by A J Newman
She walked around to the back of the truck, and the sight sickened her to her stomach. There were dozens of rotting bodies. There were men, women, and children that had been dumped from the truck. She was horrified to see there were four more huge piles of bodies. Most had bullet holes in their heads, but some had arms and legs missing.
Cobie started walking back to the shelter when she fell to her knees and vomited. She couldn’t stop since the decaying body odor made her sick every time she took a breath. Cobie cleaned her mouth with a swig of water then poured water over her handkerchief. She wrapped the cloth around her face and breathed through the wet cloth as she jogged back to Emily at the shelter. Thankfully, the wind had shifted again and wasn’t blowing the stench toward the shelter when she arrived.
Cobie had everything packed and ready to go before the sun rose over the mountains in the east. She woke Emily and told her to get ready to travel on into Ashland.
“Go pee and get cleaned up. We’re burning daylight,” Cobie said.
Emily returned a few minutes later from her trip behind the bushes and said, “What’s that horrible smell and why are you in a hurry this morning?”
“There is a dead deer over there. We need to find your mom and get the heck out of here,” Cobie said.
“Connie where will we go, when we find mom? Where will we live?” Emily asked.
“That’s a darn good question. We can’t live in the cities, so I guess we find an abandoned ranch or cabin. We need a place where we can raise chickens and maybe cows. We’ll also have to have a garden or the ability to trade for vegetables,” Cobie replied.
“I’m ready. What now?” Emily proclaimed.
“There are several subdivisions between Highway 5 and Highway 66 on our way into Ashland. I think we need to find an abandoned house and make it our headquarters. Then we’ll scout the area for food. We only have enough for three to four days and can’t search if we’re starving,” Cobie said.
They walked a mile northeast then made a left on Neil Creek Road into a subdivision. With rifles ready, they began checking houses to see if they were empty. Most had been abandoned, but this was the worst possible method to find a base of operations. The first two houses that had been abandoned were filthy inside, so they knocked on the door of the next house on the block.
“Get the fuck off my property. I won’t warn you again,” came from an open window.
“We’re leaving,” said Cobie.
Cobie heard the front door open, and an older woman waved at them to come back. Cobie was cautious as she approached the half-open door.
“Girls, you two are going to be killed if you walk around this neighborhood in the daytime. Don’t you know any better?”
“I’m Connie, and this is Emily. We’re searching for her mom. We have been stuck up in the mountains since the disaster happened. Can you tell us what happened and what to expect in the city?” Cobie asked.
“Come on in and get out of sight before one of the gang sees you. I’m Sally Johnson, and that’s my husband, Earl. We lived here before the subdivision was built. Set down at the table and catch up on things,” Sally said.
“Ladies put your guns down, and I’ll put mine down,” Earl said.
They all laid their guns down, and Earl began talking. “The North Koreans nuked us with high altitude EMP bombs that killed the electrical grid and fried most modern electronics. The government didn’t help much and is now trying to keep peace on the east and west coast. The middle of the country is a lawless land, as we are up here in Oregon.”
“What about Ashland and Medford?” Cobie asked.
“The cops and firefighters went home on the second and third day. Prisoners escaped from most of the prisons and gangs are trying to fight each other for control of the cities. Food riots broke out the fourth day, and all stores are now empty and most burned to the ground. Anyone who needed medicine to survive is now dead. Ladies this is as bad as it gets for the country. Ladies, the gangs are catching women and selling them for food or using them for their own needs. You two will be sex slaves or dead by noon tomorrow if you keep showing your pretty little asses around the streets,” Earl said.
“Earl, that was uncalled for,” Sally said.
“No, someone has to shake some sense into these two before they get taken like Susan did,” Earls said as tears flowed down his cheeks.
Sally said, “Susan is our granddaughter. She was living with us until the shit hit the fan. She had some problems, and we took her in with us. She didn’t listen to Earl, went outside in the backyard a week ago, and was kidnapped. Earl searched for her but only got a beating for his trouble. I don’t know if she is dead or a good man took her with him. If the gangs got her, she will wish she’d been killed.”
“Earl, can you give us some training on how to survive in the city? We have to find her mom and then leave for the mountains,” Cobie said.
“I was in the Marines fifty years ago but still remember a few tricks. In return, if you find any extra food, please bring it back to us. Ladies, there are many missing people and many people searching for their loved ones.
One man is out there looking for his wife. He kills and tortures gang members to help him find her. Steer clear of him. People around him get killed.”
“We’ll be glad to stay away from him. We will also bring food back to you. I’ll also keep an eye out for your granddaughter if you give me a picture,” Cobie answered.
“Okay, it’s a deal. First, you only move at night unless your lives are in danger. Tonight I’ll take you on a recon mission and coach you a bit. I’ll take you to a deserted house you two can use as a base of operations. We don’t need anyone to follow you back here and getting us all killed,” Earl said.
