Doomsayers predicated a solar flare would take out the world’s fragile power grid. Or global warming, nuclear war, economic collapse, a worldwide Zombie or virus epidemic would end the world as we know it. They were wrong.
Chad, Rachel (Son and Daughter-in-law) and I had planned what routes they would take to get here in an emergency. Two of the routes are for driving and a more central direct route if forced to walk. About midway all three routes converged at a cemetery before splitting out again. According to our plan they will mark a certain head stone at the cemetery to indicate which final route they were taking. If their car was working they should have been here by now so they must be walking, a long seven day walk for them. If I could pick them up at the cemetery that would save them three or four days.
I slept like a rock. Sun was already up, watch said 8:23. Hope the kids didn’t pass me before I woke up I thought as I put my boots on. Nah they couldn’t have. The distances were too great to cover that quickly on foot… I hope. I smell smoke. Couldn’t be from my fire last night, I had buried the ashes under a rock after soaking with swamp water.
Mom was sitting on the front porch knitting when we pulled up the driveway. The kids waved at Grandma and headed her way for hugs. I unlocked the garage overhead door and drove the Mule inside and out of sight. I unpacked and quickly carried everything into the house. By that time the Mule’s engine had cooled down enough to top of the gas tank. Once I had everything unloaded I was ready to relax but still one more chore.
“I think so. Just below those three trees to the left.” They all duck as they see a muzzle flash. A few seconds later the “Twang” as a bullet ricochets off the boulder wall of the OP.