Adam's little nun companion ended up being a real boon to the threesome. She knew wild edible plants and could make something to eat out of nothing over a tiny non-smoke fire. Sister also walked like an angel hovering over the ground and slept like a soldier at night. The two men felt comfortable with this small nun.
Adam had to decide whether God was calling him to hide out for the duration of these initial terrible times, or try and find Father Gibson and work with him.
He also knew that the type of knowledge he had of the inner workings of the president's circle of advisers, something he learned both from Karen and his dad, would mean that he would be considered dangerous.
About a day and a half from St. Richard's Reservation, Adam came to his decision.
He woke up Chuck just before dawn. "What is the reality of me making it to the Ohio mission and following Father Gibson's path?"
Chuck rolled out of his sleeping bag. "Dunno. You could make it from here in two days to the monastery just over the Pennsylvania border, stay with the brothers, and go on from there. Last I heard, there were three still there. Father is working on the other side of the Ohio, near where Steubenville used to be. You could make it in a week or less, walking. But, the brothers may have a car."
Adam sat down on a log. "Would you mind taking Sister to the reservation alone?"
Chuck was honest. "Moving one is easier than moving two. No, not at all and I need a break."
The young man sat on a log and listened to the wind in the fir trees. No birds.
He knew that his heart was with Father Gibson and the priest's missionary work. He longed for the rhythm of prayer and Mass.
Chuck spoke up. "I don't think there is anything for you to do up north here. I think you need to move on west."
Adam stood up and packed his things. "I think I have learned from this dear woman how to live off the land." He smiled.
Chuck stood up as well. "Let us not wake her. Goodbye and good luck. You may be surprised and find help on the way."
Adam nodded and turned away. He was taking a huge chance to try and get to the monastery at the border of New York and Pennsylvania in good time. But, he had to try.
He turned back and waved. Chuck was watching him. Adam began a new journey, alone, but not alone. For some of his friends, it was "adieu" and for some "au revoir".
About two miles down the path of the foothills, Adam saw one of the most beautiful sun dogs he had ever seen. It reminded him of one he had seen years ago in England, on a train, on one of the coldest days of that year. His heart ached for his cousins in Poland, who had met him that year in Surrey, in that cold winter. He could not but believe that for them his goodbye was "au revoir". He looked over a clearing to the west away from the sun dogs in the east, turned his back on the sign, and began his descent into the lower lands towards the monastery.
To be a Catholic in these times meant a completely different viewpoint than the previous generations had. One could choose clearly to be a saint. Adam had made his choice.
Showing posts with label novella seven. Show all posts
Showing posts with label novella seven. Show all posts
Monday, 26 January 2015
They Come From Dust Part Seventeen
Angelica wanted to throw the television out of the window. All the media hype about the president seemed like a fantasy flicks. Idolatry of the leader was no longer a problem just for North Korea. The odd thing which dawned on Angelica, was that a majority of people in the Northeast were watching these broadcasts from camps. She supposed that most people either had given up all rationality after the time of the disasters, falling into a numb state of mind, which she called "zombeism" or people no longer really cared about anything but safety and comfort.
The tribe had accepted Janet and Mason, and had buried Jimmy from the Catholic mission church. Angelica invited to three to stay, but there was an empty house on the Canadian side of the reservation, and Mason decided he and Brandy needed some privacy. Janet was content to stay with Angelica. She felt like she had a lot to process, both in her emotions and in her mind. Angelica understood this and the two fell into a peaceful arrangement of quiet, chores, praying together and talking when Janet felt like it.
As to life on the reservation, a general sense of dread came upon some of the members, while others were optimistic that they would be left alone to get on with life as they had for a very long time.
Most were happy with being ignored by any type of outside authority.
The most pressing thought and concern centered on the arrival of Adam and Father Gibson. Father Augustine had received word via the clergy missionary grapevine that Father Gibson was in Pennsylvania and had ventured in Ohio. Mason was beginning to think Father Gibson would continue his missionary work and not come back to New York or Canada.
Father Augustine said that having two priests in the same area would be a waste. All agreed. Mason and Brandy finally announced publicly the coming birth of their baby in a few months. This birth, said the leader of the tribe, was an excellent omen for the future of the nation. Mason was elected to the council within four months.
Mason began to think of himself as Athos retiring to his country estate. Adam seemed far away, fighting the good cause to the end like d'Artagnan, and Father Gibson, was, of course, Aramis.
There was no Porthos...
Mason had the strangest feeling that they would not all be together again, not able to say good-bye like the Three Musketeers. He felt that spiritually he was saying farewell to his dearest friends, and that the old days of friendship and working together were over.
Another strange feeling he had was that he would definitely see some of them again, in heaven,, but one he would never see again, even in the afterlife. He kept this secret to himself, and died with it.
Like Adam's secret concerning the president's real mother, some secrets die in the grave.
to be continued...
The tribe had accepted Janet and Mason, and had buried Jimmy from the Catholic mission church. Angelica invited to three to stay, but there was an empty house on the Canadian side of the reservation, and Mason decided he and Brandy needed some privacy. Janet was content to stay with Angelica. She felt like she had a lot to process, both in her emotions and in her mind. Angelica understood this and the two fell into a peaceful arrangement of quiet, chores, praying together and talking when Janet felt like it.
As to life on the reservation, a general sense of dread came upon some of the members, while others were optimistic that they would be left alone to get on with life as they had for a very long time.
Most were happy with being ignored by any type of outside authority.
The most pressing thought and concern centered on the arrival of Adam and Father Gibson. Father Augustine had received word via the clergy missionary grapevine that Father Gibson was in Pennsylvania and had ventured in Ohio. Mason was beginning to think Father Gibson would continue his missionary work and not come back to New York or Canada.
Father Augustine said that having two priests in the same area would be a waste. All agreed. Mason and Brandy finally announced publicly the coming birth of their baby in a few months. This birth, said the leader of the tribe, was an excellent omen for the future of the nation. Mason was elected to the council within four months.
Mason began to think of himself as Athos retiring to his country estate. Adam seemed far away, fighting the good cause to the end like d'Artagnan, and Father Gibson, was, of course, Aramis.
There was no Porthos...
Mason had the strangest feeling that they would not all be together again, not able to say good-bye like the Three Musketeers. He felt that spiritually he was saying farewell to his dearest friends, and that the old days of friendship and working together were over.
Another strange feeling he had was that he would definitely see some of them again, in heaven,, but one he would never see again, even in the afterlife. He kept this secret to himself, and died with it.
Like Adam's secret concerning the president's real mother, some secrets die in the grave.
to be continued...
Sunday, 25 January 2015
They Come From Dust Part Sixteen
Adam never saw men get up so quickly, "ready to rumble". Sean, Mike and Chuck stood in a small group looking like giant angels. Mike said loudly, "Hey, do we have a surprise for you, Chuck!"
Mike led the two policemen plus Adam to a little room and opened the door. Adam could hardly believe his eyes. There were three nuns in habits resting on the floor. One stood up when the door opened.
"Now, Sister Mary, do not be afraid. We have a visitor and a guide you will be traveling with up north. Did you explain this to the others?"
The diminuitive nun said "Yes" quietly and fell back into silence.
Mike said that Sean would bring them all breakfast, but that they should be ready to go immediately after eating.
"Of course, Mike, and thank you, again." Sister Mary turned to the others and briefly introduced them to Adam and Chuck.
Then, the men left and began to prepare something to eat. Chuck looked worried. "Where did you find them." Sean spoke first. "Well, they found us about five days ago. They just walked up to the door. They have a horrible story which they can tell you on the way. We've got to get them out of here. All the rest of their order were killed."
Chuck drank some coffee and passed a mug over to Adam. "You realize this complicates our quick journey north. Three ladies in habits...and we don't have any clothes for them to change into."
Sean was making bacon and eggs over a small stove. "They wouldn't change, anyway. The others may not have been killed if they had gone out of habit. Well, we have to get them away. We are still too close to the new military base, and the old ones. I found out the army is returning from the Washington area and coming back up here. Also, something is going to happen in New York, We have heard rumors."
Sean spoke just as fast as Chuck. Adam wondered at their "spy network". He was trying not to think of the new dangers now that he and Chuck would be joined by three nuns of "un-determined" ages.
Chuck took Adam aside. "We have decided that travelling in a group of more than three is just plain dangerous. You and I with one of the sisters will leave first. Then Sean will take one and Mike the other. They will not take the same roads as we are and they will go to different places. At this point, you do not need to know where they are going. I trust you are OK with a female companion, "
Adam reassured Chuck and then, Chuck asked the nuns to join them for food. Within minutes, Chuck explained the break-up of the group. The leader, Sister Mary, agreed with the wisdom of this plan.
Sean and Sister Therese would leave after Chuck's party, then Mike and Sister Celine would leave about fifteen minutes later.
Nothing would be left in the Shaker house, nothing.
"I am going to drive the car a few blocks away right now. Be back in five." Church left and drove the Mini to a small copse of trees about a quarter of a mile away. Then, he ran back to the house.
OK, we must leave. Mike, are you ok leaving last? You know where to go?"
Mike nodded. The nuns all hugged each other. Chuck ushered Sister Mary out of the door, Adam followed.
As they stepped across the road into a field and down another road, Chuck noticed for the first time that Sister Mary was wearing hiking boots. He smiled.
Within a half-hour, the house was abandoned with no obvious traces of food, stove, blankets. Mike and Sister Celine began a march due east, but they would vere north eventually. Sean and Sister Therese went south, and they would move due west at some point soon . Both men knew of two safe places, at least for now, safe places, within three days of walking. The adventures began...
To be continued...
Mike led the two policemen plus Adam to a little room and opened the door. Adam could hardly believe his eyes. There were three nuns in habits resting on the floor. One stood up when the door opened.
"Now, Sister Mary, do not be afraid. We have a visitor and a guide you will be traveling with up north. Did you explain this to the others?"
The diminuitive nun said "Yes" quietly and fell back into silence.
Mike said that Sean would bring them all breakfast, but that they should be ready to go immediately after eating.
"Of course, Mike, and thank you, again." Sister Mary turned to the others and briefly introduced them to Adam and Chuck.
Then, the men left and began to prepare something to eat. Chuck looked worried. "Where did you find them." Sean spoke first. "Well, they found us about five days ago. They just walked up to the door. They have a horrible story which they can tell you on the way. We've got to get them out of here. All the rest of their order were killed."
Chuck drank some coffee and passed a mug over to Adam. "You realize this complicates our quick journey north. Three ladies in habits...and we don't have any clothes for them to change into."
Sean was making bacon and eggs over a small stove. "They wouldn't change, anyway. The others may not have been killed if they had gone out of habit. Well, we have to get them away. We are still too close to the new military base, and the old ones. I found out the army is returning from the Washington area and coming back up here. Also, something is going to happen in New York, We have heard rumors."
Sean spoke just as fast as Chuck. Adam wondered at their "spy network". He was trying not to think of the new dangers now that he and Chuck would be joined by three nuns of "un-determined" ages.
Chuck took Adam aside. "We have decided that travelling in a group of more than three is just plain dangerous. You and I with one of the sisters will leave first. Then Sean will take one and Mike the other. They will not take the same roads as we are and they will go to different places. At this point, you do not need to know where they are going. I trust you are OK with a female companion, "
Adam reassured Chuck and then, Chuck asked the nuns to join them for food. Within minutes, Chuck explained the break-up of the group. The leader, Sister Mary, agreed with the wisdom of this plan.
Sean and Sister Therese would leave after Chuck's party, then Mike and Sister Celine would leave about fifteen minutes later.
Nothing would be left in the Shaker house, nothing.
"I am going to drive the car a few blocks away right now. Be back in five." Church left and drove the Mini to a small copse of trees about a quarter of a mile away. Then, he ran back to the house.
OK, we must leave. Mike, are you ok leaving last? You know where to go?"
Mike nodded. The nuns all hugged each other. Chuck ushered Sister Mary out of the door, Adam followed.
As they stepped across the road into a field and down another road, Chuck noticed for the first time that Sister Mary was wearing hiking boots. He smiled.
Within a half-hour, the house was abandoned with no obvious traces of food, stove, blankets. Mike and Sister Celine began a march due east, but they would vere north eventually. Sean and Sister Therese went south, and they would move due west at some point soon . Both men knew of two safe places, at least for now, safe places, within three days of walking. The adventures began...
To be continued...
