The Damaged Climate Series (Book 2): Drought Warning

by J. R. Tate

  Ryan felt the IV line tighten when he moved and grit his teeth. He was tired of being stuck in bed so he pulled the needle from his vein, the sting strong, but the sound of more loud booms overhead inspired him to stick with his plan of removing himself from the antibiotics. Cecilia grabbed his arm as he scooted from the bed.

  “Where are you going, Ryan?”

  “To find out what in the hell is going on.”

  Ty stirred in bed, his eyes wide as Ryan approached him. “Daddy, I’m scared! Is it another tornado?”

  “I don’t know, Son. Mommy is right here. I’m not going anywhere, okay? You are safe where you are.”

  He limped toward the stairs that led to the ground-level and his fire chief stopped him. “Where the hell do you think you’re going, Gibson?”

  “What’s happening out there?”

  “Lightning storm.” Chief Rayburn took a couple of steps up.

  “Any rain?” Maybe his prediction would be wrong.

  “No. Just lightning. No rain. No tornadoes. And it’s numerous cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, so it’s not safe to go outside in it.”

  Just lightning. It was a rare occurrence, but another weather pattern that could happen. Ryan remembered reading about it in his storm spotting classes. Lightning storms were caused by dry atmosphere where pockets of static burst. It proved to be dangerous and unpredictable, striking anywhere at any time.

  The storm shelter door swung open and a man hurried down the steps, out of breath and shaking. “I just saw two oil pumpjacks get struck. One of the tanks got hit too. The fire is out of control!” Lightning lit up the sky so bright that it looked like daytime. The bolts stemmed out like multiple branches on a tree. Any other time and it would have been beautiful, but now it was a nuisance.

  “We gotta put them out, Chief!” Ryan pushed forward again, approaching his superior. “We could use the oil! Not to mention the fire spreading. How’s the wind out there?” He turned to the man, impatient as he took time to answer him.

  “It’s pretty windy. Out of the south, I think.”

  Ryan looked at Chief Rayburn, on the verge of overruling his superior. They were in a time of disaster. Everyone was on an even playing field. “Sir, that oil is precious. The pumps haven’t been running since the tornadoes, but the tanks are full of oil. If I rebuild some of the vehicles out there, we’ll need it.”

  “The lightning is too close, Ryan. We can’t risk more lives! And you don’t need to be out there anyway. Your leg is in no shape to fight an oil fire!”

  “What about it spreading?” Ryan looked at the man again. “You said the wind is out of the south? Where was the pump-jack that you saw get struck?”

  “It’s south of town.”

  Ryan looked past his chief and watched his family. Cecilia was busy calming Ty down and his father was pacing. Going out in the lightning would be a huge risk and the tank that was on fire would already be a total loss. There were more pump-jacks in the area that they could use as long as they hadn’t already been torn up from the weather. With everything getting leveled, there probably wasn’t much left to be worth it, but it was an option if they could figure out how to rebuild the pumps and drill for oil again.

  “The ground is still saturated from the rain, Ryan. It won’t spread very fast. I’m not sending anyone out in this. We’ll go check on it once it is clear to get outside. It’ll burn itself out and that’s a better option than more men getting killed. The lightning is too close.”

  Just as Chief Rayburn said that another loud rumble crackled, loud enough to hurt their ears. They were below ground-level and it was deafening – he could only imagine how it was in the middle of everything and out in the open. It was a bitter pill to swallow when he thought about the oil burning up. It was a precious resource they needed not only now, but even before the weather had gone crazy on them. The thought of it burning away made Ryan sick to his stomach, but going out there and getting killed was an even worse thought.

  Ryan took a few steps backward. It was like everything was moving in slow motion. Steve patted him on the shoulder and said something but he couldn’t make out the words and he didn’t care enough to find out what he was saying. Joining Cecilia and Ty, he sat on the edge of the bed and tried his hardest to not lose his cool.

  “Everything okay, Ryan?” Cecilia grabbed his hand. “You should probably lay back down.”

