by Ron Foster
Dee remembered that Parker and her only had the one pistol between them opted to let Rachel and Donna flip for going along. Donna won the luck of the draw and off they went to see about the house. They got a little mixed up on a backroad leading to it and that was the only mishap that occurred.
“How did you hear about this place Zack?’ Ezra asked.
“Oh, it’s sort of a hobby of mine to glance at real-estate listings and dream big. This old estate was being sold off and I thought about my friend Cecil and how his family used to move into better places than this and thought it would be the perfect start for us.” Zack said.
“It’s right up here by that big oak and that old brick entryway.” Zack said pointing.
“So, it’s just sitting there empty?” Ezra asked.
“I don’t know if it is or not. The real estate ad said some furniture available for purchase or would be liquidated through an estate sale.
“Wow this place is awesome! You sure nobody lives here Zack? The lawns all mowed.” Ann said as she took in the grandeur of the picturesque old-style southern home.
“No, that’s an expensive piece of property for most people to consider. I bet the real-estate company is keeping it up. Everybody be careful though until I knock to be sure and then we can try to figure out a way into that place.” Zack said getting out of the truck.
“Honk your horn a few times Ezra and see if anyone appears” Which he did and seeing no response they spread out and wandered towards the house.
“looks to me like they left their lawnmower. I wonder if they had a problem with it cause that patch of grass next to it don’t look mowed.” Parker said.
“let’s have a look around that person might still be here but I can’t imagine anyone in their right mind mowing their lawn in the apocalypse.
Parker went over to the lawn mower and turned the key to crank it. Nothing happened so he walked back over to Donna. I was hoping it was just out of gas or something. The engine didn’t turn over so I guess their battery died. Let’s go around the other side and see if Zack has tried the door yet.” Parker said.
“Let’s just hurry up and walk across the porch to get there? I am telling you Parker; Zack sure found a nice big house here for a bug out location! I can’t wait to see inside!” Donna said.
“Me neither! This place has all kinds of possibilities and I like his idea of moving in here as one big supportive family a whole lot better than trying to make it back on the Island or in town at Rod’s. Speaking of Rod, tell Zack to be sure to try to borrow a radio off him so we stay connected to the camps. I guess they probably got one that will reach but Knobby and Nick got their own little hand held sets that might work.” Parker said before starting up the porch steps.
“I can’t wait for us all to get started on this place!” Ann said happily as her and Zack made their way back to the front porch which overlooked the river.
“Me neither, when we get back to our house in the country, we are going to load my van with a bunch of extra food that ain’t going in this community drive shit. I am going to throw a tarp over it and as far as anyone is concerned it’s just extra camping shit and tools I wanted to bring along.” Zack said talking lowly.
“I am with you, but that is going to cause us a bunch of problems trying to hide stuff like that I fear.” Ann warned.
“I think if we very are careful and dot mess up, we can keep it under wraps. It’s our stuff anyway! I am more than sharing aplenty with these folks already and holding back what I consider our margin of safety is our business. Besides we have never lived with any of these people before! Who knows how it’s going to all work out in the long run?” Zack replied.
“Where will we go if it doesn’t work out here?” Ann inquired wondering just how hard it would be for them if they were forced to move again.
“Glad you asked that question darling! Look what I got! Zack said handing her some folded papers from his vest.
Ann looked down for a moment focusing on the listings of waterfront million-dollar plus lake and river luxury homes located around here or reasonable proximity.
“SCORE! BIG TIME SCORE!” Ann cried as she looked up dreamily from the listings and gave him a happy high five.
“You can say that again!” Donna said thinking she was talking about this home and not that treasure map of possibilities Ann quickly folded and put back in her pocket.
After checking all the doors, the top balcony door was found to be unlocked and Zack and Ann went downstairs to open the front door for Donna and Parker after hollering down to them they would meet them at the front door.
After what seemed like over an eon had passed before the pair hurriedly opened the front doors and let the new would be tenets in with huge smiles, Parker and Donna knocked at the door with excitement and laughter demanding entrance.
“This Place is fabulous!” Donna said giving Ann a quick excited hug at what was soon to be their house!
“Is it all empty like this or does it have some furniture in it somewhere?” Ezra asked looking around at the unique hallway entrance.
“It has some antiques scattered about but we haven’t been in all the rooms yet.” Ann replied.
They spent about an hour looking around the house and grounds oohing and awing over every new discovery. It had well water if they could figure out how to pump it and Zack said he a solution or two in mind. The kitchen was massive and it had a huge pantry with some unknown dated preserves maybe left there just for show. The propane stove was a big surprise but it looked fairly modern. They would check the tank later and see just how lucky they were.
Zack said that they really should be thinking about getting back soon or the others would be worried about them if they took too long and they reservedly headed back to camp.
.
13
Zack’s Watered-Down Ways
Most of the rest of the day was spent discussing all the possibilities of the new house and how best to ease out of camp without much drama.
Zack told Nick and Knobby he would appreciate if they would move into the new river house and guard it while he was gone. Somebody else might think to squat that thing in their absence and they didn’t want to lose such a cool bug out location.
“Sure, we can do that. We just need to go back to the island and get a few things.” Nick said agreeing they would be official house sitters until the day the water got low enough to move all the vehicles off the island.
Zack talked to them a bit more as Nick teased him about the favors, he owed them, before saying good bye.
“I ain’t never going to get to collect on my favors the way I thought am I Zack?” Nick said scrutinizing him.
“Not if I can help it buddy! You know better than that!” Zack said and then laughingly reminded him that he had already warned them previously he could always write another chapter!
The two man shook hands with him and left muttering as they carried the dingy down to the river and launched it on their way back to the island. The water was much calmer looking now and the weather was clearing. Hopefully, no more aftershocks would occur to trouble land or water for a while but they were sure glad when they reached the land on the other shore.
Knobby and Nick easily carried the lightweight dingy up the hill and moored it securely with a stout rope to the church’s front steps for safety. There was no way that they were going to let that Sea Eagle out of their sight or security again anytime soon.
It would get loaded up with the survival gear they were bringing to the basically rooms for rent, bed and breakfast flop house that would be their lodging with minimal amenities offered. It was their new family business Zack had called it, but it didn’t sound much like that to them at the moment. No matter, things would work out somehow and them bringing the Dingy raft over here gave them more capabilities and less chance of anyone messing with all their stuff back on the island by its absence.
Knobby told Nick there were worse things they could be up to ra
ther than sitting guarding Zack and theirs house with a fishing pole in one hand and a rifle in the other. He just wished he could remember all those weird ways Zack had shown them you could rig a line for catfish!
“You ever get a chance Nick you need to trade for a lifeboat for your RV. They can make perfect sense for a lot of things and it looks like from here on out we ought to try our hand at catching some fish trot lining. That damn Zack has turned us into fish mongers!
“I still don’t understand that bait for booze thing he started but it looks like we got to live with it for a while!” Nick said shaking his head about how old Zack had managed to beat him at the barter table!
THE END
Have You dreams survived? Are you still alive? What If I never went home again?
” If You Are Going To be found in trouble…
I say be found in your own backyard doing what you love!”
Ron Foster 4/05/2019 “CAYAAA”
(Come As You Are Apocalypse)
Pat and Ron thank you for coming to visit and supporting us!!
“BE PREPARED TO LOSE EVERYTHING BUT YOUR MIND!”
Ron Foster Classic Quote!
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[RF1]
Table of Contents
The Beginning
Wayward Son
Snake Dance
Looters Luck
Of Old Rams And Rogues
Talking To The Mayor
Meanwhile Back On Spectre Island
Giving And Getting
Zack’s Watered-Down Ways