The Vermilion Strain

by S A Ison

  If he did that, then he’d look to see if there was a refrigerator that he could run off solar. He knew they were out there, he just had to find one. That would be very nice in summer. In winter, he’d not need it. As he worked on the coop, his mind buzzed with ideas for their new home. His brain hadn’t had so much activity in years. So much to do. He’d have to get it done before he ran out of gas, that thought was kept in the forefront of his mind. He had the poles in the ground for the coop and also for the fence that would surround the coop. He opened the new heavy-duty stapler and began to unroll the chicken wire. For now, he just wanted to get the whole of the chicken yard enclosed. He’d work on the main coop little by little. It was far enough from the house not to smell, but to keep in sight.

  Cooper tried to help, which was no help at all. The boy had so much energy, it caused Brian to grin. They worked their way around all the poles, then started on the second layer, above the first go around. Brian wanted the fence high, to keep foxes out. He’d eventually put some kind of netting on top, to keep owls and hawks out, but for now, he’d be happy with keeping the chickens in. He’d also have to make a door to go in and out of the chicken yard. For now, he secured it with a nail. By the time he got the second tier up and attached, he could let the chickens out of the kennel. He opened the door to the kennel that held the brooding hen and she wasn’t pleased.

  Cooper couldn’t reach the third level, so he went to play by the shore of the lake. Brian watched, making sure the boy didn’t go into the water. It was still cold, but Brian wasn’t sure the child knew not to go in. He had warned the boy, but he’d never been a parent. He wasn’t sure what he should or shouldn’t do and what Cooper was capable of, so he kept a constant eye on the child. He felt he was honor bound to do his best with the boy.

  He was sweating profusely now; the day having warmed up considerably. He finished with the last row of the chicken wire and called it quits for the coop project, at least for today. He wished there was someone else to help, but this was on his shoulders. Brian figured if he worked on each project a little each day, he would move forward in his progress. There was just so much to get done.

  They broke for lunch and he pulled out the sandwiches he’d made the night before. He’d kept them in a sealed plastic bag and had put that along with drinks in the lake. He drank a coke, he’d left at the edge of the lake in a pillow case, with the sandwiches, held by a rock. The cold water kept the drinks and sandwiches reasonably cold. He’d thought about bringing beer, but then thought better. He’d need to keep a clear head here. Though it was quiet now, he was sure there would be others coming. How could they not? It was a prime location. Hunting, fishing and space.

  He looked over at Cooper, who looked a little droopy eyed. Nap time.

  “Come on Coop, I want you to lay down for a bit. I’ll be right outside, tilling the garden.”

  “I can help.” He piped up, his eyes going owlish and large.

  “I know buddy, but take a nap and you can help after, okay?”

  His small shoulders slumping, Cooper got up. Brian walked him into the new home and to where he’d set up the twin bed. He’d put LEGO sheets on the bed. He’d put the sheets on the bed, along with the pillow from the house. He had a few new pillows, but figured he’d save those.

  “Don’t worry son, there’s lots for you to do when you wake up, okay?”

  “Okay.” Cooper said sleepily and yawned, his mouth filling his whole face. The boy pulled his blue blanket close to him and closed his eyes. Brian grinned and went back out to begin breaking soil for the new garden. He’d need to get the plants into the ground and growing. He’d also need to get the fruit trees into the ground. He jerked up when he heard a shot.

  Ӝ

  Benjamin Jacob Hamm, BJ, sighed in satisfaction. He was desperate, he’d only been here two days and had not seen any deer. He’d feared that perhaps he’d chosen wrong. He’d driven all the way from Cincinnati, Ohio. He’d spent his time gathering supplies and avoiding people. He’d hit sporting goods stores, such as Dick’s, and other stores, all along the way. He’d thought the Vermilion Strain had wiped out most of the population, but it would seem that it had only left assholes in its wake. Time and again on his travel across the country, he’d been stopped and robbed of all his possessions. He’d had to stop again and again to gather up what he could find and hoped he’d not be killed for them.

