EMP Survivors (Book 1): Destination Lost

by Christof, Norman

  "I thought you said you wanted me to have a good time."

  There was that evil smile again. "I do, you know I do." Vicky was halfway out the door before she stuck her head back in. "But ... if things don't work out with Holly ... I'd be more than happy to go camping with you next to some mountain stream that stinks of fish."

  She closed the door before Garrett could respond. Not that he could, being as tongue tied as he was in the moment.

  Chapter 3 ~ Top Of The World

  It's a long way from Asheville, North Carolina to New York City. At least, it felt that way for Becky. There was a part of her that was excited about being here, but another part that didn't much like all the noise and commotion. It was longer still to 57th Street. Normally, she could walk from her dormitory to her internship at Creative Steel Solutions Inc., but today she was going on site for the first time. That meant taking the Broadway Line on the subway to 57th Street. Most of the seasoned travelers sharing her ride were either plugged into their mobile devices via headphones blocking out the noise or sleeping or both. Becky was afraid she'd miss her stop, so preferred to keep her eyes and ears awake to the signs at each stop, and the automated voice announcing the upcoming stops over the loudspeakers.

  She was just starting her second year at school, and her grades were good enough from freshman year to give her the pick of internships during her sophomore year. It meant having to juggle both school work and real world work, but it wasn't an opportunity she was going to pass up. Her parents had mixed feelings about her going all the way to New York for school, but they wouldn't actually come right out and say so. They simply went on about how proud they were about her being accepted, and how happy they were for her to get everything she'd asked for. She could tell, though, that they weren't quite as enthusiastic as they appeared. She knew they missed her, and worried about her so far from home.

  Especially her dad. He always seemed to worry the most. He'd always wanted to be an architect himself. He'd told her the story ever since she could remember. About how his parents didn't have enough money to send him to college, but he'd worked jobs all through high school, and then after how he'd planned to work construction for just a couple of years to make sure he had enough money to get in. He figured that even though he'd be out of school for a few years before applying, working in construction would give him real hands-on experience for building what the dreamers came up with. He called architects dreamers, and the workers doers. Dreamers and doers. They both needed each other to make the magnificent buildings he himself wanted one day to be a part of. Then, his father died. Far too young. They barely had enough money to get by, let alone pay for life insurance, and if Garrett hadn't pitched in with his savings they would have lost the house. Garrett couldn't let that happen. He figured, just a few more years again, and he'd be able to go. What was a few more years? He was still young.

  Things happened. He fell in love. His employers kept promoting him, and making him offers he couldn't refuse. Eventually he got married and started a family of his own. It was too late by then to go back to school. Life had taken over.

  He passed down his love for architecture to Becky. Not intentionally, and not because he wanted her to pursue his dream. He had a way of telling stories about buildings, the history of them, and how they were built. There wasn't a building in Asheville that Garrett didn't know something about. It could be who the original architect was, or who used to live there, or what ghosts supposedly haunted the place. To him, buildings were like people. They had character and feelings and most of all, they had an impact on the people that lived in and around them.

  Today was Becky's chance to be a part of the creation of a new building. Or, as her dad preferred to say, the birth of a new personality. A person with their own character and thoughts, and a bright future ahead of them. Thinking about buildings the way her father did made the big city seem friendlier to her. All the buildings of stone and steel weren't cold and impersonal when she thought of them as having personalities. They just seemed like friends she hadn't met yet. People she could get to know, if she just gave them time.

  She recognized her stop and got off the train with a horde of other morning commuters. She wasn't used to the jostling of the crowd, and almost let it push her towards the wrong exit. She broke free of the crowd momentarily, to find a map posted on the info booth wall. No one else paid much attention to maps, so it gave her breathing room, and a chance to get her bearings. A few minutes consulting the map and she found the right street exit.

  The guard at the construction site gate told her to wait while he radioed someone. Her boss Wayne had told her the gate guard could find him when she arrived. The guard told her to wait inside the small trailer just inside the gate.

  The trailer was sparse. A table with a few old blueprints rolled up on it, a set of radios charging in their stations and a coffee maker plugged in. She considered pouring herself a cup, but couldn't find a clean mug. There was one small window at the end of the trailer that looked out on the new skyscraper being constructed. It looked massive, even though it still had another fifteen floors to go before it reached its design height of eighty-two floors. About halfway up the building the floors had external walls. The top half of the building was exposed steel girders. The skeleton of the building. The very top was ringed with cranes lowering and raising materials to the workers on the upper floors. Even though each crane was controlled by different operators, they worked in unison like an orchestra. Workers rode the temporary external elevator cages the ran along the sides of the building.

  It was mind boggling to Becky, thinking of all the coordination and planning and pieces and workers it took to put this together. Even after a full year of architectural school, it was an amazing feat to watch. She wished her father could be there with her. He'd probably make up stories about this place before it was even born. She really wanted to hear those stories. She wondered if she'd ever get to the point where it would all just seem so normal. So regular.

