SURVIVING ABE: A Climate-Fiction Novel (36 page)

"
I agree with Hank, I vote we move, we need to think of a safer place to go," said Ela.

"If we take 141 back toward GJ when we get to the Cactus Park Road, across from it is a private road that goes to Glade Park.  I haven't been over
it personally, but I did a job, building a horse barn, on the other end of the road.  If we can get to Glade Park I've got some friends there who will be helpful, I think.  At least they won't shoot at us," said Gus.

"I like that idea.  I know an old boy that lives close to Glade Park, on Little Park Road, so we have some alternatives once we get
there.  People there ought to know what the conditions are in GJ, with all the overlooks they can see what's happening in the whole valley," Hank said.

"We need to be ready to leave at a minimum of notice.  I'm going to the shop to build a sled to carry more supplies,
we can pull it behind one of the snowmobiles," Gus said as he got up and left.

The day broke clear, cold and windy.  He could resist no longer, and got up.  Looking through the companionway from below, Eric saw Tess wearing some of his waterproof kayaking gear as she stood at the helm.  Robin pitched fore and aft while the deck remained steadily tilted, or heeled to port, as Tess would say.  He found holding on to something was the only way he could stand, getting his rain gear on was a task in itself.

Managing to get dressed he made his way, handhold to handhold, to the companionway.  Before starting up the steps he stopped a moment to watch Tess.

She stood easy, her knees flexing with Robin's gyrations, keeping her body upright and balanced.  Without a change in her stoic expression she ducked the oncoming spray blown back from the bow.  To Eric, the woman exuded strength of character by the calm consideration he saw in her eyes as she scanned the horizon and then looked up to check the set of the mainsail.  Competence personified.

What a lucky break she had turned out to be, not only pulling him out of the wreckage of his house, but also facilitating his escape.  She had no inkling of the cause she served by keeping him in the game.  Proving once again those who serve blindly serve best.

"Hey, Capt'n!"

Finished trimming the sails for the moment, Tess returned the winch handle to its holder and turned to find Eric stepping into the cockpit.  "Sleep well?"

"Just rested with my eyes closed, I'm having a hard time suppressing my excitement.  I wondered if you need a break?  I can probably keep those green things on the right, and the red ones on the left, like you are.  I don't see any ships at the moment."

"Okay, but you need to know more than how to turn the wheel.  We are sailing, and the sails need to be adjusted to our course, because we're in a restricting channel.  At sea it is the opposite, okay?"

"I think so."

"Come back here and stand beside me.  See that needle moving on that instrument?"

"Yes."

"That tells us where the wind is coming from and how hard it's blowing in relation to the moving boat, which is pictured on the face under that needle.  If the needle moves toward the stern of the boat then the sails need to be eased or let out, away from the centerline of the boat.  If the needle moves toward the bow then the sails need to be trimmed or tightened, by using the winch to bring them closer to the boat.  With me?"

"Ye . . . I mean, Aye Capt'n."

"Over here is the compass.  Remember the heading the autopilot is holding us on, just in case it needs to be reset.  The GPS started working a bit ago.  It's slow, but I loaded this navigator with all the nautical charts we need along the East Coast and the Bahamas.  Right now we are navigating to a waypoint where we will make a heading change.  This screen tells us if we're on course, or if we are being pushed sideways by the wind.  Still with me?"

"So far.  Do the sails need to be trimmed as much as you trim them?"

"Learn to listen to Robin.  She'll let you know what she needs.  It will take awhile for you to get a feel for that, meanwhile keep the boat speed up.  If the sails flog, the crew gets flogged."

"Threatening to let the cats come out of the bag?" Eric asked with a smile.

"Ah, so you do know something about sailing."

"As a youngster I couldn't read enough adventure stories.  Sea stories were my favorite for years.  Until the tornado destroyed them
, I prized my leather-bound editions of the Bounty Trilogy.  I'm eager to back up my academic knowledge of sailing with some practical experience."

"Good, 'cause you have the watch.  Don't run into any hard bits of land.  And keep an eye on the sails, or suffer the consequences."

Trusting him would only come after she took small leaps of faith. Tess went below, wondering about her next landing.

~~~

Fifteen minutes later she climbed back into the cockpit scanning the horizon for ships, "Since we're still afloat and alive things must be going alright, huh?"

Eric looked at her with a smile, "So far.  Every once in a
while I feel like we're going to tip over, then I hear the sound of the water and it feels like we're doing 80 instead of 8, it's exhilarating!"

"You hit 8 knots?"

"Seven point six get's rounded up, on my watch."

"You hit 7.6 knots?"

"Almost, but a few times I probably didn't look quickly enough to see the absolute highest speed.  That's the point though, with the deck tilting and the water hissing and gurgling by, it feels faster than the numbers sound!"

Tess smil
ed at his enthusiasm; seeing a few columns of smoke rising from ashore quickly turned her smile to a frown of concern.

"How long before we're out of the Delaware River?" Eric asked, evidently reading the look on her face correctly.

"Late afternoon.  There is a Coast Guard base in Cape May, but on the Maryland side is an anchorage called Delaware Bay.  There’s nothing but a lighthouse and a breakwater, no facilities, no people, and that's where I plan to anchor tonight.  We'll cook up a couple day's worth of food and get a good night's rest, then jump offshore tomorrow morning early.  We still have a day or two before we need to make a decision on whether our destination is Virginia or the Bahamas.  Okay with you?"

"Aye Capt'n, it's your
command."

