by Connor Mccoy
Domino nodded her head. “I know. God, it’s tough when you think about it.”
Jacob reached for her. “Yeah.” He held her loosely.
A soft breeze brushed against them. They stood there, the silence only broken when the pair overheard Brandon and Jubilee whispering.
“What are Mom and Dad doing?” Brandon asked.
“Sssh. They’re having a moment,” Jubilee replied.
“A moment? Oh, that kind of a moment!” Brandon quickly hushed up.
Domino looked up at Jacob’s face. “I think the kids are a little too idle,” she whispered. “What do you think?”
Jacob pulled away. “Maybe we all could stand to get busy. We still have a lot of supplies in the truck. We can’t afford to leave anything critical behind. I think we should strip the truck for whatever we can bring with us.” He looked at the land from which they had come. “It might slow our trip home, but I think we can take the risk.”
Brandon set down the remaining sack on the ground. The pile of supplies had grown as large as it was going to get. The truck bed was empty except for the emergency power generator that Jacob had placed there. Jacob and the family also had stripped out everything from the back seats.
They had placed “get-home bags” in the bed of the truck in case their vehicle stalled and they had to venture home on foot. They had taken those bags with them upon leaving the truck and still had them on their backs upon returning to the truck. However, the truck bed still contained a number of other supplies, mostly camping gear, intended for the Averys in case they had to flee their home for a location farther away. Jacob also had hidden some money away inside the truck’s back seat, which Brandon found funny, since his dad had mentioned that people probably weren’t taking cash any longer.
Jacob stood over the pile of gear with a satisfied smile. “What should we cart back home? I’m sure we don’t need all of this.”
Jubilee picked up an old empty gas can. “I don’t think we need this.”
“There’s not even any gas in it,” Brandon said with a laugh.
“That’s true.” Jacob scratched the back of his neck. “We have a ton of gas containers at home anyway. If we don’t absolutely need it, it’s better to let it…”
Jacob stopped speaking.
“Dad?” Brandon asked.
Jacob jogged up to the vehicle. “There’s still gas in there.” He looked underneath the chassis. “No spills. No leaks. Looks like the gas tanks weren’t damaged in the sudden stop.”
He spun around to face his family. “We could siphon the gas out of here! We’ll drain the truck for as much as we can. We can bring it home and use it if I’m ever able to rig up a generator. We also might also need it to barter. Someone out there might have a working generator or even a car.”
“Wait, a car?” Jubilee asked, “I thought they all stopped working.”
“Anything with modern electronics would go kaput, but older cars that don’t have electronic chips could have survived the pulse and still work,” Jacob replied. “They’re not very common, but God knows, we might run into someone who does have one, and those cars need fuel to run.”
“Remember the truck Mister Cowell escaped in?” Brandon asked.
Domino folded her arms. “Don’t remind me.”
“Yeah, Cowell’s benefactor knew what might happen and built his vehicle without those electronics, but he’s the big exception,” Jacob said.
The sour looks on his family’s faces revealed they did not relish thinking of their encounter with Alexander Cowell. Jacob couldn’t blame them. That day had started with a man trespassing on the Avery land and accidently shooting Jubilee in the arm with an arrow.
After running off the idiot shooter, Jacob had fled his house in the truck, with Jubilee and his family, with Cowell in pursuit. Cowell was a zealous social worker who saw the Averys’ lifestyle as detrimental to the Avery children. He had been a major pain in the ass, and that day had been no different.
Cowell had followed them, even after the EMP had shut down all the vehicles. Not able to seek hospital care for Jubilee, the Averys had hiked to the small town of Trapp, right up to the home of Doctor Sam, known affectionately as “Doc Sam.” The Averys and Cowell had taken refuge in Doc Sam’s home, but Cowell betrayed Sam’s trust by stealing two cans of gas from Sam’s garage. Cowell had joined up with men driving a working delivery truck and, thanks to the truck, Cowell had made his getaway. The only comfort Jacob took was Cowell was unlikely to ever cross paths with them again.
