“I think it will be better.”
So they dusted shelves and made the bed with fresh linen.
Max’s mom reminded him there was an old cot out in the barn, so he found it and set it up on the screened-in back porch. It would give Carter a measure of privacy, at least until the weather grew cold.
Shelby was making up the bed when Max pulled a chair close to the cot and insisted that she sit down. He sat on the bed, causing the springs to creak, close enough that their knees were touching. “I want to apologize,” he said.
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I do. I made mistakes—a lot of them since the flare.”
Max stared down at his hands, remembered holding the rifle and killing the man barreling toward them in the truck. “I thought that I could keep things going the way they always had. That’s why I tried to reason with the teenager who staged the car wreck that first night.”
“You couldn’t have known—”
“I should have.” He looked up at her. “I should have realized sooner that everything had changed. If I’d accepted that, maybe Mr. Evans would still be alive.”
“That wasn’t your fault, either.”
“No. But I might have prevented it.” He rubbed both hands up and down his jawline. Finally he leaned forward, waited until she was looking at him, and said, “I won’t make that mistake again. I’ll do whatever I have to do in order to keep you and Carter safe.”
Carter showed up at lunchtime, with dark circles under his eyes and his hair jutting out in a dozen different directions. Before Shelby could ask, he assured her that his blood sugar was fine and proceeded to devour everything Max’s mom put in front of him.
After they’d eaten, Max’s mom showed all of them how to use the old wringer washer. “We didn’t have one,” she explained. “But Millie Johnson did, and she was happy to exchange it for a promise of fish once a week throughout the summer. That will be one of your chores, Carter.”
Carter shrugged, but Max didn’t think he’d actually mind walking down to the creek and spending an afternoon each week with a fishing pole in his hand.
“Why can’t I have that chore?” Max pretended to sulk as they filled the old tub with water from the cistern, added a small amount of soap powder, and proceeded to wash their clothes.
By late afternoon Max had joined Shelby on the back porch, which stretched across the length of his parents’ home. The view was toward the south, toward Abney. They sat facing one another, a small table between them, two metal bowls on the table. Beside Shelby was a large box of purple hull peas that were waiting to be shelled. Max held the box of green beans.
“My mom always did plant too much.”
“It’s a good thing she did.”
They spoke of the drive from Abney, the dangers they’d faced, and their worries for friends back in town.
“But you’re good here, right?” Max sat back and watched as she split open another pod, dumped the peas into the pan, and dropped the shell into a bucket. It would be used for slop for the pig that his father had recently traded half a dozen chickens for.
“We’re grateful, Max. This has always been a peaceful, healing place for me. I’d forgotten that. It’s… well, it’s been awhile since I’ve been out to visit.”
“We’re safe here, Shelby. As safe as we can be, and I think the work will be good for Carter. It will give him less time to dwell on what has happened. Not that he should forget.”
“No. I don’t suppose he’ll ever forget Kaitlyn or the last few weeks, but maybe…” She stopped shelling and gazed out over the Texas countryside.
It was scrubby land, marked by a few hills and too many cedar trees. But families had carved out a living on it before, and Max was sure they could again.
“Maybe here he can have the time and space to heal. That’s what I pray for.”
They didn’t speak of their last night in Abney, when Max had asked her forgiveness or how she’d shown up at his door and admitted that she needed him. That was the past. Everything that came before the solar flare was the past. As deep shadows crept across the vista, Max understood that they would have to turn all their attention toward the present and the future if they were going to survive.
For the moment, his family—all of his family—was safe. He would be on his knees before bed to thank God for that. As for tomorrow, he would have to trust that the grace and protection that had helped them reach High Fields would also see them through the days to come.
EPILOGUE
One week later
Shelby waited until the sun was a giant ball of red touching the horizon before she began preparing for her journey. After dinner, while Georgia did the dishes and Carter and Roy played a game of checkers, she walked over to their little house and pulled out the three boxes of supplies she’d carefully packed and repacked the last four nights.
Food, first aid kit, blanket, money, and valuables for bartering. Her hand paused over the handgun and ammunition, which she would rather not carry with her. But what if she needed them? What if she had to protect herself? She stacked the three boxes one on top of the other and picked them up. Not that heavy—considering they carried any hope for her son’s future.
When she stepped outside, Max was waiting. At his feet were three five-gallon jugs of water—the kind that some people once took to the grocery store to refill.
“Thought you might need these.”
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Helping.”
Instead of arguing, she tightened her grip on the boxes and followed him to the side of the house where she’d parked the Dodge Ramcharger earlier that afternoon.
“Where did your parents get the water jugs?”
“When they lived in town, Mom went through a spell of digestion problems. She read online that bottled water might help.”
“What happened?”
“She was better in six months, and Pop had accumulated quite a few empty jugs.”
“Waste not—”
“Want not. I filled them with water from the spring out back. It’s fresh.”
