The Changing Earth Series (Book 1): Day After Disaster

by Hathaway, Sara F.

  “Yeah, it was. Now, it’s their grave,” Vince said solemnly. “They never made it out. It’s a good lookout point, though, so it’s well used now. You can see a lot of the canyon from here, just like it was before they put the lake in. You know, Erika, a lot of people didn’t survive, so let’s not think about that now. Actually, it’s better to just not think about that at all,” Vince told her. He’d spent more time immersed in this desperate world and was accustomed to stepping over the world of the past, trying to remake a future. Today was not about that: it was about spending time together, thinking positively, and enjoying the precious time with one another as a family.

  Nearby, there was a patch of land trying frantically to rebound. Grass grew there. They unloaded the kids and let Kit graze. Vince spread their blanket out on the rocks that overlooked the canyon and the river below. The kids were amazingly resilient. They laughed and played with Ripper, leaving Vince and Erika to chat in the sunshine. Vince and Erika sat down on the blanket and embraced. They couldn’t get enough of each other.

  “So,” Erika said gently, “how did you and Dex survive this mess?”

  Chapter 20

  “Let’s see, where do I begin?” Vince asked.

  “At the beginning,” Erika teased, like the smart aleck in the crowd.

  Vince looked at her with an amused expression. “Very funny,” he replied. “Remember, I talked with you on the phone when you dropped Dex and Ripper off at your mom’s?”

  Erika nodded, recalling the conversation.

  “Not long after that I got off work. The dirt trucks came sooner than we thought. We were landscaping that guy’s house with the Japanese tea gardens. They were turning out so cool, Erika. You should have seen them,” Vince reminisced, gazing out into the distance. “Anyway, I picked Dexter up from your mom’s house. Your mom and I chatted. She was working on fencing that day, and I helped her a little with pulling some barbed wire. Afterwards, we went back home. It was a nice evening, not too hot. Remember, we had been doing all that watering trying to keep our grass green?” Vince asked.

  “You mean watering the crab grass?” Erika confirmed the story.

  “Yeah, that stupid-ass crab grass. If we would have used weed killer on it, we wouldn’t have had any grass at all,” he chuckled, holding tight to the simple memory. “The grass was so long that I decided to go and mow it. The light from the deck illuminated the yard enough and Dexter was having fun playing in the yard. I was just finishing up. Dexter and Ripper were running amuck and then Ripper stopped dead in his tracks. He went into the open shed and wouldn’t come out. I was pushing the mower across the yard toward the shed when I heard a sound like a train was coming. The rumble was so loud; I heard it over the noise of the mower. I turned it off immediately, wondering what the heck was happening. Then it began, a shaking like I’ve never felt before. You could see the ground rippling like a wave and it shook violently. Dexter was over by the shed with Ripper. It was like we froze in time. The earth just kept rippling, wave after wave. Then in a blink of an eye the whole town, as well as our house, sank into the ground. It was all the old mining tunnels. They gave way to the movement and in one swoop everything was devoured. Once all the buildings fell in, fires exploded from everywhere. Most of the propane tanks and gas lines blew, and it felt like a war zone.

  “I fell into the ground with the house, but Dexter was still up on the ground next to that crappy metal shed that stood immune to the shaking. I was knocked out when I fell in and woke up to Dexter’s frantic yelling and Ripper’s wet tongue. Ripper ran down into the hole to find me. Well, I was pretty shocked and beaten up by the fall, but I slowly climbed my way out of the hole, with Ripper’s help.”

  As if he knew the two were talking about his heroic deed, Ripper ran up and danced around the two of them. He licked Erika as she pet him.

  “That’s because he is a good dog, aren’t you?” Erika praised the animal.

  “That day I thanked the Lord many times that you talked me into getting that dog. It was horrible, Erika. Everywhere you could hear the screams of dying people and the noise of explosions. I was in complete panic. The first thing I did was grab Dexter. I held him close, as I ran around frantically trying to find and help anyone who survived. I didn’t have any idea what to do and the screams began to fade. Honestly, I was scared to move. I didn’t know what would fall into the ground or explode next. In the end, I only found four other survivors and we rescued one man from under his house, but he died soon after. It all seems like a blur now. A bad nightmare I can’t wake up from. The devastation was so complete.

