I hated to put the book down, but it was time to check in with everyone.
“Cabin one, this is base.” I said into the radio and waited patiently for them to answer.
“This is cabin one”, said a man’s voice.
“Everything 10-90?” I inquired.
“10-4.” He answered and that was all it took. Now to the next one.
When I reached the bunkhouse, things were different.
“Bunkhouse, this is base.” I repeated and waited.
“This is bunkhouse. Go ahead.” The voice said.
“10-90?” I asked again.
“We may have a problem, base.” A voice replied solemnly. “Can you bring Doc to the radio?”
“10-4 bunkhouse. Standby.” I answered as I slid off of the bed and powerwalked out of the room and down the hall to the main area to find Doc. I didn’t see him, but told the group of people sitting in front of the fireplace that we needed him quickly.
“I know where he is,” said Benson. “I’ll be right back. Hold on.”
It was only a couple minutes later when the doctor showed up looking a bit winded which we all are when we try to keep up with the soldier boys.
“Doctor, the bunkhouse asked me to get you. Something’s wrong.” I said as I handed the radio over to him.
“Bunkhouse, this is Doc Taylor. How can I be of service?” asked the doctor who if I wasn’t confused had a smudge of lipstick on his neck that perfectly matched the color that Nicole was wearing as she tried to hide in the shadows to listen to what was going on. I wondered how long it would take for those two to hook up. I should have known something was going on when he let her call him by his first name, Jeremy.
“We have a young lady here who has been experiencing some pain in her abdomen and we’re concerned.” Said the frightened voice on the radio that I assumed was one of the teachers. To be honest, they weren’t much older than the teenagers.
“We’ve got an influenza virus making its way through the main building, bunkhouse. Probably nothing to worry about.” Reassured Doc Taylor, though I could tell by his body language that he was troubled.
“What are her symptoms right now?” he asked.
“She’s burning up, doesn’t want to eat and she said that when the pain starts, she gets really nauseas.” The voice explained with a concerned tone.
“Has she thrown up?” asked the doctor.
“A couple of times.” came the answer.
“Where is the pain coming from?”
They paused and then said, “It’s just above the naval area, but she says that it kind of moved down and over to her right side.”
The doctor ran his hand through his hair and looked over at Nicole. They seemed to be communicating in that language that only couples understand and then he looked back down at the radio in his hand and said, “Listen. We need to get her to the clinic. I’m going to get Dan and see what we can do to come and get her. Hold on and we’ll get back to you.”
“Doc, wait a minute.” We all heard a deep drawl say. “This is Beau. I’m closer to the bunkhouse than you are. I’ll make it over there to get the girl and bring her to you.”
I could tell that the doctor didn’t like having to make decisions like this. He could cut a person open and repair their wounds, but strategy and command wasn’t something that he felt comfortable with.
“Uh, okay, Beau. If you’re sure that you can do it alone.” Said Doc. “I’ll let Dan know so we can be ready when you get here.
Terek offered to go find Dad and so I waited patiently for him to get back. The problem is that Dad was one of the people who came down with the flu. Sawyer, Pete and Virginia were the others. We really weren’t sure why the people in the main building became ill when the ones in the outside structures hadn’t, but Doc said that it was just a matter of time before they got it too since the incubation period is a maximum of four days in most cases.
Beau, true to his word, made it to the bunkhouse, picked up the teenage girl and literally carried her through the bitterly cold, gusting snowstorm to the doorstep of the main house before he collapsed from hypothermia and physical exertion. Both of them were then carried to the clinic where they immediately began receiving treatment.
The young girl with dark brown hair and an infectious smile had indeed suffered an appendicitis attack and if she hadn’t gotten to the clinic when she did, Dr. Taylor said that it would have ruptured and killed her. She’s in recovery now and on the radio talking to her friends back at the bunkhouse, reassuring them that she’ll be okay and that we’re treating her well.
They tend to be overprotective with each other and some of the boys had already made plans to walk through the blizzard to keep her company. Dad told them to stay put or he’d “tan their hides.” He wouldn’t really, but they don’t know that and it keeps them from doing something stupid.
