Flightless

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  They were on autopilot and the computer was really the only one flying the plane. It took some years before pilots relied solely on computers for landing an aircraft, but by the year 2000 most all pilots were comfortable with computers flying the plane.

  “Okay everyone; buckle up snuggly as we are about to land at McNary Field in Salem, Oregon.” Both Dana and Dan watched the clouds fly by the window and wondered how anyone would be able to fly in this weather. Then all of a sudden they broke through the clouds and landed in a pouring rain.

  Cathy said, “Well so much for the California sunshine. However, it makes things grow and water is the life blood of this planet. Let’s see whether or not each of us has a green thumb.”

  James taxied over to a hanger that would be too small for this cargo plane. The best would be to have the back end as close to the hanger as possible. He said, “I wonder how long it’ll continue to rain?”

  As if God answered his question, it suddenly stopped raining. Slowly the clouds broke up and a weak sun shone through. Cathy had checked before hand on the weather in Salem for January and found they would needs coats for sure.

  ++++

  South of Salem is the city of Albany. In the National Guard Armory a gang of sixteen deformed humans sat around a make shift wood stove that sent its smoke to the ceiling. The door was open for some smoke to go out, but nobody really cared one way or the other. Guttural sounds were heard and it appeared, like down in California, a language had developed that only the plague victims understood.

  All looked up as the cargo jet passed overhead descending for a landing. Translated the leader said, “What is that sound? It’s something in the air above. What devil is at work here? We must be ready to defend our territory.”

  ++++

  At the Salem airport, the hanger doors were opened and Dan driving the forklift unloaded the supplies. The Humvee was sitting off to the side. James and Cathy were discussing what the plan was after the unloading. James said, “The Oregon State Correctional Institute is off highway 22 east of here. I suggest we take the Humvee and see what lies in store for us. It should be well fortified, but finding a way in might prove difficult. I’d guess it is electrical operated and I doubt there are padlocks on the gates, but who knows.”

  “Let’s make sure we are armed and ready at all times. Those monsters in California scared the hell out of me. I sure hope there are none of those things near here,” said Cathy wrapping her arms around herself as the fear and cold were penetrating both her body and her clothes.

  Dr. Edwin made sure his supplies had survived the trip. He checked each pallet and box. Satisfied he told them he was ready to go when they were. James had decided that later they would come back and cover the cargo plane the best they could.

  James did the driving and this was the first time for all of them to drive on a road without traffic. Cathy was the navigator reading the map and giving directions to James. Dana was being very quiet and clearly didn’t like the gloomy day. Later she told Cathy that it seemed the clouds were so heavy on her body it was hard to walk. Cathy assured her that all would be well after she got used to the weather in Oregon.

  Just off Highway 22 the OSCI sat rather dark and foreboding. A few houses were scattered around and it appeared one large dwelling abutted the twenty foot walls of the main prison. Before that, however, a chain link fence with barb wire surrounded the whole property. The gates were open and James smiled at their continued luck. Just in case, they had loaded the gas generator in the back for power if needed.

  Stopping at the big house they got out to explore the inside and inspect the iron door that people used to enter and exit. There were big iron doors for delivery good, but for now James was intent on the smaller iron door. James frowned looking at the locking system. Apparently it was both electrically and mechanically lockable. Once again their luck held as it stood open as if asking someone to enter. The only sounds were drips of water from the recent rain off the trees near the big house.

  James pushed the door open and a loud squeak of rusty hinges came back to startle him. Dan was right behind him holding his rife but no finger on the trigger. Just inside the door was a guard house. Inside was dusty and it had been a long time since anyone occupied the place. A key cabinet stood open with keys hanging from a number of pegs clearly marked. James said, “We’ll let the door speak as a warning sound if anyone comes around. For the time being we’ll block off the electrical lock on the door and use the keys to come and go. Let’s go look at the big door for delivery.”

  “Well this looks easy enough. We just slide the big bar and open the doors. However, I think for now we’ll leave it locked or shut. Let’s go see how the girls are doing at the big house.”

  Dr. Edwin went with Cathy and Dana to the big house. The front door was not locked. Slowly Cathy opened the door and stepped into a musty smelling old house. Dust was everywhere and the house needed airing out in the worst way. From the entryway the big room on the left side was a living room decorated in an antique style. Obviously it was for looks and not comfort as the stiff back chairs and such things looked mighty uncomfortable to Dana.

  The next room, just past the stairs leading to the second floor, was a library and office room. This had a more comfortable look of newer sofas and chairs surrounded by a fair amount of books. Cathy strolled around and stopped at the desk. A legal pad lay on top of the desk with a pen on top of the pad. Cathy removed the pen and blew the dust off. Then she read the first page:

  “We truly hope someone will read this note in the future. That will mean someone survived the plague. I released all the prisoners, but some refused to leave as they had no place to go. As this is our home, we will stay here and we had maintenance with a back hoe dig graves for all but one of us. The last one will bury the first dead. I pray I’m the last one so I can bury my family for eternity….”

