by Ron Foster
Tina reminded everyone that they only had but two days left before they were supposed to return to their camp and earlier was probably better for their worried friends that they had left behind and who awaited them anxiously They needed to get back to them with whatever supplies they could find quickly and explain this strange new world to them and see what they thought about moving over here.
“Let’s go get started then, no sense us going by the marina just to talk, we sort of said more than we should have yesterday but that worked out all right I think. I guess we are officially branded by the marina folks as kayak thieves if anyone’s comes up missing one and word gets out that is what we are hunting but that couldn’t be helped. You would think that a danged boat yard that size would have a kayak available but they don’t have nothing even close to one available. There used to be a bazillion places to rent a kayak around here but there are none to be had now as far as I have seen.” Travis said thinking of the number of rental places and even convenience stores that had them colorful hunks of plastic boats piled up against walls here and there to rent to tourists.
“I imagine that those cheap kayaks would be one of the first things to get looted or collected by the owners and put away somewhere. I remember us seeing racks of those things parked by houses in the off season or out by the beach occasionally. Man, if I could find one of those trailers I would be in hog heaven! Hell, I would ask to join the marina and rent out my kayaks to passersby or sell them! Find me a trailer full of Kayaks would you Travis?” Slim said exuberantly and seriously eying Tina and him if they had any ideas where such a bounty could be had...
“I can see you now Slim sitting out there with your trailer full of Yaks with Harvey and Billie Lee on stools next to you. I wonder how much stool rental is on their turf?” Tina said mischievously to get a rise out of Slim.
“I don’t know about them two bean counters over there, but there might be something to my kayak rental and sales thing if we can find some.” Slim said not to be put off.
“Could be, but we are also needing them ourselves for the fish camp and our beach house right now. Anyone have an exceptional idea on where we should look for some?” Travis said thinking just traveling and looking on the main drag of the beach road or to the west end of the beach where they would likely encounter a couple different groups of survivors around the few natural and manmade ponds down that way might yield results. Hell, his favorite old beach bar was down that way and he just wanted to see how it had fared for old time sake but he put that notion off as just a frivolous wanting to relive a memory that was long gone now.
“Lots of people keep their Kayaks in their backyards but we ain’t risking neighborhood shopping today. We need to rethink on that avoiding housing areas; lots of people have orange trees in their backyards around here that might be ripe for picking. However, that’s not something I want to do, let’s start by looking for a place to pilfer at a point the farthest away from any kind of water that there is we know of to have a look around. I imagine that area would be less damaged and more overlooked as well as consider a lot of people formerly living there would have migrated toward those fresh water areas you identified on the west end or they would have gone further inland to find a natural water resource they could drink from. Should be rather abandoned in such an area I am guessing.” Slim said.
“I can agree with that, let me turn up here and head towards the highway. Look for equipment rental places, repair shops etc. that might have some cans of gas in it. “Travis said looking at the various small closed hotels etc. and curious as ever of their true status and or occupancy chances.
“How we doing on fuel?” Tina asked.
“I am over ¾ of a tank, no worries.” Travis replied.
“Hey Slim where would a likely spot be for a long-haul trucker to drop his load and trailer so he can get turned around be hauling ass for home when the grid went down? I am thinking it would be based on what the trailer contained and how far the driver lived from here. Now if it was nonperishable food stuffs were the cargo and they didn’t have the diesel to haul it home with them then they would likely hide the trailer and hope they could get back to it Could be if they were close enough to home they would consider making a return trip with a personal pickup truck to retrieve some rather than just drop it and haul boogie on what diesel they had left in the truck. Now If it was just hauling bullshit like furniture or auto parts etc. it probably got delivered to whatever lot was on their manifest or just shunted to the side of the road. Where would abandoned food truck trailers most likely be found do you think?” Travis asked.
“Now you are asking a complicated question there Travis. I figure that they would drop trailers in any big parking lot they picked as convenient to get rid of their trailer, but hiding them? Man that’s another story. Humm if I was the truck repo man where would I go look.” Slim considered pondering the question.
“Hot damn! Never mind Slim look what’s parked over there at the end of that lot? Restaurant Supply Truck!” Travis said turning onto a grass covered back lot.
“Way cool! I hope it’s still got something left in it!” Tina said excitedly.
“Looks it is all there. And nobody has messed with it. The Doors are all closed.” Travis said eying it before putting the van in park.
“Got a lock on it! “Slim said after he got out and rushed over to examine the trailer.
“Had a lock on it you mean!” Travis said as Tina and he got out the bolt cutters, a prybar and an axe to get into the thing one way or another.
“Ain’t nothing but a couple old padlocks. Gimme that axe!” Slim said and within a few hard whacks of the axe he had the first lock off.
“We must be living right!” Tina said overjoyed at what might be a bounty of something there just for the taking as Slim took another swing at the lock that was being obstinate in opening.
“Try not to mess up the latch too bad, we might want to put our own lock back on the doors later.” Travis said as it appeared Slim was getting a bit wild with his lock opening attempts.
