Flight To Pandemonium

by Murray, Edward

  Worse, despite strict rationing, their food stock was nearly exhausted. Frozen fish and game, a small supply of canned fruit and vegetables, and Pappy’s food gifts were all that remained. Tony warned that propane for the kitchen stove was nearly depleted but thought Glennallen surely had more. Tony urged a trip.

  As a team prepared to leave for Glennallen, they discovered their path had a blockade. When the creek ice melted, the plywood bridge they’d built no longer spanned the creek. Jack and Tony cobbled a bypass just shallow enough for the cat to forge. Jack agreed to remain behind to improve the bypass. Everyone else would advance the garden while Tony, Hirsh, and Mac traveled to town.

  The trip contrasted with their first venture to town when everyone feared contact with mortal remains. But Pappy had proved that exposure to a corpse wasn’t deadly, so the men were determined to obtain every necessity. Progressing through town, they gleaned every dwelling and business along the way, even the overlooked elementary school. The school had sadly become a medical infirmary and finally a morgue and cemetery.

  Ignoring skeletal remains brought an unanticipated surprise. Perhaps out of habit or panic, nearly everyone had laid in a supply of food, but most people had perished before consuming their stash. The men were fearless collecting and loading months of food, happily leaving behind even more for future gleaning. However, medical supplies of any sort proved scant and found only in homes; every pharmacy in town had already been thoroughly plundered.

  With ten new people to add to their (not so little) band, they sought garden products, especially window glass, vegetable seeds, irrigation parts, potting mulch, fertilizer and cultivating tools. They found much of what they needed, even the luxury of a robust garden rototiller, but no clear plastic fabric, little window glass, and few viable vegetable seeds... their three most sought after commodities. They did find a few homes with gardens sprouting volunteer vegetables and marked them for future transplant.

  Greenhouse construction urgently needed large window glass for the roof. Tony urged the men to dismount the large panes of face frame glass from the market and visitors center at the intersection of the Richardson Highway. Once removed from the wall, handling the heavy frames proved to be awkward.

  As the three men dismounted a wobbling window together, they heard the unmistakable sound of approaching trucks. Tony and Mac had propped their rifles against a distant wall. Caught unprepared without weapons, all three stood unmoving and vacillating with indecision holding the wavering frame while watching three military vehicles mounted with prominent guns draw near.

  Tony was first to quit dithering. “Damn! Let’s just put this down and take cover. I left a shotgun in the cab.”

  “Wait,” said Hirsh, “They see us! They’re waving flags. They look friendly.” Hirsh stood partially hidden behind the cat’s broad vee-blade.

  As Tony and Mac fled behind the cat, the three military rigs pulled up within twenty yards and halted facing the cat. No one moved. Their tall travel tarnished cat with its formidable vee-blade looked unapproachable.

  “Looks like two women leading,” said Hirsh. Presently, a woman stepped down carrying an infant, followed by the driver, obviously pregnant, who calmly waved a cautious greeting from a distance.

  “They wouldn’t be bringing babies along if they intended violence,” hailed Hirsh as Tony scrambled into the cab for his shotgun.

  “It’s the men behind them I’m worried about,” replied Tony. Sure enough, two men emerged carrying shouldered military rifles, but didn’t brandish them. The two women advanced holding the baby.

  “I’m going to introduce myself while you watch for trouble,” said Hirsh. Mac joined him feeling uneasy crossing the broad gap unarmed facing big guns.

  “You certainly gave us a start with those military trucks, but we’re glad to see living people… I’m Hirsh. This is Mac… and that’s Tony in the cab.”

  The pregnant driver said, “I’m Christie and this is Piquk and her baby Sunshine. There are four more of us in the trucks who I’ll introduce when they join us. You’re the first living souls we’ve encountered in months… and yes, it’s marvelous to find you are well. Are there other people living here?”

  “Including a newborn, there are ten of us living together not far from here,” answered Hirsh. Mac wouldn’t have been so forthcoming just yet, but Hirsh went on candidly. “Far as we know, we’re the only people living in this entire valley… until now, that is.”

