One Man's Island

by Thomas J. Wolfenden

  “You know our agreement. No beer before that!” he said, and she smiled and walked off, and he heard her say, “Can’t blame a girl for trying!”

  She came back shortly with a large cooler and sat it next to Tim. He opened it and retrieved two cans, passing one to Dawn, who opened it and took a sip.

  “Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve had a nice cold beer.”

  “It does go down nice after a great meal. Thank you again.”

  “You are quite welcome, Tim,” Dawn said.

  They talked again of their lives before The Event, and Robyn sat silently and listened to them. Most of what Tim talked about she had never heard before, and was quite impressed with what he did in his past. Army stories; things about when he was a police officer; his failed marriage. About an hour after sundown, Robyn yawned and asked to be excused, as she was tired and wanted to go to bed. Tim kissed her good night, and told her he’d be in soon, that he and Dawn were going to talk for a bit longer. When she had gone inside the camper, they both looked out at the setting moon, which was waxing crescent and looked like a huge orange grin low on the horizon.

  Dawn pointed at it and said, “A good sign. The Ancient Ones are smiling down on us.”

  “Looks more like the Cheshire cat to me,” Tim said ruefully.

  “Ah, yes. Things are getting curiouser and curiouser,” Dawn said, as he drained his beer, and Tim handed him a fresh one.

  “Never in my life did I ever think I’d be doing this,” he said.

  “Nor did I, but we have to play the cards that Fate has dealt us, whether we like it or not.”

  “I know that. I still don’t like it is all,” Tim said.

  “You know, what you said before, about what Robyn thinks?”

  “You mean her thinking I’m some sort of hero?”

  “Yes, Tim. She may be right. Look back at everything that has happened up until now, even meeting me. I think it’s what the Ancients talked about.”

  “You mean I’m supposed to be the one who saves the world, or at least cleanses it for the next?”

  “That is what I mean, Tim.”

  “I don’t buy into that, Dawn. I’m sorry, I just can’t.”

  “But you can’t deny the fact that on your way west, you’ve done things, taken roads that you shouldn’t have, and because of that you’ve found the one thing you don’t want, despise it even, but yet you’ve got it now, and now you must safeguard it with your life. You don’t deny any of that, do you?” Dawn asked.

  “But I never asked for any of this.”

  “We never do, Tim. You might not think it now, but one man can really make a difference, maybe even change the world,” Dawn said with a sigh.

  “That’s what my brother said, right before The Event.”

  “He was right.”

  “But how can I do that? I’m only one man with a precocious fourteen year old, travelling around the country in a camper.”

  “Just trust your instincts. They’ve served you well before, haven’t they?”

  “Yeah, but fuck… I don’t know what to do. I’m just trying to get by, find a place for Robyn and me to live in peace. Not all this other stuff!”

  “Just follow your instincts, Tim. You will know what to do when the time comes, but not before that. I have no idea what I’m going to do myself. I just ride the wind like a feather, and will land where I’m supposed to land.”

  “It can’t be that easy, or can it?”

  “Perhaps, and I’ll tell you this. A little food for thought, you might say. Three days ago I was camped north of here, about two miles away, far from any roads or highways. I woke up and something in the back of my mind told me to break camp and set up here. Something I never, ever do. I never camp near roads, and try to avoid people as much as you do. I believe now that it was because I was meant to meet you.”

  “So I just go with the flow, and follow my instincts?”

  “Yes. Where exactly are you headed, Tim?” Dawn asked, reaching for another beer.

  “I told Robyn that we’d let the place pick us.”

  “So you’re looking for a sign?”

  Tim laughed. “Not a burning, talking bush or a bolt out of the blue, but yeah, I guess you’re right about that one.”

  “You’re seeking someplace safe?”

  “Yeah, and a place where we can live in the lifestyle we’ve become accustomed to,” he said, with a huge grin, and Dawn laughed.

  “I believe you’ll get your sign, Tim.”

