The Event Series (Book 3): The Archive and Beyond Read online

  August 7th

  (Lance) About 10 this morning I was called to join a meeting that was going on. Teckla, Doc Barkley, Charlene, Matt and Tom were there already. The topic was the cure that had been made by the Krezz. We had about 10,000 doses and the question was what we were going to do with it. The informal consensus is that we should spread it around. I am good with that idea, but the question was how.

  Tom had already turned over most of the pills to the Pittsburgh for them to distribute to bases and populated areas that they knew of or dealt with. But there were some inland locations that the ship could not get to. We know of Fort Knox and Cheyenne Mountain. They want me to start trying to contact other bases, or at least try to do so. The thought was that there may be other bases and we needed to try to help them out. My task is to get on the Sat-Comm and find out where there were other sites.

  It seems like a good idea but I am going to be careful about it. I am not going to give away our location, or numbers. It could be a case where a renegade group, like Womack’s, might try to do visit us. The information would also help us decide on how many groups we needed to send out and how far they would need to travel.

  Del and I skipped fire pit tonight, we stayed in and talked. I have some concerns about the pills. The funny part is that I can’t explain why. I just have this nagging feeling that there is something wrong with it, something that is a bad about it, but I don’t know what it is. Maybe I am being silly, Tom and Asuna took it and they’re fine. So it has had some testing. Del thinks we should take it, I am hesitant, I want to wait, see what is going on. I know she is not happy with my choice, but for now she is going along with it.

  (Matt) Tanya and I were out early to visit the veggie garden. Mark has asked us to give him some estimates on what the status on the various plants will be. Things like how long we will have tomatoes for and if there would be an overabundance. I think he is trying to work out some things with Taylor to see about canning or putting stuff away. The corn is not an issue, but the beans, and some of the squash would be.

  When we got back Tom was talking to the Major and Mom. Tanya and I joined in, so did Margo and Cody. Pretty soon Lance, and Mark and Fred were there too. Tom told us that he had originally thought that we needed to get the cure brought out to some of the places where there were still human colonies. His idea is to just jump in his truck, the Coyote, and go. But in talking to Margo and Asuna, they convinced him that it was not such a hot idea.

  We began to talk about it and share ideas.

  “When the Navy rescued us, we had 200,000 doses of the cure that we turned over to them to distribute to the coastal bases that they knew about.” Tom said. “And they weren’t going to restrict it to just American bases, but share with the world. While we were traveling with them they had set up rendezvous’ with a British and a Russian ship.”

  “That’s good,” said the Major.

  “And we, Asuna and I promised that we would get the remaining pills to those who needed it here on the main land. So that is what we need to do.”

  “Tom, really, think about it. How are you two going to do that, just ride off into the sunset and find people and places?” Teckla said. You could sense an edge to her voice.

  “Yeah it’s a long haul doing it that way. We know that Fort Knox and Cheyenne Mountain have bases, and Matt told me that there was a group up in Fairbanks. We need to do this, we gave our word. What can we do to make it easier and safer?” I told them all, I felt better about this already, and I could see both Margo and Asuna smiling and shaking their heads in agreement with opening it up to the clan.

  “Well, let’s start with Lance. He has had some contact with some bases and if we do this right we can get to them, and then they can further spread the cure around saving us some travel time.” suggested Tanya.

  Lance told us that that he knew of three locations that were occupied, that being Fort Knox, Fairbanks, and the other location is Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado. We know, or knew that they had population.

  “Okay, and if I remember, Lance, you said that Fairbanks was looking to relocate more toward Anchorage,” Mark said.

  “Yes, they did, come to think of it,” Lance replied.

  “Do you think there are other places, populations out there?” asked Fred.

  “Maybe, I have not tried making contact with anyone lately; I mostly spoke with the Pittsburgh. But I can try to see who I can raise out there.” Lance replied.

  “Good idea, but remember some of our recent events,” said Doc Barkley.

  “Oh for sure, I have been and will continue to be very discreet with contact, with no home address given. You never know.”

  The conversation went on, I don’t think that any of us are against the idea of sharing, but we need to be as effective and careful as we can be. Winter is rolling toward us and if we are going to hit some the more northern routes we want to be done with them and back home by the end of September or we will be putting the travelers at great risk.

  (Tom) I know that I am pushing this issue of getting the cure out to the other areas of the country. Asuna and I made a deal with the Pittsburgh and we are going to do our part of the bargain. I will try to get some of the others to help out, even though I initially thought the smartest thing is for Asuna and I to just take off and head toward Fort Knox and then Cheyenne Mountain. It would take maybe a month for us to do the loop and we would be back before the snow flies.

  But I have had a change of heart on that one thanks to Asuna and Margo. Everyone is involved now, and in the end, that is the best way to go. I was wrong.

  (Margo) Code and I were on Bo-Peep duty and missed the big pow-wow. I am kind of pissed about that, I wanted to be part of it, part of the planning, but no, we are watching sheep that we really have no reason to be worrying about. Momma is the only predator out there and she, well I doubt she would take one, but even if she did, we, I owe her.

