Ninety Degrees Out

“The Yellowstone Caldera continues to spew lava as magma overflows the crater edges. Scientists estimate this eruption will continue indefinitely. There is only one bright side to the equation. The rest of the northern Pacific rim volcanoes along the coasts of the Western and Eastern Americas have gone dormant. There is no danger of eruptions from those for the foreseeable future.”

Catherine stood at the front of the Stargazer Ranch mess hall to deliver her news. She cleared her throat and continued.

“Antarctica has been renamed to Mid Earth Island. The volcanoes there are also erupting. This is different. They are spewing ash which will affect the world average temperature. Yellowstone is putting pure magma without much more than the occasional spout hitting moist air and creating both pumice and obsidian deposits. Not much as from that mega flow of magma. Mid Earth is flinging ash into the stratosphere.”

She turned to the one computer still connected to the internet and brought up the predictive mapping software she discovered.

“This is what we expect.”

The map showed high readings of ash in the atmosphere concentrated in the south and north pole areas, and in the doldrums north and south of the equator.

“As you can see, those concentrations of ash will build over the next year to two years of steady volcanic activity. We expect a drop of over 5 degrees Celsius on the average. This means we’re going to be more comfortable, but the poles are going to freeze solid, and we will experience and Ice Age. Unfortunately, we expect millions of casualties because of a change of food producing abilities. We will have to look out for ourselves. The breadbaskets of Ukraine are going to be under ice. China will be under ice. A new ice cap will develop over the South Pole.”

Silence greeted her lecture. She knew it was a lot to process.

“Does that mean getting ourselves spread out and farming is the way we need to go?” Akira Stroman asked.

“That means our project to capture the wild horses and become self sufficient is imperative. Creating a corridor for movement of goods a people between the ranch and the homestead will make it easier to become resilient and self reliant. If we find any storage batteries and solar equipment anywhere, bring it back.” Erik Amudson said.

“What about law and order?” One of the ranch hands asked.

“We continue to follow the laws had. Keep your handheld radios charged. We have excellent power supply and storage equipment on the ranch.” Erik pointed to the long table across the front of the mess hall. Several laptops, and other pieces of electronic paraphernalia were connected to charging cables or laying on inductive charging pads.

“We’ve been lucky, Chayton Stargazer was able to reprogram the cell tower at the end of Dahl Road into a mini site covering our local area. From what I have learned, we won’t have full cell service restored worldwide for at least a decade.”

“So, are we a commune, one for all and all for one?” The same ranch hand wore a scowl and Erik scanned his memory trying to figure out who he was. He didn’t recognize him. Reaching behind him, he grabbed his employee list, and scanned the pages. A newcomer. Where and how had he slipped into the community?

“There will be a vote on that once the horse round up is complete and everyone is back.” Erik made a snap decision as glanced at Catherine and Jett, where they stood beside him.

Chatter swelled at his statement. He watched the man, out of the corner of his eye, and spoke quietly to Jett when he came closer.

“Do you see that guy? The one in the brown cowboy hat with the green bandana and almost white jeans?”

“Yeah, he’s wearing Grant’s clothes. Where the fuck is he?” Jett asked. “I know all of the guys. I’ve spent time in their bunkhouse. Who is that?”

“That’s what I thought. I didn’t twig to it. He’s stayed in the shadows, kept his face hidden. When did you first see him?” Erik turned back to face the crowd.

“The first townhall after everyone is back, will be decision time. Do we want to work together, or do some of you want to strike out, and try it on your own? I know we’re stronger together. Think about it. In the meantime, business as usual. We tend the the vegetable gardens and the fruit trees we have growing, and we harvest meat as required. Salmon are running in Twig Creek, so let’s find a way to smoke that and preserve it. That’s it until we have more horses.”

Erik turned his back as the crowd stood and various conversations started behind him. Watching reflections in the dining hall windows, he followed the man who questioned the communal structure they were building as he left out the side emergency door. A few seconds later, he saw Jett follow. Good man. He’d been a real asset ever since Chayton introduced him.

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Jett ducked around the corner and spotted the stranger striding toward the big stable. Hoping the man would busy himself with chores, he hurried on past the corral and into the small patch of forest where the bunkhouse nestled between towering Sitka spruce.

Slipping inside he greeted Chuck and Jerry.

“Where’s Grant?”

“I thought he was inside at the meeting.” Jerry’s slow southern drawl reassured him.

“Nah, that wasn’t Grant.” Chuck said. “Looked like him at first glace though. And Grant went up with the bunch going to the homestead. Saw him saddle up.”

“Okay, then. Did he leave anything behind at his bunk?”

“His room is the last one in the hall. I thought he locked it up,” Jerry said.

“I’ll take a look. That guy at the meeting was wearing his bandana and jeans. I’d know them anywhere. Grant’s the only one who lets his jeans get that white before he gets new ones.” Jett head out, and Jerry followed him.

“What’s going on?” Jerry’s drawl wasn’t quite so slow.

“We’ve got an intruder.”

“Fucker,” Jerry muttered.

“I hope Chuck takes the hallway.” Jett rounded the corner at the end of the long row of rooms for the ranch guides and other staff. He passed the emergency exit. “The next window around there is Grant’s room, right?”

“Yep.”

“Fuck. The bastard broke in.” Jett pointed to shattered glass scattered in the tufts of grass and bushes under it.

“How long has he been in there. Can’t be more than a couple of days, and who else is working with him. Is he a loner or a scout?” Jerry sounded livid.

“Good question. And has he stolen a horse yet or not? Take stock, will you? He went into the stables after the meeting.” Jett requested.

“Sure thing, Jett. You tell Erik, and warn the Docs, will you? Hate to see Anya and Mike get surprised.” Jerry ambled off toward the coral.

Jett took off at a jog toward the green army tents along the runways. He spotted Anya and Mike as they made their way toward their jury rigged hospital.

“Hey, I need to talk to you.”