THE COLLAPSE: Seeking Refuge (24 page)

Fish said, “I can start loading up on the stuff at the Martinez’ sites, I have unlimited access there.”

“Good idea,” Stephen started, “but don’t go overboard with it.  Victor and Gerty aren’t dumb, if you start to take too much, they’ll begin to question it.  I’ll grab a few things from them, too.  Also, we are going to need more fuel for the truck.  I will speak with Ox privately about that.  Maybe I can make some type of deal with him.”

Tarra suddenly sprayed Jack Daniel’s out of her mouth and into the fire, yelling, “GROSS!”

“What?” Stephen asked, concerned.

“There were sunflower seeds on the damn rim!” Tarra complained.

“Oops, my bad!” Fish laughed as Tarra stood up and blasted his shoulder with her fist multiple times.

Stephen had been growing a buzz from the several pulls off the bottle of Jack, and howled with laughter as he watched his wife pummel on his best friend. 

Out of nowhere, a woman’s voice boomed from the darkness outside the firelight, “Looks like
my
kind of party!”

It was Carrie!  Fish evaded the last of Tarra’s blows and went to the screen tent to retrieve a chair for the new arrival.  The Kays’ child-sized chairs already at the fire simply wouldn’t be able to accommodate the huge woman.

Tarra used her shirt to wipe the sunflower residue off the bottle rim and handed it to Carrie as she sat down.

Carrie asked the group before taking a chug, “We’re not going to talk about Claudine-the-drama-queen all night, are we?”

“Hell no!” Stephen affirmed.  Then he noticed that Carrie looked different.  Was she wearing makeup?  There was also some product in her short hair that made it spikey and shiny.  She looked like a totally different person!

Fish noticed it as well, and said to her with a chuckle, “Yo, where’s the real Carrie at?”

Carrie blushed, since both men at the fire had obviously noticed her new appearance.  She could tell by the way that they were both staring at her (either that, or they were both drunk already).  She felt very good about herself at that particular moment.  She hadn’t felt that way in a very long, long time.  She made a mental reminder to thank Tarra later for the suggestion and the makeup.  Even if Fish still wasn’t interested in her, the two men’s’ reactions were priceless enough.

Carrie handed the bottle to Fish, who continued to stare at her as he gulped down a mouthful of Jack.  He noticed that she was wearing a pair of black spandex yoga pants that accentuated the powerful muscles in her thighs as the firelight danced across her legs.  It hadn’t been very warm that evening, and Fish wondered why she would have chosen such odd clothing for the weather.

The four friends enjoyed the rest of the evening by the fire, drinking Jack and telling stories.  It was almost as if The Collapse had never happened, and they were simply two couples having a good time camping together.  Two couples?  Yes, because as the evening wound down, Fish had consumed enough Jack Daniel’s to volunteer himself as an escort to walk a very delighted Carrie back to her RV.

Unfortunately for the new lovebirds, however, just as they were about to depart, Pharaoh began barking.  At first, Fish thought the barking was a protest to his departure, but it wasn’t.  Another earthquake shook the earth.  This time, it was a real shaker.  It didn’t last very long, and the adults didn’t have a chance to get the Kays out of the tent.  Luckily, once again, nothing of size had fallen upon site 199.

Stephen called everyone back to the fire - which was now nothing more than a few smoldering coals - for a meeting.

“I wasn’t going to say anything after the last quake, because I thought it might have been an isolated incident,” Stephen began, slurring his words, “but do you remember back in 2015 all that hype about a super quake that was going to tear the entire west coast apart?  It was all over the news for quite a while.”

“No,” Fish answered.  Carrie and Tarra were also shaking their heads.

“Geez,” Stephen said, and then hiccupped.  “I guess I’m the only one that watches the damn news around here.”

Tarra grimaced at her husband and said, “Okay, whatever.  You’re the ‘news master’ and we’re all just stupid.  Continue, please.”

“Anyway,” Stephen said, batting his hand at the air toward Tarra, “there were scientists that had determined that a super quake was going to wipe out pretty much everything west of Interstate 5.  Of course, nothing had happened and eventually all the hoopla pittered out.  Nobody cared anymore.  But!  I still remember the news, damnit!”

“Everything west of I-5?  That’s crazy!” Tarra exclaimed, shaking her head in disgust.

