Through the Storm(42)

“No.” Conner unrolled the sleeping bag. “I left my little brother alone. I’ve got to get back to him.” He pointed to the shelves. “Toss me a few coats and I’ll make my bed.”

“My parents are older. They’re going to need my help.” Madison set both bowls on the counter. “I need to get home to Olympia.” She grinned and tossed a coat at his head.

Conner caught it with one hand. “Okay, then. Tomorrow at first light we head toward the pass.”

After throwing several more coats at him, Madison slid into the sleeping bag.

Conner lay down a couple of feet from her, closed his eyes, and smiled. It felt good to have her close again.

*

Rural Lewis County, Washington, Thursday, September 8th

As Drake ran home, he reached into his pocket for the key. Again he had forgotten it. When he neared the house, he took deep breaths and knocked on the door like he would a neighbor’s.

Hearing Ashley hurry toward the door, Drake waved at the peephole.

She greeted him with the shotgun in hand but at least not pointed at him.

Once inside, Drake leaned his rifle in the corner and put the bags beside it. Then he sat on the couch and gestured for Ashley to sit beside him. As the next few minutes passed, Drake talked about all the different and unusual neighbors he had met while walking with Pastor Wayne.

When he finished, she asked, “What’s in those bags you brought?”

He grinned, reached over the edge of the couch, and grabbed them. “Stuff from your house that I thought you might like.”

She pulled out toiletries from her bathroom and then a framed picture of her parents. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry. I thought it would make you happy.”

“It did, silly.” She leaned close and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”

“I could get more things.”

*

Less than an hour later, Drake sat at the back of the old church, counting. Fifty-five. Pastor Wayne wanted to know how many people attended the meeting and counting distracted him from thoughts of Ashley. Fifty-six. He wished there had been more time before the meeting.

Two more walked in followed by Pastor Wayne.

“Fifty-eight people are here so far, including Gail and the baby from the trailer with the weird druggie.”

Pastor Wayne wrote notes on a pad as they both walked toward the front of the church. “I’m glad Gail’s here. How’s Ashley?”

“Ashley?” Just minutes earlier they had been talking and laughing. Then the church bell had rung and he had left her behind once again. “She’s fine. I wish we didn’t have to guard the property—that it was safer.”

“That is what this meeting is about.” Pastor Wayne grinned, scribbled more in his notebook.

Deputy Campbell approached the pastor and whispered. “A lot of people are asking me about food, water, and electricity.”

Pastor Wayne nodded. “I’d like to know about those too.”

“I don’t have contact with the outside world, so I don’t have those answers. The utility workers I’ve spoken with tell me we produce only a fraction of our power locally and nothing is coming in from out of the area. They expect the power grid to be down for at least a few months.”

“And the food situation?” Pastor Wayne asked.

“Nothing is coming in and every day more people run out of food.”

“Does anyone have a plan?” Pastor Wayne rubbed his chin. “The city council, sheriff, or the military?”

The deputy shrugged.

This guy is Deputy Downer. Drake stepped closer as he listened to the somber words.

“Beyond that, the jail is running low on food. We’ve started releasing low-risk offenders and gang activity is increasing.”

This repeated news Drake already new, but it still hit him like a punch in the gut.

The pastor shook his head. “Don’t tell these people that. They have enough to worry about.” His gaze fell upon Drake. “And not a word of this from you, young man.” The pastor returned his gaze to the deputy. “Don’t lie, but put your best spin on the news. If you need help, I’ll jump in. Go ahead and sit down. I’ll start the meeting.”

Drake sat in the nearly empty front pew next to the deputy.

“Welcome, everyone.” Pastor Wayne smiled. “I’m glad to see so many of you here tonight. My son, Dan, invited Lewis County Deputy Campbell here to provide information about the current situation and how we can help each other here on Fremont Hill.”

Pastor Wayne moved to one side as Deputy Campbell stepped to the center of the podium.

Someone in the pews shouted, “When will the power come back on?” Others asked questions in rapid, overlapping succession.

Deputy Campbell held up his hand. “We’re working to establish communication with Olympia, but right now I can’t give you a definite answer about the power.”

“I’m out of food,” a woman shouted. “What can I do? What’s going to happen?”

Deputy Campbell stared at the crowd. Drake knew the answers to her questions. Little food was available and there would be less with each passing day. She might starve.

Pastor Wayne moved to the center. “There’s still food, but we need to cooperate, share and be generous. Save seeds. Plant a garden. If you have a greenhouse, use it.” He paused and gazed at the now silent crowd. “We can get through this if we work together.”