Sinagua Rising: A story of survival after a worldwide catastrophe

by R. G. Andersen-Wyckoff

  “We don’t know how long it will be before we can get you back up here safely,” Bishop stated, “so it’s best if you all pack your clothes and personal effects into suitcases, or whatever else you have. Don’t take anything fancy but do take your warm clothes, just in case. We’ll try to make another trip back sometime so you can get anything you might have forgotten or decide you want.”

  Tanner stayed with the Jeep and Bishop went into the house with Jessie and the kids. Jessie pulled out flashlights to help them see to pack and, while they were packing, Bishop toured the house. It was clean and neat, obviously well taken care of, and it appeared each of the children had their own bedroom. Bishop checked the cabinets and found a good supply of food, paper goods, and bathroom supplies. They could come in handy later.

  When Jessie came out with only a small overnight bag in her hand, Bishop inquired, “Is that all you have?”

  “Yes,” she replied, “I was only staying here with them until my parents got back. I have my own apartment in the Village. Will you take me there so I can get my things?” she requested.

  “Sure,” Bishop responded, “we’ll go there from here. Make sure you bring the flashlights. Also, leave a note for your parents, in Spanish, and tell them you’re all safe and at my home at 95 Morningside, for when they return.” Bishop knew the odds of them returning from Mexico were slim to nonexistent, but he knew it would help relieve some of Jessie’s tension. Writing it in Spanish would hopefully keep any of the bikers from reading the note, unless of course it was one of the Spanish-speaking bikers. But, they’d have to risk it.

  With the note securely taped to the refrigerator door, they returned to the Jeep. Tanner, following Jessie’s’ directions, drove to her apartment in the heart of the Village. Miraculously, the apartments were unscathed, even though they faced onto 179 and were across the street from the worst fires. It was evident that looters had already been there looking for valuables, but Jessie’s clothes were not among the things they considered valuable. She filled her two suitcases and a couple of plastic storage bins with her clothes and shoes, and they returned to Bishop’s.

  ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  The adults were gathered in the Westin great room, bathed in candlelight—and most of them were armed. The Westin children were asleep in their own bedroom with Chloe curled up on the bed beside them, and Colby’s two youngest were asleep at Bud’s, being watched over by Mattie and Maria, who was armed with a handgun and a radio. The teenagers were now considered to be adults, because they would have to do adult jobs in aiding with the survival of the Maverick clan.

  Bishop introduced Jessie, Tina, and Jaime to the group and indicated they would now be considered part of the Mavericks. He didn’t explain the circumstances but knew the men would apprise their wives of what had happened, hopefully keeping the brutal details to themselves.

  Bishop noticed that Philip could not take his eyes off of Jessie. It’s no wonder, he thought to himself, she’s a real looker. When Jessie’s eyes met Philip’s there were almost visible sparks in the air.

  “I’m guessing that the reason you’re all here is to discuss what happens next. Tonight’s contact with the Scorpions has only served to heighten our awareness of the need for security. Being spread out down the block does not provide for the best defense, if we were to need it,” he added.

  He asked Melanie to tell the group what she had told him earlier about the disease potential and then asked Travis to tell them about the portability of his hydroponics greenhouse and the future potential for an aquaponics greenhouse, as well. Bishop assured them all that with the treasure trove at the Ranger Station and the food reserves they all had in their homes, plus what they could scavenge, he had no doubt they could survive quite adequately for the foreseeable future. Moving to a new location, however, away from the potential for disease and the rodents and carrion creatures, was a necessity, especially a location that provided security from the likes of the Scorpions and other groups that could compromise their survival. He pointed out that even picking up other stragglers in the community could jeopardize their survival by reducing their food and water supplies. “I don’t want to sound cold and uncaring,” he said, “but we need to consider very carefully before allowing any others to join the Mavericks.”

  He saw that his last point hit Jessie hard and he immediately soothed the situation by adding, “Jessie brings some important dental hygiene skills with her and will be a real addition to our group. And, when her parents return, we’ll gladly make room for them. In the meantime, Jessie can assist Melanie in planning for our medical needs.” Bishop saw Jessie immediately relax and smile at Tina and Jaime.