Jacob let his family’s displeased looks fade until he spoke up again. “I think we have a tube in the truck we can channel the gas with.”
“And rags!” Brandon interrupted his father. “I saw some dirty ones in the bed. We can stuff them around the tube.”
“Good! Good!” Jacob grinned. “You remember all that.”
It was gratifying to hear his children retain the tips and skills he taught them. They would need every one of them to survive.
Jacob let the tube go. “Almost there.”
He coughed as he allowed Brandon to cling to the tube. The pair successfully had run the tube into the truck’s gas tank. Jacob then blew into the tube to create the pressure needed to force the gas into the can. As of now, the can was more than half full.
But right now, Domino’s sour expression caught Jacob’s attention. “Stop it before it gets all the way to the cap,” Jacob said to his son, his eyes fixed on his wife. He left his son to wrap up the chore.
Domino leaned against the truck, her eyes to the sky. “What’s on your mind? I hope it wasn’t something I said.”
The lady sighed. “It still burns me up, the whole thing with Cowell stealing Doc Sam’s gas. Sam took him in. He fed him, he gave him shelter when everything around us was going to Hell. My God! I knew Cowell was a snake, but…” She clutched her arms against her chest. “I didn’t think he’d be that much of an asshole!”
Jacob shifted closer to his wife. “I’m sure it’s eating you up a lot. You really grew to like the Doc.”
Domino turned away. “He…he was somebody who I thought a father should be like. He was kind, funny, warm, caring, and strong. To steal from him, it’s so sick, it’s so unforgivable…”
“I know.” Jacob slid his hand over Domino’s shoulder.
“Cowell will find his destiny, wherever that is. We gave Sam the honor he deserved. I think the best thing to do is live more honorably than the Alex Cowells of this world.”
Domino shifted, facing Jacob again. “You’re right. Ugh! Who wants to think of Cowell again, right?”
Jacob smiled. “Besides, I think you made Doc Sam very happy in those last few days. From what you told me, having you and the kids there brought him some joy.”
Domino leaned into Jacob. Their journey had had its share of happiness and heartbreak. While they had enjoyed Doc Sam’s company, the older man also had fallen in battle against a small band of raiders, men from the town of Middleburg, who wanted to steal Sam’s medical supplies and anything else that was useful. Sam had helped to save their lives. They wouldn’t forget his kindness or his bravery.
Jacob pulled his wife closer. However, upon tilting his head higher, he suddenly blurted out a “Damn!”
Domino looked up. “What’s wrong?”
“The angle of the sun. It’s approaching dusk. It’s later than I thought. It’s not going to be long before night falls.”
Chapter Two
Jacob kept a straight face as he pondered his choices. Sadly, in this new world, even casual decisions could be life or death.
They could not make it to any town in time before the sun went down, so they could not take shelter in any community. They would have to camp out. So, that left the option of turning from the road and seeking shelter out in the woods beyond.
He remembered his ordeal on the road coming back from Middleburg. He had been traveling on the bike with Doctor Hien Nguyen, a companion he had picked up from Middleburg, when the doctor
got lost in the darkness. After doubling back, Jacob had searched the tall grassy fields for him. It had taken a while, but Jacob had been able to meet up with Nguyen. However, they had not been alone. A pair of men had been exploring the tall grass. Jacob also recalled smelling fresh corpses. People had died out there. He never learned if they had died at the hands of those men. He wondered if roving bands with ill-intent prowled the roads at night.
“Damn,” Jacob whispered.
If so, perhaps they should abandon the truck now and ditch the supplies so they could move faster and put greater distance between themselves and the road. But if they did, their whole effort here was for nothing. They should have just taken their sensitive documents from the truck and bolted.
“Thinking of what to do next?” Domino asked.
