by Ron Foster
“Well we got to go to a few places after we visit with you all for a bit. Say we come back around five and you have supper close to being ready?” Travis asked.
“Sounds like a plan. Not to sound inhospitable since you all are being so friendly and all that but we got us kind of a self-imposed curfew around here and the boat owners don’t like guests staying in the vicinity after dusk. Not that we think any of you all would be troublesome or anything mind you but we like our safety and security after dark and have found enforcing that rule to be to our advantage. You will have lots of daylight left for a good meal and a visit though. I Just wanted to warn you upfront so there would be no misunderstandings of the marina’s rules.” Harvey said watching the strangers’ emotions after telling them they would have to get out at dusk.
“I can understand that. We will cut out before the sun goes down and observe that rule or any others you might need to also mention. Tell me what the conditions are like around here. Is it pretty safe or still sort of iffy? Do you ever have much trouble from robbers or marauders wanting to start something?” Travis asked wondering about how safe people in general were these days.
“No, it’s been fairly quiet around here as of late usually. Most everyone that was living on the beach fulltime here sort of moved on or drifted away when the fresh water got shut off. We got a few ornery rowdy types we had to deal with at first but we got us enough folks living on the boats over here to kind of keep our own law and order if you know what I mean. Nobody it seems comes around much at all for anything anymore, well from the landward side of things anyway. I can’t tell you a whole lot about what goes on further in town except for the bits and pieces of what I have heard from others. Lots of people didn’t make it past the first couple months and it was pretty dangerous to be out there for a while as people fought over what was left and thought robbing each other was the way to survive. I suspect lit was mainly though the lack of water and thirst that drove most folks off eventually but there still has to be folks getting by. We don’t leave here and if more than a few folks show up here pretty then pretty much everyone in the marina falls out to make sure that no mischief goes on. We ain’t the only watchmen they got around here I can tell you that. “Harvey said meaningfully as occasionally someone would appear on the dock or on a boat deck and stand and stare a moment inspecting the newcomers.
“Sounds to me like you have built yourself a pretty safe place to ride out this disaster.” Tina said respectfully.
“Safer than some places, we try to keep things quiet around here.” Stacy said without elaborating anymore.
“Not that we haven’t had our troubles Travis but it has taken a lot of cooperation and work to get it this way.” Vic replied.
“We have got some folks living in the sub division up the street that appear regular. They won’t bother you none if you don’t bother them any. Just wave and don’t be hanging around their neighborhood unless you have business or friends there. The beach bums on the other end of the beach have sort of taken over one of the hotels by the first pier but they are more apt to beg from you a bit aggressively than outright be out to steal your stuff.” Billy Lee cautioned saying that the community over there was kind of iffy to get around. He didn’t know how many folks there were left over there or who still walked down and fished the State pier daily. The people there didn’t get off their general turf much because of distance and instead held on tightly to what they had.
“We were going to have a look around back beach road. things about the same over there?” Slim offered.
“You probably will be ok over there. There are no freshwater ponds that I know of back there for folks to congregate around. You most likely will find folks living around the golf courses or the small farm ponds by the town’s outer limits.” Vic suggested as an explanation of where he thought the most likely surviving groups of beach residents might be they might want to be cautious of or look out for.
The gathering at the marina chit chatted and had a few friendly get to know you drinks together Captain Vic telling Travis and crew that the marina preferred if they were going to fishing nearby to go up the lagoon a bit so as not to directly compete with the boat owners dock spaces. The marina folks thanked them for the trades they had brought and told them that they would see them in a couple hours and Travis, Tina and Slim got in the van and set off on a foraging and scavenging mission once more.
“You comfortable with us having dinner with them folks?” Slim said from the backseat.
“I suppose so. I know we have that sheepshead to eat, Harvey and Billy lee may or may not come up with their end of the bargain it sounds like, but I think they will at least give it a fair try.” Travis said watching the road and the small blocks of apartments he was passing set back next to subdivisions
“It’s kind of hard for me to fully wrap my head around this situation; you might say it has far too many moving parts to grasp how it all works together at first gander.” Slim said trying to still figure out how that Marina interacted with sea going as well as land-based survivors and it never was mentioned how many people were still living within close walking distance to it.
“That Marina is kind of like a park that shuts down at dusk. I guess I wouldn’t want strangers moving around in the dark near my boat at night either but it would have been nice for us to have been able to camp near the safety of a group we could sort of trust. “Tina declared.
“I don’t know about that, we haven’t really met or talked with everyone over there yet. Those folks we did meet seem to be living ok and they are friendly enough but you never know what problems might exist we didn’t see over there that we don’t know anything about. If you have a bunch of folks living together you have lots of personality’s and possible problems. We will find ourselves a place for the night close by though and maybe revisit them in the morning. Slim do me a favor and look in that real estate book you got and see if anyone was selling anything on Grand Lagoon.” Travis said
“Actually, on it or anywhere close around it? Never mind that question, hoo whee! my friend lookie here at this listing. I don’t know what the neighbors are going to be like but there is a mansion for sale sitting right on the water not far from here.” Slim said passing the home for sale magazine up to Tina for her to see and let Travis glance at.