Stephen continued, “After these two quakes, that were so close together, I think it’s going to happen.  I think there’s maybe one more or two more, and then there should be like…I think we should, I think we need-“

Tarra cut him off, “Stephen, you’re rambling.  What are you trying to say?”

Stephen straightened up in his chair and announced, “I think we should get the fuck out of here as soon as possible.”

Fish asked, “Are we going to try to make it to the Rudehouses’ property?”

“Yup,” Stephen replied.  Then he looked at Carrie and said, “You’re more than welcome to join us, if you want.”

Carrie thought about it for a moment, glanced at Fish, and then replied, “Yeah, sure, I might as well.  I have nowhere else to go.  Who are the Rudehouses and where are they?”

Fish laughed, “Oh, you’re in for a real treat.  They’re awesome people, especially Mac.  They have a summer property way out in the middle of nowhere on the Skagit River.”

Stephen amplified Fish’s description by saying, “Don’t worry, it’s close enough that we can make it with a few more gallons of fuel, but yet far enough inland to avoid a Tsunami…I think.”

Chapter 13

Stephen wasn’t the only one that had watched (and remembered) the news.  The morning hours of the next day brought sounds of engines firing up.  The people behind those steering wheels weren’t leaving due to their eviction by the Probsts, they were leaving on their own.

Stephen and Tarra discussed the issue of Carrie’s camp trailer while they waited for Fish to get up and get dressed. 

Tarra argued, “I think we should take it.  Fish’s truck already has the proper hitch.”

“I know,” Stephen began, “but what if we run into some more thugs like we did the first time we tried to get through Burlington?  Or, what if there is so much wreckage on the highway that we need to go around it, or even
through
it?”

Tarra countered with, “I think that the thugs and thieves are going to have their hands full with the mass exodus of people heading eastbound.  And, as far as your wreckage concern, if worse comes to worse we can just unhitch the damn thing and keep moving forward without it.”

“Either way, we need to get out of here before the panic sets in.  I only heard about two or three or vehicles this morning.  That’s not too bad…yet.  Word seems to spread fast around here, though.”

Tarra agreed with Stephen and continued gathering up their things.  When Fish emerged from his tent with Pharaoh, he complained of a headache.  Stephen chuckled and told him that he had an actual nurse to take care of him now.

“Ha ha, very funny,” Fish replied.  He noticed that Tarra was scrambling about, packing or re-packing items into the cardboard boxes that had been in the bed of the truck.  Her hurried movements and fierce tenacity to get things done was too much for him to handle so early in the morning.  He thought that he would just be in the way if he tried to help her pack.

Fish declared, “I’m going to see Carrie.  I need something for this headache.  After that, I’m going to Victor and Gerty’s site to get some stuff for the road.”

“Sounds good,” Stephen told him as he began to break down the screen tent for packing.  Before Fish walked away with his backpack, Stephen warned, “Don’t lollygag, we need to get out of here as soon as possible.”

“I know,” Fish barked over his shoulder as he hiked away.

*****

Fish saw two armed men standing in Victor’s driveway as he approached sites 17 and 18.  Fish tried to ignore the two men and walk past, but they stepped in front of him, saying, “Sorry, but this site is closed.”

“Since when?” Fish asked.

“Since this morning,” one of the men replied.

Fish figured that it was about time to use his power and said, “Do you two know who I am?  I work directly for Claudine.  I have unlimited privileges here.”

“Not anymore, nobody does,” the other one said.  Both men nervously eyed Fish’s M-4 strapped to his shoulder.

Fish spotted Victor walking by behind the men.  He was carrying a box.  Fish yelled, “Victor!  Hey man! What’s going on?  These guys won’t let me in!”

Victor put down the box and walked over to the three men in the gravel driveway.  He seemed sad, or scared.  Something was wrong.  He wasn’t his usual chipper self.

Victor said to Fish, “I’m sorry, son.  No more stuff for anyone until further notice.  Orders from the boss.”

Fish asked while pointing at himself, “Not even for me?”

“Nope…well, maybe.  Not yet,” Victor said.  “Talk to Claudie and Bill, son.  They’ll explain everything to you.”

“Fine,” Fish grumbled and stomped away.  He had no intention of walking all the way back to site 199 empty handed, so it was off to see the bosses to get this whole thing straightened out.