~~~

Later that evening while anchored in Delaware Bay, with food cooking on both the stern rail-mounted grill and the galley stove, the aromas wafted downwind.  Below in the galley, Tess cooked enough soup to fill two large Thermos bottles and made some sandwiches, while Eric grilled meat outdoors.

He had assured her that precooked, cold hamburger patties tasted good.  She hop
ed she had enough condiments aboard to make it possible for her to agree.  The important thing to her was that he hadn't uttered even a hint of a complaint, or asked too many questions, plus he pitched in and helped without being told.  Maybe the fact that both of them lived alone made them less talkative, an attribute in her opinion, whatever caused it.

She grabbed a couple of cold beers and joined him in the cockpit, "Thirsty?"

"Absolutely.  These burgers are done and I'm ready for one with a beer, thanks."

While they enjoyed hot hamburgers in the slightly pitching cockpit she pondered the upcoming voyage.  This would be the last civilized meal until they reached their destination and were able to anchor again.  Until then dog bowls would be preferable to plates, if eating the food rather than wiping up spills was the actual goal.

"Abe’s destruction didn’t reach the heavens, just look at those stars," she said upon finishing her burger.

"It seems Abe concentrated his energies on the U.S.  Ultimately it may be a good thing, but the immediate aftermath is going to be an unpleasant time."

"How are you feeling about being on a sailboat?"

"Tess, so far I love it.  Intellectually I know today has been idyllic compared to what our oceans can dish up, but I didn't feel anything unpleasant today when conditions were at their
worst.  I'm optimistic that we'll be eating conch chowder in Nassau in no time."

"Jumping offshore in a small boat is not taken lightly by anyone that has done it before.  Taking a man with no sailing experience, that I hardly know, on an offshore passage, puts me in the running for the Darwin Award.  Though your performance today gives me some confidence, since it was turbulent enough to make anyone susceptible to seasickness,
queasy at the least."

"Could go the other way, and generations that come after you will admire your daring success at escaping Abe’s mayhem.  And for choosing to take me along of course," Eric said smiling.  "The other news is it looks like our attitudes have gone from 'not liking' to 'not knowing' one another.  Which is a good thing; it means we haven't yet heard all of each other's jokes and stories."

Tess raised her beer in a toast, "True that!  Leaving the East Coast on the tail of a cold front is a time-honored tradition for vessels dependent on the winds for power.  This one will get us offshore and well south over the next couple of days.  We have enough fuel aboard to maybe get us a third of the way, so motoring should only be considered as a last resort; we can't start the engine every time the winds die down.  We are at the whims of nature, and it will take however long it takes to get there.  So, no schedule once we jump offshore tomorrow.  Okay?"

"Tess, you've given me ample warnings, I'll sign all the usual disclaimers and hold you harmless.  I want to do this and I know it might end in disaster, but that's a chance I’ll take.  In my mind, the dangers of staying here are higher than those we may face on this ocean voyage, besides this change in lifestyle provides a stimulus I didn't realize I needed.  Isn't it time for the Captain to announce to the crew that we sail with the turn of the morning's tide, or something?"

At midday Jennifer and Andy took the Jeep on a drive around the pasture, ostensibly to check the cattle, though most of the others recognized it as their not-so-clever ploy to be alone together.

"What's the main thing I'm checking these cows for, exactly?" Andy asked, as he leaned toward Jennifer.

"Health, pasture conditions, and generally watching for anything that doesn't look right."

"That mark on your face, as sexy as it is, is my fault.  I should have gone and gotten my own stick while you watched."

"Sexy, huh?  I didn't see it that way when I looked."

"It enhances your air of mystery and warns all others that you've faced the dragon and survived.  Men will find you more irresistible than ever, until it fades away in a couple of weeks."

"So far it's only enhanced the amount of teasing I'm getting."

"It's mostly the way your family and friends are trying to reassure you and relieve their own fears.  We're all very glad you're not seriously injured, the mark shows how close you came."

"You are a puzzle; first a geek turned happy-go-lucky-trespassing biker, then a warrior, and now a philosopher."

"Everything after 'biker' happened since I got to Texas and met you, all the credit is yours."

"And the blame, so we'd better get back or you'll be late for your cooking date this afternoon with Mom."

"You're behind on the personnel changes in the kitchen, Sara is now the acting sous-chef.  I'm the official kitchen-mascot that fetches things, like buckets of water.  The best part is being invited to do taste-testing due to my discerning palate."

