***
They all sat on the two boats, overturned on the pale sandy beach. The sprawling body of water, vivid blue with the sky's reflection shimmered in front of them. Three more days on the winding Pecos had brought them to the border reservoir. The river moved them from wide open range to the canyon with tall red bluffs rising on both sides, the rocky walls that the lake ahead was named for. Sometimes the river narrowed and the shores were lined thickly with trees and more times than they liked, fat dark snakes draped in those trees. Startled from their decoration pose in the shrubs they would drop to the brown water and slither away in swirling patterns.
Then...there it was, the lake. The river pushed them right out into the open water. They put into shore, dragged the boats up on land and flipped them over, now sat quietly on them and looked out at the view. They couldn't see the dam or anything built up around the lake. Will would have to get out his map and compass later so they could get their bearings.
A noise made them all turn. Far up the shoreline, a plume of dirt grew. Something was coming and it was drawing closer all the time. That sound? Will hadn't heard the sound of an engine in years. That is, other than the low and never ending hum of the generators at Far View. A whole massive room of them, that you felt throughout the bunker haven, more than heard. No mistake, this was some type of engine and it belonged to a rapidly advancing vehicle. They all bounced to their feet, their guns at the ready. He said, “Be sharp,” stepped a short distance in front, flanked by Tom and Tanner. Whatever or who ever came their way, they would very quickly know.
CHAPTER FIVE
Lakeside
The six stood firm as the sound became a staccato deafening roar that arrived with the sand blasting cloud that enveloped them. When the fog of dirt settled some, Maggie said, “Well, that's not Ford's new model, hot off the showroom floor.” Which no one really heard and blended with Tom's what the...? and Cynthia's holy christmas!
The long cone shaped, metal clad front end arrived way before the driver's seat. A narrow axle with two motorcycle wheels led. A mismatched set of radiators were mounted on each side near the pointy end, where a metal sculpture of a crow with outstretched wings was wired on. The driver sat on an upholstered loveseat; behind that seat stretched the bed and back wheels of a pick-up truck. In the truck bed, behind the sofa a large fuel tank sat. A colorful patio umbrella, tied down in four places cast a shade on the driver.
The driver stood up from behind the dirt coated motorcycle windshield, he was more astonishing than the vehicle. Even erect, the person could barely peer over the shield. The unmuffled engine was cut off and left them all with ears that felt like they were cotton stuffed. The driver sprung to the ground. “Hey ya'll...how ya doin?” said a loud voice that wasn't deep, wasn't high, just somewhere in the middle. A hand with bright finger nails took the end of a long striped neck scarf and wiped dust off the scuba googles that covered half the face; startling large blue eyes became visible. Thick wavy hair fell to the shoulders, pale except for the electric blue streaks. Jeans tucked into knee high western boots, a vest with fringe nearly to the top of the boots was encrusted with pieces of old jewelry that still sparkled through the dirt. A rifle was slung over the shoulder.
The nondescript voice spoke again, “Where did you folks come from? I'm Indigo.”
Maggie said, “Um-m, how ap-pro-po...”
Will turned and gave her a warning look. He then offered his hand to the person. “I'm Will. We've come from farther up north in New Mexico.”
The person looked over to the boats, “On the river, I suppose. Well, Will and...ya'll...” a sweeping motion of the hand caused several bracelets to jangle, “If you look way across the lake, on that far shore, that's our town, Bluffsville. If it was evening, you could see the lights and fires.”
The six companions shaded their eyes and looked through the heat shimmer that rose from the water. “I don't see a thing,” said Maggie.
Airi, whose eyes were still young, said, “I do, Mags. Look right over there. I see something.”
“You have lights, power?” said Will.
Indigo said, “You bet your old butt, we do. Anyways, if you want to just row, row, row your boat, across the lake” singing the tune... “Ya'll would be welcome. Anybody with a bit of barter is welcome.”
“Gotta go,” the person of undetermined gender, with an agile jump was back behind the wheel and the strange vehicle revved up, screeched backwards and sped away. They still stood on the beach, stunned and much dirtier.