  Lance and Del filled us in at supper, there is no definitive plan yet, other than it is going to an effort by the clan. I told Code that if that is the case we, he and I were going. He agreed.

  August 8th

  (Matt) Lance is still working on confirming locations. He said that he was able to make contact with Fort Knox and Cheyenne, but so far no luck with Fairbanks. So at this point we have two confirmed locations. I still think that there is a third and that we should plan on heading to Alaska also. I want to see Alaska again, sounds funny, but I think Raven is calling me.

  The how to do it is going to be the big issue. But really, I think that it is pretty simple. We set up three groups, each with a third of the medicine and then head out separate ways via truck. We drop off the goods and then head for home, simple as a bridge.

  But there are those who have other plans and options, it could be a while before it is all figured out. Fred, for example, has suggested that he takes one of the airplanes and jumps from airfield to airfield. That might work, but the fuel issue is the flaw. He, they, whoever went with him would be at the mercy of finding aviation gas; it is different from jet fuel, which is basically kerosene. It has been almost two years; the gas supplies are likely contaminated.

  The idea of riding horses has been suggested. That one could work, it cuts out the fuel issues but it would be a slow and long trip. For the trip to Kentucky it would be kind of okay, but it would not work for Colorado or Alaska. It would be November before we got there, and the snows would already be in the western mountains.

  No, from my mind it is by truck, diesel, four by four. We should be able to lay in a supply of fuel to have as an emergency back up, and then just hit the highway.

  We shall see.

  (Lance) I have been able to confirm two locations for delivery. Kentucky and Colorado are a go. I have still not been able to reach Alaska, but I did speak with the Pittsburgh and they have told me that they had made contact 2 days ago. Fairbanks is on the move coming down the Fairbanks to Anchorage rail line, but they are doing it slowly, in trucks and ther
e are a lot of tree issues.

  There is still some working out the details of how to proceed. But it is pretty much a given that there will be three groups, Tom will lead one, Barkley will lead the second and Matt will lead the third. There is the question of mapping out how to get from point A to point B, and what the size of the teams will be. Tom leans toward 2 each, Matt and the Major lean to 4.

  As I listen to them going on, it has become sort of “blah, blah, blah” and I am not really listening.

  The planning session ran late tonight so Vespers did not happen, some of the folks may have hung out there, but many of us were still trying to sort out the plan.

  (Tom) Talking all day, and I am tired of talking, I just want to take my share of the medicine and jump in the truck and be gone. But that is not right either.

  We have some agreement; I am heading to Colorado with Asuna. The Major and Charlene are going to head to Fort Knox, and Matt and Tanya are going to Alaska. They will have the longest and hardest road.

  Although Fred and Jan have pushed for using the planes, they finally realized that the problem of fresh usable fuel makes that a bad choice. But they have decided that they will accompany Matt and Tanya.

  Much to everyone’s surprise Mark insisted on going along also with one of the groups. At first it was pooh-poohed, but as he set his heals in it was clear he was going. Matt was the first to cave and said that Mark could come with him. But that was met with an absolutely no vote by Teckla. She was not going to put both her eggs in one basket. I was going to suggest that he come with me, but the Major spoke up first and said that he would be happy to take him, them, Michelle would be traveling with them.

  That left me, and I was still against taking anyone with us.

  It was dinner break and Asuna and I headed toward our cabin to grab a couple of things before dinner. On the way she came at me.

  “Hey, I just talked to Lance, you know Code and I are coming with you, right?” hissed Margo.

  I stopped and looked at her, “It is too dangerous, no, you aren’t!”

  Asuna and Cody exchanged glances; they knew where this was going.

  “Wrong, we are going with you, or we are following you, get it!”

  “But Margo….”

  “But nothing, we are going!”

  I saw a lot of her mother, Anne, in her at that moment; she was not going to be denied. I knew I was not going to win this one. But I still had to ask, “Why, why is it so important that you go?”

  “Because…..just because.”

  Well, I guess that set the teams, and now we have to decide some when’s and what to carry and we’re off.

  That was decided after dinner, we leave in 2 days, and two trucks each team. We would fill some fuel drums just in case. Steven said that the JP-8, the helicopter fuel, would be fine in the trucks that we had, and we have an ample supply at the camp.

  (Margo) Bo-Peeped it again today, still a waste of time, well mostly. I did get a chance to see Momma today. I was sitting on a rock, away from the sheep and she wandered into the clearing. She still had the cubs with her.

  We sat and just stared at each other for a while, seemed like hours but was really just a few minutes. But in that few minutes I sensed, realized that protecting what, who was important to me was a big deal.

  After we got back for the day, it was near dinner time. I saw Lance and asked him how the planning stuff was going. He laid out the basics to me, the destination, and the routes, who was going.

  “Lance, you aren’t going?” I asked

  “No, it looks like a few of us will be staying here, to hold down the camp for a month or so,” he replied.

  “Well, we are going to miss you,” I said

  “Why? You aren’t going.”

  I looked at him for a moment, and then asked, “What do you mean? Code and I are going with Tom and Asuna!”

  “Not according to his plan.”

  I saw Tom and Asuna walking toward their cabin, I was off, like fired from a gun.

