Aftermath of Disaster: Book 2 Diggin in Read online

  Oh shit. This little prick wants to rape me! Then I remembered I was armed! I reached into my jacket and pulled my Glock 19 from the holster and pointed it at him. Center mass just as instructed by Jack. The little prick just snickered. “Oh no, the scared little girl has a gun!” He laughed it out, mocking me. “You better put that thing away before you hurt yourself.” Then he took a step forward. He could see the fear in my eyes.

  He stopped, smiled a genuine smile and said, “Don’t worry honey, I’ll be gentle.” What! This little prick has no fear and still thinks I’m going to let him have me? White hot anger shot through my mind. Now I was angry. Fear left my body and all I saw was red and the little prick’s heart. The furious pumping of my heart made my vision pulsate in unison.

  His heart was getting larger, meaning he was getting closer. All my lessons were triggering my brain. I took my time and breathed in a long, slow breath. Then I slowly exhaled and gave two tender squeezes of the trigger. “I’ll be gentle” was still screaming through my mind.

  The little prick fell back and hit the ground. Disbelief in his eyes was slowly turning to a blank stare. Before his last breath I looked into his dying eyes…

  “I won’t,” I rasped.

  I stood and watched him die. I’d never seen anyone die before and haven’t even seen a dead body. I thought after shooting someone I’d feel something. But I don’t. It was easier than I thought it would be. It was either get raped or take him out. It was an easy decision and I’d do it again.

  Next time I’ll try and get my pattern closer. That second shot is a bit off.

  I can’t have this prick laying in the middle of the driveway. I grabbed him by the ankles and dragged him to the side of the road, then kicked him over, face down. He doesn’t deserve to look at the trees and sky. He gets dirt.

  ***

  “Brad, did you hear that!”

  “Yes, we need to get the hell out of here!”

  “What about him? He might need help.”

  “Do you have a gun, James?”

  “No. I guess he’s fucked.”

  ***

  I walked back to the cottage, my little workout was over by default. I’d hoped to walk longer but I think killing someone is a good excuse to go home. I think tomorrow I’ll bring the dogs. I walked in and gave the girls big hugs.

  I’d already had my shower for the day, but I needed to wash myself. I think Jack will understand. I laid my Glock on the coffee table and went to the bedroom to undress. Then I took a quick but refreshing shower.

  I thought by now, with the adrenaline rush over, I might feel just a little bad about killing the prick. But it still hasn’t phased me, he deserved what he got. I have no idea what to do with the body though. Maybe Jack will have an idea. The police are gone, which is probably why they thought they could come rob people.

  Shit! His buddies, I forgot about them. I got up and looked outside, even though the dogs would have told me if anyone was out there. I still had to check. I guess they’re smarter than him. Maybe we can report it to the Park Rangers? I don’t know. Jack will figure it out.

  I’ve got some time before Jack is expected to return so I started cleaning up the cottage a little. I felt a need to keep busy, maybe the adrenaline is still pumping. I got all the rooms swept, washed some clothes, and then sat down with a book. I even remembered to clean my firearm.

  Every time the dogs got excited I ran to the window. I was feeling a little nervous about the friends coming here. I kept my Glock holstered while I was reading. I was feeling naked without it. I think we need to train the dogs not to bark at squirrels. Everyone wants to chase squirrels.

  I wasn’t feeling afraid anymore, but I still needed to know nobody was outside. I still had a bunch of energy needing to be released but I didn’t want to go outside just yet. I may be crazy, but I’m not stupid. Jack always says, “If you go looking for trouble, you’ll find it.” Going outside at this time may be looking for trouble. Nobody is getting in the cottage without a key or me letting them in.

  Reading wasn’t cutting it though. I couldn’t concentrate enough to get through a paragraph. I continued with my domestic streak (rare that it is) and decided to start cooking a meal. Jack will be surprised! We’ve got some veggies that need to get used before they’re too old. I just wish we had some potatoes.

