They had found Ken’s camp and had taken it over. They did not know about the tragedy that had occurred there. I filled them in on what happened and Andrea said that she had wondered but she thought that it might have been marauders. They had two others with their group and had left the group. Josh and Ashley had remained behind to guard their camp.
They had planned to stay in the area until the first of the year at the latest and then head on their way. They were going to take the rail bridge across the Hudson and then head south west. They figured that the ski thing was their best means of travel. It was slower than car or truck, but easier because they didn’t have to deal with hunting for fuel and passable roads.
By the end of the day as they headed back toward their camp it was clear that they were not a threat to us, and we had made it clear we were not a threat to them.
Dec 26th
It was a sunny morning, and Asuna and I were up early, Biter, our new roommate decided he needed to go outside for a while. It was kind of sad, he would walk to where the door of Cyril’s cabin was and just sit there. It was as if the building was still there and he was waiting for Cyril to come out and take him for his usual walk. After a few minutes he took his leash in his mouth, and then walked the usual path.
We headed to breakfast, and while sitting there noticed that Ron and Fred were huddled in a corner talking about something, and it was kind of heated. It struck me as odd as the two really did not usually argue with each other.
It looked like they finally agreed on something and they left. I found out later that Ron had spoken with The Three. He had gotten the idea that maybe he should try to hook up with Terry and his group and do the trek west.
What we had not known was that while we were talking to Terry and Andrea, Jill and Karen were talking to Ron and Ron saw opportunity. I cannot say that I blamed him. He was the odd man out and saw opportunity.
The word was out by noon that he was planning to leave. I think most of us understood what was going on and why, but there were still those who tried to talk him out of going. It would be a tough row to how, living in the wild in the dead of winter but I figured Ron could do it.
Ron drove over to Terry’s camp and talked with them. They were good with the extra person and told him that they had planned to leave in two days to cross the bridge and the Hudson. That gave Ron time to get his gear together and make a run into Hinsdale for skis and some heavy duty camp gear.
The mood in our camp was kind of quiet and weird. It was the first time we were going to lose one of us to something other than death. Ron and Fred had been friends since day one and that weighted heavy on each of them but they were each in a different place now, Fred being married and all.
Dinner that night was kind of somber.
“Do you think they will do okay?” asked Asuna when we settled in for the night.
“Yeah, I think that he will make out alright, hey, he has survived so far, and I think that it is good that he has the chance to have companions.”
“They have companions now, oh, companions…….”
“Yeah, those kind of companions,” I smiled as I blew out the candle.
Dec 27th
Ron was gone before any of us got up this morning; I can understand that, the whole goodbye thing would have been tough.
Throughout the day the question or concern of his quest kept bubbling up.
Dec 28th
It was another sunny and reasonably warm day for this time of year.
As we close the month, it was time to do the standard inventory of food, fuel, and equipment. Taylor has done a good job of tracking all of it. As far as ammunition and weapons we are in good shape. We really do most of our hunting with bows now so our use of bullets is minimal.
The food situation is also pretty good. We have lost some of the flour and grains that we had scavenged to bugs and mice, but the corn supply and meats are holding up well. We are good for canned goods (commercial as well as the stuff we canned).
Medical supplies are also in decent shape. We have been lucky in that regard. There have not been too many injuries and due to the change in eating habits, foods and weight loss on all our parts we are a healthier lot for sure.
Fuel, well, that for now is okay, we are using wood to heat the individual cabins and the propane is restricted to the generator and the hot water. (I am still not happy about only one hot shower a week.) Our best guess is that we have enough propane to get us through until the end of March.
Our one concern is kerosene/diesel and gasoline. We are still okay on diesel, which works for the Helo and for most of our trucks, but the gasoline is running a little low. We use that more for the snowmobiles. The planes use a high octane blend and that is pretty much irreplaceable so flights are very limited. The regular octane is replaceable but it has a tendency to go stale over time and we are reaching that time.
Our thought was that we might be able to change some of the gasoline powered vehicles to alcohol based fuel systems but we seem to not quite have the hang of distilling process. We have been able to make some kick ass moonshine, but the ethanol is still out of reach.
Asuna and I have not been sent on any scavenging missions recently simple because there has been no real need to find stuff that would be necessary for our survival. We are in pretty good shape.
Dec 29th
It is clouding up and there is the smell of snow in the air. It’s interesting that as time goes on we have become more and more attuned to nature. I think that as the air has become cleaner we have a better sense of it.
