Our End Of The Lake: Surviving After The 2012 Solar Storm (Prepper Trilogy) (6 page)

“What I been doing is not stealing water mind you, I been renting my cups for $1.00 and all the water a body could drink.” he said with a wise smile and a nod in his audiences direction.

“Hey, I got overhead, I washed those cups between clients.” he replied, as Dump was looking at his cup like it had something wrong with it.

“So, I been picking me up a few quid to help on expenses once I get to Atlanta.” the little man said proudly.

“If you want creamer or sugar I got some here, that water truck must have been stocking office buildings.” he offered.

“Well, aren’t you the resourceful one.” I said admiring his ingenuity.

“You look pretty resourceful yourself, those are painters tarps aren’t they?” he replied studying our improvised carry alls.

“Yeah, we are making do until we get home; although it looks to me that the road is our home for the next few days.” I said with a sigh. “I got a lot further to go, but maybe I will get off the road here and there.” I continued thoughtfully.

“You said you didn’t really have a home in Atlanta, what did you mean?” Dump asked the Brit.

“I live in London; I only come over for a bit of holiday. I am hoping the Embassy will take me in, when I get into the city.” he said more cheerily than I think he meant.

“Wow, Dave, I thought you had it bad.” Dump said while looking at our strange host.

“He got stuck in a whole another country, because of this EMP crap.” Dump said decidedly.

“EMP!? Yes, that’s what I thought it might be. Any news if it be natural or nuclear? “The Englishman said.

“I am guessing natural based on the last time I saw a space weather report. But, who knows?” I replied.

“You know about EMP?“ Dump directing his attention to our traveler.

“I know a bit, not much mind you, but I have done some reading, my name is Stewart by the by. “ said the Brit.

“Mine’s David and this here is Dump Truck.” I said pointing in Dumpies direction.

“Glad to meet ya both. Is that Dump Truck, as in the vehicle?” Stewart asked suppressing a chuckle.

“It’s Dump Truck, as in Bar Bouncer.” I replied.

“Oh, good show! That is amusing!” proclaimed Stewart eyeing my rotund companion.

I was dying to tell the real reason he got that name, but decided to have mercy on Dump.

“So, I see you been here a bit to make a camp.” I said looking about. He had pieces of old pallet, various sticks and bits of lumber piled up for fire building. Had what looked to be a spread rolled up for his bedroll?

“If you want a chair, there is a pickup truck about 50 yards down the road that has some lawn chairs in the back.” Stewart offered.

“Maybe later, I need some shade right now; I am thinking, and as far away from this fire as I can possibly sit.” I said looking around.

“There is a flat bed over there with a tarp over some equipment. Let’s make an awning Dump.” I declared and headed on over with Dump in tow.

We got the tarp off and rigged it to the side of the van containing Stewart’s stash of water jugs and sundries.

“You boys made me a right proper kiosk, you did!” Stewart announced admiringly.

“I made me some shade, I don’t know how you can sit out in the sun so close to that fire.” I replied laughing.

“Kind of dumb isn’t it? To be honest with you, I was counting my money when you blokes came walking up and didn’t have time to hide it other than sitting upon it.” he said sheepishly, then standing up to reveal a small pile of cash and coin.

Dump started chuckling as Stewart grabbed up a couple fists full of dollars and said, “Business must have been good!”

“Aye mate, that it was.“ Stewart admitted laughingly in response.

“I was getting hot as hell over there, but times being what they are you can’t be too careful.” he jovially said and I guess just trusting us over remaining by that fire for one more minute.

“You had any problems with your clients today, Stewart?” I chimed in.

“Oh, a few bloody assholes, but most folks thought my cup rental notion was funny and paid me right and proper, rather than trying to drink out of a 5 gallon bottle. Like I said, the water is free.” he smirked.

“It’s going to be getting dark soon and I kind of like your little camp here. Would you mind if we stay overnight’ I asked.

“Make yourselves to home, gents. And, I would be appreciating the company of such handy and hardy chums.” Stewart replied dragging his chair back under the shade.

“ I guess, seeing that we are teaming up for the night, Dump and I are going to throw our packs under this van while we do a bit of foraging, and you can sort of watch out for them while you wait on a customer to come along.” I said while Dump looked at him suspiciously.

“Like I said, store’s closed for now, I want to look around a bit too, but I think they will be alright either way.” Stewart said standing up.

“Oh, I am funny about leaving my preps unguarded, I will just drag them along. Where did you say that lawn furniture was at Stewart?” I said while picking up my roll.

“It is that blue truck down there about 50 meters that way.“ he said gesturing toward a pickup.

“Ok, anything else of the interesting sort down that way?” I inquired.

“I didn’t look over everything properly and only stayed on this side of the median.” Stewart replied scanning the area.

“Well, I see a couple big rigs down there. I was telling Dump that we could drag the mattresses out of the sleepers and rest a little easier tonight.” I said motioning in their general direction.

“Capitol idea! I hadn’t thought of that one.” Stewart said.

“Well, we will meet you back at camp in a bit or see you around the area. I am going after some chairs first. Come on along Dump.” I said while slinging my pack once again over my aching shoulder.

“Hey, Stewart, while you’re up in the cab of one of those trucks, be looking for a tire thumper.” I informed him.

“What in the hell is a tire thumper?” Stewart asked regarding me quizzically

“It’s a ‘billy-club’ or a bat that truckers use to check inflation of their tires, they use it to beat on them.” I offered.

“Ill be damned, never heard of one, but a proper nightstick sounds like just the thing I might be wanting.” Stewart replied, and we all looked at each other suspiciously about spending the night with a armed stranger.

I diffused the moment by adding, “’Might be useful if you get anymore asshole customers. “and laughed.

