The Journal: Raging Tide

What do you mean you’re going on a road trip? Jason demanded, placing his fists on his hips as his brother Eric scowled at me.

My two boys, men now, were so much alike yet they were so different. Jason, with his green eyes and dark hair, was outgoing and quick to laugh. Eric, with clear blue eyes and sandy hair like his father, was quiet and reserved, mostly from years spent in the military where he learned to keep his own counsel.

Just what I said, I shot right back. And don’t you two dare try to tell me what I can and cannot do! I was tempted to shake my finger at my two adult sons. Look, I pleaded with them, "I need to do this. I need to do something. I can’t just sit around all day, every day. Mark is dead, I’m not."

My voice hitched saying his name. The flu that swept through Moose Creek late last fall claimed over two hundred lives, including the life of my husband. We had only four months together, four months of love and happiness and I will cherish that time forever.

When is this supposed to happen, Mom? Eric asked, his mouth pulled into a straight line.

We haven’t decided yet, I answered truthfully. The colonel is antsy to get going, however, I’ve convinced him we need to wait for several reasons. The first and foremost will be the weather. Regardless of how temperate it’s been here, I’m not willing to risk being snow-bound in a tent in the middle of nowhere from a late season storm. Plus, I want to pack carefully and make sure we don’t forget something vital.

I’m just not sure about you running off with Colonel Jim, Mom. I like him and all, but isn’t it… a bit soon? Jason frowned.

A bit soon for what? Jim is my friend, nothing more, and I resent what you’re implying. I turned away from them and poured myself another cup of tea, trying to control my temper.

I’m sorry, Mom, Jason said, hugging me from behind. We worry about you, that’s all.

I know you do, and I appreciate that, I replied, softening some. "This is something that I don’t need to do, I want to do it! I want to do something new to get my life back. Please understand that."

What can we do to help? Eric asked, capitulating.

*

Are you sure you want to be doing this, Allex? Tom White asked.

Oh, not you too. I shook my head and sat down across from the town’s new mayor. Tom, you’ve been my friend for years. When have I ever done something that I haven’t thought long and hard about?

You married Mark on rather short notice, he said matter-of-factly, leaning back in his big leather chair.

That doesn’t mean I didn’t think it out first.

Is he giving you a hard time, too, Allex? Colonel Jim Andrews said from the doorway. Ever since I mentioned this road trip to him, Tom has been trying to talk me out of it. He came into the room, grabbed the nearest chair and turned it around, straddling it.

That’s not true, Jim, I just want you to take someone else. I need Allex here, Tom said.

No you don’t, Tom. I haven’t done anything worthwhile or helpful since… well, in months, I answered, standing so I could pace. It’s hard to explain. I want to do something new, something… exciting, before I’m too old to have an adventure.

*

So, Allex, if I know you at all, you’ve been making lists, Tom said, while the three of us sat around the kitchen table at the house on the lake later that afternoon.

I had made dinner at home and brought it over so we could have a planning meeting without my sons interfering. Homemade pasta and a large kettle of spiced venison sat in the center on a folded towel to protect the polished wood from the heat of the pot. The delicate aroma of the cinnamon wafted around the room on the gentle breeze coming off Lake Meade. I set a basket of fresh baked rolls between the two men.

I took a moment to look at these two men who had become so important in my life. Tom, with his chocolate brown eyes and dark honey colored hair that was inching away from his forehead at an alarming rate, had been my friend for many years. Since he was only in his late forties, it must be the stress, and God knows we’d had enough of that this past year. When we first met during emergency management training, we felt a slight attraction that ended quickly when he met the woman he was to marry. We left our relationship as good friends, never to be anything else.

