Antediluvian Purge (Book 1): EMP

by Ison, S. A.

  He drank down two bottles of water and put the empties back into the trunk. He also rolled up an emergency blanket and stuffed it into the pack.

  He looked around once more, hoping against hope that someone would drive by. Huffing, he hoisted the backpack over his shoulder and began to walk toward Beattyville, Brian walking obediently beside him.

  Ӝ

  It was quiet, unnaturally quiet. Harry looked in the air and saw the contrails of planes, but no planes. There wasn’t that many flying over usually, but still. If this was what he thought, then all those planes were down now, crushed and on fire, and thousands were dead. Harry swallowed hard. His lips trembled, and he bit down on them.

  “Whassa matter, Mr. Harry?” Monroe asked, his small voice filling the cab of the truck.

  “Not sure, Monroe, but let’s drive a bit more. Okay?” he said. He looked down at the child and winked.

  He drove along the streets and maneuvered around stalled cars and trucks. People were out in the streets, talking and looking around. A few waved at him and went back to talking. Harry weaved around and pulled through, then turned and drove through small shopping mall and made his way back home. He felt numb. He knew what it was, but didn’t want to believe it.

  It was a clear day and it was pretty out, not a cloud in the sky so no thunderstorms or tornados, yet everything was down. He decided to drive a different route home, and everywhere he looked people were coming out of their homes or businesses, their body language clearly saying something was wrong.

  EMP was screaming in his brain. His grandfather had wanted the books and had been talking about Dr. Peter Vincent Pry. All that interest, and the innuendoes about things coming.

  Then his heart shattered. Franziska! He’d never see her again. A sob choked him, but he swallowed it down. His eyes cut over to Monroe, who was looking out the window. He didn’t want to upset the child. He looked out the window in turn, blinking rapidly.

  His world had just shrunk down to a day’s walk, and within hours or days all hell would break loose. He had to get home and prepare. He began to accelerate, a primal urge to get back home nearly overwhelming him.

  Looking over to Monroe, he knew the child and his mother would need to stay with them. Monroe didn’t know his father, he’d been killed before his birth, and Marilyn had no one to protect her and her son. They’d be targets for anyone who wanted what they had, even if it wasn’t much. He also knew that, as pretty as Marilyn was, she would become a target for men bent on rape.

  Arriving home, he pulled up and saw his sister and Marilyn sitting on the swing, sipping tea. Monroe exited the truck and immediately ran after Charley. The two went tumbling down the hill in front of the house. Harry came up to the women, his face serious. They both stopped talking.

  “What’s wrong, Harry?” Willene asked, her brow furrowing.

  “I think I know what has happened, I think we’ve been hit with an EMP, an electromagnetic pulse. The thing is, I don’t know how it happened. When I left Germany, there was no intel that indicated an immediate threat. Scientists have been talking about coronal emissions for years now, but nothing on the news has indicated an imminent threat. If it was a solar emission, that could mean that it may well be worldwide.”

  “But, what does that mean to us? I don’t understand,” Marilyn said, her dark eyes beginning to fill with fear.

  “An EMP can take out all systems that are electrical, that means computers, satellites, electrical grids, along with all banking, medical and so on. If it has a computer chip or if it is connected to or needs electricity, it will no longer work. If it is an enemy that has done this, they’ve detonated a nuclear device above the ground, which means some kind of nuclear fallout. Not knowing where detonations may have occurred, or even if they’ve occurred, is something we can’t worry about.”

  Harry ran his fingers through his hair, making it stand up on end. He paced up and down the porch, then looked out over the valley below him. “Thank God we don’t have nuclear power plants. Those will become unstable, and if they don’t have backup generators online, then you can count on nuclear meltdowns wherever they are.”

  “What should we do?” Willene asked, her hand grasping one of Marilyn’s.

  “Marilyn, I need to take you home an’ pack up everything you an’ Monroe will need for the foreseeable future. I’ll drive you there and help. You’ll need to also pack up all the food in your house; fridge, freezer, cupboards, everything. Also, all toiletries you have. Do you have any weapons?” Harry asked.

