Brushfire Plague: Reckoning

by R. P. Ruggiero

  “Can you shoot?”

  “I haven’t hunted in a couple years, but I punch paper targets with friends a couple, three times a year. I’m still a decent shot.”

  Cooper feigned thinking for several seconds, stroking his chin for good measure, “Alright you’re in. But, we’ll be keeping an eye on you.”

  The tension left Tim’s face, he grasped both men’s hands in succession, “Thank you! You won’t regret it.”

  **********

  An hour later, Tim had been introduced to everyone and they had unloaded their gear. Dranko had given them all a tour of the structures and ground. The cabin was an impressive defensive structure. He’d pointed out how the logs had been treated with flame retardant and showed them how to access the basement that lay underneath. There, food, water, and a few firearms were stored; along with a myriad of other supplies. Dranko explained that he had a little over a year’s worth of food for himself. With this many people, he expected it would last for two months.

  “The grocery trucks will be running again by then, right?” Jake asked, knotted eyebrows.

  Dranko shook his head slowly, “Hard to tell. We need to prepare as if not, though.”

  “We’ll need to get our hands on some seeds and get the ground worked outside,” Calvin added.

  A grin lit up Dranko’s face. He pointed to a row of metal cans lining one shelf, “I have plenty of seeds.”

  “You stored seeds?” Angela was incredulous.

  “Damn straight,” Dranko said. Cooper noted how his chest puffed up a bit, “For a few hundred bucks, I was able to put aside plenty of seeds for this kind of situation. I know some people would spend that much on one fancy meal at a restaurant. Here, I can grow enough food for years.”

  Angela shook her head in disbelief, as did Calvin, “Amazing,” his deep voice intoned.

  “I have one question for you, Paul,” Lily Stott piped up.

  Dranko turned towards her, “What?”

  “Have you ever spent a dime on something that wasn’t about getting ready for the end of the world?”

  The room exploded in laughter. Dranko was speechless. Cooper was shocked to see Julianne and Angela briefly clutch each for support while in riotous laughter. Calvin’s laugh boomed off the basement’s walls. Seconds later, Julianne and Angela looked at each awkwardly and then disengaged. Tension down enough for them to embrace while they weren’t thinking, but that’s all for now. When the laughter had subsided, Cooper couldn’t resist.

  “There was that time back in ’98 you bought a candy bar and ate it right then and there with not even a thought to storing it for the end of the world?”

  Dranko punched him in the arm, “Screw off,” he said while passing him on his way to the stairs.

  “Ah, c’mon, Paul. I love you like a tick loves blood,” Lily called after him. The others added other calls of affection. Dranko continued stomping up the stairs. Just before passing out of sight, he lowered his head and gave them all a wide smile to show his anger was in jest. This induced another round of laughter, but lighter.

  Their dinner that night was canned beans and instant mashed potatoes. I guess I have to get used to mostly tasteless food for a while. His mind drifted to how Elena would often make him his favorite home cooked meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing—outside of Thanksgiving. His mouth watered and the memory made the dinner taste even worse.

  They decided the women would lodge in the Airstream, while the men would fit themselves into the cabin. I wonder how long it will be before sexual tension becomes an issue? We have a lot of people still in their prime without a good outlet. “Don’t borrow trouble,” he muttered.

  “What’s that?” Calvin asked.

  Cooper smiled, “Nothing. Just something my father used to say.”

  Chapter Seven

  When Cooper awoke, he found Dranko boiling water for tea. It wasn’t yet light out and the others lay in about the cabin, sleeping.

  “Want some?” Dranko whispered to him.

  He nodded and inclined his head to indicate Dranko should join him outside. Cooper opened the door, being careful to do so quietly, and stepped outside. The air was brisk, and he pulled the oversized green quilted flannel shirt tight around himself. Wood smoke greeted his nose. It smelled like it would at a campground. More people using wood now, they’re saving their propane and heating oil or are already out, he guessed.

