by J. R. Tate
“I’m so happy that Ryan found you. I’m glad that we’re all together.”
“Me too, hon.”
During the day, they had been keeping the upper door to the shelter open. From the sun shining in, Cecilia couldn’t tell who was looking in. Standing, she tried to see, her heart skipping a beat when she realized it was Steve. Where was Ryan, and why did he look so surprised? Taking the steps down, he joined them and Mindy followed. He was so excited that he could barely form a sentence. Cecilia’s initial thought was that something had happened to Ryan, and she wanted to reach down his throat to pull the words out of him.
“Ryan killed two wild boars. We’ll have a feast tonight!” Steve’s breathing was labored and he gasped to try to control it. “It’s about two-hundred pounds of meat so it should feed us for more than one meal.”
“When did y’all decide to go hunting?” Mindy asked.
So that’s where they went? Cecilia knew there was an ulterior motive to their escapade. Darryl had been acting too weird around her for it just to be hunting. And if that was what really happened, Darryl would’ve been chomping at the bit to go with them. He was an excellent shot and was known for his hunting skills.
“That’s great about the food!” Cecilia chimed in. “Where is Ryan right now?”
“Cleaning the boars. He and his dad know what they’re doing with that so I backed away. I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to stuff like that.”
“Will you keep an eye on Ty, Mom?”
Cecilia went up the stairs to ground-level, eyes scanning for where her husband and father-in-law might be working. Chief Rayburn didn’t have to ask – he knew what she needed and pointed in their direction. They were near the pasture, both hogs laid out on a concrete slab, Ryan on his knees as Darryl directed him.
As she approached, Cecilia cringed when they ripped back the fur, exposing a layer of muscle and fat underneath. Shoving that aside, she tried to imagine how the cooked meat would taste and how it’d help replenish the nutrition deficits they were all suffering from. It was important for Ty – though it had been a few months since his amputation, the child was still recovering from the shock of losing a limb. It’d be very beneficial for his development and growth.
Ryan looked up for a split second, stopping his work as he made eye contact with her, and then continued. His arms were covered in the hog’s blood and his jeans were soaked with red. He looked like a starving mountain man with his disheveled hair, beard, and tattered clothes. And despite all of that, she still had a driving force that found him attractive, even in that state. It was their deep rooted instincts coming out, and though she worried constantly about what he was up to, the fact that he was their protector made her love him even deeper.
“Hey, Cecilia!” Darryl waved, his hands also red-stained from the bloody carcasses.
“Hey. Steve is beside himself about this. I think everyone is.”
Ryan nodded as he continued butchering their dinner. He didn’t say anything and focused on his task. Darryl crouched beside him, gathering up the fur. It was wiry and probably wouldn’t be useful for blankets but they could use it for something. Cecilia instantly thought about pork rinds, and how it was a snack she used to enjoy with some Tabasco sauce.
“Did you go to hunt or...” She cut herself off. She wasn’t going to nag him. She always promised herself that she’d never be a nagging wife. And how could she after he had brought food home for everyone?
“This wasn’t our ultimate goal but at least it wasn’t a wasted trip.” Ryan finally spoke up, handing the knife to his father, who took over. Wiping his hands on the front of his shirt, the red smeared into the fabric, making him look like a sadistic killer. “I didn’t tell you. I know you’re pissed.”
“No, I’m not pissed, Ryan.”
“Good. It seems like we’ve sort of lost ourselves in all of this, you know?” Ryan watched his father work, his eyes downcast. “We haven’t really had the chance to talk. Or, you know, get to the finer things in life.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in, his body thinner than she had ever felt it. They had all lost so much weight from food rations that their clothes were barely staying on. She didn’t even care that he was likely smearing the hog’s blood on her clothing - none of that mattered.
Resting her forehead on his, she shivered when his lips brushed over hers. Cupping the back of his head, her fingers entangled his moist hair, his dark locks sweaty from hours in the sun. The kiss grew deeper and she tasted the salt on his skin. How she longed to be alone with him – she couldn’t remember the last time they had even made love.
“Cut it out, you two!” Ryan pulled away first. Steve and Mindy were walking their way, both laughing as if they were teenagers in middle school. “I’d say get a room, but we’re plum out of places to stay!” Steve nudged Ryan who didn’t look as amused as their two friends did.
“We’re just about done getting them ready,” Ryan said, pointing at the piles of pork they’d soon be feasting on.
“Good. We need to get the fire going so we can start our pig roast. I can’t wait!” Steve slid his palms together and smacked his lips. “If we had some ice cold beer to go along with it, now that’d be a good time!”
“We could always make some jailhouse hooch,” Ryan exclaimed, a smile finally easing his furrowed brow. “I’m sure Doug knows a few recipes. I don’t think he’s got a pristine record when it comes to the law.”
“All it takes is some bread and some peppermint and we could get something brewing!”
Steve’s comment made everyone laugh. It was a nice break from the seriousness of the tribulations going on around them. And for a second, Cecilia’s worries were pushed aside.
“Harper Springs is gonna have a nice little shindig tonight!” Steve rejoiced, taking his hat off and throwing it in the air. “Let’s get that fire kicked up. I’m starving!”