  “We haven’t been living here… we’ve been traveling,” said Christie. She paused, staring beyond Hirsh, then said, “We mean you no harm. If you want us to move along, please… just say so. We don’t want bloodshed.”

  The startling plea prompted Mac to look back where Christie had been staring. Now out of the cab on the ground holding his shotgun, Tony was gathering rifles and shouldering them all, looking grim.

  Mac said, “Have no fear of him. Tony is just cautious and no doubt he’s nervous watching two of your people obviously handling military weapons.”

  Christie looked behind her with surprise, and said, “Well then… this hasn’t been a gracious introduction for any of us. To be frank, the reason we’ve come here is to seek fellow survivors and find a better place to live. I hope you aren’t intimidated by these big army trucks. They’ve been a life saver, believe me.”

  “I have an idea, then,” said Hirsh. “See those old picnic tables over there by the visitor’s center? We’ll whip up a hot meal and see if we can’t get comfortable with one another without the guns. We’ve come upon some glorious preserves. Will you be our guests?”

  “Splendid,” said Christie. “We’ll share some fresh caribou we’ve butchered just this morning.”

  Mac waved Tony over to join them, but he added suspicion by asking impolitely, “Any more people with guns hiding in those trucks?”

  “Just a young man and his sister. They’re probably frightened by all the guns. The trucks are full of gear and supplies we’ve gathered, but no one else is hiding in them.”

  “Then why don’t we gather round and introduce everyone, Mac said. “Where have you all been traveling?”

  “One of us started from Deadhorse and joined me at Toolik Lake… seems like so long ago,” replied Christie.

  “Really!” said Hirsh. “You mean Deadhorse on the North Slope… all the way from Prudhoe Bay?”

  “Yes, that’s where Lazlo began.”

  “Well, I’ll say… we’ve both got stories to tell, then. Most of our party started from Nome and I came from New York City, but that was before the calamity…”

  Relating tales from Nome to Talkeetna lasted through lunch. Mac was pleased to participate in the rehash. Tony filled in many details of Nome that Mac hadn’t recorded in his journal. Mac felt positive chemistry with the newcomers even though they hadn’t said much during the telling. Without awkwardly separating, the only realistic way to learn more about the visitors was to invite them to the lodge, hopefully as friends.

  “Our guests have a lifetime decision to make,” said Mac. “Hirsh, why don’t you explain our custom for accepting new people into our little band? Tony and I will finish loading window frames in the meantime. Then if they’re willing, we’ll lead them home.”

  Late that afternoon, Darwin’s strident barking sounded early warning. The parade of noisy vehicles drawing up behind the cat brought the entire band to the front veranda. The Captain shouldered his rifle, but Jack stood warily to one side brandishing his. Anxious about another reception, Mac quickly left the cat greeting Judy with a hug as she descended the stairs. The newcomers slowly emerged from their vehicles, staring in wonder.

  Mac explained that his guests weren’t the Navy contingent they were expecting, but an entirely different party of refugees who had traveled a great distance meeting them by chance in Glennallen. Judy gently touched Ma
c’s arm and subtly nodded in Jack’s direction. Mac caught her meaning immediately.

  Mac explained to everyone while looking directly at Jack, “These are decent people who’ve suffered hardships even worse than we have. They want to join us. I’ve given them some idea of what we’re about.”

  “Well, here we go again… another surprise,” said Jack quietly for once.

  “Look… talk to Tony if you have doubts. We decided to escort them here so that we can all meet. They’re exhausted from a hard life on the road. We’ve made no commitments; they’re to be our guests for now. I hope you’ll welcome them. This meeting is exactly what you asked for the last time.”

  “Sure I’ll welcome them. I’m not a hard ass… just lookin’ after our safety; that’s what I do… I hope they’re friendly; otherwise we’re outgunned if they’re not. Ever think of that first?”

  “Yes. We’ve been through all that. They’re no threat and understand the score.”

