Diane made it back to the basement and saw the opened door. Surprised, she asked, "What the hell is this?" She made her way down the steps and Jack replied "Haven't you ever seen a safe room?" "Only in the movies," she mused. The safe room was built under the backyard. It was about 10 ft. x 10 ft. and had some shelves and a twin bed. Inside was a phone that wasn't connected to the regular house phone. The lines were hidden, so they'd be hard to cut. There was also an Ethernet jack to connect to the Internet and a cheap laptop and one electrical outlet to plug it in.
On the shelves were the medications, emergency food bars, and water pouches. Along with some fruits and vegetables he'd preserved himself. He also kept assorted weapons and some ammo. Diane looked around, amazed, and said, "Only in the movies." Jack told her there wasn't any time to waste and asked her to toss him an empty bag. She grabbed a small backpack and tossed it to him. He filled it with the medications and zipped it up.
Without flinching, he handed her a holstered Glock 19 Gen 4 9mm and said "Happy birthday. Strap it on." "But I don't have a permit," she replied. Jack said "It's not concealed and you won't need it where we're going. Nobody is going to ask." Diane responded "The cottage?" "Yes ma'am!" The cottage was near Mt Rainier, outside the tiny town of Ashford. Jack picked the location for several reasons. It was close to the Nisqually River, a reliable water, and food source. It would also have excellent hunting inside the park, should things go really bad.
He finished stuffing an empty footlocker with the preserved fruits and vegetables, while she was filling the safe room with provisions they couldn't fit in the truck. Jack stood up, great concern spread across his face. “Diane, I need you to do one more thing!” The dogs were great hunters, alarm systems, and his best friends. When Diane got up the stairs he shut and locked the safe room, concealing the hidden door in the process. He took one final look around, approved, and carried the last footlocker to the truck.
Jack unlocked his briefcase and holstered his weapon. He handed Diane some potassium iodide and a water pouch and said, "Take this, we probably need it." He took his own advice and swallowed his pill. Then they sped off, heading for the cottage.
4. Escape
L ight traffic. For Jack and Diane, it was a good start on their journey to the cottage. Most people were going the opposite direction, trying to get home. That would change as soon as they crossed I-5 into Parkland. Then they'll be hitting the traffic going home along with the few who've figured out it's time to head for the hills. The dogs were just happy to be going for a ride.
Diane soon found out why she brought her tablet. She was the navigator and news gatherer. Ashford was just off the Mountain Highway, also known as Highway 7. It's just a quick turn off Hwy 7 from Elbe. Hwy 7 starts in downtown Tacoma as Pacific Avenue and ends in Morton. From Steilacoom, that means going through the bedroom communities of Parkland and Spanaway. On a good day, that's never an easy drive. This was not a good day. The traffic app on Diane's tablet already showed Pacific Avenue jammed up. The only other route was the Spanaway Loop Road. They would connect with Hwy 7 on the other side of Spanaway, avoiding the mess ahead. Spanaway Loop Rd had another advantage - no sidewalks or businesses on the side of the road.
Jack chose a truck for a reason. If need be, he could make his own roads. Settling on Spanaway Loop Rd, he prepared himself for what he might find. As predicted by common sense and the traffic app, it was backed up as well. Jack knew what he had to do."Hold on," he said, as he shifted into four-wheel drive and drove off the road. He raced down the shoulder of the road, ignoring the horns, shaking fists, and angry birdies. He wasn't concerned about a police presence, as he figured they were all busy trying to figure out what was going on. He was right about that, as there wasn't a cop car to be found.
He made it to Military Road without issues, but hit a red light there. He had no choice but to stop, with the intersection blocked by cross traffic. He kept the truck in first gear, waiting for his chance. Diane was giving him the bleak news as they drove. Hospitals were overloaded and military bases were helping, taking in civilians who were affected. The bases themselves appeared unaffected, as it was probably too difficult to enter the base to discharge their devices. Jack hoped Mr. Mason made it in time. The radiation discharge was massive, but Mr. Mason wasn't exposed for too long.
