We covered all angles… literally. Even though the basement windows of Mark’s home were blocked out from the inside, Burke, Craig and Rod heaped dirt over the outside portion of the windows and all around the basement circumference of the house. Mattresses were brought in to cover the doorways when the time came. We were ready.
Then it grew cold.
Late night, thirteen days AB, the change occurred. Tanner had stopped by for a visit and when he was leaving, it hit. As if in a snap of a finger, the temperature began to drop. I hoped it was a fluke, but Burke did a readout and the radiation has move to six rads per hour. It was a matter of a half a day, and it would be upon us. Tanner assured me he would be back, that he had things to take care of. I didn’t want him to leave because I knew that come forty rads, Burke was locking us down tight. No one gets out. No one gets in.
I was almost afraid to face the morning. Although I remained relatively calm, I was in no way disillusioned over the magnitude of what we faced.
The daily alarm on Davy’s clock chimed at 10:15 precisely. It had been ten hours since the first symptom hit. The sun barely peeked through the overcast sky, and without a doubt it was getting darker. The little hanging thermometer outside the basement door had frosted over and bottomed out at minus ten degrees.
Davy created a chart, and he had started keeping track of the temperature and radiation changes. Every time Craig or Burke went out, Davy documented it. He told me how he was going to log—not just readings—but all that occurred in the shelter in the midst of the ‘dug in’ duration. That log would prove interesting when it was all said and done.
Not long after the alarm clock went off, Craig went out. He returned exasperating a vocal ‘burr’ and shut the door.
“That’s it.” Craig said, setting down the Geiger counter. “We’re maxing. Lock it down.”
Burke nodded once. “I have the upstairs door covered. Even though fuckin Tammy is making the stairs her home.”
“Garage or this door?” Craig asked.
“Um, you take this one, I’ll finish up the garage,” Burke said.
Craig followed Burke’s dictate and headed to the garage. Burke began to follow behind.
“Wait. No.” I reached out grabbing Burke’s arm. “Leave access for Tanner.”
“If Tanner ain’t here by the time I bolt us down, Tanner don’t get in.” Burke stated firm.
“You can’t do that. He’s coming. We know that.” I argued. “He brought clothes, a sleeping bag…”
Burke walked away. “He’s not here.”
“Well you can’t lock him out.
“Yeah, Jo, I can.” Burke headed into the garage, just as Craig walked out carrying a mattress.
I spun in confusion on who to stop. Burke or Craig. Two mattress were already placed over the garage door, all Burke had to do was put up the other two and secure them with the old furniture we had gathered in there.
“Burke…”
“Jo. Sorry.”
“Asshole.” I stormed out and tried my other option. “Craig.” I called his name as I made it back to he door. “Please don’t secure that…”
A triple knock rang out.
“A ha!” I flew to the door. “Tanner?”
“Yeah.” Tanner called from the other side. “Jo, let me in the garage instead.”
Hollering, “I’ll meet you there.” I gave a pat to Craig’s back, instructed him to continue and raced to the garage. “Don’t secure it. Tanner’s here. Lift the garage door.”
The grumble was loud and Burke stopped sliding the dresser against the mattresses. “I’m killing him.” The four mattresses were already in place and Burke began to move them aside. I helped him the best I could. When the door was clear enough to open, Burke grabbed the handle and lifted the garage door.
It raised a little over two feet when Tanner yelled out, “OK, that’s enough. I’ll slide through. Grab these.”
“Grab what?” Burke asked.
“Does he sound strange to you?” I asked. “Mechanical.”
“Christ, Jo, I’m not paying attention.” Burke snapped and jumped back when a medium size box slid in. “What the hell is this?” A knapsack followed it. “I thought he brought what he needed.”
I shrugged and watched as Tanner slid in last. He wore a shiny silver radiation suit and resembled something from a movie. Once in, he stood and closed the garage door.
Though Burke immediately began to cover the garage door with the mattresses, it didn’t stop him from bitching. “What the fuck took you so long?”
The ceasing of an oxygen flow into his suit caused a ‘hiss’, and then Tanner unzipped his headgear and removed it. “Sorry.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “The rescue station was pandemonium.” He turned his back to me. “Jo, could you unzip me.”
“Sure.” I reached for his zipper and undid it.
“Thanks.” Tanner stepped from the suit. “Plus, I had to get some things. This outfit was one of them.”
Burke shook his head. “Did you stop to think that if you weren’t running so late, you wouldn’t need the suit?”
Tanner smiled. “Nah, I would have still brought the suit. One of will have to go out and do a reading in a day or two.”
It was a response, that’s all, a complimentary one to Tanner. But, no sooner did I say, “Oh, good thinking,” an echo developed in the room.
Nasal, mocking, and barely audible, Burke whispered, “Oh good thinking.”
My mouth dropped open. “Oh my God are you rude.”
“I’m tired, that’s what I am,” Burke said and started to walk out. “Wake me up in a few.”
Shaking my head, I looked up to Tanner and tried to make light of the Burke attitude. “And he wonders why he doesn’t have any friends.”
Burke was out of the garage, but he still managed to add a comment. “They’re all dead, that’s why I don’t have any friends.”
Tanner chuckled. “His mood will change, once he gets some rest. He stays up most of the time.”
“I know. Craig has offered to take watch. Rod. Even Dan. But Burke won’t have it.”
“Understandable.” Tanner bent down and picked up his knapsack. “Shall we leave the garage? It’s pretty cold in here.”
“Absolutely. Do you need help?”
“Um… yeah. Carry this.” He handed me the knapsack. “I’ll get the box.”
“What did you bring?” I asked.
“Well, you’re holding medical supplies. And this…” Tanner attempted the box then lifted it. “A surprise to brighten the mood at times. But… you can say it’s mainly for the kids.” Saying no more, carrying the box, Tanner walked out.
Being intrigued over the box made me stoop to devious measures to find out the contents. Tanner was reluctant to tell me what it was, so I had Simon ask.
Tanner opened the box at the request of the inquisitive three-year-old. At first we all were envious. Not a single one of us didn’t salivate with jealousy watching the kids enjoy their gift. Simon inadvertently gloated the most. Smiling from ear to ear, his little face was plastered with tomato sauce. He rolled his fingers over his plate, and brought the remnants he acquired to his mouth. We all watched.
“Like that, Simon?” Tanner asked.
“Oh, boy.” Simon nodded.
Matty glanced up with a smile. “Thank you for the spaghetti, Tanner Niles.”