Read Online Curtain Fall: Second Edition, Disaster, Preparedness, Survival, Awakening (The Gatekeeper Book 1) by Kenneth Cary - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kenneth Cary
Tags: Children's Books, Self-Help, Children's eBooks, Dreams, Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality, New Age
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want to ask you a hypothetical question.”
“Shoot,” said Terry.
John thought carefully about what words to choose. He really wanted to convey a life and death message to Terry without sounding like an absolute lunatic. Terry deserved a head’s up, and John wanted to give him one without making himself vulnerable. He’d never before felt such insecurity about something he knew, gut feeling or not, to be a real threat. Yet here he was, acting like a boy asking a girl to the prom.
“What would you do if you learned that a really big earthquake was about to happen say, within the next forty-eight hours? What would you do to get ready for it?”
Terry studied John closely, perhaps trying to gauge his nature, to see if John was serious. When he saw that John wasn’t smiling, Terry said, “Heck. I don’t know, John. I think I’d have to consider the source of the information first.”
John nodded and waited for Terry to continue, and he did. “If it was a credible report . . . I mean, if I knew it was really gonna happen, thenI’d probably do some things around the house to prepare, you know, like tape the windows, secure the cabinet doors, and stuff like that,” he finished.
“Is that it?” asked John, with a bit more surprise in his voice than he intended.
Terry caught the shift in tone and leaned back defensively. “Why,” he asked with eyebrows raised, “are you telling me an earthquake’s about to happen?”
“No,” said John. “It’s just that you said you would prepare, but your preparedness was focused entirely on protecting your breakable possessions.”
“Just what are you getting at, John?”
“Look, if I told you a really big earthquake was about to occur, and that it would destroy the roadways, knock out communications, kill the power, and disrupt the flow of water . . . what would you say to that?” asked John.
“Oh. Okay then. Well, I guess I didn’t consider the full effects of your hypothetical disaster,” replied Tony, as he wadded up his sandwich wrapper and looked at the ground at his feet. “Since you put it that way, I guess I’d go buy as much bottled water and food as I could.” He paused for a moment and added, “And I’d fill my gas tank, and get my camping stuff ready, you know, for shelter and such . . . until help arrives.”
“Yes. And you just raised another important issue,” said John.
“What’s that?” asked Terry.
John noticed the look on Terry’s face and saw that he wondered if John was messing with him. John figured Terry either wasn’t comfortable talking about disasters, or disaster preparedness. Either way, John was glad Terry was playing along. “You mentioned help,” said John. “How long do you think it would take for help to reach you after a really big earthquake?”
“Oh . . . I don’t know,” said Terry, as he shifted in his seat and focused on something across the park.
“Okay,” continued John. “What do you think the help would provide when, no . . . if they arrived?”
“Food and water is my guess . . . and medical attention. Maybe even shelter, you know, like those big tents, and those fancy washing trailers and such.”
“And how long do you think it would take for that help to arrive?” persisted John.
“A few days, maybe a week, I guess. Why John? What are you getting at?”
“Just bear with me a bit longer,” replied John. “I’m also curious about these things and wonder what you think about them. So . . . you would be on your own for about a week, right?”
Terry nodded and John added, “Can you do that, Terry? Can you, right now, live a week on your own, with just what you have in your home. No electricity, running water, or any more food?”
“I think I could do with a little more food and water,” admitted Terry “But I’ve got camping stuff. You know, a tent, camp stove, lanterns, sleeping bags, and stuff. I’m sure someone would be along to help us though . . . probably quicker than a
“Shoot,” said Terry.
John thought carefully about what words to choose. He really wanted to convey a life and death message to Terry without sounding like an absolute lunatic. Terry deserved a head’s up, and John wanted to give him one without making himself vulnerable. He’d never before felt such insecurity about something he knew, gut feeling or not, to be a real threat. Yet here he was, acting like a boy asking a girl to the prom.
“What would you do if you learned that a really big earthquake was about to happen say, within the next forty-eight hours? What would you do to get ready for it?”
Terry studied John closely, perhaps trying to gauge his nature, to see if John was serious. When he saw that John wasn’t smiling, Terry said, “Heck. I don’t know, John. I think I’d have to consider the source of the information first.”
John nodded and waited for Terry to continue, and he did. “If it was a credible report . . . I mean, if I knew it was really gonna happen, thenI’d probably do some things around the house to prepare, you know, like tape the windows, secure the cabinet doors, and stuff like that,” he finished.
“Is that it?” asked John, with a bit more surprise in his voice than he intended.
Terry caught the shift in tone and leaned back defensively. “Why,” he asked with eyebrows raised, “are you telling me an earthquake’s about to happen?”
“No,” said John. “It’s just that you said you would prepare, but your preparedness was focused entirely on protecting your breakable possessions.”
“Just what are you getting at, John?”
“Look, if I told you a really big earthquake was about to occur, and that it would destroy the roadways, knock out communications, kill the power, and disrupt the flow of water . . . what would you say to that?” asked John.
“Oh. Okay then. Well, I guess I didn’t consider the full effects of your hypothetical disaster,” replied Tony, as he wadded up his sandwich wrapper and looked at the ground at his feet. “Since you put it that way, I guess I’d go buy as much bottled water and food as I could.” He paused for a moment and added, “And I’d fill my gas tank, and get my camping stuff ready, you know, for shelter and such . . . until help arrives.”
“Yes. And you just raised another important issue,” said John.
“What’s that?” asked Terry.
John noticed the look on Terry’s face and saw that he wondered if John was messing with him. John figured Terry either wasn’t comfortable talking about disasters, or disaster preparedness. Either way, John was glad Terry was playing along. “You mentioned help,” said John. “How long do you think it would take for help to reach you after a really big earthquake?”
“Oh . . . I don’t know,” said Terry, as he shifted in his seat and focused on something across the park.
“Okay,” continued John. “What do you think the help would provide when, no . . . if they arrived?”
“Food and water is my guess . . . and medical attention. Maybe even shelter, you know, like those big tents, and those fancy washing trailers and such.”
“And how long do you think it would take for that help to arrive?” persisted John.
“A few days, maybe a week, I guess. Why John? What are you getting at?”
“Just bear with me a bit longer,” replied John. “I’m also curious about these things and wonder what you think about them. So . . . you would be on your own for about a week, right?”
Terry nodded and John added, “Can you do that, Terry? Can you, right now, live a week on your own, with just what you have in your home. No electricity, running water, or any more food?”
“I think I could do with a little more food and water,” admitted Terry “But I’ve got camping stuff. You know, a tent, camp stove, lanterns, sleeping bags, and stuff. I’m sure someone would be along to help us though . . . probably quicker than a
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