Read Online Countdown to Armageddon by Darrell Maloney - Free Book Online
Authors: Darrell Maloney
Ads: Link
place.”
“That’s good. You worked extra hard twisting my arm to buy it, so you deserve something for your efforts.”
“Oh, crap. You had your mind made up to buy it before we even met.”
“True. Guilty as charged, your honor.”
“I got the check a couple of days ago, and I’ve been wondering what to do with it. I mean, it’s enough to pay off my mortgage, with enough left over to expand my kitchen and install a Jacuzzi on my back deck.
“But, if what you say is true about the power going out, I’m thinking the smart move might be to use it to prepare for the inevitable. Any thoughts?”
Scott took a sip of his tea and chose his words carefully.
“I hate being in debt to a bank or anybody else. I’ve always been a guy who paid cash when I could. But these are special circumstances, and yes, I am certain this thing is going to happen. I just don’t know when.
“Paying off your mortgage would be a very good thing. Ordinarily I’d recommend it. But here’s the thing. When the blackout happens, everybody is going to pretty much own their houses anyway. I mean, not technically. But all of their mortgage records are going to be tied up on bank computers that can never be retrieved.
“And even if they could be retrieved, it wouldn’t matter. Nobody will be going to work anymore. What would they do? Walk from their homes to blacked out offices where the machines no longer worked, and just sit and look at each other? Are the banks going to evict every one of their mortgage holders?
“No, when the shit hits the fan, the whole world is going to be so focused on survival that the last thing they’ll worry about is making a mortgage payment. So any money you spend paying off your mortgage will be money down the drain.
“And that brings up something I wanted to talk to you about anyway.”
Her eyebrows went up. She said, “Yes?”
“I don’t want to pressure you. And I don’t want to mislead you. After all, there’s a chance that I’m just totally crazy and this whole solar storm and EMP blackout will never happen. I’d feel terrible if I twisted your arm to do something and you came to regret it later on.”
He paused for a moment and she said, “Go on…”
“Instead, I’ll just tell you what I would do in your situation. I wouldn’t worry about paying off my mortgage. If I’m right, property rights and deeds won’t be worth the paper they’re written on in a couple of years anyway. If it were me, I’d take that money and use it for something more substantial. Something that would help ensure my survival in the years ahead. Food stores. Seed stores. Equipment like generators. Materials to build Faraday cages to protect essential electronics. That kind of thing.”
She looked at him and said, “If I were to invest the money in all of that kind of stuff, where would I put it?”
They both knew the answer, but she ached to hear him say the words anyway.
“Here. You can make plans to come into the compound with us. I know you have no children or siblings. I never asked if your parents were still alive. But you can bring them in too.”
“Are you asking me just because you need someone to help with the chores? Or is there another reason?”
Scott was afraid she was going to ask that question. He wasn’t even sure he had an answer for her. But she’d backed him into a corner now. He had to answer.
“Joyce, I… I don’t know what I feel, but I feel… something. I’ve been accused of letting my crotch do my thinking in the past, and I’ve probably been guilty. But this is more than a physical attraction. I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if it’s because I feel a certain kinship to you because you can understand where I’m coming from on this whole thing. Or if something deep
“That’s good. You worked extra hard twisting my arm to buy it, so you deserve something for your efforts.”
“Oh, crap. You had your mind made up to buy it before we even met.”
“True. Guilty as charged, your honor.”
“I got the check a couple of days ago, and I’ve been wondering what to do with it. I mean, it’s enough to pay off my mortgage, with enough left over to expand my kitchen and install a Jacuzzi on my back deck.
“But, if what you say is true about the power going out, I’m thinking the smart move might be to use it to prepare for the inevitable. Any thoughts?”
Scott took a sip of his tea and chose his words carefully.
“I hate being in debt to a bank or anybody else. I’ve always been a guy who paid cash when I could. But these are special circumstances, and yes, I am certain this thing is going to happen. I just don’t know when.
“Paying off your mortgage would be a very good thing. Ordinarily I’d recommend it. But here’s the thing. When the blackout happens, everybody is going to pretty much own their houses anyway. I mean, not technically. But all of their mortgage records are going to be tied up on bank computers that can never be retrieved.
“And even if they could be retrieved, it wouldn’t matter. Nobody will be going to work anymore. What would they do? Walk from their homes to blacked out offices where the machines no longer worked, and just sit and look at each other? Are the banks going to evict every one of their mortgage holders?
“No, when the shit hits the fan, the whole world is going to be so focused on survival that the last thing they’ll worry about is making a mortgage payment. So any money you spend paying off your mortgage will be money down the drain.
“And that brings up something I wanted to talk to you about anyway.”
Her eyebrows went up. She said, “Yes?”
“I don’t want to pressure you. And I don’t want to mislead you. After all, there’s a chance that I’m just totally crazy and this whole solar storm and EMP blackout will never happen. I’d feel terrible if I twisted your arm to do something and you came to regret it later on.”
He paused for a moment and she said, “Go on…”
“Instead, I’ll just tell you what I would do in your situation. I wouldn’t worry about paying off my mortgage. If I’m right, property rights and deeds won’t be worth the paper they’re written on in a couple of years anyway. If it were me, I’d take that money and use it for something more substantial. Something that would help ensure my survival in the years ahead. Food stores. Seed stores. Equipment like generators. Materials to build Faraday cages to protect essential electronics. That kind of thing.”
She looked at him and said, “If I were to invest the money in all of that kind of stuff, where would I put it?”
They both knew the answer, but she ached to hear him say the words anyway.
“Here. You can make plans to come into the compound with us. I know you have no children or siblings. I never asked if your parents were still alive. But you can bring them in too.”
“Are you asking me just because you need someone to help with the chores? Or is there another reason?”
Scott was afraid she was going to ask that question. He wasn’t even sure he had an answer for her. But she’d backed him into a corner now. He had to answer.
“Joyce, I… I don’t know what I feel, but I feel… something. I’ve been accused of letting my crotch do my thinking in the past, and I’ve probably been guilty. But this is more than a physical attraction. I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if it’s because I feel a certain kinship to you because you can understand where I’m coming from on this whole thing. Or if something deep
Similar Books
