The Nuclear Catastrophe (a fiction novel of survival) (29 page)

“
No! No, Papa. You stay with Mama.
”
A seventy-two year old man with a bad heart would never tolerate the exertion.
“
I
’
ll find someplace that will let me have the medicine.
”

As Althea completed dressing her father watched her silently. When she had returned from yesterday
’
s trip she had told her parents about arriving at the pharmacy after it had been pillaged and finding Mr. Cole murdered. She had told them the complete story, leaving out none of the details. Until then, the two old people had been inclined to believe that by being seventy miles from the explosion site they were relatively safe from the effects of the disaster. But with the tale told by their daughter they began to realize that there were more dangers than just the radiation. And that was precisely what Althea had hoped to impress on them— that until rescue was accomplished, they must always be on their guard—not only by making themselves as secure as possible from the invisible dangers, but by barring their doors and windows against the pillage which would inevitably begin.

It had been a constant source of concern to her, making her parents understand the full significance of this catastrophe. Convincing their unlearned minds of the powerful destructiveness in radiation, and then convincing them that they must participate in planning their own protection had drained her of patience. But if something were to happen to her, they had to be prepared to care for themselves.

Lou Ella had quietly entered the room.
“
You
’
re going to try again, Thea?
”

Althea crossed to her and hugged the elderly woman tightly for a second.
“
Yes, Mama. I
’
m going to Glenview Community.
”

“
Glenview?
”
rasped Lou Ella.
“
That
’
s a long way off.
”

Jess looked up.
“
Daughter, that
’
s an awful long way from here.
”

“
It
’
s the closest hospital around.
”
Eighteen miles, Althea had determined—eighteen miles of steady walking. If she was lucky she could hope to get back by dark.

Her father grew even more worried.
“
It ain
’
t safe, Thea....a colored woman walking all alone through that neighborhood.
”

Althea stepped up to him and hugged him closely.
“
Don
’
t worry, Papa. White folks are no more frightening than the people right around here. I
’
ll be all right.
”

Jess Carr had never been an openly demonstrative father but this time he folded his daughter in his arms and squeezed her.
“
You sure?
”

“
I
’
m sure,
”
she answered, turning away. She took money out of her purse and fastened it inside a tiny pocket on her dress. She had no desire to tempt anyone unnecessarily, especially by carrying a purse that might promise some hidden reward. She took one last look around.

“
Don
’
t you think you ought to wear something on your head?
”
asked Lou Ella, her voice showing her torment.

It seemed pointless to Althea; besides, she hated hats.
“
No, a hat won
’
t stop radiation, Mama. Now I don
’
t want either of you getting upset if by some chance I
’
m not back by evening. Okay? Promise me that you
’
ll stay in the house and wait?
”

Both parents nodded in agreement.

“
All right then. Remember, you
’
re to keep inside.
”
She started toward the door, then paused.
“
And if anybody comes to the house, you
’
re not to let them in. No matter who it is. Even if it
’
s somebody you know, you tell them that you can
’
t let them in the house.
”

The two old people obviously understood what she said but they were bothered by her instructions, and Althea knew this. They would find it hard to refuse anyone, yet they must, for their own safety.

Walking out of the house, Althea was not at all certain that her parents had a complete understanding of this disaster. Still, the insulin had to be obtained, and she was the only one in the household capable of getting it. They had to be left alone, and she had to make the long trek to Glenview.
 

The absence of a circulating breeze and the heaviness of the smoggy air was a guarantee that the inversion remained. Her journey toward the hospital had gone smoothly for what she estimated to have been an hour. An hour at her quickened pace, and Althea guessed she had covered four, perhaps five miles. The few people she had seen along the sidewalk had crossed over to avoid her, or had lowered their eyes and rushed on past her, avoiding any possibility for conversation. Althea felt the same way. She had no wish to be detained by anyone—for any reason—and she didn
’
t want to draw near another person. We
’
re all radiation lepers, she thought.

Increasing her pace slightly, she kept her attention focused on her direction. She walked for what must have been another mile, determined only to reach the hospital as soon as possible, when a car pulled up beside her. The stealth with which the vehicle was unexpectedly at her side was startling. She hadn
’
t seen nor expected to see any traffic, when suddenly here it was. She threw one fast, frightened glance at the machine and at the man behind the wheel, and continued her walk.