  I started some water to boil the broccoli then put a little butter in a pan to sauté some mushrooms and onions. When they were going well I started the steaks. I’m not very good at cooking steaks on the stove but I get the job done.

  With the impeccable timing of a prepared man, Jack walked in as I finished the meal. The dogs gave me plenty of warning, barking their happy barks. They have a special bark for Jack.

  “I’m glad you’re ok. How was your day?”, he asked with concern.

  The Park

  Jack explained to Diane that he had heard the gunshots and hoped it wasn’t her. She informed him it was her and she took care of the problem. Jack raised his eyebrows at that piece of information and asked her to elaborate.

  Diane relayed the story from the time Jack left until he got home. He sat in silence while she spoke, raising an eyebrow or two at several points in her recounting. He kept a straight face through it all, but he was very proud of her and impressed.

  Yet, Jack was a little concerned about her nonchalant attitude about it all. She just killed someone and doesn’t seem phased by it at all. He knew it would hit her at some point, he just hoped everything will have calmed down by then. That’s not bloody likely though.

  “Okay, you’ve been awfully quiet during my story. What do you think?” Diane asked in a somewhat excited tone.

  Jack took a deep breath and exhaled with a slow sigh.

  “First of all, I’m glad you’re okay and remembered your training. You did an excellent job of defending yourself.”

  He had to choose his next words carefully.

  “But I need to ask, are you really okay? You ended someone’s life, that usually affects people.”

  “I’m fine. He was a prick who got what he deserved” she told him. Jack still wasn’t convinced but let it go.

  “Well okay then. We need to move on. Canada and Mexico were attacked today, same as the U.S. We need to dig in and plan to be here for at least a year. This isn’t going to end soon. But first we need to get to the park and speak to a ranger. We need to report the boys and the shooting to someone. The rangers appear to be the best option.”

  Diane’s eyes grew wide and she covered her mouth with a hand. Jack filled her in on the events at the meeting and it was her turn to sit in silence. A few tears dropped from the corners of her eyes and Jack tried to reassure her

  “We’re going to be okay.”

  But Diane was thinking of her parents and wondering when she was going to see them again.

  “I’m not sure” he replied. “My brother and his family are in Mexico and I have to hope and pray the city he’s in didn’t get hit. He’s probably far enough away from the border.”

  He looked at his watch and blanched a bit.

  “We need to get to the park now. We’ll take the dogs and the truck. We can’t drive all the way to the park, but we’ll get most of the way. I want to be back before dark and we’re running out of daylight. Tomorrow we start to prepare for the long-haul.”

  All four piled into the truck and headed for town. About a quarter-mile from the National Park Hwy. Jack turned onto an old road and headed toward the park entrance. The back roads wouldn’t get them all the way there but far enough. A short walk would get them the rest of the way.

  About a mile from the entrance they parked and started walking. Jack realized getting home before dark wasn’t going to happen. He remembered to take leashes for the dogs. Dogs in the park must be on a leash. They weren’t really going to enter the park proper, but he figured it would still be best to use the leash with them.

  They made it to the highway and it continued to look like a park
ing lot. Nobody was getting in via automobile. Walking by the cars it appeared people have been living in their vehicles, hoping to get in. Some people had set up camp on the side of the road.

  This isn’t going to end well, thought Jack.

  As they approached the park entrance, Jack put the dogs on the leash and they each took control of a dog. Jack took Basha and Diane got Mercedes. The Nisqually Entrance is the original entrance to the park and has the oldest buildings.

  As you enter the park, you go under a log structure holding an old sign “Mt Rainier National Park.” Remembering his history, Jack thought if they really wanted to be rustic, they’d call it by it’s original, Native American name – Tahoma, in Salishan. The people in Seattle was jealous and had the map-makers call it Rainier instead. Eventually, it stuck.

  In the native dialect, the “h” was a “k” sound. So “Tahoma” was “Tacoma.” Seattle didn’t like the city of Tacoma having the same name as the mountain. Never mind Tacoma is much closer to the mountain than Seattle…details.

