The Long Walk Home

by Ison, S. A.

Beckett handed Zoe the smaller backpack and he hoisted up her backpack. It was damn near as big as she was. It was heavy, he guessed nearly thirty pounds. He didn’t know how she did it, and saw that she had strong legs. They all did. He hoped he could keep up with them. His idea of fitness was chasing down leads.

  “We have about three or four more hours of daylight, I think there is a campsite roughly that far away.” Milo said, shrugging.

  Becket rolled up the towel and then the blanket and stuffed both of those into the pink backpack. They stuck out from the top, but were in deep enough, they shouldn’t fall out. He noticed that Zoe came up to his chest and grinned down at her head. He patted the top of her head and she turned and grinned up at him.

  He looked in his car once more before shutting the trunk. He stuck his keys in his pocket and nodded to the others. They began to walk, Milo leading the way. Zoe kept pace with Beckett, Evie walked with Carter. Everyone was quiet and Beckett figured that they were all in their own heads, trying to process the situation. It was a hell of a lot to process, and he too, needed to get his mind wrapped around the idea of an EMP wiping out everything he knew. The world around them was quiet, oddly enough, he’d never walked the Appalachian trail. Never had a desire to. He guessed it was because he lived so near it.

  His land was surrounded by woods, and the Cumberland Gap park was near at hand. Besides, he was too busy to take the time to walk, between getting his pilot’s license, and his job on the Morristown Police Department, he didn’t know whether to shit or go blind. That and trying to get his prepping together, had left him little time to walk anywhere but from his house to his car, to work. Now, he guessed, he had all the time in the world. And he was almost glad that he’d not be in Morristown about now, when people started losing their shit and their minds. Or, it might take a few days. He’d hate to have to shoot people he knew. He was sure the police department was just now starting to get a clue as to the extent of the outages and stopped vehicles.

  With no communications, and no vehicles, there was no way for police to get to crimes. No one could call for help. He wondered if his co-workers would head home, to their families? He’d not spoken of his prepping; he’d not wanted to hear their ridicule. He also didn’t want them showing up at his doorstep with open hands. He didn’t feel like he had a choice here. He needed Milo’s truck to get him home fast. Everyday here was a day he wasn’t home, guarding his supplies.

  Maybe once he got back to his home, he’d hold up for a while, until all the bullshit blew over. He had enough food packed in his home to last a year or better. He figured it was still early enough to plant a garden when they got back. That and hunting, he thought maybe they could do it, maybe they could survive and get through it.

  XX

  Milo was steaming, he wasn’t sure if Beckett were a hysterical idiot or a control freak. Milo was pretty sure Beckett was both. And a friggen cop as well. All he wanted was a good time and he was pretty sure Zoe and Evie were digging on him. He’d been enjoying the day when he’d heard the screaming and should have just kept on his walk, but he’d just had to investigate. Then he saw the girls, and that was alright by him. He was psyched about the girls, but Beckett was interfering there.

  Well, maybe when they got to the truck, they’d find out that Beckett was a hysterical bitch and he’d head back to Orlando and call this vacation a bust. The thought of an EMP was ridiculous. But he had to admit, he’d bought into it. He wasn’t sure if he really believed it or not. Beckett was pretty sure about it. Really, what were the odds? But then again, his phone hadn’t worked. But they were in the mountains, his brain argued. Maybe it was just that there was no reception. It would be good to get to his truck and if it turned out that Beckett was full of shit, he’d blast his ass.

  For not only scaring the shit out of him, but for frightening the girls. Christ, he was pretty sure he’d have run into the girls and Carter notwithstanding, he’d have had a chance with either of the women. There was something about Beckett that just twisted him in the wrong direction. Maybe that know-it-all sense of entitlement. I’m a cop and you have to listen to me. Maybe that was it. He mentally shrugged. Oh well, tomorrow, they’d get to his truck and he’d drop Beckett off somewhere and maybe take the girls out for dinner or something. Do something anyway. His mind was going in three different directions and his thoughts were scattered and disorganized. He didn’t like that either.

