by Ron Foster
Travis warily eyed the store dummies evidencing a silly unspoken fear that one of them might move and he pointed towards the back of the store indicating that he wanted to clear and explore that area first.
Tina pointed to the left-hand side of the aisle indicating that she would go down it and circle towards the front but Travis shook his head no and indicated they should both stay together but she could watch that side and he would the other as they walked past the openings of 5 or 6 aisles heading towards the back counter.
The store had been looted but not badly. There were some discarded clothes on the floor and quite a few empty gaps in displays etc. but for the most part the store looked like it was just in bad disarray after a big sale. Cautiously and carefully the two proceeded through the empty beach wear store moving a bit and listening a lot until they reached the back sales counter. The manager’s office and small store room offered no surprises and Travis and Tina backtracked to the front doors where Slim was waiting.
“No winter stuff, if you need any regular shirts go grab you some” Tina advised looking at a clothes rack close by and removing a ladies’ shirt which had caught her eye.
“Unless they have them in camo or OD green I don’t need nothing.” Slim said dejectedly looking at the bright colors but deciding to grab a few not to garish polo shirts to extend his clothes wearing time to wash day.
“I wonder how many of these beach houses are vacant? “Travis said holding his single shot shotgun easily in one hand and just looking around from the slight concealment of the recessed doorway.
“I tried watching some of the windows of those houses close by while you were in there but I didn’t see nothing. From this vantage point I don’t see no cars in anyone’s driveways either but that don’t mean nothing.” Slim said joining Travis to peer around.
“I suspect they are mostly vacant, this street is pretty much rich folks vacation homes as far as I know but I ain’t into taking up housebreaking and entering as well as looting just yet.” Travis said carefully wondering what was taking Tina so long before looking back and seeing her carrying an armful of shirts.
“What the hell?” Travis thought looking admonishingly at Tina.
“The folks back at camp might want something, these are mostly men’s medium and large sizes and if nothing else we can all dress up and have us a Hawaiian Luau one day.” Tina said with a grin not being put off by Travis’s disapproving look a bit and wanting to bring at least some kind of goodie or souvenir back home to their friends.
“Throw them in the back of the van then and let’s get out of here.” Travis said rolling his eyes in Slims direction when she wasn’t looking and not bothering to say more. That was his Tina, she was in her nesting mode he decided and folks would be getting Hawaiian shirts for birthdays or Xmas gifts also once she thought about that he smiled to himself. Tina was always the thoughtful one when it came to such things and an apocalypse wasn’t going to change her or her ways any he mused.
Once they got loaded up Travis decided he would recon this beachside backstreet some and told them there was a tiny out of the way little sandwich shop back in here to have a look at for possible salt and pepper condiments which turned out to be true. The place had been broken into but evidently anyone needing such commodities hadn’t bothered to look for them there. He also grabbed two big stainless-steel salad bowls and a big 5-gallon size pot.
One of his favorite old-style community beach bars was just up the street from there and they stopped there just to walk out to the beach and look up and down it in a couple directions to see if any surf fishermen were out. No one was apparent and Travis hugged Tina momentarily as they watched the water and he asked her did she remember the last time the two of them were there vacationing.
“Yea, they were shut down for the winter and it looks about the same as it did then around here.” Tina replied.
“Not quite, notice that doesn’t look like anyone cared to shut it down for the season properly. No plyboard on windows or chairs on the deck put up etc.” Travis said waving at the empty but still wide-open building.
“Well I suppose no one came to work the day the grid went down anyway unless it was just to get some booze or something.” Tina replied looking at the abandoned building looking like it was just waiting for the tourists to wake up to resume business for the day.
“Where to now? Slim said holding up some tourist brochures and real estate guides he had found at the front desk.
“Good thinking Slim! I forgot that we were supposed to be looking for those.” Travis said eying the stack of literature the man had collected.
“I checked the bathrooms also, they were trashed out and water was in the bowls but I can’t tell you how long ago it’s been since anyone fouled them. I didn’t see any foot prints in the sand coming in here but it just rained yesterday.” Slim said adding to his observations.
“I have no idea how long it takes for a clogged toilet to evaporate but that don’t sound good.” Travis said contemplating.
“I didn’t think so neither so since there is nothing keeping us here, let’s go.” Tina insisted eying the rows of condos extending from this property down the beach and beyond.
“I suppose this place would be good location to surf fish from and use as a sun shelter maybe but I am with you about moving on down the road. I say we go to the marina maybe, if anyone is about they are liable to be over there I would think.” Travis responded.
“I was thinking the same thing but we didn’t come to trade we came to pilfer supplies so what is It we are supposed to say to anyone over there?” Slim said evidencing he didn’t think that was such a good idea to try to visit this early in the day.
“We need to know what other survivors are up too or any news we might not have heard yet. They have big marine radios and a network of fellow mariners to talk to for miles so I am sure they know something we want to hear about.” Tina offered for consideration.