Cynthia bent at the edge of the water and swished her glasses around, dried them on the inside of her shirt. “Well, that was interesting.”
“Interesting? that was plain weird,” said Maggie. She patted her body up and down, knocked off sand.
Airi still stood and squinted across the lake at the tiny outlines of life. “I think we should check it out.”
“We certainly will need to make a visit, can't afford to miss an opportunity to explore any settlement,” said Will.
Tom said, “Don't know how far across the lake it really is. It wouldn't be wise to go into an unknown place at night, better wait until tomorrow.”
“Sounds good to me,” said Cynthia. “That water feels good. I'm thinking a bath is on my agenda.”
“That's an excellent idea, girl,” said Maggie. “We probably shouldn't all be stark naked and lounging in the lake at one time. Why don't Will and I take a dip first, then I'll keep an eye out for you and Airi and Will can stay near the men.”
“Done,” Will gave her a wink and started unbuttoning his shirt, moved along the beach with his wide strides.
The others turned their backs and sat on the boat bottoms again. Airi and Tanner were already in a conversation about what they might find in Bluffsville. Cynthia was glad to take the boot off her ankle, which still swelled some at the end of the day. She leaned back on her elbows, her feet bare.
“How's the ankle doing?” said Tom. “Looks pretty puffed up.”
“It's a lot better, just gets achy after all day in the boot.”
Maggie took one anxious look at the backs of her companions, then stripped down, threw the big hat on the ground and waded out in the cool wet, until it rose above her full breasts. She stood in front of her husband, pushed the water around. Will scooped water in his cupped hands and dribbled it over her shoulders, gave her a touch or two that made her give him one of her narrow looks. She smiled at him though and placed a kiss on his wet chest, which was just at her mouth level.
The others were patient as the late afternoon slipped by. While the younger couple talked of what might be ahead, Cynthia and Tom talked of the way things used to be. The lake was calm, whatever lay across the waters too far to even send any sounds their way. Tom said, “We better be on our guard, checking out that settlement.”
“Oh, no doubt. We have no way of knowing what kind of people are there.” Cynthia dug her toes into the warm sand, “Now, that character a while ago...didn't bother me a bit. DC was a circus, every kind of person and every kind of thing going on. You had to learn to be pretty open minded and always watch your back to live there.”
“It was a unique place, intriguing and far from small town safe. We'll see soon enough what this town on the lake brings,” Tom squinted and tried to focus in the far away bumps on the horizon.
Maggie and Will walked up, in cleaner clothes, hair wet and clothes they had washed out, twisted up in their hands. “How was it?” said Cynthia.
Will had a wide grin on his face. Maggie said, “Just perfect. Let me spread out these clothes and I'll walk down with you and Airi.”
The men walked off in one direction and the three women in the opposite. They put enough distance between each other to become just hazy figures. Maggie found a flat rock to sit on as the other two eased into the lake. Airi chattered excitedly, “A town...wow, what kind of a place will it be...think it will be like a real city, Mags?”
Cynthia had completely submerged u
nder the surface and came back up, holding her head back and squeezing water from her curls. “Well, no telling what it'll be like. One thing for sure, we'll have to go in prepared for anything.”
“That's true, sweetie. Don't have too high of expectations, yet,” said Maggie.
“I know, I know. Hey, wasn't that person and that machine just unbelievable! What's your guess...girl? guy?”
Cynthia laughed and totally unembarrassed, floated her long slim body on top the water. Maggie joined the laughter, “You know before the s—t hit the fan, I used to rant and rave to Will. I always said that someday, we would all be beige and one gender, just completely generic. Test tube babies, clones, genes all mixing around like those sprinkles they used to put in your yogurt. Not that any color or sex is better than another. It's just that I always thought the diversity was exactly what made the world interesting.”
“I was sorta fond of a definite difference myself,” said Cynthia. “But, then we didn't know that the world was going to flip upside down, either.”