  "It's pretty amazing, isn't it?" She heard a voice behind her. "I never get tired of watching them come to life." It was Wayne, one of the principals in the firm and her tour guide for the day. "There's nothing quite so humbling as watching your dreams come to life. Even after the years of design, and building all the scale models, and all the meetings full of arguments about budgets and compromises. It's like it's brand new all over again." He looked out the window with her, straining to see to the very top. "Don't worry, it never gets old."

  "My dad would so love to be here right now," Becky said.

  "Oh yeah? Your dad's an architect as well? I didn't know that."

  "Well, not exactly, but he is in the business. He's a foreman by trade, but in his heart, he's an architect. Or, what he prefers to call them ... dreamers."

  Wayne smiled. "Well, I've been called a lot worse than that by most foremen. I think I'd like to meet your dad. I suspect he could teach me a few things."

  "He just has a thing for buildings, that's all. Says they have personalities."

  "He's right. They do. So, what do you think? Care to meet the newest member of our family with the biggest personality on the block?" He handed her a hardhat, and a security pass to pin on her jacket.

  "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

  Wayne held open the elevator cage door for her. "Alright then, hold on to your butt; this could be a bumpy ride."

  Becky hesitated momentarily before entering the cage. During the construction phase of the skyscraper, it was the only way to get up and down from the upper floors of the building. The internal elevators wouldn't be installed till much later, so for now all the workers and much of their equipment traveled up and down the bright red steel cages running along the outside of the building. Heavier equipment and materials were moved by the cranes, but the elevators were quicker and safer.

  "They're perfectly safe, trust me." Wayne smiled. "Let me put it to you this way. The guys that installed these elevators are the same guys t
hat ride them every day. If those guys want to make it home to their loving families every day, you know they're not about to skimp on their rides." He motioned her in.

  "Sounds reasonable to me," Becky said, craning her neck all the way up.

  "We're only going up forty-five floors today. There are a few interesting features that I think you may enjoy. Some of your own ideas in action."

  "Well, I guess that seals the deal."

  The elevator started moving up its rails as soon as the door locked shut, like a roller coaster at the fair. Becky liked roller coasters, and she had high hopes for this one.

  "They don't ever get stuck part way up, do they?" Becky shouted over the sound of the elevator engine and the wind. The cage rocked more on its guides the higher they went.

  "It's got a little more flex than a regular elevator, but that's a good thing. Especially when you're outside in the elements with the wind and all. Don't worry about getting stuck. We could always use one of the cranes to rescue us if that ever happened." Becky looked concerned. "Not that I've ever heard of it happening, but it's always good to have a backup plan."

  "That's true, I suppose." Becky held tightly onto the handrail with both hands. "They seem to move pretty fast though."

  "It's just because you can see everything around you. In a regular elevator, you can't see the elevator shaft walls whizzing by. I generally don't worry about going up too fast."

  "No? Why is that?"

  "I always figured that going up too fast is far better than going down too fast."

  "That ever happen?" Becky scrunched up her nose.

  "Not on the elevators I ride."

  The elevator finally slowed to a stop, and Wayne waited for Becky to get off ahead of him.

  "Just stay within the painted lines, and follow them that way." He indicated the west corner of the building. "Your big surprise awaits."

  Chapter 4 ~ Bon Voyage

  Things started off both polite and awkward. Garret got the distinct feeling that they both wanted this to work, but had worries that it wouldn't. Sometimes, he thought, trying too hard is the worst thing you can do. So, he tried to relax. He was up before five that morning, which was a little early, even for him. But, he took his time. Holly was an early riser as well, but definitely not a morning person. Need to start the day off on the right foot. She said she wanted picked up no sooner than nine, so there is no need to rush it. Garrett had learned long ago that rushing a woman when she was trying to get ready was a guaranteed path to trouble. That wasn't going to happen today.

  They had plenty of time to make it to the cruise ship over the next few days. It was only about a ten-hour drive from Asheville to Miami, and they had a couple of days to make it. They both tried to make this vacation as casual as possible. They hadn't booked a hotel along the way, but instead just figured they'd stop when they were ready at the first nice affordable place they found. Just the other side of the Florida state line would be good, Garrett thought. Crossing the Florida line always made him feel like he was really on vacation. Like you had gone somewhere different. Two days really is a long time to get there, Garrett thought as he cleared away the breakfast dishes. Plenty of time for one of us to back out, I suppose. Now why would I think that? There's no reason to be negative. She's looking forward to this trip even more than I am. For as long as I can remember, she's always wanted to go on one of these fancy cruises. It was her idea. Be positive. Casual and positive.

  Garrett looked at his watch. It was still only five-fifteen in the morning. Almost four hours to fill before he had to pick up Holly. He paced around the kitchen, then stared at his packed bags already by the door. There wasn't anything left to pack. He was a light traveler, especially when he didn't have to worry about fishing and camping gear. Hmm, what to do now for the next four hours?