  “Moses had a gun, but I think it is still up in the closet. I never took it out,” Marilyn said, clearly numbed from shock. “Why can’t I take my car? Why do I have to leave my home?”

  “Your car is too new, it is probably fried. You can try it, but I don’t think it will work. Within a few days or even hours, the world is going to go sideways. You and Monroe will be vulnerable, and you’ll become a target for what you have in your home. You’ll also become a target for ruthless men,” he said as he helped her up from the swing. He could feel the tremors in her hand.

  “What do you need me to do, Harry?” Willene asked, also rising.

  “Go pull out everything from the fridge you can process in the canning jars. There isn’t going to be any more food preservation unless we dehydrate it, smoke it, or can it. Also, I’m going up to my room to get my Glock; you’ll need to go down to the basement and see what kind of handguns Peapot has in the gun safe. Keep one on you at all times from now on.”

  Marilyn called Monroe to her and told him to go into the house and eat dinner. She kissed him on the head and said she’d be back with Mr. Harry in a while. Harry went to his room. He’d not put his weapons in the gun safe but had kept his door locked, he’d been so busy running errands for Peapot that he’d not thought about it. He put the Glock in a shoulder holster and put a light jacket on over. He put a spare magazine in the pocket of his jacket. He didn’t think he’d need it, but wanted it there just in case.

  Harry looked in on his grandfather and saw that he was asleep. A soft smile curved on his lips and he turned and headed downstairs.

  He met Marilyn by the truck.

  “My car doesn’t work, Harry,” she said to him, her hand on the passenger side door.

  Harry shook his head and they both got in. They drove down the hill and headed to her small apartment complex, twenty-five miles down the road in town. When they arrived, there were people out in the street, most of them relaxed and talking.

  He pulled into the apartment complex’s parking area and Marilyn hopped out. He was about to follow her up to her apartment when he heard his name being called. Turning around, he saw Earl limping toward him. He groaned internally. He really didn’t have time for this. He nodded Marilyn on and told her he’d join her in a moment.

  “Harry, kin I talk to ya fer a minute?” Earl asked, all sarcastic derision gone from his homely face.

  “Sure Earl, what do you need?” Harry asked.

  “Harry, somit bad is goin’ on. Nothin’ works an’ everthang gone ta rack an’ ruin. I gotta bad bad feelin’,” Earl said quietly, his blue eyes looking around him, ensuring he wasn’t overheard.

  Harry looked at Earl, studying his face carefully. Though the two had had an odd relationship, there’d never been any hard feelings. He made a decision and hoped he wouldn’t regret it.

  “You know what an EMP is?” Harry asked quietly, looking around as well to make sure no one heard them.

  Earl blanched, his face draining of all color. Harry knew the man in front of him understood and was coming to grips with the awful truth.

  “Is your home safe, Earl? Do you have enough food? Do you have a weapon and ammo?” Harry asked.

  “I live in a trailer park, an’ all’us I got is some can food an’ beer. I got a deer rifle an’.38 special. I got a little ammo,” he said, shame flooding his face, red splotches suffused his cheeks.

  “Go get all your food, any medications, toiletries
, clothes, and whatever else you think you might need. Then go to your garage an’ get all the gas tanks you can load into the back of your truck, and if you can fill them, fill them. If you have diesel, get that; my truck runs on it. Anything you can think of, bring it to my house. Tell Willy I told you that you are to stay with us.”

  Earl’s eyes sheened with unshed tears, and his mouth worked a bit before he could speak. “Thank you’uns Harry, I’s obliged to ya an’ I won’t let you’uns down. I bring everthang I kin find.” Earl’s voice trembled with emotion, bringing a lump to Harry’s throat.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Harry studied the man before him. Life was going to be difficult and they would need more bodies to protect them. “Earl, do you know anyone you can trust, I mean trust with your very life? That works in the coal mine?” Harry asked.

  Earl looked down at his foot and his artificial leg, shuffled it back and forth, scattering gravel. He chewed his lip and then looked at Harry, a smile on his lips.

