Self Apocalypse: The Beginning (11 page)

I passed by the pool during the early morning, and thought I might try my luck at some crayfish on the way back if time permitted.  That would make a great treat for tonight and another needed change in menu.  I kept moving through the forest listening and watching my surroundings.  You had to constantly be on the alert now for any movement that could potentially be a threat.  I highly doubted I was going to run into anyone here, but you couldn’t let your guard down.  Not after what had transpired at the camp.  The days of walking carefree through the world were definitely gone now, and danger could be lurking just about anywhere.  I wasn’t seeking trouble, but if trouble was seeking me I wanted to be first to react.  Being just a fraction of a second off in this new game could be the difference between life and death.

Continuing to move in the direction of camp, I kept to the woods like last time when I got near.  Walking along the old logging road was asking for trouble.  When I got to the edge of camp, I scanned the area then moved south along the road to insure no one was near.  I checked the road itself for tracks too, and didn’t see any sign of human activity.  It looked like I wouldn’t be having anymore visits near here anymore.  At least not any time soon anyway.  I walked back to camp and carefully checked the area before slowly approaching the camper.  I kept an eye on the raised shed as well for anyone who might be hiding in attempts to make a shot from there.  The camp was cleared and after deeming it safe to work, I began at stripping wiring from the camper.

When I got all the wiring that I could possibly get I then searched for screws and nails.  I was able to find enough to complete the bow saw project and have extras on hand.  The garden was next and I was pleased to find it flourishing.  Luck had multiplied this day with the harvest I was now reaping from my work in the spring.  Working as fast as my hands could possibly pick vegetables, I loaded the bag with everything I could.  There was a lot of squash, some cucumbers, tons of peas and beans, and a few ears of corn.  The corn really didn’t take, and the cucumbers didn’t do so well either, but I it was more than I could have hoped for.  These newly added resources would definitely see me through the winter when combined with what rations I already had at the cabin.  I had planted zucchini as well, but it appeared something liked that because every one of them had been chewed on.  I was a little surprised nothing had gotten to the squash. 
Must not like summer squash
, I thought to myself, but I did so it worked out in my favor.

Now having what I came for and being on a time frame, I quickly geared up and headed back to the cabin.  I made it to the pool at the brook with ample time to attempt to catch a special dinner.  My skills must have been improving, because I was able to gather a half dozen of the little clawed critters in no time at all.  I placed my canteen in my bag and the crayfish in my canteen pouch.  My only regret was that I didn’t have a container for them.  Hoping they would survive the journey back, I wasted no time in traversing the rest of the way.  This time I decided to take a different route and attempt the western slope of the mountain that led to the spring.  It was a lot more gradual their and would save me both time and energy.

Checking on the still living crayfish as I neared the base of the mountain, I heard that familiar drumming noise nearby from a grouse.  I turned to look in that direction, but could not see it.  It didn’t matter anyway, because I wasn’t going to shoot one with the rifle anyhow.  Something else caught my eye though.  There appeared to be an open space with a few trees where the bird was hiding.  I walked over to investigate, always curious as to new spots that may provide resources.  As I walked over I found myself walking through a stand of crab apple trees.  I couldn’t believe it!  The apples weren’t ready yet, but they would be soon.  I made a mental note of the area so I could return for some fruit, and also to try my luck a deer here.  This would definitely be a great spot for the future.

After satisfying my knowledge of the immediate area I again started my hike to the cabin.  I had been right about the western side of the mountain.  It had been an easier hike up than the torturous way I had been taking all this time.  When I got back I placed the crayfish in a bowl of water and covered it with a plate.  I had only lost one along the way so that wasn’t too bad.  I made a fire and started to boil water for dinner.  While the water was boiling I laid out my harvest on the table in the cabin, and put aside the wiring and hardware for later.  The vegetables were fine for now, but I was going to have to figure out what to do with them tomorrow.  I needed to try and preserve most of them for the winter.  Tonight I would definitely partake in some along with my catch.  Soon the crayfish were added to the boiling water, and I was able to enjoy a miniature lobster meal with freshly picked green beans.  It had definitely been a great day, and it wasn’t over yet.  I still had the radio to work with.