~~
Ryan, Cecilia, and Ty sat together around the fire. The boars were roasting above the open flame, everyone was circled around it, and everything felt normal. Steve and Mindy were nearby, Margaret was there, and Darryl was helping cook.
The scent of the roasted pork was amazing. Ryan’s stomach growled and his mouth watered. He felt like a child, growing impatient as he waited for his food to be ready. The juices dripped into the flames, hissing as the meat slowly turned above. He was almost to the point of calling it done, but couldn’t risk everyone getting sick off of undercooked meat. With no decent medical treatments, it could become deadly.
“Those pigs are ugly!” Ty pointed as he bounced around. “Daddy, did you kill those pigs?”
“I did, Ty. They are pretty ugly, aren’t they?”
“I don’t know if I’ll like it!”
“When it’s ready, take one bite, and I bet you’ll eat a ton!” Ryan exclaimed, hugging him. “It’s going to taste so much better than those canned weenies you always eat, I promise!”
Cecilia leaned against his shoulder, resting her head on him. She had been quiet but Ryan chalked it up to her being tired. Even though she claimed she wasn’t mad at him for all of his dangerous plans, he knew better. He knew she was upset but he was trying to keep everyone safe, especially his family. He hoped the looters had decided to move on but with all of their progress in Harper Springs had made them a target for those kinds of groups.
And now, they had a raging fire going after dark. It was probably alerting people for miles, making the target over their heads even bigger. But tonight he had to let it happen. What was the point of everything they had done if they couldn’t cut loose and enjoy themselves every now and then? But he also couldn’t let his guard down. He had his handgun on him and it was loaded and ready to go. This would be the perfect time to attack them. And unfortunately, the looters weren’t stupid.
Ryan spotted Chief Rayburn on the other side of the fire, standing behind everyone. He had to assume that he was also ready to take action and found comfort in knowin
g that others were keeping an eye out on their safety. He couldn’t carry this all on his own.
Easing to a standing position, Ryan looked down at his family. Ty was focused on the fire, his eyes wide at the marvelous sight in front of them. Most children would snub their nose at the way the food was being cooked but even he was hungry enough to not fight it.
“I’m gonna go talk to Chief for a second,” Ryan said, forcing a smile. Cecilia nodded and turned to face the fire again.
Approaching his superior, Ryan leaned back against a tree and folded his arms over his chest. Neither man spoke at first, both listening to the crackling of the dry wood being devoured by the hot flames. The majority were orange, but deep inside the fire, green and blue flames licked the lower pieces of wood. Fire had always fascinated Ryan which was a huge reason he joined the volunteer fire department. Tonight, it was mesmerizing, almost having a hypnotizing effect on him.
“How’s your son doing?” Chief Rayburn asked.
“He acts like it never even happened,” Ryan replied. “He’s resilient. Almost makes me jealous at how fast he’s adapted but I’m glad he’s doing so well. It’s just so hard to believe all of this is still happening. Hell, that it ever happened in the first place.”
“It was bound to happen.”
“What do you mean?” Ryan inquired, finally able to pull his gaze away from the fire and face Chief.
“It’s science, Ryan. All of this man made stuff certainly has to play a factor in the way the atmosphere is. All the pollution from cars, the pollution in general.”
“I don’t know, Chief. Something seems off. I get the whole global warming debacle. I’m not sure what I believe and don’t believe about it but this is all an eye opener for me. It’s just odd, that’s all. I’ve never been a scientist but I’ve always been fascinated with the weather. This has me baffled.”
Chief Rayburn smiled and pointed toward the roasting boars. “Good job on the hunting today. You’re definitely the favorite around these parts right now.”
It was a quick change of subject and Ryan noticed a shift in Chief Rayburn’s demeanor. He seemed quieter than usual, staying in the shadows when decisions needed to be made. The Chief Rayburn he remembered was front and center, ready to help, direct, and get the job done. Lately, Ryan felt like he had slid into that role. Maybe it was everyone – even Cecilia was acting differently. He couldn’t fault them. Adjusting to the new way of life was complicated. It was hard accepting that this was the new normal after being so spoiled with the technology they had just months before.
“Everyone come get some! It’s time to eat!” Steve yelled over the roar of the fire and everyone formed a line around the slab where they laid the meat out.
Ryan rejoined Cecilia and Ty, helping his son load his plate with meat. There wasn’t much else to go with it since the vegetables hadn’t produced anything yet but no one really cared. It was a hearty meal that was much better than the processed junk they had been eating.
Ryan bit into a piece and the first bite was like heaven. The outer skin was flaky like a pork rind and he had to remind himself to go slow. It had been long enough that if they ate too much at once, they could make themselves sick from their bodies not being used to such a rich entree. Everything fell silent as everyone ate. The fire was dying down some which was good – it was still very hot out despite the sun going down.
“This is so good, Daddy!” Ty finished the last bite on his plate and wiped his mouth with the back of his arm.
“It is, isn’t it?”
“Good job on the hunt,” Cecilia said, nibbling on hers.
“That was actually the easy part.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Hard part is finding a way to preserve all of this. It’d be a shame if it all went to waste.”