  “Boggy Hines. He’s a good feller, he tain’ ignert. He lives a few trailers down from mine. I’s knowd him mosta his life. Knowd his granny, she was a good woman too. His momma done left outta thar when he was a young’un, but his granny raised him right. He keeps to hisself, but a good an’ Godly man an’ hard worker. Ain’t never not heard nothin’ bad ’bout him an’ he’s allas good ta help a friend out,” Earl said.

  “Tell Boggy the same thing I’ve told you, to gather everything he thinks he will need. Also, can you two go by the mine and pick up dynamite or any explosives you can get your hands on? Be careful and don’t let anyone see you two. It’s afixin’ to get bad soon, say nothing of what you are doin’ to anyone. We need to get this done now and in secret. Carry a weapon on you and don’t let anyone take your truck,” Harry said sternly, the soldier’s voice coming through.

  At Earl’s quick nod, Harry turned and went to Marilyn’s apartment to help her. He entered into the small apartment and looked around. It was neat as a pin. He saw Monroe’s toys in a box. He walked over and took the box and carried it out to the truck. He made sure the lid to the toybox was firmly closed and placed it in the bed of the truck.

  Coming back in, he began to open the pantry and cabinets. He was glad he’d grabbed the reusable grocery bags when he’d left the farmhouse. He began to pull everything out of the freezer and refrigerator. He could hear Marilyn in the bedroom pulling things out of the closet.

  Between the two of them, it only took an hour to search the apartment for needed items. He’d gone back and forth from the apartment to the truck, loading the bed. He was pleased that Marilyn had an extensive emergency first aid bag. Once everything was thrown into the truck, he and Marilyn double checked that nothing would fly out once they got going. He’d tied down a few of the lighter items, securing them.

  People stood around talking and watched their activity, but Harry didn’t look back. He kept his head down and hurried. Once they were finished, they got back into the truck. Harry backed out and turned the truck around. He came to a screeching halt as a large man stood in the truck’s path.

  Marilyn gasped, bringing her hand to her chest, but said nothing. Harry put his hand into his jacket and brought his weapon to his lap, keeping it out of sight.

  “Can I help you, mister?” Harry called out the window calmly.

  “What you folks doin’? Looks like you’uns runnin’ fer the hills?” the man asked a little belligerently. He had on a checkered shirt buttoned up to his double chin. His face was red and sweat had beaded on top of his balding head “How come your’un piece of shit truck workin’? Mine ain’t. That little nigger lady an’ you kin juss stay put, an’ you can give me that truck. I got young’uns I need to git yonder ta home,” he continued, nodding back to six kids standing by a large newer truck.

  Harry’s nostril’s flared, his mouth tightened, and his eyes narrowed as rage flared through his body, the hot lava speeding through his veins. He could smell blood. Then he smiled and looked over to Marilyn, whose face had gone red with anger. He winked at her and then looked back at the large man, whose fists were resting on his wide hips.

  “Sorry buddy, can’t help you. This here truck doesn’t operate with ignert white trash bigots and peckerwoods. You’ll have to figure out another way to get your young’uns home.” The smile on Harry’s face belied the fire in his eyes. His hand tightened over the Glock and he flicked off the safety. He watched as the man’s face turned bright red and his double chin began to jiggle with indignation.

  The large man started forward, his body gearing up for a fight. Slowly, Harry brought up the Glock, bringing it just high enough for the large man to see. He could feel Marilyn’s hand, gentle on his arm in silent caution.

  His smile widened as the man stopped abruptly, his eyes going large as they fixed on the weapon pointing at him. The red color drained fast, as though it were a turd flushed away in a toilet. He held his hands up defensively and backed up, getting out of the way of the truck.

  Harry looked at Marilyn, whose eyes were large as saucers. He winked again and pulled away.

  “It is starting already and it hasn’t been more than three hours,” Marilyn said, her voice shaking, her hands couldn’t seem to stay still and fluttered in her lap.

  “This is nothing. It is going to get a whole lot worse,” he said in a low voice, his lips thinning.