The National Guard was called up in all 50 states, and people feared martial law would soon take effect. The president and vice president were whisked off to safety and hadn't delivered a message yet. That's not good news for the country, Jack thought. Diane knew Jack was worried and was worried herself. There was very little conversation, just news and traffic updates.
Green light. Jack floored it to the sounds of more horns and angry gestures. "You should have bought a truck," he said silently. They were not his concern. Harsh but true. Jack made his way to 176th Street and wedged his way on. It was not easy to do with a left turn, and he had a few near misses. In the end, people were still worried about scratching their precious vehicles, despite the chaos that surrounded them. Jack wasn't. A few dents or scratches beats the alternative. Once again, he drove down the side of the road. It was only a few blocks to Pacific, where he made an easy right turn with no issue.
Home free, almost. He still had a bit of a distance until he reached the Roy Y, then he'd be in the clear. He jumped around a few slow vehicles but stayed mostly on the road. It wasn't too bad, though he had a difficult light coming up at the Y. After a few agonizing minutes and two light cycles, they thankfully made it past the Roy Y.
Jack knew most of the traffic turned towards Roy, so he could relax a little. Jack remembered making that same drive to visit his girlfriend back in High School. She lived in Yelm, just past Roy. Yelm was also the home of Stewart meats, famous for their jerky, which he had in a couple of his footlockers. That was a long drive, the things a teenage boy will do for a chance at some action. He actually smiled a little.
While the traffic was down to almost nothing, there was still a long drive ahead. Jack figured the traffic should get thinner as they go, so he was mostly ignoring the speed limit. As they passed through the small towns, he slowed down. There was no need to risk it at this point, since they seemed to be far from any danger. The news cycle was on repeat, with nothing new to report. There was still no news from the president's administration. Diane stopped looking at Twitter, it was full of sad stories and she couldn't read them anymore.
Jack saw a small farm near the Ohop Valley and decided to risk a stop. He told Diane he wanted some chickens, so they could have eggs for breakfast. He wondered if the farmer knew what was going on, and Diane asked if he would tell him. Jack decided he wouldn't volunteer any information as the farmer could easily jack the price, or refuse to sell. That would be the smarter choice. He put on a light jacket to conceal his weapon and stepped out. Diane stayed in the truck with the dogs.
An older gentleman stepped out of the house to greet him. He looked at Jack and the truck and took it all in. He saw Jack's well-worn paracord bracelet, boots, and the loaded up truck. "Bugging out, eh?" The man said. Somewhat surprised Jack replied "Yes sir. We're on our way to my cottage in the foothills." He told a small lie, his cottage is a little farther than that. One can't be too trusting in emergency situations. You never know who people are going to act in desperate situations.
Jack was hoping the man wouldn't have heard yet so he braced himself and asked, "I was wondering if you'd sell me a few chickens. I'll be much happier with fresh eggs for breakfast." The old man thought about it for a minute and said, "Well I can always grow more chickens so I'll sell you 3 and start you off with a few dozen eggs. I'm a fellow prepper and we've got to take care of each other." Jack couldn't believe his luck but still asked hesitantly, "How much?" The man smiled and said, "I'll give you the family discount, $40 for three chickens and two dozen eggs."
Jack smiled and thanked the man for his kindness. He could not believe his luck. He almost felt bad about lying to him. "I'm Jack, what
's your name?" "Calvin," the old man replied. "Pleasure to meet you." Jack said, "You too, Calvin. It's a pleasure to meet you too." Calvin went to get the chickens and eggs, and Jack delivered the news to Diane. She was happy for him. Of course, she would probably start appreciating fresh food real soon.
Calvin came back a few minutes later with a large box and three cartons of eggs on top. "Call it a baker’s dozen," Calvin said to Jack, with a wink. "I've got more eggs than I need." Jack had already put the $40 in his pocket and handed it to him. Always thinking ahead, Jack didn't want to pull out his wallet in front of Calvin. You could never be too sure. Diane got out and opened the back of the truck. Jack took the box and loaded it gently onto the bed.