“This might have been a mistake,” Jacob said, “The sun’s setting soon.”
“Alright. We’ll just head out in the morning,” Domino said with surprising calmness.
“I know, but I’d like to camp out someplace that isn’t close to here.” Jacob didn’t want to voice the rest of his worries if possible.
“Why?” Domino patted the passenger side of the door. “We’ll just sleep in here.”
Jacob’s eyes widened. The solution seemed so simple he could have smacked himself for not thinking of it sooner. There was enough room for all four of them to sleep inside, so why not?
As he approached the driver’s side door, a fresh worry gripped him. “The truck is sturdy. It could protect us, but it doesn’t exactly conceal us from view.” He tapped the glass.
“And who’s going to see us in the dark?” Domino laughed. “No one could see us, even if the street lights were working. We’re too far from the road.”
Domino was right. With no street lights, no one could see the Averys inside the truck from the road. Hell, the truck itself was not easily visible from where it was parked. The plan seemed foolproof.
But Jacob imagined the lanterns of those men again. “Yeah, but you never know if anyone might show up with lamps or maybe some flashlights that somehow are working. Even in the dark, all these cars might draw some wanderers over.”
“We can cover the windows,” Brandon said as he walked up to Jacob. “We have some cloth we can push against them.”
Domino rubbed her son’s hair. “Sounds perfect.”
Jacob beamed. His family was full of good ideas. If they covered the windows, it might be enough to get them through the night without incident. Plus, he couldn’t deny that locking themselves in the truck could be safer then sleeping in a tent.
Jacob placed the final pin against the cloth as his wife laid against her seat. “I think that should do it.” All of the truck windows were covered with cloth. With the darkness outside, no one could discern the covered windows unless they walked up really close to the vehicle.
The coverings gave them an added benefit. With the windows blocked, the Averys could afford to crank down the windows a notch, allowing the evening breeze to seep into the truck. Sleeping inside a completely sealed truck probably would be an unbearable experience. Jacob was glad his family would enjoy some ventilation for the night.
He wouldn’t take any chances, though. He fingered the small telescope in his hand. He would stay up a little longer to take occasional watches. If he got wind of possible intruders, they could roll up the windows and fortify themselves within the truck.
Jacob gazed at the gun on his belt. His wife and children were similarly armed. An intruder who tried something would not find the Avery family to be easy pickings.
Domino giggled. “These seats are actually pretty comfy.”
Jacob felt the leather of his own seat. She had a point. The chair leather was not heavily worn from a lot of use, although a few rips had formed along the edges. He had thought of patching them up in the near future before the craziness began. Now this might be the last time he and his family would sit in here.
“Hey!” Brandon called from behind them. “No hanky panky up there!”
“God, please, no,” added Jubilee, seated opposite him.
Domino aimed a wry look at Jacob. “Hey, maybe we should have the kids sleep outside so we can go on that second honeymoon we talked about?”
“Aw, gross!” Brandon cried.
“Don’t say those things! You’ll scar me for life!” Jubilee slapped her hands over her ears.
Chuckling, Jacob sat up. “Do I at least get to give my lady a good night kiss?” he asked.
Brandon mimicked Jubilee’s last action. “Don’t make it too loud.”
Domino reached over and tickled Jacob’s neck. “I think they’re just teasing us.” She kissed him on the left cheek.
Jacob looked to the radio. “Too bad we can’t turn this on. It’d almost make the night feel perfect.”
Domino scooted closer to the edge of her seat, nearer to Jacob. “That’s right. I almost forgot we’ll probably never ever hear music again either.”
“Well, not recorded music.” Jacob put his arm around Domino. “But people still can play it. Without television or the internet, maybe more people will take up music as a hobby.”
“I like drums,” Jubilee said.
Domino turned her head toward her daughter. “Really?”
The teen shrank back into the seat. “I…” It seemed that she blurted out something she wasn’t prepared to admit.
