by Mark Goodwin
Courtney winked at the old prophet. “Samson and Delilah are fine, Elijah.”
“That brings us to our next order of business. Are we going to set up a guard at the barn?” Sarah tossed her trash into the small fire burning in the pit.
Kevin looked at Elijah. “I guess we’ll have to. The cave smelled like a zoo when we kept six animals in there for a couple of days. I can’t imagine keeping the whole herd in there for the next seven weeks.”
“We could keep the animals tied up outside of the cave,” Elijah said.
Kevin shook his head. “Same problem. That lets people know we’re here and sets us up to get smoked out or trapped inside.”
Everett said, “It makes sense to have a guard at the barn. If they’re coming back, it would be better to take them on there than have them find their way to the cave.”
Kevin pointed at Everett. “I agree.”
“We’ll be spreading ourselves thin. Who is going to stay at the barn, and who is going to keep watch over the cave?” Sarah inquired.
Everett still wore a long face. The killing of the two women weighed heavily on him. “We’ll take shifts. Three at the barn, plus Danger. One person works overwatch; one stays on duty inside the barn, and the third person sleeps. The positions rotate.”
Sarah patted the dog and ruffled his ears. “Except for you, Cupcake. You’re on duty twenty-four seven.”
“The two people who are at the cave keep a close watch, but they’d be on light duty until their shift at the barn came back around.” Everett finished laying out the division of labor.
“I’m fine with that.” Kevin looked at the others.
Everyone seemed to be in agreement about Everett’s proposed course of action.
Everett spent the rest of the day cleaning his rifle and inspecting the captured weapons with Kevin. When dusk finally came, exhaustion sucked Everett into a deep sleep, despite the images of the two women he’d killed being played over and over in his mind.
CHAPTER 10
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Psalm 95:2-3
Thursday morning, Everett powered off the PVS14 night vision scope mounted on the top of his AR-15 as the first hint of dawn broke across the sky. He hit the switch at the base of the rail mount which flipped the PVS14 to the side, giving him an unobstructed view of the EOTech reflex sight. He changed the setting on the reflex sight to full power. This rifle was designated to the person on after-dark overwatch duty since it was set up with the team’s best night optics.
The glorified foxhole, which Kevin referred to as the LPOP, shielded Everett’s body from the wind, but the cold November air made its way through the wool blanket and to the core of Everett’s bones. He shivered as he looked at his watch. “One more hour.”
Everett peered down the hill then across the road at the barn. A steady stream of smoke came out of the stove pipe extending from the wall of the barn. He imagined how warm it must be inside. Elijah had kept a small stove in the barn to help break the winter chill for his goats. However, since the large potbelly stove was the only thing from Elijah’s house to survive the fire, Everett, Kevin, Courtney, and Sarah had replaced the small stove with the large potbelly. Even with the drafty walls of the barn, it kept the area inside much warmer than the cave.
One month had passed since the skirmish at the barn. Everett saw no more signs of trouble coming up from Woodstock. The freezing nighttime temperatures put an end to the rancid scent of the decomposing bodies strewn about the pavement, only a few hundred yards down the mountain. The stench, which served as a putrid reminder of Everett’s unthinkable act, finally faded away. But not the guilt. While they came less often, he still experienced regular nightmares, visions of Crystal and the other woman’s frightened faces.
“Eight hours in the foxhole. It’s an appropriate sentence for my crimes. I can’t say I’ll miss it, though. Courtney and I have light duty for the next two days. It’ll be nice to be back in the cave for a change.” He sighed. “Only two more weeks until we hit the meteor’s debris field. I’ll probably miss this stinking foxhole.” Talking to himself had become more and more common since the commencement of the guard shifts. Everett spent quite a bit of time praying, but chattering to himself helped him to stay awake.
The hour passed slowly and Everett emerged from the observation post dugout. His legs were stiff from being still in the cold air. He could get out and walk around if he wanted, but that meant leaving the hole, the wool blanket, and the small amount of body heat that amassed inside the foxhole. Everett knocked on the door before entering. The slight courtesy kept the person inside from being startled and thereby reduced the chances of a friendly-fire incident.