  * * *

  Holly started wide awake at the alarm clock on the far side of the bed ... Garrett's side. She still couldn't get used to sleeping on his side, and squinted to make out the numbers. 4:54. Not even 5am yet. It was way too early to get up, but her mind had been racing for at least the last twenty minutes and she knew there was no way she could get back to sleep. After making her way through her morning routine, she sat alone at the kitchen table, feeling the warmth from her coffee mug radiate through her palms. Her luggage sat all packed and ready to go beside the front door. I can't believe I actually got everything packed the night before. Garrett would be in shock if he knew. I'll have to be sure not to say anything about that. She smiled.

  As much as she looked forward to the cruise, a part of her wondered if it was the right thing to do. Was it too early? They'd been separated for almost six months now, and she couldn't believe it had been that long. As much as she felt it was necessary, it had been the hardest thing to do in her life. The first week had been the worst, but the remaining days leading up to now hadn't been so easy either. In some ways it didn't seem so different than her life before. While she hated being home alone in the days before the separation, at least then she knew someone else lived here. There were clothes and shoes and wallets and keys that all belonged to Garrett. There were signs of life, so to speak, of someone else.

  The last six months were different. It wasn't the going to bed alone all the time because he was working so much. It was the waking up alone that really bothered her. He always came home, no matter how late he worked. When it first started, she used to notice when he came to bed. After a while, she didn't. He was just there in the morning. Sometimes, she wondered if he only got a couple of hours of sleep, and came home just to be there for her in the mornings.

  She looked at the clock on the kitchen wall, and it said 5:25. I did tell him 9 o'clock, didn't I. Not to be here before 9. Knowing him, he'll still be early, but that's still almost four hours to kill. What am I going to do for four hours at this time of the morning?

  * * *

  Garrett rang Holly's doorbell at 9:16 that morning. Technically, it was still his doorbell too, but that wasn't a point he cared about this AM. He'd decided to be on the later side of 9am, so Holly wouldn't feel rushed. He was sure she wouldn't be ready.

  Holly answered the door almost instantly, with a smile on her face. Garrett couldn't help but notice all the bags packed in the hallway behind her.

  "Hey," she said. "C'mon in. I'm all ready to go."

  She handed him the biggest bag, then paused for a moment, setting it down. "I'm sorry, can I get you a coffee or anything for the road?"

  "No thanks, I'm good. Had a couple of cups already this morning."

  "Of course you have." She smiled and leaned in for a hug. "You're a little late. Don't tell me you slept in for a change."

  "Oh no, no worries about that. I've been up for a while. Wanted to get a few things done before I came over." Garrett picked up the bag. "Didn't want to rush you either. We've got time, if you need to do anything else before we get going."

  "Nope." Holly smiled. "I'm good to go, and all packed." She motioned to the bags in the hallway.

  "Alright then, let's get on the road."

  * * *

  The night in the motel hadn't been as awkward as they'd both feared. It was the first night they'd spent sleeping under the same roof since the separation all those months ago. It was a small motel that looked like something right out of the sixties, but clean and well kept up. All brick and concrete, painted different shades of ocean blue. The pool was small and inviting, but the autumn air was too cool for either of them to think of venturing in for a swim. Instead, they sat next to it, and shared a few drinks before turning in for the night. The conversation had been sparse and familiar, but the setting was quaint, and the beer cold.

  "We made some good time today," Holly said. "It's nice to be back in Florida again. Can't remember the last time I was here."

  "It was when Becky turned sixteen. Remember? She wanted to go to Disney with her friend Darlene for her birthday."

  Holly smiled. "Right. I do remember that. We teased her about
it."

  "Yea, how many sixteen-year-olds want to go to Disney with their parents on their birthday?"

  "We certainly did something right with her, didn't we? Best vacation we ever had. At least it was the best one I remember."

  "Remember her and Darlene singing at the top of their lungs, 'It's a small world after all,' going through that ride? I thought for sure we were going to get kicked out with all the nasty looks we were getting."

  "The other little kids didn't mind it at all. They were all singing by the end of it."

  "I'm pretty sure that's the only reason we didn't get booted out. That and the fact that we swore up and down to the ride attendants that the girls hadn't been drinking. Becky even offered to let them smell her breath."

  Holly finished off her beer. "You miss not having her around."

  "Only every day, and the times when I'm not thinking about missing you." Garrett tilted back the rest of his beer. "You want another? I think the pool boy is gone for the night, but I can go up to the office and get you one."

  "No, I'm good. Don't want you to be taking advantage of me on our first date now, do I?"

  "This is hardly what I'd consider a first date, but I don't mind turning in early. I could use a good sleep before all the excitement of the big boat tomorrow."

  "You are pretty excited about it, aren't you?" Holly said teasingly. "I can see how you're coming around to the idea. I'm betting this becomes an annual tradition with us."

  Garrett smiled. Not so much at the thought of spending time on a cruise ship, but the fact that Holly was talking about spending more time together. It was a good start to the trip.

  "Sounds good to me," he said, putting his arm around her as they started walking back to their room. "Like the man said ... this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."