Earl had been an instructor in the Marines for twenty years and was a vast source of information on everything from hand to hand combat to making improvised explosives. He didn’t try to make Marines out of them in a single day but instead gave them a handful of advice and training that would help them move about the city and stay alive long enough to find Gail and Lyn.
During the morning session, he showed them how to blacken their faces and dress more like men so to not draw unfavorable attention. Then he taught them how to sneak up on someone and cut their throats. They weren’t strong enough for a garrote wire to strangle a man. He also taught them how to use fishing line and wire to make trip wires and deadly snares that could capture or kill.
They broke for lunch, and the girls shared their food with the Johnsons. The meals of canned meat and a few vegetables had grown tiresome; however, Sally had a good selection of spices and lunch was the best meal Cobie could remember.
“Connie lost her memory a while back, and we’re not even sure if that is her name. She walked out of the woods right into the front of our truck, and the blow knocked her down. Mom insisted we take her with us and care for her until she got well,” Emily blurted out.
Cobie stared at Emily and said, “Well, that confirms what I thought had happened. Do you think you could take me back to the area where you found me?”
“Yes, it’s just up Dead Indian Road several miles and then southeast a bit along a Forest Service Road. I remember powerlines were crossing the road and a big assed rock on the north side of the road,” Emily said.
“Emily, please respect Sally and Earl and don’t cuss in their presence. I’m sorry, but we’ve both been through some bad times and have picked up some bad habits,” Cobie said.
“Well, that answers how a short black haired lady had a beautiful blue-eyed blonde daughter. We thought Emily was your daughter or younger sister,” Sally laughed as she spoke.
“Emily and I get closer every day. I already feel like she is my daughter. We both appreciate your help in finding her mom and the training,” Cobie said.
The afternoon training covered how to move in the city without being seen and how to keep silent. Earl was a good instructor, and they learned a lot from him.
&nb
sp; “Ladies it’s four o’clock, and we need to eat a light meal and get some rest before our mission tonight. We move to the basement before dark, and that is the only place we can have light after the sun goes down. Eat and then sleep until 10 so we can get an early start. I usually don’t go out until after midnight, but I’m only going to take you around this area where it’s relatively safe,” Earl said.
“Wake up ladies, hit the john, and let’s get on the trail,” Earl said to two very sleepy women.
The women were ready to leave the house in half an hour after Earl helped them smear the black paint on their faces.
“Earl, how do you make this stuff? It smells like rancid lard,” Cobie said.
“I grind up charcoal briquettes and stir them into lard. It makes great face paint, and most of it eventually comes off,” Earl said.
Earl then took a black magic marker and can of black spray paint and darkened anything that shined or wasn’t already black on their gear. They checked each other out by standing in a dark room while Earl shined a light into the room.
“Darn, I can hardly see you, Emily. This camo works,” Cobie noted.
“Okay girls, follow me. We’ll slip out the back door then head west. There are several houses that I haven’t checked yet, and we’ll see if they have any food or something we can use. Then I’ll take you to your new home,” Earl, informed them.
“Hey, Earl, what are we looking for besides food, weapons, ammo, and medicine? Cobie asked.
“That about covers our needs. Take anything else you can carry back here. You can always hide it if you find something you need more and come back for it. Here take these bags to haul our loot back.”
They walked out into the backyard and followed Earl through a gate and into the yard behind Earl’s home. Then they cut straight down the middle of the backyards until Earl used hand signals to have them stop. He pointed across the yard ahead, and they saw two men strolling down the sidewalk with rifles in their hands. Earl waited until the men were out of sight and signaled them to follow him across the street. They traveled about a mile when Earl stopped again and pointed at a house.
“That’s your new home. The closest living neighbors are down that way about six houses. They will leave you alone but don’t get spotted by anyone because the gang could threaten them to get your location. Follow me,” Earl said.
He took them through the back door and straight down into the basement and then turned his flashlight on.
“What was that awful smell up there? Did someone die in the house?” Emily asked.
“Hey, it’s the apocalypse. I’ve been using this house as a safe house when it was too dangerous to move on. The smell and shit on the floor runs other people and the gangs off. Just add some to the mess every couple of days and no one will want to come in here,” Earl said.
“Do you mean that you take a dump on the floor upstairs to ward off gang bangers?” Cobie gasped.
“Yep, take a shit on the floor for your own safety,” laughed Earl as he shocked the women.
“Can’t we just find a clean house and make it look trashed and dirty? Wouldn’t that work?”
“Hell, no! Every damn house in Ashland has been trashed at one time or the other. Looters are searching for food just like we are. Besides, do you think some thug is going to think he going to find a piece of … well you know, women companionship in a shitty house?” Earl said.
“Okay Earl, we get it. Emily, I guess we’ll have to take turns pooping in the living room to do our part to ward off the bad guys,” Cobie said.
“When you put it that way it almost sounds like our patriotic duty. Hey, we need to find some toilet paper. That magazine is getting a little rough,” Emily replied causing Cobie and Earl to snicker.
