After the Day- Red Tide Read online

  The people in the street were in a panic. Some of them aimed their guns around but didn’t fire. Buck suspected they had already run out of bullets and were now using them for intimidation. It was a big risk he took but it was paying off. Some members of the gang jumped back in their cars and drove off. Most of the people were still in the street trying to stay covered from flying arrows. Buck picked off the strays and soon the neighbors were in the street holding their bows at the ready. One woman, Peggy, was in tears and Buck could see the anger in her eyes.

  She drew her bow back and shot an arrow into the head of a man a few feet away from her.

  “Holy shit Peg.” Sam said to her as she killed the man.

  “He raped me the last time they were through here.” she said spitting on the body and kicking the corpse.

  Buck made a quick decision.

  “Nobody gets out of here alive.” he told Sam.

  “Are you sure?” Sam asked Buck.

  “Peg?” Buck looked at her.

  “Kill every last one of them.” Peg said.

  “You heard the lady.” Sam said.

  It wasn’t easier. Most were hesitant. Before, it was self-defense. The people were putting their lives in danger by stealing their food. Now most of them thought of it as murder.

  Buck took out his knife and executed the ones that were still breathing the quickest way he knew how, a straight drive to the heart. Some couldn’t watch. Some finished off the people they knew they had shot as a show of mercy. A small group of men, including Buck, dragged the bodies to the end of the street when it was over and burned them. The smell was horrible and the image gruesome. The charcoaled skulls and limbs stayed there as a reminder to the next group that thought this looked like a nice neighborhood to rape and pillage.

  The gang was now gone but that didn’t solve their problem with food. They were running out quick and the only solution was to go out and try to find more.

  “You mean turn into the gang that we just slaughtered.” one of the women said.

  “I’m not saying we go out and pillage from the people that need it. There has to be stores of food that haven’t been found yet. The least we can do is send out a recon group and figure out what is out there.” Like before, Buck was in charge. The group had no options.

  Buck put a team of four men and one woman together. Sam, Carol, and one other man that appeared able with a bow, found a map and planned a route to look for supplies and gather information.

  They left at night. They moved slowly and Buck led the way. They stayed on the streets and did their best to see what was around them. Without power and street lights the city was darker than they had anticipated. The moon was under constant cloud cover. Buck used a lighter to look at street signs and figure out where they were. The city was quiet, dead quiet. The sound of rodents and other creatures of the night kept them on their toes. Buck was accustomed to it. After years of hunting the sound of a squirrel and larger game came naturally to him. At this time of night, possum and raccoons would be scavenging around. Rats were growing in numbers but were still too afraid to go out in the day.

  Buck looked at the sky and could tell they still had time before the sun would be up. Stopping next to a car and having the other three surround him he took the map out and saw they were only a block away from their first stop, a local Walmart. He figured it was a stupid stop, the first place that would have been cleaned out in a panic. He took them there to satisfy them and humor himself.

  They quickly moved up the parking lot and found the sliding doors already pried open. Sam argued that all of the food could not have been carried. Buck didn’t argue and they went in. The building was pitch black inside and Sam turned on his flashlight. He was the point man now.

  Bare shelves and pallets were all that was left in the store.

  “We can look in the back, maybe they overlooked something in the supply room.” Buck said.

  They went straight to the back of the store, pushed open the double doors and found an empty area with cinder block walls.

  “Shit.” Sam said.

  Buck pulled the map out and figured out their next stop. A local bulk food store was also nearby and Buck had a feeling that was a waste of time also. He knew he shouldn’t divert from the original plan but he had to know where everyone stood on priorities.

  “Ok, everyone, let’s sit for a minute.” Buck said.

  “What’s going on?” Carol asked.

  “I think we need to figure some things out.” Buck said as he got comfortable on the floor of the room. “Sam, leave your light on.”

  The rest of them sat in a circle and waited to hear what Buck had to say.

  “Somehow, I ended up being the leader of this group. Honestly, besides hunting and fishing, I don’t really have any skills. I’m proud of us for being able to eliminate that gang from our problems but there are a great many things we need to think about with our situation. We are out here trying to find food that I believe isn’t out here and we are not thinking long term.” Buck tried to explain.

  “So what do we do?” Sam asked.

  “I think we need to figure out what we need for a longer solution for food and work on that instead of these bullshit stops to places that have already been cleaned out.” Buck said.

  “There is a supermarket warehouse off the highway about ten miles from here.” the third man said.

  “What’s your name?” Buck asked.

  “Bill.”

  “Bill, how do you know about this warehouse?”

  “One of my friends worked there before he moved to Kansas. It’s the distribution center for all the chain stores in the area. It’s huge and located in a small town.”

  “Well, Bill, I think you finally have the first good idea I’ve heard in a while.” Buck said standing up. “Let’s find a running car and get over their before other people figure out there is a stock pile of food in the middle of nowhere.”

  Buck decided that the best idea was to head back to the neighborhood and if they found a working car, that would be great. In the meantime, there was a working Jeep in his own driveway they could use and get to the warehouse in no time.