Spring water was retrieved after dinner and boiled for a couple cups of coffee.  Caffeine was definitely a top priority for this project.  Grogginess was overcoming me from the day’s adventure so I was in need of a pick me up.  While the water was warming up I started to work on the antenna.  It would be dark soon so I decided to try rigging something up in the cabin first.  If it didn’t work I would bring the set up outside in the morning.  When I stepped outside to retrieve the pot of water I noticed a sudden drop in temperature.  Summer was definitely coming to an end now and I would soon need to start scrambling for winter.

I made myself a cup of steaming hot coffee then started on running the wire in the cabin.  Being satisfied with the current layout I wound the radio and turned it on.  The tuner moved around as I tried to find a signal.  I couldn’t hear anything though emitting from the speaker other than static noise.  After spending a good deal of time on it, I gave up and decided to try later well after dark.  Maybe whoever was attempting to broadcast last night was only able to in the night.  It was a possibility anyway.  I know I couldn’t spare time in daylight hours to attempt anything like that.  So I set aside the radio and sat sipping my coffee and staring at my harvest.

As the cabin started to darken from the oncoming night, I lit a candle and once again picked up the radio.  Winding it again and turning it on, I tuned it to the general area where I had received the signal last night.  Then after placing the radio down I made another cup of coffee.  The water was just warm now, but that really didn’t matter to me right now.  With a new cup of coffee in hand, I sat down and listened to the static playing on the radio.  When my cup was about half emptied I put it down and started to move the tuning dial.  Nothing but that swooshing sound filled the silent cabin.  An owl was hooting outside the cabin and made me laugh.  It seemed as though we were both asking “
who’s there?
”  Soon I became frustrated and stopped playing with the dial.  I sat with my elbows on my knees and my hands covering my face.  Anger got the better of me, and I sat up straight needlessly slamming my hand on the table.  Just then a voice came over the radio.  Just a quick second, but it was there.

Quickly, I began to tune in the radio trying to find the signal.  Every now and again I would catch something, but it would fade as fast it had came.  I started to move the wire around the cabin trying different angles, and then returning to the tuner to attempt finding just the right place.  Finally after working with the antenna in about twenty different directions I caught a stronger signal.  I still couldn’t make it out fully, but I new I was on the right track.  I continued to play with the antenna until I actually could somewhat hear the broadcast.  It was still a little weak, but I could make out what was being said.  Maybe now I could get some answers to questions that had been grinding at my thoughts over the past months.

Chapter Ten

The Decision

“For the Lamb which is in

the midst of the throne shall

feed them, and shall lead them

unto living fountains of waters:

and God shall wipe away all

tears from their eyes.”

-Revelation 7:17

Snow blanketed land and nearly reached the bottom of the windows on the cabin.  There was a crudely built wooden box by the door serving as a freezer for food that was not smoked or dried for preservation.  A narrow trail led from the door to the outlook, and another branched from it leading to large stacks of wood partially to completely covered with snow.  Another trail led westward leading to the spring which had been dug out several times.  It was partly frozen now and ice chunks lay around where it had been cut into over the weeks.  The sound of birds no longer filled the air, and had been replaced by howling wind.

Inside, the cabin was dimly lit from what little light made its way in during this cloudy winter day.  The stove was burning wood at a steady pace and warmed the small cabin to more than comfortable temperature.  A good size stack of wood lay next to the woodstove, and a deerskin from the fall’s hunt hung stretched on the wall above the stack.  Items lay scattered about the cabin and gave it the look of a well lived in space.  Badly woven baskets hung from the log cut rafters containing dried fruit and vegetables.  Can goods lined the floor by the table stacked in neat rows.