“They also most likely have themselves some kind of vigilante or dockside security setup over there if everyone didn’t already put out to sea or seek safe harbor somewhere. If they do, I am not sure how they will take to strangers wandering around armed with visible guns. We are bound to be challenged as strangers as to what we are doing around there at the very least and not knowing the rules puts us at an extreme disadvantage. On the other hand, that might be the most still civilized area still in existence around here. Well at least it would be where people are still living and working close together anyway.” Travis said wondering how safe it was to venture that way.
“Well if we stick to the plan that we discussed previously we need to check out some of these houses that were for sale before the grid went down and pick where we are staying tonight. Question is what part of the beach you want to end up at tonight?” Slim said reminding Travis and Tina they hadn’t really discussed this much.
“Well I am all for just wearing holstered sidearms and us checking out the marina. We can see a lot more about the condition it is in and judge a lot more about the number of boats docked approaching it from the roads over that way. ‘Tina said.
“Well this road takes you pretty much directly in front of it or we can sort of go around the lagoon and approach it from another direction but there is no way to just stand off and look at it.” Travis said contemplating it.
“Let’s stick with the plan before seeking out contact with anyone in any kind of group. If you all want to check out the Marina at least we should check out a place or two a few miles from it and see if we bump into anyone who knows about it or get an idea about how picked over this place is.” Slim said not trusting their possible welcome or likely unwelcome reception to their sudden appearance as a stranger in an unknown group.
‘Well let’s look at what we know or think we know about them. They are fishermen mostly and probably used to money. Those big charter boats won’t be going out or not very much unless somebody is good at scrounging gas so why would they stay on b
oard? Basic reason is protection, access to water deslainators, off the dock fishing etc. So many would move from their homes to their boats I am thinking and try to rely on the marina community to provide for everyone by banding up. I am also guessing they are a bit exclusive about who they allow to hang around. Is it a gun toting no man’s land? I doubt it but could be and they run off any visitors or maybe someone set up a trading post and they welcome day visitors, no telling. There is not really a hell of a lot of boats there anyway the way that place is setup and things are kind of spread out. Folks in the neighborhood would fish there short of the business or boat owners not allowing them to by gun point and in a way you could say those couple restaurants, the docks etc were all private before the collapse so who is to say they are not still considered so now? Kind of a gated community without the gate as it were.” Travis said.
“don’t you think If they don’t want folks coming around there they would put up some signs of some kind out, right? Like keep out, looters will be shot, no trespassing, etc. correct?” Tina said stating the obvious and making Slim and Travis go “DUH!” they hadn’t thought about that and all their extensive speculating and worrying was for nothing.
Hell, that area was a commercial place with commercial minded people who were used to regulating various accesses to facilities anyway with signs. It would make perfect sense that the property would once again be posted with some kind of meaningful message or restrictive warnings.
“So, we just drive by and look to see if they got a bunch of no trespassing signs up? If they do we just keep on going right? “Travis said stating the obvious.
“That’s the way I see it. Good thinking on your part Tina, I must have had a brain fart or something for me not to be thinking in that direction to begin with instead of wanting us to sneak around like thieves in the night to get a peek at it.” Slim said sheepishly.
“I didn’t think about it until a minute ago. It makes sense to me though. Hopefully there are no new signs up. Least ways one that say warning stay away and we can talk to some other survivors about what’s going on around here. I got a couple silver dimes for trade maybe.” Tina said
“One thing to consider is how they like or tend to enforce their no trespassing sign if one is put out. Could be they got private guards out visible from the road as a deterrent, if they do I hope they are waving hands hello instead of waving guns go away.” Slim said warningly meaning one fool might gesture with a rifle etc. for them to keep on going on their way and risking a fire fight if the gesture was misunderstood.
“Good point Slim, but those buildings and boat slips are back far enough off the road that we would know not turn into the parking lot if we are just passing by so if we are generally cautious I don’t see any reason that we can’t just drive over there for a look around.” Tina said regarding Travis for agreement.
“I am game, how about you Slim? We can get the answer to the question and either stop there for a visit or head on over to back beach road and go back to trying our luck searching for supplies.” Travis said.
“Sure, I vote to go have us a look around, but don’t try trading any beach wear the marina folks.” Slim said joking with Tina who paused a moment because she didn’t see the humor in it at first then began uproariously laughing with Travis and Slim at the silly notion.
“I doubt that anyone there would want to trade for a fish but I would trade something for one if I had caught one extra. What is a fish worth you think anyway? I am starving and we are not fishing at the moment so they are a valuable commodity to us, but for someone living on the water who is to say? What would be the price we should be willing to pay do you think?” Tina said.
“I would have to say that would depend on how bad you acted like you wanted one at first but I would assume there would be a local going rate for fresh caught fish if a trading post exists, and you got to ask the question if one does exist then who is fixing the prices?” Slim said thinking that area was set up to be sort of a monopoly if you could defend your trade or territory. Wouldn’t take much maybe, just several armed security guards if most folks were behaving themselves and observing a few general rules.