  The door opened before him, and Dranko joined him. He took the steaming mug, welcoming the source of heat and the sweet smell of Earl Grey tea.

  “Won’t be long before boiling water for tea might be an extravagance we can’t afford,” Dranko observed.

  Cooper nodded, “You were up late.”

  “Yeah, I was on the ham radio. I wanted to get the lay of the land, both regionally and nationally.”

  “Start locally,” Cooper requested.

  “Well, there have been scattered riots in Portland. Some over the news you released. Some over food. No news about areas around here, except vague references to various local officials ‘establishing order’ in their respective comm...”

  “Strongmen,” Cooper interrupted. Dranko nodded, face laced with concern. “Nationally?”

  “Riots all over the place. Again, it’s a combination of riots demanding the truth about what happened and the other half is over food. People are both desperate and pissed off.”

  “How bad is the unrest?”

  “Pretty bad. Dozens dead in this city. Hundreds in another. Whole sections burning in others. Everything is still teetering. The plague has left a huge gap in the human infrastructure. The planes, trains, and trucks are still not running on time. But, honestly, they’re not really running much at all.”

  “And news about me?”

  “Brother, the hunt is on for you. The President and others in officialdom are continuing to declare you a liar to the thousandth degree.”

  “They still focused on California?”

  “Seems like. I gotta tell you. I think the government and military are stretched beyond belief. I half expected a Blackhawk chopper to have been waiting for us here.”

  Cooper rubbed his chin, “I half expected one back on Lincoln Street!” He paused for a moment before continuing, “What’s happening with the Chinese?”

  “It’s hard to figure. My best guess is that they mostly have sent over police and medical personnel to help out. But, it does sound like small military detachments accompanied them.”

  Cooper’s eyebrows furrowed, “What do you make of that?”

  “I’d guess they are here to scout us out. See the state of our military and defenses, post-Plague.”

  “Hmmmm…could be. What’s the word on the international front?”

  “Russia isn’t just sabre rattling, she’s pulled it out and is waving it above her head. I think they see this as a chance to finally win the Cold War. A few other countries have joined in their call for surgical nuclear strikes against us. Anti-American sentiment is off the scales. Tourists stuck overseas have been beaten and some killed. Embassies all over the place have been attacked. Most countries are demanding ‘justice’ but want a UN panel to determine what that means. But, Russia and her pals aren’t waiting for any UN foreplay. No, they have a serious hard on for us.”

  Cooper rubbed his temples, “What a mess. I think I might have screwed up.”

  Dranko put his hand on his friend’s shoulder for comfort, “Brother, I know you. You didn’t have a choice but to let the truth out.”

  He looked back at him sternly, “Except for breathing and eating, everything is a choice.”

  Dranko looked at the ground, “There’s one more thing.”

  “What?”

  “A reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer is making noise about the billionaire Karl Van Welton’s link to the Brushfire Plague.”

  “I know that name.” Both men whirled around, hands going to their holstered sidearms.

  Julianne stood twenty feet away,
eyes wide in shock, and putting her hand up in a defensive posture, one held a hunting rifle.

  They exhaled together, “Don’t sneak up on us like that,” Cooper growled.

  “I wasn’t sneaking. You guys were just deep in thought. I was on guard duty and drifted over.”

  Dranko shook his head to clear it, “You know this guy?”

  “That’s a name you don’t forget. I would periodically bump into him and other very wealthy men while working with Mitchell. He always described them as our ‘wealthy benefactors’. What’s the Inquirer saying?”

  “A reporter there has found some links between Van Welton’s investments in China prior the outbreak of the plague and his close ties to the President and to Admonitus.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “He speculates that Van Welton knew about the pending outbreak, knew about China’s apparent preparation for it, and bet heavy on them.”

  “What?” Julianne gasped.

  “When a billionaire goes from zero percent invested in a country to almost one-hundred percent invested, it can raise eyebrows. And, it’s no secret that China was one of the least affected countries. Van Welton was also invested in Admonitus. There are dots to connect.”