"I'm sure the fact that you're enthusiastic about any food makes you popular with the cooks, and I'm glad we have enough food to be joking around about.  Knowing there are people ready to kill other people for food—right here on the farm where I grew up—changes things for me.  It's no longer just a concept that I can choose to either think about, or
not.  I woke up with a different attitude than I had yesterday morning."

"I've been experiencing that very thing for over a week now.  A week ago I didn't think I had a chance with you, now I don't think I have a chance without you."

Jennifer pulled the Jeep to a stop in front of the house and looked at Andy sitting in the passenger seat, cradling an AR-15, and looking back at her with a steady gaze.  "That's another aspect of why my attitude changed, I need to figure out what to do about you."

"I'm confused about all of this, Jennifer.  It was stupid to send you away to search for a stick, and crazy to shoot the guy holding you.  I'm sure last night didn't improve my chances with you.  Maybe you're right about trouble following me, and maybe I should take it on down the road?"

"You didn't hurt your chances with me, and you couldn't leave if you wanted to."

"Good, I'm just starting my in-depth learning about cows and how to butcher and cook 'em.  I wouldn't want to leave before we get to the eating part, which should be soon.  This morning your dad and Bernie explained the difference between an old cow and a young heifer, something about how their dispositions change with age."

"Be careful how much you believe of what you hear when a couple of old farmers get together around here, they've been known to lie; especially to Yanks."

The sound of running feet alerted them to Leo's approach.  He wasted no time in figuring out how to crawl up in
to the Jeep and stake his claim, by standing between them.

"Andy, Grandma Reb says you gotta come in and help, and
Mama says I'm suppose to keep my eye on Aunt Jen."

"Well then, you sit right here and take over watching her while I go in the house," Andy said, getting out of the Jeep.  "Be careful, Aunt Jen's got an attitude today.  Get her to tell you all about it, okay?"  Andy gave Leo a wink and went into the house.

"What's an a'tude, Aunt Jen?"

"Your buddy,
Andy, is just trying to be funny.  What's funny is he isn't funny, but still thinks he is, get it?"

~~~

Andy carried in buckets of water to heat and refill the sinks to help with the clean up after a day of canning and cooking.  Reb appeared flushed from the work, but in her element; he doubted there was any place she'd rather be.  Melissa, now that Leo was with Jen, was in and out of the bedroom first aid items and making preparations to change Sam's bandages.

"What happened to Sara?" Andy asked as he to
ok over the washing and let Reb dry and put things away.

"Two young children."

"I wouldn't have understood the meaning of that before spending time with Leo.  Mostly he's high energy in perpetual motion; but there's a sensitive little person in there too.  He's my buddy."

"You plan to have kids, Andy?"

"I'm open to the idea, with the right person and place, to raise a child.  Uncertain times like these may not be the best time, though."

"We've talked about waiting for the perfect time.  Nothing is perfect; so don't expect time to be.  As old as I am, I've faced the fact I'm going to have to learn new ways to help my family survive, and one of them
, I've decided, is to be up front.  You are part of my family now, we didn't choose that, and neither did you, but fate has made it a fact.  Now please go out and send your buddy Leo in here.  Melissa wants to scrub a pound of dirt off him while we have hot water."

Andy actually felt badly about sending an unsuspecting Leo to a scrubbing, but with rain starting again it made little difference, they all headed toward the house.  He and Jennifer retreated to a bench under the front porch and watched the world being scrubbed, instead of witnessing Leo's ordeal, although they could hear it.

"You and Mom get along," Jennifer said.  "She enjoys you in the kitchen more than she does me."

"No, I enjoy being in the kitchen with her more than you do, and I don't mind her asking me to do things.  My chances of getting adopted are looking up."

"I've never wanted a brother, all my girlfriends despised their brothers when growing up."

"She didn't say I was to be a brother to you, just that I'm now part of her family."

"I told you my parents would try to put you to work, this is the first step.  They butter you up and then hand you a pair of work gloves."

"You're not scaring me."

"You've been warned.  By the way, I talked to Ben earlier and asked what the official word is coming down through government channels.  He told me that little progress is being made getting power restored.  Floodwaters here, and snow to the north, are both blocking access to repair crews.  They need a break in the weather to make real progress.  Some relief supplies are being flown in, but due to the scope of declared disaster areas, supplies are thin on the ground, whereas the need is growing."

"Out of curiosity
, while we're watching the rain, let's say it stops, and in a week to ten days the power comes back on.  Where does that leave us, Jennifer?"

"Dealing with the aftermath.  L
ife will go on around here, even if the lifestyle reverts back to subsistence living during the time it takes to rebuild.  There's no way I can leave my family and this farm while there is a chance of holding on and rebuilding.  That leaves 'us' with the ball in your court.  Come January am I going to get a post card from Key West?"

"No, but we could talk about going there together . . . on our honeymoon."