Without Law, page 4
“I think you should head back to the college,” I said. “The five of us can take care of this, and you have done plenty already.” I gave him a smile and clapped him on his arm. “Take a break, enjoy a moment off. I’ve got it from here.”
His expression soured for a moment, but he nodded. “I suppose a little break would be nice. At least let me carry something back with me,” he said.
I nodded and turned to Tara. “Let him take that for you,” I said.
Tara was quick to get rid of the goods, and she almost tossed the bag towards their oldest group member. She gave Rolly a big smile and then turned to me as she stretched her arms out behind so I could get a nice view of her ample cleavage.
“That’s better.” The blonde winked at me.
I saw Paige shake her head and roll her eyes at Tara’s theatrics. I just smiled and nodded for Rolly to head off.
“Alright,” he said. “Stay safe.” He gave a wave and started to trudge back up the hill.
“Alright, let's get to work,” I said.
It was a busy two hours as we searched and looted the surrounding houses. I must have been too accustomed to larger cities because the fact that none of the houses were hard to get into was strange. It made our task easier though.
The girls had been right, there was no edible food left anywhere, but that didn’t mean that our search was pointless. There was a nearly endless supply of blankets and sheets that would come in handy if we were still here when it got cold again, and I did find a small selection of camping gear. The more I went through the houses the more sure I became that most of the people of this town were more seasonal guests than actual residents.
I made my way to the street with a 100ft spool of extension cord pulled from my last search. I dropped it into the wheelbarrow Tara had found stashed behind one of the houses.
“Isn’t that stuff worthless?” Bailey asked as she bounced out after me. She dropped a bottle of bleach on top of the chord and let out a shallow breath.
“It is if you want to hook up electronics,” I said. I started to walk for the next house as I talked. “It will make a decent substitute for rope though. Especially if we cut it open and use the individual strands of wire.”
“Man, you really know what you’re doing, huh?” Bailey asked.
“I wasn’t lying when I told you I could help,” I stated as I chuckled and nodded.
“No, I guess not.” she said after a moment. She looked back to the contents of the wheelbarrow and then grinned at me.
A shrill whistle caught my attention, and I turned to see Anna with a grin on her face.
“Hey, it works,” she teased. “We found something that we figured you might want to take a look at. There’s some sorta safe in here. Damn thing won’t fucking open.”
A moment later all five of us stood in a damp basement. Between the stairs, the workbench, and what appeared to be a gun safe, there was barely any room for us all.
Tara held her lighter above her head in an attempt to illuminate the room. “We, like, couldn’t get it open,” she said.
Paige sighed and nodded. “Do you think it is even worth bothering with or should we just leave it alone?”
“It’s a gun safe,” I stated as I knelt and examined the lock. It was a simple combination lock with the spinning number selectors attached to a simple plastic knob. If we tried to guess the right combination, we would be here for weeks, but thankfully plastic could be broken. “Check that work bench for a screwdriver.” I pointed blindly behind me to where I thought the work bench was located.
“Found one,” one of the girls said as they dangled it in front of my face.
“Thank you,” I replied as I took the tool. I thrust as the plastic but the screwdriver slid off. I grunted and turned back to the girls. “Alright, how about a mallet?” I gave them a sheepish grin.
“Aren't gun safes built to resist this sorta thing?” The brunette asked with a smirk
Anna searched around for a moment before she reached over Paige and handed me a paint speckled rubber mallet.
I nodded and turned back to the safe. “Correct, but this one is cheap. With enough force I can break the lock and open it up,” I said as I set the screwdriver in place and smacked it with the mallet. There was a loud crack as the screwdriver split the plastic and slid into the knob.
I twisted, pulled, and pried until parts of the lock started to split and fall to the ground. Then I used the length of the screwdriver to my advantage and used it like a lever to apply greater pressure to the mechanism. Bits of metal and plastic clattered to the ground as I tore the lock apart in a slow and methodical manner.