“Wow! Want do you want to stay in a mansion Travis?” Tina said holding up a big colored ad picturing the luxurious waterfront home.
“That is some kind of NICE! How much does it say they wanted for it?” Travis asked.
“It says here that they wanted one point seven million dollars for a five-bedroom waterfront home with its own dock and boatlift. The ad doesn’t say anything about a boat going with it for that price, it says fits totally unfurnished. It’s on this road somewhere just up ahead according to this little map. Slow down a bit so I can read a street number, ah ok this is the eleven hundred blocks, this place is in the four thousands.” Tina said counting down the house numbers the houses as they rode along.
“It sure will be a lucky thing for us if that place is still vacant and we can move right in. I don’t know the chances of that though. That house being on the water makes it iffy because it’s probably occupied by somebody by now but you never know we might just get a hell of an opportunity to be living large.” Travis said as some nicer big waterfront houses began to appear beside a narrow channel of the lagoon.
“I hate to say it so quick but if we do get lucky enough to be living at a mansion anytime soon I am going to be hard pressed to go back to living at the fish camp. Food should be a bit easier for us to get around here and I have me a powerful taste and hunger for some boiled crabs. We should really think hard about moving over here. That is if it doesn’t look like the crime is going too bad in this area which so far lit looks ok and safe enough. What do you think Tina?” Slim said studying the couple’s excitement and mindsets on the possibility of moving to the beach.
“That’s the thing; everybody
that is still surviving is most likely supplementing meals with looting now. You might call it the new national survivor’s pastime these days because If you want to survive you got to break into places. That means we are going to encounter other people doing the same thing we are considering doing and breaking into places so it’s much more dangerous to be here than back at the fish camp. Folks will be out roaming the streets stealthy and persistently, looking for any kind of supplies thy can find in vacant or otherwise houses, I can see lots of opportunity and probabilities for fatal misunderstandings which would be easy to have now even if neither of you had any criminal intents upon one another. We could easily pick the wrong” Tina replied.
“Well you got yourself a good point there, however, if we had the fish camp gang with us we could watch it and guard our area like the marina. I don’t know what the fishing would be like back here but should be something.” Slim said eying all the houses on the lagoon side.
“That’s a bit shallow of a channel back there but I suppose it could be good fishing. Can’t wander around hunting deer or squirrels out here though.” Travis said thinking the woods where they came from were better for finding food and sleeping safer.
“That house should be coming up on the left in the next few.” Tina said and Travis slowed as they cautiously approached the address.
No cars evident, the closest neighbor had a car in the driveway. No signs of life and the shades are drawn on both houses they observed.
“Honk the horn?” Travis asked.
“Yea go ahead and honk it a few times.” Tina and Slim said almost simultaneously as he half pulled into the long driveway and stopped as they eyeballed both houses expectantly.
BEEEP! BEEEP! The vans horn sounded loudly as Travis and crew watched closely and waited for any signs f occupants before driving towards the allegedly empty for sale home. They pulled up in front of its door and cautiously got out and walked over to the realtors for sale sign.
“Let’s just assume for now that somebody is at home over there.” Tina said studying the blue house next door with the car in the driveway.
“I agree, let’s walk around to the back of this house and see if we can get a look at their backyard and dock. Maybe who ever lives there are out fishing?” Travis stated.
“Better eye the neighbors across the water also. “Slim said looking upstream and pointing out an older couple sitting on their deck about five docks down apparently fishing and he waved to them. The wave was not returned but instead the couple studied them intently for a moment before resuming their efforts.
“Guess that they are not having any luck today.” Tina said wryly and she went back to scanning the area for any other signs of life or habitation.
“I guess we go try all the doors on this one next?” Slim said slinging his shotgun on his shoulder.
“I think it would be best if we go up the balcony stairs to that deck and wait here and watch a bit.” Tina said pointing to the stairway leading to a long second floor balcony.
“Are you worried about that couple over there fishing?” Slim asked unsure of the reasoning as Travis also looked at her skeptically.
“Well I am not so much worried about them two old people specifically but I am worried about who they might know to be talking too. We have no idea how many neighbors they have over there on that side or what friends they might have over here. Let’s think about going about this a bit differently, let’s just put some fishing lines out and act like that is our primary interest instead of trying the doors and see if anyone shows up to say anything to us.” Tina suggested.
“That’s a pretty good point. I would rather get run off for fishing on somebody’s property than breaking and entering. However, there is the little pressing matter of where we stay at tonight and we only have about four hours until sundown. Why don’t me and you go up and check out the balcony while Slim goes and checks the front door while getting the fishing rods out of the van.” Travis said.
“And then what?” Slim said frustrated.