They thanked Calvin again for his kindness and got back in the truck. That's when Calvin said, "There's a feed store just up the road." Damn it. Jack didn't think about food for the chickens. Lucky for him and the chickens, Calvin did! A fine prepper you make, Jack ruefully said to himself. They got to the feed store, and Jack didn't know how much he'd need. He settled for two 50 pound bags and some bedding, hoping that would be enough to get them through spring and summer. If all else failed, they'd have a few days of fresh meat.
Jack had to make one more stop in Elbe for gas. Filling up in Elbe will give him a nearly full tank after reaching the cottage. While they were there, Jack and Diane stopped at Scaleburgers for one last "real" meal. It's not normal for Jack to eat fast food, but this wasn't a normal day. Life seemed to be carrying on like normal in this small town. Jack was relieved when the gas station accepted his credit card. He wanted to save his cash for as long as possible. The dogs were able to jump out of the truck and stretch their muscles and relieve themselves. Jack even bought a hamburger patty for each of them.
It was nice in Elbe, Jack and Diane got to relax and breathe a little for the first time since they left DuPont. Jack stretched his legs and wondered how long they'd be at the cottage, a few weeks at least. Maybe months or even a year or two if it's really bad. He wanted more news but it wasn't coming. Diane simply refused to check anymore, the stories depressed her. Jack would have to check once more before they continued on to the cottage. There is service in Ashford but it's spotty. At the cottage, it's never a guarantee. Most times he'd have to ride his bike to town to get news. No sense wasting gas for short trips.
Jack asked Diane for her tablet, so he could check the news. He saw an article that said "Updated" and clicked on it. It was the same rehashed news. The only real update was the president was expected to make a statement in the next few hours. "Great," Jack thought. "We're probably going to miss it." Just then a young man walked up. He was on the tall side, about 5'11" with a medium build. Jack figured he was in his low 20's. As soon as he got within a few feet, the young man started a conversation.
He asked if they came from the city and Jack told him "not quite." He wanted to keep their information guarded, and only said they were from a suburb and missed the radiation exposure. When asked where they were headed, Jack lied again. There weren't too many choices at this point and Jack didn't like the line of questioning. "We're heading for the park to see if we can find a place to camp until it all blows over."
The man asked, "What's in the truck?" Now Jack knew this young man was up to no good. He stood and said "Ready." Basha and Mercedes jumped to their feet and stood on either side of Jack. These weren't just pets and hunting dogs, they were well-trained guard dogs as well. The young man looked at the dogs and Jack and weighed his options. He decided it was time to leave and rejoined his friends, parked at the gas station.
Jack told Diane it was time to go. He said, "That boy didn't believe a word I said. He's smarter than he looks." Everyone piled into the truck and they headed for Ashford. Jack kept his eyes on the rearview mirror and saw the young man and his friends getting into a Jeep. Jack floored it. About a mile up the road was a clearing blocked by a line of trees. Jack figured he could hide there until they passed.
Jack knew this area very well, having hunted and hiked it extensively. He chose this location for his cottage because he knew it so well. He knew where to hunt and knew every trail inside and outside of the National Park. He also knew where to hunt inside the park - if it got so bad where it was allowed. That would mean no rangers working anymore. With the clearing approaching, Jack glanced at the rearview mirror and saw the Jeep. So they would see his turn. This stretch of road was very straight. He'd have to improvise.
Jack made the turn and got past the tree line. Then he spun around and parked along the trees, engine running. He stepped out and unholstered his weapon and sheltered himself with the open door. The Jeep came barreling down the road and passed them, then they too spun around. The driver came slowly at them, not knowing quite what to do now. They got within 40 yards and Jack put three 9mm rounds in the grill, jumped back in the truck, and sped off. The would-be thieves were left behind, unable to follow.
