Apocalypse 2

by Matt J. Pike

  I can’t go taking that for granted either, which is why this next run will really tell me a lot about the true food stocks out there. I go in with low expectations, to avoid disappointment.

  *

  So, I’ve put together three bug-out bags with some very basic supplies – food, water, knife, change of clothes, scarf to cover my mouth and to stay warm. I’m going to hide two near the property here – in different directions – perhaps one near the school and the other closer to Portrush Rd. The third kit is destined for the city; when I manage to establish a second hang out/secure food storage location there. Of course, I also still have my main bug-out pack in the lounge and ready to ride at a moment’s notice.

  While I was looking around for bags I happened across the hydroponic kit I bought in the lead-up to rock night. I’d just completely forgotten I had it. I was really excited, knowing this could be the perfect solution for growing the next generation of plants/food. I wouldn’t have to rely on the flaky lighting conditions outside, nor the soil, which is probably contaminated by months of ash deposits and the sludgy run-off it creates. My mind was working overtime with the possibilities.

  I put the lighting rig together and cranked it up. Man, that is a whole lot of wattage! The generator would be working overtime if I tried to conduct any decent scale of production here. I try to limit my use of power as it is – massively paranoid the noise will attract unfriendlies. Besides which, I really don’t have the space to grow a significant quantity of stuff. Bottom line – it’s becoming clearer than ever that I need to move to bigger digs. Somewhere in or near the city still seems like the logical spot.

  *

  I’ve sorted out the message to the Jamesons, should they arrive when I’m not here. I’ve hidden an envelope behind the screen door that says, ‘Where Dad fell.’

  It’s a reference all of them will remember. We were having a BBQ at our place a couple of years ago. After a few afternoon beers, all the dads started boasting about their sporting prowess from ‘back in the day’. I know, really embarrassing. I think they were trying to compensate for their sons now being taller, fitter and more skilled than them. It was really sad all around, but particularly when Dad decided to show off his soccer skills to everyone who cared to look. He got to 11 on the juggle count before he reached out for the ball, got his foot caught in the side of the garden edge and came tumbling down by the side of the clothes line in one of the funniest, undignified and uncoordinated moments I’ve ever witnessed. I still can’t believe nobody caught it on camera! Better still, he hurt his hamstring and left the collective dads group looking like the yesterday’s heroes they were.

  Anyways, that was the spot I knew the Jamesons would remember without question, so I’ve put a soccer ball on there, half buried in ash but easily visible. On the underside I’ve put a note and some keys. The chances of some random actually getting into the backyard, and coming across the soccer ball and keys in a window of a few hours, is so remote it’s virtually impossible. I’m happy with the plan.

  *

  I just went for a wander around the streets to deposit a couple of the bug-out bags. I’ve hidden the first one at the school near one of the playgrounds, and the other I’ve put behind one of the SUVs at the car dealership. Between those and the care package I left at the park for the Jamesons I have plenty of options at short notice.

  Oh, when I was at the school I did see two people wandering across the far side of the oval. I get nervous seeing activity so close to home… and for some reason, pairs concern me far more than individuals. It means there’s at least some level of coordination going on. I mean, it could just be a random couple (I couldn’t tell if they were male or female), but it could just as easily be the Norwood Hub peeps up to something – that would not be good.

  *

  October 11, 2014

  So, back to the city tomorrow should the conditions be kind. Food run, food stocks recon and potential new home base scouting – my plate will be full. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned my super-important side mission yet – I must find the missing mall’s ball. I know, I’m becoming obsessed, but when I saw the first chrome ball nearly half a kilometre from its home in the mall, and the other nowhere to be seen, well, I just had to find out where it is. It’s not the sort of art display that wanders off by itself. Where did the tsunami waters take it?

  I can readily acknowledge with this much time on my hands that I get way too obsessed with the oddest things. But, does that make me crazy? Does it? Malls balls!

  *

  I just popped my head out the front door to see if there were any signs of the Jamesons – like they’d be wandering up the driveway at that exact moment! Anyways, to my non-surprise they weren’t there. But I did see two fresh sets of footprints in the ash, running right down the middle of the road, only metres from my front door. That’s not something that sits well with me, in fact it freaks me right out! Call me paranoid but I seriously smell the Norwood hubbers all over this. If it is them, and they’re skulking back here for supplies, they must be completely desperate. They bled this suburb dry a few months back.

  Of course, it could be a couple of randoms, but, well, it’s the Norwood crew… I can just feel it. Even if it’s not them, I can’t allow myself to contemplate the option because I need to plan for worst-case scenario. Norwood is most definitely worse-case scenario.

  As for what that means to me right now. Well, extra precautions on just about everything. I’ve got to keep the use of the generator to a minimum… so there goes any hope of firing up the hydroponic kit. I’ll need to limit outside time and the use of Phoenix. When I do go riding I’ve got to be vigilant about conditions – there has to be some breeze about – it muffles the sound and covers the tracks quicker. I already avoid the Norwood area like the plague and I’ll continue to do so, but I should extend the caution to driving times as well. When I do head into the city next, it will be in the early morning – before 9am at the latest, where conditions and travel time will make it unlikely anyone has wandered as far as my place.