A moose wandered into camp today, it checked the place out and then left.
The snow started at about 3pm.
Fancy dinner night, it was spaghetti with a kind of pesto sauce.
Dec 30th
Snowing this morning, we have picked up about another 10 inches so it will be back up on the roofs to make sure they are not overloaded, other than that is was a games / reading day.
The snow stopped a little after 2 this afternoon, time to clean the walks and such.
Dec 31st
The last day of 2013, the year that civilization as we knew it ended. I have lost a lot of friends and people that I knew and loved, and I have also found a lot of people that I have come to know and love. Overall we have all done well to get this far and lived through some shit to get here.
I miss Anne, and her folks, and Lauren. I am thankful to still have Margo, and Nick and Teckla in my life. I am thankful for Asuna, she has been so special to me, and has helped me weather this storm. Matt and Mark, Frank, the entire community have gelled, it is amazing to think back to where we were at the start of this, struggling, running, and sleeping with one eye-open.
Ah, I am getting sentimental and wishy-washy, let’s leave it at one of the Four Noble Truths, “There will be suffering” and trump it with “Best Day Ever”. Despite all the shit and sorrow, life is good.
We had a little gathering in the dining hall and we all managed to stay up until midnight, it is New Year’s Eve after all. But this year the ball will not fall in Time Square and really I wonder if it would not be more appropriate to wait until February 19th to hold New Year, calling it Year 1.
As we were walking back toward out cabin Asuna stopped, she was looking to the East, that planet was still there, and it seemed to be just a little brighter than a week ago.
Jan 1st
It has been a lot of years since I awakened on New Year’s morning feeling the anguish of embarrassment or a hangover from the previous night’s over-indulgences. I have gotten to like that. An occasional food hangover is acceptable.
As we worked our way through the breakfast line for a sort of pancake type thing, Nick was in his standard New Year’s Day mode.
“So what is your New Year’s Resolution?” he asked.
It is an annoying question that I had answered the same way for years. Typically, it is I have no resolution. But this year I did, I caught him off guard with “Well yah
know Nick I’m thinking that I want to stay alive for the year.”
The weather was not great, although not terrible, a little cloudy and on the cold side but no snow. I think for many it was a reflection day.
Jan 2nd
Ice storm and some trees came down but no real damage to the camp.
Jan 3rd
It was a beautiful sunrise, so good that as I was letting Biter out I woke Asuna up to see it. The ice, and the reds and oranges from the sun creeping over the horizon was just too good to not enjoy.
The morning was spent cleaning up the fallen trees and branches. It was warm enough that the ice melted from the trees by noon.
The afternoon was spent reading, and in games with the rest of the tribe. This winter thing is really getting old fast.
Steven and Heather had a little spat last night at dinner. I could not tell what it was about but someone stormed out and someone followed tail between his legs.
Jan 4th
I noticed in the western sky that the planet was there this morning, I had not thought about it, but it seemed to be following a straight path across the sky. It also seemed just a little brighter.
Steven and Heather seem to have settled their issues, and are smiling this morning.
Asuna and I took a little run this morning; it was good to get out and push the body a little. We have not had the chance, or made the chance. We had a few of the other campers join us for the run.
“I wonder if Terry and his group have left for the west yet?” asked Matt when he and Tanya joined us at breakfast.
“I don’t know, the weather has been okay so they may have hit the road.” I replied.
“Maybe we should go check on them, it would be something to do,” suggested Asuna.
“Yeah, a little road trip would be a good thing, care to join us Matt, Tanya?”
“Normally I would say yes, but it is Saturday and that means it is time to put our service together for tomorrow. I have noticed you too have been missing the last few weeks, you two going to join us tomorrow?” Replied Matt
“Yeah, well, ah, I.”
Asuna to the rescue’ “I doubt it, we have been doing yoga and meditations on our own.”
“Ah…..yoga, well, remember you two are always welcome,” said Tanya.
“Thanks,” I replied with a sheepish smile.
After they left, Asuna gave me a little lecture about just saying no.
We took a ride out to the camp that Terry and group had occupied. It was empty; it looked like they had left a few days ago. The fire pit was free of snow so it had been used after the last storm.
We were back in time for game night. Asuna killed them in the darts game, crushing Mark in the final round. I restored my reputation in the Texas Hold’em taking down the Major (Doc) with an all in bet while holding three 8s. It was a dangerous move but paid off against his pair of aces.
As we walked back to the cabin I looked at the planet. It was as it has been for the last couple of weeks, which is odd.
