Captive Sunset

The sound of a door closing outside in the driveway snapped his head up from his chest. He was groggy not really getting solid rest since he arrived. The missing darkness wasn’t helping. Then he heard voices.

Laura got out of Julia’s car with Billy. She noticed the phone patch cord on the lawn between the homes. The Sun was definitely lower in the sky than it was near Portland. The air was fresh feeling, cool. It seemed about 90 degrees and climbing when they left the coast earlier today.

Julie sat in her driver seat, “I’m going home. I will talk to you later after I get some rest,” she said sounding exhausted, then she backed out and drove away.

Laura had no words. She looked at John’s home and saw him come outside on to the porch. She ran to him and threw her arms around him hugging the stuffings out of him. “It is so good to see you. I should have never left you and this safe place.”

John could tell she was verging on a state of shock. He knew it would be hard there but there seemed to be more to it. He held her. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you.”

She didn’t want to talk about the eerie exit extravaganza now but she wanted to hold him and not let go. She felt a lifetime of safe in his arms. “I need to get some rest but I don’t want to leave you,” she took his hand and he followed her into her home with Billy carrying their bags. She kept walking up the steps and he followed.

Billy watched them and heard her bedroom door shut. He went right to his computer gaming happy she didn’t ask him to continue studying. He wasn’t fazed by all that had happened since that man showed up next door.

Laura said, “I need you to hold me for a while. Do you mind?” she removed her jeans in front of him and crawled under the covers to her bed.

He removed his pants and joined her. He could tell this was not a sexual invite. She was trembling and tense when he curled up behind her and placed his arm around her waist. “Did something happen on the way back?”

She said, “Yes.” her muscles relaxed and her body became part of him with a sigh.

He rested his head behind her smelling the wonderful fragrance in her hair. She felt amazing to him and he didn’t want to let go.

They slept together like it was night, both confused by the continuous daylight.

Gil was cleaning up the mess at his store when the Ted the cop happened by. He said, “There hasn’t been much happening to keep me employed as the towns peace officer. I have monitored the interstate highway and nobody has gotten off here since the day after the town convoy left.”

“Ted, we should have a town meeting and plan for our future here,” said Gil with his wife and daughter standing with him. “Its getting scary. Where we will get food or fuel when the supplies in town are gone. What will we do for electricity after it goes off?”

“All good questions,” replied Ted not having much of a survivalist background.

“I think we do need you to represent the law here. Without law and order there is no longer any civilization. I don’t know if any of the towns people will return or if they are even still alive. We have lost our communication connection to the world. John, that scientist you met, he seems pretty positive about surviving here.”

“OK, that’s a good idea. I was planning a trip out around the local county. If I meet anybody I will invite them to the meeting. When and where?”

Gil was going to recommend his church but not knowing what church Ted belonged to he decided to pick a non-denominational setting, “How about the YMCA on Church St. at 5:00-7:00 PM today? We will pick up some hamburger and feed anyone that shows up on the grill behind the building.”

“Works for me. I will try to invite some of our county folk. Can you get word to the professor?” He couldn’t remember his name or his occupation so professor seemed to fit.

“Yes, I know about were he lives. See you there.” He had an idea where John lived from their conversation when they had lunch.

Ted got in his patrol car and headed out of town to reach out to anyone he could find.

Gil drove by several streets in search when he spotted the red truck in the driveway. He pulled in behind it and tooted his horn.

John heard the horn and got up wondering who it was. He went to the window and saw Gil standing by is car door. “It’s Gil from the hardware store. It might be important for him to come find us,” he slipped on his trousers and went down to meet him. Laura got up slowly looking out side. She didn’t know him but remembered him as the store clerk.

“There you are,” said Gil as John approached.

“Is there anything wrong?”

“Well besides everything? We are planning a town hall at 5:00 PM. Ted is going out into the rural county and will try to have some come in for the meeting if he finds anybody. Can you think of anybody else?”

“I have Laura and her grandson Billy with me and there is her friend Julie. I will get word to her.”