“And then you pretend to fish for a bit. I am betting nobody has ever tried that front door by the looks of it and I noticed that fact when we came in and it appeared totally undamaged. See how hard it looks to get that realtors key lock box off the door frame it and we will check the security of the doors back here.” Travis said eying the windows of the house before he and Tina went upstairs.
“A good whack with the back of the hand axe ought to bust it loose. You want me to try to go ahead and do it or should I wait? “Slim asked.
“Wait a bit to try to get in; I am with Tina on that. Let’s assume there are other watcher’s eyes looking at us besides the couple fishing on the dock over there. Maybe someone will say something to us if they see us trying our luck fishing also.” Travis said.
” I am just waiting on someone to come over to say something like what are you doing over there or advise us to get the hell out of here? Maybe we should go look for a safer place?” Slim said reconsidering his dream of living in a waterfront mansion.
“The fish camp doesn’t look so bad to you now does it Slim? What do you think Travis? Hang around here or go try for another place to spend the night?” Tina asked.
“One place is probably just as dangerous as another place. Nothing is gained without risks these days, we got to consider that. I say that we take this place over if nobody around here shows up and objects too much. These are some really messed up times to be living in, we are very lucky indeed to find this place and our so-called squatters rights might be something that we end up having to defend. This place at the moment is empty, on the market for sale and not a lick of furniture in the place based on the description in the brochure. Who is to say that we didn’t just somehow buy it or since it is empty and unused that we are under these emergency conditions declaring it a homestead? On the other hand, if I owned my own formerly mortgaged house over here with a nice view of the water and a group of strangers moved into the empty house unannounced close to me that I knew for a fact didn’t have any old school legal or financial rights to, well then, I don’t know how I would tend to act. Asking us to leave here would be dangerous; they can see we are all well-armed. You could risk it maybe if you had a mind too and holler at us from a distance to leave because we are trespassers, could be you and your neighbor could get together and get real stupid about it by firing a warning shot or something to drive us off, you could get the neighborhood watch out to come pay us a visit maybe, who knows?” Travis said a bit more to reexplain the feelings he had about what they were doing and evaluating its worth.
“Well with us appearing to be just plain fishing I doubt nobody would say much about us being here. Folks got to eat some way and as long as we ain’t messing with somebody’s crab traps or trotline I doubt that anyone would point a gun in our direction. Moving in to this house is another story, on one hand I like the idea of making my intentions known to anyone living around here. We can do things like pitching a tent or something. but I don’t want to start a campfire though until tomorrow morning. I suspect we will spend a good part of tonight up on that balcony looking for any cook fires or lights we might see in the neighborhood as well be alternating guard duty on the front of the house. Did we decide on 4 hours on four hours off guard shift thing or are we just going to wing it doing the group roving fire guard thing?” Tina said.
“I am guessing that we will all be pretty much staying up tonight watching to see how many people might be living around here I imagine, we can cover our escape routes if we get any surprises in the night while we fish. Most likely any objectors to us moving in here will come by to visit in the morning if they have anything to say, after that we just day by day it.” Travis said contemplating having to leave the place empty during the day as they went out on the road foraging.
“We need to take down the for-sale sign, then don’t we?” Slim said with a grin and calming down a bit in anticipation of maybe ending up with this waterfront mansion as a home.
‘That’s a good idea! That also tells folks that may be watching we have declared ourselves moving in.” Tina said with a smile.
“Take the sign down nice. In other words, try to avoid looking like you are just kicking it over. That way if anyone sees you they will think you have a little respect for the place.” Travis suggested.
“I will be nice, but there is really no nice way to get that lock box off but I will be careful on the door frame damage. Hopefully it’s not one of those super strong crazy security types. Let’s go check out to see if the backdoors are open on this place first and peek in a window or two before I go get the fish poles.” Slim said still eying the couple just sitting on the dock across the channel holding their fish poles but occasionally staring in their direction.
“They haven’t moved which I take to be a good thing. I was scare one of them would wander back t the house really quick or something.” Tina said assessing possible threats.
“I can’t see if they have a long gun over there with them or not. Let’s get the fish poles all together and check out that lock box on the front door and comeback here. Maybe those folks will be friendlier after watching us a bit doing nothing more than wetting a line.” Travis suggested.
“I don’t think they can see the balcony staircase that well from where they are at. I will try to sneak up the stairs and join you in a few after we go get the rods.” Tina said thinking the couple would be watching the men setting up for fishing more than noting her brief absence.
“Sounds like a plan, let’s do it. I am still wondering what’s up with that house with the car. There was no boat at their dock but most of these houses don’t have a boat parked in back.” Travis said as they walked back to the van.
“I haven’t noticed anything like a curtain moving or a window open.” Slip said gazing in that direction.
“Well we honked the horn and said we weren’t sneaking around for what that is worth.” Tina said nervously thinking that there were just too many directions to try to watch.