Max set the jugs on the ground and raised the back hatch of the Dodge.
“I don’t need this much water, Max.”
“We do.”
She dropped her stack of boxes on the ground, half-hoping one would land on his foot. “We’ve been through this before.”
“And there’s no need to go through it again.”
“You’re not going with me.”
“Yes, I am.”
She pushed each box into the back of the Dodge. Max added the jugs of water and closed the hatch. Instead of walking away, as her heart told her she should, Shelby turned and leaned against the old SUV. The mileage would be terrible, but she wasn’t going that far. A tank of gas, which she had, should be enough. It wasn’t the distance that was the problem, it was what she might encounter in Austin that worried her.
Max moved beside her so that they were both staring out at the Texas landscape—the Hill Country, where people travelled to vacation and experience the good life. Only that life had been ripped apart, and now they were picking up the pieces.
“I can’t believe your dad is loaning me this car.”
“Are you kidding? With a V-8 engine, four-wheel drive, and storage that you can access from inside the vehicle, it’s the perfect urban disaster machine.”
Shelby laughed. She wanted to cry, but she laughed. That might have been her exhaustion peeking through.
“You’re not going without me, Shelby. Accept that, and we can move forward.”
“You don’t think I can do this alone.”
“I don’t think you should do it alone. God put us together for a reason. We grew up as best friends for a reason.”
“Our past is—”
“Irrelevant? It’s not, because you can trust me.”
She heard the frustration in his voice, but she didn’t yield.
“You’ve heard the
same reports I have,” he said. “Austin isn’t going to be easy.”
“It’s a two-hour drive.”
“It was. It isn’t anymore. Two days down, two days to find what you need, and two days back—if things go well.”
She’d done the same math in her head, but she hadn’t wanted to admit it—not out loud. Six days alone in a world gone dark, a world filled with increasingly desperate people.
“I’m going with you.”
“And if you’re killed?”
“If I’m killed I’ll be dead, so it won’t bother me much. If you’re killed and I’m here enjoying the easy life…” He nudged her shoulder with his. “I couldn’t live with that.”
She closed her eyes, willing her tears away. When she opened them, the last of the sun’s colors had faded from the sky. “Carter will barely talk to me.”
“He’s a teenager. He’ll get over it.”
“Your mother thinks I should wait to see if supplies show up in Abney.”
“She worries about you.”
Shelby turned so that her knee was propped up on the bumper of the vehicle and she was facing Max. She needed to see him, look directly at him, when she said this. It didn’t matter that darkness had almost fallen. She knew Max well enough to read his reactions, even in the dark.
“What if you have another migraine?”
“That’s a risk, but there’s a bigger risk that you’ll be attacked by marauders, or that you’ll find a situation in Austin that is untenable. Together? Yeah, we’ll get there and get back with Carter’s medicine and a small propane refrigerator.”
“You parents have a refrigerator that works. Georgia said—”
“The gas won’t last through the winter. We need something smaller. Something just for the meds.”
She considered that and nodded. “I have to find it, Max. I have to. I can’t watch my son die before my eyes when there’s something I can do to prevent it—even if that something is a long shot.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “We have a little more than a month’s supply left. That’s it.”
She didn’t realize she was crying until he reached forward, cupped her face, and rubbed away the tears with his thumbs.
“God won’t give us more than we can handle, Shelby. You can count on that.”
She pulled away and swiped at her nose. “Sounds like something you’d stitch onto a pillow.”
“Well, I wouldn’t. I’m no good with a needle.”
Shelby tried to still the fear that caused her heart to hammer. She knew she was doing the right thing. She had cried and worried and prayed since that first night when they’d seen the aurora as they hiked the trail from Gorman Falls. She’d known, even then, that Carter’s insulin would be the biggest problem they would face.
She and Max stood there, shoulder to shoulder, as the stars made their appearance—right on time, every night, regardless of the state of man.
Finally, Shelby turned to him and said, “We leave at first light.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Even before Shelby fully understands their situation, her first instinct is to check on her child. Our parental instincts are strong, and often they supersede everything else. But as they drive home, she understands the need to stop and get information as well as help others. She has to go against her deepest instincts. The Bible speaks about helping others in the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Does this apply even in times of emergency, or should we have a “family first” mentality? Why or why not?
2. Max convinces the grocery store manager to go against company policy, open the store, and sell what supplies he has. Was this a good or bad decision? What might have happened if he hadn’t opened the store?
3. When the downtown fire breaks out, the townspeople fight it the old-fashioned way—with blankets and a bucket brigade. Though they are faced with an increasingly grim situation, the people of Abney don’t give up. One theme of this story is that there is much we can learn from the older generation. Name three practical things we could learn from our elders.
4. Pastor Tony reminds his congregation that God’s love endures forever. The world is crumbling around them, but God’s love is unchangeable. How does this help us when we are facing tragic situations?
