"Okay."
"Plus, it should be warmer behind me. But if you need to warm up or you see something, just let me know," said Gus.
"Okay. How long is this going to take?"
"It's probably twenty-five miles in a straight line, but a lot longer the way we're going, so it could take all day. We'll go as fast as we can and still be watchful. There will be locked gates we'll have to deal with, I just don't know how many. Snowmobiles can go almost anywhere there's snow, so hopefully we can find drifts to ride over the fences and not mess with the gates; though I did pack a large pair of bolt cutters."
"We might see people. Lots of isolated places that may not be friendly," Hank said.
"This part of Unaweep Canyon hasn't proven to be very friendly from the start, so I'm ready to leave, let's go," Ela said.
Outside the front door, Hank tossed a firebrand into the house on a trail of kerosene leading into the front bedroom. He offered a prayer for his friends at the second funeral pyre of the morning.
~~~
Tucked behind Gus on the snowmobile with an AR-15 slung across her back, Ela visualized a digital readout of her core temperature slowly winding down from 98.6. Her future prospects were reduced to becoming an armed ice sculpture, artfully decorated with snowflakes, and frozen in place on a snowmobile seat.
Looking in all directions she held onto Gus to keep from falling off. Each time the snowmobile tipped and swayed her grip around his waist reflexively tightened. She put her hands into his coat pockets in an effort to find warmth for her gloved fingers. The packed snowmobile trail on Highway 141 enabled them to travel at face-freezing speeds. Hitting a bump in the road pushed the tip of her near frozen nose onto the back of his neck, and she felt him flinch. Relief from the stinging cold overrode her inhibitions; he flinched less each time she pressed part of her frozen face against the warmth of his neck.
They reached the turnoff and slowed to a stop with Gus pulling up beside Hank. In the sudden silence after the machines were shut down, Ela realized how tightly her grip on Gus had gotten. She immediately climbed off and stood, shifting her weight from one foot to the other and hugging herself; feeling very cold and a little embarrassed.
"So, are you a fan of winter sports yet?" Hank asked her with a smile.
"Soon as feeling returns to my extremities, I'll get back to you on that. Maybe with time a fondness might grow for some aspects of snowmobiling, most likely a hot drink afterward," Ela said looking at Hank.
When she glanced at Gus she sensed an unspoken question in his expression.
"What?" Ela challenged.
"Nothing, just wondering how you're doing. Your face cold?"
"I'm managing the best I can with what I have to work with," Ela said.
"Got enough room back there, are you comfortable?" Gus said, smiling.
She climbed back on, "Just remember, I'm armed back here. Let's go." She winked at Hank.
The unimproved road they were now on had not seen any traffic since the first snowfall. The snowmobile's ride through the undisturbed snow felt less stable than it had on the hard-packed trail, even though the speed was less. She tried to lean exactly as Gus did, by supporting most of her weight with her feet and with her butt on the seat only on the flat, straight stretches when stability allowed.
To break trail on some of the steeper parts, Gus took the lead from Hank. Even with two riders their snowmobile climbed better than Hank's machine did while pulling the heavy sled. When Gus pulled out to pass he stood up to use his body's weight to throw the snowmobile onto the plane and path he wanted. Ela also rose, holding his waist, following Gus's lead, so that their dance-like movements guided the roaring machine as it carved a trail for Hank to follow.
She suspected he enjoyed it as much as she did, when the switchbacks they carved got more frequent. Right, she chided herself, he's probably more "at one" with this snowmobile than thinking about dancing with me. Still though, in this new world she would take her pleasures when and where they came.
Hank slowed to a stop as they approached another locked gate. Gus pulled up beside him and shut off the snowmobile. "That is a seriously strong gate, we'll need to find a way to cross the fence. Want to take a break and eat something first?" Gus asked.
"Like minds. I'm hungry and could use a break," said Hank.
Ela climbed off the machine and said, "While you two are finding the food I'm taking a walk back down our trail around the bend there."
Hank dug in his seat storage compartment and came out with a Thermos and some food. He looked at Utah's La Salle Mountains on the distant western horizon while trying to judge how much progress they had made. "We must be on top now. How much further to your friend's place?"
Gus took a moment mentally figuring, "Not far in miles, probably five or less. I've never come in this way before, so I don't know how long it will take. Been thinking though, I did another job up here a few years ago, and it's not over a mile or two from here. A weird job from the start, a rich guy from New York bought the property and put up a big steel building over a slab, with the plumbing for a house in the middle. I've wondered about it ever since. We might just mosey over there, I'd like to see what's what."
"Might be a good way to get shot," said Hank.
"What might be a good way to get shot?" Ela asked returning.
"Oh, I got to thinking about a job I did near here a couple of years ago. Rich guy from back East bought a chunk of land and put up a big steel building in the middle of it, nothing else. We did the slab work, with the wellhead and plumbing already in place for a house. When I came back to fix a few things I could see the building would be totally self-contained and off the grid when completed. Out of curiosity, now might be the time to buzz by there and see if anyone's there, that's all," Gus said.
