Sweetness in the Dark

by W. B. Martin

  “Mary, pack your bags. We need to get you out of here. Rumor is that your neighborhood is next on the list,” Dwight said.

  “But we aren’t rich. Everyone in this neighborhood works for a living,” Mary said.

  “Doesn’t matter. The radicals have burnt out all the neighborhoods in the hills. Now they’re heading here. They’re just looting and raping anyone they can get ahold of, and there’s too many of them for your neighborhood guards to fight off,” Dwight said.

  Mary went into her bedroom and grabbed the backpack that John had made up for her long ago. It had the basics for life in one easy pack, except for the gun John had tried to place in the bag, which Mary had refused.

  But she had kept the pack handy. She slung it onto her back and headed to the front door. She turned to lock it.

  “Don’t bother.”

  Mary’s eyes began to tear up as her brother-in-law led her across the lawn and headed down the street. It would take them most of the day to walk to Dwight’s farm in Pleasant Hill. He had a friend waiting with a boat on the other side of the Willamette River to ferry them to safety.

  Local farmers had used some explosives to drop the Highway 58 bridge into the river. This action cut off access from Eugene into their quiet farm community. Once on the other side, Mary would be safe from the ‘Occupy’ people laying waste to Eugene.

  By late afternoon they had reached the river. Eugene had been quiet as they made their way out of town. The radicals all seemed to be sleeping off their actions from the night before. Mary had passed whole streets of smoldering house foundations, evidence of the looting taking place.

  “How can this be happening?” Mary asked. “Where are the police? Doesn’t anyone care about their neighbor anymore?”

  “It’s survival time, Mary. People are getting hungry and desperate. Just be glad that we’ve been getting things ready out on the farm for years. It will be safe there. Our neighbors are all reliable,” Dwight said.

  After crossing the river, they helped the man carry his boat up behind some brush for concealment. Then thanking him, Mary and Dwight headed east toward the farm. Another two hour hike would take them up Lost Creek Road and the safety of the farm. Mary’s sister and her two children would welcome them there.

  As Dwight crested the top of the last hill, he saw what he feared most. Smoke from several locations in the distance climbed into the sky. He judged one fire was near his farm and his pace quickened. Mary had to jog to keep up.

  As they moved quickly down the hill and into the valley, Dwight suddenly stopped. Mary almost ran into him as she stopped behind him. Both stood still and listened. A lack of motor vehicles that could run due to ‘the Pulse’ made the noise very noticeable.

  It was the sound of numerous engines coming their way. Dwight grabbed Mary and ran off the road and into some brush. He pulled her down and waited.

  The roar grew as the approaching machines came closer. Mary trembled in fear as she awaited their arrival. Soon, motorcycles could be seen through the thick brush as they roared up the road. One by one they flashed by the hidden hikers.

  Each motorcycle had bags tied to them on the rear. Pillage, Mary thought. The world is ending. She closed her eyes to keep it all from her.

  “Come on. We need to hurry,” Dwight said.

  Mary opened her eyes wide with the realization that her sister and family were at risk. She ran to catch up with Dwight as they hit the road, this time with trepidation.

  Rounding the last turn before the farm, it became evident that the bikers had been there. Dwight’s neighbor’s house burned wildly. Dwight ran to his mailbox and turned up the long gravel driveway. Trees blocked a direct view, but Mary saw the smoke rising over the trees. She ran as fast as she could behind Dwight.

  As Mary came out of the trees she saw her brother-in-law on his knees holding a body. She stopped. The house was consumed in flames and three lifeless bodies littered the front yard.

  She slowly walked up to Dwight. He held her sister. Beside the dead body of his wife, his two sons were dead, lying face down.

  “Oh no,” Mary burst. “How could anyone do this?” She fell down and screamed into the ground. Dwight slowly cried beside her as he held his dead wife. He mumbled as he rocked back and forth. The night settled over the two as the fire slowly faded. The flickering light from the consumed house spilled over the scene. When the sun rose, nothing would ever be the same for the two living souls.

