Page 88 of Embers

Available fuel has almost been depleted. We still have reserves at our place, like New Haven and the bunker community. But most towns and settlements have nothing to fuel vehicles.

In another year, we probably won’t either.

Which isn’t the end of the world since a lot of the old roads are pretty much impassable anyway.

I glance over my shoulder at Cal, who’s with me in the back of the pickup. We’ve stopped using the motorcycle to guard the perimeter while we travel since we don’t want to use up extra gas.

When our gas runs out, Cal and I might have to move down from the mountain, but that’s a decision for another day.

Maybe we’ll luck out and find a stockpile somewhere by then.

“Go ahead and sit down,” Cal says, evidently recognizing my instability without even turning his head. “We’re fine here.”

I do as he says since I’m tired of being bounced around. It’s been a long three days, and I’m tired. I’ll be glad to get home.

Cal is still standing, his legs spread wide for better stability. His eyes are constantly scanning our surroundings, looking for threats.

We haven’t faced hostiles in this region since we took down the Wolf Packs who’d laid siege to the bunker more than a year ago. While it’s always a possibility, and it would be foolish to let down our guard too much, we’re basically safe around here. But searching for threats is second nature to Cal. He’s not likely to ever stop.

I smile rather sappily as I watch him. It’s almost winter now, and the air is cool, but he’s still got a damp spot on his back from where he sweated through his shirt. His jeans need to be retired. From where I’m sitting, I can see two different holes, and the waistband is so worn and stretched that he can barely keep them up over his hips. It’s time to trim his hair and beard. There’s a more noticeable scattering of gray in the brown than there was last year, but it doesn’t make him look distinguished the way it does some men.

It makes him look rougher than ever.

“You gettin’ distracted back there, baby?”

I choke on a surprised laugh. “Of course not.”

“Feels like I’m gettin’ stared at.”

“Why would I want to stare at you?”

He shoots me a warm, speaking look.

“Don’t get smug. You’re not that hot.”

With a snort of laughter, he returns to scanning our perimeter, and I force myself to be good and turn around so I’m keeping guard too.

It’s all quiet for the remaining fifteen minutes until we reach the bunker.

They’ve done a remarkable amount of work in the past year. They’ve got a wall now behind which is a village of homes and community buildings surrounding the entrance to the underground bunker. They’ve also got an expanding farm. It will be a while before they’re as productive as New Haven, but they’re making progress.

We’re let in at the gate, and Mack drives straight into the old bunker garage. Vehicles aren’t permitted through the narrow streets of the village, so it’s the only place he can go.

He gets out with a grin as Cal is helping me out of the bed of the pickup. “Y’all gonna stay here awhile?”

We do sometimes. It feels like a vacation because they have hot showers and a movie theater and a pool in the bunker. For a while, they thought they’d have to shut down the pool when they ran out of the chemicals for treating the water, but then Mack and Grant found a big supply at an abandoned hotel, so for now it’s still in use.

But Cal has been acting impatient to get back home, so we’re headed straight there as soon as we say hello to folks and get to our own truck.

“Not this time,” I say. “We’re ready to get back.”

“Well, thanks for making the trip with me.” Mack pounds Cal on the back and gives me a big bear hug. “You know what I was thinking just now? What we really need to find?”

“What’s that?” I’ve been thinking we’re doing pretty good around here. We’ve established thriving communities and are able to take care of each other. So I’m curious about what he’s thinking.

“Cows. Haven’t seen a single one since the second year after Impact. But there’s got to still be some somewhere.”

“Wow.” I lean against Cal since he’s stepped over and slid an arm around me. “Yeah. That would be so good. Milk. Cheese. Butter.”

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