Ryan knew the two boars would be more than enough to feed everyone. With food rationing, everyone was used to eating a much lesser amount of food for a meal, which also meant their stomachs had shrunk. It was a good supply to keep around and use as needed – without refrigerators or freezers, they’d have to think of a way to keep it safe. The fact that it was pork made it even more important that they prevented food born illness and the growth of salmonella and botulism. Not to mention that pork was known for tapeworms.
“Enjoy your meal, Ryan.” Cecilia nudged his arm. “Stop worrying about everything, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Do that for me, okay?”
“I can try. No promises, though.”
It would be nice to be able to stop worrying, like an on and off switch in his brain. He’d have to pretend he wasn’t ruminating about everything. If it meant easing the tension with Cecilia, he’d put up a front. Deep down, Ryan’s mind was racing a mile a minute.
Chapter Four
Insomnia was something Ryan was used to. His body begged for him to stay in bed, and though he was both physically and mentally exhausted, he couldn’t get his brain to shut down long enough to catch some sleep. The storm cellar was pitch black but he could hear the deep breathing of those around him, the occasional snore breaking the white noise of the synchronized breaths.
He had enjoyed his time by Cecilia’s side but he was antsy. The immediate threat of the looters attacking prompted the townspeople to come up with a plan to hold watch. Some of the firefighters and other men of Harper Springs had taken turns, patrolling the perimeter of their new city limits. With only one man at a time doing it, they were probably not watching as good as they should but it was better than nothing. It was Ryan’s night off and yet he still couldn’t get a full night’s sleep. With the exception of the night before, when Steve and Cecilia claimed he had slept like a rock, the one hour of rest here and there was as good as it was going to get.
Kicking his legs off the side of the cot, Ryan slipped into his jeans and padded toward the stairs. There was a lantern lit in a far corner, providing just enough light to see where he was going. They had to put rations on the propane – during the day they only ran a few and if people needed light, they had to go to ground-level. Occasionally they’d leave the shelter door open but it was letting the cooler air out, hindering any chance of a reprieve from the high temperatures.
When Ryan got to ground-level, there was a slight chill in the air that caught him off guard. It was a nice change to not feel the sweltering heat, even at night. He could smell the air transitioning to autumn – it was a little earlier than usual for the area but something he wasn’t going to complain about. The biggest issue of an early fall would be the vegetation – due to the late planting, they were late developing, which meant a late harvest. Hopefully, their first freeze would be late too and it would just stay cool.
He couldn’t recall whose turn it was to take watch. He felt the weight of his gun in his pocket, feeling a little better that it was with him. It was shocking how much things had changed – he had taken two lives through everything, and though the guilt still tore at him, he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again if it meant their safety was compromised. He often wondered how he’d handle an intruder or threat to his family – it was a situational speculation that a person would only know how they’d react in if it was happening. Now Ryan knew – he’d kill to protect the ones he cared about.
“What are you doing out here? It’s your night off, Gibson.” Chief Rayburn approached him, the moon illuminating his face.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“Sounds about like me. I’m sure you’ll be glad to hear that I haven’t seen a damn thing. No one has since we’ve been doing this.”
Both men walked toward the hill that overlooked their pasture. Sitting, Ryan stretched his legs out in front of him and looked out over the town. Small structures were being built – an area to clean their kills from hunting, a place to store their farm equipment, and people had started talking about rebuilding homes. Lumber was the biggest setback – they could gather from trees but the buildings wouldn’t be as strong as before. The majority of businesses and houses were b
rick before the tornadoes came in and destroyed everything.
“What’s on your mind, Ryan?”
“It’d be a shorter conversation if I told you what I wasn’t worried about. What do you think about building a fence around the town?”
Chief Rayburn looked up at the sky and over to Ryan, glancing at him from the corner of his eye. “I’ve thought about it. Depending on how tall we were to do it, it’d be a good added piece of protection. If someone wants to come into our town bad enough, they’d clear it, but it would make their life a little more difficult in the process.”
“Yeah. No telling how much wood it’d take. And nails.” Ryan groaned out in frustration. “Back during the good times, you get an idea, run to the hardware store and go with it. Even after all of these months, it’s still a hard habit to break. Kind of like when the electricity would go out and you’d still reach for the light switch even though you knew it was out!”
Chief Rayburn laughed. “That’s a good way to put it, Ryan. My basement served as my storage room back at my place. We were able to scrounge up a lot of items that will be useful if we do build a wall. Several hammers, drawers full of nails and screws, even some rolls of barbed wire I was about to start putting up on my farm.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time. Ranks right up there with the feast we had tonight.”
“When the sun comes up we can take an inventory of what we have. We’ll have to go chop some more trees down. With the lack of rain and the damage already done to them, it shouldn’t be hard to do it.”
Ryan took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. There were no clouds and the blanket of stars was breathtaking. With no street lights to hinder the view, it was possibly the prettiest sight he had seen in a long time. Taking a moment to appreciate nature was a nice change of pace instead of cursing it.
“I want answers, Chief. I want to know why this is happening, how widespread it is, and what we can do to get it to stop.”