Ela looked at the graying sky then back at Gus, "We've been lucky, so far today, but it looks like it might start snowing again, so my priority is finding shelter soon. Sorry guys, but I'm not dressed for an arctic expedition."
"We'll go right by the place on this road. We can decide then if we want to investigate further when we get there. Let's find a way over this fence and get on our way," said Gus.
They finished their modest meal, and each had a few sips of almost hot coffee from the Thermos before they loaded up. Gus took the lead and followed the fence line until it disappeared beneath a snow bank. Using the snowdrift they easily crossed the fence without damage to it or the snowmobiles. Not long afterwards he slowed to a stop in an open area.
"The driveway was hard to see even without snow covering it, it's just a trail along the tree line over there. Then for maximum privacy it cuts through the trees at an angle, which makes it hard to see from the road. I don't see any tracks, which means nobody has visited recently, so let's run over there," said Gus, looking at Hank and nudging Ela.
"Okay," said Hank.
"Let's get this over with, it's starting to snow," Ela said.
Gus took off, found a place to cross the fence, and then aimed for the opening in the tree line. Once through the trees he stopped on the edge of a much smaller clearing with an unremarkable, but large, steel building standing in the middle. There was no smoke or steam from roof vents, and no tracks in the snow were visible.
"Looks deserted to me," said Gus.
"Let's go check it out," Hank said.
Gus banged on the steel personnel door to no avail. He turned toward Hank and Ela then shrugged. "As I remember the place is built like a vault with almost twice as many frames as a normal building. Anyway, we better get going, the weather is getting worse," he said as he started to walk back to the snowmobile.
"Hold it right there!" came a man's voice from behind him. "Put your hands up and slowly turn around."
Gus did as instructed, expecting to see someone at the door, but it remained closed. Then he noticed a security camera above the door was aimed at him.
"You're the concrete guy. What are you doing here?" came the voice fr
om somewhere near the camera.
"We are trying to find out if it's safe to go back to our homes in Grand Junction. We've been snowbound over by Gateway; attackers have killed three of us. We are looking for shelter, not trouble."
"Well, you've already made trouble for me by making tracks leading into the driveway, and it will only be worse if you leave. I don't want to risk you telling others about this place, either."
Automatic gunfire erupted, kicking up clouds of snow in front of the two snowmobiles. Hank and Ela dove for cover behind the sled.
"Just a demonstration. I wanted all three of you to know you are in a kill zone, and it won't serve you well to try anything nefarious." The door opened. "Come on in, and don't let the heat out."
Ela and Hank followed Gus into the building. They entered a small room furnished with benches along one wall. "Take off your outer layer and leave all your weapons."
After they had complied the inner door opened. "Mr. Tulley, I presume," said a man that Gus recognized as the one he'd poured the slab for.
"Yes sir, good to see you Mr. Tomlin. Thank you for letting us in."
"I wouldn't have if it weren't part of my plan. But I also thought you went out of your way to address my concerns during the building process. Your honesty and integrity are remembered. So, who did you bring with you?"
"This is Ela Novena and Hank Lerner," Gus introduced everyone.
Inside the building stood a one-level, walled structure with a flat roof. They followed Mr. Tomlin toward a door leading into what appeared to be a large home built completely within the steel building. Surrounding the inner structure were pallets of stacked boxes and shelving holding all manner of supplies.
Once inside the inner sanctum, they found it to be a spacious and comfortable home, with an open concept living room and kitchen area in which they now stood. "Please find a place and sit down. Can I get something to drink for any of you?"
"Anything hot would be wonderful," said Ela.
Mr. Tomlin looked at Gus, "Is my memory failing me or did we add a liberal amount of Baileys to the last cup of coffee we shared?"
"Your memory is correct and I will forever be in your debt if that flavor of coffee is still available,” Gus said with a smile.
"And you sir?" Mr. Tomlin asked Hank.
"I'll join Gus, so he doesn't have to drink alone," Hank said.
"For me too, please," Ela said.
"Coming right up, make yourselves comfortable."
After bringing a carafe of coffee, four mugs, and a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream to the table, Mr. Tomlin said, "Tell me the story of how you were attacked."
Gus started his story by telling of his walk out of the high country and finding Ela and Con in the car. When Gus described the helicopter incident Mr. Tomlin asked some clarifying questions.
"Gus, as you've probably figured out by now, I'm a prepper. Storing all the materials I've gathered is what this building is designed for, along with providing a protective perimeter around this house. The condensed version is: I prepared all of this to hunker down in during hard times of any type. A small group of people can live here, indefinitely, if they are conservative and industrious. There are accommodations in here for up to four families. If hard times started, I planned to add people in here and network with other groups that had formed in the area. I guess that time has come."
"Do you know what it's like in Grand Junction?" Gus asked.
"I think the biggest fires burned out a couple of days ago. I have a lookout shelter on top of this building; it's high enough to see a long ways on a clear day. But, for the last week, there has been a lot of smoke coming out of the valley. Not as much yesterday, and today I think there are fewer fires now than when it first began."
"Maybe it's getting better?" Ela asked.
"Sorry, but I don't think so. More likely nothing left to burn."
