Flight To Pandemonium

by Murray, Edward

  When assembled and tuned, his magic sluice worked marvelously. The device easily accommodated shovel after shovel-full of wet beach sand without interruption. Better yet, he could fine tune the sound wave generators so that the gold bearing concentrate settled into just five designated riffles which could easily be scooped out while discarding all the others.

  One problem remained, however. The unusual sound of the machine in operation attracted attention from other miners, and especially from passers-by. The progressive scaling of melodious sound waves wafted across the beach fascinating everyone.

  Gawkers frequently interfered with their work. The solution was to schedule evening visiting hours and provide a demonstration to all comers. Tony proudly explained the process without reservation. By the following summer, other miners were using a similar process of their own design.

  Tony understood that fellow miners weren’t competitors at all. Time was. Effective time on task was all that mattered. With advent of their machine, the miners finally accumulated financial wealth.

  The reason the partners were waiting at the Nome airport for a flight in critical late-season was to travel to Anchorage to attend the wedding of Jack’s youngest daughter. However, considering the pandemonium caused by the pandemic, the daughter canceled the ceremony leaving the men waiting unaware in the departure lounge. Shortly, Alaska Air canceled all flights. Then when the disease arrived in Nome with its inevitable consequence, the pair sought Ted looking for a way to disappear.

  “Y’all know what happened after that,” Tony concluded abruptly.

  Recalling the calamity closed the evening discussion with finality. Mac was disappointed in Tony’s abrupt closing because he wanted to learn what happened in Nome before he climbed aboard the Otter.

  23

  Toolik Station, October 4th. Ice fog prevented Lazlo’s plan to scout the research station by snowmobile. Instead, he and Christie set out on foot. When Lazlo discovered distant radio antennas, he asked Christie about a camp radio.

  “The best radio is in the administration building beneath those big antennas,” Christie explained. “I’ve been worried about what I might find inside that building.”

  “But finding out what’s happening in the world would be terrific.”

  “We’ve been warned away, Laz. I think the risk goes both ways, don’t you?”

  “Okay, I get the drift… I pass it along even if you didn’t make the mistake.”

  “You got it. No more impulsiveness.”

  “Then is there some way to see if the coast is clear?”

  “Let’s look through the office windows first. I must confess that I’d like to know if anyone is still left alive even if the news isn’t all good.”

  “Lead the way.”

  Instead, Puppy led the way as confidently as if she’d been instructed. Reading Lazlo’s thoughts, Christie said, “She was born here three years ago. It’s uncanny how she always leads me wherever I’m headed. I must be giving her tells somehow I’m not aware of.”

  “Would she tell us if we were getting into trouble?”

  “She has a superb nose. I’ve got an idea; let’s watch her.” Christie changed direction. Immediately Puppy bounded into the lead through the veil of fog.

  “Ahead is the winter lab where they put the bodies… the morgue.”

  Puppy sniffed around the threshold. The curled tail above her back drooped to the ground. With her ears perked up, Puppy gazed back at Christie. Twenty feet away, Christie whistled softly. The dog bounded back to her, curl restored.

  “There’s our answer,” said Christie. “Her high tail is a sign of confidence.”

  Through the windows of the administration building, the office appeared orderly and normal. Puppy perched on the porch panting, anticipating Christie’s next move.

  “What do you think? See anything that troubles you?”

  “Not so far… no bodies.”

  Lazlo tried the door. The handle turned but the door was frozen shut. Shoving the door open, Lazlo realized that the office was colder inside than outside air. Lazlo swept the rooms but found nothing disturbing. “Christie, all clear as far as I can see.”

  She pointed to the radio. A modern digital instrument incorporated both transmitter and receiver with wide-ranging bands, but lacked any provision for battery operation, needing standard alternating current. Lazlo decided to bring the radio anyway. Finding a coiled antenna lead, he cut it, and moved the set outside.

  Meanwhile, Christie fumbled with the litter of desk paper looking for anything newsworthy. Finding only an outdated wall bulletin, she moved to the next room, looked about with alarm, then charged out of the building.

  “Damn! Laz, contaminated swabs were scattered around in there. I hope they were used for ordinary first aid. I knew we shouldn’t go in there!”

  “So… what about you?”

  She held up her hands and carefully peeled off a set of surgical gloves and let them fall to the snow. “Universal protection, I hope,” she said.

  “I dearly hope so, too. Did you find anything helpful?”

  “There was a CDC bulletin posted on the wall that projected five hundred million people worldwide have died of the disease. There still isn’t any vaccine. The only suggestion is using chlorine spray for disinfectant. We’re going to go clean up with chlorine bleach before we touch...”

  “Wait, wait! Please back up. Did you say five hundred million people?”

  “Laz, that’s what it said…and the bulletin was a week old.”

  “Meaning… it’s bad everywhere, not just here. Good God!” exclaimed Lazlo. “That’s over the top… and our families?”

  “If nothing else, I’m a realist, Laz. Somehow, it didn’t come as a surprise to me. If that pathogen did so much harm way up here, the urban areas likely suffered worse.”