  “Well so much for that plight of the warden. I wonder who was the last one? I think somewhere in this house is a skeleton and we should fan out and find it,” said Cathy.

  The back room next to the library and partly under the stairs was a large kitchen. Bay windows looked out over the back side of the yard. It was there they found the skeleton of a man dressed in pajamas.

  Cathy said, “I’d say he got his wish and was the last member alive.”

  Dr. Edwin said, “Here let me take care of him. I’ll move him outside and place a cover over him. It’s a good idea to respect the dead.” He found a plastic garbage sack and placed the bones inside. Cathy and Dana went upstairs to look around.

  James and Dan came in and gave the house a big hello. Cathy answered from upstairs and told them to come up. They found Cathy and Dana in the master bedroom. Cathy said, as they walked in, “There are five bedrooms upstairs. As you can see there’re two big single beds here and I’m suggesting James Atwater, we occupy this bedroom together.”

  James smiled and Dana blushed. He said, “I’m game if you are. We need to find some running water for showers and clothes washing at some point in time.”

  “I saw a running river, but have no idea about water supply,” said Cathy.

  “Yes, and I propose to take advantage of it for our water supply. We can run a plastic pipe from upriver to this house. We’ve a lot of work ahead of us and we are lucky we are not over the hill in age.” Cathy and Dana rolled on the bed laughing and James smiled as he looked out the window over the western landscape.

  James said, “I’m getting a little hungry how about you guys?”

  “Yes, let’s go shopping. I saw a Safeway not far from here. Let’s go check it out,” said Cathy.

  An empty parking lot greeted the shoppers. The store was dark and looked haunted to Dana. She hung close to Cathy and Cathy took her hand. James and Dan had to pry the door open to get in. A familiar smell greeted them: old rotten food and a closed up environment. James propped the doors open and hurried to the back to do the same. Soon a cool breeze swept the place mostly free of the
bad odor.

  Shopping was not much fun and mostly they loaded up on can goods and pasta. Spices were mostly unusable due to moisture. There was much to be said about a desert climate rather than a moist next to the Pacific Ocean climate. Next door was a hardware store where they loaded up on tools and camping gear. By then the survivors had gotten used to the dust and being dirty.

  Dr. Edwin said, while carrying out a box of candles, “You know Dan this operation and what we’re doing should be written down in log somewhere.”

  “I’ll start that tonight Dr. Edwin. That’s a good idea. I can’t imagine what it might be like ten years from now. Do you think there’re other people alive in Europe and places like that?”

  “I’d say so Dan. However, I’m scared there’re more monsters out there. I’ve no idea how to deal with them.”

  “I’ve a lot of confidence in Captain James and his leadership. Cathy is great too. And of course you joining us will really help,” said Dan.

  ++++

  It was quiet going back to the big house. Not so far away, kiddy corner from the big house, sat a small house that looked deserted. Nobody paid any attention to it. An old pickup truck sat in front. First guess might be a caretaker place. However, as they drove up to the big house, a pair of eyes looked through the dirty front window. It’s tongue hanging out. A small sound escaped from its throat.

  Chapter VIII

  A propane BBQ was used for the first time that night for dinner. The bottled gas proved useable as it was sealed up tight. James said, while cooking some corned beef, “We need a change of menu. Some fresh vegetables would be nice. I know I’m dreaming but you know there’s something I haven’t thought of and that is fish. I wonder if the river or lakes or the oceans still have fish alive.”

  “You know,” said Dr. Edwards, “There was still plenty of live fish when I came up, but have no idea nowadays. In my professional opinion, I think some died, the mammals, but the bottom dwellers are probably still alive.”

  “I think we need to go fishing,” said Cathy. “If nothing else, the fish eggs would have survived the plague and some fish surely must be swimming around.”

  After dinner they took sleeping bags and went to their respective rooms. Everyone was so tired, not a sound was heard all night long.

  The next morning James woke up at dawn or what appeared as just turning light out. It was damn cold in the bedroom and he unzipped his bag and then used it for a wrap around the shoulders blanket. He stood looking out the window at a grey day, but not any rain at the present time. He wanted a shower and a hot one at that. Now was the time to get an inline electric water heater set up. After breakfast, it was off to the hardware store for plastic pipe, heater and of course fishing supplies.

  Bottled cold water into a plastic bucket sufficed for a face wash and tooth brush. While doing his toilette, Cathy woke up complaining of the chill in the room.

  James said, “We need some long handles and wool socks and boots for this country. After breakfast we go shopping. We need a good outfitters store. I’ll look in the yellow pages downstairs in the library.”

  Dr. Edwin lay in his sleeping bag thinking about fish and marine biology. The sea was teeming with vegetables, like seaweed and so on. He also thought that it might be best if they lived next to the Pacific Ocean. Indeed the subject needed further discussion.

  After a hearty breakfast of canned goods, the entire team went to town shopping. Dr. Edwin was a fountain of information about life in the sea. Both James and Cathy were listening carefully. But first they needed to see if there was any fish in the river. This prison afforded ample protection, if needed.

  James said, “We could always take a week and go to the coast for harvesting what you thought we could eat for a change in diet.”

