Chapter 8

The kitchen was long, almost two-thirds the length of the house, and almost thirty feet wide. The north wall had a full-length counter, overhead cabinets and two sinks. There were also two wide windows spaced evenly along the north wall. The west wall had more cabinets and counter space, an electric range, a gas range and two doorways leading into the living room and hallway. The gas range could be converted to burn either wood or coal with a little time and work. The east wall had still more cabinets and counter space, a long bank of windows looking out onto the river, a door that opened onto the back porch and a door which lead to the utility and laundry room. Along the south wall were two doors. One door led into a bath and the other led into a short hallway, which also opened into the bath, to Granddad's bedroom. A thin video screen hung on the wall between the two doors. The controls for the video and sound system were on shelves made from concrete blocks and lengths of 1x12 lumber under the screen. Two café-style tables and chairs, a long table which would seat eight, a small couch and four side chairs completed the décor.

Not for the first time I thought that for a man who did not welcome visitors Granddad sure did have accommodations for them.

There were low conversations going on in the kitchen. Everyone seemed to be talking about something different.

From somewhere Kathy had found a camp-style coffeepot and a bag of ground coffee. She had left them setting on the counter. Sarah had filled the pot with water and loaded the grounds. She was just turning on the gas burner when we walked into the kitchen. Sarah kept up a conversation with two of the new women who were getting out cups for everyone about how surprised they were with the size of the kitchen.

Captain Hill folded his jacket over the back of a chair and took a seat at the long table. He rested his elbows on the table and waited.

Doc and Tim were moving medication vials from the cooler to the refrigerator.

The kid -- a girl of about ten, maybe eleven years -- was sitting in the lap of the other new woman at the far end of the table. The woman had her arms protectively around the girl. The young girl kept looking at all the activity as if she was not sure what to make of it.

Jennifer was talking with Tim and Doc. I could not hear them over the other voices.

Kathy moved to the stove, leaned the rifle against a cabinet and checked the flame. "Coffee will be ready in a few minutes, Jimmy. Y'all want to something to eat?"

"Something light and quick," Doc said closing the refrigerator door. "We brought along the last ham, a twenty-pounder, from the hospital's freezer. I had been saving it, but now seemed like a good time."

One of the newly arrived women said, "There are also instant potatoes, big cans of carrots, beans and creamed corn."

"Oh, Jimmy, let me introduce you to everyone," Doc Cleveland said. He motioned to the woman who had spoke, "This is Maggie Taylor," next was the woman helping Kathy with the coffee, "Dianne Lee," then the woman holding the child, "Mary Porter and the little beauty in her lap is Faith Garrett."

All of the new arrivals still had that haunted look of survivors about them.

Maggie was a red head with blue eyes. She looked to be in the mid-twenties. Maggie had a heart-shaped face with high cheekbones and full lips. Freckles were barely visible across the bridge of her nose and cheeks. An over-sized shirt hid the true size of her breasts, but I could tell they were at least more than a double-handful.

Dianne looked to be the youngest of the three women. She looked like she should still be in high school. I found out later that she was twenty years old and had two years of university education before the Flu. Her family was from Vietnam and had come to the U.S. in 1976. They had lived in this area since 1980. Dianne's black hair was waist length. She was perfectly proportioned for her small frame.

Mary was twenty-four, four inches shorter than my six-feet, naturally curly black hair cut close to her head, flawless chocolate skin and eyes that were deep pools of ocean blue. Her eyes were surprising at first glance, as you don't expect that shade of blue - or any shade of blue - in someone of Mary's ethnic heritage.

Faith was a ten year old with blond hair that hung limply to her shoulders. Her brown eyes looked old, as if her childhood had died. When you consider all that this young child had been through and seen recently, it probably had.

I said 'hello' to everyone then kneeled beside Mary and Faith.

"Hello, Faith. I am glad to meet you."

Faith burrowed deeper into Mary's arms.

"She's a bit shy," Mary said, hugging the child closer. Mary started to say something and I could see her change her mind. Instead, she said, "We appreciate you taking us in, Doctor Greer. When Doc Cleveland came by this morning..."

"I'm glad to have you all here, Mary," I said with a smile at Faith, who was peeking at me. "It is much better to have friends around and there is lots of room here for Faith to play." I wondered if we could give this young girl some of her childhood back or if it was lost forever.

"Coffee, Jimmy?" Kathy set my cup and one for Mary on the table. She also had a glass with ice and cola. "And this is for you, honey." She set the glass before Faith. "There are only a couple of cases of cola, so enjoy it."