They Come From Dust Part Fifteen
Brandy sat in Angelica's kitchen. She and Angelica drank strong coffee and ate Angelica's sticky-buns.
Janet, Jimmy, and Mason were sleeping in various rooms of this bungalow. Angelica reached over and patted Brandy's hand.
"I am so glad you came here, Brandy. It is not the same as when you left so long ago. Things have changed. And now, many things have changed."
Angelica looked at her niece with her large brown eyes. The old woman looked much younger than her eighty years and her hair was still dark with only streaks of grey and white.
"The men held their ground when the army men came. The army seemed reluctant to shoot or take any of our men away. So, all the men, the grandfathers, fathers, uncles, sons, stood up against the small group of men. And, they backed down. I guess they did not want to repeat history. It was odd, as the military men were both in American and Canadian uniforms. Then, they all left, and here we are."
She continued, "But a few hot-headed ones left the reservation and decided to deal with the army men. Stupid. They were all shot. Katy Eagles husband, dead. Mary Two Rivers son, dead. Such a waste. But, no military men have been back. That was about two months ago."
Angelica got up and took more buns out of her oven. Brandy felt odd, in this homey setting with the whole world going crazy around them all.
"Some families left, like the Horners, who wanted to join their cousins, the Kahnawake, up north. We do not know if they made it.
The Connells left, of course, as they are a restless family, and the Johnsons, but we have no idea why they did not want to stay here. Maybe they thought we would all be killed."
Janet wandered in rubbing her back. "Do I smell cinnamon buns?" She smiled.
Angelica pulled a chair out for her and promptly brought her coffee and a sticky-bun.
"I hope the government agents don't come back until we can make some fake ids for you all, " said Angelica. The two younger women smiled. Here are a cool elderly aunt. She came from strong people, thought Janet.
"Mason is not sure we shall be accepted here. The tribal council will decide today, I guess."
Janet mentioned that she was tired of traveling and hoped they all would be welcomed. But, Brandy knew that Mason possibly would not be accepted. She would have to wait and see.
"We still have the chapel and a priest still comes, but no one is supposed to know about that outside. We have Mass once a week. He is Canadian and makes the rounds in this area. Father Augustine."
The two women were delighted to hear that there would be Mass. They honestly could not remember the last time they heard Mass.
Just then, Mason burst into the kitchen. "Something is wrong with Jimmy, I cannot wake him up."
Angelica rushed into the living room where Jimmy had been sleeping on the sofa. He looked white and strained. She shook him, but he did not wake up.
"Brandy, run to the Cooks and get the doctor. You know where their house is, same one."
Brandy ran out into the cold and in minutes returned with Bill Cook. The doctor took a look at Jimmy, took his pulse and pulled out his stethoscope. "He's dead. I don't know why yet, but he is gone."
Janet slumped down in a chair. The third one of the original group was now beyond them. She felt it keenly.
Mason stood there looking worn out. The doctor asked him to help carry Jimmy's body to the Cook's house, where he had a small clinic. "I intend to do an autopsy, Does anyone object?"
No one answered, so the two men left with Jimmy's body. Mason stayed with the doctor the rest of the day. Brandy and Janet said a rosary, but they suddenly felt very tired. Angelica suggested they take a nap. And, they did.
In the evening, Mason returned. "Jimmy apparently was born with a heart condition. It was just a matter of time, said Dr. Cook. Just a matter of time."
Angelica brought food and drink for Mason. The women said they were not hungry. "He was never the same after Carrie died. He was so sensitive, " Brandy said quietly.
Angelica suggested again that they get some rest. They would find out the council's decision in the morning. She would wake them up and make them breakfast.
Brandy gave her a hug. "You know, all this had to happen so that I would feel at home here, maybe at the end of all things."
Angelica held her hands. "It is not the end, but a beginning. You know that." Brandy looked at the floor and blushed. She knew now that Angelica could see that she was pregnant. She had not even told Mason.
"Go get some rest. I am going to watch the play president give a play speech on the television."
to be continued....
Janet, Jimmy, and Mason were sleeping in various rooms of this bungalow. Angelica reached over and patted Brandy's hand.
"I am so glad you came here, Brandy. It is not the same as when you left so long ago. Things have changed. And now, many things have changed."
Angelica looked at her niece with her large brown eyes. The old woman looked much younger than her eighty years and her hair was still dark with only streaks of grey and white.
"The men held their ground when the army men came. The army seemed reluctant to shoot or take any of our men away. So, all the men, the grandfathers, fathers, uncles, sons, stood up against the small group of men. And, they backed down. I guess they did not want to repeat history. It was odd, as the military men were both in American and Canadian uniforms. Then, they all left, and here we are."
She continued, "But a few hot-headed ones left the reservation and decided to deal with the army men. Stupid. They were all shot. Katy Eagles husband, dead. Mary Two Rivers son, dead. Such a waste. But, no military men have been back. That was about two months ago."
Angelica got up and took more buns out of her oven. Brandy felt odd, in this homey setting with the whole world going crazy around them all.
"Some families left, like the Horners, who wanted to join their cousins, the Kahnawake, up north. We do not know if they made it.
The Connells left, of course, as they are a restless family, and the Johnsons, but we have no idea why they did not want to stay here. Maybe they thought we would all be killed."
Janet wandered in rubbing her back. "Do I smell cinnamon buns?" She smiled.
Angelica pulled a chair out for her and promptly brought her coffee and a sticky-bun.
"I hope the government agents don't come back until we can make some fake ids for you all, " said Angelica. The two younger women smiled. Here are a cool elderly aunt. She came from strong people, thought Janet.
"Mason is not sure we shall be accepted here. The tribal council will decide today, I guess."
Janet mentioned that she was tired of traveling and hoped they all would be welcomed. But, Brandy knew that Mason possibly would not be accepted. She would have to wait and see.
"We still have the chapel and a priest still comes, but no one is supposed to know about that outside. We have Mass once a week. He is Canadian and makes the rounds in this area. Father Augustine."
The two women were delighted to hear that there would be Mass. They honestly could not remember the last time they heard Mass.
Just then, Mason burst into the kitchen. "Something is wrong with Jimmy, I cannot wake him up."
Angelica rushed into the living room where Jimmy had been sleeping on the sofa. He looked white and strained. She shook him, but he did not wake up.
"Brandy, run to the Cooks and get the doctor. You know where their house is, same one."
Brandy ran out into the cold and in minutes returned with Bill Cook. The doctor took a look at Jimmy, took his pulse and pulled out his stethoscope. "He's dead. I don't know why yet, but he is gone."
Janet slumped down in a chair. The third one of the original group was now beyond them. She felt it keenly.
Mason stood there looking worn out. The doctor asked him to help carry Jimmy's body to the Cook's house, where he had a small clinic. "I intend to do an autopsy, Does anyone object?"
No one answered, so the two men left with Jimmy's body. Mason stayed with the doctor the rest of the day. Brandy and Janet said a rosary, but they suddenly felt very tired. Angelica suggested they take a nap. And, they did.
In the evening, Mason returned. "Jimmy apparently was born with a heart condition. It was just a matter of time, said Dr. Cook. Just a matter of time."
Angelica brought food and drink for Mason. The women said they were not hungry. "He was never the same after Carrie died. He was so sensitive, " Brandy said quietly.
Angelica suggested again that they get some rest. They would find out the council's decision in the morning. She would wake them up and make them breakfast.
Brandy gave her a hug. "You know, all this had to happen so that I would feel at home here, maybe at the end of all things."
Angelica held her hands. "It is not the end, but a beginning. You know that." Brandy looked at the floor and blushed. She knew now that Angelica could see that she was pregnant. She had not even told Mason.
"Go get some rest. I am going to watch the play president give a play speech on the television."
to be continued....
Saturday, 24 January 2015
They Come From Dust Part Fourteen
Adam woke up in an abandoned rectory near the now empty and looted St. Peter's, once a gem of churches in New York City. Father Gibson had moved on to another parish, and the two had agreed to meet if and when they could at the reservation.
Adam had a dream two days before that Mason and Brandy were standing at the door of the large community center in the reservation. He took that as a good sign. After Mass the day before, Father Gibson was met at the door by a man Adam did not know and the two left. Father Gibson only took his Mass kit with him and one change of clothes. Adam admired that Father Gibson could travel so light.
Now, the young man had to figure out how to travel the six hour journey up north without a car. He sat down and looked at a map as to the possiblity of walking the entire distance. It would take at least five days to seven days walking the distance, at a good pace.
Adam knew he was fit enough. He was concerned more about safety. Then, a small miracle occurred. The same man who had accompanied Father Gibson to his destination appeared at the door of the rectory.
"Father Gibson sent me back. I have a small car, a Mini and enough gas to get at least half-way. Then, we can walk the rest of the way. I am going to take the backroads. We can get to Albany in three and a half hours, and continue on foot for three days. I feel better about that, what do you think?"
The man spoke with a strong, fast Manhattan accent and Adam had to listen very carefully. He agreed to go with Chuck, the name of his new guide. And they got into the Mini and drove down the deserted streets out to the highway.
"Dare I ask where you got this car? Is it yours?"
Chuck answered, "No, of course it is not mine, Silly question. I got it out of a dealership and scrounged around for gas. No problem, With all the people gone, and the looters mostly dead, one can find stuff."
Adam asked the next question rather carefully, "And, where is everyone and all the police?"
"People are in the camps, Looters killed with drones, Police, many of the main east to west highways, and many killed by vigilantes, or better, joined the vigilantes. That is what I am."
Adam decided to wait and he wanted to think about all this news, being shot out like bullets at him.
Sure enough, in three and one-half hours exactly, Chuck pulled into a side road which skirted Albany and parked the Mini in front of an old Shaker House. "We are going to walk the rest of the way. The army has some positions up here and we can still get where we want to go in a few days. Take the two packed knapsacks, your knapsack and let's go now."
Adam grabbed the three packs and followed Chuck into the abandoned center. Adam stumbled through an overgrown herb garden and followed Chuck into one of the buildings.
There were two men there, sleeping. Chuck whispered. "Two ex-of-New-York's Finest.
And he not-so-gently woke the men up. "Mike, Sean, get up...!"
to be continued...
Adam had a dream two days before that Mason and Brandy were standing at the door of the large community center in the reservation. He took that as a good sign. After Mass the day before, Father Gibson was met at the door by a man Adam did not know and the two left. Father Gibson only took his Mass kit with him and one change of clothes. Adam admired that Father Gibson could travel so light.
Now, the young man had to figure out how to travel the six hour journey up north without a car. He sat down and looked at a map as to the possiblity of walking the entire distance. It would take at least five days to seven days walking the distance, at a good pace.
Adam knew he was fit enough. He was concerned more about safety. Then, a small miracle occurred. The same man who had accompanied Father Gibson to his destination appeared at the door of the rectory.
"Father Gibson sent me back. I have a small car, a Mini and enough gas to get at least half-way. Then, we can walk the rest of the way. I am going to take the backroads. We can get to Albany in three and a half hours, and continue on foot for three days. I feel better about that, what do you think?"
The man spoke with a strong, fast Manhattan accent and Adam had to listen very carefully. He agreed to go with Chuck, the name of his new guide. And they got into the Mini and drove down the deserted streets out to the highway.
"Dare I ask where you got this car? Is it yours?"
Chuck answered, "No, of course it is not mine, Silly question. I got it out of a dealership and scrounged around for gas. No problem, With all the people gone, and the looters mostly dead, one can find stuff."
Adam asked the next question rather carefully, "And, where is everyone and all the police?"
"People are in the camps, Looters killed with drones, Police, many of the main east to west highways, and many killed by vigilantes, or better, joined the vigilantes. That is what I am."
Adam decided to wait and he wanted to think about all this news, being shot out like bullets at him.
Sure enough, in three and one-half hours exactly, Chuck pulled into a side road which skirted Albany and parked the Mini in front of an old Shaker House. "We are going to walk the rest of the way. The army has some positions up here and we can still get where we want to go in a few days. Take the two packed knapsacks, your knapsack and let's go now."
Adam grabbed the three packs and followed Chuck into the abandoned center. Adam stumbled through an overgrown herb garden and followed Chuck into one of the buildings.
There were two men there, sleeping. Chuck whispered. "Two ex-of-New-York's Finest.
And he not-so-gently woke the men up. "Mike, Sean, get up...!"
to be continued...