  Even though it was nearing midnight, it was apparent the group was too hyped up to go to their homes and sleep. Bishop asked Jason if he and Tate would mind standing guard on the roof until the rest of the group finished talking. Jason jumped at the chance to again show he was a trusted part of the Mavericks. He and Tate each took a rifle and exited through the side door and climbed the ladder to the roof.

  “As for a place to relocate to,” he said, “Tanner has an idea that I think has merit, and I want him to tell you about it. Then we can vote on whether to accept his idea. And then go get some sleep.”◘

  Chapter 13

  Tuwalanki

  “Most of you have been to, or know about, the pueblo ruins up on Horse Mesa,” Tanner observed, trying not to sound professorial. “I’m suggesting we relocate to that site, rebuild it, and make it our home for the foreseeable future. I’m suggesting this site for several reasons: First, Dry Beaver Creek has year-round water that is sourced in the Munds Mountain Wilderness and several local springs and, therefore, not affected by any tainting of the groundwater from the Village of Oak Creek or any other populated area. Secondly, the site is high enough above VOC, some 1,500 feet, that it will not be affected by mosquitoes or rodents that might carry contagion from here. And, thirdly, it will provide security for us as it did for the Sinagua Indians, who used to live there, because it’s not easily reached and can’t be seen from the main roadways. In fact, if you don’t know it’s there you would not even see it if you were hiking on the mesa. It’s also close enough to VOC, about a two hour hike, for us to come back here to gather any materials we want over time. Eventually we’ll be self-sustaining and the necessity of trips back here will be minimal.”

  ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  On the southeast side of Horse Mesa is a basalt promontory about the size of a football field, overlooking Woods Canyon and Dry Beaver Creek, about 600 vertical feet below. The promontory is marked by cliffs on three sides and is separated from the main part of the mesa by a saddle of approximately the same length as the promontory, but almost twice as wide. The saddle is somewhat flat from side to side and angles downhill from north to south, ending in a sheer drop to the canyon below. The main part of Horse Mesa, actually a conglomerate of three mesas, rises about 40-50 feet from the western edge of the saddle and stretches north and south a total of about three miles, and is a quarter to a half mile wide its entire length.

  On the promontory rest the remains of a pueblo village the Hopi’s say was called Tuwalanki, which could be translated as “Place of Refuge “or “Watchtower.” It was built by the Sinagua Indians, contemporaries of the magnificent cliff-dwelling and pueblo-building Anasazis, whose famous Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon ruins stand testament to their advanced construction skills.

  According to archaeologists, Tuwalanki was built around 1200-1250AD and housed at least 100-150 individuals. It was abandoned when the Sinagua, like the Anasazi, disappeared between 1300-1350AD. Hopi oral tradition indicates they were actually kin to, and absorbed by, the Hopi in the Four Corners region of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico after enduring a 90-year drought that drove them from their homes. The ancestors of these Native Americans are believed to have originated in South America and Mexico, possibly part of the Mayan Culture, and immigrated to the Americas around the year zero. />
  No one knows for sure why the Sinagua and the Anasazi built these nearly inaccessible villages. Current wisdom hypothesizes it was for security; but security from what is unknown.

  In the case of Tuwalanki, the Sinagua transformed the basalt promontory into a magnificent enclave featuring one and two-story pueblo houses, like apartments, two towers and three kivas, one of which was 30-feet in diameter, and a large plaza. In addition, the room sizes were larger than the standard three-meter square rooms found in most pueblos, measuring 15 feet long by 12 feet wide, with nine foot ceilings.

  ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  “I see the reasons for your suggestion,” Bud said quizzically, “but it raises some questions, as well. It’s 800 feet down to the water in Dry Beaver Creek from the ruins. That’s a lot of water hauling.”