Jack has prepared all his life, and that was the first time he's had to fire his weapon in self-defense. In the heat of the moment, it was easy - easier than he thought it would be. Maybe because he knew he wasn't shooting at a person, but a vehicle. Diane was shocked by the whole thing, she'd never prepared for such an incident. Jack asked if she'd be OK and she said she'd get over it. But she was really unnerved. Jack was too. He reminded her that some people will always try to take advantage of a bad situation, and to always be on guard.
Soon after the incident Jack made a turn onto a side road, just after Ashford, and made his way up to the cottage. The cottage was very close to the park boundary - for good reason. It was a relatively safe border behind him and good hunting - if it came to that. He unlocked the gate and pulled up in front of the cottage. Once again, he backed the tailgate up to the front door. That made for easier unloading and an easier escape.
The dogs ran out and started exploring, even though they'd been here many times before. Jack and Diane unloaded the truck and got everything inside. After everything was brought inside, they sat on the couch and took it all in. The day started so nice, everything was so normal. Now just a few hours after lunch they're at the cottage, having had to shoot up a Jeep, and getting ready to unpack for God knows how long. This was not a normal day at all.
5. Settled
J ack and Diane rested for about 20 minutes and thought about everything that happened. They wondered about their friends and co-workers. Mr. Mason, was he going to be OK? Jack really liked him, he was hardworking and fun-loving. Work didn't feel like work with him in charge. Ralph - would he get away in time? Jack had known Ralph since they were kids at Saltar's Point Elementary School. Ralph got his job at the company because of Jack's recommendation.
Diane's parent's retired and bought a farm in Montana and were probably doing just fine. She sent them an email earlier to let them know she was safe. Jack has a brother in Graham but he's on vacation in Mexico with his family. Good timing on his part - he works in downtown Seattle. Jack sent him an email as soon as they sat down at Scaleburgers.
Jack jumped up and said he needed to check the windows. All the windows were barred to keep the riffraff out. The front door had a security door installed on it. This was not an easy target. He went outside and started inspecting the bars on each window. Everything looked fine, he decided. That's when he heard the chickens. He had forgotten about them when he sat down. They were still boxed up in the back of the truck.
He went over and peeked inside the box. Four live chickens. Wait, four? "Calvin, you've made a friend for life," Jack said out loud. Instead of 3 eggs per day, they would now have four. Jack was wondering how they'd split that third egg and thought asking Calvin for four was too much. He grabbed the bag of bedding he picked up at the feed store and headed to the shed. The shed would be his makeshift chicken coop. Later on he'd figure out how to get them outside for fresh air.
Once he got the shed ready he grabbed the box and set them free in their new home. He'd probably have to tie some paracord around their fe
et and tie the other end to an anchor. No worries, he had plenty stored in the truck. His little friends would get their exercise, he thought.
He went back to the cottage and Diane was up and unpacking some of the food in the small kitchen. They had power, and the gas was working in the oven. He turned on the water and let it run in the sink for a few minutes. He hadn't been to the cottage in three weeks and wanted to get the cobwebs out. Jack said, "Use it while we can, it may not last forever." Jack announced he was heading into town and taking the bike. He needed news and some fresh veggies. He grabbed a small backpack and went outside. Diane followed with the dogs.
He carefully opened the shed, keeping the chickens back. Basha and Mercedes were suddenly interested in the contents of the shed. Jack said, "No" and the dogs backed off. They understood the chickens were not toys. He grabbed the bike and got it out without letting a chicken escape. That was going to be a problem, he thought. "I'll be back before dark. Try to stay inside and don't let anyone in. He continued, "Keep the dogs inside with you." With that, he jumped on the mountain bike and peddled swiftly to Ashford.
He made it to town and headed straight for the general store. He went right for the meats and picked up some bacon. Then he found some tomatoes and broccoli that were still in good condition. For Diane, he also grabbed a bottle of ranch dressing. He paid with his card and put everything in his backpack. Then he took out Diane's tablet and looked for news.
Aftermath of Disaster_Book 1_It Has Begun Page 2