“Yes, a Tommy knocker would be just the thing for adjusting bad attitudes.” Stewart replied with a grin relaxing a bit.

Dump and I started heading off towards the pickup with the chairs and I kept noticing the discarded brief cases, clothes and luggage dumped on the sides of the road by travelers unwilling to further carry their burdens.

“Hey Dump, you notice how much more women’s junk is strewn around than men’s stuff?’ I observed while surveying a dizzying array of bright colors and various high heeled shoes littering the highway.

“I noticed that, too. ’Looks like women packed too much and it only took a mile or so until they started dumping shit.” he replied.

“I hope most of them carried an extra pair of sensible shoes in their cars like Melanie did or they are going to be hurtin’ for certain.” I considered.

“I wonder how she is making out, I was getting to like that old girl.” Dump responded.

“Old, hell Dump, she was younger than me. Ha! I sort of thought you were attracted to her.” I jibed at him.

“I didn’t say she wasn’t attractive.” he stammered.

‘Makes you sort of wish we got her phone number or something if this shit ever gets back on track doesn’t it Dumpie’

Dump looked remorseful and murmured, “You think it ever will David?”

“Doubtful Dump, I just don’t know. It is a different world now, but civilization always comes back and forms some kind of balance after a disaster. Though there’s no tellin’ how long it’ll take.”

“Well, I hope she is alright.” Dump considered.

“I do too, my friend.” I replied.

AND IT’S PARTY TIME

Dump and I hauled back some folding chairs to camp and looked around for Stewart. He waved at us from the other side of the median while dragging a mattress back and stopped and reached in his belt and held up a billy club. Dump gave him thumbs up and we turned to resume our foraging.

“I claim that Peterbilt up ahead” I informed Dump

“Damn! I was going to put dibs on that but you beat me to it. Probably got better shit in it than those cheaper trucks.” He groused.

“Ah Dumpie that looks like a Mack or a Kenworth in the other lane, pickings should be just as good over there’ I responded.

“I was just kidding, I will see you in a few.” he said walking over to the other side of the eight lane highway we were traversing, eight, hell it was 16 lanes, eight on a side. Damn Atlanta has some major thorough fares and this bit we were on had lanes full of vehicles of every description.

I approached the truck and reminded myself just as a precautionary measure to beat on the side of the door in case it was occupied. Might sound dumb in this turmoil but I didn’t need to be looking at the wrong end of a 44 magnum if this guy decided he wanted to stay with his load for some reason. I should have told Dump and Stewart to take the same precaution I pondered.

No answer to my knock and the driver left it unlocked, cool. I opened the door and climbed in. I hadn’t considered until now that it’s second nature for a lot of drivers to lock their cars when they got out till now and considered myself lucky I didn’t have to try every truck on the interstate to put my bed idea to good use.

Damn, this truck is ritzy; he has got him a TV, microwave, refrigerator and all the comforts of home in this thing including a computer. Tire thumper, tire thumper, where’s the friggin tire thumper. Must of took it with him, that’s a no brainier I would have too unless I had a gun with me. Lol, knowing me, I would of carried `em both.

What kind of shit you got in that chest of drawers? I mused reaching to open .a drawer Sweet! A whole new pack of white socks, damn do I need those. What else we got, manicure kit with comb, ok that’s got my name on it, double AA batteries, yea I want those, Viagra well that’s barter material, caffeine tablets might need those, who the hell writes their name on their underwear and size 42 at that, don’t need those, maybe Dumpie might want them…, he he. Instant coffee packets! Hell yea! Damn, empty snack drawer.

Let me unbutton this mattress from the cabs bed, well you left me the sheets and I damn sure don’t need a blanket at the moment. I prefer my tarp thank you if I get stuck I the rain. “What’s this” I say as I spy an envelope, Yee hah! $500 in fifties, guess you had other things on your mind to forget this, but your loss is my gain as I grinned and begin to back out of the cab of the truck dragging the mattress and the rest of my loot in a pillow case. I was reaching back in the cab for the pillow that went with it when I faintly heard Dump hollering at me.

“David! David!” he was bellowing like an excited water buffalo. I walked around to the front of the truck and saw Dump gesturing at me from across the median.

“Come here, you ain’t going to believe this!” he was shouting with some enthusiasm.

“Ok, on my way” I yelled back and proceeded in his direction.

“What’s up” I inquired while approaching him.

“Take a gander at this” he said all beside himself with glee.

“What is it?” I kept repeating as I jumped the median barrier and hurried towards him.

“Come around here!” he cried, while moving around the front of the big rig that he had just dragged a mattress and some other goods out of.

“Ok! Ok! I am coming!” I yelled back as I rounded the front of the truck to see Dump standing there grinning and doing a magicians wah la motion towards a….

“Beer truck!” I hollered in response.

“Beer truck” Dump reaffirmed proudly, puffing out his chest.

“And you don’t have the doors open already, where’s your manners?” I joked hurrying towards it.

“Damn thing is locked.” he said to my dismay.

“Shit, Tire tool maybe?” I said raising an eyebrow.

“We haven’t had much luck acquiring one of those.” he stated.

“Hang on” I said eying the lock down chains on the back of the rig he had got his mattress from.

“We might can knock the padlock off with one of those or make it spring.” I said hopefully.

“I got just the ticket possibly.” Dump said and went back around the front of the truck and produced somebody’s country craftsmanship of a trailer hitch topping off about two foot of what appeared to be a hickory mattock handle.

“Damn that’s a nasty looking weapon, look here lemme see that.” I said reaching for the deadly looking tire thumper.

“Watch this shit and learn a new trick, Dumpie” I confirmed my intent to get into the beer truck by whacking the outside edge of the padlock.

“Man you can’t beat that thing off. “Dump said skeptically.