  “I agree,” responded Tanner, “but about a half-mile upstream from this site the creek cascades through a series of several deep, year-round, pools that not only get snow melt and rain water from the north but are said to get some spring-fed water, as well. The highest, and biggest pool, which is over 15 feet deep, is at roughly the same elevation as the village. I think that’s a better place to get our water.”

  “I might be able to help with that,” Jack interjected. “Using the technology we have available to us, I feel certain I can design and build a transmission system to get the water from the pools to Tuwalanki without resorting to carrying it like the Sinagua and, as I recall, the distance from the pools to the village will be at least cut in half if we go across the top of the mesa.”

  “Okay,” said Bud, “I buy that. How about getting all the gear and supplies we’ll need to survive, up to the ruins?”

  “I can help with that one,” Tanner responded. “Behind the Ranger Headquarters is the trailhead for the Woods Canyon Trail. Although it’s a hiking trail, today, it used to be a jeep trail that went out through the Woods Canyon flood plain of Dry Beaver Creek and then joined with the Hot Loop Trail that climbed to the top of Horse Mesa. The last time Dad and I were out there, the remnants of the jeep trail were still there. I feel certain that, with a little work on the jeep trail and building one small bridge, we can open it up for us to haul trailer-loads of supplies to the site using our four-wheel drive vehicles. We have plenty of gasoline at our disposal.”

  “That makes sense, Tanner,” Bud responded, “and that answers another one of my questions without me asking it. We’ll be able to haul building supplies and equipment up to Tuwalanki the same way. With one of the generators, our small cement mixer, and all the building supplies and equipment we have at our disposal, we should be able to rebuild those ruins into one first-class village; make those Sinagua jealous,” he added. “Like the famed Phoenix, it will be the Sinagua Rising,” he said, contemplatively.

  “I don’t mean to make it sound like it’s going to be easy,” Tanner said. “But, if we all chip in and do our part I think we can make the move within a week and be well-settled into our new home before the monsoons come next month. The sooner we get out of here the less likely we’ll be affected by disease and the likes of the Scorpions, and the more likely we’ll be prepared before the rains come.”

  “You don’t really mean we can restore or build housing up there for all of us in a month, do you?” Jenny Thomas inquired. With her background in the building business she knew this was an impractical assignment.

  “Good point,” responded Tanner. “This is where the treasure trove we found at the Ranger Headquarters comes in. They have ample large military-style tents capable of providing shelter for all of us, a work area, and a cooking and eating area to handle us until we can complete more permanent facilities. The longer the monsoons hold off, the more we’ll get built; but in any case we’ll be sheltered.

  “With all the food and supplies we have among us and the treasure trove of dry food and MREs, we’ll have plenty of food to carry us through until we can get crops growing on our own. And, we’ll be able to hunt game during the winter to provide us with fresh meat,” he concluded.

  “I’ll have some vegetables growing within just a couple of weeks,” Travis interjected, “and ready for harvest four to eight weeks after that, depending on the vegetables being grown. The vegetables, tomatoes and fruit trees we’ll move from the greenhouse are already starting to produce. I also have some mature fruit trees in the yard we should be able to transplant and they should continue to bear fruit if we’re careful when we move them and protect them from the elements.”

  “That’s the kind of teamwork we need,” said Bishop. “Any more questions? I can’t imagine any problem that we can’t solve with the brain-power and experience we have among us. I think to move now to Tuwalanki is a good idea and, if you’re ready, we ought to vote on it.”

  The vote was unanimous.

  “Let’s all meet back here tomorrow and we’ll lay out a relocation plan. In the meantime, we need to post lookouts on Bud’s and my roof for the night, just in case the Scorpions decide to come out of their nest. Bud, you can take Jason and Tate with you and Philip and Tanner and I will handle the guard duties here.”

  There was some quick discussion in small groups as the Mavericks assimilated the information and accepted the fact that, beginning tomorrow, the Scorpions notwithstanding, they would begin their move back in time in order to provide for their future! There was a buzz of anticipation as they began to drift to their own homes.◘

  Chapter 14

  A Plan Develops

  The first rays of the sun had barely lighted the eastern sky when the morning quiet was shattered by the snarling of multiple motorcycles, followed by three loud clicks on the two-way radios each family had in their homes. Depressing the talk button on the radio three times, slowly, was the Mavericks prearranged signal to alert the others that a message was to follow.

