{"id":164,"date":"2011-05-11T00:00:23","date_gmt":"2011-05-11T04:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=164"},"modified":"2011-05-11T00:00:23","modified_gmt":"2011-05-11T04:00:23","slug":"day-zero-chapter-3-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=164","title":{"rendered":"Day Zero – Chapter 3 – 04"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cShit,\u201d Davon mumbled, straightening from his examination of the rear corner of the building.\u00a0 Matt grimaced, knowing Davon\u2019s pronouncement could mean nothing good.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNot stable, is it?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNot by a long shot.\u00a0 These quakes keep coming, it\u2019s not going to stand,\u201d Davon scratched the back of his head and peered upward.\u00a0 \u201c \u2018fraid it\u2019s going to be the same story across the board.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t build these things with earthquakes in mind, just the standard Midwest crap.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe kind of suspected that,\u201d Matt said, glancing toward Jack, who looked unhappy at the prospect of living outdoors at least for the time being.\u00a0 \u201cBetter hurry and get anything personal or terribly useful on out, right?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRemind me why we\u2019re not hiking out to find someplace with buildings we can use?\u201d\u00a0 Jack mumbled as the three used Marin\u2019s keys to enter the dormitory.\u00a0 He let Davon enter first, trailing him a few steps behind with Matt bringing up the rear.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Matt shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cHere we have the high ground, know the lay of the land and even if the buildings are going to come down, they still have resources we\u2019ll be able to snag from the wreckage.\u00a0 Ravine gives us a natural wall on a couple sides.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSounds like you\u2019re thinking some kind of end-of-the-world Mad Max shit,\u201d Jack muttered, then paused, looking at Matt and Davon.\u00a0 \u201c\u2026oh, shit, don\u2019t tell me that.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou seen the National Guard yet?\u201d\u00a0 Matt grimaced.\u00a0 \u201cHeard any sirens?\u00a0 Seen anything in the sky other than those damn meteorites coming down?\u00a0 One way or another, we\u2019re on our own for a while.\u00a0 City\u2019s a mess, from what Marin hiked through.\u00a0 We\u2019ll gather up what we can, sit tight, and see what happens.\u00a0 Work on surviving for the long haul in the meantime.\u00a0 Just in case.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFuck,\u201d Jack mumbled under his breath, keys jangling in his hand as they moved into the dorm\u2019s hallways, unlocking doors.\u00a0 Windows on the back side of the building were blown out, offering a grand view of the trees clinging to the walls of the ravine behind the dorm.\u00a0 The plaster on the interior was cracking, showing more damage on the interior than the exterior was showing yet.\u00a0 Davon grimaced.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNot good at all,\u201d he grumbled.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSounds like the last three buildings, Davon,\u201d Matt said as he ducked into the first room.\u00a0 Nothing but bare furniture.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI know, I know,\u201d he said as he joined the other two in checking rooms.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s no way we\u2019re staying in any buildings.\u00a0 Not tonight, anyway.\u00a0 None of the ones we\u2019ve found are safe.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019re we going to do, then?\u201d\u00a0 Jack asked, coming out of one of the rooms with a few pillows in one hand.\u00a0 \u201cThose tarps they\u2019re pulling from underneath Michigan or wherever aren\u2019t going to give us much of a shelter, are they?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo, but I know where to find something that might.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What about those big blue and white monstrosities they trot out for tailgaters and Greek rush and the renaissance festival every year?<\/em>\u00a0 Matt glanced at Davon.\u00a0 \u201cThe blue and white tents?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 I know where they are.\u00a0 It\u2019ll be rough hauling them out here without a truck or something, but I think I can swing it.\u201d\u00a0 Davon scratched the back of his neck and looked up and down the hallway.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to go back and round up a few people to help me move those.\u00a0 You guys can handle hauling stuff down and out of buildings we\u2019ve already checked, right?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Matt nodded, glancing at Jack, who nodded as well.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll round up some of the other staffers,\u201d Jack said.\u00a0 \u201cHaul some more furniture and crap down from Robinson and Copeland.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not a bad idea, Jack.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He sighed. \u00a0\u201cI know.\u00a0 I just wish that you two had something reassuring to say about all this shit.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davon shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cWe could be dead.\u00a0 If we try to sleep in these buildings, that\u2019s probably how we\u2019ll end up.\u00a0 Maybe not tonight and maybe not tomorrow night, but a few days or weeks down the line, these things are going to come down.\u00a0 Either way, probably before the cavalry arrives.\u00a0 Going to have to work fast to salvage stuff before they come down.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd after they come down?\u201d\u00a0 Jack asked, brow creasing.\u00a0 \u201cWhat then?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Matt shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cThen we salvage what we can from the rubble.\u201d\u00a0 Could use the brick and crap to start building new shelters, smaller ones, timber frames with the brick and cinderblock and concrete to supplement.\u00a0 An idea, anyway.\u00a0 Might be more stable in a quake than these monstrositites.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLong haul, right?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cExactly.\u201d\u00a0 Matt blew out a breath.\u00a0 \u201cCome on.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get this stuff out and we\u2019ll go grab your staffers and get to work.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jack grimaced but nodded.\u00a0 He glanced toward Davon as they emerged into the open air, air that smelled vaguely of smoke, brimstone, and death.\u00a0 \u201cThere should be some staffers that can help you with those tents.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davon nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWas hoping you\u2019d say that.\u00a0 I\u2019ll round up a few and leave the rest to you.\u201d\u00a0 He squinted up toward the sky.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m thinking the lower to the ground we are, the better.\u00a0 What about you two?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They both followed his gaze to the sky, darkening in the west with some kind of storm building out over the lake, a couple dozen miles away.\u00a0 Matt grimaced.\u00a0 \u201cBetter be quick with those tents, Davon.\u00a0 Better run<\/em>.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSomething tells me you\u2019re right.\u00a0 How far out do you think that is?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Matt winced as the ground bucked again beneath his feet, then settled.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t know.\u00a0 We won\u2019t have more than another couple hours, though.\u00a0 Three, tops.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davon clapped him on the shoulder and set off at a jog toward the cluster of furniture and people that represented the surviving community.\u00a0 Matt watched him go for a moment before looking at Jack.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cC\u2019mon.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

First<\/a> \u2022 Previous<\/a> \u2022 Next<\/a> \u2022 Latest<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cShit,\u201d Davon mumbled, straightening from his examination of the rear corner of the building.\u00a0 Matt grimaced, knowing Davon\u2019s pronouncement could mean nothing good. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNot stable, is it?\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNot by a long shot.\u00a0 These quakes keep coming, it\u2019s … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-03","category-day-zero"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-2E","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=164"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}