“Got ya! “Slim said taking a quick breather and studying the lock for a second or two. He took a big well aimed swing this time and WHANG! the lock was off.
Slim opened one of the big doors and about all they saw was cardboard boxes. Boxes of what they wondered as they canted their heads this way and that trying to read lettering on their sides.
“Looks to me like we have hit the mother lode of napkins and paper goods.’ Tina said a bit despondently but still quite happy with finding so much needed paper goods. It wasn’t food but it was very useful.
“This whole thing can’t be loaded with just napkins, straws and paper towels could it?” Slim asked studying the load.
“Well I would say for a fact that there is a good chance of having a bunch of that super cheap toilet paper in here but I guess it could still just be disposable stuff” ‘Tina said before suggesting they should try to get the first layer unloaded and out to see what was further inside.
“I wish we had a manifest for this thing, ain’t no way for us to know what’s on it unless we break down and unload it.” Travis replied.
“How much of this stuff are we going to take with us? We got us enough napkins here from just what I can see to fill up the back seat a zillion times it looks like.” Slim said pulling the box off the top of a stack and just tossing it to the ground.
“That’s a good question, Slim; we haven’t even hunted for any food yet. Could be that there is some in there but we have no way of knowing if there is or there isn’t until we unstack a bunch of this. I am assuming there is some food of some type in here; it’s a restaurant supply trailer, right? Well at least there ought to be some coffee in there somewhere, I mean the restaurant supply business is an individual monthly or weekly thing to resupply the establishments as far as I know? Maybe this trailer is sectioned off by first store they drop off at, next restaurant drop offs etc. on a route maybe? “Tina said trying to analyze whe
ther or not it was worth loading and unloading the trailer or thinking they should just come back for stuff when they were done food foraging elsewhere.
“I say we come back for it if I don’t see anything other than paper products after unloading a few more boxes.” Slim replied and proceeded to do so.
“This is looking promising, sucks but promising.” Slim said noticing a big case of pickle relish which he would not like normally but he could force himself to eat now in survival mode.
“That’s a hell of a find! “Tina said and made a gimme motion with her open hands to Slim who handed her out the heavy box. Tina liked pickle relish and it might be good trade goods for exchange with Molly and Bo.
“Let me get that for you sweetie.” Travis said to Tina and took the case from her and put it into the van.
“More napkins, coffee creamer, stirrers, way cool we got some canned nacho cheese!” Slim said as he tried moving around boxes to get better access to it.
“This find is bigger than anything I ever thought about ever tripping over!” Tina gushed quite pleased at their new abundance of apparently apocalyptic wealth.
“Looks like we hit the mother lode for sure Tina.” Travis said carrying the boxes of big number ten cans of cheese back to the van.
“Let’s load up what we can and go to the fish camp and come back and get some more with everyone.” Slim said now happily and messily unloading to see what was in this trailer.
“Careful Slim, I know that’s mostly all paper goods around the good stuff but we need to put all this crap back in it before we go.” Tina said.
“I will throw it all back in; let me try to tunnel down one side of this. Cleaning chemicals? Paper cups, damn where is some good shit?” Slim mumbled about two boxes deep in a wall stack.
“Hold up there a minute Slim!” Travis called to him.
“What?” Slim called back turning around impatiently.
“The way this thing is parked and can be seen from the street I don’t really want to break the lock off the side door but let’s consider it, it would be much quicker to find out what’s in it that way. Although anyone passing by might notice its open but we also got securing these backdoors before we go back to the fish camp. We can’t just leave boxes of napkins and such s laying around to draw attention and restacking that stuff is going to take time.” Travis said considering possibilities.
“I am for looking in the side door” Tina declared insisting they try that.
“Ok, you can start restacking what we don’t want to take while I try to get in the side door.” Slim said jumping down and retrieving the axe.
“Hell, boy you are pretty danged quick opening stuff up with that thing and I wouldn’t want to miss the show.” Travis said grinning and he and Tina went to watch that side of their treasure trove being opened up.
“More danged paper goods it looks like, hold on there is some coffee!” Looks like we got us a mixed bag of goods here also.” Slim said back to box flinging.
“It’s going to take days to even unload that thing. Let’s grab up some of the napkins and toilet paper and go to the fish camp and make a plan to get as much of it as we think we need to carry.” Tina said.
“I got a better idea, let’s load up the van with napkins and toilet paper like you said, but instead of going to the fish camp we run it over to the beach house and unload and then come back here and pick up another load to take home with us? We can safeguard more of it that way” Travis said thinking that going with that plan they could see further into that pile of goods and also move a bunch of trade goods offsite. Seems like they ought to be able to trade some of that paper goods stuff for something but who knows how hard it was for the marina commodity to find it themselves these days? For them and the folks at fish camp though this abundance of toilet paper was manna from heaven. Travis related.
“Now you’re talking! Great Idea!” Tina said as she picked up a box of napkins and began carrying it towards the van.
“You got a luggage rack on that thing, how much you want to carry on it?” Slim asked eying the giant boxes of paper products.