  There were a few cars they came across but with being newer models they decided they weren’t worth trying to get started. Buck made excellent time back to the neighborhood and the sun was starting to rise.

  “Ok, get in.” he said running in the house and grabbing his keys. Going into the garage he picked up a few extra gas cans and threw them in the back. He picked up some plastic bowls and a screwdriver and threw them in as well. Finishing with a hammer they were set.

  “What’s this stuff for?” Sam asked.

  “Collecting gas along the way.” Buck said.

  Most people in the Jeep were familiar with siphoning gas with a hose but couldn’t figure out what the screwdriver and hammer were for. Buck didn’t like his gas tank reading just over a quarter of a tank and knew that he needed to get more gas or he was going to have the only running vehicle around without fuel.

  Driving to the highway they found a clear shot with a few cars along the side of the road. Buck would stop, get out, slide under the car and tap the gas tank. The first few sounded empty, explaining why they were in the spot they were abandoned in. Then, about five miles out, he found a truck that was shiny and new. A beast of a vehicle in all of its glory and Buck had a feeling.

  He crawled under and tapped the tank. It sounded full and he pulled out the screwdriver and hammer. He tapped and hammered the screwdriver through the outside of the fuel tank until gasoline started coming out. He slid a bowl under the stream of gas and switched them out when it was full.

  “Ok, pour that into the one gallon gas can. When the gas can is full put it in the Jeep’s tank. We rotate until we get everything that is in here. Understood?” Buck explained trying to make sure he caught every precious drop.

  They worked together moving gas from one place to another. When the Jeep’s tank was full they fill
ed the five gallon jerry can Buck had on the back and then the two one gallon plastic cans that he brought. Buck felt sad to see the rest of the fuel pouring out into the highway before they drove off. It was a waste, he tried to focus on what he was able to get and yet he still felt depressed driving away from the beautiful truck that was killed the day the power went out. He had read about EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) before and knew what they were capable of. He didn’t think he would live to see one go off or be used. He heard a rumor that one was used on Bagdad during the Shock and Awe campaign but had no idea that a country would use it on a whole population like the U.S. This was the only explanation that he could come up with. The cell phones didn’t work either after that day. And it wasn’t that they weren’t charged, something killed them that day. When they reached the warehouse Buck stopped the Jeep a hundred yards away and they jumped out to get a better view of the building. The early morning sun was up now. Buck felt it best to approach from the east and have the sun at their backs in case anybody was in the building. At least then they would have the element of surprise.

  Buck saw a door on the side of the massive structure, most likely there for fire codes. He thought it was a good shot and they tried it. Sam turned the handle and pulled to find it locked.

  They kept moving along the side of the building and came to a corner. Buck looked around the corner and found it clear. They ran along the side and came to the front of the building, again it was clear. When they came to the next entrance it was open. The lock had been broken and the door was easy to move.

  Buck made it clear that just because the building looked empty to still be on the lookout for people that might be protecting it. Buck was the first one in and the warehouse was dark inside. It didn’t surprise him. Sunlight was a major factor of items going bad. The heat in the warehouse at the peak hours of the day must have been intense. Steel metal roof and metal walls could make a place like this an oven on the right day.

  Carol was placed on watch at the door and the three men went inside to get a look around. The huge three story halls held more than the twelve people could ever use. Buck turned to Sam and threw him the keys to the Jeep.

  “Bring it to the loading dock next to Carol.” he said. Sam ran and disappeared as Buck and Bill went down the aisle trying to find what they needed.

  Buck went back to the beginning of the aisle and found a book resting at the end. He flipped through and figured out that it was organized by the entire warehouse and then the individual aisle. He thought for a second and went to the back for the index. Seeds came to mind, he quickly flipped to the pages. There were a few listed, packets, banks and industrial.

  Banks? What the hell did they mean by banks? He looked at the aisles and numbers and figured out where to go. Running down the aisles, the hard thumping of his boots on the concrete, he found the spot where the seed banks were kept. The pallet was on the bottom and he took his knife out cutting open one of the boxes. He pulled out what looked like a coffee can. The label read:

  Food bank, everything needed for a one acre farm to feed four people for a year, all heirloom seeds and no hybrids or GMOs.

  “A hundred dollars for seeds? Better be worth it.” Buck said.

  He pulled one box out that was filled with sixteen seed banks and handed it to Bill.

  Bill ran to the Jeep and Buck stayed on the mission of getting supplies for the group. He figured the neighborhood would have shovels and everything else they would need for growing gardens so he didn’t bother with that. The pallet next to the seed banks was the packets of seeds, heirlooms and other varieties. He set aside one of those boxes seeing they were all the same various packets of no certain order.

  Buck ran back to the book and found Bill coming back in.

  “Everything ok?” Buck asked.

  “Yeah, so far so good.”

  Buck found vitamins and had Bill follow him to the aisle. Climbing to the second story Buck dropped a box of multivitamins down and Bill surprised him by catching it. Bill ran away back to the Jeep without asking. So far everything was going too good to believe.