  “This is Jason,” he said in an almost whispered monotone. I’m on Grandpa Bud’s roof and it sounds like the Scorpions are on the move.”

  With Jason’s message everyone could hear more and more motorcycles join the cacophony of sound that filled the air. It grew from the initial snarl to a growl, to thunder, causing the glasses on Carly’s kitchen sink to vibrate.

  Philip, who was on the Westin’s roof chimed in, “I can’t see them from here but I sure as hell can hear them!”

  Bishop keyed the radio three times and responded, “I suggest everyone stay put until we see what they have in mind. “Jase, you and Philip keep a sharp eye out and let us know when you can see what they’re up to. Try to keep your heads down boys, and let’s not give the Scorpions any reason to come check us out.”

  “10-4,” said the two boys and then were echoed by Bud, Jack, and Travis. Bishop opened a warm can of Diet Coke and sat down in the Great Room to wait. By that time he was surrounded by the rest of the family in various degrees of dress from pajamas to jeans and tee shirts. Tanner checked the load on his hip-holstered 9-millometer and stood by the sliding glass door looking out over the deck and the burned out Estados beyond, toward 179. There was no talk; there was nothing to say, yet, and they all knew it; even the children.

  Jason and Philip reported in regularly, indicating that the Scorpions, instead of heading out of town toward Rim Rock, were instead heading into town. At each intersection they sent outriders off in different directions, as if they were searching for something—or someone. Two bikers came down Raintrail and then went up the hill on Indian Ruins Road. Jason and Philip could hear the rumble of the bikes as they drove around on the mesa. Then the two bikers came down Starlight Way to Raintrail and back out to Verde Valley School Road. They headed to 179, ostensibly to join up with the rest of the Scorpions. They had skipped Morningside Drive entirely. Everyone in the house breathed a sigh of relief when Philip keyed his two-way radio and told them what had transpired.

  Within fifteen minutes the thunder of the motorcycles could again be heard as they moved back down 179 and headed out of town toward Rim Rock.

  Those Maverick
s who knew what had happened the previous evening knew instinctively that the Scorpions had found the remains of the missing biker in the pit at Chapman’s and assumed, as Philip had proposed, that the biker had been drunk and had unknowingly driven into the pit. The contorted position of the body and the damage to the motorcycle left no doubt that he was dead, so the Scorpions had just left him where he lay. Satisfied they knew what had happened to him, they had left town.

  ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  Every seat in Bishop’s house was occupied and cushioned stack chairs had been set up anywhere there was space. The extended Maverick family filled the dining area and the great room, and sat on the low dividing wall that separated the two rooms. Then they spilled onto the adjoining deck. The children sat on the floor at the foot of the fireplace, cuddling and petting Chloe, who was reveling in all the attention. There was a funereal quiet as the group turned their attention to Bishop, who was sitting on a folding chair to the right of the fireplace, where all could see him.

  Bishop asked everyone to stand and join hands with their neighbors. The chain of linked hands spread throughout the group, including the children, and he said, “The happenings of the past two days have been beyond anything we ever thought might happen in our lifetimes and, for many of us, beyond our comprehension. Our lives have been interrupted and forever changed; some more than others,” he said as he nodded toward Philip and Jessie. “But, this chain of linked lives,” he said as he raised both his hands, holding Carly on one side and Kathleen Solano on the other, “is unbroken and, by God’s grace will remain so. This is the new Maverick family,” he said with a smile, “and families stick together. We don’t know what’s ahead but, whatever it is, we’ll face it together. It will require all of us to do our part, whatever that may be, to the best of our ability. Individually, the task ahead would be overwhelming, but with the collective wisdom and effort of each of us, from the oldest to the youngest, we will persevere and we will succeed.”