  “The fires burned and spread. Dex and I, along with some other survivors, we didn’t know them before the quake, emptied that little shed and stayed there for a few nights until it was obvious that no rescue crew was coming. We salvaged some rope from the wreckage and slowly began sifting through the rubble for anything of use, but especially for food. I made Dex stay in the shed because I’d never seen so many dead bodies, Erika, and I hope I never do again. That is an image that you can never erase, but there was nothing we could do for them, so we just left them there.

  “It wasn’t too long before the stink of the rotting bodies was unbearable, and the lack of water was becoming a real problem. We needed to get out of there, away from the death and near a good source of water. Then the second quake hit, and even more ground was being eaten by the gigantic sinkhole. That was the last straw. I had to get Dex to someplace safe. We gathered what goods we could carry and began the long hike toward the lake. Along the way, we ran into a handful of people that came to the same conclusion. The world was very different then. Smoke was everywhere, and it seemed like everything was in some state of burning. We did the best we could to pick our way along the small trails down to the lake.

  “I thought about you constantly. Wondering what happened in Sacramento, but deep down, I knew you were still alive. Anyway, the closer we got to the lake we realized the dam broke and it was a river again. All I could think about was you, down there, and all that water coming your way. But I had to stay positive for Dexter. He didn’t know about the implications of the dam breaking, and I wasn’t about to tell him.

  “We found some other people from Greenwood that survived, and Big John Green was there. I was feeling much better then. If anyone would know how to survive in this mess, it was him. We decided we would camp with him until I could find you. He was not confident in your survival percentages and urged me to consider the possibility that you didn’t, but I would have none of it. I knew you were alive. I could just feel it.

  “We set up camp there and started putting together supplies for the group. That camp by the river is like one giant mud pit, but at least there’s water. We contacted the Cool Camp, but with resources in such short supply we decided to keep the groups separated. Big John and I set up snares. Some of them were so cool. I thought of you all the time because I knew you would have loved making them with us. Anyway, we also had some contact with that crazy Auburn group and decided we should set up guards to watch out for looters coming from that direction. I also made a trip over to Lotus to look for your mom. She’s doing fine, well, as fine as anyone is doing right now. You know her, the little mighty mouse. She decided to stay in Lotus with her neighbors Bob and Cathy because there are a bunch of survivors gathering there, and that camp is very well supplied. She begged me to stay, along with Dexter and Ripper, but I wanted to be close to the river because I knew eventually you would be coming that way, and you did! Thank God you finally did. Brett is down there with her. We saw him in Georgetown initially, but he wanted to go to find your mom and set off that way immediately. She’ll be alright with Brett, so don’t worry.

  “That’s about it. I have just been surviving, watching out for Dex, and digging the splinters out of my butt that I accumulated pining away waiting for you,” he explained, smiling wide at his joke. “Oh God, I love you,” Vince declared, wrapping her up in a big hug as they stared out into the sunse
t.

  “Holy crap, baby, we’ve spent all day out here, and where are Dex and Star?” Erika said, surprised that time slipped away so quickly.

  “They’re right over there with Ripper, munching on some of that meat we brought. I can’t tell you enough how glad I am you talked me into getting that dog. Since you were gone he totally attached himself to Dex and has been his guardian angel,” Vince said, staring at the kids.

  “Dex, Star, come on, let’s start packing up,” Erika declared.

  Chapter 21

  As Vince and Erika stood up to go, there was that sound again. The sound they all feared, a sound like a train rumbling across the mountains. Their eyes were like saucers as they looked at one another. The sturdy gray rock they were sitting on was quickly dislodged by the vigorous shaking. In a split second, the couple leapt off it as it tumbled down the canyon side. They ran for the children and the horse that were huddled together in the scraggly grass. Vince grabbed Kit’s rope. He spooked from the fear of the earthquake and the commotion of the people. Erika huddled with the kids and the dog and waited for the shaking to cease.

