The Bomb - 7. Chapter 7

That night we finished the cold chicken, lunch meat and bread. I had more but it was frozen. I brought the boys up to date on my conversation with the ranger.

“What happens if he says we can't stay here?”

“Then we look for the nearest place that’ll allow us to park and stay. There aren’t that many roads in this area, I considered I might have to travel over unknown terrain , so I have special tires on the RV. Driving north might be a problem the last thing I wanted was a flat tire. So if you wondered why the ride was a little bumpy, it’s because I have two sets of tires on the RV, one is solid rubber and the other is air filled. I can adjust the axles on the RV to utilize one set or both. We have been running on both the last two days.”

We camped there for two days, on the third day the ranger said he may have found a solution for us. “Do you know a boy called Torngarsuk?”

“I’m not sure but we know a boy called Torn who lives somewhere in this area.”

Laughing, “Yes, that’s the boy. He said you gave him a ride home. Is that right?”

“Yes, he was hitchhiking when we picked him up. When I told him where I was heading, he was quite excited.”

“This is his father. He’s very thankful for bringing his son home . I guess his son told him what was happening south of the border and where you were headed. He said he has some land that you could park that RV on if you could navigate the stones and tundra.”

“Please thank him and we’ll take him up on his offer.”

“He said he'll send his son to show you the way.”

It was late in the afternoon, when Torn showed up. “Hello Torn. Your father has offered a place for us. We’re very grateful.”

“Yes, he feels that you did a kind thing and according to him, he must repay you. Now you need to turn this around. We need to go back where you drop me off.”

Now turning the RV with a trailer around is not an easy feat. I disconnected the trailer, then in several back and forward moves, I eventually got the RV turned around. Now for the trailer, I needed the boys to help. They pushed as I guided the trailer and pulled as well. After 4 hours, we finally had the RV and trailer in the right position. I hooked the trailer back up and began to drive back the way we came.

I didn't realize we had come so far north from where we dropped Torn off. “There is where you dropped me off. There's the road.”

The road wasn't much better than where we were, but at least it held the hope of finding a permanent parking spot. I had driven about a mile when Torn said to go slow. Ahead I could see a few wooden houses, I assumed we were nearing his village. As I drove further, what I assumed was true. The village was just ahead of me. Torn said to stop here and he'd be right back and lead me to a parking spot.

The boys watched Torn as he ran toward the village. “I wonder how many homes are in this village and what kind of stores they have.”

“I don't know Paul, but once we are permanently parked, you and Tom can go and check it out.”

We sat there for a good 30 minutes when Paul spotted Torn returning with two men. “Let's go and meet them.”

One thing the boys noticed was the cold, they had coats but I knew if we stay here, they would need heavier coats.

As we met Torn, he introduced his father and uncle to us. I already knew his father, I met him at the ranger station a few days ago.

Torn introduced us to his uncle, “I want to thank you for bringing Torngarsuk home. I didn't know about the school being closed. If it wasn't for you, he would still be finding his way home, who knows what could’ve happened.”

His father and uncle spoke in their language and Torn translated for us. “My father and uncle know a few words in English so I'll translate for them.”

“Tell your uncle that we were glad to have helped and that you were a help to us .” I wasn't going to say anything about the problem with Paul’

“My father said he would show you where to park.”

We went back to the RV, his uncle and father join us. “Sir, may I show my father and uncle the RV?”

“Of course, maybe they would like some coffee , ask them.”

I started to make coffee, ‘Sir, they said no it is okay.”

The aroma of coffee began to become stronger . “Are you sure? Asked him again.“

“Okay, they say they would have some.”

“Torn, do you know if they like milk and sugar in the coffee?”

“Yes, they would like it that way, everyone here has what you call a sweet tooth.”

I fixed a coffee and handed it to them. The boys helped themselves. We sat as we drank our coffee, Torn was our translator. The boys ask questions, Torn would tell them what the boys said and then answer them in English. Paul start another pot coffee.

After several cups, Torn listen to his father and then gave me the directions to where I could park the RV.

We drove to the outskirts of what looked like the village proper, there were several homes, a few stores and in the background you could see the lake. One thing about the RV, we sat high enough we could see over the houses which appear to consist of only one story. We drove past several homes, Torn told us to turn left. I looked at him there weren't any roads.

“It's okay, the ground is solid and the spot my father has for you is just a little way in.”

I turned the RV in the direction Torn showed me. I slowly drove into what appeared to be a forest but it only lasted a few yards when it opened out into what I'd call grassy plain. This was a perfect spot, the land was flat there were no trees blocking the sun so the solar panels would work,

I thank Torn's father and uncle. They smiled and said something. Torn said they wanted to repay us for bringing him home.

They stayed for another cup of coffee. The boys wanted to check out the village. My concern was they’d be cold since they didn’t have coats warm enough for the cold. Torn said they’d be okay, I wasn't so sure.

One thing about being in the cold, I didn't have to worry about the food in the trailer. I did need to worry about fresh water and where to discharge my waste tank.

When the boys returned with Torn they were shivering, I told them to take a hot shower and then have some hot chocolate that I had made for them.

“Torn, I have a few problems that you can help with. I need to be able to empty my waste tanks and fill my water tanks. Where can I do that?”

“You might try the airport or you can go back out and about 50 miles south there is a gas station that may help. I'll ask my uncle, he might know since he drives a car”

The next morning, just as we really doing breakfast, Torn shows up. “Hungry?” I thought what a stupid question.

Paul fixed him a plate and a cup of coffee . “Torn, I need to get warmer clothes for Paul and Tom, where can I buy them.”

“There’s a post at the airport you could buy clothes among other things.”

“Can I drive there?”

“You can, you’ll need to go south and then travel east or take a boat across the lake.”

“Where can I get a boat?”

“Well, I know a young man who owes you a favor that just might have a boat you could use.”

“Torn, maybe we could do some fishing while we go to the airport”

That was all it took for the boys to become excited. It wasn't the coats, it was the fishing.

The boys wanted to see the boat, Torn took them. When they came back, they weren’t as enthusiastic. “What's the matter?”

“It’s a row boat.”

We did take the rowboat and it wasn't that bad. The boys got a heavy coat and hat to match. I arrange to dump the waste. As for fresh water they said I could fill up but most people in the area use the lake water.

On the way back ,Torn had a line he dangled overboard , The boys and I where surprise when he pulled in a fish. He did this two more times and caught two more fish. The boys where ready to go fishing

News from the States were sporadic. The latest, that I heard, was the east coast was devastated and between the bombs and earthquakes, the west coast was obliterated. Most of the land mass was now in the sea.

I realized I would never be going back. I was safe, the boys were safe and that's all that mattered. What foolish leaders thought would never happen, happened. Now the country was in an uproar and I would believe the worst, if civil law hadn’t taken over. I was curious as to what the future be for the States. Hopefully they would have learned and not repeat their mistakes, but history says they’ll forget and are doomed to repeat.