  They made it to the gate and approached the first ranger they saw. He was an older man, maybe mid 50’s with gray hair and a few specks of dark left in there. He raised his hands and started telling the duo they wouldn’t be allowed in, but Jack cut him off.

  “We need to report a shooting in self-defense.”

  That stopped the ranger cold. He sighed and nodded his head as if he knew this was going to happen at some point.

  “Where was the shooting?” he asked.

  “On our property in Ashford,” Jack replied, calmly, “There are no police in the area and I thought it best we reported it somewhere. You’re the only law enforcement in the area.”

  “Yes, and I’m not sure how to handle this yet. I’m expecting us to be deputized soon. I’ll take a report to cover you though.”

  “Thank you, we appreciate it.”

  Diane gave him her information and told the story again.

  “You said you first saw this person in Elbe, correct?” The ranger, John Thomas, stated.

  “Yes, him and his friends” Diane told him.

  “Hmm. I live in Elbe but haven’t been home in a couple of days. Tomorrow I get to go home for a few days. I’ll stop by your property in the morning and look at the body. I have an idea of who he was, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s him. I always figured he’d end up in prison. I guess I was wrong.”

  Jack was left wondering how both Diane and Ranger John could take the death so easily. He hoped if he ever had to kill someone he’d feel something. These two are carrying on like it’s no big deal. Very strange.

  John wrapped up the report and said he’d be by at around 9am. Jack and company started back to the truck and home. It’s home now, he thought. Tomorrow will be a busy day. Right now, he just wanted to get home and have his shower.

  Once home, Jack went straight for the shower while Diane had a meal replacement bar. She was too tired to cook, and Jack wasn’t going to eat at all.

  It must be nice having his metabolism, she thought.

  She heard his response in her head “You could if you ate right.”

  Jack wanted to get to bed early but having just showered, he was refreshed and not tired at all. He sat down with a pen and writing pad and started going over his plan for the next few days. The one-year plan was to set up communications, knowing they probably weren’t going to last long. Once the power went out, they had to move to old school communication.

  He started going over the list of things he’d need besides the communication equipment. He was good on ammo for a while and didn’t think he’d need extra fire-power yet. He’d need extra food for sure, and clothes. Summer is around the corner and they’re already set for that. In a few months he’d have to dig up some winter clothes.

  He finished his list and decided he’d get some sleep. Diane followed after finishing a chapter in her book.

  Digging In

  7am and Jack was up as usual. ‘Early to bed, early to rise,’ was his motto, and he stuck to it no matter what. He nudged Diane awake, “Let’s go honey, it’s a new day and we’re still here!”

  “I really hate you in the mornings,” she said. She heaved a heavy sigh and crawled out of bed. After Jack took care of his business, she jumped in the shower to finally wake up.

  Jack completed the morning routine by starting coffee and making breakfast. They were going to run out of bacon soon and he was sure there wouldn’t be a replacement unless he found his own pig. Not likely, he thought. That’s more of a part of a two-year plan.

  After breakfast Jack broke the news and told Diane to follow him outside. It’s time to dig some holes, he told her. He opened the shed and made a mad dash for the shovels, closing the doors before any chickens escaped. He’d let them out and grab their eggs later. Ranger John would be here in about an hour.

  First, Jack went to the northwest corner of the cottage, faced west, then counted 10 paces.

  “Diane, you’ve won a sexy black portable satellite modem, come on down! Dig here, you’ll know when you’ve found it. You should hear the thud after about two feet.”

  Diane raised an eyebrow and her lip curled into a wry smile.

  “Is this one of the surprises you told me about?”

  “Yes, it is. One of many. Less talk, more dig!” he said with a smile. He’d like her to forget about the surprises for now.

  For his turn, he went to the center of the shed doors, turned around, and counted 7 paces. Then he began digging. Jack is digging up a CB radio to install in the truck. As long as he had gasoline, he’d be able to use the CB. From now on, the truck will only be started to charge the battery.