  Finally, the quake came to a halt. The world was transformed again. Houses and shells of homes that burned in the last fire and stood there a minute ago, were gone, completely eaten by the earth or rattled into piles of ash. New fires sprung up and the smell in the air was nauseating. A dreadful feeling poured over them like hot syrup.

  “We have to get back to camp,” yelled Vince.

  Erika, still shocked, lifted the kids onto Kit and without a word they started quickly moving back toward the Cool Camp. It took them longer than expected to get back. The trail they’d used earlier was riddled with new obstacles. Erika and Vince were exhausted when they looked up and saw more smoke on the horizon. As they got closer they heard screams echoing through the air.

  “Oh my God,” cried Erika. “We need to help.”

  They started running toward the camp with Kit and the kids in tow. Ripper was directly beside Kit waiting for orders from his masters. The first thing they saw was the medical tent engulfed in flames. Ryan was running rapidly in and out with his patients over his shoulder. Other people were helping him and with the whole camp on fire, they were just laying bodies all over the former parking lot.

  “I can help them, Vince, make sure the kids and the animals are safe,” Erika yelled as she sprinted toward the bodies lying on the pavement.

  To add to the chaos of the medical tent, more people were carrying over bodies, both dead and alive, from the main camp. Ryan came running by, on his way back into the tent.

  “Start assessing the people in the parking lot,” he told her.

  Erika had trained as an emergency medical technician (EMT) a long time ago but never used the training. Having people’s lives in her hands was too scary back then. Now, here she was staring at rows of screaming, burned, and bleeding people. Something inside her switched off and she got straight down to business. She had Taylor from the River camp and Diana from the Cool Camp there to help her.

  They started going from body to body to see if the person was alive and how they could help. Erika tried to shut off as much of her emotions as she could and barely even noticed if she knew the individual or not. The people that could be saved needed attention and the people that couldn’t were set aside, even if she knew them or their families.

  Ryan saved as many supplies as he could from the medical tent before it collapsed into a ball of flames. As soon as the tent fell and there was nothing else he could do, there he was in the parking lot, directing the team to do what they could for the injured. He instructed Taylor to start hauling away the dead bodies and piling them over by the part of the medical tent that was now done burning. Erika and Diana followed Ryan’s instructions and he listened intently to the analyses of the bodies they performed. They were all busy wrapping burns and cuts and splinting broken bones long into the night.

  Vince took the kids up to the tent the River group set up, but that area was not immune to the blaze. It had burned as well. Richard, Joan’s husband, was there, watching his son Tyson, as well as a group of other kids from both camps.

  “Just leave them here, Vince, and go help,” said Richard frantically. “They need all the help they can get.”

  “Are you sure Rich? Are you all right? Where’s Joan?” Vince asked. Normally, Joan was the one watching the kids and Vince was full of questions.

  “Look, leave the kids. I’m okay, but Joan. . .she. . .well, she’s down at the medical area,” Rich replied with fear in his eyes.

  “Oh. . .sorry. . .okay, I’ll be back,” Vince retorted, unsure of what to say. He tied up Kit and got the kids down. He gave them both a kiss and instructed Ripper to stay with Dexter.

  He ran down toward the intense fires burning in town. It was chaos down there. The tents made adequate shelters but didn’t do well when the quake hit. Candles, lit inside the tents, burned the material as they collapsed. The summer had been so long and dry, the fire was just jumping from one tent to the next. Vince was standing in a daze wondering what to do when Greg saw him.

  “Hey, Vince, come help me get my supplies out of my tent,” screamed Greg.

  They ran through the burning mess. The buildings that remained were all burning down. It was only a matter of time before the fire stretched out to the unburned tents that were pitched behind them.

  “Where’s the water, Greg?” Why is no one fighting this?” Vince wondered.

  “The well caved in, Vince. There’s no water. Our drinking water we have won’t put this out,” Greg explained.

  Greg had gathered a fair amount of canned goods, liquor, blankets, and other supplies. Vince and Greg loaded all they could into blankets and left to go pile it by Erika’s stuff in the cart. Greg’s old dog came along with them and by the time they returned, the tent was gone.