And Colonel James Anderson, was fiftyish and married to the military. His steel gray eyes fit his gray buzz-cut hair. Jim’s six foot two frame towered Tom by a good four inches. We met only a year ago when Eric and Emilee arrived unexpectedly at Sawyer Air Force Base after the first of the earthquakes. With Jim’s weekly visits these last few months, on the pretense of playing cribbage, we’ve gotten to know each other well, almost better than I knew Tom. Our relationship, though, is the same: just good friends, never to be anything else. I’ve loved - and lost - two men this past year, my heart won’t allow for anything closer than just friends.

Earth to Allex, are you joining us? Tom laughed and I sat.

So what have you come up with for us to take? Jim tore open a warm yeasty roll and dipped it into the brown gravy that oozed around the venison.

It’s only a preliminary list so far, much will depend on how long we’ll be gone. Any idea on that, Jim? I questioned.

I’d say anywhere from two weeks to two months. It shouldn’t take any longer than that to find out what we need to know, he said around the bite of bread.

"T-two months?? Tom stammered. Why so long?"

Jim gazed at his friend and house mate, and smiled. Jealous? he asked with a smirk.

Tom glanced at him, and then at me. Yeah, in a way, he confessed. I envy the adventure. It gets boring pushing paper around my desk all day.

Tell you what, Tom, if you help us get ready for this, next time you can come with us, I offered with a chuckle.

*

The step-van filled with a store full of liquor that Jim had sent us six months ago when Marquette was evacuated, was steadily depleting. Mark had tagged it The Christmas Truck and we had agreed to keep the contents to ourselves. I know that was a selfish thing to do, but the few of us with access to it truly enjoyed the normalcy it provided, like now, as we sat on the deck overlooking Lake Meade, having an after dinner drink. Besides, had we shared it with the town, it would have been gone in a week and could have caused a multitude of problems.

What’s on your list, Allex? Jim asked, handing me a small glass with lots of ice and a shot of my favorite spiced rum.

Well, on the gear and supply list, I have a tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, pillows, two extra blankets, a tarp, kerosene lamp, camp stove, cast iron Dutch oven and fry pan, a cook-kit, tin coffee cups, French press and percolator, Berkey, bucket, flashlights, batteries and matches/lighters… and a can opener.

You do know the Humvee has limited storage space, right? Jim snickered.

Yes. I also know you can remove those two seats in the back. They’re only held in place with turn lock pins, I replied with a grin.

Eric? he asked.

Eric, I confirmed. Eric has been a wealth of knowledge when it comes to military vehicles. Besides, all of that will take very little space since it packs into itself.

What about personally? You still need clothes and food, Tom said.

So far on that list I have my medic bag, towel, washcloth, soap, comb, toothbrush and paste, two pair of jeans, sweatpants, hooded sweat shirt, two long sleeve and two short sleeve t-shirts, socks, underwear, shoes and boots, jacket, gloves, rain gear and a hat. All of which fit in my backpack, with the exception of the medic bag, and I’ll be wearing one set of the clothes at any given time. When my list was met with silence I looked up. What?

That’s a pretty concise list, Allex, I would have expected more, Tom said.

I grew up camping. We were taught how little you really need. And I’m sure we will be coming across streams and rivers where we can wash what we need to.

I’ve no doubt you’ve already thought about food, right? Jim asked, the corner of his mouth twitching to hide a smile.

Of course. The only thing fresh we’ll take are eggs, and maybe a day or two of meat. Other than that, I think it’s best to take only dried or canned items that don’t need refrigeration, like oatmeal, beans, Spam, tuna, all in disposable containers. Plus, coffee, flour, sugar, yeast, lard, and salt. We should be able to find some food along the way, too. Before we leave I’ll make regular bread and a batch of Ezekiel bread.

What’s that? Jim asked.

It’s a high protein, high fiber batter bread, I said. "It’s been said that it contains all the nutrients the body needs to survive, and that this was the only food that Ezekiel ate during his journey, Ezekiel 4:9. It’s also rather tasty and because of the lack of certain ingredients, like eggs and milk, it stays fresh a long time."