  “Tom, I just heard something that bothers me a little, I heard you are still thinking that you aren’t going to take Code and I with you.”

  “Yeah, it is too risky, I…”

  “No, that is not happening, Code and I are going, get that through your thick skull, we are going, following you, or riding with you, we are going!”

  He looked at me for a moment, then at Code, and Asuna, then back at me. “But I want…”

  “I know what you want, and I, we are going anyway!”

  “Why, why do you need to go?” he asked.

  “Because, Because…” I couldn’t really explain it. It was where I am supposed to be, protecting, being Momma Lion.

  He knew he wasn’t gonna win this so it is agreed. But I am going to have to watch him. I wouldn’t put it past him to try to sneak out early without us.

  Later that night, just before bed I turned to Code, “Guess I should have asked you, are you okay with this trip?”

  He smiled at me and just said, “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  August 9th

  (Lance) I spent a good part of the day trying to figure out the best ways to get to all the locations. It is all based on the Interstates. Del and I ran into Pittsfield to do a little shopping. Specifically we picked up some travel maps at the AAA and also stopped at a big box electronic store and picked up some good old CB radios and some battery charging units.

  In the afternoon I first met with Matt and Tanya. I supplied them with the information I had come up with on the maps. Their route was pretty easy, they were going to take I-90 cross country to either Spokane or Seattle and then head north, or they could head to Toronto and go around the north side of the Great Lakes and across southern Canada. It is the longest of the treks, but it has the least chance of blockage once west of like Chicago. The other two teams could face some bridge and river issues in their paths.

  The Major was good with what I mapped out for him, it was also pretty direct. For them the biggest problem would be might be if they ran into bridges over some small rivers that were taken out.

  The route to Cheyenne Mountain was pretty easy too. It would all depend on what road damage and bridge damage that was out there. The biggest problem for Tom’s team might be getting across the Mississippi.

  Ironically, all of the routes start out the same. They all could follow I-90 to Cleveland Ohio area, and then they, the Major breaks off to the south on I-71, the other two teams continue on to the Chicago area and then Tom picks up I 80 and Matt heads north on I-94. Traveling together at the start is probably a good idea; it will give a little more security and safety through what are still possibly some heavy population of Zoms and maybe some living.

  (Matt) Checked the veggies this morning, force of habit I guess, last chance to do so for a while. I left instructions with Teckla and Taylor on what to do with them.

  Lance gave me some map options today. I like the idea of the northern route through Canada, but there is a lot of sense for us all to take the southern route, I-90 to start with heading out to Ohio before we start separating. It will give us options should we have a breakdown, or find other more dangerous ‘road blocks’ along the way.

  Spent the rest of the day outfitting the Raven, put in the CB radio and mounted the fuel drums. We also loaded the camping gear, weapons, food, spare tires, chains, winches, and most importantly the cure.

  We decided that the Major and Tom would each take 40 % of the pills and leave 20% for us to take to Anchorage. The logic behind it was that Fort Knox and Cheyenne were larger facilities and could also distribute to smaller facilities, if any were close by.

  Our trip would be the longest; we are ideally looking at about 10 to 12 days each way. But who knows what we might find on the way to slow that down. Yet, I am sure that the Earth Mother will work with us.

  I know that Mom is not happy, and yet, she realizes the need and the urgency of this trip. We, Mark, she and I, sat down and had a private dinne
r tonight, it was somber, and in the end, very emotionally draining for us all. We talked about the old days, the farm in Canton, the Men Cook Picnic, Thanksgivings past, and the annual Pumpkin Carve. All those memories were bittersweet.

  (Margo) I am excited; we are finally going on a trip, a sort of pilgrimage. I know that it could end badly, but we live with that every day. Colorado, I can’t wait to see you.

  Code and I packed up the truck. For this I have taken over Frank’s Ram, and I’m going to drive, following Tom. He knows the route, I saw him talking with Lance.

  We did Vespers tonight; it will be our last one for a while. Tanya ran the show; Matt, Mark and Teckla were not there. I think they were doing family stuff.

  (Tom) I am still tempted to run off early so I don’t have to take Margo and Cody. I like the idea of them coming, but I am worried about them. I am not sure I could live with it if something happened to them, but then, on any given day.

  Anyway, Lance stopped by to give me directions and the route plan he put together, but I had already talked with Winston and he had the path down for us. It matched the one that Lance had created for us, at least until Chicago, and then we had some small changes that he suggested.

  Doubled checked the Coyote for gear, and made room for the two 55 gallon drums of spare fuel. Then I fussed over the truck that Margo and Cody will take. It was Frank’s, so even though it hasn’t been run in a while, I am sure it is, or was, well cared for.

  As a last minute thought, I put a couple of automobile batteries into the back bed, just a though, just the little voice in my head telling me that it would be a good idea.

  Asuna and I hit fire pit tonight, it was kind of quiet, Matt, Mark and Teckla were missing, and I can understand that. Margo would be coming with me, so there wouldn’t be that separation. We ended a little later than usual, there was just a kind of feel that we all just wanted to hold on to each other for a little longer tonight.