  “We need to get to the bottom of this!” Julianne was almost hysterical. “I need to know.”

  “Know what?” Cooper asked.

  “Whether I got played like a damned, stupid fiddle!”

  Dranko looked at her, nonplussed, “Well, I can get onto the Internet from here. You can research the other names you remember and see what you come up with.”

  “Good. I want to get started right away.” She grabbed Dranko by the arm, pulling him inside. He looked at Cooper, helpless. Cooper shrugged. That woman gets what she wants. He finished his tea alone, enjoying the solitude and quiet. When the last warm mouthful fell down this throat, he went back inside to start making breakfast. Boiled oats with a dollop of honey. Good times, he mused to himself.

  ***********

  After breakfast, they gathered outside at Dranko’s urging. Cooper was glad to see Freddie back on his feet. He moved gingerly, but he was moving. They gathered in a circle as Dranko reviewed a litany of protocols needed for security’s purposes. He laid out the week’s guard duty schedule.

  “I’d suggest we swap Calvin on nights for Julianne. You’re a natural night owl, right?” Cooper directed his question at Calvin. Put people where their strengths are, nothing overcomes natural talent, his father had often told him.

  Calvin nodded. “Okay,” Dranko responded.

  “You might as well put me on the other night shift. I’ve done enough night ER shifts, I can handle it fine,” Angela added.

  Dranko scribbled onto his schedule sheet, “Done.” He finished with a flourish of pencil on paper and then continued, “Let me turn to the more unpleasant topic of sanitation.”

  “Pee-yoooou,” Freddie groaned, grabbing his nose and plugging it in exaggeration. Jake howled with delight. So good to see him be a kid again. The others chuckled.

  Dranko looked annoyed, “I was set up for myself and my composting bucket system would have worked fine. But, with this many people, we need a better plan.”

  “Let me guess, we’re building an outhouse,” Lily asked.

  “That’s the short of it. I’d suggest we get started today. I have the dimensions we need right here,” he said, foraging a piece of paper from his stack.

  Cooper took a step forward, “Calvin, Tim, Angela, and I should get on this.” The others agreed.

  “Great. I need to work on our menu and estimate out our caloric intake…”

  “Our what?” Jake asked, puzzled.

  Cooper rustled his hair, “It means he needs to figure out how we can eat each day to make our food last the longest.”

  “Get ready to tighten our belts…literally, right?” Freddie added, his face turning serious.

  Dranko frowned, “’Fraid so. We’ll all be losing some weight, I’m sure.”

  “Well, I have twenty I would lose gladly,” Calvin joked, patting his belly.

  “Most of us have a few extra pounds, but being hungry isn’t any fun,” Dranko said, smothering the humor. Cooper’s eyes narrowed as he glared at Dranko. I’m going to have to talk to him. He’s bringing everyone else down. Constantly. For no good reason. Calvin’s face fell and those who had been smiling were no longer.

  “This afternoon, can we go and visit my son, please?” Lily Stott beckoned from the other side of the circle.

  “Absolutely. It will be a good source of news and he can give us a good lay of the land, too,” Cooper answered. “In the meantime, you and Julianne should be on guard and food patrol!”

  Dranko shook his head, “Julianne’s tearing through that research. You won’t get her off the computer for nothin’.” Cooper caught Angela frowning out of the corner of his eye.

  “I can help Lily. We can shout if anyone starts coming up the road, or,” Freddie paused, catching Jake’s eye, “I can fart real loud!” Once again, Jake laughed loudly while the adults groaned. Potty humor and eleven-year-olds!

  “Right. Let’s do this. Everyone keep your weapons within arm’s reach, alright?” They all nodded and began drifting off to work.

  “Wait!” Cooper shouted. Everyone was startled and a few of them visibly jumped. “What’s the air horn sign for come running and be ready to fight?”

  They were startled by his outburst, just what he’d intended.

  “Ah…one long blast!” Jake stammered.

  He smiled at his son, “Good. I just wanted to test you. The surprise is the stress we all experience at a time like that. Or, at least a taste of it.”