Sounds like you’ve thought of everything, Tom murmured quietly.

I’m sure there are things I’ve forgotten, Tom, that’s why we three are going over these lists, to fill in the gaps. I was getting the feeling that Tom was feeling very much left out of our plans. Anything else you would suggest?

What about fuel? he asked. I turned to look at Jim. I was not going to be making all the decisions here!

The Hummer is a diesel, however it gets lousy mileage, maybe ten miles per gallon. It does have a twenty-five gallon gas tank, though, and with the extra weight of the seats gone, he glanced at me, it could be more. That’s two hundred and fifty miles, which covers a lot of ground. We can also strap four or even eight jerry cans to the sides and back, and that would give us an extra twenty to forty gallons.

One of those fuel cans needs to be kerosene for the lantern and camp stove, I said, writing that down on my list. What else should I know about the Hummer?

It has four wheel drive of course, and run-flat tires. That’s how I made it back after driving through the fire. There is a second tire within the visual tire and why they’re extra wide. Plus high clearance wheel wells for tactical maneuverability. The body itself is extra wide, a good six feet across. One can sleep widthwise in a pinch.

Tom sat a bit straighter in his chair. I think he was starting to get into the planning with us. Have you considered the possibility of running into other communities or other individuals? What about trade-goods?

What would you suggest? I asked, facing him so he couldn’t see that was already on my notepad.

Nothing we can’t replace, of course, but something useful, he took a sip from his glass of bourbon and the ice cubes tinkled around the golden liquid.

I’ve got enough toothbrushes to last twenty years. I could spare a few, I said, and wrote that down.

I know it’s only been eighteen months since the first earthquake, however, most people weren’t half as prepared as you, Allex. What about something that could now be considered a luxury, like scented soap or razors? Tom suggested.

Yeah, I said, and pins and needles, fishhooks and line, nail files or a comb.

Matches! Jim joined in.

I’ve got an extra five gallon bucket we can set up just for trade items, I offered. I’ll ask the nuns to make up small sewing and fishing kits. Maybe two fishhooks stuck into a piece of cardboard with ten yards of line wrapped around it. One pack of fishhooks and one spool of line could make two dozen kits, we can spare that; same with sewing needles and thread.

We finally decided on a five gallon bucket filled with fishing kits, sewing kits, toothbrushes, combs, a bag of a dozen matches tied with a rubber band, several baggies with a half cup of salt, a bar of soap cut in quarters, generic aspirins, cable ties, emery boards, and baggies with one cup of rice. It was a good thing the food warehouse truck had a case of sandwich baggies.

JOURNAL ENTRY: April 2

I spent several hours last night going over my lists and separating them into work-oriented projects, ones that I can enlist others to help with.

I took my newly revised barter list and let myself into the store front that was once the Downriggers Bait Shop. The nuns, Sisters Agnes, Margaret and Lynn have done wonders to the shop that now holds all the supplies that were removed from the Walstroms store in Marquette before the city burned to the ground.