  “So Fairbanks… and Seattle…?”

  “Laz… that get-a-grip thing again. We must look after ourselves… and right now that means clean up first and talk later. Okay?” Outside at Christie’s insistence, they wiped hands, sleeves, shoes, and the radio housing before she would relax.

  Back in winter quarters, Lazlo asked, “Change your mind about whether I got it?”

  “Who knows without risky tests, but I’m sure I didn’t get it and you’re not a carrier. Too much time has elapsed. It’s stunning, Laz… just two days and you’re dead. I’ve never heard anything like it except maybe the Pandemic of 1918, but that pathogen didn’t survive the following year.”

  “Why is this one so deadly?”

  “The CDC report says it’s a virus and a bacterium combined. The virus invades a strain of pneumobacillus bacterium and working together they attack the lungs until the heart can no longer get enough oxygen to pump blood.”

  “Does that mean the bug breeds perpetually until it runs out of people?”

  “Not likely at all, I would think. Classic genetic diversity tells us that a few people will survive who are naturally immune,” replied Christie. “And there’s no way to know whether anyone has discovered a treatment unless we hear about it on the radio.”

  “Then I’ll work on the radio, but I’ve gotta get the generator going first.” He walked outside only to return immediately and said sheepishly, “You’ll have to show me where to go. I can’t see diddley in this fog.”

  “Laz, your impulsiveness is going to get us into trouble yet. The generator isn’t far but do be careful! We shouldn’t heat any of the other buildings; just get power to the winter house. Be sure to leave the power off to everything else.”

  Lazlo spent the remainder of the morning working to decipher the distribution system but failed. Without a wiring diagram, he simply shut off every circuit, except to the winter residence. Then he switched on the small auxiliary generator, the only one w
ith a good supply of fuel remaining.

  Christie was delighted with the restored lights and full use of the kitchen, so Lazlo returned to installing the radio. He unbolted the antenna pole, moved and reconnected everything at the residence, and then sat down at the receiver to listen.

  Band after band was silent except for a rare transmission in Morse code which he didn’t know. The set seemed to be performing properly, but Lazlo wasn’t rewarded with an intelligible word.

  “Christie did you ever hear this radio in operation?”

  “Sure I did. It was our primary means of communication. It’s a fine radio with great reception and the bands were always crowded with talk. Lots of people used short wave radio in Alaska, including many people in your oil camp.”

  “I’m not getting a grip on our isolation,” replied Lazlo. “Sure seems like we’re the only people left alive for a long way off… or maybe everyone else is just frightened.”

  “I couldn’t help thinking about that all day. I’m so glad I’m with you and not here all alone.”

  “When I was a child in Hungary during the Soviet occupation, my family was forced to leave me alone time after time in unfamiliar places,” said Lazlo. “I’ve never forgotten that loneliness and family longing. I suppose that’s when I first learned to leap impulsively.”

  “Well now is the time settle back.”

  Christie handed him a glass of wine, inviting him to a dinner table arranged with lighted candles. Lazlo was startled by Christie’s decidedly different aura. Her arctic winter furs had been replaced by a short velvet skirt, tight burgundy cashmere sweater and sensuous makeup. She was no longer a detached middle aged nurse but a tantalizing woman with promising prospects. Throughout dinner as they talked he enjoyed her provative presence.

  As the candlelight evening softened and they moved to the sofa with wine, Lazlo was perplexed by long suppressed sensual signals penetrating his consciousness. As an old family man, why was such a lovely woman coming on to him… or was she coming on at all? Was the wine talking, was it…wasn’t it? Ages ago he’d experienced a similar warm, tension tinged intimate atmosphere.

  Thinking her moves were unmistakable, Christie was surprised by Lazlo’s dull witted conversation, foolish staring and hesitant response. Caution aside, she kissed him provocatively leaving no further doubt of her intentions with the action of her tongue. Lazlo encircled her waist offering proof of his awakening as she grew aroused for an evening of passion with the last living man on earth.

  24

  Rainbow Lake Cabin, Morning of October 4th. Judy served only apple pancakes for breakfast telling the men the last of their fresh food would be served at supper. The men knew it was high time to bring home the bacon however dreary the weather.

  Mac devised a way to deploy his gill nets from the boat using weights and floats. With his nets laid flat on the snow he attached evenly spaced floats. He would attach weights as he released each float from the boat.

  With sharpened spears, a handmade holster for the pistol, and fitted with rope shoulder harnesses, the four hunters were ready. They left the shotgun for Judy with six shells of light birdshot, the only loads they could find in the cabin.

  Without a sound of warning, a jeep carrying two men, mounds of gear and two dogs drove over the low saddle heading toward the cabin. Halting abruptly, one of the dogs on top jumped off the jeep, and bounded among the hunters seeking a greeting. The dog made the rounds vigorously wagging its tail while the men in the jeep whistled and called to bring the dog back… to no avail.

  Jack yelled boldly, “You two! Outta here!”

  Neither responded, but ceased calling the dog which continued to bound and frolic, circling the cabin, but did not return to the jeep. The men backed as if to leave, but retreated only as far as the top of the saddle. One of them unsheathed a rifle.

