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her wasn’t going to be as
easy as I thought it might. I started to realize the value of
having another pair of hands and legs to help accomplish the grunt
work.
     
    It wasn’t so much of a struggle as it was routine. I
became accustomed to the absence of people and vehicles and the
silence that went with it.
    When the power shut down, I was prepared. In advance,
I had located a generator and enough power cables, plugs, jacks and
conduit that I kept stored in the basement. It took a day of
dedicated work, but power to the house was restored by the end of
it.
    Gasoline became my next project. I managed to collect
an empty drum and fill it. That made me good for a couple of weeks,
but I’d need more over the long term. It was turning into a real
hassle to find it, as well.
    But time was all I had.
    It took another four months to realize that just
about every last soul had been shipped off to somewhere. I stopped
looking for anyone to ask where they thought that somewhere might
be.
    There was that one time, though. The woman had caught
me looking at her through my curtained window. I let go of the
curtain too late. She had to have seen the covering shift back into
position. I reversed our positions, and realized that when I had
opened the curtain wide, I might as well have been exposing myself
in the window as a naked man might. That alone would have scared me
to death, too, were I on the opposite side of the window.
    A few days passed, and I was put on edge by the
plink, plink, plink of stones bouncing off of the window. I ran to
the door and looked out.
    It was the woman. Instantly, I moved to the window
and pulled the curtains wide. I pasted the same silly grin across
my face.
    She had made it obvious she was looking for me. I had
to wonder, though. The first thing I noticed was the action on the
shotgun strung across her chest.
    It was closed. It was probably loaded, as well.
    When she finally had my attention, she turned and
walked away again. I was devastated.
    That was the last straw.
    I convinced myself to go in search of weapons. In a
gun shop I found automatic shotguns and all the ammunition I’d
conceivably need in boxes. I loaded the bike and motored home to
stash a couple of the shotguns and enough ammunition in shot and
slugs to supply an army. I even had a couple of bandoliers loaded,
just as I had seen the girl wearing.
    At a hardware store, I picked up a hacksaw and
started to work shortening the barrels to what I thought might be a
reasonable length for carrying. I fabricated slings and adjusted
them across my chest. Hell, I even practiced positioning the
shotgun in front of me in case I ever needed to use it.
    I hoped I’d never have to.
    Eventually, I forgot about the woman when she stopped
tracking through my neighborhood.
     
    It was after one of my more successful scrounging
expeditions. I turned into the cul-de-sac and almost dropped the
bike when I saw the woman sitting on my front step. It was too late
to pretend to ignore her.
    I pulled in and leaned the motorcycle on its
stand.
    —You’ll get a ticket for not wearing a helmet.
    She smiled. I tried not to. I wasn’t successful.
    —Not likely. Anyone with a government gas ration and
any smarts is long gone from this place. That’s why I’m here.
    —So then, you’re saying you’re not so smart?
    —I’d say I’m about as smart as you are for being
somewhere near here, too. I’m Russell.
    —Pleased to meet you. I’m Caitrin.
    I stuck out my hand. Caitrin formed a fist and
instead, bumped my hand. In a split second she pulled her hand
away. I didn’t get a chance to make a grab for it, even if I wanted
to.
    I didn’t try to hide my surprise and the look of
disappointment that washed over my face.
    —I’m sorry, but I have to be careful. I don’t know
you.
    —That’s all right. Give me a couple of minutes to
haul everything inside and I’ll make us some tea.
    Caitrin sat cross-legged on the lawn, well away from
the open door. She