Desolation

Robert and Emma thanked him and begged him and the others to go before the radiation moved in, when it would be too late for all of them. He obliged, grabbing Darla and Steve who had spent an extra few minutes at the graves of their family members. Their waterworks of anguish had long since dried up, replaced with regrets and self-loathing over not having done a better job of protecting their loved ones.

The travelers readied themselves for their journey, taking stock of their supplies and making sure everything was secure. Each pulled a cart filled with nearly two hundred pounds of food and water, medical supplies, tents or canopies, sleeping bags, etc. Much of that weight was water. Wilber had built the carts, each one essentially an up-ended shopping cart about five feet high and three feet wide with a big handlebar on the back so that it could be rolled on its two large wheels. He borrowed the idea from all the roll-aboard bags, except these were much bigger, much sturdier, and had much larger wheels. Wilber and Steve then designed an ingenious strap system, setting a padded harness for each shoulder that fastened across the chest. This way each person could pull a heavy load many miles without tiring from the weight. They also wore military vests with two full spare magazines for their rifles and loaded pistols (one per person) plus two more magazines for each pistol. All carried their rifles, slung to their chests, at the ready. Darla was the only exception. Her rifle was attached to the cart in a special sling. On her back, she carried her spear gun, which had already helped her out of one jam.

They looked once more at the house and headed down the road, one long step at a time, hoping to reach their destination before the onset of winter.

53. Together

Rocky Point, Mexico

They pulled onto the long sandy road away from the beach. This would take them to Highway 37, then through Rocky Point and then to the US about fifty miles later. Everyone was apprehensive, but happy just the same. They were together, this family of theirs, and they were headed to a place that offered hope in a world that had little.

At the intersection of Highway 37, just before they turned west was a Jeep pointed in their direction and parked in the middle of the road. A man had his back to them and his head under the hood. Since they probably had the only functioning vehicle in Rocky Point, this was way too suspicious.

Bill slowed down. “Everyone get your weapons ready. Miguel, open your window and take aim at that man. Look around, this is probably a trap.”

The man, at least acting like he was trying to fix his Jeep, stopped what he was doing. Now alerted to their approaching vehicle, he turned around abruptly. Thankfully there were no weapons in his hands. The man’s fury gray face wore a wide grin instantly recognized by everyone in the Blazer.

He started to run toward the Blazer, and Bill hit the brakes, and slid to a stop.

“It’s Señor Max!” Miguel announced, and all knew it was true.

Bill opened the door and embraced his friend, with a hug and laughter, and everyone else followed. There they were hugging their friend in the middle of a road that no one else would drive on.

Afterward, when Max told them that his ranch was ruined, he was overjoyed when Bill told him they were headed to Cicada.

And so they all traveled north, to this mysterious place known as Cicada, not knowing what lay before them. It didn’t matter. They were together. They would take care of each other, no matter what happened.

Part III

“I turned to speak to God about the world’s despair;

But to make bad matters worse, I found God wasn’t there.”

Robert Frost

“My desolation does begin to make a better life.”

William Shakespeare

Thompson Journal Entry