“I guess we load as much as we can strap on. It’s going to look funnier than hell but when paper towels and Kleenex is for sale this cheap you got to get all you can!” Travis said with a smile and proceeded to move boxes as Slim tossed them closer to the van now.
“Bingo we got us some cereal! Looks like we might be eating good after all.” Slim said as they uncovered a half shrink wrapped pallet of individual serving breakfast box sized restaurant cereal assortments.
“Dibs on the fruit loops!” Travis said as Tina put in her own bid for the raisin bran with Slim joking about him needing all them pint sized boxes of cheerios to have enough energy to unload all this stuff.
“We got us some sugar!” was the next cry of discovery and by then the van was packed too the gills and the roof top awaited lashing down.
“Lucky! Lucky! Lucky!” Travis declared as they all crammed in the van and headed to unload back at the beach house.
“Darn sure was! We got us some good stuff today boys!” Tina declared all smiles and happiness.
“Let’s hurry up and get everything unloaded and get back for some more.” Slim said wanting to dig in even deeper and see what other prizes might be found on the trailer. The conversation then went to how many creamers did everyone think it would take to fix a bowl of cereal and what would a fish flour biscuit taste like covered with nacho sauce.
“I guess we will just shove all this crap we got except the food back into a bedroom and lock up the house. Tina said before adding that she would like to run down to the pier and check the fish lines and see if that couple across the way was out fishing again.
“I doubt we got any fish on them lines but I would like to know what that couple is up to. Try waving at them folks again; maybe they will be in a better mood to wave back today.” Slim replied skeptical of our mysterious and unfriendly neighbors accepting the fact we were claiming this beach house to live in.
‘Will do.” Tina said and then walked down the path to the pier. The couple was back out on their dock and she waved to them. The woman waved tentatively back and the old man looked like he nodded his head in acknowledgement in her direction.
“Well that’s a start. I wonder how long it is going to take before we actually talk to them? Oh well, hey fish on the line!” Tina thought to herself as she reached down to tentatively pull on a taught hand line.
“Holy Hell! Something big is on the other end of this line!” Tina thought as the line zig zagged and jerked her hand to and fro with a mighty pull.
“Whew! I think I am defiantly going to need some help with this!” Tina thought warring with herself between wanting to land it all by herself but also fearing that she couldn’t and didn’t want to lose a meal.
“Hey Travis! Big fish on the line!” Tina yelled out and the couple from across the channel stood up and pointed binoculars in her direction to watch the action.
About that time the aquatic creature took a run for the surface and a wet splash revealed a green eel’s great big toothy head.
“Oh hell no! Not today! No way!” Tina said loudly and let it have some line.
“Travis you come down here and land this damn thing. I ain’t never caught an eel and I don’t want to try catching one of them nasty things now.” Tina said not wanting anything to do with the loathsome creature.
“Damn I hate those slimy things too, I will come help you. Hey those things ain’t bad tasting though. Grab me a stick to whomp him with and I will bring it in.” Travis said fighting with the line and wearing the strong creature down some more.
“Got you covered! Hoist him up Travis and I will give him a whack!” Slim said while grabbing a stout branch out from the bushes.
“Travis dragged the about 3 foot or so squirming, biting and snapping fat green eel up on the pier and Slim smashed it with the stick but the stick broke in half and the eel had plenty of life still
left in it and commenced to wriggle away. He thought about stepping on the eel and trying to pin it to the deck but he wisely ended up thinking better of it and just got out the way as the eel flip flopped its way back in the water.
“Get another stick!” Travis called out to Tina and then Travis heard a Man’s voice calling out to out to him from across the water.
“GET A BIGGER STICK! Ha! Ha! ” to which Travis saw the old Man and Woman standing on the pier laughing at him and smiling.
He waved back at them good naturedly as embarrassed fishermen sometimes do and Tina had come down with a big smooth river rock that she had gotten from the fire pit and Slim was still anxiously looking around the area for another big stick.
“Come on down here Slim and help smash this thing with this rock. It’s too big for me to try to one hand it by myself.” Travis said fighting with the line as Tina held the big oval rock two handed at the ready.
Slim took the rock from Tina and after Travis had got the eel about half way onto the dock dispatched it with a meaty thunk.
“You caught it you clean it!” Slim said looking at the be slimed and bloody deck.
“If I clean it then you are cooking it!” Travis retorted.
“We got some other things to do remember?” Tina said eying both men and reminding them they still had to unload the van and wasn’t studying eating no eel if something else was to be had for dinner later on at the marina.
“Oh hell, guess that thing will keep for a while if we just throw it in the fish basket and suspend it in the water.” Travis said.
“You mean the fish basket that you have got buried under all them boxes? I don’t fancy us fooling around with an eel right now; do you want to see if that couple over there wants it?” Tina asked.
“Sure, I will be happy get rid of it.” Travis said.
“Hey do you want an eel?” Tina called out as Travis held it up.
“You don’t want it?” The man called back.
“No, you can have it, we don’t want it! Do you want us to come bring it to you?” Tina called back over.