  Maybe he was just angry at the news, angry at the messenger. He was fairly confident that this was all a bunch of bullshit and Beckett was just chasing his tail. Dragging the rest of them along didn’t sit well with him. But he had nothing better to do at this point. There was an uncomfortable feeling, however, that if Beckett was right, his life was over as he knew it. That was the only thing that held his tongue. If shit really had hit the fan, then he’d have to kiss Beckett’s ass. Beckett had the preparations at his place. Milo wasn’t too stupid to understand that if there really was an EMP, his life did depend on Beckett.

  XX

  The group had been walking for over an hour, when they met another group, and Beckett called to them. They stopped and waited for Beckett and his group to reach them. There were four of them, three men and a woman. The group smiled at them.

  “Hello folks.” A man said, he had the beginnings of gray and male pattern baldness and had sharp intelligent eyes.

  “Hi, we need to tell you guys about something that’s happened.” Beckett started off.

  “Oh? What’s that?” A tall black man asked. He looked military. He had that neat pressed look about him. His hair was also like a military cut as well, high and tight, he thought the term was.

  “I believe an EMP has hit. We’re heading back to see if we can get to my place in Morristown. I don’t know where you guys are from, but I wanted you to know, that you may not have the ability to go home.” Beckett informed them.

  “What? What in the hell are you talking about?” Another man asked and he was clearly in the military. He was shorter with brown hair and pale blue eyes. He too had the military haircut and also neatly pressed clothing.

  “Look, if you guys have cell phones, check them. Ours are all dead.” Carter suggested.

  Once more, Beckett watched as this new group shucked their backpacks and began to dig around in the packs. Beckett and his group watched in silence as the other group began to check their phones. The woman of the group choked and looked at her husband, Beckett presumed. The group looked at each other and then at Beckett.

  “Jesus Christ. How did this happen?” The woman asked, looking around. Beckett thought she was in her mid-forties and beginning to gray. Her dark hair was pulled in a low ponytail, at the nape of her neck.

  “If what he thinks is true, an EMP, then someone let loose some kind of weapon. What the hell are we going to do JP? We’re a million miles from Norfolk.” The black man asked the shorter one. Beckett had been right, military.

  “Hell Lucas, I think we’re screwed.” JP answered, his face losing all color. Lucas put his arm around the shorter man and it was then that Beckett noticed the wedding rings. He’d never met a married gay couple. He shrugged mentally.

  “Wyatt?” The woman asked her husband, clutching his hand.

  “I don’t know Rhena, we’re pretty darn far from Charlotte. But I guess we could walk there, hell, we’re walking now.” Wyatt told his wife and kissed her clasped hand. The woman tried to smile, but failed.

  “You’re welcome to come with us, we’re going to walk a little more and camp for the night.” Zoe offered softly, placing her small hand on the older woman’s shoulder.

  The new group looked at each other and their faces still held a collective stunned look. They all nodded, but didn’t say anything. The larger coalesced group began to walk. It was silent for a long time then Beckett heard JP and Lucas talking and watched the interlocutors.

  “How the hell are we going to get back JP?” Lucas asked softly.

  “I don’t know, and what�
��s going to happen when we don’t get back to the ship?” JP asked.

  “I don’t think it will matter, I think the EMP would have taken out the ship and or rather its systems. I’m not sure how much of the ship’s systems were hardened. I don’t think the ship will be going anywhere. Also, I really don’t think we’ll want to be in Norfolk. Do you know how crazy it’s gonna get?” Lucas asked.

  “Holy shit, you’re right, man. Christ. People are going to go nuts. That whole place is going to explode. I’m glad you brought your gun, Lucas.” JP said.

  “Me too. Christ all mighty.” Lucas breathed and hugged JP.

  “Hey guys, something is wrong, someone has been screwing with the trail.” Wyatt said. Everyone stopped and looked at him.

  “What’s wrong dear?” Rhena asked him.

