Ray Gorham - Daunting Days of Winter

A few telegraph operators witnessed sparks leaping from their equipment, while others saw papers ignite. In Boston, operators unplugged their telegraph equipment batteries and were still able to operate on the current provided by the aurora. In other areas, telegraph wires shorted out and fell to the ground, triggering isolated wildfires.

The solar anomaly of 1859, a mild curiosity at the time, has since become known as the Carrington Event and has been determined to be the most powerful geomagnetic storm on record. Because the world was technologically primitive at the time, the impact was limited to a heightened aurora, damaged telegraph equipment, and some unexpected shocks for a few telegraph operators.

Historically, such storms occur about once every hundred years. If one were to happen today, most scientists predict that the impact would be similar to that of a global scale EMP, causing trillions of dollars in damage worldwide. Beyond the damage and the dollars, however, the loss of our electrical and computer infrastructure would be devastating. It would impact the world significantly, and send every nation back in time, perhaps to a lifestyle not unlike that of 1859.

Friday, November 18 th

Deer Creek, MT

Kyle gently stroked the back of Jennifer’s hand. “I still can’t believe I’m actually home. I’ve dreamed about this so many times that I’m terrified I’m going to wake up.” Emotions remained close to the surface.

Jennifer laughed. “You keep saying that. We’re real, Kyle. Believe it. Our family really is back together again.” She grabbed his hand, squeezing warmly with both of hers and kissing the back of it. Spencer had fallen asleep on the couch between them with his head resting in Kyle’s lap, and he stirred, mumbling something that neither of them could make out, then wiggled his shoulders and drifted off to sleep again.

“He’s gotten taller.”

Jennifer nodded. “You said the same thing about Emma and David. Also told us we all look skinnier. But you can say it again if you want. You can say anything at all, as long as you promise never to be gone again.” She could feel tears bubbling up and dabbed at her eyes as her voice trailed off.

Kyle squeezed his wife’s hand and rubbed her foot with his. He tried to make eye contact with her, but she was looking out the small window, staring at the sliver of a moon that hung in the night sky. “Don’t worry. I don’t ever plan on being away from you again. Besides, my legs are so tired from walking, I don’t think I could go another mile, especially if it’s away from you.”

Jennifer let out a long, deep breath and closed her eyes, pressing Kyle’s hand against her cheek. “Your hands are rough. I don’t remember them being like this,” she said, her voice soft and sleepy.

“You should have seen the blisters I had the first few weeks. I didn’t realize how soft I was before all this happened.”

“I like them. I know why they’re rough; it means something to me.” Jennifer tried unsuccessfully to fight off a yawn. “Have I mentioned how good you look with a beard?”

Kyle nodded. “A couple of times. I don’t agree, but who am I to question your taste.”

Spencer stirred again and moaned, then rubbed his eyes as he shifted positions. Emma sat on the other side of Kyle, leaning against the armrest with one leg draped over Kyle’s leg and an arm behind his back.

“I’m tired,” Emma said, yawning. “But I don’t want to go to bed.”

The fire in the fireplace cracked and popped and lit the room in a dancing, honey-yellow hue. “You can stay up as long as you want, Em. It’s not every day your dad gets home after walking across the country. He’ll be here tomorrow, too. Isn’t that wonderful?” Jennifer paused, then continued in a halting voice. “So don’t think you have to stay up all night.”

“I won’t stay up too late,” Emma answered. “Just a little while longer.”

Kyle turned as David pulled himself out of the recliner he was resting in. “The fire needs more wood,” he said as he stood.

“I’ll get it, Son. You sit down. Don’t strain yourself.” Kyle started to gently move Spencer off of him, but David protested.

“I’m fine, Dad. You’re just like Mom and Mrs. Jeffries. They worry about me all the time. My wound doesn’t really even hurt anymore. I can get the wood. I’m not a cripple.”

“I know. I know. But if you tear it open, it could be dangerous. You know as much as anyone what the situation is.”

David smiled. “Got it, Dad. You can go back to staring at Mom. I’ll put more wood on the fire so there’s enough light for you to see her.”

“Maybe we don’t want the lights on,” Jennifer said playfully, her emotions temporarily back under control.

Emma made a gagging sound. “If you guys start kissing again, I’m going to be sick. I’ve never seen so much kissing in all my life.”

“Emma, you’re nine,” David said as he placed a log on the fire. “I’m guessing you haven’t seen much kissing, besides Mom and Dad.”

“You’re one to talk, David; you don’t even have a girlfriend.”

“How do you know I don’t have a girlfriend? You follow me around all day?”

“Kids. Cut it out,” Jennifer said, giving them a look. “Dad didn’t walk all this way to listen to you fight. I’m sure he could have stayed in Texas and found some other kids to do that.”

Kyle grinned. “This feels normal. Not you guys arguing, well, okay, I guess that is kind of normal, but just being together, talking, listening, touching. This feels normal. It feels right.” Kyle choked up, and Jennifer’s eyes glistened in the firelight.

“Mom cries a lot too. So don’t feel embarrassed,” Emma said matter-of-factly. “We’ve all gotten used to it. Didn’t know it was contagious though.”

“You’re such a ditz, Emma,” David said as he returned to his seat. “Mom, why couldn’t I have had two brothers?”

Kyle reached out and pulled Emma into him, burying her face in his chest. “Don’t say that about my only little girl, David. She might be ditz, but she’s the only ditz I’ve got, so you’d better treat her well.”

Emma let out a muffled yell.

“Am I smothering you?” Kyle asked, relaxing his embrace. “Or is my smell killing you?”

“A little bit of both, actually,” Emma said as she leaned back against the armrest. “But you’re not the only one who stinks.”

Kyle laughed as he tussled her hair. Jennifer leaned forward and glared warmly at her daughter, her lips hinting at a smile.

“What? He does kind of smell.”

“What’s gotten into you, little girl? I can’t remember the last time you had this much spunk. Are you feeling alright?”

Emma shrugged. “I’m just glad Dad’s home.”

“I’m sorry I smell so bad, Em. It’s been a few days since I had a bath. For some reason the motels were all closed. Maybe I can get cleaned up a little better tomorrow. Hopefully Carol won’t mind if I make an even bigger mess of her bathroom.”

“You smell just fine to me,” Jennifer said as she leaned back into the couch. “And Carol has repeatedly told us to make ourselves at home here.”

“I spit bathed with a wet towel a couple of times this week, but the river was awfully cold, so it was short and sweet. Those clothes I was wearing, they should probably be burned just to keep us safe.”

“We’re not burning any clothes. We make everything last. We’ll set you up with a real bath tomorrow. There’s a crew that brings water up from the river every morning. It’s not our day for bath water, but I’m sure they’ll make an exception. Your showing up here has really made a difference in the mood of the community. I actually saw a lot of people smiling for the first time.”