  He’d been a carpenter in his before life and an assistant youth’s minister and wasn’t sure about how to cope with all the violence. He was thankful that he’d not been killed. He couldn’t understand why those people would take his supplies. There were plenty, all one had to do was walk into a store and pick it up. Yet, four times, he’d been stopped, a toll, he’d been told. A toll! It was a lazy man’s way of stealing. He was not a violent man, he’d never been, but he was getting to the point where he could no longer turn the other cheek.

  He was finally here however and had went about setting up a camp. He’d claimed one of the cabins and had unloaded his truck and fifth wheel trailer two days ago. He’d taken a full day just to rest and let his nerves settle. He’d visited this park over the years, taking his wife, Clair and two boys, Brody and Timothy, camping.

  He’d finally wised up and stayed off the main highways coming to R.B. Winter State Park. It had taken him a long time and a lot of syphoning cars and trucks to get to the park. The thought of his family took the joy out of his success with the kill. The buck he’d killed was small, it was after all spring, and the animals weren’t fattened up, but it would be fresh meat. He felt the old sorrow wrap around him. He walked over to the animal; it had been a clean shot. BJ was a good hunter. He just couldn’t save his family.

  He tried not to blame God, but sometimes, in his darkest moments, he did. Why hadn’t he died with them? Why had they suffered so horribly? Would he see them one day? Sitting with his Lord, Jesus Christ? He knew that evil men had done this thing. Man was capable of such cruelty. They were a brutal species. Well, whoever did this thing, made this horrible virus, had pretty much ended the human race. The people he’d seen were few and far between.

  He pulled his knife and began to gut the animal. He’d carry the animal back to his camp. It felt good to be off the road and the stress of hiding from those who’d wanted his supplies. The world had gone crazy around him. It was bad enough losing his family, but then losing the very supplies he’d needed to survive, that had driven him nearly over the edge. But he was here and he’d not seen another human and that was fine with him. He’d not seen many people, but he’d have to say the majority he’d seen were greedy, and didn’t want to do the work of locating supplies and working on the skills to survive.

  He just hoped he’d not run into anymore assholes. He was beginning to think that the human race was doomed. He’d skin and dress the deer when he got back to camp, for now, he’d need to lighten the load. He cut off the head of the animal and this made it manageable to carry. He walked through the silent woods, with the carcass slung over his shoulders. The smell was negligible, compared to the stench of Cincinnati. It had been an unbelievable nightmare there and after his family died, he’d wanted nothing more than to leave. The fog of flies apocalyptic, like some science fiction scene from hell. Body upon body, stacked up and left in the street.

  The birds had started singing once more, and he could feel a slight breeze in the forest. He felt as though he were the only person on earth. He turned his face into the breeze and felt it dry his tears. He needed to stop thinking of the past and concentrate on surviving.

  He had water, but he would need to go to Halfway Lake to replenish his supply in a day or two. He’d have to boil a lot of it for drinking water, but the rest, would be used for bathing and washing clothing. The Cabin had a toilet, and he could fill the tank with water for flushes. The toilet in the fifth wheel was also useable. He liked having options.

  Walking into camp, he looked around. So far so good. He’d not have the ability to
guard everything, he just hoped no one would steal his supplies, now that he was here. He thought perhaps he’d bury some of the supplies, near enough to the camp for easy access, but not close enough to worry that someone would stumble over it. He missed his family and it was lonesome out in the woods, but there was a peace here as well and he needed it after the long drive here. He needed to heal. He just hoped he’d be safe.

  Ӝ

  Emma pulled off the road and into R.B. Winter State Park. She sighed happily and looked over to Paadi, who grinned widely, her dark blocky brows waggling up and down. She fairly vibrated with excitement. Emma drove slowly and came around a curve, heading toward Halfway Lake. As she pulled around, she was surprised to see a truck, U-Haul and a man digging around what looked like a garden plot. The man stopped what he was doing and turned to face her and she slowed the truck down, not wishing to get too close.