Those factors for their success all depended on survivability and the odds for or against such a place existing and what threats they faced both long-term and short by visiting. The sheer numbers of people needing to fish and migrating towards such places certainly would soon belabor the patience of those who chose to live aboard their vessels full time at the marina. Take into account also that there was no longer any land or dock services for waste disposal, electricity outlets or potable water anymore for the tethered boats. The vans occupants then continued their conversation about how many people had considered staying or going elsewhere and the reasons to choose either course of action came into play. Rather than speculating further it was mutually decided to just go ahead and go on down to the marina and check it out.
4
Marina Memories
Travis on the way to the marina eyed an old run-down locals bar that he used to frequent when he came to visit on vacation that was located right on the corner of their turn off. He wondered about all the various characters that he had met over the years in there over a beer that were mostly composed of quickly aging retirees from around here. They were their own bar stool community of sorts, the regulars, the ones that hung out drinking beer and gossiping about pretty much anything during the day.
They were the social group who was up on who was who in the community, they increased their own odds of survival daily by sharing this bar room insider’s information and community esoteric wisdom and financial knowledge. They would likely be the ones initially who stood the best chance of bugging out to parts unknown with at some elderly friends disused fish camps or help themselves out by getting in good with the marina folks and surviving around here close by somehow. That is if they could somehow get their meds for their blood pressure and other medical problems etc. and with the loss of air conditioning and free flowing tap water their ranks were probably thinned down considerably by now from heat exhaustion, heart disease, nutritional deficiency and many other age complicating maladies by now.
Yet, they were the ones with the most experienced fishing and hunting knowledge to remember and draw upon for use in a survival situation. Many knew the lay of the land and waters and tides around here better than anyone else. Was all them old bar revelers time just up as soon as the grid collapsed or did they team together to form their own survival groups, who in spite of advanced age and other ills still stand the best chance to feed and take care of themselves? Maybe… Travis thought, could be if he was real lucky he could possibly bump into some half-remembered bar buddies to give him some more grassroots local advice and perhaps direct him towards the more helpful groups or prominent decision-making individuals to assist them getting by.
Travis had got about as close to the marina as he dared and he pulled in the parking lot of a small apartment building for a more studied look at where it was that they would soon be going. There were a couple cars in the lot and he eyed them warily. From the vantage point he was at parked parallel to the main building he couldn’t see much of the marina and his nervousness of being so exposed to so many windows and unknown tenants of the apartment building didn’t let him dawdle too long. As he was pulling out Slim remarked “Thank you! That open window on the end was worrying the hell out of me!” to which Travis had an” Oh Hell! l” moment and admitted to not seeing the curtains fluttering in that one.
“Sing out to me next time Slim! I wonder if anyone was at home watching? I would certainly be freaking out if I were them and a van full of gun toting strangers suddenly pulled up in my parking lot for a visit!” Travis exclaimed.
“I didn’t see any movement either; I was too busy trying to get a look at the marina across the street and glancing at the parking lots of those apartments further up. Why didn’t you honk your horn when pulling in there Travis? Never mind, I suppose there was
no way for you to do that little maneuver coming in here right or wrong.” Tina said not knowing that he had even planned on it before Travis had whipped the wheel over and exclaimed “let’s stop over here a minute!”
“Next time you decide to cross the road and park, you give me a holler or some warning. I had my shotgun on the wrong side of me to do me any good as I was out of my sliding seat!” Slim groused and then smiling said in a woods hunter plotting and scheming sneaking up on some prey voice said “Why don’t you just slowly pull over to your side of the road buddy and stop about 50 yards from that place and we can all sit like cats a minute and watch it awhile before pulling in?”
Travis did exactly that and they talked about the practicalities of just driving on up to the place rather than considering to leave the van and cautiously walk over to it. You couldn’t see any of the boats moored there unless you counted the huge dinner boat and a couple of big fancy fishing charter boats for about 80 anglers. Those big gas sucking behemoths wouldn’t be moving anytime soon hey guessed but one wondered just how much fuel was still in the marina pumps tanks that any old salt of a sailor could devise a method to pump it using common marina item to improvise with.
In a world of hunger and strife, what would a fishing boat’s captain do? Do you take paying fishing customers out as long as you can if you can get any gas? I would assume you would take gas for passage barter to go fishing but how long can a system like that last? Would you move your boat to some backwater safe mooring and use it only for your family and friends? What was it that wasn’t evident to be learned or thought more about seeing those two snazzy luxury tourist tugs sitting there?
They were still too far away to see the actual condition of those streamlined vessels but they looked just fine and ready to go to sea like they always did from his vantage point. Travis, Tina and Slim stared at the boats, thought about the situation and finally generally agreed people must be present and living in that area.