{"id":303,"date":"2011-06-15T00:00:31","date_gmt":"2011-06-15T04:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=303"},"modified":"2011-06-15T00:00:31","modified_gmt":"2011-06-15T04:00:31","slug":"day-3-chapter-7-01","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=303","title":{"rendered":"Day 3 – Chapter 7 – 01"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom sat near the fire, watching the clouds twist in the sky outside the tent, trying not to shiver.\u00a0 Shivering hurt<\/em>.\u00a0 The bruises were healing, but he still ached.\u00a0 Their numbers had stabilized a little in the last twenty-four to forty-eight hours.\u00a0 They were still too few and too many all at once.\u00a0 The others were ranging farther in their hunt for supplies, even in the foul weather that had been omnipresent.\u00a0 It was chill, much colder than it should have been.\u00a0 They were trying to bring in everything they could before things got worse.\u00a0 Most of them were thinking things were going to get a lot worse.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We need to make a plan.\u00a0 More plans than we\u2019ve already made.<\/em>\u00a0 He shivered, winced, and drew his blanket closer, though he didn\u2019t try to edge closer to the fire.\u00a0 He was close enough.\u00a0 Closer and the embers were almost certain to catch on his blanket.\u00a0 Burns were the last thing he needed.\u00a0 He stared at his hands and thought about Marin.\u00a0 Again.\u00a0 She\u2019d gone out to help round up all the bicycles that were left on campus.\u00a0 As long as they could ward off rust, they\u2019d be a vaguely reliable source of transportation, or scrap metal.\u00a0 One or the other.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t argued.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t an entirely useless idea.\u00a0 They\u2019d already done the same thing with some of the cars yesterday.\u00a0 Some misspent youths had been useful in that activity.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He poked at the fire with the stick in his hand, nudging one of the logs closer so it would start to catch before too long.\u00a0 Right now, he wasn\u2019t good for much more than keeping the fire going and thinking too much.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou okay, Thom?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYeah,\u201d he murmured to J.T.\u00a0 \u201cJust thinking.\u00a0 Probably too much.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAbout Marin?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom winced.\u00a0 \u201cHow\u2019d you know?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. smiled wryly, sitting down on the ground next to him.\u00a0 \u201cWell, considering you kept apologizing to her when we were down in the hole\u2026call it a hunch.\u201d\u00a0 He rested his elbows on his knees, half stretching his hands toward the crackling fire.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s eating at you, Thom?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He shook his head, biting the inside of his cheek and staring at the fire.\u00a0 \u201cJust\u2026worried about her, that\u2019s all.\u00a0 She\u2019s going to overstretch herself.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo further than you\u2019re going to overstretch yourself,\u201d J.T. said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cWhy should she hold herself to a lesser standard than you\u2019re going to hold yourself?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom winced again and hunkered down with his blanket.\u00a0 \u201cShe shouldn\u2019t be trying to shoulder as much as she\u2019s going to try to shoulder.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou say that like you know how much she\u2019s going to shoulder.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about this, Jay.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cToo bad, Thom.\u201d\u00a0 He stared at the fire.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s worried about you, too, y\u2019know.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cShe doesn\u2019t have anything to worry about,\u201d Thom mumbled.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBullshit,\u201d J.T. said.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you know it\u2019s bullshit.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He fell quiet, staring at the fire.\u00a0 It was a long moment before he took a breath and opened his mouth again.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t do anything else right now except for worry and plan.\u00a0 If I could do anything else, I would be.\u00a0 The rest of you don\u2019t have time<\/em> to be worrying.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got too much else to do.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cA lot of what we need to be doing still leaves time to think.\u00a0 A lot of time, if you want to know.\u00a0 Moving things, gathering wood\u2026doesn\u2019t really require that much active brain power, bro.\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cWe all know that it\u2019s not going to be easy, Thom.\u00a0 We\u2019re all thinking.\u00a0 We\u2019re all trying to find ways of making this work better.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd if it won\u2019t?\u00a0 What then?