They Come From Dust Part Twelve
Mason made the decision as the two women could not make up their minds about leaving the cabin. He left for two days and came back with a truck complete with a tank full of gas and three cans of gas in the back. They decided to leave most of the things for someone else to find. They took their own, private things like rosaries and breviaries. They decided to take only one week of food as the truck would allow them to get at least half-way, unless Mason found more gasoline.
A day was fixed for leaving, and like some sort of homing pigeon, Jimmy showed up at the door, looking very ill and tired.
They brought him in and fed him a hot dinner. Mason found a beer.
They sat at the table with him and waited. They knew he had found Carrie, otherwise he would not have returned.
"She was found fourteen miles downstream from where we were thrown in. In that area, an old doctor just happened to walking his dog on the riverside, as the land belonged to him. I happened to bump into him. He told me how he had found her. Of course, she was dead."
Jimmy stopped for a minute. "The doctor said that she had no signs of struggle and in fact, he suggested that she may have taken off the straps on purpose in order to save me as she had no marks on her body of cords or straps. I felt a huge shadow slip out of my soul. I had not caused her death, he said. Then, he walked away with his dog and I waited until he disappeared.
The next day, I returned to meet him and I never saw him again. But a local woman told me where Carrie had been buried, outside the town, in an old pioneer cemetery. I walked there, and under a small tree found a small marker which read, 'Drowned Woman', I took out a pen and crossed that off and put Carrie's full name on the marker, Carrie Hall and her date of death. I stopped and prayed for a bit." Janet was weeping silently. Brandy held one of her hands.
Mason knew now that Jimmy would be fine. He waited a few minutes and asked, "Do you want to go with us?"
Jimmy looked up, "Yes, yes. I will be well."
By seven the next morning, the truck with all the friends was on the road north. Mason put the two women in the front with him and Jimmy in the back, with the ammunition. The highway was strangely empty. Then, Mason had an idea that he should get off the main road and take back roads the rest of the way. He turned west and followed a B road for miles, He realized that this was to be the only way free of militia. He wondered about the earthquake damage, but saw nothing to indicate this area had been damaged. In fact, the more he travelled on the roads, the more he became bewildered by the lack of any signs of either earthquakes or volcanoes. Then, Janet spoke outloud.
"It is all lies. Nothing happened. Everything on the television was made up, drama. fake. Look, there is nothing here on the outskirts of the major cities to indicate a disaster."
Brandy asked, "But, where are all the people?" Mason did not answer. He was putting together some things he had learned long ago in the army about moving people out of areas quickly in case of disasters. That there were some earthquakes and volcanoes could not be denied, but what could be challenged was the amount of damage, the actual interruption of the grids and the extent of the devastation.
Mason saw a small gas station on the side of the road and pulled in. No one was there. He tried one of the pumps. It was unlocked, Gasoline poured out. He got cans out of the shop next to the station. All the food and drinks were gone, but much of the stuff sold for cars lined the shelves. Mason went into the bathroom, He turned on the water. The taps worked. He flushed the toilet. The plumbing worked.
As he walked back outside, he said to the ladies that this would be a good place to wash. Then, he sat down in the truck and Jimmy came up to him.
"Water running. Go try the electric lights inside, Jimmy."
Jimmy ran into the shop and found the main switches. All the lights went on. He turned them off again.
"I don't get it, Mason."
Mason answered slowly, "Someone wants to bring down America, uses some natural disasters, exaggerates the damage. The media is under their control. People are sent to camps for their own safety and those who wanted to take control just walk right in and take over."
"Are we all so stupid?" Jimmy looked so sad Mason could hardly answer. "Yes, we have been made to be sheeple."
The women came back and said they found three or four large gallon bottles of water. "Get them," said Mason.
Then they all got back in the truck and continued their journey with twenty gallons of gasoline and four gallons of spring water. Mason knew they would make it to the reservation. He wondered what they would find there.
Janet noted that all the houses and shops they passed were empty and looked looted. Mason said he did not want to stop but keep going. He did not want to be on the road at night. But, they would have to do so, if they encountered traffic.
He reckoned that they had six more hours of normal driving. Brandy took over after the first eight hours, while Mason slept next to her.
As they traveled north, they noticed that the weather was extraordinarily cold. In fact, by the time they were about three hours from the Canadian border, and Janet was driving, snow began to fall. Mason took over, as the road was becoming steep as they entered the Adirondacks. Jimmy had found three sleeping bags in the shop and was bundled up in the back. It was now dark, but Mason knew they would not find one car on the road. The entire state had been emptied of people. There seemed to be no army or police about. Mason remembered some old training guidelines for evacuation. How did the army get so efficient? He knew where one fema camp was in the area and purposefully went out of his way to avoid it by miles. This added about an hour to their time.
The trip took much less time as the truck was literally the only vehicle on the road. What should have taken fourteen hours with stops, took only ten, plus the one hour of detour. And, at six o'clock, although it was dark already, the group entered the boundaries of the Akwesasnes, Brandy's people.
They Come From Dust Part Thirteen
Adam and Father Gibson plus eleven members of the Knights of Karl took the last plane from Poland to New York. The new Emergency Air Flight Bill had passed the small Congress in Raleigh the very night the thirteen arrived in Eleanor Roosevelt Airport in New York. Adam had to admit that he would have been happy to stay with his cousins, but that was impossible with the lack of papers for him to stay longer in Poland.
There were up to 1,000 freedom fighters in Poland, under the banner of the Knights of Karl and about 6,000 in Lithuania. Those men all were picked because they had dual citizenship. The leader of one group was a priest from Krakow and Father Gibson had met him,Hope were high that these two countries would stay outside both the Russian territory and not fall into tyrannies. Russia had depleted both weapons and manpower taking back the other old territories of the Soviet Republic, plus fighting the new civil wars which were breaking out all other the area.
The weather across Europe had changed drastically to a long, cold season, an unusual winter. Adam knew that things would worsen for those already hungry and cold. And, as in the times of Henry and Elizabeth I, many Catholics had left Great Britain and Ireland, moving to Poland and Lithuania for mutual Catholic support.
Adam and Father Gibson had to decide where they would go next. Adam wanted to find Mason and company, and Father Gibson had to find his bishop in hiding. Neither were quite sure how to go about these adventures. But, when they got to the safe haven in the middle of NYC, certain people met them with good news. Most of the roads were clear. And another contact would help Father Gibson on his travels. Adam had to wait and just "go with the flow".
to be continued...
A day was fixed for leaving, and like some sort of homing pigeon, Jimmy showed up at the door, looking very ill and tired.
They brought him in and fed him a hot dinner. Mason found a beer.
They sat at the table with him and waited. They knew he had found Carrie, otherwise he would not have returned.
"She was found fourteen miles downstream from where we were thrown in. In that area, an old doctor just happened to walking his dog on the riverside, as the land belonged to him. I happened to bump into him. He told me how he had found her. Of course, she was dead."
Jimmy stopped for a minute. "The doctor said that she had no signs of struggle and in fact, he suggested that she may have taken off the straps on purpose in order to save me as she had no marks on her body of cords or straps. I felt a huge shadow slip out of my soul. I had not caused her death, he said. Then, he walked away with his dog and I waited until he disappeared.
The next day, I returned to meet him and I never saw him again. But a local woman told me where Carrie had been buried, outside the town, in an old pioneer cemetery. I walked there, and under a small tree found a small marker which read, 'Drowned Woman', I took out a pen and crossed that off and put Carrie's full name on the marker, Carrie Hall and her date of death. I stopped and prayed for a bit." Janet was weeping silently. Brandy held one of her hands.
Mason knew now that Jimmy would be fine. He waited a few minutes and asked, "Do you want to go with us?"
Jimmy looked up, "Yes, yes. I will be well."
By seven the next morning, the truck with all the friends was on the road north. Mason put the two women in the front with him and Jimmy in the back, with the ammunition. The highway was strangely empty. Then, Mason had an idea that he should get off the main road and take back roads the rest of the way. He turned west and followed a B road for miles, He realized that this was to be the only way free of militia. He wondered about the earthquake damage, but saw nothing to indicate this area had been damaged. In fact, the more he travelled on the roads, the more he became bewildered by the lack of any signs of either earthquakes or volcanoes. Then, Janet spoke outloud.
"It is all lies. Nothing happened. Everything on the television was made up, drama. fake. Look, there is nothing here on the outskirts of the major cities to indicate a disaster."
Brandy asked, "But, where are all the people?" Mason did not answer. He was putting together some things he had learned long ago in the army about moving people out of areas quickly in case of disasters. That there were some earthquakes and volcanoes could not be denied, but what could be challenged was the amount of damage, the actual interruption of the grids and the extent of the devastation.
Mason saw a small gas station on the side of the road and pulled in. No one was there. He tried one of the pumps. It was unlocked, Gasoline poured out. He got cans out of the shop next to the station. All the food and drinks were gone, but much of the stuff sold for cars lined the shelves. Mason went into the bathroom, He turned on the water. The taps worked. He flushed the toilet. The plumbing worked.
As he walked back outside, he said to the ladies that this would be a good place to wash. Then, he sat down in the truck and Jimmy came up to him.
"Water running. Go try the electric lights inside, Jimmy."
Jimmy ran into the shop and found the main switches. All the lights went on. He turned them off again.
"I don't get it, Mason."
Mason answered slowly, "Someone wants to bring down America, uses some natural disasters, exaggerates the damage. The media is under their control. People are sent to camps for their own safety and those who wanted to take control just walk right in and take over."
"Are we all so stupid?" Jimmy looked so sad Mason could hardly answer. "Yes, we have been made to be sheeple."
The women came back and said they found three or four large gallon bottles of water. "Get them," said Mason.
Then they all got back in the truck and continued their journey with twenty gallons of gasoline and four gallons of spring water. Mason knew they would make it to the reservation. He wondered what they would find there.
Janet noted that all the houses and shops they passed were empty and looked looted. Mason said he did not want to stop but keep going. He did not want to be on the road at night. But, they would have to do so, if they encountered traffic.
He reckoned that they had six more hours of normal driving. Brandy took over after the first eight hours, while Mason slept next to her.
As they traveled north, they noticed that the weather was extraordinarily cold. In fact, by the time they were about three hours from the Canadian border, and Janet was driving, snow began to fall. Mason took over, as the road was becoming steep as they entered the Adirondacks. Jimmy had found three sleeping bags in the shop and was bundled up in the back. It was now dark, but Mason knew they would not find one car on the road. The entire state had been emptied of people. There seemed to be no army or police about. Mason remembered some old training guidelines for evacuation. How did the army get so efficient? He knew where one fema camp was in the area and purposefully went out of his way to avoid it by miles. This added about an hour to their time.
The trip took much less time as the truck was literally the only vehicle on the road. What should have taken fourteen hours with stops, took only ten, plus the one hour of detour. And, at six o'clock, although it was dark already, the group entered the boundaries of the Akwesasnes, Brandy's people.
They Come From Dust Part Thirteen
Adam and Father Gibson plus eleven members of the Knights of Karl took the last plane from Poland to New York. The new Emergency Air Flight Bill had passed the small Congress in Raleigh the very night the thirteen arrived in Eleanor Roosevelt Airport in New York. Adam had to admit that he would have been happy to stay with his cousins, but that was impossible with the lack of papers for him to stay longer in Poland.
There were up to 1,000 freedom fighters in Poland, under the banner of the Knights of Karl and about 6,000 in Lithuania. Those men all were picked because they had dual citizenship. The leader of one group was a priest from Krakow and Father Gibson had met him,Hope were high that these two countries would stay outside both the Russian territory and not fall into tyrannies. Russia had depleted both weapons and manpower taking back the other old territories of the Soviet Republic, plus fighting the new civil wars which were breaking out all other the area.
The weather across Europe had changed drastically to a long, cold season, an unusual winter. Adam knew that things would worsen for those already hungry and cold. And, as in the times of Henry and Elizabeth I, many Catholics had left Great Britain and Ireland, moving to Poland and Lithuania for mutual Catholic support.
Adam and Father Gibson had to decide where they would go next. Adam wanted to find Mason and company, and Father Gibson had to find his bishop in hiding. Neither were quite sure how to go about these adventures. But, when they got to the safe haven in the middle of NYC, certain people met them with good news. Most of the roads were clear. And another contact would help Father Gibson on his travels. Adam had to wait and just "go with the flow".
to be continued...
Friday, 23 January 2015
They Come From Dust Part Eleven
The first changes in and from the new presidency came on the day of the publicized swearing in of Patrick Michael O Melaghlin, First President of the Pan-American Union, as the empire was called. When he took the oath, either he or his cronies had changed the wording.