“Your friend is back from the convoy to Portland?”

“Yes,” Laura walked out and joined them looking and feeling refreshed.

“How was it over there?” he asked her.

“Not good. Lawless and it felt like it was in the 90 degree range when we left yesterday. I think it was yesterday, I don’t even know what day it is.”

“How were the rest when you turned around?” Gil continued with a worried look.

“Pray for them. I don’t know how they are but I suspect the worse. We got out just in time I would say.”

“Did you find gas on the return trip?”

She glanced at John, “Yes, but there wasn’t much availability.” She didn’t mention her trouble.

“Well, I’m glad you made it back. The more the merrier. Don’t eat, there will be a barbecue at the YMCA on Church street at 5:00 PM. See you there.” He got back in his car and drove away.

John turned to Laura, “How is Billy?”

“He is asleep. I’ll ring Julie on the land line. I think it’s still working.”

“Good, I’m going to wash up. How about we leave at 4:30 PM and walk there. We should begin to save gas when possible. There may never be any delivered again,” he bared the harsh reality.

John asked about her son in Portland and she said, “I have not heard from him since the trip over there.

"My phone was working unil we passed La grande on the way back and it’s still dead here. We will be ready,” she went home and called Julie on the line in her bedroom and filled her in.

They turned the corner on Church street after about a mile walk. There were more vehicles than they expected parked in the lot. The Sun sat near the horizon as it had for days. They met Julie out in the front and Laura hugged her before going into the gymnasium. There were many chairs placed between the basketball backboards and about twenty five seated.

Gil was standing in the front with Ted. He knew many of the out of towners as they often frequented his store. He said, “Can I have your attention please. Thank you all for coming. We will start this meeting with a short explanation of where we currently are in this emergency. Then we will break for food out back for all of you and return for a discussion of how to protect our city and county resources going forward. I will assume the responsibilities of the mayor until he returns. Ted is the only law enforcement we have and we need him. Needless to say we should start cutting back on all wasteful use. There is no time table for any replenishment of food and fuel supplies. We will discuss that later. Communications are down but in the city we have electricity and water. Land phone lines are still working. For those of you living out of town we would welcome your temporary relocation to town. Any skills that anyone has that could be used to benefit all of us would be helpful. We are being challenged and we must answer that challenge. Ted will speak now,” he sat down.

“I am declaring an emergency in town. We will use whatever resources like fuel and food that remain for those of us still here. The resources have been confiscated by the city. All rights will be returned if and when the convoy returns and we return to normal. For those living outside town, if you relocate here you can take temporary ownership of an unoccupied home. We will make it. Thank you for your cooperation in theses times."

The small group filled their plates out back by the barbecue and had a meal. Billy met some friends from school and they sat on he lawn together. Julie got to know Ted. She had not known him but enjoyed a conversation with him. Gil was the chef along with his wife. They were the last to eat.

John and Laura walked to the side of the building which was more private. She told him what they suffered through and how they escaped. She said, “I don’t know if leaving them there like we did...I don’t know if it was right.”

“We are living in an emergency and there behavior was the bed they made, all you did was leave them to sleep in it. Besides, I bet someone came along and released them,” he was so happy it ended the way it did.

“Really, you think so?”

“I’m sure of it. They don’t know where you were headed do they?” He was trying to reassure her but doubted his own words.

“I don’t think so, I hope not anyway.”

He hugged her and said, “I am glad you are safe.”

She felt wonderful in his arms. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt that good. But she wondered about GAIL. They were awfully friendly. Workers with benefits?

The second part of the meeting began. Gil stood up front and introduced John as an expert on what was happening. He was brief but mentioned that all hope was not gone and that it was now possible to see the problem resolved. They would have to wait and see. There were many questions from the attendees before the meeting was adjourned.

As the people began to exit the building there was an awe in the air, a silence of the light. Everyone cheered with excitement and hope filled the street. It was dark!

Ted said to Julie, "The professor was right, the sun went down."