by Chesla, Gary
The pilot hovered the craft over Johnstown to give them one last look before they left.
The scene below was surrealistic.
A dark city, blackened buildings, debris and large sections of fallen buildings covered the streets.
Overgrown yards and parks added some green to an otherwise dull black and white view of what at one time had been a colorful city.
Dark decayed bodies filled the streets and sidewalks along with abandoned cars on the streets and sidewalks.
Among all the rubble, nothing moved except for birds and animals searching through the remains, looking for something to eat.
“It looks like the city has been burned or bombed,” Tony yelled to Mason, who was sitting in the copilot’s seat.
Mason turned and shouted back to Tony.
“When the dead were breaking into the buildings, trying to get at the living survivors, they didn’t care what they chewed on or had to break to get inside the buildings.
That and the remaining living, trying to cook or keep warm, or trying to fight off the dead with guns or explosives, they ended up starting fires. That’s why so many of the cities look like this.
Johnstown doesn’t really look that bad, you should have seen Washington and New York, most of those cities were burnt to the ground.
I wasn’t around when World War II was ending, but I saw pictures.
D.C. and New York looked like what our bombers did to Berlin during the war. From what I’ve seen, I imagine that most of our cities are now nothing more than piles of overgrown rubble.
It’s unbelievable LT, but there isn’t anything left.
You would think we were in a spaceship that had just landed on a planet that had destroyed itself years ago in some global war.
You’ll see what I mean on the way back.”
Tony sat back as the helicopter began the journey back to West Virginia.
At their house on the summit above Johnstown, their world was green and bristling with life.
But as they began their journey to their new home, they realized that their summit home was an optical illusion, an island surrounded by death and destruction.
It was amazing that they had managed to survive.
They could only hope that where they were going would give them all a new chance for a life, because if not, they now knew that there was no place left to go.
Chapter 23
July 3rd, The drainpipe on Route 84
Fran woke when Snoop decided it was time for them to get up.
He got up, standing on Fran’s stomach and began to shake, sending sand and dust into Fran’s face and nose.
Fran started to cough and sat up, rolling Snoop over onto the sand next to her, as she wiped the grains of sand off her face.
In order to get comfortable last night, Fran had filled the bottom of the drainpipe with sand to keep the hard edges of the corrugated pipe form hurting her back.
Like Flash had suggested, Fran had also filled Snoop’s pouch with sand to make a pillow.
It wasn’t too bad, but it just felt strange sleeping in a drainpipe under the interstate.
But after the long day on the bike in the heat, they both fell asleep quickly last night.
The only thing that would have kept them awake longer, would have been zombies, or if they would have had something to eat.
But last night, they didn’t have either, so they slept.
“Snoop,” Fran started to say, but stopped to spit out the sand in her mouth.
“Ah come on, Snoop,” Fran coughed, picked sand off her tongue then laughed, “what’s wrong with just licking my face like you do every other morning?”
Snoop shook one more time, walked over to the end of the pipe and scratched at the sand for a second, then promptly went to the bathroom.
After throwing sand over his business with his front paws, he trotted back over to Fran and whined.
“You must have been raised with cats,” Fran smiled and patted his head. “I guess I won’t have to house train you after all, I can just get you a litter box.”
Snoop whined again.
“Sorry buddy,” Fran continued as she got up on her hands and knees, “but we don’t have anything for breakfast today. Maybe we’ll find something to eat when we get out on the road.”
Fran crawled over to the end of the pipe and looked out into the desert.
A few morning clouds floated in what otherwise was a solid blue sky.
Fran thought the air felt chilly for being in the desert.
“At least I’m up early this morning,” Fran said as she stared up at the sky and listened to the quiet. “Since we should reach Stone around noon today and since we don’t have anything to eat, I guess if we drink one of our last two bottles of water now it might fill us up so we don’t feel so hungry.”
Fran crawled back to where she had put the items from the bicycle, grabbed a bottle of water and took a long drink.
She cupped her hand and let Snoop drink what remained in the bottle.
“At least we’ll get started before it gets too hot out there,” Fran thought as she began to get her things together.
She dragged the truck battery over to the end of the pipe then went back to bring over the CB.
She thought about trying to contact John, but decided to wait until later.
She was concerned that John wasn’t on the radio last night. This was the first time he hadn’t been on the air since she had figured out how to use the CB.
But if John was in trouble, he wouldn’t have his radio on anyhow.
Flash had been off the air for a few days when she was on the run, but after she was in the clear, she joined the nightly conversation again.
Flash said John knew what he was doing, so Fran decided to wait until the regular time tonight.
Besides, only Snoop and crazy squirrels were up at this time of the morning.
It didn’t take Fran long to put the battery and CB in the bicycle’s basket and tie them down.
What took her the longest to do, was to get all the sand back out of Snoop’s pouch.
Every time she thought all the sand was out of the pouch, sand would trickle down off the sides of the bag and cover the bottom again.