  “It looks like someone’s taken down the signs. Remember when we were here five years ago, there were a lot of signs. Some had rotted and gotten old, but most were still there. I don’t see any signs or markers on this part of the trail.” He said and everyone looked around.

  “Is it important that we have the signs?” Beckett asked.

  “Well, not really, we just keep walking along this path, it’s worn enough. But you could get easily turned around if you don’t have a map or compass.” Wyatt said, lifting up his map and compass.

  “We should be able to get back to my truck I think, I really didn’t deviate off this path. I normally don’t go off the clear trail.” Milo said.

  “I guess just keep going.” Beckett suggested, looking at the faces around him, and they nodded approval.

  The group moved out once more. Beckett could tell that it was getting late in the day, the sun was going behind the mountains and long shadows were stretching over them. The birds were starting to roost and chat quietly. The insects had grown quiet. The air took on that cool quality, when the sun’s heat relented to the night. He didn’t have a coat and he knew he was going to feel the chill of it soon. The walking was keeping him warm for now.

  They had perhaps another hour to walk, but he thought if he saw a good place to camp for the night, he’d go ahead and suggest it. He didn’t know how Zoe did it, the pack was beginning to make his back complain. He never thought he was a wimp, and thought he’d been in good shape, but damn, walking with the heavy backpack was beginning to wear on him.

  “You doing okay?” Zoe asked, looking up at him, as though reading his mind.

  “How in the heck do you carry this thing? It seems like it’s getting heavier with every step.” He laughed.

  “It was special made for my height and build. It’s heavy, but it rests better on my lower center of gravity. I’m also used to it.” She shrugged, a solemn smile on her face.

  “What do you do when you aren’t walking the trail?” Beckett asked, wanting to talk and forget about his back and she also had a slight New England inflection, which made him smile.

  “I’m a financial advisor and accountant, Evie is an accountant. We’re roommates, and she got me started doing this a couple years ago. Our lives are so hectic in Boston, that we come out here to decompress. How about you?”

  “I’m a detective, as I’d said earlier. I was going to get my pilot’s license when my car died. I’ve been taking lessons for over a year now. I retire in a couple years and I wanted to go to Alaska and become a guide up there and maybe be a bush pilot. But now, I guess I won’t. I guess life has changed dramatically, though it doesn’t seem like it right now.” Beckett said, shifting the pack.

  “Do you really think it was an EMP? Maybe our phones just don’t work in these mountains. I’ve read that there are problems getting a signal.” Zoe said.

  “Yeah, but I’ve never had a problem with my phone not working and I live in this area. Not only that, my car dies at the same time. Maybe I am wrong, God, I hope I am and I’m just acting like a fool.” He shrugged and tried to smile.

  “I guess I hope you’re wrong too. Those two, JP and Lucas, I think they’re in the military.” She nodded to the two men ahead of them.

  “Yep, I heard them talking about being on a ship and not being able to get back to it. If they live in Norfolk, I don’t think they’ll want to go back there right now. Same with you and Boston. I hate to say, but over the next few days, things are going to go haywire in all the big cities.” Beckett said.

  “I think I’ve heard about the EMP thing, but I didn’t realize it could be so wide spread. Do you really think it is?” Zoe asked, looking up at him, hope and trust in her dark eyes.

  “Again, I really don’t know, but I do have a really bad feeling about all of this.”

  XX

  “Do you think he’s right Wyatt?” Rhena asked, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. Their wonderful vacation had taken a nightmarish turn. That man seemed to know what he was talking about and their phones hadn’t worked. She wanted to lay down on the ground and weep. She wanted to throw a fit.

  “I don’t know dear. And now, with someone messing with the markers, it just doesn’t make sense. I’m glad that we’ve been using this map, at least we can be assured that we’re going in the right direction.” Wyatt said. She smiled up at her husband. He was such a wonderful and brilliant man. This trip was like a second honeymoon for them. She just wished things hadn’t gone wrong. Maybe if they’d not bumped into the group, they’d have been okay.