“Well, that’s great!” Jacob said. “That might be something to think about, something you might want to take up.”
Jubilee smiled crookedly. “I guess. I mean, it always looked cool, but you all spent so much on my MMA training that I didn’t want to bring it up.”
“It’s fine if you want another hobby,” Domino said. “If you’re dedicated enough.” She sighed. “I think we’re all going to find new things to do. Without TVs and phones…”
“That’s right.” Jacob figured they all would develop new interests as they adapted to a world without electricity. He hoped to encourage such pursuits among his family once they reached home.
Brandon hated the seat.
He could sleep lying down on almost any surface. He could doze off in a comfy bed or on a hard floor. But put him in a chair, even a comfortable, plush seat, and he had no hope of catching some z’s.
Jubilee was another matter. She could sleep in a bed or in a chair with no problems, although given what she had been through, Brandon was not surprised that she fell asleep almost at the drop of a hat.
Brandon’s vision drifted to the bandage around Jubilee’s upper right arm. They had not unwrapped it to check it since earlier this morning. Jubilee had not complained of pain since shortly before they had discovered the truck. Perhaps soon she would be back to normal.
Brandon likely never would forget what had happened. They were fishing in a pond in the backyard of their home. Suddenly, something zinged past. It flew too fast for Brandon to spot it. He would discover moments later that it was a small arrow. Someone was trespassing on their property and shooting birds for fun.
But things had taken a horrific turn when that arrow had hit Jubilee in the arm.
Brandon wondered why he never saw the shooter. He wasn’t alert for possible dangers. The large fence his father had erected had acted as a substantial barrier against predators. But a man still could climb over if he was so inclined.
His sister’s screams rang through his mind. Brandon tried to shut them out. He never had heard his sister cry out so terribly. The pain must have been unimaginable. Just thinking about it made him shudder.
Maybe that was why he couldn’t sleep. He didn’t want to close his eyes while his sister slept. He feared that another threat would rear its head. So, Brandon decided to stand watch with his binoculars. He took care to poke them under the cloth covering the window, although he was certain no one outside would spot him on watch.
As the minutes passed, his eyes grew heavier. There was almost nothing to look at outside but darkness and vague shapes that
could be nearby vehicles, all stalled out off the road. Then the fuzzy landscape began wearing him out. It seemed useless to keep watching.
But before lethargy could claim him, a small light appeared in the distance. It was small, yet noticeable. Brandon thought he was looking at a firefly. At least it was something to look at. Brandon kept an eye on it.
However, the light grew larger. Though it remained relatively small, the light was drawing closer and becoming more defined. Brandon tightened the focus on his binoculars.
His heart quickened. It wasn’t easy to discern, but Brandon made out a human form walking next to the light. His mind filled in more details: the light was coming from a lantern dangling from the hold of an approaching man.
Jacob blinked his eyes. Still nothing. His eyes had been growing heavy for the past hour. He ought to pack it in and get some sleep. The night had remained serene. Perhaps the nights around here were generally uneventful, and Jacob had nothing to worry about.
He let the binoculars drop from his face into his lap. He slid the cloth to cover up the small gap he had allowed to see through the glass.
You need some sleep, he thought. A tired Jacob Avery was not going to be fit to lead his family home by the next nightfall.
His wife slumbered peacefully. He heard nothing from the back seat and felt too tired to peek in on his children. He assumed they were asleep as well.
What’s home going to be like? Is everything going to be alright when we get there? He wasn’t sure that they could just waltz up to their front door without exercising caution. A person or a band of people might have discovered it and squatted there.
But if so, what will we do? Are we going to have to fight to take back our home? Would they have to storm the doors and windows of their homestead, with guns drawn? The thought both terrified and enraged him.
Jacob’s eyes grew heavier. His concentration faded. His mind retreated into a dreamlike vision of his homestead, with its rows of crops and grassy fields where his children would play.
