Paul Kirk - Devastation Point

“There’s signs of recent activity here, Mac,” said Marty.

“I agree. What’re you seeing?”

“A fresh minicamp to the left near the inbound entrance.”

“Good catch.”

Rusting cars clogged both tunnel entrances as they stared the one hundred feet of visible distance into the tunnels ahead of them. Looking further into the tunnels, cars were packed all the way in until darkness shrouded any further assessment. Using binoculars, there was the proverbial light at the other end.

“You want us to go through that? I’m not liking that idea,” said McLeod.

“What about we go left down that ramp there? How ’bout that?” said Jackson.

“Huh,” said Connor.

“You said we’re going south of Pittsburgh, wouldn’t that way do it?”

“Ahh. Yeah, Jackson, your bearing is right.”

“Don’t much like the idea of running into that tunnel. Gives me the creeps.”

“Yeah,” volunteered Jason in agreement with Jackson.

“What’s on the other side of the tunnel, Mac?” asked Roger.

“Hmm, yeah, we could take that road down to East Carson and out that way like Jackson suggests, I guess,” said Connor, thinking, “But, you know guys, I’d love to revisit my hidden cache of weapons and supplies.”

“A weapons cache?” asked McLeod. His eyes sparkled with a sudden interest.

“Yeah.”

“What you talkin’ about?” asked Marty.

“Well, I socked away a decent stash of supplies from before the Sickness.”

“For real?” Marty remained skeptical.

“Not too far off of Route 51 on the other side.”

“No shit?” said Marty.

“Is that right, Mac?” asked McLeod. His face perked up at the possibility.

“Yeah. Route 51 runs north/south on the other side of the Tubes,” said Connor.

“Tubes?”

“Oh, yeah. That’s what we call the Liberty Tunnels in Pittsburgh. It a local nickname.”

“Uh, huh,” said McLeod, “ and you have a cache on the other side somewhere?”

“I do. I stockpiled a nice batch of stuff hidden behind a wall in a coal cellar at 910 Brownsville Road.” Connor looked to Cody. “Cody, keep binoculars focused on the Tubes for me. Let me know if you see anything.”

“Yes sir, Mr. Connor Mac.”

“Sir is fine, Cody. Please, just call me, sir.” Connor smiled.

“Yes, sir .” Cody beamed at this new development.

Keeping the area around them secure, the team settled close and listened, waiting to hear more. Connor studied the tunnels, particularly the right side outbound tunnel. He turned to the team. “Marty, you and I could scout it. Come back if the Tubes are clear.”

“Okay.”

“Tell me more about this cache, Mac?” asked McLeod.

“Ahh, it’s just a little something I hid away for a rainy day.”

“As in food?”

“Sure, some good Jasmine white rice packed vacuum-tight for starters. Probably still good. Some canned food. Whiskey.”

“Mac and cheese?” asked Roger, before Rhonda slapped his arm.

“Huh? Yeah, Rog, Kraft… only the best. If I remember right, forty boxes. Sealed up tight. Might still be good, I dunno. Threw some of those silica packets in with it to keep it dry.”

“Did you say whiskey?” asked Jackson.

“I did.”

“What kind?”

“Jack.”

“Any Jim?”

“Who the hell drinks Jim? I got Jack.” Connor smiled at Jackson in challenge to his whiskey preference.

“I guess I could live with that. How much you got?”

“You’ll have to see, Jackson. But, you, me and maybe Marty and BB could drink real hard for a week or two at least.”

“Oh, man.”

“Weapons?” asked John McLeod.

“Duh.”

“Worth the trip?”

“Why not? It’s a good short-term goal and has stuff we need. Would I risk the team if it wasn’t?”

“We got most of what we need already, Mac,” said Jackson. The thought of pushing through the dark tunnels was making him a bit nervous.

“I probably have over $5,000 worth of supplies in there.”

“You’re kiddin’!” said Rhonda, shocked.

“Wow!” said Jackson and Marty at the same time.

“Ah, huh. And, that’s after I set it up to be undetectable. Most of the food’s vacuumed sealed along with desiccants.”

“Desiccants?” asked Cody. He had not turned around from watching the tunnels, but was listening intently.

“The silica stuff. Keeps stuff fresh and dry.”

“Oh.”

Connor studied the tunnel entrance formulating a plan.

“What for?” asked Rhonda.

“What for what?”

“Why’d you make this stash?” asked Rhonda.

“ Cache is the proper term. I dunno. For shits and giggles back when I was young and if the world ever went apocalyptic… like now, I guess.”

“$5,000 in supplies?” asked Marty.

“About that, Surf Boy. I stopped counting around then. But, I’d say my paranoia was right on all counts,” said Connor. Lost in thought, he continued to stare at the outbound tunnel entrance.

“You mean to tell me you packed away $5,000 in supplies and weapons ‘just-in-case’ and hidden in some house nearby?” asked Marty.

“That’s correct. I hid the stuff at 910 Brownsville Road. By the way, that happens to be directly across the road from the 915 Brownsville Road address that I referenced on the map I left at the mill. You know, just in the event somebody is looking to find us.”

“C’mon, Mac,” said McLeod, “You’re not blowing smoke up our asses, are you?”

“Nah… I’m not. I liked to be prepared some… back in the day.” Connor laughed in remembrance.

“Wow. That’s some pre-planning. Though, I guess I’m not that surprised about it,” said McLeod, “knowing you.”

“Huh. I started when I was young, early in my military career. And it kept building, you know perfecting it little by little. Sort of like a hobby.”

“Uh huh,” said McLeod, “Some hobby.”

“It was before… before, ahh, before I had other more important expenses.”

“Damn,” said Marty.

“Yeah, Surf Boy. See what you signed onto here?” suggested Connor.

“Copy that.”

“And, it’s well hidden, that’s for sure.”

“No scavengers?”

“I’d be seriously shocked if anyone’s found it. The damn place could burn down around it and it’d still be good. Designed it myself back in the day. For fun mostly… it’s quite the little vault hidden behind that cellar wall.”

“Was it your house?”

“No. Grandma’s.”

“What else you got in it?” risked Cody, listening with awe. He did glance back when asking the question.

“Name it.”

“Candy?”

“Ahh, yeah, some hard candy. Not much. Again, vacuum-packed and double wrapped.”

“Wow. What kind?”

“I don’t recall. Wait, umm, JuJu something’s in one container. My brother Andy’s idea. Gobstoppers in the other for Ryan. Jolly Ranchers for my sisters.”

“How many boxes?”

“Not boxes. Separate gallon containers in Ziplocs.”

“Think it’s still good?”

“Dunno. Shelf life under normal conditions has certainly expired. I guess we’d have to see.”

“What else?” asked Marty.

“Well, ahh, complete survival gear packs set for five. A few nice weapons that I’d love to have. You’d have to see.”

“And?” asked Rhonda. Roger smiled at her building curiosity.

“Yeah, there’s some other foods, too, Rhonda. Some purified water and five Camel water packs with three-liter water sippers for each. I set five Coyote’s preloaded for deep travel.”

“Those’re some nice packs. Wow,” said Jackson. He touched his Coyote pack in admiration.