  Buck thought again about what the group would need. The last choice was a personal favorite that he could not go without. He looked up the beef jerky and ran to the aisle. He pulled out two boxes and waited for Bill to come back. He picked up the two boxes and went back to the seeds he left out. Finally, Bill found him.

  “We have a problem,” Bill said.

  Buck knew it was too good to be true.

  “Ok, carry these back and we will deal with it when we need to.” Buck said.

  They carried the three boxes to the dock and Buck saw the trucks in the parking lot with men around them. They held rifles and looked serious.

  “Well, I guess you weren’t exaggerating.” Buck said.

  “Nope.” Bill replied.

  “What the hell do we do now?” Carol asked.

  Buck put his bow and knife on the hood of the Jeep. Walking forward he approached the men that were blocking their only way of leaving.

  A man in a cowboy hat and boats walked up to meet him. He must have known what Buck was doing because he also placed his rifle and pistol on the hood of the truck.

  “Howdy,” the cowboy said.

  “Hello,” Buck replied with.

  “You people know you’re stealing from us, right?” the cowboy asked.

  “Didn’t know it belonged to anybody,” Buck said.

  “Well it does, guess we have a problem here.” the cowboy replied.

  “Going to call the police?” Buck asked.

  “Nope, one of my guys was a deputy until a week ago. Guess he could count but he doesn’t really give a shit about law these days. I’m afraid we can’t let you leave with whatever you got.” the cowboy said.

  Buck thought about the few boxes that were loaded up in the Jeep. He couldn’t drive away with it without losing everybody in a shootout. These were rednecks, not some shitty street gang that didn’t stock up on bullets.

  “You could,” Buck suggested.

  “Not likely,” the cowboy replied.

  “What if we set a wager?” Buck suggested.

  “A bet?” the cowboy seemed curious.

  “If I out shoot you with my bow, you let us go with what is in our Jeep. It’s not much, it’s a Jeep. What could you possibly lose?”

  The cowboy stood there for a moment. It was a good bet. Win or lose what could it hurt?

  “Hmm, ok. You see that cripple parking sign?” the cowboy pointed out.

  “Yeah,” Buck replied.

  “Whoever can get the best bull’s eye on the head of the cripple guy wins. Is that fair?” the cowboy asked.

  “What are we shooting with?” Buck asked.

  “You all have bows, I brought mine.” the cowboy said. “Oh, and by the way, the lady over there, she is shooting.”

  “Fair enough.” Buck said. “What do we lose if, well we lose.”

  “You walk home and the lady stays with me.” the cowboy said admitting he had taken a liking to her.

  Buck went back to the group and explained the whole thing.

  “And you agreed?” Carol yelled after hearing the news.

  “We are surrounded by guns. What the hell did you want me to do?” Buck said fighting back. “Besides, I have seen you shoot, you’re a better shot then that Raylene Gibbins.”

  “You watched Justified?’ Carol asked.

  “Any true blooded American would have.” Buck replied.

  “Ok, I’ll shoot against him.” she said. “But if I lose, I will haunt you every time you get laid.”

  Buck wondered what that meant but considering how much she was on his mind lately he realized that it was a bad threat. He really did like her and was kicking himself for even entertaining the idea. Had he lost his mind? Again he went back to the day of practicing with the bows in his mind and he remembered she was the best shot in the group besides himself. Maybe she had a chance of ending this all peacefully? Buck made
plans in his mind for who he would shoot if it didn’t turn out that way.

  Carol approached the trucks and stopped half way. The cowboy pulled his bow and arrows out of his case and walked up to meet her.

  He had a smirk and charm about him. A confidence in his walk that told her he was an asshole.

  “Howdy,” he said tipping his hat to her.

  “Fuck off,” she replied. “Are we doing this or what?”

  “Not so polite are you?” the cowboy said. “I’ll remember that later when your friends leave you behind and you are only dealing with me.”

  Like she thought, an asshole

  “The rules are simple, the closest to the center of the crippled guy’s head wins, deal?” the cowboy said.

  She looked at the crippled parking sign and thought about the distance.

  “Deal.” she said.

  “Ladies first.” the cowboy said stepping back.

  Carol took an arrow from the quiver and notched it in the string. She looked back at the three men that waited to see what was going to happen. Buck looked at her and nodded. His confidence in her gave her a bit of strength but the pressure of the situation was intense and she found her hands getting sweaty. She did not want to be left with these guys under any circumstances.

  She looked at the target, lifted her bow, and pulled the end of the arrow back to her chin. She lined up the sight and exhaled. Releasing the arrow, she had a moment of hesitation and panic then half way to the target she realized that she was dead on. The arrow struck and the broad head tore open the head of the image. The guy in the wheel chair was dead to rights. She felt like she was safe and they could go home.

  “Beat that,” Carol said turning and waving to Buck and the others.

  “We’ll see.” the cowboy said walking up. He pulled his string back and released his arrow. There wasn’t as much time or thought put into it. The arrow hit and Carol’s arrow fell to the ground as the cowboy’s struck into the sign landing just above hers.

  “Well, I guess you win unless the bet is two out of three.” the cowboy says.

  “Fine we win,” Carol said turning back to the guys and walking towards them.