  “I wish it would hurry up then, I’m getting sick of driving!” he replied. “So you’re just going to follow the herd, or do you have a specific place in mind?”

  “That I’m not sure of. I know I’ll stay around here, but I may just follow the buffalo like I said before, watch the herd grow, and live off the land like my ancestors.”

  “If I followed my ancestors, I’d be back in Ireland farming potatoes.”

  “Not much fun in that,” Dawn said. He yawned. Tim looked at his watch, and saw that it was close to midnight.

  “No, potato farming is not my idea of a great future,” he said. “I think I might hit the fartsack. Thanks for dinner and the company, Dawn. It’s been really nice to talk to another human besides Robyn.”

  “Yes, I do understand what you mean,” he said, standing. “I’m sure she’s a wonderful companion, but it is nice to have others to talk to once in a while. It’s been over a year since I had a conversation with someone. Thank you again for the beer.”

  “No problem. If there’s one thing there’s plenty of, it’s booze.”

  “True! Good night, Tim.”

  “Good night, Dawn,” Tim said, and watched Dawn climb into his teepee.

  He walked to the camper, and opened the door to find Robyn, already showered, in bed and fast asleep. He kissed her forehead, and went to the bathroom for his own nightly ritual and climbed into bed. Even though he was feeling a little buzzed from the beer, sleep didn’t come easily, and he thought about Dawn’s words over and over again. How he sounded so much like his brother. It was too naïve to think that way. He couldn’t change the world. No way in the world could he do that.

  Finally sleep took him, and he drifted off to a dream filled sleep. He dreamed he was an eagle, soaring above an island, and there were people on that island that he had to protect but he was at a loss on how to do it. He could see a ship sailing towards them, and felt that danger was approaching, but was helpless, so he just soared above them, looking down. Round and round he soared, and he screeched and grew angry, because he didn’t know what to do…

  Tom woke early to the usual smell of coffee wafting in from the galley. He sat up and held his head; he had a splitting headache and knew from experience it was a hangover. It had been a long time since he’d sat and drank that much beer. These days he usually satisfied himself with one or two with dinner, but he’d polished off an entire twelve pack with Dawn last night. Getting up and tossing on some sweatpants, he walked out to see a smiling Robyn making his cup of coffee. She came over with a steaming cup and sat it down at the table as he folded himself into his seat. She bent down and kissed him on the forehead.

  “Good morning, Daddy!”

  “Yeah, it’s morning alright,” he grumbled.

  “Do we have a bit of a hangover this morning?”

  “Eh. I’ll live,” he said as he took a sip of coffee. “Why don’t you go out and see if Redeagle is awake? Maybe we can return the favor and have him in for toast and coffee.”

  “Okay!” Robyn said, wiping her hands with a towel and going to the door. When she opened it, she stopped dead. “Um, Dad…?”

  “What is it?” he said, turning around to see her frozen in the doorway, staring out. He got up and stood behind her, and his jaw dropped open. There was no sign at all of the teepee, the horses or Dawn Redeagle. It was almost as if he was never there at all. All he could see in the early morning light was miles and miles of tall grass slowly waving in a slight breeze
.

  I guess this is the amber waves of grain they sing about in the song.

  “Things are getting curiouser and curiouser,” he whispered.

  “He was there, right? I didn’t just dream it?” she asked.

  Tim moved her aside and walked the few yards to where the teepee had been. The fire had been extinguished at some point, and the coals were damp and cold. He could see where the teepee had been set up; the grass was crushed flat in a huge circle. He looked over to where the horses had been, and could see some fresh manure laying on the ground, but other than that, there was no sign of Dawn Redeagle.

  “No, you didn’t dream it, he was here. He must have packed up camp early this morning before we both were awake and headed off.”

  He looked around as far as he could see, and didn’t even see the herd of bison. In the tall grass he couldn’t even tell which direction Dawn had gone. It was like he vanished into thin air. He looked down towards the highway in both directions, and saw no sign of him there either. He walked back to the camper.