  Chapter 10

  Bruneau, Idaho

  “Now hit this switch. OK. That’s good. Go ahead and depress the button on the mic,” Grandpa Paul said as he instructed his great-grandson, Matt, on the use of his 1942 vintage US Army surplus shortwave radio set. They had been at it for about an hour and Matt was finally ready to reach out.

  “W7QF6. This is Matt calling. Over.”

  “Right W7QF6. We read you 5 by 6. This is Noel here in New Zealand. Over,” Noel answered the radio call on his great-grandfather’s British Army issue war surplus shortwave radio set.

  “Noel. It’s great to meet you. My grandfather has told me all about your family. How is it there? Are you all safe? Over,” Matt said.

  The connection between the Leffingwells and the Kendalls went all the way back to 1942. Great-grandfather Leffingwell had been a radio operator with the New Zealand Royal Air Force when the United States Marines went into Guadalcanal to fight the Japanese.

  New Zealand recognized that these Americans were defending New Zealand and Australia from the advancing Japanese tide and units of the New Zealand Royal Air Force were offered in support. The Marines, short on everything in the Solomon Islands, took all offers of help. The fighters sent to Guadalcanal included their own ground support team. So Connor Leffingwell found himself sitting next to a Marine radio operator, Paul Kendall Sr., Paul’s grandfather.

  The two became lifelong friends through the experience. Their radios had kept them in touch over all the years. Now, with Connor’s wind power keeping him on the air and Paul Sr.’s micro-hydro generator in the Bruneau River for power, they carried on their friendship.

  Even Paul’s father, Vern, had spent two trips in the 1970s in New Zealand, hiking and bicycling. Vern had stayed at the Aorere farm and knew the area well. He had even hiked the Heaphy Track with Desmond’s father, Leslie. Now Matt and Noel were extending this family connection.

  In his excitement Matt forgot to wait for an answer. “We’re safe here. At least so far. Things are bad to the west of us near the big cities. How about you? Over,” Matt said.

  “We’re right here. But things are bad on the North Island. Big cities, like you said. But I’m just glad to get out of Oz. Over,” Noel replied.

  The two continued the exchange until Matt’s grandfather gave him the sign that the batteries were getting low. They signed off, but not before promising to stay in touch each week.

  Paul walked into the room. He and Amanda were back in Bruneau after their meeting with the governor and the nightmare at the banker’s house. He still hadn’t found a good time to tell his children that their mother was dead.

  “Have you got your chores done, Son?” Paul asked.

  “Yes, Dad. That’s why Grandpa Paul got me and put me on the radio,” Matt answered.

  “Well, see if you can raise Idaho Guard Headquarters. The governor was leaving me a message there,” Paul said.

  Matt turned the dial to the setting listed on the sheet taped to the front of the radio. He radioed in his call sign and the Idaho Guard came on.

  “This is Dr. Kendall. Do you have any messages for me? Over.”

  “Yes, sir. You are to report tomorrow to the Capital Building. And be prepared for four days travel. There’s also a request that a Ms. Savage accompany you. Over,” the radio man said.

  Paul signed out and turned off the radio. He went and found Amanda and told her she had a new job. The message brought a smile to her face, realizing it would mean the two of them would be working together. Paul smiled
back.

  “Say, I bet you could use a good hot bath,” Paul said.

  Amanda lit up at the suggestion. Since the river, she only had enough time and hot water for sponge baths. Everyone had been using the small black solar hot water heater bags made for outdoor trips.

  “I’ll get my things. Where is this miracle bath?”

  “Meet me at the back door. I’ll show you,” Paul said, as he headed to get a towel and some clean clothes.

  They both headed out the back door as the sun set across the Bruneau River valley. Paul grabbed a lantern as they went by the horse barn. He opened the corral gate, let Amanda through, and then closed it again. On the opposite side of the corral he repeated the procedure to let them into the rear pasture. But as he did, he turned an old Idaho car license plate over, covering up the numbers.