  Ignorance was bliss in a way. They’d have kept walking and she wouldn’t be scared half to death. And what happened when their food ran out? Sure, they could walk back to North Carolina, but they’d need more food and their dropbox was another four days away. Was their food there waiting for them now? She tamped down on the urge to cry. She knew Wyatt didn’t like it when she cried. He worried so much for her. Rhena wiped at her eyes and tried to blink the tears away.

  “Try not to worry dear, we’re in good company. These are all experienced hikers. We have plenty of food, but we’ll be careful over the next few days.” He grinned down at her. She sighed heavily, looking up at her husband. He really was a good man. That was why she loved him so much. He kept her centered and balanced, when she wanted to run off in a panic. She reached over and patted his arm and he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

  two

  Zoe was torn between despair and hope. Beckett said he wasn’t sure, so maybe there was hope. But if he was right, what did that mean for her and Evie? Her parents lived in Hartford, Connecticut and her heart squeezed at the thought of not seeing them. She bit the inside of her cheek, she didn’t want to cry. She was afraid, and if Beckett was right, then he was right, they were all screwed. She’d just have to hope he was wrong.

  The couple up ahead stopped and then the group stopped.

  “I think this is a good place to camp, there is a small stream over there, about twenty feet away.” Wyatt announced, pointing over to the water. Zoe heard Beckett groan as he pulled the large backpack off his shoulders. She smiled at him and took off the pink backpack and handed it to him. Groans and grunts were heard all around as everyone began to take their packs off. They all walked toward the stream. There was a bit of underbrush and the group began to clear an area to make camp.

  Zoe began to collect twigs and branches. She noticed that Evie was helping Milo. There was something about Milo she didn’t like. She couldn’t put her finger on it. He seemed nice enough and had offered to drive them to Boston, but she just didn’t know. She did like Beckett and was glad to hear he was a police detective. He knew how to use his weapon, and that was good. If the group were going to have problems, she was sure that Beckett could handle it.

  She noted that Beckett was gathering bigger branches. She also saw that Wyatt had a small hatchet at his hip, that was good. He could cut up the bigger stuff. She could use her small Kelly Kettle, and make something for Evie, herself and Beckett. He’d carried that heavy backpack for her. She might be used to it, but it was nice that someone else carried the burden. It was always heavier after picking up her supplies.

/>   Lucas and JP were building the fire. It was somehow comforting to have two military men there with them as well. She wasn’t sure, but had always had a soft place in her heart for the people serving in the military. Both men looked like they knew how to build a good fire. They were adding larger twigs and sticks to the growing fire. Carter was clearing most of the brush around the area, so they’d not set the forest on fire. There would be no help for them if a fire did occur. That thought nearly sent her into tears. No help. Ever. No police, no government. Nothing. Whatever they needed, they’d have to find or make themselves. She was an accountant, not MacGyver.

  She was tired, she and Evie had been up since dawn. Carter had joined them on their first day and had kept them company. He was a pretty nice guy, even if he was a lawyer. He was also from Boston and that was why they’d struck up the friendship.

  The group began to settle down, digging out their tents and sleeping bags or sleeping mats. She had a sleeping bag, she didn’t want bugs crawling all over her, and so zipped herself up snug at nights. It was cold in the mountains at night and so she had a pair of pink long-johns that she wore. They were lightweight, made of silk and kept her warm at night.

  Beckett came over to sit beside her and smiled. He pulled out the blanket and beach towel. He sat down beside her. Carter, Evie and Milo came over as well. They all sat around the now burning fire and from time to time, someone added a stick or large branch.

  “What should we have for dinner? I have a packet of Chicken Alfredo and I also have extra pasta or rice, I can fix, so you can have enough to eat.” Zoe said to Beckett.

  “Wow, that sounds great. Thank you, I mean it.” He smiled. He pulled out a bottle of water and drank it down. Then pulled out another and drank half of that.

  “Good thing you have a LifeStraw. That will really come in handy.” She smiled.

  “Yeah, I’m glad I forgot it in the trunk, I just wish I had made a bugout bag. Thank you for sharing your food. I really appreciate it.”