  “Easy, let’s see if he’s a good guy or a bad guy.” Paadi warned in a soft voice.

  “Okay. If you want, you stay in the truck and watch my back. You’re a good shot, so if things get hinky, you’re my best bet.”

  “Okay, just keep out of my line of fire.” Paadi warned.

  Emma nodded and climbed down out of the truck, her heart was beating fast, but she didn’t feel afraid. She also left Buddy inside, he was wining, low and excited. She smiled as she walked toward the man, there was something very familiar, but she couldn’t think what. Then she saw a small blond boy, sitting by what was some kind of chicken coop, of all things. She looked back at the big man. He was smiling at her and then it clicked.

  “Brian? Is that you?” She laughed and began running to him.

  “Oh my god Emma, I can’t believe it’s you!” He laughed and ran to meet her. He grabbed her in his big arms and swung her around, laughing. Tears were blurring her eyes as she hugged onto him. He set her down and held her at arm’s length, grinning down at her upturned face.

  “Is Christa here?” She asked, looking around excitedly and then saw the pain in his eyes.

  “Oh no Brian, I’m so sorry. Oh god, I’m so sorry.” She felt horrible for it and hugged him again. She’d worked at the hospital and she’d met Christa, a fellow nurse. Then when Christa had gotten breast cancer, it had been a hard time for the couple. Christa had gone through chemo and she’d had gotten to know Christa and Brian better, and they’d become close friends. When she’d gone to Boston, she’d kept in sporadic touch with them, through social media.

  She’d been so thrilled when Christa had beaten the cancer and gone into remission. But now, it would seem, that the Vermilion virus had taken her. Her eyes filled with tears.

  “Yeah, it was hard at the end. I wasn’t sure if I could go on, but then Cooper, my next-door neighbor’s son, came over and kinda saved me.” He shrugged helplessly. Cooper came running and grabbed onto Brian’s leg and looked around at Emma, she was enchanted immediately. The large blue eyes stared up at her with curiosity. She grinned down at him.

  “Hi Cooper, I’m Emma. That is my friend Paadi, we came to live here in the woods.”

  “Hi Emma.” He grinned shyly, then looked over to Paadi, who was walking toward them. Buddy had gone over to meet the large German Shephard, both animal’s tails wagging enthusiastically. Then the shepherd went down on her back in a submissive posture.

  “That’s Daisy.” Brian grinned, watching the two dogs.

  “That’s Buddy. We found each other in Boston. I met Paadini Sullivan, a former Boston police officer, on the road. Paadi, this is Brian Philips, I guess now, a former firefighter from Lancaster. I knew he and his wife, Christa.”

  Paadi reached over, a broad smile on her face and shook Brian’s hand. Then, she reached and ruffled the child’s blond head.

  “Good to meet you Brian, you too Coop!” She said in her heavy Boston accent. It brought a grin to Brian’s lips and Emma stifled a snigger. Her eyes triangle with humor.

  “So, you settling here as well Brian? Great minds think alike. You didn’t want to set up in one of the cabins?” Emma asked, looking around at the supplies and garden, as well as the odds and ends sitting around.

  “The best and most open place is here, for planting a large garden. I’d have to travel back and forth to get water and it just seemed the best idea to turn the Beach House into our home. You know, it’s a big building and I’m planning to put up walls inside. You two are more than welcome to live there as well. It will be easier to defend if we’re all together. Plus, I’m going to see about getting some solar panels and see if I can’t get a little power going, for running water.” Brian invited graciously.

  Emma looked startled and then at Paadi, who was looking around and nodding. A slight smile on her face and a speculative look in her dark brown eyes.

  “You know Emma, he’s right. With all those seeds you picked up, it would be easier to grow here in this wide-open space. And, we’d not have to carry water back and forth, like he said.”

  “But there aren’t any beds there, at least the last time I was here, there weren’t. But, I guess, it’s a solid idea.” Emma said, a speculative look in her eyes now.