  Jack yelled ‘gun’ and as his comrades fled for cover, Jack brandished his pistol high in the air. The warning was sufficient. The jeep disappeared over the hill. Jack ventured far enough to peer over the saddle where he watched the jeep lumbering away.

  When Jack returned, he said, “Another lucky break for the unwary. Caught all of us daydreaming this time.”

  “Thank God we had the good sense to avoid them,” said the Captain. “After all we’ve been through, that might have been the end of us.”

  “Wait!” Mac said. “Where’s the dog?” All five ran around to the deck where Judy was vigorously petting the dog while it excitedly licked her face.

  “Where did you find this darling Chocolate Lab?” she asked.

  “It came in on the back of a jeep with two men,” Jack said gravely.

  Judy stood, staring solemnly at Jack, “Were they…?”

  “We don’t know. They didn’t seem sick and stayed away from us, so… I just can’t say,” replied Jack.

  Judy opened the cabin door, and ushered the dog inside. Standing by the door, she said, “Guys, don’t come any closer. I want you all to leave… go hunting… you too, Mac… and don’t come back for any reason until after dark. I have the shotgun, so don’t worry about me.

  “Tonight, a candle burning in the window will tell you things have worked out. If not, don’t come in for any reason. I’ll put your packs outside as soon as you leave. Later, if I don’t come out and greet you, I want you to gather them up and go. And don’t come back! It’ll mean I’m already too sick to talk. I want you to survive.”

  “Judy, we can’t just…,” Mac began.

  “You must!” she shouted. Mac knew she was right about the first step. He would consider what he should do later. He couldn’t accept the thought of Judy dying alone.

  Judy said, “Good hunting,” and closed the door.

  The five men hiked over the hill, each lost in thought. Jack’s plan had been to head toward the Talkeetna River and look in the watered meadows of the creek tributaries. But the men feared return of the jeep with Judy alone. The solution was to remain within sight of the jeep tracks. However the jeep could circle and approach the lake from the far side. Nothing could be done about that flaw; five men on foot couldn’t guard all the approaches.

  After competitive trials, Tony was chosen as the spear thrower while the rest served as sweepers. Trudging in deep snow and puffing loudly they frightened off most game long before they got close enough to set up Tony. Walking a sweep shortly before dusk, the men encountered three caribou running directly into their midst. The men successfully swept them toward Tony as planned. Tony threw a perfect strike just behind the front quarter. Struggling, the caribou stumbled a few strides allowing Mac thrust his spear behind the foreleg. They had their prize.

  Just then, two wolves running in pursuit of the caribou halted as they caught sight of the men. The closest wolf immediately charged Mac who was standing by the kill. He pointed his spear at the snarling animal, but backed away threatened by bared teeth.

  Jack yelled, “Don’t back away! Stick him!”

  The moment the wolf felt the bite of steel, it yelped and veered away. A sharp yap from another unseen wolf called him, and the wolves resumed their chase of the fleeing caribou.

  Late that afternoon, nearing the crest of the saddle, three men waited while the ‘mules’ caught up so that all five could descend together. What if there was no candle? No one spoke of that eventuality.

  Candlelight from the kitchen window greeted them. Leaving the caribou behind, they raced to the cabin and took turns joyfully hugging Judy at the door. The Chocolate Lab bounded back and forth leaping for attention when none of the men would touch her.

  Judy, vigorously rubbing the lab said, “You see, she’s not sick and neither am I.”

  “You think enough time has passed?” asked the Captain.

  “The report said people began coughing after just a few hours,” replied Judy. “Be
sides, she has a ravenous appetite, and I’m certain she’s pregnant and is still a bundle of energy.”

  Jack said, “Then Tony and I will find a place to hang that caribou to bleed.”

  Mac called after them, “Around back, shed ridge beam… rope pulley.”

  Jack called back, “Then bring us a pot for the heart and liver.”

  Alone in the cabin, Mac hugged Judy who said, “Great! Sounds like success.”

  “Nice caribou… ought to last a week or more. Say… is that oven set up to make jerky, you suppose?”

  “Perfectly,” answered Judy. “With an appliance rack intended just for that.”

  “Well then, I know what I’ll be doing tomorrow,” said Mac hugging her again.

  “I wouldn’t have left you to die alone no matter what. Thank God you’re okay.”

  Judy returned the hug.

  That evening over tea and candlelight, conversation began with the surprise visitors and the dog Judy named ‘Choc.’ Judy explained that the lab seemed quite familiar with the place claiming her own spot on the deck.

  “That would explain why she jumped off the jeep and didn’t return,” said Tony.

  “The dog means nothing. Men with rifles get my attention,” said Jack darkly. “Just for ducks, why don’t we take turns sittin’ up tonight? I’ll separate a haunch so we can start makin’ jerky tonight. But let’s keep the place dark, so we can look out the windows.”

  “Yer forgettin’ our smoke,” said Tony.

  “Makes no difference. If those guys were going to return, they’d do so tonight and expect our smoke. One good thing, though. Now we have a dog to warn us.”