*****

Stephen got on his bike.  He had decided to visit Jason Oxnard’s wife and son, who would be guarding the fuel at their campsite.  Ox would probably be on duty up on the bridge, so Stephen thought that he would try to negotiate with the wife first, instead of hiking all the way up to the bridge, and then back down again.  The round trip hike would take over 45 minutes.  The bike might have sped things up, but some of the hike was over super-rough terrain.  Not only that, but there would be no way that he could have pedaled up the hill that led from the north beach to the bridge.  Another option would have been to pedal out to the main gate and then up the highway, but that might have taken longer, even though it was all paved.  Plus, he would have had to bike along Highway 20 for a stretch, and that would be too dangerous on a bicycle.  Even with an M-4 rifle in hand, the risk was too great.  Too many hungry or desperate people on the roads nowadays.

Stephen reached Ox’s campsite and noticed that he was there, which was strange.  He should have been with his bridge team.  Stephen also noticed that Ox and his family appeared to be packing up, just as he and Tarra had also been doing that morning.

“Mornin’,” Stephen hollered to Ox as he got off his bike.  Ox smiled at him, but didn’t stop moving.  He continued to put items into a blue ice chest as Stephen approached him.  Ox’s son had a shotgun slung to his back, and had brought to weapon to port-arms as Stephen walked up to the campsite. 

“Dad?” the son nervously shouted.

Ox held his hand up to his boy and said, “He’s alright, he’s one of my friends.  Keep packing up, okay?”

Stephen wasn’t sure how to proceed.  Since Ox appeared to be heading out of dodge, maybe he could tempt him with some extra supplies for the road to trade for the gas.  Stephen made his proposal by saying, “I can see that you’re busy as hell at the moment, so I will make this quick.  I need some fuel, brother.  Gasoline…unleaded.”

“Everyone does,” Ox started, “but I’m not authorized to give any out.”

“Let me guess.  Claudine’s orders?” Stephen sighed, exasperated.

“Yup, you got it,” Ox replied.  Then after a moment he curiously asked, “You heading somewhere, friend?”

Stephen nodded, “Yes, of course.  We’re getting out of here before the super quake hits.”

“May I ask where you are going?”

Stephen smiled and crossed his arms.  Then he chuckled and said, “I’m not authorized to give out that information.”

“I get it,” Ox laughed.  “Between you and me, brother, I’m looking for a better option than rolling out with the Probsts.  Shit’s getting too weird with them, if you know what I mean.”

Stephen knew right away what Ox was proposing.  He was weighing options for himself and his family.  The only problem was that Stephen didn’t know how Mac and Melanie Rudehouse would react to the extra people.  As it already stood, Carrie was coming along with them.  Ox, his wife and his son would add another three people. 

“The problem is,” Stephen began, “is that the invitation to where we are going was only extended to my family.  And Fish, of course.  We have an old family friend that owns property on the Skagit.”

Ox smiled and rubbed his chin in thought.  He then said to Stephen, “That sounds better than staying with Hitler and her hubby, wherever we end up.”

“But like I said,” Stephen argued, “the invitation was only extended to us.”

Ox made an offer, “You let me and family tag along, and you’ll have all the fuel you’ll need.  Otherwise…not a drop.”

Stephen debated with himself for a moment before answering, “I need to speak with Tarra about this, first.”

“I can understand that,” Ox stated.  “You have about an hour or two to decide.  Hurry, Stephen.  I’m not sure what time Claudine is circling the wagons.”

As Stephen biked away, he wondered why Claudine hadn’t extended him and his family the same invitation (even though he would have declined it, regardless). 

*****

Carrie rushed to site 199 with some interesting, yet disturbing news.  Tarra was in the bed of Fish’s truck, organizing everything for transport.  She saw Carrie hustling towards her and climbed down.

“Tarra,” Carrie started as she walked up, “William and Trent were just at my trailer.  They wanted to know if I would be joining their ‘new survivors’ group’ that would be leaving The Park today.”

Tarra was surprised.  Apparently, Stephen was right.  They must have known about the possibility of a super quake in the near future as well.  She asked Carrie, “Where are they going?”

Carrie replied, “That hasn’t been determined yet.  They are discussing options, but said that it would be somewhere out east.  The main thing was that they wanted to make sure that I was still loyal to the Probsts, and that I would be joining them.”