  Ryan shook his head. “Dry thunderstorms.”

  “What?”

  “How can we be getting dry thunderstorms already?”

  Cecilia smiled at Ty and gave him a sip of water and scooted closer to Ryan. “What are you talking about?”

  He realized she was listening and glanced at her. “What we were hearing was a dry thunderstorm. It happens when there is low water vapor in the air. Any precipitation evaporates before it hits the ground. It’s happening just like I thought. But I don’t get how it’s happening so fast. Thirty-six hours ago we had torrential downpours. And now, dry thunderstorms?”

  “We’ve just had one. We probably shouldn’t get too worried about it until more happen.”

  Ryan didn’t have a response to her. She was back to being the positive one and he didn’t have the energy to counter-act it with the reality of the situation. If the dry thunderstorms came on as strong as the tornadoes, they were in for more than just the concern of no rain. Wildfires, dust storms, and extreme heat were the major issues they’d face quicker than Ryan had expected.

  The dull ache in his leg was a quick reminder that his health wasn’t at one hundred percent. He didn’t have time to lay around and wait to heal up. With the weather taking no time to transition it meant they needed to get crops in the ground fast and stockpile any oil that might be left in tanks that hadn’t been destroyed. He also had to find Cecilia’s parents. She deserved to be reunited with her folks.

  “First thing in the morning I’m getting out there. If we’re going to make it through this, we have to get moving.”

  “The doctor wants you to rest,” Cecilia replied as she fanned her fingers through Ty’s hair. He had already fallen back to sleep. The pain medicine was taking longer to leave his body than they had thought.

  “Screw the doctor. He’s not going to keep us alive once our food rations are gone.”

  “I think you are crossing bridges before you get to them, hon.”

  Ryan pecked her on the cheek and forced a smile. “I’m thinking long-term. Better to be prepared and nothing happens than everything getting worse and we’re left with nothing. Trust me on this, Cecilia. I just can’t sit around and wait. I’ve gotta do something.”

  “I know you do, Ryan. And that’s why I love you. But promise me that you’ll be safe.”

  “I will. The tornadoes didn’t take me down. I sure as hell ain’t gonna let anything else get me.”

  Taking on the weather wasn’t a joke – he had to remain confident but he also had to respect what Mother Nature brought him. His current plan was daunting, but just like with the tornadoes, he had to try. Anything less was failure.

  Chapter Five

  Ryan didn’t sleep the rest of the night as he thought about everything he had to take care of. How would he salvage any oil that had made it through? Leaving them in their tanks was the best bet, but out in the fields and pastures made them vulnerable to the impending wildfires and lightning. It felt like a game of Russian Roulette, only he had every chamber loaded.

  At dawn he gathered up a few supplies – the clinic had donated some sunscreen, water, and crackers and he also had a flashlight with fresh batteries, a solar powered lantern, and a pocket knife that was a beneficial necessity. He packed his bag and though he wasn’t planning on venturing far away, he made sure he had enough to cover him for a few days just in case. With Ty still in and out of consciousness, he didn’t want to disappear on the kid, especially since it still hadn’t hit him that his arm was gone. Cecilia would need help comforting him and he didn’t want to put that task solely on
her.

  “Where you headed today?” Darryl poured him some instant coffee and they both drank in silence for a few seconds.

  “Just the outskirts of where Harper Springs used to be. I want to check the oil wells. One got struck last night so I just want to see what’s going on. Being stuck down in this hole makes me feel disoriented and disconnected.”

  “Disconnected is a perfect way to put it. It’s like we are on a different planet from the rest of the world.” Darryl shook his head. “You’ll be back today?”

  “That’s the plan,” Ryan replied. “You make sure they’re okay, yeah? Make sure they’re safe?” He pointed toward Cecilia and Ty, both of them sleeping. They looked peaceful and he was happy that they were getting some good rest.

  “Of course, Ryan. Everything will be just fine. I wouldn’t stay out too long...”

