Read Online EMP 1500 MILES FROM HOME by Mike Whitworth - Free Book Online
Authors: Mike Whitworth
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you call me son," Yeti said. "Since my mom and dad died, no one has ever done that." I just squeezed his shoulder a little harder and ignored the tears that were streaming down his face. He didn't mention them either.
As we walked, I talked to Yeti like Cap talked to me. I started the process of passing on what Cap had taught me. Yeti soaked it up like a sponge. The time passed quickly. We were close to the shacks before we knew it. Yeti had only rested twice. He seemed to be getting stronger.
I could see five people standing by the road waiting for us—three women and two men. Both men were armed with rifles, or shotguns, I couldn't tell yet, but they made no hostile moves. Julie dropped her horse back beside me. I signaled her to drop back and cover us. We still had not fully developed our hand signal system, but it was getting better.
I left the others waiting about 150 yards away and walked up to the people. The Mosin was slung over my shoulder. I didn't make any threatening moves.
"Hello Stranger," the bearded man said.
"Howdy, yourself," I replied. He held out his hand and I shook it.
"Do you know what has happened? We haven't seen or heard a single car on the highway in over a week now, and none of our cars will start."
"Yes," I said, motioning the others forward with a signal from my foot. "It was an EMP."
"What is that?" he asked.
"How about we build a fire and you folks can join us for breakfast. Then I can explain everything."
"OK," the man said. He turned to one of the women. "Becky, can you girls whip up a big breakfast for our guests."
"You bet Bill." She motioned to the other two women and they headed for one of the shacks before I could say a word.
"We have our own supplies. We don't want to use yours."
"Don't worry. We have plenty. You folks come on along and we will set up some chairs and the big table under the shade tree."
We followed. Once there, Julie and Yeti unhooked the horse from the cart and hobbled the horses so they could graze. Bill and the other man set up a large weathered dining room table and eight chairs under the shade of the tree. They also strung up a battered plastic tarp for additional shade. It was only about 60 degrees but the sun was warming everything quickly. Soon it would be over 80 degrees and the shade would be perfect.
Bill motioned to one of the chairs. It was made from 2x4s and looked to be exceptionally strong. "I think this one will fit you, young man." He smiled as he said it. Yeti smiled back and sat in the chair. Bill and I took chairs at the same end of the table. Bill introduced the other man as Slim.
I noticed Julie went to help the women when she was finished with the horses. Apparently she didn't feel like these people were a danger either.
"I said, "I am Wayne and this is Yeti." We all shook hands. We made small talk until the women brought breakfast to the table. Breakfast was scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, jam, butter, and jelly.
"You have electricity?" I asked.
"We have a few solar panels on top of our houses. We don't have a lot of electricity, but it is enough," Slim said. "We run a couple of 12 volt freezers, three 12 volt refrigerators, and some other stuff."
"Computers?" I asked.
"Yeah, but we have never had Internet way out here if that is what you are asking?"
"That was where I was going," I said.
"We live completely off grid here," Slim smiled.
"We are squatters," Bill laughed. "We don't pay land taxes, or any other taxes for that matter."
"Yeah, the county keeps threatening to shut us down, but it hasn't so far," Slim said.
"I doubt they will now," and, in between mouthfuls of a great breakfast, I told them all about EMPs and what it meant. They all listened intently.
One of the women said, "Oh well, we ain't much for civilized doings. That's mostly why we are here."
"I reckon I ought to introduce you to the women folks. I have been remiss, and haven't done that yet. My old mum always said I had the manners of a billy
As we walked, I talked to Yeti like Cap talked to me. I started the process of passing on what Cap had taught me. Yeti soaked it up like a sponge. The time passed quickly. We were close to the shacks before we knew it. Yeti had only rested twice. He seemed to be getting stronger.
I could see five people standing by the road waiting for us—three women and two men. Both men were armed with rifles, or shotguns, I couldn't tell yet, but they made no hostile moves. Julie dropped her horse back beside me. I signaled her to drop back and cover us. We still had not fully developed our hand signal system, but it was getting better.
I left the others waiting about 150 yards away and walked up to the people. The Mosin was slung over my shoulder. I didn't make any threatening moves.
"Hello Stranger," the bearded man said.
"Howdy, yourself," I replied. He held out his hand and I shook it.
"Do you know what has happened? We haven't seen or heard a single car on the highway in over a week now, and none of our cars will start."
"Yes," I said, motioning the others forward with a signal from my foot. "It was an EMP."
"What is that?" he asked.
"How about we build a fire and you folks can join us for breakfast. Then I can explain everything."
"OK," the man said. He turned to one of the women. "Becky, can you girls whip up a big breakfast for our guests."
"You bet Bill." She motioned to the other two women and they headed for one of the shacks before I could say a word.
"We have our own supplies. We don't want to use yours."
"Don't worry. We have plenty. You folks come on along and we will set up some chairs and the big table under the shade tree."
We followed. Once there, Julie and Yeti unhooked the horse from the cart and hobbled the horses so they could graze. Bill and the other man set up a large weathered dining room table and eight chairs under the shade of the tree. They also strung up a battered plastic tarp for additional shade. It was only about 60 degrees but the sun was warming everything quickly. Soon it would be over 80 degrees and the shade would be perfect.
Bill motioned to one of the chairs. It was made from 2x4s and looked to be exceptionally strong. "I think this one will fit you, young man." He smiled as he said it. Yeti smiled back and sat in the chair. Bill and I took chairs at the same end of the table. Bill introduced the other man as Slim.
I noticed Julie went to help the women when she was finished with the horses. Apparently she didn't feel like these people were a danger either.
"I said, "I am Wayne and this is Yeti." We all shook hands. We made small talk until the women brought breakfast to the table. Breakfast was scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, jam, butter, and jelly.
"You have electricity?" I asked.
"We have a few solar panels on top of our houses. We don't have a lot of electricity, but it is enough," Slim said. "We run a couple of 12 volt freezers, three 12 volt refrigerators, and some other stuff."
"Computers?" I asked.
"Yeah, but we have never had Internet way out here if that is what you are asking?"
"That was where I was going," I said.
"We live completely off grid here," Slim smiled.
"We are squatters," Bill laughed. "We don't pay land taxes, or any other taxes for that matter."
"Yeah, the county keeps threatening to shut us down, but it hasn't so far," Slim said.
"I doubt they will now," and, in between mouthfuls of a great breakfast, I told them all about EMPs and what it meant. They all listened intently.
One of the women said, "Oh well, we ain't much for civilized doings. That's mostly why we are here."
"I reckon I ought to introduce you to the women folks. I have been remiss, and haven't done that yet. My old mum always said I had the manners of a billy
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