  “I don’t know where he’s gone,” he said, shrugging.

  “Did he say anything last night?”

  “No, we just said our goodnights around midnight and I came to bed.”

  “Maybe he said everything he needed to say.”

  “Maybe, Pumpkin, but it’s got me baffled.”

  “Yeah, he was kind of neat. I’d liked to have talked to him more.”

  “So would have I, baby,” Tim said, reentering the camper and sitting down to finish his coffee. They sat in silence for a while until it was time to pack up and get back out on the road. It only took a few minutes, and taking their rifles, they hopped into the Hum-Vee. Tim started it and was about to put it in gear when he looked up through the windshield and saw what he had missed earlier. Folded in half was a piece of paper under the windshield wiper, and he almost dismissed it as one of those fliers for aluminum siding or pet grooming that he’d find on his car after he was in the supermarket. He reached out and got it, sat back down in his seat and opened it up.

  “What is it, Dad?” Robyn asked, trying to lean over the wide console that separated them.

  “I don’t know. I think Dawn must have left it,” he said, unfolding the paper. It was a single sheet of loose leaf lined paper, and had a note written on it: You wanted a sign. Have a safe journey! written in perfect cursive. Also folded with the paper was what looked like a glossy color tri-fold flier from some housing development or something like that. He looked at it and shook his head.

  It read: Planning for the end? We have everything the modern survivalist would need! From food storage, to deep water wells, solar and wind power, weapons storage, and much, much more! All homes are double walled, and come with complete Faraday Box protection for all of your electronics needs! All in the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, and just outside of beautiful, Williams, Arizona. Adjacent to the Kibab National Forest, and thousands of acres of tall Ponderosa pines, mule deer and elk hunting! Whatever you’re preparing for, we have you covered! Come and see us today!

  The brochure also showed several photos, obviously taken for the full advantage and ‘wow’ factor. The homes looked like huge log cabins, and had full kitchens, washing machines, dryers, TVs, DVD players, and all gaming needs.

  “Well I’ll be dipped in dogshit,” he said.

  “Well, what is it, Daddy?” she asked.

  “It’s a sign, baby.”

  “What kind of a sign?”

  “It’s where we are going,” he said, handing over the brochure.

  She looked at it for a moment or two, closed it and looked over at Tim. “Is this where we need to be?”

  “Well, if Dawn Redeagle was only half right, yes. But even if he’s wrong, this looks like as good a place as any. We might as well check it out.”

  “It looks pretty cool!”

  “Not only that, we have a destination, no more wandering and wondering!” he said, with a big grin, putting the Hum-Vee into drive and making a big turn to get back out onto the highway. Robyn laughed, put her feet up on the dash, and rolled down her window. They drove on throughout the day listening to the music that Tim had stored on the IVIS. Continuing west on I-80, they took the exit and merged with I-76. They headed into Colorado, stopping at a truck stop in Sterling to scrounge up some more water and diesel fuel. When they had all of the fuel tanks topped off, Tim took out a map of the local area he’d picked up from inside the truck stop.

  “What are you looking for?” Robyn asked.

  “The library. I need to look something up that’s been bugging me since this morning when I read that brochure,” he said, not looking up from the map.

  “What was bugging you?”

  “What a Faraday Box is. I know I’ve heard it before, but I’m not sure what it is.”

  That’s easy!” she said with a giggle. “It’s a steel cage to protect electronics from static electricity and electromagnetic pulse.”

  He stopped, looked dead ahead and dropped the map. He slowly turned to her. “And just how do you know about that?”

  “It was in one of those books we have on the development of the atom bomb and Oppenheimer and all those other guys. In the late 60s they discovered that atomic bombs let off an electromagnetic pulse when they go off high in the atmosphere, and a Faraday Cage can protect delicate electronics,” she said matter-of-factly, and with a look that almost said You didn’t know that?

  “How old are you again?” he asked, stowing the map he no longer needed.

  “Fourteen!” she said, sticking out her tongue at him.