The car crept along beside her, keeping abreast with her stride. Althea moved away from the street to the far edge of the sidewalk, never slackening her pace.

“
Hey! Where are you going?
”
shouted the man through his window.

Acting as though she hadn
’
t heard, Althea kept her face straight ahead but quickened the pace ever so slightly. She could feel rather than actually see him as he leaned out again.

“
I asked you where you
’
re going!
”
he yelled.

Her heart was racing by now. The man seemed insistent on talking to her, the last thing she wanted from some white man cruising the neighborhood.

The driver reached over and tooted on the horn. Still she kept her face averted. He honked again, twice.
“
Can
’
t you hear anything?
”
he shouted at her.

Not knowing exactly what to do but fighting the urge to run, Althea stopped and looked at him. He smiled at her, a not unpleasant smile but one strangely out of keeping with the events and the day.
“
What do you mean by honking at me?
”
she asked nervously.

     His smile remained but when he opened his mouth to speak he appeared not to have teeth.
“
I wondered why you
’
re out walking by yourself.
”

His comment was valid because she had been wondering herself what was so urgent that the others she
’
d seen on this journey were outside. Nevertheless, she had no interest in a confrontation with this stranger. She started off, refusing to reply.

The car pulled to her once more and the man again leaned out.
“
What
’
s the matter with you....you scared or something?
”

Scared? Of course she was. Maybe, though, it would be best not to irritate him so that he
’
d just go on his way.
“
No, I
’
m not frightened,
”
Althea answered.
“
I
’
m in a hurry.
”

“
Well, where are you going?
”

She halted and looked at him again. He sounded normal, perhaps even kind. Was it possible that he had only an interest in helping her? She doubted that.
“
To Glenview Community Hospital,
”
she replied.

“
You sick?
”

Shaking her head, she said,
“
No, not me. My mother.
”

The man
’
s smile did not lessen as he asked,
“
What
’
s wrong with her?
”

Suddenly this confrontation had become almost ludicrous—she, standing with her heart pounding so loud she could hear it, and that man grinning like a toothless Cheshire cat while he asked his questions.
“
I don
’
t think you
’
d be interested in my mother
’
s illness.
’’

“
Okay,
”
he answered.

Althea stepped off, eager to be away from him.

“
I
’
ll take you there,
”
he called out.

This brought her to a halt. It was going to be dangerous if she didn
’
t get back home before darkness. And to be out in the radiation all day long....
“
You
’
d drive me to the hospital?
”
she asked.

“
Sure I will,
”
he answered.
“
Come on....get in.
”

She hesitated a long moment. The man sounded sincere.

“
Come on,
”
he urged, shoving open the door.

Finally she decided. Perhaps this was one time when she should throw caution to the wind: She wanted to get to Glenview and back home to her parents as quickly as possible.
“
All right.
”
She slid into the seat with him, but kept her body pressed close to her door.

His smile broadened, but there was no sign of either pink gums or teeth. The man simply had the longest upper lip she had ever observed.
“
It
’
s good of you to offer to do this,
”
Althea said.
“
Walking would take hours.
”

The driver nodded and began to hum a discordant tune under his breath.

She watched as he happily swung the vehicle away from the curb and into the street. His actions were controlled but mechanical. She guessed that he
’
d only recently mastered the art of driving. She searched for words; perhaps conversation would hide the nervousness she felt.
“
I really never expected anyone to be interested in helping me.
”

He nodded in short jerks of the head and continued his disharmonious tune.

His was certainly an unusual reaction to someone attempting conversation. The pounding of her heart was growing louder as Althea remarked,
“
I suppose none of us would have ever believed this sort of thing could have happened. If we had any inkling...any idea at all....well, without water it can be very bad.
”
Her talking mixed with his low humming.
“
Had I known the water would be polluted I would have filled my bath tub immediately. At least we
’
d have had drinking....
”

His laughter burst from his chest. She hadn
’
t intended the comment to be humorous, but suddenly this man was laughing as if he
’
d never stop. Something was amiss obviously with him. Helpless, Althea stared out her window while he laughed. The mirth expanded in him until he was beating his fist on the seat in cadence with his great heaving fits of giggles. At last, after several miles, during which she had neglected to pay attention to direction, his laughter subsided.

“
Say, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?
”
he asked.

Althea swiveled her head around to get a closer look at the driver
’
s face.
“
What did you say?
”
she asked, almost afraid that she had heard him correctly.