Kathy smiled as Faith reached for the glass and took a sip.

I stood, picked up my cup and took a seat where I could talk with Captain Hill. Kathy gave Hill a cup and sat beside me. The others also joined us around the table.

"O.K., Captain, let's hear your story," I said.

For the next twenty minutes I listened as Hill spoke. All the others, including Doc Cleveland and Tim, had heard this last night.

Captain Hill had left Redstone Arsenal near Huntsville, Alabama, two days ago along with two other survivors, the loaded M-813, a XM1091 fuel tanker and an armored M-114 HUMVEE. Hill was a native of Iuka. The other two survivors were from out west, Wyoming and California, and agreed to go with Hill as he tried to make his way home.

Huntsville was a burned out city. Hill explained that fuel storage tanks for an oil company caught fire and with no one to fight the fire it had spread throughout much of the city. Before the fire he said there had been two hundred or so survivors. After the fire had burned itself out, he did not know how many were still alive.

Hill did know of a group of ten others that had decided to make their way east to Chattanooga or north to Nashville. They were hoping that a larger city would still have resources available. Hill and his two companions from Redstone decided that a large city would just be another kind of deathtrap. What they wanted was a smaller town with farm land already cleared. That was when Hill talked the others into going to Iuka. Hill knew the area well and it was unlikely that the other two would make it to their homes out west.

It was only a little over one hundred miles from Huntsville to Iuka. They drove through Athens, Alabama, without incident and without seeing anyone. The smaller towns along Highway 72 were also deserted.

It was not until they arrived in Florence, Alabama, that their luck went to hell. The engine of the fuel tanker threw a piston rod and stopped dead in downtown Florence. The three had been gathered around the 813 trying to decide what to do when gunfire slammed into the cargo truck. One of the men was killed in the first volley, a clean head shot. The other man was wounded in the chest. Hill returned fire as best he could and dragged the wounded man into the truck's cab and took off, under fire until he was out of sight. He drove across the Lee Bridge over the Tennessee River and kept on going.

Finally, once clear of the city he pulled the truck behind a Midas Muffler shop. Using a field first aid pack, Hill bandaged his companion's wounds. A chest wound demands a hospital and a surgeon if there is to be any chance of survival. There was no hospital and no surgeon. The wounded man died within the hour.

After dark, Hill left his truck and walked the ten or so miles to Wilson Dam. The dam is a hydro-electric and flood control dam on the Tennessee built more than ninety years ago. It provides electric power to the grid that covers parts of three states. He got within a half-mile of the dam before he saw an armed patrol of five men.

"It was a dumb thing to do, looking back on it," Hill said. "But, damn it, I was mad. There was no reason for them to shoot at us. Like I said, I was mad and wanted a little payback. I followed the men close enough to hear them talk, until they got to a house just south of the dam."

He stopped to drink from his cup.

"So there are people in Florence?" I asked.

"Yes. Forty-two... that I know for sure. Twenty-five men and seventeen women. They were staying in houses near the south end of the dam and at the dam itself. I could see movement on the north bank, but I could not tell much about it."

"How were they armed? Any military among them?"

"Small arms. An assortment of hunting rifles, shotguns and M-16s," Hill answered. "Of course, they have the fifty-caliber from the Humvee now. I don't think there is a military man among them. Their security was too lax."

"Good enough to ambush you, Captain," I said and immediately regretted baiting him.

Hill grimaced. "I let my guard down and got sloppy. Florence, east and north of the railroad, was a burned out shell when we drove through. Downtown looked like a tornado had gone through it. I did not expect anyone in the area. That's a mistake I'm not likely to make again, Doctor Greer."

I nodded.

Hill continued, "This bunch in Florence will probably stay put until the food runs out; especially if they have the know-how to keep the dam operational. Power and food will keep them tied to the dam for a time. The men will keep themselves occupied with the women." He glanced at little Faith. "You want the details... now?"

I shook my head. I could pretty much imagine the details myself. "No. Later maybe."

Hill had told his story without any drama.

"Anyway, there's how I ended up driving into town yesterday," Hill said. "When I got to the hospital, they were just starting to load what they could. I recognized Doctor Caldwell, met the others, and told them what I just told you with the details. They invited me to come along this morning.

"If you don't want me here, Doctor Greer, I will leave. This is your place and I'll understand. I have enough supplies to see me through and I am sure that there is a vacant farm closer to town."