Beau was unconscious for only a few minutes before he came to and then the gnarled cowboy just sat up and got right out of bed, against the advice of Dr. Taylor who was fuming that his patient had the audacity to not listen to his orders. Beau just took it in stride and after joining us for a meal, which wasn’t nearly as appetizing with Virginia being sick in bed, he put his coat back on and with the tip of his hat and a curve on his lips, headed back out into the whiteout. None of us thought he should go, but he didn’t want to leave the animals with no one to care for them. After Beau arrived back at his apartment, he made certain to radio us so that we wouldn’t send anyone out searching for him.
I’m seated on an overstuffed chair in front of the fireplace right now typing into my laptop trying to record everything that’s taken place since we arrived at the ranch and I’ve discovered that there’s really no way to explain our experiences in a way that gives them credit.
We lost two members of our community and we’ll never really know what their contributions might have been. They’ll be missed and never forgotten. We’ve come a long way in the last couple of weeks as a community and survived every challenge presented to us. Not only have we survived, but we’ve somehow managed to thrive.
It’s not what we lost in the zombie apocalypse that matters anymore. It’s what we’ve gained. Our previous lives were filled with trivial matters that no longer matter. In this brave new world, it’s the people who count the most. Those on the ranch may not be related by blood, but we’re closer than family. No, we don’t know what the future holds, but we’ll get through it together. We’ll support one another through the difficult times ahead and will join in celebration when things go right.
This may be the end of the world, but we’re alive. That’s as good of a place to start as any.
About the Author:
The author is a freelance journalist and full time university student who lives in the Oklahoma City metro area with her dog and cats. She began working in law enforcement after a short stint in the military, then drove a truck for a few years until returning to school to study Political Science and Law.
Coco really exists. She was a stray given to her by the author’s daughter-in-law. Coco had been badly abused, but is now a happy and spoiled little girl who never leaves the author’s side.
Yes, she really loves food more than anything else.
Information for Surviving
a Zombie Apocalypse
Gardening:
http://smallfarm.about.com/od/designingandplanning/a/htplangarden.htm
http://www.wellfedhomestead.com/how-much-should-you-plant-in-your-garden-to-provide-a-years-worth-of-food
http://www.almanac.com/vegetable-garden-planning-for-beginners
http://eartheasy.com/grow_compost.html
Water:
http://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/rainwater-basics/
http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/52droughttolerant/
http://indefinitelywild.gizmodo.com/how-to-find-and-purify-drinking-water-in-the-wildernes-1580821351
http://water.epa.gov/action/advisories/drinking/upload/2009_02_03_
criteria_humanhealth_microbial_giardiafs.pdf
http://www.accepta.com/environmental-water-wastewater-knowledge/water-treatment-knowledge/280-private-water-supplies-wells-springs-boreholes
http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/travel/
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/purifying-the-water-while-camping.html
Waste disposal:
https://lnt.org/learn/principle-3
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/TeachingLeaveNoTrace/033_dispose.aspx
http://www.thenewsurvivalist.com/waste_disposal_during_an_emergency.html
http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/subpages/septic.cfm
Zombie Proofing Your Home:
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20487392,00.html
http://discountdw.com/p-6176-when-to-use-tempered-safety-glass.html
http://www.redbeacon.com/hg/7-ways-fortify-your-home-zombie-apocalypse/
http://www.ricksfencing.com/blog/zombie-proof-fencing-materials/
http://fenceworkshop.com/top-zombie-proof-fences/
http://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2011/05/preparedness-101-zombie-apocalypse/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-siciliano/how-to-protect-your-home_b_5554560.html
Medical:
http://www.mtu.edu/arotc/cadet-portal/docs/ISO871_Student_Self_Study.pdf
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/milmed/
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/pentagon-has-zombie-apocalypse-emergency-plan
http://training.fema.gov/is/
https://www.avma.org/public/Health/Pages/you-want-a-veterinarian-on-your-team-in-a-zombie-apocalypse.aspx
http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/
http://www.medicinenet.com/first_aid/article.htm
Nuclear Undead (Book 1): Wake the Dead Page 23