“Happy Thanksgiving!” Courtney met him at the door with a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
“Happy Thanksgiving to you.” He gave her a hug and took the mug. “Hot chocolate. You’re kidding!”
“Kevin and Sarah have a stash of it for special occasions.”
He sipped the warm beverage. “I’ve never needed it like I do right now. Is Kevin awake?”
“I’m up.” Kevin descended the ladder from the barn loft. “How is it out there?”
“Cold. A few flurries.” Everett took another sip. “And boring.”
Kevin zipped up his jacket, put his gloves on, and pulled his face mask over his head. “Just the way we like it.” He tucked his walkie-talkie in his pocket, grabbed his AK-47, and headed out the door.
Courtney took Everett by the hand. “Come on up to the loft. We can snuggle for a few hours before Elijah and Sarah get here with the big lunch.”
Everett smiled. “What do you mean by snuggle?”
Courtney turned around as she began climbing the ladder. “I mean, snuggle; as in keep each other warm. It smells like goat poop in here, Everett. Don’t be gross.”
“Oh.” Everett’s voice betrayed his disappointment.
She pulled off her boots, lay down and zipped up her sleeping bag. “But we’ll be back in the cave tonight.” She winked. “Alone.”
Everett’s smile slowly returned. “Okay.” He removed his shoes and wriggled down inside the other sleeping bag. “Do you know what Elijah is making for Thanksgiving?”
“Chicken, of course. Canned green beans, instant mashed potatoes, canned cranberry sauce, and mushroom gravy.”
“Mushroom gravy?”
“Yeah. It’s just canned mushroom soup so you can put it on your chicken, your potatoes, green beans, or whatever.”
“Wow. He’s pulling out all the stops. It’ll be just like Thanksgiving before the world blew up.”
“Oh! I almost forgot. Pumpkin pie. He’s grinding wheat to make his own crust, and he’s using canned pumpkin.”
“That will be fantastic. I guess it will be the first time we’ve all been together for more than a minute or two since we started the alternating guard shifts out here at the barn.”
Courtney pulled the top of the sleeping bag up to the bottom of her chin. “Yeah. We’re in close quarters inside the cave, so it’s been nice having a little breathing room. Besides, it’ll all be over within two weeks. Once the last animals are butchered, there will be no need to guard the barn. Did you guys decide what to do about the quadrunner after we move back to the cave?”
“We think it would be best to leave it here. We’re going to take a few critical components off the engine, so it won’t run.” Everett closed his eyes.
“I’ll monitor the radio for a while if you want to take a little nap.”
“I’m fine. I just need to rest my eyes for a few seconds. The cold air makes them feel dry.” Less than a minute later, he was fast asleep.
Everett awoke to the sound of Danger barking outside. He sprang from inside the sleeping bag, grabbing his HK rifle. “Courtney!”
She answered from down in the barn. “Relax. It’s just Elijah and Sarah coming down th
e hill on the quad.”
Everett laid his gun on the sleeping bag, put his boots on, and grabbed his jacket. He slung his rifle across his back and descended the ladder. “How long was I out?”
“About four hours.” Courtney placed more wood in the stove and closed the door. “Help me set up the table.”
Everett looked at the wood boards and concrete blocks that were normally used as a table inside the barn. “We’re eating outside?”
“Yeah, the weather feels like it could get up to fifty today. Anyway, it’s not fair for Elijah to go through all that trouble of putting together a nice Thanksgiving meal only to have us eat it amongst the fragrant bouquet of goat manure.” Courtney placed the boards against the wall near the door.
Everett assisted her with the boards then grabbed two blocks and began hauling them outside. “Happy Thanksgiving.” Everett nodded his greeting to Elijah and Sarah.
“And to you, my friend.” Elijah pointed toward the LPOP. “Sarah, won’t you run and fetch Kevin. We must get everything set up so we may eat while the food is still hot.”
