Post Grid: An Arizona EMP Adventure (9 page)

After an hour or so, a nice pile of wood was stacked next to the campfire, where water was heating for their noodles. Kelly wanted the firewood in case they needed it during the night, but she did not intend to keep a fire going any longer than it took her to heat water. It wasn't yet dark, but when the sun was fully down, a fire would be easy to spot in the desert. It would attract anyone looking for food and water. Kelly patted her trusty Ruger.

Camp wasn't much, but the sun was setting and it made a brilliant display in the western sky. Arizona was known for its sunsets and for good reason. Many, like this one, filled the sky with brilliant colors that played among the clouds.

Jared slept through dinner. They each had had a granola bar and plenty of water during their afternoon ride. Kelly thought it was more important that he get some rest. Dinner was a lonely affair that ended when she found herself sitting in the dark, admiring the stars. There was no ambient light from Phoenix, a city of four million people, to make the customary bright-white glow to the southwest. The stars shone more brightly than Kelly could ever remember. It was getting colder by the minute. When the sun sets on the desert, temperatures drop quickly.

Kelly tried to stay warm by wrapping her coat around her legs, but even with the chaps, they were cold. The desert floor was cold. Sand didn't hold heat very long. The ground would pull any remaining warmth from her body if she lay on it without insulation. An alternative was to keep a fire going all night and stay near it. Exhaustion made that option unappealing; front hot, back icy, sitting up all night. A pack of coyotes howled and yipped in their eerie way, making the night seem colder and the location seem even more remote. Kelly turned her head and gazed at Jared.

He was sleeping so soundly that he probably wouldn't mind if she shared “her” sleeping bag with him. Kelly reasoned that he had lost a lot of blood and could use her body heat to fend off hypothermia as well. Strong hands removed boots, belts, chaps and coat, and then a tired body slipped slowly into the bag behind Jared. It took some maneuvering to position the coat, with the guns in it, next to the head of the bed.

Jared didn't move. Kelly's body fit his nicely, and the whole bag was warm and cozy. Slow, steady breathing joined the sounds of the nighttime desert and marked the rise and fall of his chest. Kelly felt warm all over. She snuggled closer to Jared than she probably needed to. Exhaustion enveloped her. She worried briefly about her wounded officer, then worried no more.

****

Kelly woke when it was not yet dawn. Somehow she had turned over in the night and now Jared was behind her, with his bad arm draped over her. She dared not move unless she hurt him or startled him, which could be dangerous given their close proximity. It was still cold. The physical closeness evoked memories of a happier time. She lay there fantasizing that they were lovers lost in each other's arms. It wasn't hard to imagine.

Jared's breathing changed from the slow, deep, steady breathing of someone asleep, to the shallow, quicker pace of someone who is awake, or at least on the verge of being awake, but he did not move or speak. Kelly lay there for a few more minutes before she felt Jared stir.

“How's your shoulder?” she asked him quietly.

“Stiff.”

“That doesn't surprise me. Hurt much?”

“Yeah, some. I think I slept on it wrong, but I needed the sleep. I can manage.”

Kelly eased her way out of the sleeping bag, pulling her coat over her shoulders.

“Ugh,” Jared groaned softly.

“Sorry, I was trying to be gentle.”

“It's not your fault.”

Jared lay in the sleeping bag for another few minutes, but then nature called. Kelly knew that relieving himself was going to be a challenge—not to mention painful—but she also knew Jared wasn't about to ask for help. Kelly watched out of the corner of her eye as Jared struggled out of the sleeping bag and made his way to the edge of camp.

A few minutes passed. Jared called back, “I'm sorry to have to ask, but...” As Kelly got closer, she could see his difficulty. He had managed everything except re-buttoning his pants. She modestly lent a hand.

Jared said softly, “I really appreciate everything you're doing for me.”

“I'm a nurse, remember? I've done this for many people.”

“No, I mean it.” Jared reached out with his good arm and touched her sleeve. “I couldn't make it without you. Your husband is a lucky man.”

“I'm not married.”

“I just assumed... you're wearing a ring.”

“That's just for show, it's easier. I've never been married. Came close once. You?”

“Me? No. Haven't found the right girl yet,” Jared said, averting his gaze.

“Come on, you're in bad shape and we can talk while we ride. I've got to get us to Sunflower.”

The two walked back to camp. Breakfast was quick and cold, a couple more granola bars and some soda, which had cooled considerably since yesterday. Kelly and Jared both stole little glances at each other as they ate.

“Breakfast of champions,” Kelly said as she packed up the bedding. The horses were offered a small drink before the picket line was dismantled. Everything was ready to go except for getting Jared on his horse.

Jared could do little to help himself. Kelly pulled Pokey near a fallen tree and tied him there. She helped Jared step up onto a tree trunk that was propped up on a large rock. The trunk gave a little under his weight, but did not break. Kelly held out her hand and Jared used his good arm to steady himself. He inched his way up the trunk until he was tall enough to reach the stirrup. He threw himself over Pokey and landed with a thud, but was safely perched. Pokey let out a whinny while taking a couple of steps backward, as if to protest the mount.

“We only have three hours left, if I've calculated it right. Sunflower is roughly at mile marker 220.”

There was plenty of time to talk on their journey. Kelly noticed that speaking with Jared seemed to ease his pain, or at least distract him. Jared had to be coerced to tell her all about his day and night in Fountain Hills after the power had gone out. He told her about getting back to the sheriff's station and how he and three other deputies had decided to patrol on foot. The officers hid the weapons and ammunition from the substation that weren't being used, so they wouldn't fall into unfriendly hands. He told her about being out on patrol and how he got shot.