  “How much worse, Harry? And how long will this last?” Marilyn asked. He caught her wiping tears from her cheeks as his eyes cut over.

  “The EMP has essentially taken out all banking, transportation, and communication for starters. That means no more food transported across the country, no more deliveries.” He slowed the truck down, there were several people lingering in the road.

  “Large older farm equipment will no longer work without fuel because fuel trucks and equipment may not work, and if they aren’t old models, their computer components will have fried. Fuel tanks are normally run with electricity. Along with the newer farm equipment having computer chips, so do most trucks, cars and airplanes, trains and so on,” Harry said.

  “Oh, my gentle Jesus, you mean all those people who were up in planes are dead?” Marilyn said, her voice harsh as she tried to hold back a sob.

  “Yes, sadly, they are gone. But their suffering is over. Ours is just beginning. People are soon going to realize that no one is going to come and help them,” Harry said, his eyes scanning the road.

  “You mean the government won’t help us? FEMA?” Marilyn asked, dismay lacing her voice.

  “The government, FEMA, the military and the police, they are all in the same boat as we are. They may have contingencies in place, but if this is as wide spread as I think it is, they will have their hands full with their own people and anyone within one hundred miles, never mind anyone outside that radius.” Harry pulled the truck over and watched a group of men standing outside of a convenience store. The doors had been closed and chained. He wondered if they were going to break through the glass. “Not only that. We are talking about hundreds of millions of people. I don’t care what the government thinks it can do; with that many people, they will be overwhelmed and essentially ineffective. Here, in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains, we are essentially cut off from the rest of the world,” Harry said softly. He knew he was giving Marilyn a lot of terrifying information, but he wouldn’t lie to her; she deserved the truth.

  “How are we going to survive? How will I feed and protect Monroe?” Marilyn asked, her hand covering her mouth as she tried to hold back the sobs and horror.

  “Marilyn, you don’t have to worry. You are staying with us. I will protect you and Monroe, and we have plenty of food in the basement. Peapot’s girlfriends have been bringing him jarred food for the last five years. Peapot had me buy a lot of rice, oats, flour and so on, and of course the garden is doing well. It will be tight, but we will be fine. The biggest thing is security. Earl and his friend will be coming; they will help us keep whole and safe.
”

  “Earl? You can trust him?” Marilyn asked, her voice rose slightly.

  “Earl is rough around the edges and he’s had a hard life, but he’s a good man. He’ll do what is necessary, and we are going to need the help. I can’t do it all myself, and with two more men, you and Willy, I think we should be able to protect ourselves. Like I said, it is just starting, and it’s only going to get worse.”

  The rest of the ride back to the farmhouse was silent, and Harry looked out the window. It was getting late and people were clogging the roads. Some lifted hands, trying to wave him down. He sped up and many jumped out of the way. They were almost home. He was glad they’d left town and the majority of the population; it was starting to get disorderly.

  Pulling up the hill to the house, he saw Earl’s truck parked near the house. It was more rust than anything else, and may have been blue at some point in time. Willene came out to the porch and Earl followed behind. Earl met him and stuck out a hand, and Harry took it, shaking it firmly. Earl nodded seriously and turned and went back into the house.

  “How is Peapot?” Harry asked.

  “He’s been fed and is sound asleep. I’ve got to get in, got lots on the stove. Get cleaned up, you’ve not eaten and there is a lot to eat, knot-head,” Willene ordered, her voice sounding like a drill sergeant’s yell.

  Harry laughed and kissed her head. He turned and went back to the truck to bring in Marilyn’s things. The once near-empty house was going to be filled with people again. Harry knew that life as he knew it was over. It was going to be hard, and the others had no idea how hard. He thought about Afghanistan. It was a war zone there, and now it was going to be a war zone here at home.

  As he took more items into the house and up the stairs to Marilyn and Monroe’s new room, his thoughts drifted to Fran, his Fran. He could feel the ache deep within him, an inner rage at being caught on this side of the world, but he knew his sister and grandfather needed him.