Airi's eyes widened. “Do you mean that you think everyone in ah-h---what was it? In Bluffsville, is as fascinating as the person we met?”
“Well, we can only hope that fascinating is what they are. You never know, girl. We'll find out tomorrow, I guess.”
Around the campfire later, they could see the pin points of light on the distant shore of the lake. Airi was by no means the only one who wondered what the next day had in store.
***
The two boats that had served the six travelers quite well glided across the lake and brought the outlines of the lakeside settlement into clearer view with each dip of the oars. There wasn't a lot of conversation this morning, some of them apprehensive about what they would find on shore and some of them excited. Each of the companions had agreed to look through their supplies and find at least a thing or two that they could trade with. These items were gathered in one bag, an eclectic mix because they had no idea what might be good barter items.
At Far View City there had been huge government stores. Everything from food staples to personal hygiene and medical supplies filled massive storage areas. They had also been very self sufficient, grew crops and preserved food. The evening before as they selected their means of exchange, Cynthia said, “I think that this jar of salt and a tube of toothpaste would be pretty desirable.”
Airi laughed, “Why would any one want a tube of toothpaste?”
“Well, you never had to do without it, girl. We had supplies at Far View that will not exist anymore out here in the new world,” said Will. “All of us went from the everyday life we were accustomed to, straight to the protection and haven of the sanctuaries. Don't think for a minute that the majority of the world is going to be as comfortable as our city was.”
So, they filled their “money” bag with multiple items that they hoped would be useful and desirable in the town. They agreed that Will would do most of their dealing, he had proficiently learned the skill of bartering in all his world travels.
The distance across the lake was deceiving and after nearly two hours they finally drew near the shoreline again. No docks or piers extended into the water but several posts lined up a few feet from the lapping edge. They eased the two boats onto the sand, tied off the ropes to the poles. After their supplies and packs rested on their backs again, they moved up a well worn path about a half mile in length. A slow whirling wind turbine towered above the low structures of the community, with several other shorter and more primitive looking wind mills visible around it. The six stood beside a hand painted sign that rose only a couple of feet above their heads, Bluffsville, Texas, population unknown.
The trail had widened into a rutted throughway that formed a long main street. Crowded tents and some simple wooden structures flanked both sides of the street. They seemed to be residences, though a few places had signs in front that said things such as Haircuts... Sewing... Soap. A distance out from the hovels, what appeared to be out houses squatted and even farther away, much sparser tents and shanties.
The street was filled with assorted people going in and out, a donkey pulled a small cart and they spotted several horses. Most amazing was a rusted looking motorcycle and a couple of very petite vehicles resembling old Volkswagon “Beetles”... putt-putt-putt. Some folks nodded and spoke, “Mornin'” and some hustled by, others openly stared at the newcomers. Up ahead, at the end of this busy avenue, a two story wooden building with a porch across the front...for certain the biggest structure in the town...sat amongst the wind mills.
It was dirty, it was loud, a rowdy cacophony. Fires smoked, children squealed, dogs of various sizes and no particular identity barked. Somewhere behind them, they heard a jangling, drum beating music of sorts, what sounded like a weird horn. Will had a distant memory from his childhood of the “Ah-oo-ga” noise of that horn. He had seen remote villages that weren't so very different from this in other parts of the world. The others moved along in a fairly tight formation, gaped mouths. The tents flapped and a stiff gust of wind scattered dirt and debris and quickly closed those open mouths as a sour and nasty odor assaulted them. Above the various smells of food cooking, animals and people, the very recognizable aroma of rot and human waste drifted. All around them, most ignored it and some pulled bandanas up over their mouths or pinched their noses.
Maggie said, “Crap on a cracker! What a god awful stink.” She covered her mouth and nose. Obvious, why some people had tried to set up away from the main settlement.
“Ah-oo-ooo-gah!” the unusual horn was heard again, close behind them. In a flash, the street cleared, everyone moved to the edge and others emerged from doorways. The six followed the lead and stepped to the side. Cheering and clapping reached them in a wave and Will leaned out to see what had prompted this spontaneous and unanimous evacuation of the street.