“I knew I couldn't carry much and needed to get to a hospital. I did the only thing I could think of, walk.”

The country got more mountainous as they progressed. It wasn't long until they had to use the shoulder of the road. They rode more swiftly when passing people. Kelly scanned everyone as if they might try to overtake them for their food and water.

“Jared, you see that?”

“What?”

“That woman, I think she's got some kids with her,” Kelly strained to see the figure far up the road.

“Wow, looks like two kids, maybe three and five years old. That sucks. Are we going to pass them up too?”

“I don't think I can. What should we do?”

“I'm glad to hear you say that. I'm still struggling with this self-preservation versus helping people stuff. My mind says one thing, but my heart says another.”

“Mine too. My mom's house is within reach with the water we would have left, if nothing happens.” Kelly said those last three words much more quietly than the rest of her sentence. “I'm gonna stop.”

****

“They looked
bad
already and it's only been two days,” said Kelly as they rode on. “Can you believe that mom was just camping, waiting for help?” asked Kelly.

“Sure, someone always comes and helps. Haven't you seen the roadside assistance commercials or the National Guard ones? Someone has always come before; why shouldn't she expect that now?”

“You're right, but I'm afraid help's not coming this time. We haven't seen it yet.”

“That was a nice thing you did back there,” said Jared.

“Thanks, but I doubt they can make it back to town or survive out here unless they get more water than those three dirty water bottles we found along the side of the road. Those two granola bars I gave them won't last long either.”

“It's all you had.”

“I know it's
all
we
had.” Kelly used the plural as if somehow
they
had agreed to give away the last bit of food. “I feel like I have multiple personality disorder.”

Kelly struggled with her thoughts
. We will find out very shortly if we can afford multiple personality disorder. Fate is going to dictate charity or survival
.

****

They hadn't been back on the road more than an hour when Kelly pulled on the reins to stop Hokey. The horse stopped, but pulled her head forward as if to protest the pressure on the bit.              

“Look up there. Do you see that dude in the middle of the road?” Pokey came to a stop behind Hokey without any direction from Jared.

“He's pretty bold for being on the road two days from the blackout. I think I should ride ahead,” said Kelly. “Something doesn't feel right about this guy. No one else has been walking down the center line; it's just too hot on the asphalt.”

“Could be nothing, but I think we should stay together.”

“If he sees you're hurt, he could think he has the upper hand,” argued Kelly. “I can protect myself better than I can protect both of us.”

There was no arguing with that.

Kelly picked up the pace, leaving Jared to fall behind. He didn't close the gap. She reached down and felt the stock of the AR-15 concealed in the jeans scabbard. She wanted to make sure she could brandish it quickly if needed. She reached up and felt the grip of the Ruger too.

Hokey walked toward the man without any heightened sense of alertness. Kelly thought this was a good sign, although she couldn't tell herself why. She was, after all, just a horse.

“Good day,” Kelly offered from atop her mount when she was about twenty feet from the figure.

The tall stranger smiled, but didn't say anything back. It was an odd smile. The kind of smile an actor used in the movies, just before he killed someone, thought Kelly.

“Where you headed?” Stupid question, Kelly thought to herself. The only place he could be going is town.

“Have any water?” the stranger finally asked.

“Just enough for me and my friend here to make it to Payson,” she said, motioning back toward Jared. She didn't want to tip her hand by saying she was going to Sunflower. “There was water in the spring back just a few miles in Sunflower, if you need some.”

“I'd rather have yours,” the man said, pulling a pistol from his waistband at the small of his back.

Already on high alert, Kelly's training kicked in. Her magnum roared to life the same instant that it cleared the holster. The bullet found its mark, center of mass, followed a split second later by another round. Hokey reared and twisted, forcing Kelly to hang onto the saddle horn. The man crumpled in the street, dropping his pistol. Kelly scanned the desert, terrified that the man might have an accomplice, maybe even more than one. She yanked the AR-15 from its scabbard and brandished it in case others were watching. Jared rode slowly to Kelly's side while trying to hold Hokey's reins in his left hand and his Kimber .45 in his right.

“I'll get his gun,” said Kelly, trembling as she stowed the AR and slid down from her mount.

“Make sure he doesn't have any
more
guns on him,” said Jared. “I'll cover you.” His pistol wavered unsteadily.

Her .357 pointing toward the stranger, she picked up the Smith and Wesson MP lying a few feet from his sprawled form and stuck it in her back pocket. He was still breathing. His hands were empty.

“Do you have any more weapons?” Kelly demanded, voice quavering. There was no response, just a dull stare. Forcing herself to move, she advanced to the bandit's side. She recognized the emaciated frame and splotchy, weeping skin as that of a meth user. This was something Kelly had only seen in civilian nursing. Keeping her pistol drawn, she reached toward him, but couldn't bring herself to touch him or his bloody clothes. A boot made contact with his side and she gave a nudge, trying to see if any guns were secreted in his waistband. The gesture didn't move him much.

“You can do better than that,” Jared said with all of the conviction he could muster. “Your life and mine depends on it, Kelly. Get him rolled over!”

Kelly finally put her boot under his flank and gave it a good shove this time. The body rolled face down onto the asphalt. Kelly tapped around his waistband with her foot. “He doesn't have anything else on him.”

“He was a walking dead man before you shot him, Kelly,” Jared said gently. “Meth addicts are zombies.”

“I've never killed anyone before. I'm a nurse, remember? I have to watch people die when other people have hurt them, but I never thought I'd kill someone after I left the Service.” Her voice was almost inaudible. She stared blankly at Jared.

“I'm sorry,” he said empathetically. “It needed doing, though. The other night, I tried to give someone the benefit of the doubt and look where it got me. Come on, let's get out of here.”