  Amanda watched quizzically, and then followed Paul as he led her into the pasture. Ahead lay an old shed sitting below a small hill. As they came around the back of the shed, an old claw foot bathtub was revealed. It sat on a concrete slab out in the night air.

  An old 2” pipe sat beside it, running water. The pipe came out of the ground not twenty feet up the hill, and splashed onto the concrete slab as it created a small stream that flowed down the hill toward the river.

  “What’s this?” Amanda asked.

  “The old family hot tub,” Paul answered, as he moved the pipe into the bathtub. The flow was strong enough to quickly fill the oversized tub. The overflow splashed over the rim and hit the slab. “It’s artesian, no pumps and it runs about 106 degrees all year. The whole Bruneau Valley is sitting on hot water. It’s almost impossible to drill a well and get cold water here.”

  “It looks big enough for two. Can we both fit?”

  “I thought you’d never ask. Growing up we never got to partner up in it,” Paul said.

  They both began to undress and hung their clothes on hooks on the side of the shed. Amanda carefully walked over and climbed into the tub.

  “No one will bother us, will they?” Amanda asked.

  “The tradition is to turn the license plate over if the tub is in use. We’re fine,” Paul said.

  “Oh, that was what that was about. Well, I would have loved to see you as a little kid in here. How cute,” Amanda said.

  “Look at those stars. Without any lights they really shine,” Paul said.

  “It’s so romantic. If reality wasn’t so close, I could just stay here all night,” Amanda said. She slid under the water cascading out of the large pipe.

  “You need to put all of that out of your mind. Right now is our time. Just enjoy the moment,” Paul offered. He pulled her onto his body as the two formed a spooning. Amanda laid her head back as Paul caressed her body. They hadn’t had much personal time since that night on the Middle Fork. The two made up for lost time.

  Realizing that they were approaching prune status from soaking in the hot water for so long, they climbed out of the tub. Paul reached for his large towel and wrapped it around him. Amanda wrapped up in her towel.

  “Oops, sorry. I didn’t know anyone was here,” Matt said as he walked around the corner of the shed holding a lantern. He had a towel in his hand ready for a bath.

  “Matt,” Paul bellowed. “The occupied sign was turned. You should have seen that.” Paul knew that Matt understood the routine from many trips to visit his grandparents.

  “Oh yeah. I kinda forgot. Sorry.” Matt quickly turned and left.

  “I’m sorry about that. He knows better,” Paul said.

  “That’s OK,” Amanda said.

  “I’m afraid he’s seen us in this position too much lately,” Paul said. He thought back to what he might have seen way back on the river.

  “Then maybe we should do something about it,” Amanda said.

  “What did you mean by that?” Paul asked, his curiosity piqued.

  “Oh, we’ll see what will happen, Dr. Kendall,” Amanda replied.

  Now Paul was really confused. He had gotten very attached to this woman, but he still didn’t understand why he was so lucky. To have a very attractive, smart, accomplished woman fifteen years his junior interested in him baffled Paul.

  They dressed quickly and Paul lit their kerosene lantern. Returning to the house they found John sitting at the kitchen table. Amanda took her leave and headed for their bedroom upstairs.

  “Paul, you look like a prune. In the tub, eh?” John asked. Then, looking concerned at his brother asked, “You have a minute?”

  Paul blushed slightly at his older brother’s comment. “What’s up?”

  “I can’t sleep. I keep thinking about what I did to Mary. What if she ends up like your ex? She’s stuck back there in Eugene. We both know that a liberal city is the last place you wanted to be in a time like this,” John said.

  “Look, brother of mine. Your wife and my wife were both sentient beings. Each was capable of reasoned decisions all on their own. We put up with their women’s liberation crap all those years. Then when the going gets tough, they want their big strong men to protect them. It doesn’t work both ways,” Paul said. They’d had this discussion before. Mary had resisted preparing and John had worked hard over the years getting things ready without her.

  “But what if she’s in trouble?” John asked.

