No Ordinary Day , Tate, Harley [ebook offline .TXT] 📗

thrown at them. “So instead of warehousing transformers in case we might need them, electrical companies only order them when actually necessary?”

“Correct. That’s why when a tree takes out a transformer, it can be up to a week for it to be replaced. Often times, the area can be bypassed short term, and neighborhoods can come back online, but not always.”

Holly piped up. “We had that happen last year. A big old oak cracked in a thunderstorm and landed on the power lines down the street. The big metal thing on the pole caught fire. It took the power company nine days to restore power. They said it was because of the number of outages, but my dad didn’t believe them.”

“They weren’t lying, exactly, but the lack of available equipment definitely slowed them down.”

“I had no idea.” Emma couldn’t wrap her head around the implications. “So, you’re saying that everywhere across the country is suffering from blown transformers and melted equipment? And we don’t have enough materials to fix it?”

“Yep.”

“So, what happens to the country?”

“Just what I said: chaos.”

Emma shuddered at the thought.

“No electricity means no financial markets, no logistics, no supply chain. No heat. No lights at night. No refrigeration.”

“It’s like we’re thrown back into the pre-industrial revolution.”

“Except no one knows how to farm, or raise livestock, or do any of the things that used to be a necessity.”

It was too overwhelming. Emma couldn’t think about the ramifications of Eugene’s words. If even a fraction of what he explained were true, then life as she knew it was over. She glanced at Holly. The poor girl looked like she might throw up. “Don’t worry. It can’t be as bad as all that.”

“That’s what I keep telling him,” Patty offered. “Come on, Eugene. You need to stop scaring people with all this talk.”

He reached out and took his girlfriend’s hand. “I’m just trying to prepare them, hon. That’s all.”

All this time, John hadn’t asked a single question. As the group fell into a strained silence, he excused himself and walked into the tree line.

Emma watched him for a moment until she realized what he must be up to and turned before heat raced up her cheeks. “You two hungry? We have a bit of food. Happy to share.”

Chapter Fourteen

Emma

No one felt much like talking after parting company with Eugene and Patty on the outskirts of town. Congested business districts with every fast food imaginable and countless gas stations gave way to rolling hills and pastured horses. Emma hadn’t driven this far outside of her bubble of work and home in months.

Not since everything went crazy with CropForward.

She’d only been to Gloria and Raymond’s cabin once; about a year before when Gloria invited her for a long girl’s weekend. It was one of those places where you forgot the world existed. All alone on about twenty acres, nothing but trees and a creek and the occasional deer. The Sanchez family could ride out whatever happened with the power grid and CropForward in the relative safety of the woods.

“Do you believe all those things Eugene said?” Holly’s question brought Emma back to the present. “About the power grid and what might happen?” Holly had retreated into herself after the midday conversation, shoving earbuds in her ears and cranking up her music. It must have taken her that long to process.

“I don’t know.” Emma wished she did, but everything had gone sideways. “If what Eugene said is true…”

“The world just got a hell of a lot more complicated.” John spoke for the first time in an hour. “We need to do some reconnaissance. Find out more information.”

“And how do you propose we do that?” She said it with more venom than she’d intended, but John didn’t take the bait. Emma softened. “Sorry. I’m just hungry and tired.” She checked her watch. Past dinner. The sun would be setting soon. “We should look for a place to rest. I’m not sure how much more progress I can make tonight.”

“I’m exhausted,” Holly groaned. “Tank is, too.”

An exit loomed and John pointed toward it. “We can head off the highway here, see if there’s a place off the road we can camp out.”

Holly yanked her earbuds out. “You want us to sleep outside?”

“Why not?”

As if in response, a fat raindrop plopped on Emma’s nose. She pointed toward the sky. “Because I think we’re about to get soaked.” As she spoke, the sky opened up, dumping an instant, soaking downpour on their heads.

Holly shrieked and took off running, duffel bag bouncing against her back with every step. John pulled a ball cap from his bag and tugged it low over his eyes before stuffing his hands in his pockets and picking up the pace.

It didn’t take long for the rain to soak Emma to the bone. Her blouse clung to her skin, rain dripped off her eyelashes, and her brand-new sneakers squished with each step.

Up ahead, Holly stood at a T-intersection, head on a swivel. “There’s nothing here. Not even a gas station.” Tank crowded beside her, ears flat and tail tucked.

She was right; they had definitely left civilization behind. Emma came to a stop beside her. In the distance, only one light glowed. “Look over there. Is that a house?”

Holly held a hand up to shield her eyes as she squinted. “Maybe. You think they would let us in?”

“We shouldn’t risk it,” John offered. “It’s better to keep going.”

“We’re still miles from Gloria’s.” Emma shook her head. “I’m freezing. Holly and Tank are miserable. It’s worth a shot.”

“We don’t know what we’d be walking into.” John seemed adamant, but Emma didn’t agree.

She glanced at Tank, shivering beside Holly, and made up her mind. “We can’t stay out here. If you don’t want to come with us, fine. But we’re going to try.” Emma ushered Holly toward the light. “The worst that happens is they turn us away.”

“If that’s what you think, then you’re even more naïve than I gave you credit for.” John called