The original wording read like this.“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
What President O Melaghlin said was this, and the entire world heard his words, "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the Pan-American Union, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the laws and people of this Union."
The second change was that the new President did not swear on a Bible, or a Koran, or the Book of Mormon. Similar to Teddy Roosevelt before him a long time ago who refused to use the Bible, this new president swore on another book, one which was called by the media The Book of Principles. When Father Gibson and Adam heard this news report sitting in a cafe in Krakow, they knew what kind of this book was. They said nothing.
The third change was that the President was not going to live in the White House, of which two-thirds had been destroyed by an earthquake, but in a new residence outside of Washington. As Washington looked like a war-zone with all the damage which had basically destroyed all the government buildings as well as the famous monuments, no one in America thought anything about the change. But, again, Father Gibson and Adam understood the symbolism of the move.
President O Melaghlin had decided to set up the new government in Raleigh, North Carolina as that area had been spared the horrific earthquakes and volcanoes of the east and north. Also, a business friend of his father had given the President a house for himself and his cabinet members, In addition, the police and military believed this to be a safe place for the new government.
The name of the house was the Joseph Daniels House, also called "Wakestone". All the cabinet members and living members of Congress, of whom there were only a handful, moved to Raleigh and set up the "interim government" at Wakestone.
The fourth change was the announcement that the first thing the new President would do would be to worship at his chosen place of religion. The media hype went into over-drive. He was going to worship at the Georgia Guidestones and have a replica made in Raleigh. The new president said this in his inagural address:
"Our beloved countries have been torn apart by natural disasters and human greed for over two years. What all Pan-Americans desire is stability. The myth of the phoenix reveals the reality of renewal.
I myself have been renewed in spirit by discovering that it was my great-grandfaher who built the greatest sign of hope for the future-the Georgian Guidestones. My first trip as president will be to visit and pay homage to him and all the free-thinkers of this world, those who will rebuild our union and make it rise again from ashes. I go from the Guidestones to Wakestone.
Some of you may wonder why I shall travel relatively far to lay a wreath of thanksgiving at this monument. As your new president, I am looking towards the future, not the past, but, I am grounded in the hope of my great-grandfather, who saw the way forward for this great continent. Trust me, as I trust in the myth of the phoenix. When my dear mother died, I traveled then to China to get over my grief, and to study the roots of the fenghuang. For the three months I lived in a monastery, I learned that the sacred bird only comes to a nation, a country blessed with prosperity and peace. The phoenix stays if the leader is not corrupt or without a dark side. We no longer have that peace in many places in our fair countries, but this is my vow to you, my fellow citizens, to work so that the Phoenix comes again to this great continent. The Fenghuang marks a new beginning. My youth represents a new beginning, and the complete committment of my life for the Pan-American Union."
When Father Gibson heard this talk, he said one thing over Americano coffee, "He is claiming to be androgynous royalty with the sign of the empresses" and Adam mumbled, "He is HP incarnated. This is so stupid, so contrived. so superficial. Like some d..... manga."
Suddenly, the two understood why the powers behind the new president had chosen this nerdy boy to be the leader of the Pan-American Union. Millions of youth would see him immediately as both sacred and clever. Patrick's popularity would be based on the new myths of the 20th and 21st centuries. He represented a new order, power, and mystery. He represented the new secular-occult. He was against the older generations, the old order, and would set up a new one.
Looking like pure innocence and pure intelligence, like something between a robot and an angel or god or rockstar, Patrick was being set up to be the new messiah. An entire two generations had been raised to hate adults, and Patrick was their new idol. Even his choice of residence would reverberate with the under-forty gamers.
Days after his oath, news reports in the media were writing about the supposed previous oath of virginity Patrick had taken at puberty. Another report, "leaked out" was that his dear mother Karen, the First-Lady, so cruely murdered, had consecrated Patrick to an unknown "saint" for the sake of the nation. Adam choked on this news. So, Patrick was destined to worship the state...that was the implication.
"Karen had common sense, a grounded spirit. This is all hype and spin. She was a practicing Catholic, not inclined to superstitition or nonsense."
Father Gibson, sitting with Sofia, Ben and Adam in the main reception room in Krakow, asked Adam this question. "Do you know who his real mother is, Adam?"
Adam looked into space, "Yes, but I promised Karen I would never tell anyone. And, I keep that promise."
to be continued....
The original wording read like this.“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
What President O Melaghlin said was this, and the entire world heard his words, "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the Pan-American Union, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the laws and people of this Union."
The second change was that the new President did not swear on a Bible, or a Koran, or the Book of Mormon. Similar to Teddy Roosevelt before him a long time ago who refused to use the Bible, this new president swore on another book, one which was called by the media The Book of Principles. When Father Gibson and Adam heard this news report sitting in a cafe in Krakow, they knew what kind of this book was. They said nothing.
The third change was that the President was not going to live in the White House, of which two-thirds had been destroyed by an earthquake, but in a new residence outside of Washington. As Washington looked like a war-zone with all the damage which had basically destroyed all the government buildings as well as the famous monuments, no one in America thought anything about the change. But, again, Father Gibson and Adam understood the symbolism of the move.
President O Melaghlin had decided to set up the new government in Raleigh, North Carolina as that area had been spared the horrific earthquakes and volcanoes of the east and north. Also, a business friend of his father had given the President a house for himself and his cabinet members, In addition, the police and military believed this to be a safe place for the new government.
The name of the house was the Joseph Daniels House, also called "Wakestone". All the cabinet members and living members of Congress, of whom there were only a handful, moved to Raleigh and set up the "interim government" at Wakestone.
The fourth change was the announcement that the first thing the new President would do would be to worship at his chosen place of religion. The media hype went into over-drive. He was going to worship at the Georgia Guidestones and have a replica made in Raleigh. The new president said this in his inagural address:
"Our beloved countries have been torn apart by natural disasters and human greed for over two years. What all Pan-Americans desire is stability. The myth of the phoenix reveals the reality of renewal.
I myself have been renewed in spirit by discovering that it was my great-grandfaher who built the greatest sign of hope for the future-the Georgian Guidestones. My first trip as president will be to visit and pay homage to him and all the free-thinkers of this world, those who will rebuild our union and make it rise again from ashes. I go from the Guidestones to Wakestone.
Some of you may wonder why I shall travel relatively far to lay a wreath of thanksgiving at this monument. As your new president, I am looking towards the future, not the past, but, I am grounded in the hope of my great-grandfather, who saw the way forward for this great continent. Trust me, as I trust in the myth of the phoenix. When my dear mother died, I traveled then to China to get over my grief, and to study the roots of the fenghuang. For the three months I lived in a monastery, I learned that the sacred bird only comes to a nation, a country blessed with prosperity and peace. The phoenix stays if the leader is not corrupt or without a dark side. We no longer have that peace in many places in our fair countries, but this is my vow to you, my fellow citizens, to work so that the Phoenix comes again to this great continent. The Fenghuang marks a new beginning. My youth represents a new beginning, and the complete committment of my life for the Pan-American Union."
When Father Gibson heard this talk, he said one thing over Americano coffee, "He is claiming to be androgynous royalty with the sign of the empresses" and Adam mumbled, "He is HP incarnated. This is so stupid, so contrived. so superficial. Like some d..... manga."
Suddenly, the two understood why the powers behind the new president had chosen this nerdy boy to be the leader of the Pan-American Union. Millions of youth would see him immediately as both sacred and clever. Patrick's popularity would be based on the new myths of the 20th and 21st centuries. He represented a new order, power, and mystery. He represented the new secular-occult. He was against the older generations, the old order, and would set up a new one.
Looking like pure innocence and pure intelligence, like something between a robot and an angel or god or rockstar, Patrick was being set up to be the new messiah. An entire two generations had been raised to hate adults, and Patrick was their new idol. Even his choice of residence would reverberate with the under-forty gamers.
Days after his oath, news reports in the media were writing about the supposed previous oath of virginity Patrick had taken at puberty. Another report, "leaked out" was that his dear mother Karen, the First-Lady, so cruely murdered, had consecrated Patrick to an unknown "saint" for the sake of the nation. Adam choked on this news. So, Patrick was destined to worship the state...that was the implication.
"Karen had common sense, a grounded spirit. This is all hype and spin. She was a practicing Catholic, not inclined to superstitition or nonsense."
Father Gibson, sitting with Sofia, Ben and Adam in the main reception room in Krakow, asked Adam this question. "Do you know who his real mother is, Adam?"
Adam looked into space, "Yes, but I promised Karen I would never tell anyone. And, I keep that promise."
to be continued....
They Come From Dust Part Eight
While the Americas were reeling from volcanoes, earthquakes, anarchy and martial law, Europe remained stable under the relatively new Europe divided into independent nations, pre-EU, and the old Soviet-style union under Russia of almost all the former Soviet states.
Only two nations of the old grouping of republics were still engaged in civil war, or rather, war against Russia, and those were Lithuania and Poland, helped by secret Catholic groups of militia called "The Knights of Karl". Malta and Gibraltar had been saved already by the Knights, and held on as the only free governments in all of Europe.The rest were being absorbed slowly into the old-new Soviet Union, now called, simply "Russia". Russia had given up on both small countries after sustaining huge losses from local vigilante groups, which had grown up unexpectedly. The Islamists had also tried to reclaim both countries but the blood of the Maltese rose up against both foes. Gibraltar had been a lucky win. One of the ships coming to land troops from the new Empire of the Caliphate had mysteriously disappeared off the coast of Africa. The Knights of Karl and these independent Catholic groups held on to these small islands. The Pope was on one of them, but no one was sure which one. Or, so rumor had it....Rome was under the fascists, yet again.
France, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Italy and Austria were under complete fascist tyrannies, while the remaining European countries had independent Marxist governments. Four countries were now completely under Muslim rule, with sharia law and completely closed borders. These were Spain, parts of France up to Tours, Portugal and Greece. These areas were called the Empire of the Caliphate. The "free"parts of France were under a small fascist tyranny and merely called the New Republic.
All the nations had complete control over their own borders. In fact, after the fall of the EU, the entire government structures quickly reverted to fascist tyrannies, as if everything had been in place for this to happen. And, in fact that had been the case. What Mason did not know was that Adam was on a plane to Poland, after meeting with the Knights of Karl secretly near the only airport running flights to Europe in the chaos, the new Eleanor Roosevelt Airport out of northern New York City. He had been interrupted in his walk to Mason's cabin. Father Gibson had interrupted his plans.
What Mason did not know, but what Janet knew, was that Adam was an important liaison for arms to help Poland and Lithuania. The fact that his father co-owned IsaacJet, the only company with non-stop flights to Europe at this point, helped Adam in his work. IsaacJet had been named after Adam's brother who died as a child. IsaacJet was also co-owned by the late Karen O Melaghlin's father, a prominent Catholic businessman who mysteriously escaped many of the threats and financial fines inflicted upon Catholics for various "crimes" against the "common good". The late president's late wife had been Catholic. Adam had known Karen well. But, that is another story. Her maiden name had been Levi, and her dad had converted to Catholicism from Judaism when a Pope had saved the life of an Israeli cabinet minister by personally intervening with the Russians, who had taken he minister captive after a meeting in Moscow. Why the Russians gave up such a prize hostage to Rome was a mystery. Some thought millions of lira had been part of the bargain. Some thought that the Pope appealed to the superstitions of the Russian leadership. But, for whatever reason, Mr. Levi became an ardent Catholic and friend of Adam's father in the process. The two met frequently and not only for business reasons. Adam's father was also a convert. Adam's last name was Pereira d'Aguilar.
What Adam exactly did was not known, but the new order of The Knights of Karl, started by the Bishop of Springfield a few years back, was extremely successful at recruiting new young members of freedom fighters for Europe, now completely abandoned by America, or rather, by the new Pan-American Empire.
What Mason also did not know was that Father Gibson, the national chaplain of the Knights, was on that plane to Krakow. Janet knew. She also knew that Father Gibson carried with him the largest relic of St. John Paul II, a gift to Poland from the Pope, through the network of the Knights, secretly smuggled out of Rome to America.
That Europe have reverted so quickly back astounded the majority of Americans, but not all. Not all.
Mason came back out of the bedroom after giving time to Janet to dress again and get ready for her day. Jimmy was standing outside by the front door. He had given up cigarettes years ago, but for some reason, today, he wanted to smoke badly. Perhaps, he thought, it was nerves. Or, perhaps, it just did not matter any more how long one lived. Jimmy noticed he was sinking into negativity. He needed to change his thoughts. Just then, Janet came up to him. Brandy stood behind her.