  “You gave her every opportunity to join us here and she chose her sister and father over you and the kids. As far as I’m concerned, she can live with her decision now. The world has entered a point in history where personal decisions mean life or death,” Paul said. “And there’s no guarantee that we’ll remain safe here. We need to work hard to reestablish a civil society. Lord knows there’s plenty of uncivil elements out there.”

  John had the look of a beaten dog. He sat in the kitchen with his head in his hands, contemplating what he had done. Paul stared at his big brother and got madder as he stared. Finally he could hold it back no longer.

  “Look, John. If it’s that bad, take the Chevy and head back to check on her. But don’t tell the kids, because they’ll want to go with you. And you aren’t willing to risk them, are you?” Paul asked. “Your wife was willing and did risk your kid’s lives. From what Julie told me, Brittany would have stayed with her mother if Isaac hadn’t tricked her into coming.”

  “What’s Julie got to do with this?” John asked.

  “From the way she walks around following you, I think she has a lot to do with it. She is looking for family right now like a lot of people. You seem to be the one that has drawn her interest,” Paul said.

  “I couldn’t become involved with her. She’s just a kid. She was my student,” John said.

  “And Amanda was my student. And Julie isn’t a kid anymore. She’s an adult that is alone in a world that has been shattered. She needs someone right now, and dear brother, I think you’re it. You certainly could do worse,” Paul said.

  “Well, you’re different than me, you and Amanda. I could never…” John said.

  “Men and women are the same everywhere. The emotions are what get in the way. And the world we are entering is going to be one of more simple lives and relationships. And children. I have a feeling that the world is going to need a lot more children. Especially ones raised with a good understanding of hard work and the value of family,” Paul said.

  Paul got up to leave. His brother needed to focus on the future, not on the past. He walked by his brother and placed his hand on his shoulder. He squeezed it to reassure him that he was there for him. As he walked up the stairs to his bedroom, he passed Julie coming down in her pajamas.

  “Have you seen Dr. Ewing? He wasn’t in his room when I checked just now. I’m worried. He’s seemed very distant since you came back from Boise, Dr. Kendall,” Julie said.

  “Please call me Paul. And call my brother John. You’re not in class anymore,” Paul said. “He’s in the kitchen. He needs you, but he can’t let the past go right now. Be patient with him.”

  “Thank you, Paul,” Julie said as she
headed toward the kitchen. Paul said a little prayer that his brother could find solace with this woman and move into the new world that the sun had created.

  * * *

  Morning arrived with the family sitting around the kitchen table. Fresh eggs gathered that morning were being cooked along with bacon taken from the pantry. The older children had been up at dawn to milk the cows and gather eggs. The animals were all fed and put out to pasture when the adults got things going in the kitchen.

  Life now revolved around the daylight hours, just as humankind had done for thousands of years. When the sun went down, people went to bed. The light provided by kerosene lighting was adequate for some things, but for detailed things like reading or needlework, it was hard on the eyes.

  So either you played cards or knit at night, or went to bed. Morning came early in the summer, and the days were long. Things were being done to get the farm ready for the winter. With no mechanical assistance, cutting wood or preserving food was very labor intensive.

  Not that there was much wood to cut in Bruneau. The valley was next to the desert, with few trees. Luckily, the same hot water that heated the bath water had been piped through the house to provide warmth in the winter.

  But two people were noticeably missing that morning. John and Julie were among the late risers.

  “Julie never returned to her bed last night,” Meredith said. She shared a bunk room with the young girls that included Julie, Meredith, Brittany and Ed’s granddaughter. The four boys had a similar bunk room.

  Paul gave his daughter the ‘don’t ask’ look and Meredith returned to her breakfast. As Paul ate his food, his brother finally walked into the kitchen. He walked over for a cup of coffee and sat down at the crowded table.

  “Boy, I haven’t slept like that for ages. I forgot how good a night’s sleep makes you feel,” John said. Two of the boys started to snicker at John’s comment. Paul shot them a glance that stopped it flat.

  Julie walked in sheepishly and sat down on a stool in the corner. Paul slid his chair to the side to make room and motioned Julie to join the family at the table.