The main floor has a children’s play area with all kinds of colorful toys and a well-padded floor to prevent injuries to the little ones. It is a warm and cheery place now. The main floor also houses the rooms that have been converted into displays of children’s and adult clothing. Upstairs, and logically away from the curiosity of little fingers, are the rooms filled with bath and cleaning products, lotions and hygiene care, as well as bolts of colorful cloth and rows of soft yarns.

~~~

Good morning, Allexa! What can I help you with today? Sister Agnes beamed.

I’m hoping I can enlist your help with a few things I need for our trip.

Darn! I was hoping it was to help talk you out of going, she lamented.

Not you too, I pouted. If it weren’t rude, I’d turn around and leave. I really am tired of hearing what a bad idea this is.

I was only half joking. The entire town was abuzz with the pending road trip, not all of it good.

Sister Agnes looked chagrined. Oh, no, please. I was teasing. I know many people feel this trip is going to be too dangerous, though I don’t. Actually, I think it might be fun and just what you need. What can I do to help? The sadness in her eyes flickered for only for a moment.

I plan on taking a bucket full of different items to trade with others we may find along the way. Useful things, like thread and needles. I have a list, though if there are any other simple items you can think of, please feel free to add to it. I handed the piece of paper over to the nun.

The three nuns had taken to dressing very casually and only wearing a short white coif head cap to express their station in the church. Father Constantine quickly got used to wearing whatever he felt like, with the addition of his clerical collar. There were times it looked very odd with a bright plaid shirt and jeans.

That’s a generous and noble act, Allexa. My apologies for my comment earlier, Sister Agnes. She started reading the list. Ah, teach a man to fish... These are very practical items for the most part. Do you have a preference how these are set up?

I was thinking two, maybe three fishhooks, poked into a half of a three by five card, then wrapped with maybe ten or fifteen yards of fish line around the card. If we use one package of hooks and only one spool of line that will give us many to give away without shorting the people here. I’d like the needles done the same way. Maybe two sewing needles, six pins, a safety pin, and a selection of different colored threads. What do you think?

Yes, those would be practical and desired. I’ll get our staff working on these right away, Sister Agnes said.

Staff?

Sort of, she chuckled. The younger children can cut the cards in half, while the older ones can handle the pins and hooks. I think the mothers that help out here would be best at winding the threads neatly. Most of the adults are looking for something to do, and so are the children.

It’s good to see everyone working so well together.

Well, she hesitated, not everyone gets along, but we’ve managed to rearrange the schedules to accommodate the difference in personalities.

Good. Oh, here is a box of a hundred sandwich baggies to put things in. I don’t think we should have too much to give away. Everything needs to fit into one bucket and we don’t want anyone to think we have unlimited resources.

One of the boxes we found in the trailer was filled with travel sized items. Would you like some of those for your bucket? Agnes asked.

About the only thing I think would be handy would be aspirin, Ibuprofen, or allergy meds. Anything else I would prefer to stay here, I replied. Oh, and I need a haircut. Has anyone shown a talent in that area? I absentmindedly ran my fingers through my now shoulder-length hair.

Sister Doris always did ours, Agnes answered softly. When Doris died from the flu last November, so much was lost with her. We do have a retired barber that has been helping out once a week. He will be here in an hour if you care to wait.

Please have him save me a slot. I’ll be back shortly. I made my way across the street to see Marsha Maki about some food supplies for the bucket. I didn’t mind in the least using my own storage and supplies for our trip, but not to barter away; some of that could come from the town. I’d given enough.

*

I found Marsha in the back room that she and her husband Arnie had designated for home-food supplies. It was her suggestion that people needed to fix some of their own meals and until they could grow gardens, that food came from the warehouse trailer, with Marsha keeping a close eye on it.

What is that? I asked as I watched her filling in a grid on a chalkboard.

It’s the pool we’ve started, trying to guess how long you and the colonel will be gone, she stated. Many of the people are really excited about this trip and what you will find out. This is their way of sharing in the mystery of it.

I see, I said. What’s the prize?

There isn’t any, it’s only bragging rights, Marsha said. Now, what can I do for you? she asked, dusting the chalk off her hands.