“What did you say?” Tarra asked, anxiously.

Carrie shrugged her broad shoulders and said, “I told them that I was going with them!  What else could I say without raising suspicion?”

“Good point,” Tarra agreed.

“We need to leave before they do,” Carrie warned.  She didn’t mention it to Tarra at the time, but Trent had looked mighty nervous during her conversation with William that morning.  She wondered what would have happened to her if she had declined the Probsts’ offer.

Just then, Stephen returned from his trip to see the Oxnards.  He said, “Good!  Carrie, you’re here.  I forgot to ask you last night if you had any gasoline left in your truck.”

“Hardly,” Carrie stated.  “I used most of it getting here.”

“Shit,” Stephen cursed.

“What’s wrong?” Tarra asked.

“We have a problem,” Stephen began, “Ox won’t give us any fuel unless we allow him and his family to tag along with us to the Rudehouse property.”

Tarra blurted, “So let them!  Stephen, we need gas or we’re not going to make it!”

Stephen nodded and said, “That’s what I figured.  I just wanted to run it by you first.  You know how paranoid Mac can be about folks he doesn’t know.”

“Don’t worry,” Tarra laughed, “we’ll explain everything to the Rudehouses when we get there.  We just need to
get there
, first!”

Stephen looked around site 199 and then asked, “Fish isn’t back yet?”

Carrie answered first, “I gave him two Excedrin and some water earlier.  He said he was going to see Victor and Gerty after that.”

“I know,” Stephen said.  “I was just wondering if he was back yet.”

*****

Fish saw the same type of activity at the Probsts’ site that he witnessed at Victor and Gerty’s.  It was pack-up time.  Claudine and Alexis were loading the RV up with everything that had been outside.  Fish didn’t see William anywhere, which seemed odd to him.

Claudine had spotted Fish approaching and met him near the gravel driveway.  Fish waved to her and she waved back, smiling.  She said to Fish, “I’m glad you’re here.  We have something to discuss with you.”

Alexis stopped doing what she was doing and joined Claudine near the driveway.  Fish noticed that something was “off” with Alexis.  She looked overly serious and formal for some reason.  But then again, she never really liked Fish much in the first place, so it could have been that.

Claudine continued by explaining, “We’re forming a new survivors’ group.  I would like to officially present my personal invitation to you at this time, Fish.”

“What?” Fish asked, confused.

Claudine smiled, looked at Alexis, then plainly stated to him, “We’re leaving.  Today, in fact.  We want you to join us, Fish.”

Fish thought about the offer for a moment, then he asked, “What about Stephen and his family?  Are they invited, too?”

Claudine looked at Alexis again, almost as if she knew the question was coming.  She said to Fish, “I’m sorry, but the invitation is for you alone.  The times ahead will be dangerous.  Dangerous…indeed.  Although Stephen has been an extremely valued resource manager up until this point, his young daughters will make him more of a liability than an asset in the new world ahead.”

“I’m sorry, then,” Fish told Claudine without hesitation.  “I can’t leave my friends.”

Claudine looked at Alexis one more time, nodded, and then said, “No, Fish…
I’m
sorry.”

At that moment, Alexis drew her service pistol from her holster with blinding speed.  She pointed the barrel at Fish’s chest.

“Whoa!  What the hell?” Fish cried, putting his hands in the air.

Alexis commanded, “Put your guns on the ground, Fish.  Both of them.”

Fish’s mind began dreaming up options, but Alexis had him dead in her sights.  She had been a cop back in the real world, and would unlikely make a mistake that would allow Fish an opportunity to turn the tables.  So, he complied.  Slowly, he placed his rifle down first, then even more slowly removed his 9mm and set it down in the gravel, gently.

Alexis ordered him to step backward away from the weapons on the ground.  She knew that Fish was a volatile soul.  He also had the skill and capacity for resistance, should she error during his apprehension.

Claudine told Fish as Alexis tossed her handcuffs to him, “Like I said, I’m sorry, but we’re going to need to take those guns with us.”

After Fish handcuffed himself, Alexis had him walk over to the PODS container at the site next door to the Probsts’.  She opened the door and marched him in, keeping herself at a decent distance from him.  Even though he was in handcuffs, she still didn’t trust the big fella.