  I also need to be sure that I don’t give my position away over time either. When Phoenix is on the move, anyone within earshot will take notice. That may not result in them pinpointing where I have come from, but it could be a cumulative thing. If I start to get spotted multiple times in several locations, they’ll start to gather enough intel on me to narrow down my location. Every time I leave the house I need to do so in a different direction. Take different side streets to the main road, loop around, double back, constantly change things up. I can’t ever become predictable. I must throw them off my whereabouts for as long as possible.

  Further to that, finding a spot in the city is now skyrocketing up the priority ranks. I was viewing that as a longer-term project, especially if I could keep the little nuggets of food rolling in. But now, between this and the need to get the hydroponic system up and running, well, it’s just got to happen, and the sooner the better.

  That works in fine for my next city run. I mean, I was going to just go on a joy ride after the looting to see if I could spot anything with potential, but now I need to dedicate some serious time to it. And, given I don’t want to be travelling unless it’s close to dawn or dusk, well, I can make a day trip out of it and spend the afternoon scouting a new home.

  In all honesty, part of me has been avoiding this whole step because once I find a new location, like something truly worthy, well, moving will just become my new obsession. Sure as the sun will be barely visible, it will happen. All of which means, plans will get under way to leave this place behind. This place – it’s my connection to everything – to family, to memories of pre-rock, to Fi. And the day I do it, the day I take a step out of the door for the last time, is the day I give all that up.

  Leaving this place ain’t an easy task, either. Last time I tried it I nearly died in the attempt. And, for some reason, I’m feeling it this time, I’m going to miss it. So odd. Last time I left was to set off acro
ss the country and I felt absolutely nothing. This time I’m travelling a few kilometres and it’s hitting home (so to speak).

  Already part of my brain is saying, ‘You’ll be just down the road, you can come back anytime’. But I’m not getting fooled by that – nice try brain. Once I leave here, I leave here. With the Norwood crew in close proximity and all the best sources for future food in or west of the city, it would take a lot to get me back out east for what would be nothing more than navel gazing. Besides, a new home base isn’t going to build itself. Making somewhere secure takes time… a lot of time. Yep, when I do make the move it’ll be a one-way trip.

  *

  October 12, 2014

  Definitely not enough wind around for an assault on the city this morning. Conditions were what I would’ve considered borderline in the past… I probably would’ve just gone… especially to the city where I’ve got the place to myself (mostly). But not now, not with the potential Norwood threat back on my doorstep.

  I chatted to Fi again last night… like I do every night these days. Sure, she doesn’t say much back, but she definitely thinks I’m not being paranoid about the Norwood hubbers. It was just the vibe I got. Anyways, I gave her my plans for today’s city run, ended up talking her though ideas for potential new bases.

  There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a new home and No.1 is location, location, location. I could so be a real estate agent! But seriously, if any other people are going to head to the city, chances are they’ll be coming from the east. They are also odds on to be targeting the major grocery stores, which are mostly east of King William St, which marks the middle of the city. So, rule No.1, my new digs have to be west of King William. That’s a no brainer.

  Second priority is secure off-street parking for Phoenix. That one gets a little trickier and it’s where I think I’m going to struggle. She needs to have a home that’s out of sight. That’s going to be difficult enough, but here’s the kicker. I need somewhere to hide out in the same building complex and, ideally, have multiple exit points for the hovercraft. If I’m limited to one exit point I will be virtually trapping myself in should anyone see me. Now, I know that’s technically the case here with Mr Nichols’ garage, but I know this area like the back of my hand and I know what to look out for – the tell-tale signs of others being around. Besides, it’s so open here in the burbs, there’s plenty of room to see what’s going on, whereas the city is just building after building. I mean, it’s only Adelaide, but still, the density of everything means keeping an eye on my surrounds will be much harder than it is here… and I can probably multiply that by ten when everything is new and unfamiliar.

  So the more I was talking to Fi about it, and the more I think about it now, the more I realise this is not going to be a simple task with an easy solution. I mean, that’s just two basic parameters and it already feels impossible. I haven’t even considered my own security yet!

  I think I just need to go for my joyride and see what I can see. Maybe something will just materialise, maybe I’ll get inspired. Who knows.

  *

  October 13, 2014

  Another no-go day today… it’s starting to get annoying. I’ve lost all planning momentum too, there’s only so much thinking you can do about something before you take action. So, I hereby dub today a lazy day: queue the games and music – I’m going to slobify!

  That reminds me, if I do get a few spare minutes in the city tomorrow I could drop in on one of the electronic stores and load up on games and DVDs.

  *

  Random thought for the day

  It only just occurred to me that if my date calculations are correct, today is exactly six months since the rock. Half a year – Earth on the opposite side of the sun as it was that night. Wow! If only Earth had been on the other side of the sun that night, even a few miles here or there, we’d be in a completely different (and far easier) timeline.

  I can’t dwell on the ifs though, that’s not going to do me any good. But that number is significant – six months! I find it both a really difficult milestone to get my head around and an incredible personal achievement in survival.