  “Well then, I guess you decided we’ll have guests.”

  “Jack, just once, why don’t you make our guests feel welcome,” replied Mac.

  Judy and Christie courteously introduced themselves and made the rounds greeting everyone. The newcomers marveled at the spectacular welcoming refuge just as their little band had done so many months ago. Spring flourished with a profusion of wildflowers and the pristine sky blue lake looked as brilliant as Mother Nature ever painted.

  Darwin and Akela dashed together into the waters of the lake, where Akela disturbed a small trout near shore. As had become his hungry habit, Darwin instantly pounced and grabbed the small fish, flipping it into the air aligned to swallow. Akela leaped and swallowed the prize instead. The two dogs faced off snarling at one another. Judy and Peg ran to intervene, grabbing each dog around the neck, while Judy whispered until both panted calmly. Introductions had been made.

  Christie hugged Lazlo and said, “Dear Laz, it’s perfectly beautiful… more than I ever dreamed possible after so much disappointment. I do hope we’ll be accepted here.”

  Judy and Mac joined their guests, enjoying their excitement.

  “How did you discover this wonderful refuge so far off the road?” asked Christie.

  “We have Ahtna to thank. He escorted us here late last fall. He was to have been part of this sporting lodge before…” said Judy, breaking off.

  “Before… that’s how we look at everything now… before and now,” said Christie. “No one wants to be reminded of the past and all the tragedy.”

  “Same goes for us… then are you and Lazlo… together?”

  “Yes… and our baby. How about you and Mac?”

  “So you’ve divined us already. Yes, we’re… together. We have a child and Mac is his stepfather. While the baby sleeps, why don’t I show you around. The lodge is even more splendid inside.”

  While Judy, Darwin, and the Captain gave a tour, four companions volunteered to bring the hoard of Glennallen food to the kitchen. Judy invited the ladies to use her shower. Hours later all joined in the bar as the Captain poured precious old cognac.

  Judy and Piquk nursed their babies while Lazlo, Christie, and Ernie related their travel tribulations reaching the Yukon Bridge. Mac filled his journal detailing their journey.

  Their tale trailed off describing their uneventful winter in Eagle, leaving Mac to wonder about their more recent experiences. “How did you manage Top of the World Highway so early? I’m told the snow doesn’t melt there until mid summer… if then,” he asked Lazlo.

  “That stretch was pure drudgery. Making twenty miles took us nearly a week. Shoveled snow endlessly. We got stuck time after time. But we had little choice about our timing to leave. We were nearly out of food and found no game the entire way. We kept plugging, but got real lucky more than once.”

  “How so?”

  “Not worth the telling really… broke the transfer case on one of the deuces,” replied Lazlo. “Christie wouldn’t allow us to leave all the medical supplies behind, so we towed the broken deuce for miles. We found an old deuce near Chicken of all places, where Ernie rigged up a replacement. That was real lucky, I’d say!

  “Then we took a useless detour and nearly ran out of fuel. Put all we had left in the humvee to scout for more. Ernie knew of a highway maintenance station on Nabesna Road and sure enough, we found a huge tank of diesel there. Saved us for sure. Grizzly bears were everywhere around that country… and no place to be on foot.”

  Lazlo’s remarks caught Judy’s attention. “You have medical supplies with you?”

  “Yes,” answered Christie, “nearly everything imaginable, all from an Army medical unit at the Yukon Bridge… a real gold mine.”

  “Marvelous,” replied Judy. “We’ve set up a small infirmary here. We have a few medical instruments but little else…”

  Tony interrupted, “You say you found diesel? Any left?”

  “Must be five thousand gallons even after we filled all our tanks,” replied Ernie.

  “Wow! How far is Nabesna Road?”

  “About fifty miles northeast of Glennallen.”

  “We can do that. Good thing because we have no more than a month’s supply left for the lights and the freezer. Propane for the stoves will be next and we were out of staples until just today. We’re always short of something, living hand to mouth as we do. Hope to get a jump on things this summer, but then we’re expecting ten more people here and that will put another stretch on things. At least we’ll have more people to help with the work.”

