M. Banner - Desolation

Darla sat in her favorite soft chair—a house warming gift from Herb—in their “new” living area, with the baby crib beside her. Her chair was pointed toward the outer opening to their cave home, giving her the best light. She uncapped the fountain pen and began her next journal entry.

We settled into our cave home almost right away, and waited for the happy day. On that day, thirteen days ago, we named him—yes, it was a boy just as Mom and I had said—Thomas, after his grandfather Thomas John Parkington Jr. In Steve’s family, Thomas was pronounced “Tomas” and so that is how we pronounce it. However, as it was custom here, first by Herb and then everyone else, we started calling him Toma right away.

Two days later, Olivia and Wilber’s baby was born, and they named her Emma, after Olivia’s friend Emma who died at Wilber’s ranch in Illinois. Oh, they resisted calling their daughter Em at first, but within days, they gave in.

This strange cave home of ours felt a little isolated at first, as we were the only ones here saying goodnight to the evening’s crickets and the green auroras. Then, the men finished Herb’s cave three away from ours. He preferred his view of the entrance to the oval. As water flows through a now broken dam, once Herb relocated from his ranch home, so did everyone else. Miguel, Maria, and their daughter, Ana, took the first cave, next to ours, saying that they were worried about Ana falling. I knew from Dad that since their episode on the roofs of the burnt houses in Mexico, Miguel admitted he was deathly afraid of heights.

Now the place is a buzz of activity. Before long, when the rest of the caves are complete, everyone will be living here.

Everyone, that is, but Mom, Dad, Sally, and Max. They continue to stay in Herb’s wood and stucco house, because they’ve decided to go to Cicada. Although I am sad at the thought of their leaving, I understand. They feel they are on a quest with Max and can contribute to maybe one day fixing what has messed up our earth. That discussion will come soon, and I’m not looking forward to it.

For our own protection, we stay out of the sun and work mostly during the full shadow of late afternoon and evening. We sleep during the heat of the day. We all wear long-sleeved clothing and hats during our time in the sun, making sure all of our skin is covered. Max, Dad and Jos—yes, that’s Joselin—came up with a salve from a local tree bark that has a natural SPF in it. Jos’s mother, even though she was a city dweller, taught her all sorts of holistic healing. Lucky for us, it stuck. So we cover our day clothes and all our exposed skin in this.

Speaking of Jos, the new love story is Jos and Herb’s son, Jas. I know Jos and Jas… you can’t make this stuff up! A few days ago, while I was in labor, I guess Jas gave Jos “the eye,” as she tells it, and from that moment on, they’ve been a couple. Jas doesn’t seem to mind Jos missing a leg, often using it as the beginning of a joke, like in, “Yesterday we were searching for Jos’s leg, when we found instead…” We’re all excited because, although Jos is a little older than Jas, they’re perfect together.

This is a community, probably not a lot unlike the tribe that occupied this place a thousand years ago. We work, sleep, laugh, and cry together as one community. And even though we don’t have many of the things we so depended on, I feel our life, in a way, is so much more full for not having them.

We all look forward to the times when, in the evening after work, we all come together and share stories about our lives before the Event. Who knew, but Stepha… I mean Steve (see, Herb has me doing it too) turned out to be a great story teller, repeating what he had read and heard, frequently telling others’ tales better than they could tell them. Often he embellishes on the stories adding his own wonderful flourish.

“Are you ready?” Steve popped his head in the door and knelt down in front of her. He looked at his wife’s solemn face. He looked much more melancholy. “It’s time.” Her face sank.

It was the day she had dreaded but had known it would come soon. It was the day they had to say goodbye.

Max had the Blazer packed for the next part of their journey. With Wilber’s and Herb’s help, he was able to completely fix all the engine problems they were having. They didn’t have the electrical tools like they did in the past, but they had an unlimited supply of parts, from a seemingly endless number of cars at a dump only a few hours ride from here.

This was going to be a tough goodbye as the Kings and Max were not likely to see Darla, Steve, and little Toma for a long time, maybe never. After losing their son but reuniting with their daughter, Bill and Lisa were hesitant to separate again. Staying here was certainly tempting. Herb had done a marvelous job of creating this community from the ancient ruins of a lost Indian tribe. Max could see the draw of this place. It was sort of mystic, but more than that, it had the one natural resource that few others could count on: fresh water, at least for now.

Max almost hated pushing the Kings to make this decision, but it was time. They had stayed long enough to witness their grandson’s birth and spend time getting to know him and their son-in-law. Now they had to leave, or at least he did. He wanted to give them one more chance to say no, to be sure that they wanted to make this pilgrimage.

Steve walked into the ranch house, with Darla beside him clutching baby Toma in a cross-body sling over her right shoulder. It was similar to a design she had seen in a book in Herb’s library, about the Indian tribe who had occupied this place. Funny how some designs work just as well one thousand years later. The Kings were already seated in the great room that used to be Herb’s study and their living room.

“It’s that time, when I have to go,” Max said slowly. “Before I say anything more, Herb, you’ve done an amazing job with this place. If I didn’t believe I could make a difference, I would stay here with you and this beautiful community that has formed around you.”

Herb acknowledged with a smile and nodded his thanks.

“I also feel great about Darla and Steve and their son, Toma, living here, knowing that they will be able to forge a fruitful life here together. That said, Bill, Lisa, and Sally, I want you to reconsider coming with me and stay here.”

Bill stood and was about to offer a rebuttal, but Max cut him off.

“Sorry friend, but let me finish first. Then I want you three to discuss it once more before you make your final decision.

“As I was saying, I think you should stay now. Obviously, if you do, I will miss you all deeply. It’s true that I think your talents would be invaluable to Cicada, but I don’t want to be the cause of another separation from your family. Life is short, and who knows how much time we have left, so I couldn’t blame you for wanting to stay. It is a rich and safe place to be.” Max paused for a bit and then finished with, “I’m going to wait outside.”

They were quiet while he left through the squeaky front door.

Bill spoke first. “But what happens if…” he trailed off.

Lisa picked up the thread. “Wait, that’s not what he said….”

They seemed torn and unable to complete their thoughts, their words mirroring their indecision.

Sally stepped in and with confidence announced, “Well, know this, whatever you decide to do, I’m going with Max. I feel I need to do this. I still have a skill, but it’s not for farming and ranching. I’m just not cut out for that. I need to be looking at code or tapping away on a computer. I’m hopeful that I can make a contribution at Cicada and that my contribution helps this world. I owe this to my brother, just as much as I do to my sister and my nephew.”