  Dranko patted him on the shoulder, “Clever bastard.”

  “Best to test under stress.”

  “Who said that?”

  “My father. Who else?” Cooper responded with evident pride.

  “Your father was one smart bastard. I wish I could have met him.”

  Cooper nodded with a wistful look in his eyes, “Me, too.”

  Dranko showed Cooper and the others where he wanted the outhouse trench dug and reinforced how deep it would have to be for a group of their size.

  “Shovels over in that shed,” Dranko said pointing to a ragged wooden shed that lay next to the large gardening area.

  “We got this,” Cooper said, dismissing him. He ambled off, back towards the cabin. “Who’d like to dig with me first? I think if we work in pairs in fifteen minutes bursts, we’ll get more done faster,” he said to the other men.

  “I will dig first. ‘Work’s begun is sooner done.’ That’s what my father always said,” Calvin said as he marched off toward the shed to retrieve the shovels.

  Within minutes, the two of them had fallen into an easy rhythm. Despite the chill in the air, they were both quickly bathed in sweat. When their first shift of fifteen minutes had finished, both men were stripping off their shirts as they handed their shovels to Angela and Tim.

  “I’ll get us a pitcher of water and cups,” Cooper said before heading off to the cabin. Calvin nodded, gasping for air.

  “I will go and see if there are gloves in the shed. My hands are already feeling it.” The two men moved off in separate directions, as the first spadefuls of dirt began flying from Angela and Tim.

  Cooper and Calvin returned at about the same time. Cooper carried a metal pitcher and four plastic cups, while Calvin had two pairs of worn gloves in hand. He tossed them to the two digging, who welcomed the pause while they put them on.

  They watched in silence as the others dug, breathing deeply to get as much oxygen into their muscles as possible, before their next turn would begin. When it was their time, they took one last deep breath, donned the gloves, and set to digging at a furious pace.

  Six hours later, minus a short break for a lunch of beans and baked bread, the trench was finished. The bread had been a delicious surprise, courtesy of Lily Stott. It even had nuts and raisins folded into
a deep, tasty wheat flour. Dranko came to inspect their work.

  He nodded approvingly, “Good. Tomorrow, we can build up some walls for privacy. I think I have enough wood and plywood to make this work.”

  The quartet of diggers smiled at one another. Their hands were raw, unaccustomed to manual labor. Their muscles hurt. And will hurt worse tomorrow.

  “We did something good today, friends. We dug a shithouse. It’s symbolic, too. We will face more ‘stuff’ together. But, guess what? We stick together, we can get through it, just like we did this together,” Cooper observed and noted the agreement and appreciation from the others as they stretched and nodded. He recalled his father’s words about using every chance you had to educate people about their purpose and build a team. I must be getting better. I’m using his advice before I consciously remember it!

  As the group readied to walk back to the cabin, Cooper pulled Dranko’s sleeve, “Can we chat for a second?”

  Dranko looked at him, eyebrow cocked, “Sure.” They moved away from the group, walking toward the gardening area.

  “I need a favor from you,” Cooper started.

  “What’s that?”

  “I know you’re just trying to tell everyone what to be ready for or offer that realistic viewpoint, but I think you’re bringing people down.”

  Dranko turned to him with a confused frown, “Whatdya mean?”

  “Like this morning, when Calvin was making light of the food situation and you went and told him that ‘being hungry isn’t any fun.’”

  Dranko’s eyes narrowed, “I was just telling them what I thought. They need to be ready. This is serious business. Not some camping trip.”

  Cooper’s jaw tightened, but he fought to keep his voice steady, “I hear you. I’m just asking you to not always say stuff like that.”

  Dranko took a step back, “So, you want me to lie? That’s a surprise coming from you.”

  Cooper growled, “I’m not asking you to lie. I just want you to think about what you say and how it will affect others.”

  “Look, it’s not my job to hold anyone’s hands. That’s not my job,” Dranko said shaking his head slowly.