"Do you feel like joining us in Lauds?" Jimmy sighed. It was good he was here.
to be continued....
Only two nations of the old grouping of republics were still engaged in civil war, or rather, war against Russia, and those were Lithuania and Poland, helped by secret Catholic groups of militia called "The Knights of Karl". Malta and Gibraltar had been saved already by the Knights, and held on as the only free governments in all of Europe.The rest were being absorbed slowly into the old-new Soviet Union, now called, simply "Russia". Russia had given up on both small countries after sustaining huge losses from local vigilante groups, which had grown up unexpectedly. The Islamists had also tried to reclaim both countries but the blood of the Maltese rose up against both foes. Gibraltar had been a lucky win. One of the ships coming to land troops from the new Empire of the Caliphate had mysteriously disappeared off the coast of Africa. The Knights of Karl and these independent Catholic groups held on to these small islands. The Pope was on one of them, but no one was sure which one. Or, so rumor had it....Rome was under the fascists, yet again.
France, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Italy and Austria were under complete fascist tyrannies, while the remaining European countries had independent Marxist governments. Four countries were now completely under Muslim rule, with sharia law and completely closed borders. These were Spain, parts of France up to Tours, Portugal and Greece. These areas were called the Empire of the Caliphate. The "free"parts of France were under a small fascist tyranny and merely called the New Republic.
All the nations had complete control over their own borders. In fact, after the fall of the EU, the entire government structures quickly reverted to fascist tyrannies, as if everything had been in place for this to happen. And, in fact that had been the case. What Mason did not know was that Adam was on a plane to Poland, after meeting with the Knights of Karl secretly near the only airport running flights to Europe in the chaos, the new Eleanor Roosevelt Airport out of northern New York City. He had been interrupted in his walk to Mason's cabin. Father Gibson had interrupted his plans.
What Mason did not know, but what Janet knew, was that Adam was an important liaison for arms to help Poland and Lithuania. The fact that his father co-owned IsaacJet, the only company with non-stop flights to Europe at this point, helped Adam in his work. IsaacJet had been named after Adam's brother who died as a child. IsaacJet was also co-owned by the late Karen O Melaghlin's father, a prominent Catholic businessman who mysteriously escaped many of the threats and financial fines inflicted upon Catholics for various "crimes" against the "common good". The late president's late wife had been Catholic. Adam had known Karen well. But, that is another story. Her maiden name had been Levi, and her dad had converted to Catholicism from Judaism when a Pope had saved the life of an Israeli cabinet minister by personally intervening with the Russians, who had taken he minister captive after a meeting in Moscow. Why the Russians gave up such a prize hostage to Rome was a mystery. Some thought millions of lira had been part of the bargain. Some thought that the Pope appealed to the superstitions of the Russian leadership. But, for whatever reason, Mr. Levi became an ardent Catholic and friend of Adam's father in the process. The two met frequently and not only for business reasons. Adam's father was also a convert. Adam's last name was Pereira d'Aguilar.
What Adam exactly did was not known, but the new order of The Knights of Karl, started by the Bishop of Springfield a few years back, was extremely successful at recruiting new young members of freedom fighters for Europe, now completely abandoned by America, or rather, by the new Pan-American Empire.
What Mason also did not know was that Father Gibson, the national chaplain of the Knights, was on that plane to Krakow. Janet knew. She also knew that Father Gibson carried with him the largest relic of St. John Paul II, a gift to Poland from the Pope, through the network of the Knights, secretly smuggled out of Rome to America.
That Europe have reverted so quickly back astounded the majority of Americans, but not all. Not all.
Mason came back out of the bedroom after giving time to Janet to dress again and get ready for her day. Jimmy was standing outside by the front door. He had given up cigarettes years ago, but for some reason, today, he wanted to smoke badly. Perhaps, he thought, it was nerves. Or, perhaps, it just did not matter any more how long one lived. Jimmy noticed he was sinking into negativity. He needed to change his thoughts. Just then, Janet came up to him. Brandy stood behind her.
"Do you feel like joining us in Lauds?" Jimmy sighed. It was good he was here.
to be continued....
They Come From Dust Part Seven
Mason woke up before dawn. He heard Jimmy and went to see how he was doing. "Hey, old man, what's up?"
"I was dreaming. I keep seeing Carrie drowning, but I actually never saw her go."
Mason said nothing. Then, he asked, "Who shot you?"
"I don't know. Some one in an abandoned house on the road after we left the tree just shot at us. I never saw the person."
"Chaos, anarchy and fear, said Jimmy" Mason again said nothing. "Let me make you some coffee and breakfast. we have food here. And, then, I want to try the radio again."
The two women were still sleeping when Jimmy and Mason tried the shortwave. They heard a woman's voice, and Mason knew it was the same one he had heard for a second the day before. He thought of Tokyo Rose.
"Radio Free America is proud to announce a treaty made yesterday with the Pan-American countries. Now, all of Canada, the United States and Mexico and the three remaining Central American States not destroyed by the tidal wave, Maximus, will be under one government temporarily. We are also proud to announce that the son of President Taylor-O Melaghlin,will be temporarily taking the oath of office as an interim president. Patrick Michael O Melaghlin, son of the lately deceased Thomas Sean Taylor O Melaghlin, will be sworn in tomorrow on Capital Hill, in the rubble of the United States Congress."
The feed ended abruptly. Mason stared at the radio, and Jimmy said "Wow" in a loud voice.
Patrick Michael O Melaghlin, the only son of the late president, was a known genius. He graduated from Princeton at the age of ten and then graduated in three years with a doctorate in International Relations from Harvard. He was now thirteen years old,
"Blast,"grumbled Jimmy. "Blessed Anti-Christ." Mason looked at the floor.
"I knew his mother, Karen O Melaghlin." Jimmy stared at Mason. "What?"
"When I was in the army, Mrs. O Melaghlin was entitled to military escort. I was a regular. You remember what happened to her?"
"She was killed by one of her bodyguards."
"Yes, and then he was shot by one of our escort sergeants. I resigned almost immediately. It was all planned, you know. She knew too much. I went back to university and became a scientist. I wanted to work with hard data, not false orders. Somehow, they let me go."
Jimmy mumbled something about the obvious. But why let a teenager be president? Yes, he was ultra-intelligent, knew various languages and was obviously, when he grew up, going to be a handsome man. "I just don't get it. I don't get this move, " Jimmy said.
"Patrick is not Karen's son," Mason added. Just then, Janet work up out of her deep sleep. She almost fell off the sofa.
"He is the Pied Pieper," Mason said quietly. Mason got up off the floor and went to wake up Brandy. As he walked to the bedroom, Mason wondered if they could get to the reservation in a day. "Not with Jimmy like this..." he thought.
He know wished he had made more contingency plans. And, where was Adam?
to be continued...
"I was dreaming. I keep seeing Carrie drowning, but I actually never saw her go."
Mason said nothing. Then, he asked, "Who shot you?"
"I don't know. Some one in an abandoned house on the road after we left the tree just shot at us. I never saw the person."
"Chaos, anarchy and fear, said Jimmy" Mason again said nothing. "Let me make you some coffee and breakfast. we have food here. And, then, I want to try the radio again."
The two women were still sleeping when Jimmy and Mason tried the shortwave. They heard a woman's voice, and Mason knew it was the same one he had heard for a second the day before. He thought of Tokyo Rose.
"Radio Free America is proud to announce a treaty made yesterday with the Pan-American countries. Now, all of Canada, the United States and Mexico and the three remaining Central American States not destroyed by the tidal wave, Maximus, will be under one government temporarily. We are also proud to announce that the son of President Taylor-O Melaghlin,will be temporarily taking the oath of office as an interim president. Patrick Michael O Melaghlin, son of the lately deceased Thomas Sean Taylor O Melaghlin, will be sworn in tomorrow on Capital Hill, in the rubble of the United States Congress."
The feed ended abruptly. Mason stared at the radio, and Jimmy said "Wow" in a loud voice.
Patrick Michael O Melaghlin, the only son of the late president, was a known genius. He graduated from Princeton at the age of ten and then graduated in three years with a doctorate in International Relations from Harvard. He was now thirteen years old,
"Blast,"grumbled Jimmy. "Blessed Anti-Christ." Mason looked at the floor.
"I knew his mother, Karen O Melaghlin." Jimmy stared at Mason. "What?"
"When I was in the army, Mrs. O Melaghlin was entitled to military escort. I was a regular. You remember what happened to her?"
"She was killed by one of her bodyguards."
"Yes, and then he was shot by one of our escort sergeants. I resigned almost immediately. It was all planned, you know. She knew too much. I went back to university and became a scientist. I wanted to work with hard data, not false orders. Somehow, they let me go."
Jimmy mumbled something about the obvious. But why let a teenager be president? Yes, he was ultra-intelligent, knew various languages and was obviously, when he grew up, going to be a handsome man. "I just don't get it. I don't get this move, " Jimmy said.
"Patrick is not Karen's son," Mason added. Just then, Janet work up out of her deep sleep. She almost fell off the sofa.
"He is the Pied Pieper," Mason said quietly. Mason got up off the floor and went to wake up Brandy. As he walked to the bedroom, Mason wondered if they could get to the reservation in a day. "Not with Jimmy like this..." he thought.
He know wished he had made more contingency plans. And, where was Adam?
to be continued...
Tuesday, 30 September 2014
They Come from Dust Part Five
Another two weeks passed and the monsoon rains continued. Then, on a Thursday, Mason surprised Brandy. "I am leaving you alone for exactly twelve hours.
I'm going up north to a small town near here to get someone and bring him back here. Do you trust me?"
Brandy said, of course. Mason continued, "You know how to shoot well enough if someone tries to break it. Can you do this, I mean, could you defend yourself?"
Brandy said, I think so.
"One more thing." Mason looked intently at Brandy. "Will you marry me?"
Brandy was not surprised at her own response. She had found Mason to be one of the most interesting men she had ever met. She had tried to convince herself that she was not attracted to him, but she could not lie. But, marriage? Well, everything was new in this odd world. She did not need to consult her heart.
"Yes, Mason, I will. I really like you and I think I could grow to love you more."
Mason smiled. He gave her a little kiss on the cheek and grabbed one of his pistols. He put on heavy rain gear and left without saying anything.
Brandy watched him disappear in the rain. It would be a very long twelve hours. Who was he bringing back and why? His mom lived in Atlanta and his dad, well, he never knew his dad.
Brandy decided to spend the day praying and cleaning, as the cabin was not exactly ship-shape. She did not want to be a clock-watcher.
Cleaning did not take long, about two hours. She looked out the window. It was raining so hard she could hardly see the line of trees at the bottom of the small hill. She began to read her prayer book.
Another two hours passed. Four down, eight to go. Mason had left about ten in the morning. She thought of the past three weeks. She thought of her job in the government and her daily routine of going to the gym, going out with her friends, basically doing what she wanted to do.
She thought of all the years she wanted to be successful, moving to be one of the top administrators of her department.
What department?
Brandy shook her head. Then, she heard a strange noise outside. She felt terrified, and she felt cold. She got her gun and stood by the side of the window. She thought her breathing was really loud.
She heard the noise again. Someone, or something snorted, loudly. Brandy moved into the small kitchen and looked out the small window. There, at the back of the cabin, was a huge buck. Brandy opened the kitchen window half-way. She took aim right at the head of the buck and shot. It dropped dead. Brandy took a deep breath. Well, she would have a wedding present for Mason. She felt like a grown-up woman for the first time in her life. She knew her long adolescence was over.
Brandy knew she could not move this carcass, but she took a tarpaulin and went outside to cover it up.
The young woman look down on the huge buck and smiled, and thought to herself, "My, haven't I changed?"
Six hours passed and Brandy decided to study Scripture. But, she fell asleep in the rocking chair and woke up when Mason burst into the cabin with his guest.
He was laughing so hard she could hardly believe his mirth. "A buck, well, what can I say? But, here is your wedding present. Father Gibson from the town up the road. He is going to marry us."
Brandy got up from her chair with a smile, but then, she burst into tears. "I don't have a dress, or shoes or a veil. Look at me."
Father Gibson came over. "Brandy, look, Mason thought of that. He did a little altering of something I had from my mother. Look."
Brandy stared at Mason. "You SEW?" Mason looked a little sheepishly at her. "Yes, I sew."
