
Blinking, I regained consciousness, my eyes once more open, I again look to the sun, and its position is where it had been the day before, at the same time it was when I noticed it was setting. I knew nightfall was only a few hours off and laying here on this beach another night could be dangerous. Slowly this time, I sat up. My head was throbbing, but the darkness stayed at bay. Looking at my surroundings and seeing nothing out of the ordinary. A faint smell registers again, that earthy, yet familiar pungent odor, its fire. Speaking aloud to myself, “Someone is out there, but where?”
Almost as if expecting an answer I look around to see if I can see the smoke. I can’t see a stream of smoke indicating a direction but I can see it filtering through the woods near me, and it smells stronger than the day before. Thinking to myself, “At least it is on the same side of the river.” Slowly this time, I rise and make my way into the forest, trying to sniff out which way the smoke would lead.
The brush was thick, with a few leaves still clinging to the lower brush, the final remembrance of warmer weather. Gripping the last bits of life giving sap, for one last moment, before snow begins to fall. I continue into the woods, and the sound of the river fades as the lower brush thins. I see the pines standing tall with their spiny needles pointing outward. Silently I thank them for being there and making the walk easier.