“I'll be dogged,” he said, “It's Indigo.” This caused all of them to lean out and try to see through the dust.
The colorful and goggled Indigo barely peered above the steering wheel of the vehicle as it slowly maneuvered along. In the truck bed, a large recliner was occupied by a good sized man with a shiny bald head. He wore a long sleeved denim shirt and jeans, waved a wide western hat in the air at the cheering residents. His big smile displayed a gold capped front tooth that glinted as he turned from side to side. A very tattered American flag flew on a pole behind him and two armed men walked on each side of the inching transport. A half dozen children skipped behind the truck, they beat on pots and pans and rattled something in tin cans and the high voices sang, God bless A-a-mer-ica, land that I love.... As the parade passed, the activity oozed right back into the street and resumed.
Indigo spotted Will, bracelets rattled and he wildly waved his hand, “HEY! Ya'll...follow us to the big house.” He motioned to the building at the end of the street.
Will shrugged and they all followed him, weaved through the renewed bustle of the town. At the big house Indigo backed up to the porch and the tailgate was dropped down. The man flipped his cowboy hat to his head, stepped from the truck. One of the armed men went to sit in a weathered rocker on the porch, his rifle across his knees, two unloaded the recliner and moved into the house with it, the others dispersed. As the six travelers approached, Indigo said, “Oh, Mayor. Here's the folks I told you I met yesterday.”
The man stuck out his hand to Will, “Howdy. Where'd you come from?...wait,” he turned to his driver who today wore a faded red shirt, a flag patterned scarf around the neck, the blue streaked waves pulled back in a ponytail, “Indi, would you ask Lou if she has some of that chilled cider for us? Come on in the house folks and we'll visit.”
The spacious house was filled with a generous amount of mismatched furniture, all the usual and useful pieces that make a place comfortable. The puffed up and worn recliner had been placed next to other chairs and two long sofas that were arranged mostly around a large fireplace. Pictures hung on the walls, faded but clean looking rugs scattered acro
ss a wood floor. Electric lamps and also oil lanterns dotted tables around the living area. The squeak of the wind mills could be heard through open and screened windows. The mayor hung his hat on one of several pegs on the wall and led them to an area across the living room where a long wooden table sat.
The table was constructed in the style of a picnic table with criss crossed supports and was approximately ten feet long. Various and assorted stools and chairs surrounded the table and two different table cloths covered it. They all found a seat, the host settled at the end of the table in a tall backed chair. Indigo burst from a door, pulled out a chair and sat with a leg slung over the arm. A middle aged lady in an apron came right behind, sat a jug filled with amber liquid and eight glasses on the table.
“Thanks Lou,” said the mayor. “Don't you wanna sit and have a glass?”
The woman wiped her hands on the apron, “Hello folks, welcome to Bluffsville.” To the man at the head of the table, “Nope, got work to do. See ya later.”
As she disappeared through the door, Indigo said, “Bye, Mom.”
She didn't turn, just lifted her hand, “Bye, Indi.”
The apple cider was cool and sweet. It tasted wonderful to the travelers and they complimented the mayor. Will said, “Of course, I see that you have the wind turbines. Were they here when you came? How did you come to be here and know about the wind energy?”
The mayor laughed a deep and loud sound, “I may not look so smart, but I got a degree from Texas A&M. When the crap hit the fan, I had a good sized ranch about a hun'rd miles east of here. We had some wind mills and provided a portion of our own energy.” He sipped his drink, the smile faded and a troubled look came across his face, “For a good while after things fell apart, a couple of years, things went pretty smoothly. You know, we had cattle and were self sufficient, doing a decent job of surviving. I had several ranch hands. Course, things weren't going so well in the rest of the country. Some wandering heathens arrived at the ranch and soon most of the hands had fell in with them. They decided that they needed the resources of the place and didn't need me...or my family.”
The Days After (Far View) Page 8