  “Hey, I picked up mattress and box springs for Coop and I, maybe later today, we can go back to the mattress store and pick some up for you two? Also, maybe pick up some furniture. While I have the gas.” Brian offered.

  “Well, heck. I think that’s a damned fine idea. Let Paadi and I unload the truck and get things inside the house and we’ll help you with this garden. I see you already have plants. Just so you know, I’ve got canning stuff. Figured that would be the only way to ensure long term food. Not so much now, but next year, we’ll have gone through all our provisions.” Emma said.

  “Great minds do think alike. You’ll see a bunch of stuff in there from me as well.” Brian laughed, shaking his head.

  Emma and Paadi began to unload the truck, with Brian’s help. It took less time to complete the task, than it had to load. The Beach House was a large structure, but was now filled with the combined belongings. Emma could see that with his U-Haul, Brian had quadrupled the amount of food stores. That had been smart and she could kick herself for not thinking of it. She saw numerous metal trash cans and looked inside one. It held a fifty-pound bag of rice. Smart. Perhaps while they were out getting a mattress later, she’d have him swing by one of the big box stores and they could pick up more rice, flour, sugar, beans and whatever else they could get their hands on.

  “Wow, this guy isn’t playing around.” Paadi whistled, looking down into the can.

  “Yeah, no kidding. I should have thought to get a trailer as well. We could have really picked up a lot of stuff.” Emma grumbled.

  “Hells bells, we’ll pick some up today, on our way. There was that SAMs we passed on the way here, I think I remember about where it was. If there is stuff there, we can load it up along with the mattresses.” Paadi laughed and Emma grinned, her friend was thinking along the same lines.

  “I was thinking the very same. Let’s get out there and help get that garden started. I can taste the fresh veggies now.” Emma laughed and both women went back out.

  While Brian moved the tiller back and forth, the women began to pull out clumps of grass and shake the dirt free. There weren’t many weeds, and Emma hoped the park didn’t use heavy herbicides to kill weeds. She’d not want it getting into the food. She carried one of the buckets with her, putting the grass into it. She’d dump it later.

  She watched as Brian moved the tiller, and her heart broke. She’d known he and Christa for years. She and Christa had work together, and she’d been there to celebrate the triumph over the breast cancer. Now Christa was gone, taken by that horrible virus. She knew Brian was grieving, it was etched into his face. She was glad he’d taken the boy. And, she was glad the boy had him. She couldn’t imagine how many children were out there, and by now, many will have died without the help from an adult. She could only hope that others had stepped in to become a parent. She’d not seen any childr
en, and only a few adults in the past few weeks.

  This world had gone back in time. And, it had wiped out most of the population. The human race would be lucky to come back. It would never be the same again, at least not in her lifetime, and perhaps, not even in Cooper’s lifetime. There would be no more new technologies and the old technology would die away, with no one to maintain it or bring it back. They could get the solar panels and set that up, but in a generation or so, those would be gone as well. She knew gas would be gone in a year or less, degraded beyond use. Diesel would work, if a person could get it, but again, that would only last so long.

  Any illnesses that came along would take their toll, with no hospitals, no more antibiotics, people would die younger now. Any major accidents would kill as well or minor ones for that matter. Infection would be their enemy. She was glad she had the book on plants. She’d have to start learning how to use that to treat and to heal others. They had a chance here, but should something happen, that she couldn’t mend, death wouldn’t be far off. If any of them developed cancer, their life span would be shortened. Coop might end up alone in twenty or thirty years. It was a dark thought and Emma shook her mind free of it. It did no good to look at the doom and gloom of the future. She needed to concentrate on the here and now.

  She looked up as Cooper went screaming with laughter, across the lawn. Buddy and Daisy were galloping around the child, all of them having the best of times. She laughed and looked at Brian and Paadi, who also were watching the antics.

  “I’ll swear, if I had a tenth of that energy, I could rule the world.” Paadi laughed, shaking her head.

  “If only we could harness it. My god, what we could accomplish!” Brian snorted.

  “At least the dogs are getting along.” Emma grinned.