  “Yes, for sure we could James. I’m with you for getting the basics of hot water and toilet facilities. I know a bit about fishing so will find us some gear and give it a try,” said Dr. Edwin.

  James had found the address of a Costco and next to it was a giant hardware store. Like the Safeway Super Market, Costco was silent and dark. At the hardware store next to Safeway they discovered some batteries that were not yet dead for flashlights. In addition, a rechargeable battery unit was acquired. Now they could recharge the batteries and have a ready flashlight when needed.

  Inside Costco looked like a tornado had struck. The place was a mess. This was the first time they found a store ransacked. What did it mean and was this before or after the plague struck? James and Cathy split up and went looking for any clues that might lead to an explanation. Both hoped and prayed that this was before the plague and not afterwards.

  Cathy and Dana went to the vitamin section to check on expiration dates and such things. James and Dan went looking through the hardware part of the store to see if anything caught their eye. Dr. Edwin was looking at plastic baggies and seal –a- meal device for food preservation.

  As far as it looked to James and Cathy it was ransacked before the plague hit. The foodstuffs that were taken appeared to be things to use before and not after the plague. It looked like a lot of frozen things and fresh foods were absent.

  Later they gave a sigh of relief to think they had missed any signs of monsters. However, nobody let their guard down. All were armed and cognizant of the unknown.

  James, meanwhile, had found his in-line water heater and a giant roll of plastic water pipe. While shopping James loaded a cart with shower plumbing and accessories were gathered up for a temporarily permanent shower stall.

  By the time they were finished, the back end of the Humvee was full. Dan said, “I’m sure glad we don’t have to pay for this stuff.” Laughter broke an otherwise gloomy day making it seem brighter than it really was.

  +++

  The same pair of eyes watched the Humvee pull into the yard. From behind it sat two more just like it. Silence was the order of the day and the sounds of human voices were very foreign to their ears.

  +++

  Dr. Edwin and Dan set up the fishing poles with spinners for river fishing. Dan followed Edwin and quickly learned how to tie a fishing knot and learn about how much lead to add for swift water or slack water. After a canned lunch and fruit they hiked over to the river. Dana said, “I wished I had a picture of this. I’ll start a list of other things to shop for the next time we go to town.”

  Cathy told her what a fine idea that was and a desk top computer or laptop would be also on their list. James had overheard them talking and said what a fine idea that was. Also he was sure there was a big generator around here somewhere and he would go looking after he set up the shower.

  After plumbing a makeshift shower stall, James would need some help with the large roll of black plastic water pipe. An old gravel road ran up the creek and that is what James followed in the Humvee. He saw the two fishermen standing on the bank not far off the gravel road and maybe only three hundred yards from the big house.

  Dan with a big grin on his face held up two fish about as long as his forearm. Well, James thought, that answers that question as whether or not there are fish in the river. He stopped and took a sight line from the river to the big house for the water pipe. James had a new ball hat on and he took it off and scratched his head. The problem facing him was priming the pipe. Getting the water to flow would be a slight problem. Finally after some very deliberate thinking and talking to Dr. Edwin, it was decided that the pipe needed first of all placed in the river and then extended underwater for perhaps a hundred feet or more upriver.

  Along this stretch of flat ground the river did little more than meander along. James threw a stick in and watched it float down river. The current was fairly strong and as winter was upon them, the river was crystal clear as snow up high prevented any run off. Come spring that would be a different story, but for now James was about to experiment with the hopes of a warm, if lucky, hot shower.

  Dan tied a big rock to the black pipe about a hundred feet from the open end. He waded ou
t into the river as far as he could and tossed the rock and pipe into the water. James held the other end and likewise, rock weighted, placed the pipe in fairly deep water. After that he and Dan rolled out the pipe down to the big house. James then took a hacksaw and cut the pipe. Dan placed a big rock on the pipe and they waited to see if water would come forth. They waited and waited and nothing came out of the pipe.

  James said, "I saw a shop vacuum in that storage shed about back of the house. We could hook it up to the generator and suck the black pipe so water would flow."

  "Hang on sir, I'll get it and the long drop cord. I'll be right back." Ten minutes later James heard the generator running and here came Dan with the shop vac. James had found some duct tape and taped the hose to the black pipe. Dan plugged it in and then they sat back and waited. Meanwhile Dan looked over across the street at the old house with an equally old pickup sitting in front of the single car garage. For some reason Dan felt that someone or something was watching him. He decided that he would go look at the first opportunity and then surprise hit him as water spilled out of the shop vac.

  James disconnected the vacuum and let the water flow. The only thing left to do was to hook up the black pipe to the in-line heater. Dan was rather impressed that James had the foresight to find all the plumbing things necessary for reduction in size from the black pipe to the heater.

  By then the two girls had come out to see what the fuss was all about. After giving the project an eyeful Cathy said, "Do you really think it will work?"

  "Not positive, but I think it will. I've a few more things to do and then I'll give it a test run. Dan can hold the boards and I'll do the nailing. An hour should suffice. Bring some towels when you come back," he said laughing.