Sitting at the table with a hot cup of water in hand, I slowly sipped wishing I had some coffee.  There was only enough for three cups left, and I was holding on to it for as long as I could.  I would definitely want to enjoy a cup when spring found its way back.  The hot water slowly worked its way down to my stomach as it warmed my body.  While trying to enjoy my hot treat I stared at the bearskin that was draped over the other chair.  I had run into the bruin while picking crab apples during the fall.  Between him and the deer I had shot in front of the cabin one morning, I had acquired more than enough meat to last the entire winter.  It was a good thing too, because I didn’t have a winter jacket now.  I had lost that when the camper burned, and to tell you the truth, hadn’t even have thought about it until that first real cold morning had settled in.  I had a sweater though that I had left at the cabin before all that commotion, and was able to salvage two sweatshirts from the camper.  I was also able to recover enough padding from what cushions remained to make a proper mattress.  That had made a world of change for me at night, but it was still nothing to go bragging about.  The bear’s hide was serving a dual purpose right now.  I was using it as an extra blanket and to cover me when I stepped out for wood.  I really didn’t have the things needed to make the skin into a coat, but I guess if I had to I could figure something out.

The winter had been a long one so far, but it was nearing its end and thoughts of spring flourished in my mind.  I had been faced with a very large decision, and would have to make a choice very soon.  I had already been making plans of how I was going to go about this if I decided to leave.  However, the thought of leaving safety for an unknown place weighed heavy on my mind.  I knew there would be dangers and that there was a chance I wouldn’t complete the journey.  There was also the chance that I wouldn’t be able to get through another winter here as well.  The can goods that helped me this winter wouldn’t be here next year, and there was no guarantee that I would be able to plant a successful garden here.  There was also the loneliness that encompassed me here.  I yearned to speak with someone, and to not just hear a voice on the radio.  In the end it really was worth the risk of leaving my mountain perch.  Besides, I’m sure it was only a matter of time before someone stumbled upon my dwelling.  Then I would be faced with the reality of having to deal with a person (or persons) that may or may not wish me harm.  Faced with that type of situation alone was not a good thought.  That old saying “
there’s strength in numbers”
really meant something, and those numbers
were
out there just waiting for more to join them.

The broadcast still came on a nightly basis.  Sometimes it lasted a while, and other times it was short and sweet.  It usually came just after night darkened the sky above.  The signal came from a radio station near here that was erected for the purpose of finding other survivors looking to rebuild.  They had apparently taken control of a town which was fortified against outside elements.  The warnings were severe as to the chaos still gripping the country.  There were other towns like it as well, and some had a military presence.  Communication across the country was slowly coming back online, and the push to start over had begun.  There still wasn’t a centralized government, but democracy prevailed in the towns and outposts that were slowly regaining control over their region.

In-between these safe havens stretched vast amounts of land either completely useless from the attack or running wild with mad men and warlords.  It seemed half the world wanted to rebuild and the other half wanted to destroy it.  Fear for survival obviously still gripped a better part of the country, and struggles for power in small sections as well.  The nightly broadcast warned of these dangers for those seeking to travel to their town.  Deep down inside I knew I was going to have to face those dangers if I ever wanted a chance at living a somewhat normal life again.  Sure, I knew things would never be the same, but even before all this changes occurred on a regular basis.  Life was about having to adapt to those changes, move on, and live out our lives as best we could.

I guess my decision was made then.  I was going to go look for this land of opportunity and find a new life.  A life that might allow me to once again walk carefree, and have the chance to establish new roots.  Maybe even start a family.  That was something that I had never really given much thought to before, but after being secluded for so long I found myself wishing I had a partner to share this misery with.  I was almost positive it wouldn’t be miserable if someone was here.  The thought of little feet running around didn’t seem like such a bad idea either.  After all that has happened one begins to see what is really important in life.  I just truly hoped my eyes didn’t open too late.