Fran could just imagine Snoop sneezing and scratching in the pouch all day today.
Snoop wasn’t that big, but the bag hanging around her neck all day yesterday had made her neck sore.
She didn’t need to have Snoop squirming around and irritating her neck all day.
Fran finally gave up and just turned the pouch inside out, so she and Snoop would both have a comfortable day.
Fran did a fast check to be sure she wasn’t leaving anything behind, then scooped up Snoop and slid him back into the pouch.
She pushed the bike up over the embankment and walked out onto the interstate.
She sighed as she looked at the highway ahead, as it disappeared into the far-off horizon, then climbed on to the bike and began to pedal.
It took her a mile before she was able to work out the soreness in her legs from yesterday’s long ride and finally find her comfort zone and settle into a steady pace.
The desert was heating up quickly, even at this time of the morning, but at least the sun wasn’t brutal yet.
Fran made good time as she watched the mile markers pass by quickly.
In fact, the only thing that appeared to change was the numbers on the mile posts.
If it wasn’t for the mile markers, Fran would have thought she was riding a stationary bike.
The desert itself never seemed to change, the scenery consisted of sand and scrub brush and then more of the same.
Fran found herself in what felt like a trance and soon she even stopped paying any attention and trying to keep track of how many miles she had ridden.
She just pedaled and tried not to fall asleep.
The hours flew by faster than she had realized once she hit her stride.
She was totally alone in
this part of the desert.
Fran didn’t even see a stray bird in the air to distract her thoughts.
Even though this was boring and lonely, Fran preferred this to working her way through the cars that clogged the interstate around the cities she had passed further north.
After weeks of just staying in her house, the last two days of traveling so many miles were catching up with her.
Her body ached all over and Fran just hoped that she would reach Stone, Flash and John today, so she could rest for the next few days.
Her mind was a blank, and having lost track of how many miles she had traveled, she almost missed the sign that said, “Utah State Line, one mile.”
But as Fran passed the sign, it hit her.
“We’re almost there, Snoop!” Fran said as the realization of where she was, began to sink in.
She started to study the road ahead of her.
A moment later, Fran stopped the bike and smiled to herself as she looked up at the sign that hung across the interstate.
“Welcome to Utah.”
“Snoop, this is where Flash said she would meet us,” Fran grinned as she rubbed the top of Snoop’s head.
When Fran stopped, Snoop decided to stick his head out of the pouch and have a look around.
“Now all we have to do is find a place to keep out of sight until she shows up,” Fran said. “It will feel good to sit and rest for a while.”
Snoop started to move around in the pouch and then he began to growl.
“What’s the matter Snoop?” Fran asked nervously.
Snoop appeared to be trying to look behind Fran, and she slowly turned to see what was behind her.
As Fran turned, she was startled to see a figure off to her right, a few hundred feet off the road, walking towards her.
She knew that it wasn’t a zombie by the way the figure moved, but from this distance she couldn’t get a good look.
The figure was wearing a large hat that covered their head and face, hiding their identity.
She was expecting Flash, but if this was Flash, this person wasn’t what Fran had expected.
Fran cautiously watched as the figure climbed up over the embankment and approached the side of the road.
She began to feel better when she felt Snoop’s tail begin to wag enthusiastically against the side of the pouch.
Finally the person stepped onto the highway, removed her hat and a shaggy crop of long light brown hair fell down around her shoulders.
“You made good time, Newb,” the girl said as she put her left hand on her hip and raised her right arm and waved.
Fran slowly lifted her arm and returned the wave.
“Flash is that you?” Fran asked.
“You were expecting someone else?” Flash smiled.
“No,” Fran stammered, “I just thought you would be bigger.”
Flash laughed, “And I thought you would be smaller. The mutt, he is about what I expected.”
Snoop wagged his tail more enthusiastically as Flash walked over and scratched his head.
Then Flash turned and gave Fran a hug.
“God, it’s been so long since I’ve seen another person,” Flash said. “I’m glad you made it Newb. When you started out, I seriously had my doubts.”
Flash pulled away and saw tears running down Fran’s cheeks.
“After the first day, I had my doubts too,” Fran grinned. “If I would have known that it was going to be this far, I probably would have turned around and gone home.”
“No, you wouldn’t have done that,” Flash grinned devilishly. “To meet John, I think you would have been willing to walk twice as far as this.”
“Have you talked to John?” Fran asked.
“No, not for a few days,” Flash replied. “I wouldn’t worry. It’s only been a few days. You’ll learn that when you are on the run out here, sometimes you have to lay low and be quiet for a day or two. I’m sure we’ll hear from him before much longer.”
Flash looked at Fran.
“What do you mean you thought I would be bigger?” Flash asked.
“Well,” Fran said. “All the things I heard about you doing, I thought you would have to be bigger to do all of that.”