“It would be kinda funny if we got this open only to find it empty,” Bailey said from her spot on the stairs.
“I just hope we get done soon. My arm is totes getting tired,” Tara said as her arm holding the lighter started to shake.
“I got it,” Anna said as she pushed up behind me. She dug her own lighter out of her running pants and held it closer to me. I could feel her steady breath on the back of my neck. “You are almost done though, right Tav?”
I grunted and gave a nod as I jammed the tool through more plastic. Something in the door shifted as I applied greater pressure. It looked like the last step here was going to be brute force. So I grabbed the screwdriver with both hands and pulled hard. A loud screeching filled the room as the door’s bolt was forced open, and I let go of the screwdriver with a huff. The safe swung open with a high pitched metallic creak.
“Hey, it’s not empty,” Paige exclaimed.
An air of excitement filled the room, and I felt the group press in behind me. It wasn’t empty but it sure wasn’t full either. A single rifle sat, dimly illuminated, in a cradle of green velvet, and a single box of ammo sat on a shelf above it.
“It’s a .22-250,” I stated as I pulled it free. The solid bull barrel gave the gun a nice heft, and the whole weapon was well maintained, and it had a cheap but functional black sling. The barrel and lever were both a polished stainless steel. “This is a nice gun.” I opened the breech and ensured it was unloaded. Then I slung the gun onto my shoulder and grabbed the ammo. Inside was a full fifty rounds that I added to my pack.
“That doesn’t look like a lot of ammo,” Paige said.
“If we land our shots, it will go a long way,” I said as I pushed through them and started up the stairs. “Any of you know how to shoot?”
“I sorta stayed away from guns on principle,” Bailey said.
It seemed that her hippie-like appearance was not just a fashion statement.
“I have had a little practice with a rifle,” Anna said as we all made our way onto the street. “I took part in a winter biathlon a few years back.” She leaned against the house and looked to the sky.
“So you’re a good shot then?” I asked
“Maybe for a cross-country skier, but I am hardly a sharpshooter,” The muscled redhead said with a shrug.
“Still more experience that I have,” Paige said with a shrug as she pulled off her glasses and wiped them on her college T-shirt.
“Wow, that’s, like, the first thing we have in common,” Tara added excitedly. She skipped over to her mousey counterpart and wrapped her in a large hug.
Paige stared me down as if somehow this situation was my fault. I couldn’t help but crack a smile as she tentatively patted Tara on top of her mess of platinum blonde hair.
“I’ll keep all of that in mind. Though we don’t need to worry about learning to shoot yet. We have more pressing matters to take care of first,” I said as I went through the wheelbarrow. It was piled high with toilet paper, cleaning spray, bar soap, half a dozen bottles of shampoo, a package of baby wipes, the extension cord, and the bottle of bleach Bailey had added. “I think we should head back for the college. We managed a good haul today.”
“There is a stack of chopped firewood over by the general store. Should we grab some of that?” Anna asked.
“We cannot fit any in the wheelbarrow,” I said as I looked at everyones’ full backpacks.
“What if we had a jeep?” Paige asked. Before the others could start cutting down her theory she continued. “Earlier you said old enough vehicles might not have been affected by the EMP right? Well there is an old jeep parked out behind a house as the end of the block.”
I raised an eyebrow. “That sounds promising. Let's go take a look.”
We left the supplies and walked down the street. There, sitting half covered by a camo tarp, was an old military jeep. The olive green paint flaked off in places, and rust had started to eat at the edges.
“You think you can do something with this?” Paige asked.
“Never hurts to try.” I had never been much of a mechanic but with something this old, the knowledge I did have might come in handy. I pulled the tarp off and took a seat. The keys weren’t in the ignition, so I searched beneath the floor mats, under the seat, and in the back, but I didn’t find anything.
“Did anyone happen to find any keys inside?” I asked as I turned to the group. I was met only with a wall of shaking heads. “That’s what I thought. Guess I’ll have to hotwire it.”