  Seriously, with everything that has happened on and since April 13, to still be alive today, well, that’s awesome. I mean, I would hate to guess Adelaide’s population right now – it would be a long, long way off 1.2 million, that’s for sure. Even after impact night we were guessing there were maybe 100,000 survivors – tops. And with all the starvation, murder, random untreatable sickness and conditions since, well, if there were many more than a couple of thousand people I’d be shocked. That’s 0.16 per cent of the original population.

  If you used those dodgy numbers on a global scale, seven billion people becomes about 11.5 million.

  That’s a scary thought.

  *

  October 14, 2014

  …and just like that, everything has changed. What a day! Seriously… wow.

  I finally had weather conditions in my favour. When I say in my favour, I mean in my favour for staying clear of the Norwood hubbers, not so much on pleasant hovercraft driving conditions. The breeze was strong enough to kick loose ash up in the air. It made viewing pretty hazy but, worse than that, it made things way harder at the controls. The ash has been changing over the months, and it takes more and more wind to kick it up. It’s thicker, like it’s congealing or something. I’m not even sure if that’s the right way to describe it, but it’s like that gooey ooze you find when you dig down is starting to work its way to the surface. Sure, there’s still plenty of surface ash but, and maybe this is just me, it feels heavier. That’s why it takes more wind to get it airborne. I can feel it when it makes contact with my skin too, even at low speed. It’s not much in isolation, but the collective results of a number of hits starts to add up. I had eye-protection goggles on so I could see, and the usual scarf around my mouth so I could breathe. It was the exposed skin around my neck and hands that took the brunt of the damage. Note to self – acquire riding gloves and a cravat.

  I adopted my anti-surveillance driving techniques today too. I began by heading a couple of blocks away from the city before looping north and around the school then heading city-side, via the Norwood-avoiding Payneham Rd.

  It wasn’t quite the joyride the last city visit was – my suspicion was set to high and my tolerance for the environment set to low. I already pined for the feelings the ride last week gave me. I headed up North Tce and turned into Gawler Pl to travel the one block to the mall and two of the three biggest potential food sources of the day. Even though it was early and the visibility low, I was paranoid about leaving Phoenix anywhere but a very secure spot. Especially near the mall; it was the most likely spot to run into anyone else, surely. There was a little alleyway called Fisher Pl – about 50m or so long. It was unremarkable and as far away from points of interest as I was likely to get this close to the action. It did run to a dead end of buildings, which was a risk, but beggars can’t be choosers as they say. After mulling over the pros and cons of the location I decided to make my move, pushing Phoenix to the dead end, turning her around then covering her with the tarp. I sprinkled a little ash over the tarp, donned my ash bots and headed back out the alley on foot.

  I was a little more confident once I looked back at the scene from the end of the alley – with the visibility and conditions as they were you could barely make her out. Also, my boots hardly made tracks in the heavier ash and what subtle traces they did leave would soon be covered by the ash falling back to ground.

  First stop was Woolworths. In fact, it was only when I got to the front of the store I realised it probably backed straight onto the alley where I’d parked Phoenix! When I did near the narrow entrance I could see someone else’s tracks leading inside. They formed a small gully, clearly some industrious soul (or souls) had taken this journey many times. Not for the first time in the day my guard was up, even though the tracks were a long way from fresh.

  I took one last look up
and down the mall to make sure all was clear before I headed inside. I was only a few steps in when I needed to turn on my torch. It’s always a scary moment that – the point of no return. With probably only one way in or out of the building, every step forward meant being less and less in control. I had crossed the event horizon where the normal laws of my post-rock play-it-safe space-time-continuum no longer applied. It was daunting and my heart raced

  This particular Woolworths was an odd shape. It was set in behind some fashion shops, so the entrance was a long, narrow corridor. Ash cascaded in for most of it and, when that receded, it revealed the tsunami damage underneath. After that it was hard to see where the tracks went. It was pitch black and the torch caught shadows on the rows of shelves. Well, when I say rows, that wasn’t entirely true, some shelves pressed up against each other, others were tipped over. The place had clearly been ransacked many times. Food packages where strewn across the floor as much as they were the shelves. But there was clearly still food about, lots of food.

  Like with the Adelaide Central Plaza food court, there was a wholly unpleasant stink that seared my nostril hairs, even through the scarf. To my right was the ramp down to the lower level of the store. It was caked in tsunami waste. Pressed up against the far side railing I could see a shoe… still attached to a fairly decomposed leg, sticking out of the muck. Nasty. I walked along the side of the ramp railing until I reached the end. I shined the torch down and could see there was a gap between the end of the ramp and the tsunami debris, enough to get down there at least. As for getting supplies back up, well that would be an entirely different story and not one I was going to answer on this day.

  On the other side of the ramp were all the chocolates and sweets. Well, when I say ‘all’, what little remained. I took out one of the bags I’d taken from Phoenix and filled it with whatever shiny label I could see that wasn’t damaged. That left me two bags more, which I figured I’d save for something more wholesome, but c’mon, chocolate! Better still, there were two Snickers bars still lying on the floor – they were mostly obscured by ash, but to the seasoned addict they stood out like peanut caramel and nougat filled beacons. Brilliant!