  “I understand,” said Lazlo. “We gathered every bit of food we could find before leaving Eagle and even some in Chicken, but we have very little to contribute. We did bring six full tanks of diesel, coupla bottles of propane and even two sacks of rooted potatoes, if they’re still any good for planting. But for them, we were out of food until we shot that caribou this morning. We can help do whatever you need. We still have our health, thin as we are.

  “But, tell us… you said other people were coming here. Coming from where? Do you know them?”

  “They’re coming from Valdez,” said Pappy. We met them just recently when I flew there… on a little mission. They’re all from the crew of a submarine. They survived because they were isolated at sea when that plague began. Two men and eight women from a crew of about a hundred fifty people. They want to join us here, even though they’ve never seen this place. I’ve met them all and they seem perfect for our little band.”

  “So what happened to the others… did they die when they landed?” asked Ernie.

  “No, no! None of them ever got sick,” replied Pappy. “They’re in good health. They survived by killing whales of all things. But now, they all want to return to the Seattle coast to look for a warmer place to settle down. I think most of them want to know what happened to their families in Washington. But the women want to stick together. One of them grew up in Alaska and convinced her friends to join us here. No way could we handle all of the others anyway.”

  “Well then, that begs a question… what about the seven of us?” asked Christie.

  “We have room… but I don’t answer such a question by myself. Have you heard about our custom?” asked Pappy.

  “Hirsh told us. Would you keep us for the duration while we all see if everything works out? We’re ready to plant our feet.”

  “Well, there’s the question everyone,” said the Captain. “How about it?” There were unanimous nods around the room except for the newcomers who remained silent. “You all get a vote too,” he added. “We want to be sure of your commitment.”

  Their vocal approval was enthusiastic. “Well then, everyone… find a glass,” said the Captain raising his own. “A peaceful and healthy new life together!” The cognac went down smoothly.

  “Wonderful!” said Judy, “and now… cooks to t
he kitchen and time for the real work of the evening to begin.”

  When Mac and the Captain rose to volunteer, Judy said, “Guys, thanks anyway… but just this once, ladies only. High time for girl talk! But the bar should still be open for an occasion like this… and the power should come on shortly.”

  As the banter of celebration settled, Jack asked a sobering question, “While the ladies are away, I want to ask you about that flight over Fairbanks. You talked about a young pilot… just a sixteen year old girl. I’m guessing that wasn’t Peg, among you. Ernie, what happened to her? And tell us about Fairbanks.”

  “No… Our pilot was Cindy, and I’m glad you asked now instead of later within hearing of the women. That was a tender time for us. We were getting low on food and Cindy was critical of our poor success at hunting... nagging us constantly, in fact.

  “One night, Piquk’s baby cried all night and Cindy thought the child was hungry, which wasn’t so, just colicky. Anyway... Cindy got up early the next morning, took Larry’s airplane, and flew off. I can testify she was a remarkable pilot for such a young woman… but sadly scarred by events.

  “And Cindy didn’t really fit very well, especially with Larry and Peg. They were put off with her dark moods and bitterness, and had second thoughts about inviting her to live on their Canadian farm. Knowing Cindy, I think she headed to Canada on her own to avoid farm life. She liked the fast lane. There’s more to her story which is probably best left alone.”

  “What about that farm in Canada? Why did you come here instead?” asked Mac.

  “Canada was a terrible disappointment for us,” answered Larry. “We decided to go there together looking for a better life. Peg and I have a farm in British Columbia. But when we reached the river just short of the border, we found the bridge blown up… intended to prevent anyone crossing the border, no doubt, and certainly stopped us. The whole area was a muddy swamp of flooded dikes with no way around. Horrible chaos was all about that place. Looked like bandits waiting for refugees with nowhere to go. Everything was picked clean. The blockade looked too risky to pack everything over on foot and leave our trucks behind, so we turned around and came this way. But it was an anxious decision for us. We knew very little about this valley; just came on blind faith.