watched carefully as I unloaded my treasures and
hauled them inside.
—What did you manage to collect?
It was my turn to be skeptical.
—Oh, the usual. Just some stuff I think I’ll
need.
She grinned.
—Who’s being careful now?
The noise of the diesel engine reverberated off of
walls of the empty neighborhood and echoed into the cul-de-sac. By
the time I recognized it for what it was, it was almost too
late.
I scrambled to push my motorcycle out of sight behind
the house and returned to the front. I forgot all about Caitrin. I
ran inside and eased the door shut.
The huge truck rounded the corner and stopped in a
cloud of black diesel exhaust and noise at the street entrance to
the circle of houses.
All of a sudden the location I had chosen because of
its isolation had been breached in a most uncomfortable way. Even
so, isolated from the outside by curtains covering windows and
doors, I still believed that there was no way I would be
discovered.
In the darkened room, something tapped me on the
shoulder. I gasped and almost jumped out of my skin. In my haste I
forgot I had company. I should have known. Where else could Caitrin
have gone on such short notice?
—Jesus, woman, I’ve been alone in here too long for
that.
—I’m sorry. I just wanted to let you know I was here,
too.
Caitrin’s backpack sat on the floor in the living
room. Sh eke pt the shotgun in plain view. A huge k-bar hung off of
her belt. The handle had been ground down and would probably just
fit her smaller hand. Then she wrapped her hand around it, and I
knew I was right about that.
I tried to lighten the atmosphere by moivng to the
door. I peered out the peep-hole. A single unarmed soldier
descended from the truck and consulted a map. He looked right, then
left, and back down the empty street he had just traversed.
Finally, he climbed back in and drove off in a cloud of black
soot.
I waited until I couldn’t hear the truck, then
cracked the door to listen to the engine sounds becoming even more
faint. I opened the door wide to let in some light. Caitrin took up
a chair in a corner of the living room. She could keep a wary eye
on me.
—You look like you belong there.
She ignored me.
—It’s going to be dark soon. I’ll fire up the
generator and make you some of that tea I promised before we were
so rudely interrupted.
She jumped up. I thought she might run past me out
the door.
—You’ve got electricity?
—Yes. Running water, too. Whoever owned this place
had the presence of mind to put a reservoir in the back yard to
collect rainwater. That’s one of the reasons I moved into this
place.
—Can I take a shower? I’ve been bathing in swimming
pools and I’ve about had enough chlorine to last forever.
—Towels are in the hall closet. Take a chair with you
to prop against the door.
—Thanks. I will.
She gathered up everything she owned and took it with
her into the bathroom. I didn’t blame her. I would have too, were I
in the same position. She must have found a hair dryer, because
when the water stopped running I could hear the familiar faint,
high-pitched whine from the kitchen.
SIX
Russell and Caitrin
While Caitrin dried her hair in the bathroom, I
considered what had happened during the truck’s brief appearance. I
wanted to run it by her to get another person’s opinion, now that
there was another person.
—It’s amazing what electricity, a little fresh water
and a hair dryer will do for a woman. I was considering cutting my
hair short before this.
Caitrin stopped at the entrance to the living room.
The hat was gone and her clean hair shone in the light. She was one
good-looking woman. Hell, she didn’t even have the shotgun in her
hands.
—Come back and use it any time you like.
—Is that my cue to be leaving? I haven’t had that tea
yet.
How could I have forgotten?
—No, not at all. Give me a minute. I’ll be right
back.
She followed and watched as I filled the
hauled them inside.
—What did you manage to collect?
It was my turn to be skeptical.
—Oh, the usual. Just some stuff I think I’ll
need.
She grinned.
—Who’s being careful now?
The noise of the diesel engine reverberated off of
walls of the empty neighborhood and echoed into the cul-de-sac. By
the time I recognized it for what it was, it was almost too
late.
I scrambled to push my motorcycle out of sight behind
the house and returned to the front. I forgot all about Caitrin. I
ran inside and eased the door shut.
The huge truck rounded the corner and stopped in a
cloud of black diesel exhaust and noise at the street entrance to
the circle of houses.
All of a sudden the location I had chosen because of
its isolation had been breached in a most uncomfortable way. Even
so, isolated from the outside by curtains covering windows and
doors, I still believed that there was no way I would be
discovered.
In the darkened room, something tapped me on the
shoulder. I gasped and almost jumped out of my skin. In my haste I
forgot I had company. I should have known. Where else could Caitrin
have gone on such short notice?
—Jesus, woman, I’ve been alone in here too long for
that.
—I’m sorry. I just wanted to let you know I was here,
too.
Caitrin’s backpack sat on the floor in the living
room. Sh eke pt the shotgun in plain view. A huge k-bar hung off of
her belt. The handle had been ground down and would probably just
fit her smaller hand. Then she wrapped her hand around it, and I
knew I was right about that.
I tried to lighten the atmosphere by moivng to the
door. I peered out the peep-hole. A single unarmed soldier
descended from the truck and consulted a map. He looked right, then
left, and back down the empty street he had just traversed.
Finally, he climbed back in and drove off in a cloud of black
soot.
I waited until I couldn’t hear the truck, then
cracked the door to listen to the engine sounds becoming even more
faint. I opened the door wide to let in some light. Caitrin took up
a chair in a corner of the living room. She could keep a wary eye
on me.
—You look like you belong there.
She ignored me.
—It’s going to be dark soon. I’ll fire up the
generator and make you some of that tea I promised before we were
so rudely interrupted.
She jumped up. I thought she might run past me out
the door.
—You’ve got electricity?
—Yes. Running water, too. Whoever owned this place
had the presence of mind to put a reservoir in the back yard to
collect rainwater. That’s one of the reasons I moved into this
place.
—Can I take a shower? I’ve been bathing in swimming
pools and I’ve about had enough chlorine to last forever.
—Towels are in the hall closet. Take a chair with you
to prop against the door.
—Thanks. I will.
She gathered up everything she owned and took it with
her into the bathroom. I didn’t blame her. I would have too, were I
in the same position. She must have found a hair dryer, because
when the water stopped running I could hear the familiar faint,
high-pitched whine from the kitchen.
SIX
Russell and Caitrin
While Caitrin dried her hair in the bathroom, I
considered what had happened during the truck’s brief appearance. I
wanted to run it by her to get another person’s opinion, now that
there was another person.
—It’s amazing what electricity, a little fresh water
and a hair dryer will do for a woman. I was considering cutting my
hair short before this.
Caitrin stopped at the entrance to the living room.
The hat was gone and her clean hair shone in the light. She was one
good-looking woman. Hell, she didn’t even have the shotgun in her
hands.
—Come back and use it any time you like.
—Is that my cue to be leaving? I haven’t had that tea
yet.
How could I have forgotten?
—No, not at all. Give me a minute. I’ll be right
back.
She followed and watched as I filled the
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