Jan 5th
Sunday services in the morning. Asuna and I opted for our personal meditations and a little of a sort of Tai-Chi. The balance of the day was spent reading.
The meal of the day was a turkey dish over homemade pasta. It has been determined that the flour is most open for “attack” from vermin so we would use it up before it became contaminated.
Jan 6th
It is just another day of boredom here in the land of milk and honey. Actually there are some things going on, but for the most part they are the mundane daily chores that we all have to do. Things like restocking our wood supplies in the cabins, helping with assorted chores.
The only ones who are really exempt from those tasks are Nick and Grace. They take care of their wood, but with their cooking efforts it would not be fair.
The weather was not terrible today. It was actually kind of on the warm side. It was our turn so Cabin #2 (Asuna and I) had the clean the pooper (outhouse) for the week. I think I can skip the details of that operation.
Today’s cook pot was a soup made with the leftovers from yesterday.
Jan 7th
Asuna had a restless night last night; again she was plagued with the nightmares. At about 3:00 a.m. she sat straight up and was soaked with sweat. It even creeped out Biter who went to high alert when she did that.
“Hey, you okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, I, that dream, it was back.”
“I kind of figured.”
“You told me about the dreams you had with Brandon, how long did that last before you finally figured it out?”
“Well, it was a while, and for much of it I could only sense that there was something, I could see a short of shadow, but that was it.”
“Hmmmm, it sounds similar, it sounds like what I am having, there is someone calling to me, looking for me, and I hear those clicks in the background.”
“It will come to you, I know it will.”
“I hope it is soon, I want to be done with it.”
“Come here, let me hold you for a bit, you’re soaked!”
“Well, I guess I will just have to get out of these wet things.” I could not see her face, but I was sure there was a wicked little grin…..
The rest of the day was pretty much business as usual. We stopped by Lance’s “office” just to see if he had any new stuff on the radio. He was still trying to trace the point of origin of some old signals that he had received but he has not added any new signals. After the Aurora calmed down the signals did also.
It appears that I am not the only one who has noticed that the “planet” was still around. It would be nice to have some astronomer who could tell us about what was going on. I recall some things from an on-line course I had taken, but I am at a loss when it comes to Kepler’s Laws which he used to determine orbit.
Jan 7th
Asuna slept well, or at least did not wake me up and for a change Biter woke her for his early morning trip outside. I think that when it gets warmer we will build him a little dog house and he can sleep out there. It could make life much easier.
The Huntresses struck gold today. While they were out hunting, they came upon a herd of five sheep, 4 females (ewes?) and one ram. They were able to “persuade” the herd, okay, they managed to rope the ram and dragged him bleating and screaming back to camp, the ewes just followed along. It could be a meat source yes, but more importantly, a milk source.
Henry, Frank and Mark were able to build a temporary shelter for them while Asuna and I took the dump truck back to our old corn field and loaded up with a bunch of the old corn stalks that had been left from out plantings.
It was a good day.
Jan 8th
Snow, indoor day, sucked.
Jan 9th
One of the things that we had not considered when we brought the sheep into the fold was the baggage that would follow. We now have a couple of coyotes that are hanging in the area. It makes sense, for them it is easy prey, or so they thought. Biter seems to have a little different idea on that issue. One of the Coyotes was making a try at getting into the pen, and well, let us leave it at 10 points for Biter. The coyotes are still around, but the male is pretty chewed up and he is thinking twice about getting at our sheep.
Lance has worked out an alarm system for the pen, which is now decorated with a little barbed wire. I think that the chances of some predator getting at the sheep are pretty much done.
The coyotes have taken to raiding our refuse pile. Each week we dump out leftover/spoiled food in a pile just over the wall of the camp then once a week we burn it, actually a little more often in the warmer weather. We have had the raccoons and some other small scavengers raiding it for months. No one really seemed to mind, and even with the coyotes, it is no big deal for most of us. We really are not so much bothered by our furry neighbors, as long as they show us some respect.
Jan 10th
Biter had decided that sleeping near the sheep was his job and after the fir
st night of him sleeping on the ground by the pen gate we built him a little shelter. He is happy and as we do not have to let him out each morning at about 3:00 a.m., Asuna and I are happy.
Henry and Chelsea have pretty much taken over the tasks of animal husbandry. Henry has had some experience with sheep and a number of larger farm animals so he was a natural. Chelsea, a city girl, really is just learning, but has the interest to watch.
The Event Series (Book 1): Life After the Meteor Page 44