They all laughed. Mason explained that Fr. Gibson had given him a conditional baptism. At least, they would have the Nuptial Blessing. Brandy asked if Fr. would hear her confession and Mason stood outside for the several minutes that took. Brandy was accepted back into the Church by Father.
Father suggested they would not waste any more time, as Mason would escort him back again after the ceremony. Brandy went upstairs and put on the 1950s wedding dress which had belonged to Fr. Gibson's mother. When she came back downstairs, with her long black hair tied up on top of her head, she felt truly like a bride.
So, while the muddy rain beat on the roof, Mason and Brandy became man and wife. Mason gave Brandy another little kiss and rushed out, but first, he hung the buck in the mud room off the kitchen.
"I shall show you how to deal with that later. I shall be back in ten hours."
Brandy ran and gave him a big kiss and the two men disappeared in the rain. Brandy decided that she should have a long shower and just go to bed. She knew Mason would come back to her. She was not afraid.
to be continued...
I'm going up north to a small town near here to get someone and bring him back here. Do you trust me?"
Brandy said, of course. Mason continued, "You know how to shoot well enough if someone tries to break it. Can you do this, I mean, could you defend yourself?"
Brandy said, I think so.
"One more thing." Mason looked intently at Brandy. "Will you marry me?"
Brandy was not surprised at her own response. She had found Mason to be one of the most interesting men she had ever met. She had tried to convince herself that she was not attracted to him, but she could not lie. But, marriage? Well, everything was new in this odd world. She did not need to consult her heart.
"Yes, Mason, I will. I really like you and I think I could grow to love you more."
Mason smiled. He gave her a little kiss on the cheek and grabbed one of his pistols. He put on heavy rain gear and left without saying anything.
Brandy watched him disappear in the rain. It would be a very long twelve hours. Who was he bringing back and why? His mom lived in Atlanta and his dad, well, he never knew his dad.
Brandy decided to spend the day praying and cleaning, as the cabin was not exactly ship-shape. She did not want to be a clock-watcher.
Cleaning did not take long, about two hours. She looked out the window. It was raining so hard she could hardly see the line of trees at the bottom of the small hill. She began to read her prayer book.
Another two hours passed. Four down, eight to go. Mason had left about ten in the morning. She thought of the past three weeks. She thought of her job in the government and her daily routine of going to the gym, going out with her friends, basically doing what she wanted to do.
She thought of all the years she wanted to be successful, moving to be one of the top administrators of her department.
What department?
Brandy shook her head. Then, she heard a strange noise outside. She felt terrified, and she felt cold. She got her gun and stood by the side of the window. She thought her breathing was really loud.
She heard the noise again. Someone, or something snorted, loudly. Brandy moved into the small kitchen and looked out the small window. There, at the back of the cabin, was a huge buck. Brandy opened the kitchen window half-way. She took aim right at the head of the buck and shot. It dropped dead. Brandy took a deep breath. Well, she would have a wedding present for Mason. She felt like a grown-up woman for the first time in her life. She knew her long adolescence was over.
Brandy knew she could not move this carcass, but she took a tarpaulin and went outside to cover it up.
The young woman look down on the huge buck and smiled, and thought to herself, "My, haven't I changed?"
Six hours passed and Brandy decided to study Scripture. But, she fell asleep in the rocking chair and woke up when Mason burst into the cabin with his guest.
He was laughing so hard she could hardly believe his mirth. "A buck, well, what can I say? But, here is your wedding present. Father Gibson from the town up the road. He is going to marry us."
Brandy got up from her chair with a smile, but then, she burst into tears. "I don't have a dress, or shoes or a veil. Look at me."
Father Gibson came over. "Brandy, look, Mason thought of that. He did a little altering of something I had from my mother. Look."
Brandy stared at Mason. "You SEW?" Mason looked a little sheepishly at her. "Yes, I sew."
They all laughed. Mason explained that Fr. Gibson had given him a conditional baptism. At least, they would have the Nuptial Blessing. Brandy asked if Fr. would hear her confession and Mason stood outside for the several minutes that took. Brandy was accepted back into the Church by Father.
Father suggested they would not waste any more time, as Mason would escort him back again after the ceremony. Brandy went upstairs and put on the 1950s wedding dress which had belonged to Fr. Gibson's mother. When she came back downstairs, with her long black hair tied up on top of her head, she felt truly like a bride.
So, while the muddy rain beat on the roof, Mason and Brandy became man and wife. Mason gave Brandy another little kiss and rushed out, but first, he hung the buck in the mud room off the kitchen.
"I shall show you how to deal with that later. I shall be back in ten hours."
Brandy ran and gave him a big kiss and the two men disappeared in the rain. Brandy decided that she should have a long shower and just go to bed. She knew Mason would come back to her. She was not afraid.
to be continued...
They Come from Dust Part Four
Mason felt relieved that he and Brandy had a week of peace. He went out now and then to check the area, and they did not have a fire to cause smoke. After a full seven days, Mason decided it was safe to have hot food.
He and Brandy decided on a schedule to keep sane. She slept in the loft bedroom and he slept on the camp bed in a small side bedroom off the main room.
Chores were divided. The fresh underground stream which was accessed by an old fashioned pump seemed to be clear and good. No contaminants as of yet appeared in the waters.
Mason proved to be a top prepper. He has collected all sorts of dried foods and water for years, as well as building a water purifying system, a heating system which ran off an oil generator, and other useful items.
He even built a primitive washing machine and shower which did not need electricity.
On the seventh day, Mason decided it was time to have "the hard talk" with Brandy.
He made beans and franks, coffee and even a pineapple upside down cake in his dutch oven. He opened two beers he had made himself from a small brewing kit, and asked Brandy to sit down.
She did. Mason at first did not know how to start the conversation. He decided to start with nature.
"Did you noticed there are no birds, Brandy, not even small ones?" Brandy nodded.
"There are no geese, no pheasants, and I have seen one deer. If it comes back, I shall kill it and we shall have venison. But, most of the animals are gone."
Brandy listened attentively. She felt like a school girl being prepped for a test. She knew Mason wanted to explain how bad things were going to be. She would be patient and listen. But, she already knew how bad things were and that things could get worse. But, she wanted to her what Mason had to say.
"We could stay here for six months with the provisions I have, if there are no more volcanoes, earthquakes and the stream stays clear. The problem I anticipate are raiders, people stumbling across us, or seeing smoke it we cook using the fire. I do not want to deny us hot food, and I do have some smokeless fuel, which I suggest we use until we run out of that."
Mason stopped and watched Brandy. She was calm.
"I can guarantee your safety but I want you to learn how to shoot Please, let me teach you some basics."
Brandy stared. She had been a liberal all her young life. To think of joining the prepper Mason to the point of learning how to use a gun was a huge challenge to her ideologies. But, Mason interrupted her thoughts, "You know, Brandy, you might need to defend me."
Brandy looked at the floor. She thought of her ancestors, Kanien’kehà :ka Nation and French. She thought to herself, "Well, they used guns.."
"OK. I shall learn for your sake." Mason grinned. He was beginning to realize that Brandy was flexible. This was a good sign.
The next morning, Mason set up some targets in the back yard. He wanted her to learn how to use the Ruger 10-22, but first he showed her his small collection of guns. He had three Czech rifles, a British one and a Japanese one, used by the Brits in WWI. Brandy was fascinated that Mason knew the entire history for each gun. He also showed her how he made bullets. This was a new world for her, far from her somewhat sheltered background.
They practiced with the 22 for about an hour. Mason said he was impressed, and that, weather permitting, they would try again tomorrow. But, the sky was dark, and a heavy, dirty rain began to splatter muddy water so that had to go inside.
The rain seemed odd for both scientists. The dust cover should have prevented rain for some time. Mason had some idea. He noticed how fast the temperature was rising, which would cause the change. The dust was warming the air and this could lead to monsoon like rains. Mason said nothing of this to Brandy, but he liked the idea of being separated from other humans for a while by severe rains. The cabin he built was on a small incline and would not flood.
Brandy looked out the window at the rain. Then she said something startling to Mason, "Mason, are you religious. I mean, did you ever go to church or pray?" Mason came over and stood by Brandy, handing her a hot cup of coffee. "Nope, I have to admit I am not a church-going man. But, I was in the army before I studied science and prayed a few times in Afghanistan."
"My uncle was in Afghanistan. He was killed by a landmine." Mason said nothing. He had too many bad memories of mines.
Brandy continued. "I would like to read the Bible and pray every evening. Would you do that with me, Mason? My mom and dad would read the Bible every night and say a few prayers. They were Catholics, but I fell away a long time ago, after they died in a car accident. I guess I have been mad at God."
Mason said nothing. "Well, it was hard for you to shoot today, so I guess I can compromise and read the Bible and pray with you. That seems fair. My parents were not religious. But, these are new times, and we all have to change."
Brandy smiled and drank her coffee. The noise of the rain on the roof comforted her. She went up to her loft room and brought down a leather-bound Bible and a little prayer book.
"After dinner,,,, " she said. "After dinner..., " Mason answered.
to be continued...
He and Brandy decided on a schedule to keep sane. She slept in the loft bedroom and he slept on the camp bed in a small side bedroom off the main room.
Chores were divided. The fresh underground stream which was accessed by an old fashioned pump seemed to be clear and good. No contaminants as of yet appeared in the waters.
Mason proved to be a top prepper. He has collected all sorts of dried foods and water for years, as well as building a water purifying system, a heating system which ran off an oil generator, and other useful items.
He even built a primitive washing machine and shower which did not need electricity.
On the seventh day, Mason decided it was time to have "the hard talk" with Brandy.
He made beans and franks, coffee and even a pineapple upside down cake in his dutch oven. He opened two beers he had made himself from a small brewing kit, and asked Brandy to sit down.
She did. Mason at first did not know how to start the conversation. He decided to start with nature.
"Did you noticed there are no birds, Brandy, not even small ones?" Brandy nodded.
"There are no geese, no pheasants, and I have seen one deer. If it comes back, I shall kill it and we shall have venison. But, most of the animals are gone."
Brandy listened attentively. She felt like a school girl being prepped for a test. She knew Mason wanted to explain how bad things were going to be. She would be patient and listen. But, she already knew how bad things were and that things could get worse. But, she wanted to her what Mason had to say.
"We could stay here for six months with the provisions I have, if there are no more volcanoes, earthquakes and the stream stays clear. The problem I anticipate are raiders, people stumbling across us, or seeing smoke it we cook using the fire. I do not want to deny us hot food, and I do have some smokeless fuel, which I suggest we use until we run out of that."
Mason stopped and watched Brandy. She was calm.
"I can guarantee your safety but I want you to learn how to shoot Please, let me teach you some basics."
Brandy stared. She had been a liberal all her young life. To think of joining the prepper Mason to the point of learning how to use a gun was a huge challenge to her ideologies. But, Mason interrupted her thoughts, "You know, Brandy, you might need to defend me."
Brandy looked at the floor. She thought of her ancestors, Kanien’kehà :ka Nation and French. She thought to herself, "Well, they used guns.."
"OK. I shall learn for your sake." Mason grinned. He was beginning to realize that Brandy was flexible. This was a good sign.
The next morning, Mason set up some targets in the back yard. He wanted her to learn how to use the Ruger 10-22, but first he showed her his small collection of guns. He had three Czech rifles, a British one and a Japanese one, used by the Brits in WWI. Brandy was fascinated that Mason knew the entire history for each gun. He also showed her how he made bullets. This was a new world for her, far from her somewhat sheltered background.
They practiced with the 22 for about an hour. Mason said he was impressed, and that, weather permitting, they would try again tomorrow. But, the sky was dark, and a heavy, dirty rain began to splatter muddy water so that had to go inside.
The rain seemed odd for both scientists. The dust cover should have prevented rain for some time. Mason had some idea. He noticed how fast the temperature was rising, which would cause the change. The dust was warming the air and this could lead to monsoon like rains. Mason said nothing of this to Brandy, but he liked the idea of being separated from other humans for a while by severe rains. The cabin he built was on a small incline and would not flood.
Brandy looked out the window at the rain. Then she said something startling to Mason, "Mason, are you religious. I mean, did you ever go to church or pray?" Mason came over and stood by Brandy, handing her a hot cup of coffee. "Nope, I have to admit I am not a church-going man. But, I was in the army before I studied science and prayed a few times in Afghanistan."
"My uncle was in Afghanistan. He was killed by a landmine." Mason said nothing. He had too many bad memories of mines.