5. This story takes place in a small town, and most of the people attend one of the local churches. The churches, in return, naturally respond to needs within their community. Name some outreach programs your church participates in. What are some needs that aren’t being met or planned for?
6. Shelby misses her parents, but she knows she will be reunited with them one day. What things can we be certain about as far as the future? How can those promises help us through any present trouble?
7. Throughout the story we see that some people rise to the occasion—they become stronger, more helpful, and more faithful. For others, though, the emergency is a reason to turn against their neighbor, to put their own needs first, and to step away from their faith. What can we do to ensure that we stay in the first category? Another way to ask that question—how can we be the hands and feet of Christ to others during a tragic situation?
8. As Pastor Tony preaches at the funeral service, he draws their attention to Scripture in Kings and Jeremiah. Actually there are 67 references in the Bible to a remnant. This word simply means “remaining,” so the remnant of Christ would be those remaining in him. Read the following verses: 2 Kings 19:4, 2 Kings 19:31, Ezra 9:8, Isaiah 10:21, Isaiah 37:31, and Jeremiah 42:2. Discuss your reaction to these verses.
9. Carter’s faith is shaky at best. Before the flare, he went to church because his mother went. It’s also a comfortable, safe place for him. He hasn’t quite worked out what he believes yet. After witnessing some horrific events, his beliefs are shaken to the core. What can a parent do to help guide a child—even a grown child—into the faith?
10. The story ends the way it began—with Shelby worried about her son. The parent/child relationship is one of the most precious gifts we receive from God, and it defines every decision we make. It’s a burden and it’s a blessing. Share verses of Scripture that help us know how to navigate our family relationships.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Massive solar flares are not fiction. The Carrington Event occurred September 1, 1859. Aurorae were seen as far south as the Caribbean, and telegraph systems throughout Europe and North America failed. More recently, large solar storms were recorded in 2003, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015. Research by NASA scientists indicates there is a 12 percent chance a large storm will happen in the next 10 years. This report stresses that while a CME is not physically harmful, it could blow out transformers in power grids and disrupt satellite/GPS systems. A recent assessment by the Department of Homeland Security reported to Congress that a massive electromagnetic pulse event caused by a solar flare could leave more than 130 million Americans without power for years.
In 2014, an explosion in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City leveled two five-story apartment buildings, killed eight people, and injured at least 70 others. According to city officials, the blast was caused by a gas leak.
Basilar migraines occur in 1 of 400 migraine sufferers. They are a disturbance in the brain stem. Symptoms include dizziness, double vision, slurred speech, temporary blindness, loss of balance, and loss of consciousness. Migraine specific medications are avoided for these types of migraines because they may constrict the basilar artery and lead to stroke.
EMERGENCY PREPARATION LISTS
Foods with a Long Shelf Life
• Maple syrup
• Honey
• Salt
• Rice
• Corn starch
• Sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Vinegar
Medicinal Herbs to Be Added to Tea or Other Drinks
• For a cough, add rosemary
• For stomach cramps, add mint
• For menstrual cramps, add oregano
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�� For achy joints, add curry powder
What to Pack in an Emergency Kit*
• Water—one gallon per person, per day
• Food—easy-to-make and won’t spoil
• Manual can opener
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered, solar, or hand-crank radio
• Cell phone with chargers
• Extra batteries
• Health and safety supplies, including a first aid kit
• Medicine (7-day supply), other medical supplies, and paperwork about any serious or ongoing medical conditions
• Emergency blankets
• Soap, toothbrush, and other personal care items
• Family and emergency contact information
• Multipurpose tool
• Copies of important documents such as insurance cards, immunization records, etc.
• Extra cash
• Map(s) of the area
• Extra set of car keys and house keys
Basic 3-Month Emergency Food Stash**
• 50 lbs. white flour, or 100 lbs. if you can’t grind the 50 lbs. of wheat berries listed below
• 50 lbs. wheat berries (to grind into flour)
• 10 lbs. dried corn (popcorn works great) to be ground into cornmeal as needed, or 10 lbs. cornmeal
• 25 lbs. oatmeal
• 20 lbs. white rice (brown rice turns rancid sooner than white)
• 15 lbs. pasta noodles (or 15 lbs. durum wheat berries to grind and make homemade noodles)
• 25 lbs. mixed dry beans and legumes (such as pintos, white navy, red kidney, lentils, and split peas)
• 20 lbs. sugar
• 5 lbs. salt
• 3 lbs. dehydrated whole eggs if you don’t raise chickens
• 5 lbs. butter powder
• 1 gal. cooking oil (olive or vegetable, or a combination)
• 2 large jars peanut butter
• 12 lbs. powdered milk (comes in 4-lb. boxes)
• 1 lb. baking powder
• 1 lb. baking soda
• 5 lbs. yeast
• 1 gal. vinegar
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