Fran and Flash stood eye to eye, both girls were almost the same height and weight.
“You don’t have to be very big to survive out here,” Flash laughed. “You just have to be smart.”
“So you thought I’d be smaller,” Fran grinned. “Or did you mean dumber?”
Flash laughed again, “You’re obviously not dumb, kid. Over the CB you just sounded young and inexperienced, but since you’ve managed to live this long, you must have some smarts. I just meant that you sounded young.”
Fran smiled.
“So, you’re not disappointed?” Fran asked.
“Nah, actually I’m impressed,” Flash smiled. “I’m happy that you made it. It will be nice having a little sister to talk to and teach the ways of the world.”
“I’m sure you’re not as happy as I am,” Fran sighed. “I thought I was going to die without ever seeing another person again.”
“You and me both, Newb,” Flash smiled. “What do you say we get moving?”
“OK,” Fran replied. “But can’t you start calling me Fran instead of Newb, since we are here in person and not on the radio?”
“OK, Fran,” Flash smiled. “I can do that.”
“What’s your real name?” Fran asked.
“My real name is Abigail,” Flash replied with a smirk. “I prefer you call me Flash.”
“How about Abbey, I like that name,” Fran said.
“I’ve gone by Flash for so long, I wouldn’t know who you were talking to,” Flash answered. “Maybe we should just stick with Flash.”
“OK, Abbey,” Fran said.
“OK, Newb,” Flash smiled. “Two can play that game.”
Snooped whined, since he was feeling neglected.
Fran smiled, “Snoop doesn’t care what you call him as long as he gets attention and something to eat.”
“He should be happy when we get back to where I’m staying,” Flash said. “I’m sure I have more food than you’ve seen in a long time. Are you hungry?”
“In the last three days, all we’ve had to eat were some pretzels, a rotten banana and a little cherry pie,” Fran replied. “We’re starving.”
“Then today’s your lucky day,” Flash smiled. “It will take us an hour to get back to my place, but it’s an easy walk.”
Fran pushed her bicycle and followed Flash across the road and down over the embankment.
“We could follow the road, but if we cut across the fields here, it is a lot shorter,” Flash said. “I’m staying in an old farmhouse. It’s quiet there and I even have a real bed. I have a guest room for you and Snoop so you can get some rest after you eat.”
“Anything will be better than sleeping in a drainpipe again,” Fran replied. “I have to warn you, Snoop isn’t house trained yet. Is there a litter box in the house by any chance?”
“A litter box?” Flash laughed.
“It’s a long story,” Fran grinned. “I think Snoop had lived with a family that had cats before I found him. I think he likes to go to the bathroom on doors or in the sand.”
“I have a box and there is a lot of sand around,” Flash smiled. “I think we can make something to his liking. If not, it’s not like my place is something you would see in Better Homes and Gardens.”
“As long as you have real doors and windows,” Fran added, “it will be a lot better than where I lived.”
They walked for about a half mile when Flash stopped and cocked her head and listened.
“Do you hear something?” Fran asked.
“Get behind that brush,” Flash said as she ran towards the thicket of scrub brush to their left.
When they were behind the brush, Fran asked, “What is it?”
“Listen,” Flash replied.
Fran watched Flash as she
listened.
A few seconds later, Fran heard a sound.
“What is that?” Fran asked. “It sounds like some kind of engine.”
“It’s that Navy helicopter,” Flash replied.
“It sounds more like a lawn mower,” Fran said.
“That’s what I think too, but it’s that Navy helicopter,” Flash replied. “That’s one of the reasons that I don’t trust them. It doesn’t sound like a real helicopter like I would expect the Navy to have. I’ve never seen a real Navy helicopter, but from what I’ve seen on TV, they make a lot more noise than this one.”
“What’s it doing?” Flash asked.
“Every day it flies out here and puts food out in a clearing down the road from here,” Flash replied. “So, each evening I go out and take the food.”
“Why do they keep putting food out there if you keep taking it?” Fran asked.
“I’m not sure,” Flash replied. “They might be trying to get me to let down my guard, but I’m real careful. I stay out of sight during the day so they don’t see me and then go out at night to get the food. The food is just sitting out there in the open. If it was the real Navy, you would think they would set a trap. I have a knife just in case they have a net set up to catch me, but so far I haven’t seen anything near the food. It’s just out in the open.”
“It doesn’t sound like they are trying to trick you or anything,” Fran said. “Maybe you should try to talk to them?”
“Not until I know more about them,” Flash replied. “I have food and so far, I have a safe place to stay. Why would I risk that to talk with some guys that I don’t know who they are or have any reason to trust?”
“I see your point,” Fran said. “If I would have tried to talk to the guys that had Snoop before I saw what kind of people they were, I’d be dead.”
“You’re learning kid,” Flash smiled.
They watched and saw the helicopter get larger in the sky as it grew nearer, then it dropped down out of sight off in the distance.