I bent down and reached up under the dash. I always enjoyed how simple older vehicles could be. I fished around in a small mess of wires for a moment before I found what I needed. Then I brushed the wires together, and the truck lurched. The engine chugged only once no matter how many times I made the correct connection.
“That doesn’t sound good,” Bailey said as she looked to Paige and gave her a smile. “It was a good idea though.”
“Let’s not give up too soon,” I said as I popped the hood. It took me a second to identify all the parts but the age of the machine worked in my favor. I located the starter and gave it a heavy smack before returning to the cab. This time it shuddered but turned on.
“Huh, I thought the whole, hit it till it works thing, only worked in the movies,” Bailey said.
“I guess they had to take the idea from somewhere,” Paige added with a shrug.
“Sometimes the simplest and the easiest solution are one and the same,” I said as I hopped back into the driver’s seat. The engine chugged and rattled as I applied the gas. It was rough, and I didn’t know how long it was going to keep going. I waved the team over. “Get in, we gotta make use of this while it still runs.”
The drive to the general store really put into perspective how small this town really was. It took us less than a minute to close the distance, and as soon as we got there, the girls, and I hopped out.
“I’m going to leave the engine running just in case,” I said.
“Make sense,” she said as she shot me a shy smile and brushed her hair back from her ear.
“Make a line,” I ordered as I picked up an armful of firewood. Bailey was already waiting next to me when I turned, and she pulled the load from my arms and passed it on down the line. The girls were quick to pick up on the plan, and it worked well. Tara began to grumble half way through the stack, but she didn’t stop. It took us only a couple minutes in total to load the entire stock of wood into the back of the straining jeep.
“Good work,” I said as I carried the last of it to the jeep myself.
“I am, sooooo done,” Tara sighed, as she tried in vain to brush all of the dirt and debris from her tank top. She groaned and pulled a small chunk of wood out from between her breasts. “There is shit everywhere.”
The other girls were similarly dirty from the task. Though none of them looked to care about it like Tara did. Instead they tried their best not to laugh as she let out a frustrated shriek.
I chuckled and approached. “Yeah, I think we did good today,” I said as I plucked a small bit of bark from her hair. “Anna, you’re with me in the truck. We will take it up the hill and unload the pile while the rest of you bring the wheelbarrow.”
“Why does she get to ride with you?” Tara asked and stomped as she shoved a finger in Anna’s direction.
I put a hand gently on her shoulder. “I figured you would not really want to unload the firewood. Though if you would rather ride up with us and move all this wood again, we would appreciate the help.”
“Nevermind,” she grumbled. “I guess I will, like, help bring the wheelbarrow up. At least I won’t get any dirtier by pushing it.”
“Anyone else want to tag along and help us with this wood?” I asked.
Paige and Bailey looked at each other and then at the large stack of wood in the back of the jeep.
“You know what, I think I would rather walk,” Paige said as she looked to the wheelbarrow.
I gently moved Tara aside and climbed into the jeep. It sounded like a can of rocks as they clattered down a hill, and I hoped that it would make it to the school without stalling out. “Alright, then we will meet you at the top.”
Anna ran forward and jumped gracefully into our ride. Despite the horrible shocks she barely moved the vehicle as she settled into her seat.
Paige grabbed the wheelbarrow and started the ascent. The other two followed after her.
I popped the clutch, went around the girls, and started up the hill.
“We will try to have all the hard work done by the time you guys arrive,” Anna called back as we took off.
Less than a minute after we reached the top the jeep sputtered, shook, and died. “Fuck,” I swore as I hauled some wood from the back. “Guess we won’t be using this for a while.”
“At least it got us up here first,” Anna said with a shrug as she stacked the firewood in a neat pile.
Rolly approached and slapped the hood of the jeep. “Nice,” he said with a chuckle. He frowned as he noticed that it was just me and Anna. “You seem to have lost a few people.”
