Coastal Event Memories Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: A. G. Kimbrough
the pantry. In a second trip he loaded up anything he thought would be a good barter item. The Frombachs would be OK for a while with the supplies he recovered from the casino, but they were both seniors, and physically were in no shape to do what was necessary for long-term sustainability.
He promised to come back for them as soon as he secured a safe and sustainable location for them all to live. They insisted that he take most of the bulk packaged food supplies, saying that they would not be able to use it before it spoiled. He left the shotgun, his pistol, and the ammo for them.
Chapter 9
On Day 50 Zeke started the port engine and backed away from ledge where it had been grounded, and set the anchor. Over the next two days he made a complete inspection of his craft, including an underwater look to insure that the hull was not damaged.
With the fuel tanks still nearly full, Zeke resolved to start a survey of the Inland Sea. On Day 62, he noticed a smoke smudge on the western horizon. The next morning he pulled up to a small island. There was a building in a cutout against a hill. A tractor tire was burning at the water's edge, and behind stood three adults and a small child.
They were all desperately hungry, dirty, and overjoyed to see him. Later, after a meal and baths, Zeke sat with Hector Mendoza, his son Roberto, and daughter in-law, Maria Delgado. The child, Christopher, was Maria's son. They had taken shelter in the building, when the water started rising. They had just survived, on a case of almonds, they found in the warehouse. Hector's wife had been a diabetic, and had died on Day 23. Maria's husband had gone into town to get the insulin prescription refilled on Day 0, and had not returned.
The next morning, over coffee with Hector while Maria made breakfast, they discussed their future.
“I and my son are farmers. We have lived in this valley all our lives. If we can find a place with good dirt, we can grow plenty of food. There is a place Southeast of here that Con-Agra planted an apricot orchard on the hillside. It did not do well without the irrigation quota, but the soil is good. I hope we can find some seeds, I don't want to have to survive on apricots and wild onions.”
Zeke interrupted, “I have a wide variety of seeds for my hydroponic garden. Do you think we can find it?”
Hector replied, “It is about 30 miles Southeast of here. There are some tools and equipment that we can use in the warehouse, Roberto and I will get them aboard right after breakfast.”
Zeke was pleased to have company, and Maria's breakfast was a welcome change from what he usually threw together.
They reached their new home the next afternoon. Although the orchard was heavily damaged by the storm, Hector said that with pruning, most of the trees should recover.
Over the next six months, the garden was planted, the orchard was pruned, and a shelter was built. Zeke wanted everyone to keep living on the Flush, but Hector insisted that he wanted to have a shelter on shore. On the day it was completed, Zeke proposed to Maria.
She had dealt with her grief, and recognized that Zeke was a fine man, who loved her, and would provide for her and her son. They stayed on the Flush, and within a year, Lilly Jacoby arrived.
Chapter 10
On Day 145, David started down the hill. When he reached Highway 49 he turned north toward Placerville. He crossed the Cosumnes River Bridge with some misgivings, since the debris on it indicated that it had been over washed. The crossing was made without difficulty.
As he crested the next hill, David saw a bedraggled figure walking along the road. As he approached, the man turned, smiled, and stuck out his thumb. He pulled along side, stopped, and said, “You look like you could really use a lift.”
“I’ve been rode hard and put away wet, as my grandpa used to say. My name’s William Landon, but most folks call me
He promised to come back for them as soon as he secured a safe and sustainable location for them all to live. They insisted that he take most of the bulk packaged food supplies, saying that they would not be able to use it before it spoiled. He left the shotgun, his pistol, and the ammo for them.
Chapter 9
On Day 50 Zeke started the port engine and backed away from ledge where it had been grounded, and set the anchor. Over the next two days he made a complete inspection of his craft, including an underwater look to insure that the hull was not damaged.
With the fuel tanks still nearly full, Zeke resolved to start a survey of the Inland Sea. On Day 62, he noticed a smoke smudge on the western horizon. The next morning he pulled up to a small island. There was a building in a cutout against a hill. A tractor tire was burning at the water's edge, and behind stood three adults and a small child.
They were all desperately hungry, dirty, and overjoyed to see him. Later, after a meal and baths, Zeke sat with Hector Mendoza, his son Roberto, and daughter in-law, Maria Delgado. The child, Christopher, was Maria's son. They had taken shelter in the building, when the water started rising. They had just survived, on a case of almonds, they found in the warehouse. Hector's wife had been a diabetic, and had died on Day 23. Maria's husband had gone into town to get the insulin prescription refilled on Day 0, and had not returned.
The next morning, over coffee with Hector while Maria made breakfast, they discussed their future.
“I and my son are farmers. We have lived in this valley all our lives. If we can find a place with good dirt, we can grow plenty of food. There is a place Southeast of here that Con-Agra planted an apricot orchard on the hillside. It did not do well without the irrigation quota, but the soil is good. I hope we can find some seeds, I don't want to have to survive on apricots and wild onions.”
Zeke interrupted, “I have a wide variety of seeds for my hydroponic garden. Do you think we can find it?”
Hector replied, “It is about 30 miles Southeast of here. There are some tools and equipment that we can use in the warehouse, Roberto and I will get them aboard right after breakfast.”
Zeke was pleased to have company, and Maria's breakfast was a welcome change from what he usually threw together.
They reached their new home the next afternoon. Although the orchard was heavily damaged by the storm, Hector said that with pruning, most of the trees should recover.
Over the next six months, the garden was planted, the orchard was pruned, and a shelter was built. Zeke wanted everyone to keep living on the Flush, but Hector insisted that he wanted to have a shelter on shore. On the day it was completed, Zeke proposed to Maria.
She had dealt with her grief, and recognized that Zeke was a fine man, who loved her, and would provide for her and her son. They stayed on the Flush, and within a year, Lilly Jacoby arrived.
Chapter 10
On Day 145, David started down the hill. When he reached Highway 49 he turned north toward Placerville. He crossed the Cosumnes River Bridge with some misgivings, since the debris on it indicated that it had been over washed. The crossing was made without difficulty.
As he crested the next hill, David saw a bedraggled figure walking along the road. As he approached, the man turned, smiled, and stuck out his thumb. He pulled along side, stopped, and said, “You look like you could really use a lift.”
“I’ve been rode hard and put away wet, as my grandpa used to say. My name’s William Landon, but most folks call me
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