I’d like some staples as barter items, I requested. Like a half cup of salt in a baggie; one cup of rice; a quarter cup of yeast, things like that, I’ll let you decide. Not too much, I don’t want to put a strain on our town supplies. Ten baggies of each should be more than enough.

When do you need it by?

We plan on leaving in a couple of days. Is there a pool on that too? I asked.

Not that I know of. Your departure is going to be common knowledge. I’ll get your trade items ready by tomorrow.

With that taken care of, I went back to get my hair cut.

CHAPTER 2

April 4

I see you waited for me to put the tent up, Jim joked as he helped me stretch out the dull green four man nylon tent.

One person can do this easily, and I think we both should be able to do it without the other person, I said to him.

We pounded the stakes in and attached the lines to the corner loops. The poles were next, and with a bit of tightening on the lines, the tent was up. I unzipped the outer door, then the screen.

Do we really need that much room, Allex? Jim asked. This is a four man tent and it’s just us.

The roominess is deceptive. Once we get the air mattresses and sleeping bags in, there will only be a small aisle down the center. Four people can fit, sure, elbow to elbow! Plus we should also keep our duffels, weapons and ammo cans with us at all times, don’t you think? There may be times we will be forced to cook inside the tent. It’s going to feel cramped if that happens.

Now that you’ve brought up weapons, what are you planning on taking? Jim asked.

I’m used to my 9mm Kel Tec, and thought I’d bring the M14 too. Plus I’ve got that knife. You remember, the one that Virginia soldier stabbed me with?

I’d rather forget that whole debacle. I should have seen through Marlow sooner than I did. I’m sorry, Allex, Jim said, sounding truly saddened. Anyway, I have no problem with your Kel Tec, though I do think we should upgrade you to an M4 Carbine. It’s lighter, has a collapsible stock, and is usually a more reliable magazine feed than the M14. Don’t worry, I’ve got extra.

*

We spent the better part of the afternoon packing and rearranging the gear in the back of the Humvee. We agreed on only one cooler since once the ice melted it would only be a storage chest. Using an empty cooler allowed us to get a good feel for how everything would fit.

I have to be honest, Allex, I didn’t think we would get everything in. Hummers aren’t noted for their storage capacity.

Most everything can be nested, as you can see. That makes a big difference. The only thing I see I want to change is to add another bucket. The buckets are functional, though while we’re traveling they’re protection for the more delicate necessities.

Like what? I thought nothing was glass.

"I know it seems redundant to have two coffee pots, the French press, and the small percolator. The percolator will mainly be for boiling water, and we can’t heat water if it’s full of coffee. Then there’s the Berkey; it has three fragile ceramic filters we need to protect. This will be our source of potable drinking water. The Berkey and the press can sit together in one bucket, and the kerosene lantern with its glass globe will stay in one by itself. That one we shouldn’t use for water anyway since there might be some fuel leakage."

Makes sense. He looked into the back again. I see there’s still room for the duffels and sleeping bags. Are you sure we need the air mattresses?

They take up next to no room. You can leave yours behind if you want, but I don’t want to sleep on the cold ground. I really think that cheap piece of plastic is going to make a world of difference in our comfort.

We can always sleep in the Hummer, Jim suggested. I looked in the back again and raised my eyebrows. You win, he laughed. Okay, it looks like we’re ready.

Yeah, it does. I took a deep breath. How about we leave in two days? I need to bake tomorrow.

April 5

"Mom, you have to go with us to the Inn tonight," Eric pleaded.

Why? I asked. I know my sons all too well, and I’m sure they have something planned.

I didn’t want to ruin the surprise, but there’s a ‘going away’ party for you and the colonel. Everyone wants to say goodbye and wish you a safe journey.

"That sounds like we’re not coming back! It will only be for a couple of weeks, two months at the longest and we will be back, I assured him. The look in his eyes said I hit a sore spot. My son was worried. Okay, I’ll be there."

Good! We’ll pick you up at five.

Before you go, there’s something I need you to do for me, I said hesitantly. Even if it’s only for two weeks, I’d like you to move in here. You’re the best one to tend the green house and start the garden if we’re delayed getting back. And to watch over Tufts. Plus it will give you and Rayn some privacy.

Eric looked relieved.

That will give us a good break, he said. I love my brother, and I really like Amanda. She and Rayn get along well, but… he paused, there’s such a thing as too much closeness!

So you’ll do it?

Of course, Mom, we’d be happy to.

*

It looks like most of the town turned out for this farewell party! Tom said, handing me a cup of punch. It