  Ryan cut him off. “If you say anything about my damn leg, I might have to deck you.”

  “No, I was going to say, I wouldn’t stay out too long. Ty is starting to get more coherent.”

  Ryan finished the coffee and set the paper cup down. “I know. I’m not going far. There’s a lot to do, but I can only cover so much ground a day. Eventually, I’ll have to be gone for more than a day at a time. Cecilia’s parents are missing and we have to start planting crops. But I’ll get with everyone more on that once I get a good vantage point on current conditions. Until then, sit tight and if Ty wakes up and asks for me, tell him I’ll be back soon.”

  “Don’t make me lie to the boy, Ryan.”

  Ryan hugged Darryl and said, “Don’t worry, Dad. It’s not a lie. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  Steve met him at the steps, hoisting a bag on his shoulder. “Don’t think I’m going to let you go out there alone. I’m here to help. I don’t have anything else going on.”

  Ryan wasn’t going to put up a fight. Having Steve with him was good to have someone to talk to and his knowledge of farming would come in extra helpful now. What he really needed was an oilfield worker to lend their expertise of pumpjacks and oil drilling. He only knew a few roughnecks in the area and none of them were in the shelter. A rich older woman held most of the mineral rights in the county but even if she was around, she wouldn’t know the first thing about the mechanics of actually drilling and harvesting the oil.

  “So who owns the well that burned up last night?” Steve asked as they walked in the direction of the fire.

  “Are you reading my mind?” Ryan asked, smirking. “I was just thinking about the old woman who owns the rights. Her name is Florence Cook. She inherited it all and it’s very old family money. I’m not even sure if she still lives in this area but she used to come into town from time to time. If she knows about her wells getting burned up, she might show her face. Of course, she could be dead like most of the county.” Ryan recalled a few times when she would bring her fancy Cadillac to the shop for tune-ups. The damn vehicle probably cost more than his house, and had she been nicer, he might not resent the money she was born into.

  The sun felt like it was right on top of them and Ryan tried not to think about the sweltering heat. It was early morning and the sun was barely coming up but it was already climbing close to the triple digits. With no humidity, it was like a furnace blowing on them. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he took a drink from his canteen. Even it had gotten hot, but at least it’d keep him hydrated.

  “Looks like the well that got struck is over there.” Steve pointed to the south like the man had estimated, and he was right.

  The smoke lingered just at eye-level and the metal still smoldered where the pump once stood. The tank was demolished and the ground beneath it was black. The oil within it was burned up and ruined and there was no way they would be able to rebuild the existing pump. Ryan got as close as he could – the heat off of the disaster zone made the temperature around them climb to unbearable levels. The man had given them the news of the fire in the early morning hours. It was now a little after seven AM and the embers were orange and hot. One wind gust in just the right direction would ignite the fire again, burning what was left.

  “Imagine we ought to put some dirt on it?” Steve asked, looking around.

  “I’m surprised it didn’t get worse. The saturated ground probably saved it from spreading on the grass and trees.” Ryan put his bag down and examined it. The heavy smell of burned oil was strong enough to give him a headache. “Dirt usually doesn’t help. It’s pretty much out. There’s no threat of it getting worse, so it’ll burn out the rest of the way. Usually, we have to use a chemical on oil fires, which of course, we wouldn’t have now. It’s a dry potassium powder that we keep in extinguishers.”

  “Are oil wells burning a common thing?”

  “No, but in this area, it’s good to have the powder. As you can see, they are prone to lightning strikes since they’re metal.” Ryan kicked some dirt on one of the embers and it burned through. “Doesn’t look like we have anything here to save. It’s a total loss.” He was disappointed but he really didn’t expect anything more from it. “There’s more wells nearby that we can check, but there’s really not much we can do unless we come up with an idea on siphoning it to a safer place. I don’t think such a thing exists right now.”

  “What are the chances of every well in the area being destroyed?”

  “I guess we’ll find out. The tornadoes didn’t leave much behind for us. Oil wells wouldn’t be immune to them either.”