"Don't you have a radio or TV for news, Mr. Tomlin?" Ela asked.
"Call me Kirk, please. No news for days. When the power went out, cell phones and the Internet went too. Then, a couple of days later, it became impossible to get anything over the radio, except static being broadcast to jam radio signals. I know little more than that, but the expanse and duration of all that's happened in the last week tells me this could be the beginning of a national, if not global, collapse."
"A few years ago I listened to a man with a goal to decrease total human population down to a sustainable two billion people worldwide. He planned on using extreme weather events, to start waves of human die-offs, by coupling them with cyber attacks and acts of terrorism, to make the storm damage much worse and the death rate much higher. He said his group would continue trying to reduce human population until they no longer needed to," Ela said. "If he is able to realize his vision, we'll need to change our vision of the future."
"It is inevitable that something was the catalyst, whether it's that fellow or not. For those that ignored warnings, and don't have enough food or supplies, this may be their last winter. But that's the outside world, we need to work out what goes on inside this building," Kirk said.
"You have a captive audience it seems, so please lay it out for us," said Gus.
"Gus, you know part of it from when you did the foundation. I hope no one knows about the completed project's full capabilities."
"Do you really think all this won't blow over in a week or two?" Hank asked, not yet ready to drop the conversation about what was going on in GJ. "I've lived through more than one crisis that's hard to even remember now."
"No one knows how long this is going to last, which is exactly the problem. Our society is built on confidence and technology. How these events will ultimately be judged is for future generations. All we know, for sure, is our technology is not available to us during this natural disaster at this time of dire need. People across the country, just like the people in Grand Junction, are waiting on the Government to send relief supplies. Confidence slips more each day that relief fails to arrive and the house of cards comes closer to tumbling down," Kirk said.
"My house has been empty for ten days, so I have my doubts that I have anything to go home to," said Gus.
"Chances are that Mom's house, and probably yours too, Hank, are not any better off."
"Maybe, probably, but . . . damn it," Hank said and then looked away.
"Back to inside this building, since our options outside of it are limited," Gus said looking at Kirk.
"In all honesty being here alone, receiving mostly negative news when it comes, I find it hard to keep from sinking into depression; I long for conversation and something to smile about. On the other hand my net worth consists of the supplies contained in this facility, its systems, and the hundred and sixty acres it sets on. It's my 'all' that would be shared with you. What's your 'all' that you would add to the total that we would all share?"
"We don't have much food to speak of. On the sled is an arsenal of weapons, ammunition, and some silver and gold coins. Ela is a great conversationalist, Hank is always good for a smile, and I can keep them in line most of the time," said Gus.
"Conversation and a reason to smile are the very two items I miss the most. Shall we get those snowmobiles inside and hope the new snow covers your tracks? I'll open the doors."
Tess & Eric - Atlantic Ocean
Smoke filtered the rising sun, only a dim red orb rose out of the Atlantic for their first sunrise at sea. Behind them, the view of the horizon to the west, of fires and their glow reflected from low clouds, had long disappeared below their wake, leaving only the smell of burning cities. The blend of smells, from chemical to barbecue, riding the offshore wind could be little else than modern industrial cities burning throughout the night. Standing in Robin's cockpit looking back at their country, they both somewhat resembled homeowners standing on the sidewalk watching their home burn. However, the similarity didn't extend to the emotions generated by the sight; one felt regret for the loss, the other anticipation for what would come.
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~~~
Since both of them were in the cockpit without anything more urgent to do, Tess decided to talk to Eric about life at sea on a small boat. She wanted to go over safety issues first, to see how Eric accepted those rules.
"We need to discuss how we're going to get both of us safely to our destination. Rules-of-The-Road at sea require that someone be on watch at all times, so we need to set a schedule. Anytime traffic is spotted and a crossing-situation is imminent, both of us need to be up here, at least for the first day or two. From this moment forward we need to wear safety harnesses and be clipped to the boat when above deck. And while at sea no pissing while standing, not in the head, nor over the rail," Tess held eye contact with Eric while she recited the rules, watching his mental digestive process.
"What happens if one of us falls overboard?"
"The other one stands at the stern and waves goodbye."
"You're telling me not to fall overboard in the first place."
"You got it, we're probably both dead if that happens. The way this will, hopefully, work out means we only see each other in passing. When one is on watch the other one's duty is to rest and sleep, if possible. We have pre-cooked food, so eat that first, if you're hungry and can keep it down. Later, when we get our sea legs, we can cook. Each of us cleans up after ourselves. If one of us cooks for both, the other does the dishes. If one of us is alone on deck and falls overboard the other won't know for sometime, it's best to keep one hand holding onto the boat at all times, or you might be using it to tread water."
"What about the sails?"
"For now we will use the autopilot setting that follows the wind. As long as the wind comes steadily from one direction, the sail trim and changes will be minimal. It's pretty easy to feel if Robin is over, or under, canvassed; but I will take care of that until you get the hang of it. Right now the most important thing is avoiding collisions with other vessels, ergo keeping a good watch is top priority and keeps us alive.
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