Stan Morris: Surviving the Fog

Mike laughed. “I know the rules,” he called back. “Hell, I wrote most of them.”

At nightfall, they arrived at the Logging Road junction guard post. They spent the night around a campfire, laughing and telling old lies. In the morning, they waved goodbye to Ahmad and Rasul. The other four trudged up Logging Camp Road, until they came to the junction of Davis Brown Farm Road. They ate their supper around Mary’s table. The next morning, John informed Mike that they would ride the bikes when they left the farm. Mike was surprised and gratified to hear that. Mike said “good-bye” to the girls and boys living at the farm. He said “good-bye” to Mary and her kids. Finally, he turned to Ralph.

“You know, it might be a good idea to figure out some way to paint that barn,” he said.

“Yeah,” Ralph said as he chuckled. “I’ll get right on that.”

“And the chicken coop really should be expanded.”

“Good idea,” Ralph said with a smile.

“And the trout pond needs to be weeded around the edges.”

“Alright,” Ralph said.

“And the horse stalls could be mucked out a little better.”

“Chief.”

“And the solar walls need cleaning.”

“Get lost, Chief,” Ralph growled.

Mike started laughing. He climbed on his bike, and the four boys pedaled away, down the road.

“Get a haircut, Chief,” Ralph yelled.

Mike laughed and flipped him the finger.

The four boys bicycled past the teenagers at the guard post with a wave, as they began the difficult journey through the towering mountains. Sometimes, they were forced to get off and push their bikes uphill. Sometimes, they coasted downhill for a long way. Two days later, as the autumn sun was going down, they arrived at the old campsite beside the clear blue lake. White lilies had taken up residence among the fireweed and lady ferns. They spent the day fishing, relaxing, and giving John a hard time about Desi.

“Big talk from guys that aren’t getting any,” John replied.

That shut up Mike and Eric. John noticed that Jacob had not harassed him, and he had a good idea that Lily was the reason why. A dirt road led north from the lake. Jacob told them that he was going to ride his bike north for a day and then explore the terrain. He agreed to meet John and Eric in three days at their camp by the lake. Mike rode alongside Jacob to where the turnoff of the north road began. They got off their bikes and looked awkwardly at each other.

“Um… Jacob,” Mike said. “I was wondering why you didn’t want to come and get me, so I could help you guys with those people from the Retreat. Did you really think I had led you guys long enough, and that you guys needed to prove yourselves to me? Or did you think that all of the time I spent in Chief’s Headquarters meant that I was getting, like, soft or something? Or did you think there was not enough time to come get me?” He paused and looked expectantly at Jacob.

Jacob said, “Yes.”

Mike waited one moment more, and then he started laughing. “Bye, Jacob. Be careful,” he said.

“Thanks, Chief,” said Jacob. He got on his bike and rode away.

After watching until Jacob disappeared, Mike mounted his bike and rode back to where Eric and John were packing. Together, they rode northeast that day, until they came to a steep slope. The road climbed the slope by way of some switchbacks, and then it disappeared around the north side of the rocky mountain. At the bottom of the slope, they made their camp. In the morning, Mike said “good-bye” to John and Eric. He started the long climb up the slope, pushing his bike.

As Eric watched Mike, he asked John, “Why did you want me to come with you guys? I would have thought that you would have liked to be alone with Mike for this trip. You’re his best friend.”

“Are you kidding, dude?” said John. “You had to come and see him off. Shit, man, you’re the guy that started all this.”

“Me?” Eric said, surprised at John’s words. “What did I do?”

“You told us that we should be hearing someone on the radio phone, remember? After that is when Mike got serious,” John explained. “After that is when he started thinking about how we could survive on our own. A bunch of kids on our own. Hell, Mike was only thirteen.”

“Yeah, that’s right,” said Eric, remembering. “I always wondered why all of you older kids did whatever he told you to do.”

“We were scared, and he was the only one taking charge,” John answered. “Someone had to.”

John shaded his eyes from the early morning sun as he watched Mike reach the top of the slope.

“You know,” he remarked. “If Pete hadn’t gotten himself killed, we’d probably be living in Geek City. Yeeoowww!” John yelped when Eric used his spear to goose John between his legs.

“Geeks rule! Jocks drool!” cried Eric, laughing as he jumped on his bike and quickly rode away.

“Come back here, you little shit,” John yelled as he jumped on his own bike.

High above, on the slope where the road bent around the mountain, Mike was laughing as he watched the antics of his friends. He watched John chase Eric for a few minutes, and then he turned his bike, and he continued his journey around the mountain and down the other side.

That night, Mike made his camp in a green grassy vale, and then he turned in, early. The sky was clear, the moon was a thin crescent, and the stars were brilliant. He lay in his sleeping bag with his hands behind his head watching the skies. Occasionally a shooting star flashed by from the east. He was truly alone for the first time in years. There was no one within miles of him.

He thought about his lost family, and he dripped tears for a while. But inevitably, his thoughts wandered back to Petersburg. He hoped that his friends were happy. He hoped that his community was safe. He hoped that they would all survive and grow, and that one day when the fog was gone, and when someone from outside made contact with them, those who found them would find a thriving vibrant town.

The next day he pedaled hard, only stopping for a few minutes. At dusk, he was hailed and told to stop.

“Who are you?” a man in a uniform asked.

“I’m Mike,” he said. “I’m from Petersburg.”

“Hold on.”

One of the soldiers was sent to the rear. He came back, and then Mike was allowed into the post. He was escorted to another soldier.

“You say your name is ‘Mike?’ And you’re from Petersburg? And you made your way here alone?” she asked skeptically. Later, he learned that she was Sergeant Annie Jenkins.

“Yes, and I have a letter from the Mayor of Petersburg that’s addressed to Major Collins,” Mike replied.

“I’ll take that,” she said brusquely.

“I’ll give it to the Major personally,” Mike replied.

She scowled. “Fine,” she said. They found Mike a billet and even offered him a meal, which he accepted.

Mike had planned to leave the following morning, but when daylight arrived, he was told that he would have to wait until the following day, when Sergeant Jenkins was leaving for the main Army post. His bike was confiscated for use by the Army.

So he cooled his heels for a day, and then he was allowed to accompany Sergeant Jenkins. The bike was returned to him and Jenkins rode another, so they made the trip in two days. When they arrived at the palisade, she led Mike to the building that housed Major Collins’ office, and then Sergeant Jenkins told Mike to take a seat outside the inner office while she went in to see the Major.

“Sir, I have a civilian in custody who says he has a letter for you from the Mayor of Petersburg,” Mike heard her say to Major Collins.

“Really? Well, show him in, Sergeant,” the Major replied.