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThen we die and we won\u2019t be in a position to worry about anything ever again.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom snorted.\u00a0 J.T. was right, after all.\u00a0 \u201cHave we started to talk?\u00a0 To plan?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cA little,\u201d J.T. said.\u00a0 \u201cUntil the weather lets up a little and we\u2019ve stockpiled a little more loot, we can\u2019t plan too far.\u00a0 The greenhouse at Padnos looks like it\u2019s intact, so we can use that, at least as long as it stays standing and we can get to it.\u00a0 Raided the hardware store for pots and seeds.\u00a0 We\u2019ll grow some of the hardier plants up here and grow others down there.\u00a0 Some folks were going to look at the greenhouses up across M-45 today, if at all possible.\u201d\u00a0 J.T. glanced out toward the sky.\u00a0 \u201cHopefully we\u2019ll find a good way to dry out some wood.\u00a0 This rain isn\u2019t helping us stay warm or dry.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLooks like there\u2019s been ice after the sun goes down.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThere has been,\u201d J.T. said.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll manage somehow.\u00a0 We\u2019re not done with the hardware store.\u00a0 Who knows what they\u2019ve got stashed away in their stockroom, waiting for September.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom grunted and nodded a little.\u00a0 He shivered, then winced and inched closer to the fire.\u00a0 To hell with setting myself on fire.\u00a0 It\u2019s bloody cold out here.\u00a0 <\/em>\u201cBloody hell,\u201d he muttered.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s meds in the kit.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t want meds,\u201d Thom said.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll have to do without them soon enough anyway.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be fine I\u2019m just\u2026sore.\u00a0 And cold.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMore than sore, looks like.\u00a0 I would be.\u00a0 That was a lot of ceiling.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom grunted again and hunkered down.\u00a0 \u201cWe need to think about defenses, J.T.\u00a0 And soon.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGive it another couple of days and then we\u2019ll cross that bridge, Thom.\u00a0 We\u2019re not stupid.\u00a0 We know we\u2019ll need to defend ourselves and whatever we can scrape together from other people who want it.\u00a0 Hell.\u00a0 We\u2019ll probably build some walls or some shit before we build houses.\u00a0 Maybe.\u00a0 You know how bad winters here get.\u201d\u00a0 J.T. shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cWhy do you think we picked the high ground with our backs to the ravine?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom shook his head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cWe need weapons.\u00a0 People who know how to use them.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cA few of us do, and Matt and Drew went looking for guns today.\u00a0 If we\u2019re lucky, they\u2019ll find some and that\u2019ll be a start.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cY\u2019think our luck\u2019s going to hold out enough for that?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t know.\u00a0 I can hope.\u00a0 That\u2019s about all we\u2019ve got left right about now.\u00a0 Hope, guts, and a prayer or three.\u201d\u00a0 He was quiet for a moment, then finally spoke.\u00a0 \u201cI should get back to work.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom just nodded.\u00a0 Yeah.\u00a0 Get back to being useful.\u00a0 I\u2019ll sit here and stew.\u00a0 And ache.<\/em>\u00a0 He could hear Marin\u2019s voice on the wind, but couldn\u2019t make out the words.\u00a0 He closed his eyes.\u00a0 J.T. squeezed his shoulder.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cStop beating yourself up, man.\u00a0 Mackinac did that for you.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom choked on a laugh.\u00a0 J.T. left him sitting there by the fire.\u00a0 Guts, luck, and a few dozen prayers.\u00a0 Don\u2019t have much else to work with right now, I guess.<\/em>\u00a0 He glanced in the direction J.T. had disappeared in.\u00a0 Guess we could be facing worse than that.\u00a0 At least we\u2019ve got the guts and prayers.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Eventually, our luck\u2019s going to run out, though.<\/em>\u00a0 He exhaled and looked toward the fire again.\u00a0 I just hope we\u2019ll be ready for it when it does.<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom sat near the fire, watching the clouds twist in the sky outside the tent, trying not to shiver.\u00a0 Shivering hurt.\u00a0 The bruises were healing, but he still ached.\u00a0 Their numbers had stabilized a little in the last twenty-four … 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":[9,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-7","category-day-3"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-4T","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303","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=303"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}