  He rolled his eyes and put the Hum-Vee back into gear, and headed off back onto the highway. “More like forty!” he said as they drove off. He realized they had crossed into Mountain Time, and changed his watch again, figuring it would be the last time in a while. He was happy the old Timex was still working. It had only cost him $25 at the PX over ten years ago and had served him well all this time. He only had to remember to wind it every day, and if he forgot and it stopped, he double checked it with the time on the IVIS, which was always correct. They drove on until the sun was very low on the horizon and decided to stop within sight of a now dark Denver in a town called Keensburg. Pulling off onto another overgrown rest stop with covered picnic areas, he drove the camper up right in front of one and stopped.

  “We’ll eat alfresco tonight!” he said with a flourish.

  They set up camp, Robyn made tuna sandwiches, and they ate at a picnic table in the twilight, sipping cans of Coke. Tim had decided he’d give his liver a break for a few days, and was laying off the beer. They had watched the sun go down over the Rocky Mountains that night, and he told Robyn they’d be crossing them the next day. The moon again was a little bit higher in the sky, but still the same crescent shape, and Tim thought of the Cheshire cat grinning at him.

  Things are most certainly getting curiouser and curiouser.

  “The moon looks like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland,” Robyn said.

  “Can you read my mind?”

  “No.”

  “That’s exactly what I was thinking. I said so to Dawn last night about it.”

  “I wonder where he is,” she said, looking at the moon. “I hope he’s alright.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  “I think he was right about everything,” Robyn said confidently.

  “Don’t be so sure. A lot of that was pure myth.”

  “Like bigfoot?”

  “No, bigfoot is real!”

  “Come on, Dad, there’s no Bigfoot,” Robyn said playfully, sticking out her tongue.

  “Don’t be so sure. The Loch Ness Monster is real, so is La Chupacabra!”

  “La Chupra-what?”

  “La Chupacabra. Everyone knows about that. It means ‘goat sucker,’ and it roams around Puerto Rico at night, sucking the blood from goats and other critters.”

  “Oh, puleeze,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Those things aren’t real.” />
  “Okay, if they aren’t real, what makes you think what ol’ Mr. Redeagle told us was true?”

  “Because I just know it is all,” she said with finality, crossing her arms over her chest.

  Tim left it at that, because he knew he couldn’t shake the idea from her head. They made small talk for a while, and when the last of the light from the sun had faded over the Rockies, they cleaned up their mess from supper and headed inside. Tim was glad now they had a destination. He wasn’t getting any younger, and these long miles on increasingly worsening roads were beginning to take their toll on him. Most nights his knees screamed in agony, and his back was so stiff he could barely move. He needed to find a place where they could relax and he could do some exercises to limber up some, but in the back of his mind he knew that was just a waste of time itself. He was going to be fifty years old before much longer, and the years of abuse he’d put his body through were now making themselves quite evident. He had to continually keep telling himself that he wasn’t that physically fit eighteen year old private anymore.

  They went to bed early, and were both asleep in minutes. They woke early the next day, and started off again. They passed through Denver, and Tim had to admit it was the prettiest he’d ever seen it. He’d been there a few years prior, and there had been a thick cloud of smog hovering over the city. Now, with no cars, trucks or buses, the air was crystal clear, but thin. Staying on I-70, they continued on, and soon after started to climb the Rockies. The Hum-Vee was straining with the heavy weight of the camper it was never designed to haul, and Tim kept a sharp eye on the temperatures of the coolant and the radiator. The engine was working hard, but the Hum-Vee kept chugging away, and soon they had reached Loveland Pass at 11,990 feet above sea level. The view was breathtaking. They crossed over the Continental Divide, and were now on the downhill side of the Rockies, passing over Vail Pass soon after. After every mile, when Tim thought he’d never seen a more beautiful landscape, they’d come around a bend or crest a hill, and their breath would be taken away again.

  “It’s sure a lot different than Iowa or Nebraska,” Robyn remarked.