“Sure thing. Happy Thanksgiving, Everett.” She waved as she walked away.
Soon, the entire team was working together to get the table set up. Sarah had brought an orange sheet which worked perfectly as a festive tablecloth. Courtney set the table while the men found buckets to use as chairs. With Sarah’s assistance, Elijah removed the various dishes from the box secured to the back of the ATV.
“Come. Everyone, take a seat. And grab the hand of the person next to you.” Elijah bowed his head. He offered a quick prayer, thanking the Lord for the provision and protection of the team. He asked God for mercy, comfort, and his blessing on all their Christian brothers and sisters who were suffering through this day with much less than what the group had.
“Amen.” Everett took a piece of chicken and passed the plate. “Wow. This smells just like a Thanksgiving turkey.”
“Sage and rosemary. It’s what I’ve always used on my turkeys.” Elijah spooned out a scoop of mashed potatoes. “We do the best we can with what we have to work with.”
“You’re too humble, Elijah. This is a magnificent meal, by any standard.” Sarah chuckled.
The team continued eating and enjoying each other’s company. They took their time and, in the grand tradition of Thanksgiving, everyone had seconds. The conversation lingered over the pumpkin pie and three pots of coffee. The sun beamed brightly, chasing away the chill. During the meal, all the members of the group laughed and smiled, and forgot the terrible times in which they existed. Though it was fleeting, they enjoyed the moment.
After the meal, Courtney and Everett helped Elijah place the dishes in the box on the back of the quadrunner.
“Everett and I will take the dirty dishes back. We’ll wash them and put them up.” Courtney took a stack of plates from Elijah’s hand.
“Bless you child. Be sure to take some leftovers as well. We have plenty.” Elijah smiled.
“We’ve got food at the cave. You guys keep the leftovers.” Everett placed an empty bowl carefully in the box.
Elijah portioned out some green beans, potatoes, a slice of pie, and a piece of chicken in a dish, handing it to Courtney with a wink. “We’ll share. That’s what Thanksgiving is all about.”
“Thanks, Elijah.” She placed the dish on top of the dirty dishes which were going back to the cave.
Everett assisted Kevin with setting the table back up inside the barn. “No trouble so far. Only two weeks to go.”
Kevin stacked the concrete blocks on the dirt floor of the barn. “Yeah, but we’ll be vigilant until the last day. You saw how unexpected it was when you guys happened upon it last month. You never know when trouble is right around the corner.”
Everett saw the wisdom in Kevin’s comment. “Yep. The second you let your guard down. That’s when it hits you.”
Once the table was put away, Everett and Courtney said their farewells and got on the quadrunner.
“Y’all be safe.” Kevin waved as he picked up his rifle and returned to the observation post across the road from the barn.
Everett and Courtney waved as they rode away. The two of them stopped at the creek to wash the dishes before returning to the cave. Everett groaned as he bent over to draw water into the bucket they kept near the creek for just such a purpose. “I’m so full I could pop.”
Courtney chuckled. “I know. If we could curl up on the couch and watch It’s a Wonderful Life, all would be right with the world.”
Everett snorted. “I’d like to see George Bailey try to get by in the Apocalypse. What was the amount of money he was trying to kill himself over?”
Courtney rolled her eyes. “I don’t know, like eight grand I think.”
Everett shivered at the touch of the cold creek water. “Even so, I wouldn’t commit suicide by plunging into icy waters. There’s a smarter way to get your life insurance money than that.”
Courtney rinsed a plate and stacked it on top of the other clean ones. “You’re missing the point. The moral of the story is that George Bailey was instituting a permanent solution to a temporary problem.”
“No, I get it. I’m just saying the movie wouldn’t play well today. Anybody who can’t handle being down eight thousand dollars would be eaten alive in a world where the sky rains blood and fire, where earthquakes, famine, and plague are the rule rather than the exception, and where the western hemisphere is bracing for impact with a giant comet.”