  Jack reached his crate first and dug around it enough to pull it out of the ground. It was a black Pelican case measuring about two-feet by one-foot. He set it aside and helped Diane with her digging. Her case was identical to Jack’s. At his insistence, they dropped the shovels and carried their loot inside. Jack didn’t bother locking these cases, it was unlikely anyone would find them. The locks would eventually rust and be impossible to open anyway.

  Jack opened his case and pulled out the CB radio, still in its box. Then he removed the other contents. Any time there was extra room, he packed extra. His surprise loot was two cans of peaches and three pairs of socks.

  For Diane’s case, she pulled out the modem and two pairs of boxer briefs.

  “Yay?” she said.

  “No worries, we’ll get to your frilly things eventually” he replied.

  “Well I hope you shopped at Victoria’s Secret.”

  “Sure, if Cabela’s is ‘Victoria’s Secret,’ then yes!”

  “Always the smart-ass.”

  Their banter was interrupted by the honking of a horn. Jack looked at his watch: 8:50.

  “He’s early, I like him.”

  They headed to the gate to meet with Ranger John. “Jack, Diane!” John said, “Did you see that cougar?”

  “No, no cougar” Diane said.

  “I startled him with the horn and he jumped away towards the house. Don’t worry though, he’s probably just passing through and looking for a place to bed down. He’ll be on his way in the evening.”

  John was carrying a large black object. He said he saw the body on the way to the gate and they should walk back to it. When they got there, John covered his nose and turned the body over.

  “Yep, that’s him. Jack, help me get him in the bag and I’ll take him to town. We can get him in a freezer until the family decides what to do. He’s a real stinker, eh?”

  Again, Jack was surprised at the apathetic attitude towards death. “Sure thing, John” he said.

  The stench was hard to bear, Jack thought, but they were able to get him zipped into the bag.

  “Ok, I’ll back the truck up and we can get him loaded up” John said.

  John was soon on his way to Elbe and home.

  Jack and Diane made their way back to the cottage and Jack said they needed to fill the ho
les and hide the signs. Otherwise, “visitors” may get the idea to start digging themselves. They’d eventually find pay dirt. It took a while to get it right, Jack put the finishing touches on by combing the area with a gravel rake. Soon he would have to do it all over again.

  For the rest of the day Jack worked on setting up the modem and installing the CB radio. He turned it on just long enough to hear a conversation and know it was working. Tomorrow he’d test the mic and start getting in touch with his friends. Step one was complete.

  ***

  The next day was spent digging a bigger hole, west of the well.

  It was a stroke of genius building over the well, Jack thought to himself.

  This one was for an outhouse. It would be crude at best, but it would work. He built a small box to cover the hole and topped it with a pre-made piece to sit on. A nice hole was cut and sanded in the wood.

  Then he made a simple frame and added the walls for privacy. The materials were kept in the shed. Now he just had to anchor it down and apply a few coats of standard brown paint. It needed to be portable for the next hole.

  The winter would make for some cold craps, he thought. It’s still better than shitting next to a tree.

  Diane was spending her time walking with the dogs - she’s not going anywhere without one or both now – and getting things done around the house. She kept an eye on the news for Jack, paying attention to a software program he had loaded up. Because she’s an avid reader, she also got some reading time in.

  ***

  The short, slim man sat in a windowless room, surrounded by many of his companions. It was hot, and the only relief were the fans keeping the computers cool. It was much cooler in his own country, but this mission couldn’t be carried out there. If the Americans succeeded in tracking the hackers, the suspicion would fall here instead of their own government.

  “We’re almost done here” he said to the man standing behind him, watching. The man standing commanded the respect and attention of everyone in the room. He is a large man, standing at 6’5” and built like a brick shithouse. He kept a stern face and never smiled, not even around family. It was never easy to tell if he was pleased but everyone knew when he was angry. He’s also a general and can make a person disappear. Those days are said to be over, but the rumors say otherwise.