Next, Earl led them to some houses tucked away on a cul-de-sac that he thought might have some food items left. They entered the first house, and they were swarmed with flies and a horrible odor. They placed wet handkerchiefs over their noses and searched the house. They found the cause of the odor in the master bedroom. A decomposed body of a naked woman was stretched out across the bed with her hands and feet bound to the bedposts. It was obvious what had happened, and Cobie threw a blanket over the woman.
Emily had tears in her eyes as they searched the house. The upstairs was bare, but they found an ample supply of home canned vegetables in the basement. The jars were in a small room under the stairs and were hidden by some boxes. Emily wrapped each jar by using socks from a dresser upstairs to protect the glass jars. They loaded as many jars as they could carry into their bags and headed back to Earl’s place. They made several trips that night, and Earl had them stop at their new house and drop off two loads for their use.
The next night they continued searching the houses close to the one with the dead woman and found more food and useful supplies. They were searching their second house of the night when Cobie looked under a bed and called out, “Earl, come here quick.”
Cobie showed him that you couldn’t get under the bed because the space was boxed in. She asked Earl to help her lift the mattress and box springs. They lifted easily, and as Cobie thought, there was a huge storage area under the bed and steps to a room below. The steps were on one side, and the other side had several rifles, shotguns, and pistols. There was also a large supply of ammunition for all of the weapons. Cobie pointed to a switch on the side of the bed frame and pushed the switch. Several lights came on from down below.
“Wait,” Earl said and then took two of the shotguns and loaded them with 00 Buckshot and handed one to each of the women.
“Now ladies we can enter the chamber below,” Earl said then yelled into the darkness below. “We’re coming down and don’t want to hurt anybody. My daughters and I need a place to hide, and this one looks good. Please don’t shoot.”
Earl was halfway down the steps when they heard a child’s voice, “Don’t come down, or I’ll shoot. Go home. Leave us alone.”
“Son we don’t mean you no harm. Where are your parents?” asked Earl.
“They’ll be back in a few minutes, and my dad will kill you if you hurt us,” the child replied.
It took an hour, but Cobie finally coaxed the boy, Carl, and his sister, Karen, to come up out of the hidden room. The boy was ten and the girl eleven. Their dad had been out of town on a business trip, and their mom was at work when the lights went out. They usually were only alone for an hour before their mom got home. This time was different. Their mom never made it home, and their dad died in a plane crash. Their mom was now the maid for a powerful man in Ashland and was kept chained to her bed at night to be shared with the man’s henchmen.
“Kids, have you been hiding down in this room since the power went off?” asked Earl.
“Yes, we never come out except to go potty. The toilet doesn’t work so we have a bucket, and every other night I sneak out and dump the stuff in a garage a few houses down. We have plenty of food, but I have had to collect rainwater from our rain barrels to drink. My dad was a survivalist and showed us how to purify the water with those tablets or bleach,” Carl said.
Cobie caught Earl off to the side and in a hushed voice asked, “What do we do with the kids? We can’t leave them here.”
“Of course not, they will stay with Sally and me until we find their mom and dad,” Earl said.
“We need to take as much of these supplies with us as possible. There are two adult and two kid’s backpacks in the hidden room. Let’s load them up with the best foods and ammunition and then load up our carry bags and head to your house. We can then move the rest as soon as possible,” Cobie said.
The walk back to Earl’s house was uneventful, and Earl kept the children quiet by promising to let them watch movies when they got to his home. Earl had a working DVD player and thousands of DVDs he had salvaged from the neighbors over the past months. Earl had solar cells on top of the house and charged his batteries every time the sun shined. He could then use the batteries to power lights, r
adios, TVs, and DVDs. He didn’t have enough power for a refrigerator or electric stove, but the other things made life a bit easier.
Sally saw the children and exclaimed, “Where in the world did you find such beautiful children? Come on in kids and let me see you.”
She ushered them to the basement and made them a glass of chocolate milk made from cocoa and powdered milk. The kids loved the special treatment from Sally, and they were made to feel right at home. She tucked the kids in for the night in the back bedroom and joined the others for a cup of coffee.
“Oh My God, those kids stink of pee and sweat. I’ll be giving them a bath when they wake up,” Sally moaned.
“Hon, don’t be too hard on them. They’ve been living alone since the lights went out. Carl knows a lot about survival and will be a big help to us,” Earl replied.
“Earl, there isn’t any chance they’ll ever see their mom and dad again, is there?” Sally asked.
“Slim and none are my guess.”
No one replied because the kids represented the future of the world and it was sad that they would realize in a few months that they were orphans.
Cobie and Emily bid farewell the next day and struck out on their own to find Gail and Lyn. They spent the daylight hours sleeping and reading books, they had salvaged. They planned to capture one of the gang members and convince him to tell them where the women captives were kept.
Cobie led the way as usual as the two snuck out the back door and kept to the shadows on their way to where Earl had told them they would find Gang patrols. They covered the two and a half miles to Tolman Creek Road and found a place to hide and watch for the patrols.