  They continued to walk and the absence of moisture made Ryan’s prediction become even more real. It was nice to not have to stare up at the sky every fifteen seconds and watch the unpredictable clouds swirling above, but no precipitation made it feel like he had swallowed a ton of bricks.

  “How are you at dry-land farming, Steve?”

  “I did some up in Oklahoma but we got decent rain to help. I am used to irrigation farming.”

  “We gotta get some stuff planted. There’s a vineyard close by that still had grapes, so we can pick from that to get more going. And I’m sure there’s some corn we can do. We can check where the old farm store was. There’s bound to be something in all of the wreckage that we can use. The old man who owned the place carried seeds for all kinds of things.”

  “And cotton. Right now is about the time to get it in the ground.”

  Ryan nodded. Cotton could be used for multiple things and for the most part, was drought tolerant. He quickened his pace as they approached another pumpjack that was twisted and bent as if the twisters had crumpled it up like a soda can. The well was split down the middle and most of the oil inside had stained the ground beside it. Ryan stuck his head through the crevice to get a better look.

  “There’s about a foot of oil in the bottom that hasn’t leaked out. The damage is just above.” A foot of oil in the bottom of the tank wouldn’t last forever but it was a start, and it gave Ryan a glimmer of hope.

  “Is there a slow leak or is that safe where it is for now?” Steve asked.

  “Hard to say. Until I figure out what to do with it, it’s going to have to be good enough. We can come back and dismantle the rest of the pumpjack and recycle the metal for something else. That will also help deter any lightning away from the tank.”

  Ryan backpedaled and something caught the corner of his eye. “What is that?” He pointed to a brushy area under a grove of torn up trees. “It looks like a white sheet.”

  Both men approached with caution. The white sheet had light pink spots that transitioned to larger red spots. Something was under the sheet and if they were still alive, they wouldn’t be for long. Ryan took a few steps forward, his heart pounding so hard that with each thump, his head ached. He glanced at Steve and back to the sheet, holding his hands at waist level in case they were walking up on an injured animal.

  Sweat stung Ryan’s eyes and he gently reached for the sheet, pulling it back. Falling backward, he landed hard against the side of a tree trunk, his leg screaming in pain as the heat from the wound coursed up h
is side.

  “Leave her be.”

  The voice was loud and echoed off of a nearby hill. When Ryan gained control of his pain, he opened his eyes and saw a man about two hundred feet away and closing in on them. He pulled a gun from his pocket and spun the cylinder but didn’t aim it at them.

  “Sir, we’re here to help.” Steve chimed in.

  “There ain’t no helping her.”

  Ryan took another glance at the girl under the sheet. She couldn’t be more than ten years old, her eyes glossy, her blonde hair caked on her forehead. She looked at him but showed no emotion. Her blank stare was haunting, and he wondered what had happened. She had several puncture wounds in her arm and one on her leg, deep enough that the bleeding never stopped.

  “There is a respite area not far from here in Harper Springs. There’s a doctor and a nurse who can give her medical attention.” Ryan tried to keep an even tone in his voice but it shook. What had they just walked up on and why did the man not want help?

  “She got bit by a coyote. A rabid coyote. She’s already showing symptoms.” The man took his hat off and ducked his head.

  Ryan thought about the coyotes that had attacked him and how close he had come to acquiring the same infection. “They can take care of the wounds.” Why was he suggesting it? Rabies was highly contagious. He didn’t want to risk Ty being exposed to it with his compromised health situation. But he also couldn’t stomach the idea of leaving her to die like that, suffering and scared. He’d want Ty to be as comfortable as possible if they were in the same situation. Rabies could take a few weeks to a few years to show up. It was unfortunate that it had taken over so fast.

  “Did you not hear me? She’s already showing symptoms.”

  Ryan noticed the gash on the man’s arm. It was deep and fresh. Was he rabid too? His intimidating body language suggested it but he couldn’t go off of assumptions.