Brandy continued. "I would like to read the Bible and pray every evening. Would you do that with me, Mason? My mom and dad would read the Bible every night and say a few prayers. They were Catholics, but I fell away a long time ago, after they died in a car accident. I guess I have been mad at God."
Mason said nothing. "Well, it was hard for you to shoot today, so I guess I can compromise and read the Bible and pray with you. That seems fair. My parents were not religious. But, these are new times, and we all have to change."
Brandy smiled and drank her coffee. The noise of the rain on the roof comforted her. She went up to her loft room and brought down a leather-bound Bible and a little prayer book.
"After dinner,,,, " she said. "After dinner..., " Mason answered.
to be continued...
Monday, 29 September 2014
They Come from Dust Part Three
The foursome, which made their way to Janet's parents, stopped on the way at a bookstore, which had the door wide-open. Inside, a young man in a baseball cap was eating muffins and an Italian soda.
"Hi, guys. Nice to see some people. All food is on the house. Help yourselves."
Dan answered first, "Thanks, we could use some food. Should we help ourselves?"
The young man waved a hand in the direction of the small eating area. "Help yourselves."
The four made up some Italian sodas. They found a pot of cold coffee and some chocolate croissants, lemon muffins and Danish rolls. The four did not realize how hungry they were until they began to eat.
Dan was the appointed leader of the group. "What's your name?" The young man answered, "Levitt, yeah, I know it is a last name, but my dad was a famous author and well, I got stuck with this. Where are you heading?"
Dan answered, "We are walking to one of our relatives. Why are you here?"
Levitt took off his hat and mussed up his hair as if he had a nervous habit. "Well, someone stole my car during the night. and I live in the suburbs with my parents, so I can't get home. I figure I may as well stay here and see if one of my brothers comes looking for me. Who knows? Do you know what happened? I sleep upstairs now and then in a small apartment, and stayed overnight last night. This is crazy."
"Volcanoes, 69 of them, " mumbled Jimmy between bites. Levitt looked at him with wide eyes. "Wow, is this crazy? I mean where and how do you know? I guess that explains the dust."
"That explains the dust," said Janet, who was still wearing a mask. "We are scientists from the seismology lab."
"Wow, " Levitt sat down next to Jimmy at the largest table in the small cafe. "This is really bad. I suppose California is gone."
"We were told as much, but we honestly do not know much more than you do." Dan did not want to hurt Janet with references to Dave.
"Wow, I wonder what will happen next?"
Jimmy finished his cold coffee. "Nothing. The sky will look like this for a year."
"Wow, " Levitt apparently could not say much. Then, he added. "My brother is a prepper, but I use to make fun of him."
Dan smiled. "Well, I hope he forgives you. You will need him now."
"Yeah, he lives out somewhere and has a cabin full of stuff. Maybe I should go there."
Dan looked at Levitt. He knew Mason's cabin, but did not want to share any information. He was beginning to think one could not trust unknown people.
"Where is his cabin?"
Levitt scratched his head. "South Carolina." Dan said nothing. Jimmy said, "If I were you, I would go as far south as possible. But, wait to see if someone will come for you."
Just then, a Chevy truck pulled up in front of the bookstore. Levitt yelled. "Bobby, hey Man. Am I glad to see you."
It was the prepper brother. Levitt ran out and hugged his brother. He spoke to them for a minute. Then, Bobby came in.
"Hey, guys, I shall take you to the house, but then we need to get going. It is dangerous."
Dan looked at the others. "OK, great, the girls are tired." The men bundled into the back of the truck and with Levitt and Bobby squeezed the two women into the front. Janet gave directions. Bobby took back roads and in ten minutes, the foursome were at Janet's parent's house. Bobby did not say much. He was intent on his plans. "I am glad to get Levitt. I have seen some bad stuff." He stopped. He did not want to scare the women..
At the house, everyone got outside and just stood there in silence for a while. The house was quiet. But, they four waited to say thanks to Bobby and Levitt
The brothers got back in the truck and the four waved the two goodbye, knowing full well they would never see them again.
Life seemed so strange. But, there were some good people left.....
to be continued...
"Hi, guys. Nice to see some people. All food is on the house. Help yourselves."
Dan answered first, "Thanks, we could use some food. Should we help ourselves?"
The young man waved a hand in the direction of the small eating area. "Help yourselves."
The four made up some Italian sodas. They found a pot of cold coffee and some chocolate croissants, lemon muffins and Danish rolls. The four did not realize how hungry they were until they began to eat.
Dan was the appointed leader of the group. "What's your name?" The young man answered, "Levitt, yeah, I know it is a last name, but my dad was a famous author and well, I got stuck with this. Where are you heading?"
Dan answered, "We are walking to one of our relatives. Why are you here?"
Levitt took off his hat and mussed up his hair as if he had a nervous habit. "Well, someone stole my car during the night. and I live in the suburbs with my parents, so I can't get home. I figure I may as well stay here and see if one of my brothers comes looking for me. Who knows? Do you know what happened? I sleep upstairs now and then in a small apartment, and stayed overnight last night. This is crazy."
"Volcanoes, 69 of them, " mumbled Jimmy between bites. Levitt looked at him with wide eyes. "Wow, is this crazy? I mean where and how do you know? I guess that explains the dust."
"That explains the dust," said Janet, who was still wearing a mask. "We are scientists from the seismology lab."
"Wow, " Levitt sat down next to Jimmy at the largest table in the small cafe. "This is really bad. I suppose California is gone."
"We were told as much, but we honestly do not know much more than you do." Dan did not want to hurt Janet with references to Dave.
"Wow, I wonder what will happen next?"
Jimmy finished his cold coffee. "Nothing. The sky will look like this for a year."
"Wow, " Levitt apparently could not say much. Then, he added. "My brother is a prepper, but I use to make fun of him."
Dan smiled. "Well, I hope he forgives you. You will need him now."
"Yeah, he lives out somewhere and has a cabin full of stuff. Maybe I should go there."
Dan looked at Levitt. He knew Mason's cabin, but did not want to share any information. He was beginning to think one could not trust unknown people.
"Where is his cabin?"
Levitt scratched his head. "South Carolina." Dan said nothing. Jimmy said, "If I were you, I would go as far south as possible. But, wait to see if someone will come for you."
Just then, a Chevy truck pulled up in front of the bookstore. Levitt yelled. "Bobby, hey Man. Am I glad to see you."
It was the prepper brother. Levitt ran out and hugged his brother. He spoke to them for a minute. Then, Bobby came in.
"Hey, guys, I shall take you to the house, but then we need to get going. It is dangerous."
Dan looked at the others. "OK, great, the girls are tired." The men bundled into the back of the truck and with Levitt and Bobby squeezed the two women into the front. Janet gave directions. Bobby took back roads and in ten minutes, the foursome were at Janet's parent's house. Bobby did not say much. He was intent on his plans. "I am glad to get Levitt. I have seen some bad stuff." He stopped. He did not want to scare the women..
At the house, everyone got outside and just stood there in silence for a while. The house was quiet. But, they four waited to say thanks to Bobby and Levitt
The brothers got back in the truck and the four waved the two goodbye, knowing full well they would never see them again.
Life seemed so strange. But, there were some good people left.....
to be continued...
They Come from Dust Part Two
After the four left to walk the miles to Janet's parents, Mason, just for the heck of it, tried his cell phone. Amazingly, it worked, for a few seconds. He quickly checked a text from Adam.
"Gone to base 2. No electricity expected until cloud goes-one year, states Rob. I am walking south."
Then, the phone went dead. Mason got up and walked over to Brandy, who was just sitting, staring at her computer.
"One year prognosis from Base Two." Brandy stared with her big brown eyes. "One year?" She could not comprehend the news. "Nothing will be alive in a year. Adam is leaving and walking south. I expect he is going to his wife in North Carolina."
"What? Walking to NC? Walking?"
"His car ran out of gas and all the stations have electric pumps. He got as far as Base Two. Well, what would you do?"
"I don't know, I just don't know. We all talked about this for weeks in staff meetings. Weeks, and none of us prepared. I mean, we laugh at the preppers."
Mason smiled. "I have to tell you something. Don't laugh at me. I am a prepper."
Brandy looked at him. "You hypocrite." Then, she smiled. "Well, what is the point of staying here."
Mason said he would break into the canteens, but the food was all spoiled by now. He would try and get money out of the machines.
"We drank all the pope yesterday."
Brandy stood up, "Let's go, now. This place is creepy, and there is not a thing we can do here. I have a full tank of gas. Where do you live?'
"About twenty-miles east, but my cabin with my stash is south of here. And, I want to avoid the metro areas. Looting, I mean people will be going crazy. Let's go now. As you know, I only have the motorbike and we are safer in a car. And, I have a gun."
Brandy looked shocked. "You are full of surprises. OK, let's go."
Within minutes, Mason was driving on back roads to his place. In the car, he explained to Brandy, that she would have to accept that he was "way more conservative" politically than he ever let on. "I belong to two gun clubs and, well, I vote far-right."
Brandy just smiled. "Well, I never thought I would be riding with a red-neck scientist." She laughed out loud. "I guess I have to set aside my prejudices."
"If you are coming with me, I guess so," Mason answered and they raced to a small state park area south of Reston. "I bought this cabin years ago, for fishing, just at the edge of the park area. I have tons of food and supplies for cooking and warmth. But, I only stocked for six months, not a year."
Brandy felt like she was in a dream. "I wish I knew how my family was doing in Arlington. I just never thought we would ever be completely cut-off."
Mason looked out his rear-view mirror. "We are being followed. I am taking a diversion. I know where I can leave this car and we can walk through the forest. Are you ready? I am not going to be killed over a car. And I don't want to shoot anyone, yet."
Brandy put her hand on his arm. "I'm scared." Mason pulled over to a housing estate and parked the car in the parking lot, They could see the edge of the woods. "I am leaving the keys in the car. Get into that open garage, Run, I am behind you."
Brandy ran to the small garage, and Mason followed with his small pistol. They hid behind some boxes. An old Buick came up and two men jumped out. They looked around and then opened Brandy's car. The one gestured to the other, they got in and drove away, fast. They move due west.
"Someone is chasing them. We need to make those woods in the next few minutes. Can you do it?"
"Sure, I was all-state runner in college. Let's go." Mason smiled, "I guess I am not the only surprised one today. Let's go."
Within minutes, the two made the woods, Mason told Brandy to lay down. He really wished she was not wearing red today. "Smear mud on your clothes." She obeyed.
He looked back and saw a police car drive into the parking lot and two men got out, in military gear. They went over and checked the car. "Move, now, Go." Mason whispered. The two were off.
Forty-five minutes later, Brandy and Mason found the cabin. Brandy collapsed at the door. "Get in, now," Mason helped her in and went out, dust was falling everywhere. Their tracks were already covered.
"Well, We are here for awhile. No one followed us. I have clothes you can change into."
Brandy fell on a small sofa. "Yea, I guess red is not combat color."
Then she began to cry. "I'm sorry. This is too much."
"Take a nap. I be on first guard." Mason went to a cupboard and pulled out a pillow and blankets.
Within minutes, Brandy was asleep. "Poor thing, She has no idea how bad this can get." And, he propped himself under one of the front windows.
to be continued...
"Gone to base 2. No electricity expected until cloud goes-one year, states Rob. I am walking south."
Then, the phone went dead. Mason got up and walked over to Brandy, who was just sitting, staring at her computer.
"One year prognosis from Base Two." Brandy stared with her big brown eyes. "One year?" She could not comprehend the news. "Nothing will be alive in a year. Adam is leaving and walking south. I expect he is going to his wife in North Carolina."
"What? Walking to NC? Walking?"
"His car ran out of gas and all the stations have electric pumps. He got as far as Base Two. Well, what would you do?"
"I don't know, I just don't know. We all talked about this for weeks in staff meetings. Weeks, and none of us prepared. I mean, we laugh at the preppers."
Mason smiled. "I have to tell you something. Don't laugh at me. I am a prepper."
Brandy looked at him. "You hypocrite." Then, she smiled. "Well, what is the point of staying here."
Mason said he would break into the canteens, but the food was all spoiled by now. He would try and get money out of the machines.
"We drank all the pope yesterday."
Brandy stood up, "Let's go, now. This place is creepy, and there is not a thing we can do here. I have a full tank of gas. Where do you live?'