“They will be along in a minute,” I said. I leaned against the jeep and crossed my arms. “Just wasn’t enough room for all of us in the truck.”
“Oh I see,” the old man said. He grinned at Anna and jabbed her lightly with his elbow. “Seems you were the lucky one.”
“Oh yeah, who doesn’t love moving fucking logs,” the redhead said sarcastically before she laughed and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Rolly’s laugh was like a peal of low thunder, and his shoulders shook as it happened. He slapped his knee and shook his head. “Fair point,” he said once he finally stopped laughing.
It was Paige’s messy bun that first bobbed into view. She trudged up the hill clutching the straps of her backpack and focused on the ground. Her brown eyes were hidden behind the glare of the sun off her glasses.
“Welcome back,” Anna yelled.
Paige looked up, sneered, and flipped her the bird. She blew a strand of hair out of her face as she stopped in front of me. “Next time we get to take the truck,” she spat.
“Hey, it was your choice!” Anna laughed. “Don’t get all butt hurt.”
“Yeah well, walking seemed like a good idea at the time,” Paige huffed, but a few moments later she laughed and shrugged.
Tara came up behind her, sweat glistening on her tanned skin. The ends of her hair stuck to her exposed shoulders, and she breathed heavily as she stopped. She dropped Bailey’s backpack on the ground, shook her head, and tried to speak but couldn’t find the air for it yet.
I spotted Bailey and frowned as I noticed her stumbling steps and sweat covered green tank top. I rushed towards her and grabbed the front of the wheelbarrow. I pulled while she pushed until we reached the flat of the parking lot.
Bailey gave me a thumbs up, slumped to the ground, and laid flat on her back as Anna stood over her.
“Before you, like, say anything,” Tara said between breaths, “we took turns pushing.”
“It is probably a good thing you did,” I said. As I watched the girls recover I realized just how small our supply of water really was.
“Shit, are you going to be okay?” Anna asked Bailey.
The blond nodded and pushed herself into a sitting position. “I am kind of regretting never getting into sports at this point,” she said weakly.
I sighed and helped pull her to her feet. “Come on, let's get this stuff inside,” I said. “I think it is about time to settle down and make some food.” I picked up the wheelbarrow and started for the dorm building.
“Thank, fucking, god,” I heard Tara say behind me.
The sun was starting to set by the time we had all of our new goods sorted and moved into the dining hall. We had an impressive start and more than enough resources to adapt to whatever troubles came our way. It certainly wouldn’t last forever but I had no doubt it would hold us over until we could work out some solutions to sustain ourselves. “How do you feel now?” I asked as I looked at the surrounding group.
“Hungry,” Tara said. “You totes promised us food.”
“You’re right,” I said with a nod. I grabbed six cans of beans, a two liter of coke, five spoons, and headed outside. I could not help but grin as, when I pushed the door open, I saw the forest silhouetted against the brilliant orange sky. It was truly beautiful here. All things considered I felt myself a very fortunate man.
“Um, why are we eating outside?” Paige asked.
“You’ll see,” I said as I urged them to follow me. I led them to the edge of the building and found a nice spot between it and the one next to it. The structures themselves acted as a natural windbreak but we still had a nice view of both the courtyard and the treeline penning in the campus.
I set food down and headed towards the edge of the forest. After a couple trips I had a small pile of fist-sized stones. “I figured we could eat a hot meal tonight,” I said. “I assume it has been a while since any of you had one of those.”
“Oh my god, yes,” Bailey said as she licked her lips, and she looked at the small bundle of cans sitting on the grass.
“Oh damn, I had almost forgotten food could be hot,” Anna exclaimed. “What do we need to do?”
I appreciated her drive though I was fairly sure this time it was motivated only by food.
“Well, we are going to make a little fire pit,” I said as I crouched down and started to arrange the rocks I had gathered into a circle. “These rocks will form the perimeter. Once we have them in a circle, we need to dig out the center a bit so our wood can sit in the hole. This will help keep our fire contained and out of the wind.”