  The full black of night was fast approaching and the fires were dying down. Everyone who made it out gathered over in the medical area, trying to do what they could for the injured and see what happened to their loved ones. Vince immediately noticed Erika when he walked up. Even covered in crusty blood and sweat, she was the most beautiful girl in the world to him. She looked exhausted to the point of passing out.

  “Greg, I’ll catch up with you later,” Vince said as he headed toward Erika.

  Vince walked over to her and wrapped her up in a big hug. Erika was lost in thought and focused on helping. She hadn’t even begun to process the reality of the situation, and when Vince appeared and hugged her, she broke down. She cried, and her legs gave out. Vince cradled her in his arms and carried her over to a quiet corner.

  “It’s okay, baby, it’s going to be okay,” Vince repeated to her over and over while he rocked her in his arms.

  “No, it’s not, Vince,” Erika sobbed. “Joan is dead, Mike is dead, Kim’s dead, Greg’s dad, Cliff, is dead and so many others. The pile just got bigger and bigger! All those people we were just hanging out with last night! And they were the lucky ones. So many others are burnt to a crisp but still alive. What can you do for them when they are lying in a parking lot? Ryan is doing the best he can, but there are just so many and so few supplies. Some died while they were waiting for help, it was horrible. Maybe if we would have been here. . .” Erika started to say.

  Vince broke in, “Now, don’t even start that, Erika. Things happen, and God had us right where He wanted us to be. Our babies are safe, so just stop. Just relax now, there’s nothing more you could have done and nothing more you can do now. I love you.”

  Erika closed her eyes as the adrenaline left her body. She fell asleep in Vince’s arms. Vince picked her up and started the walk back to where he left the kids. Greg, his eyes full of tears, was already back there with Richard, both sharing in each other’s pain. The other survivors gathered there as well. The group collected as many blankets as they could and made a huge sleeping area for everyone. They would all be sleeping under the stars tonight. In their exhaustion, t
here was no need for anything else. Vince laid Erika down with Dexter and Star, who were already asleep. He curled up next to her, covered his family with a blanket, and let the painful evening slip away.

  Chapter 22

  The next morning was a very different day. There was no noise of hustle and bustle. All the survivors in camp were solemn from the events of the day before. You could hear screams from the medical area, as people who had passed out from the excruciating pain began to wake up to the hell that awaited them. Even the children were quiet and sat talking tentatively amongst themselves.

  Vince awoke before Erika and was sitting with Greg, cooking something in a can. Erika got up, feeling very stiff. She was still all crusty with dried blood. Everyday seemed so different from the one before. All she could really be sure of was that she was alive and with her family. She sent a silent prayer to God, thanking Him for returning her to her family and begging Him for their safety.

  “Good morning, baby,” Vince whispered quietly. He saw her waking up and wanted to go and hug her.

  “Good morning,” she responded sheepishly.

  Vince hugged her tight and she didn’t want to ever let go. Everything was so messed up and their love felt so right; she wanted to close her eyes and stay there forever.

  “There’s a little water in that plastic bottle over there, but use it sparingly, it’s all we have,” Vince directed as he pulled away from her to examine her and make sure all the blood on her was someone else’s. “We’re going to have to do something about that,” he explained, looking at her crusty condition. “I assume once everyone wakes up we’ll talk about what to do next. So, get some water and clean your face, and come and eat some yummy creamed-corn breakfast,” Vince said sarcastically.

  “Sounds great,” Erika countered his sarcastic tone.

  She went over and poured a little water in a bowl. As she splashed it on her face and rubbed it on her arms, she stared absently at the bowl. It began to turn red from the blood melting off her skin. She couldn’t believe this life. It seemed so unfair that she would have to endure this fate. It seemed like just yesterday they would have been safe at home, staring at a TV or a computer. Maybe playing video games with Dex or harvesting vegetables from the garden. They would have been worried about not having enough money to go on vacation or buy that new car they wanted. It was like a nightmare she could not wake up from. Suddenly there was a commotion amongst the quiet of the grieving camp. Erika snapped out of her daydream, finished up her cleaning, dumped the water on the ground, and went to see what was going on.