Courtney pretended to smack an invisible gavel on a make-believe block. “Wrong, wrong, wrong. If it were on tonight, the whole planet would tune in to watch Jimmy Stewart strolling down the quaint little streets of Bedford Falls. Forget about George Bailey being such a sissy. They’d want to remember a time when even insurmountable problems like missing eight thousand dollars had a solution.”
Everett washed the last dish and handed it to Courtney to rinse. “Maybe we’ll see if it’s playing on the radio tonight. You never know.”
She rinsed the dish and placed it with the others. “I thought you wanted to snuggle, but we can listen to the radio, if that’s what you’d rather do.”
“Oh, it’s either or, is it?”
She winked and threw her arms around his neck. She kissed him. “No. It’s not either or. I’m just teasing.”
“You know you drive me crazy, right?” He held her close and gave her a long passionate kiss.
They hauled the dishes up to the cave, leaving the quad at the bottom of the trail, near the creek. Once inside, Everett exchanged all of his batteries for fresh ones and placed the cells they’d used over the past two days into the charger.
“Do you want some tea?” Courtney placed several small pieces of charred wood in the small rocket stove which Elijah had built from creek stone inside the cave. The team learned the hard way that the cave did not have sufficient airflow for a large fire in the cathedral area. However, the small amount of smoke produced by the rocket stove easily vented out the storage corridor.
“Sure.” Everett turned on the radio and took a seat on his sleeping bag.
Courtney filled the kettle with water and joined Everett. Sox emerged from inside Courtney’s sleeping bag, stretched, and took a seat in Courtney’s lap. She stroked his back. “He’s hungry. Bring him a piece of that chicken.”
“Chicken? Why don’t we give him some potatoes and gravy?”
“It’s Thanksgiving, Everett. Give him a tiny piece of chicken. You can mix it in with the potatoes.”
Everett looked Sox in the eyes. “You realize this is a people holiday. You should feel bad for imposing yourself.”
“Stop it, Everett! Don’t say that to him. There were cats on the Mayflower, so they probably participated in the first Thanksgiving.”
Everett stood up to bring Sox his celebratory meal. “I’ve never heard that. I don’t know what history book you were reading.”
“All ships used to travel with cats. They kept the boat free of mice
and rats. They had an official title, the Ship’s Cat.”
“You’re making this up.” Everett tore tiny shreds of chicken and mixed them into the potatoes which he then spooned into the cat’s food bowl.
Courtney laughed. “I’m not making it up. I can’t believe you’ve never heard of it.”
Everett placed the bowl several feet away. “Here’s your food. Now, can I have my wife back?”
Sox leaped out of Courtney’s lap and sauntered over to the bowl. The loud smacking sounds he made as he ate were his stamp of approval that the meal was indeed pleasing.
“I’m glad you like it.” Everett returned to his seat putting his arm around Courtney. He scrolled through the stations on AM and FM.
“There’s only one station. The GR propaganda radio.” Courtney pursed her lips as she watched Everett search in vain for something else.
“I know. I’m just checking to see if anyone might have a pirate station up.” Once he was satisfied that there were no other alternatives, he tuned to the GR station.
The female reporter’s voice had a distinct British accent. “The Falcon Twenty rocket which will launch a week from Saturday has been cleared by GRASA. The final inspections were made yesterday afternoon, and the GRASA spokesperson assured the Global Republic Broadcasting Network that all systems are go for the mission to disintegrate the comet 2019 WD10. The Space Agency has designated the comet, Wormwood, which is derived from a Greek word meaning bitter. While we have devised a plan to overcome the complete destruction of our planet threatened by this celestial object, the fallout will bring a very bitter period indeed, especially for the Western Hemisphere.
“His Majesty has pledged a massive relief effort to commence on Monday, December 11th. The initial three-day period following the collision with the debris field will be spent assessing damage to GR infrastructure, particularly in the capital city of New Atlantis. Emergency management protocols are already in place, and plans exist to bring the government back online within seventy-two hours of impact.