"About twenty-miles east, but my cabin with my stash is south of here. And, I want to avoid the metro areas. Looting, I mean people will be going crazy. Let's go now. As you know, I only have the motorbike and we are safer in a car. And, I have a gun."
Brandy looked shocked. "You are full of surprises. OK, let's go."
Within minutes, Mason was driving on back roads to his place. In the car, he explained to Brandy, that she would have to accept that he was "way more conservative" politically than he ever let on. "I belong to two gun clubs and, well, I vote far-right."
Brandy just smiled. "Well, I never thought I would be riding with a red-neck scientist." She laughed out loud. "I guess I have to set aside my prejudices."
"If you are coming with me, I guess so," Mason answered and they raced to a small state park area south of Reston. "I bought this cabin years ago, for fishing, just at the edge of the park area. I have tons of food and supplies for cooking and warmth. But, I only stocked for six months, not a year."
Brandy felt like she was in a dream. "I wish I knew how my family was doing in Arlington. I just never thought we would ever be completely cut-off."
Mason looked out his rear-view mirror. "We are being followed. I am taking a diversion. I know where I can leave this car and we can walk through the forest. Are you ready? I am not going to be killed over a car. And I don't want to shoot anyone, yet."
Brandy put her hand on his arm. "I'm scared." Mason pulled over to a housing estate and parked the car in the parking lot, They could see the edge of the woods. "I am leaving the keys in the car. Get into that open garage, Run, I am behind you."
Brandy ran to the small garage, and Mason followed with his small pistol. They hid behind some boxes. An old Buick came up and two men jumped out. They looked around and then opened Brandy's car. The one gestured to the other, they got in and drove away, fast. They move due west.
"Someone is chasing them. We need to make those woods in the next few minutes. Can you do it?"
"Sure, I was all-state runner in college. Let's go." Mason smiled, "I guess I am not the only surprised one today. Let's go."
Within minutes, the two made the woods, Mason told Brandy to lay down. He really wished she was not wearing red today. "Smear mud on your clothes." She obeyed.
He looked back and saw a police car drive into the parking lot and two men got out, in military gear. They went over and checked the car. "Move, now, Go." Mason whispered. The two were off.
Forty-five minutes later, Brandy and Mason found the cabin. Brandy collapsed at the door. "Get in, now," Mason helped her in and went out, dust was falling everywhere. Their tracks were already covered.
"Well, We are here for awhile. No one followed us. I have clothes you can change into."
Brandy fell on a small sofa. "Yea, I guess red is not combat color."
Then she began to cry. "I'm sorry. This is too much."
"Take a nap. I be on first guard." Mason went to a cupboard and pulled out a pillow and blankets.
Within minutes, Brandy was asleep. "Poor thing, She has no idea how bad this can get." And, he propped himself under one of the front windows.
to be continued...
They Come from Dust.....Part One
Dan looked at his cold cup of coffee. He was not sure he wanted to drink it, but he thought, ruefully, this may be his last cup for a long time.
Only a handful of people had made it to the office in Virginia this morning. Six or seven employees of the government seismology group which dealt with emergency information stood around. Janet looked like a surgeon with her mask on. This was not a good day for asthmatics. She looked tired as well, but smart in her blue suit. Carrie stared out the window at the grayish-red sky.
"Well, we predicted this, but no one believed us, Jim, " she said to the man sitting near her. Jimmy looked up. "Yeah, and I want to take the generator out and see if I can determined any activity. Do you want to go out?" Carrie lowered her voice, "Yeah, I'll go. Janet will be imprisoned inside while this is going on."
Jimmy stood up and walked over to the window. "I know, but without the air working, this office will not be much better than outside, to be honest."
Dan was taking notes on a small notebook. In the entire area of North America, this reddish-grey cloud covered the land, from the top of Canada to the edge of South America, covering Mexico and Central America.
Last night, about 1:00 a.m.,Yellowstone blew up, setting off a chain reaction of volcanoes and earthquakes from Colorado through California, including Baja. Before his cell died, Dan had three texts from his best friend in Denver, Dave
"7 here, California is dead. Moving out of the building to the south in car. Have generator/stuff."
Stuff meant his mobile instruments. Then, about a half hour later, Dan received another text, "Going farther south. This will be the day that I die. But, want more readings. Stupid song on the car radio-the last song I shall ever hear-American Pie. Why is Sirius working in the Twilight Zone?"
Dan could hardly read the third one, but wrote all these down before his phone died.
"Bye, friend. Pray for me. Dust is poison here. Tell Janet I love her. Can't get through to her. See you all, God willing, on the other side. Radio died. All is silent. God is Good."
Dan stared at Janet. Dave and Janet were supposed to be married in January, right after Christmas.
He had showed her the texts about two hours ago. Now, all was silent.
Janet had gone into a little cocoon of her own, quiet, distant. She knew Dave was dead, out in the field somewhere, covered in ash, in a land where all the trees, plants, people would die completely, perhaps already now, burnt or poisoned, choked,
Dan watched her, giving her space. He understood her and knew that she would work this out by herself and talk when she was collected. He admired her strength.
The two with the mobile stuff moved outside. Dan walked over to the window and watched them set up the generator and instruments on the "flat" as they called it, a small piece of land in a small courtyard. Dan did not expect any activity this far east, but the city was getting a fair amount of dust even in Virginia.
He looked at the sky. Dust fell like rain. "Man," he thought, " the West must be like Pompey. 69 explosions recorded for prosperity, for who?"
As a child, Dan and his parents had gone to Italy and visited both Pompey and Herculaneum. He was eight years, old and then and there, he had decided to go into the science of volcanoes, specializing in debris dynamics. He never thought he would be watching such a show. He had been to Mt. Etna in 2003 when in college. That is where he met Dave and Janet. They became instant friends.
Carrie and Jimmy walked in with the stuff. "Some activity even here-2.5s." Dan looked at them. His mind flew to the map in the staff room of America's fault lines. He had them all memorized. He knew the West, most likely from the Mississippi, was dead, burning, covered with the debris of the sixty-plus explosions which were triggered by Yellowstone.
"Carrie got a message from her sister before the cells stopped. All the airlines are closed. Absolutely no flights from Alaska to Nicaragua. Her sister is stuck in Alabama." Carrie's sister worked as an airline flight attendant for Delta.
Dan stood up. "Well, I would imagine people are alive there." Carrie came over and put her arm over Dan's shoulder. No one said a thing. They all had loved Dave. He was special. He loved people, God, nature. His nickname was "The Monk".
Janet finally left her vigil at the window and turned to look at Dan. Dan knew she would be OK, She had absorbed the tragedy.
She came over and sat down next to Dan. "Want some cold coffee?" She took the cup from Dave.
"At least he is buried. I would not want to think of him just laying out in the open."
"Yes, God buried him with His Own Hands." Janet stared at Dan, "Thank you. I thought the same thing. He was the best man I ever met. Maybe just too good for me, for this world."
Dan knew this was true and said nothing. "Well, I guess we have to think of what to do next."
"My parents live about four miles from here. I can walk it. There is nothing to do here without electricity. Do you want to go?"
Carrie walked over to the small table where Dan and Janet sat. "I'll go. Why not? What about Jimmy?"
"Well, they will have food and none of us have eaten since last night. Sure, I cannot phone, of course, but they would be less worried if they knew I was fine."
Dan murmured, "Can you realistically take the walk?"
"Sure, for my mom and dad, anything."
The other two in the office, Brandy and Mason, said they would stay and hold down the fort. They did not expect anyone else to make it in. Just in case electricity came on again, they would hang around. A seventh person, Adam, had disappeared hours ago. No one knew where he went.
The four got raincoats and the girls changed into their walking shoes, which they kept at the office for field duty. The four set off, south, not knowing what to expect.
to be continued...
Only a handful of people had made it to the office in Virginia this morning. Six or seven employees of the government seismology group which dealt with emergency information stood around. Janet looked like a surgeon with her mask on. This was not a good day for asthmatics. She looked tired as well, but smart in her blue suit. Carrie stared out the window at the grayish-red sky.
"Well, we predicted this, but no one believed us, Jim, " she said to the man sitting near her. Jimmy looked up. "Yeah, and I want to take the generator out and see if I can determined any activity. Do you want to go out?" Carrie lowered her voice, "Yeah, I'll go. Janet will be imprisoned inside while this is going on."
Jimmy stood up and walked over to the window. "I know, but without the air working, this office will not be much better than outside, to be honest."
Dan was taking notes on a small notebook. In the entire area of North America, this reddish-grey cloud covered the land, from the top of Canada to the edge of South America, covering Mexico and Central America.
Last night, about 1:00 a.m.,Yellowstone blew up, setting off a chain reaction of volcanoes and earthquakes from Colorado through California, including Baja. Before his cell died, Dan had three texts from his best friend in Denver, Dave
"7 here, California is dead. Moving out of the building to the south in car. Have generator/stuff."
Stuff meant his mobile instruments. Then, about a half hour later, Dan received another text, "Going farther south. This will be the day that I die. But, want more readings. Stupid song on the car radio-the last song I shall ever hear-American Pie. Why is Sirius working in the Twilight Zone?"
Dan could hardly read the third one, but wrote all these down before his phone died.
"Bye, friend. Pray for me. Dust is poison here. Tell Janet I love her. Can't get through to her. See you all, God willing, on the other side. Radio died. All is silent. God is Good."
Dan stared at Janet. Dave and Janet were supposed to be married in January, right after Christmas.
He had showed her the texts about two hours ago. Now, all was silent.
Janet had gone into a little cocoon of her own, quiet, distant. She knew Dave was dead, out in the field somewhere, covered in ash, in a land where all the trees, plants, people would die completely, perhaps already now, burnt or poisoned, choked,
Dan watched her, giving her space. He understood her and knew that she would work this out by herself and talk when she was collected. He admired her strength.
The two with the mobile stuff moved outside. Dan walked over to the window and watched them set up the generator and instruments on the "flat" as they called it, a small piece of land in a small courtyard. Dan did not expect any activity this far east, but the city was getting a fair amount of dust even in Virginia.
He looked at the sky. Dust fell like rain. "Man," he thought, " the West must be like Pompey. 69 explosions recorded for prosperity, for who?"
As a child, Dan and his parents had gone to Italy and visited both Pompey and Herculaneum. He was eight years, old and then and there, he had decided to go into the science of volcanoes, specializing in debris dynamics. He never thought he would be watching such a show. He had been to Mt. Etna in 2003 when in college. That is where he met Dave and Janet. They became instant friends.
Carrie and Jimmy walked in with the stuff. "Some activity even here-2.5s." Dan looked at them. His mind flew to the map in the staff room of America's fault lines. He had them all memorized. He knew the West, most likely from the Mississippi, was dead, burning, covered with the debris of the sixty-plus explosions which were triggered by Yellowstone.
"Carrie got a message from her sister before the cells stopped. All the airlines are closed. Absolutely no flights from Alaska to Nicaragua. Her sister is stuck in Alabama." Carrie's sister worked as an airline flight attendant for Delta.
Dan stood up. "Well, I would imagine people are alive there." Carrie came over and put her arm over Dan's shoulder. No one said a thing. They all had loved Dave. He was special. He loved people, God, nature. His nickname was "The Monk".
Janet finally left her vigil at the window and turned to look at Dan. Dan knew she would be OK, She had absorbed the tragedy.
She came over and sat down next to Dan. "Want some cold coffee?" She took the cup from Dave.
"At least he is buried. I would not want to think of him just laying out in the open."
"Yes, God buried him with His Own Hands." Janet stared at Dan, "Thank you. I thought the same thing. He was the best man I ever met. Maybe just too good for me, for this world."
Dan knew this was true and said nothing. "Well, I guess we have to think of what to do next."
"My parents live about four miles from here. I can walk it. There is nothing to do here without electricity. Do you want to go?"
Carrie walked over to the small table where Dan and Janet sat. "I'll go. Why not? What about Jimmy?"
"Well, they will have food and none of us have eaten since last night. Sure, I cannot phone, of course, but they would be less worried if they knew I was fine."
Dan murmured, "Can you realistically take the walk?"
"Sure, for my mom and dad, anything."
The other two in the office, Brandy and Mason, said they would stay and hold down the fort. They did not expect anyone else to make it in. Just in case electricity came on again, they would hang around. A seventh person, Adam, had disappeared hours ago. No one knew where he went.
The four got raincoats and the girls changed into their walking shoes, which they kept at the office for field duty. The four set off, south, not knowing what to expect.
to be continued...
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