From Disaster Comes Good by D.A.Sanford - HTML preview

Finding a real family

We now have been living together for a few months and I find that I am seeing something that I never saw in the years that I was married to the other. This is concern for others and also there is no ulterior motives. I now realize that this was never present in that marriage.

I am relaxed. Even the cats have allowed them into their pack. Some grudgingly will even deem to grace their laps when the children sit down. The funny thing is, is that the girls have found out the necessity for closing the bathroom door and making sure that it is locked. A few times we heard a desperate call for help but specifically for Sharon to come. The report was that the cat saw a lap and climbed up. Only problem is that Sharlene was relieving herself. Sharon tried her hardest not to laugh. The orange cat was ushered out. For a few days, Sharlene gave the orange cat the stink eye.

She did, for a while, bring a chair in there, locked the door and wedge the chair under the knob. The orange cat brought her some gifts but I will give her credit. She looked at the gifts and then asked if this was his way of telling her he was sorry. The orange just rubbed her leg and then went to sleep in my chair.

Their relationship had been salvaged, so he brought a few more strays here. It is almost like he is collection them. We cannot blame him. Now there is a distinct smoke smell.

During normal times, when there were wild fires in an adjacent country and the wind was in our direction, we would smell the smoke. What we are smelling is like that so we are really not that concerned. But.

The hide is not the best for children but they find ways to entertain themselves. I had stocked this shelter as I did the other. There is a library of sorts. A lot of survival and text books. Sharon is making them do some studying. They do know the basics of math, can read and write so she is having them learn the survival ones especially the first aid.

The children have found the adventure books and those light novels about other worlds. They do play at those stories. Those games stimulate their minds and we do encourage it. When it boils down, to remain alive, we must remain caged.

Sharon and I talk frequently about the need to get them out of here but the wars always win out. The ham operators tell of the world that it is not good. The world is literally burning out of control. his cave system may be the only safe spot but that will be deep with air filters.

I tell her that those children and her, All of you have become dear to me. You are the family I did not have. I am going to hike to the top of this mountain and see what I can see. I want to see an escape route if we need it.

She is worried but sees the necessity of it. “If the need comes, we need to drive out of here. While you are gone, I will look at the supplies that we may need on the road.” I start to climb but the cats are now blocking me. They do not want me to go.

I bypass them but as I get higher, I cannot help to see the glow of fire. It is not far away and it looks all encompassing. To escape, our only option is to go deep. If that will help. I get a bad feeling that one side or the other unleashed something that has gone out of control.

We need to monitor the ham bands when they go out, not if.

Sharon and I need to have a private talk about the children and our future.

I turn around and the orange is leading me back. I ask Sharon to follow me down the tunnels to scope out the lower levels. When we go deep, I lay out what I saw. Telling her that the smoke is from fires close, not far. They seem totally out of control and all consuming.

She sits down on a rock and weeps. “There is no escape?”

“None. The cats did not want me to go further and I saw why. The only thing for us is down here and let it pass. Then what?”

Neither of us want to broach the subject. I figure that I need to.

“There are sleeping drugs in the medical stores. If it comes down to it, I will spike your drinks with that sleep agent and then end all of us. None of you will feel anything. We will go on to the final life together.”

I know that I am lying. I intend to do murder suicide. Not something that lets me into anything other than oblivion. All I care about is my family’s safe passage. I don’t count. It is the only last thing I can do for my family.

We agree to keep this plan to ourselves and start to fix up the bottom floors. We tell them that the fires will pass over us but we need to go to the lower levels just in case. Ann says something that startles us.

“The cats will not let us come to harm. They led us to you grandpa, they have a plan.”

The other three nod in affirmation. We let them have their beliefs.

Grandpa?

The thoughts I am having are killing me. Grandpa? Yes I do feel that way. There has to be a way, I’ll find it even if it kills me. I need to go out and this time I’ll walk down the access road. I need to see just how wide the fire is. If it is not too wide, we can insulate the inside of the box to protect the children. I have to find something.

I let Sharon know what I am doing. Unfortunately I find that I cannot approach the fire wall. I can barely see anything through. The wild cat has followed me and now is between me and the fire. It is like he is pushing me back to the hide.

“Okay, I’ll go back. There is no hope. How about I put down some of the sleeping medicine for your group. We’ll all wake in the final life. How’s that sound.”

All I get is a huff and a growl.

When I get back to the hide, she knows. All we can do is listen to the radio and hope.