Big Storm's a Comin
17
"I need some thumb tacks or tape." we heard Danny say from the front room. "Here," Penny said getting up from her desk. "Is that it?" "Yes, The classes will start the 27th. As soon as John and Bobby get a chance they'll bring you a list of what everyone will need for the classes; you are going to handle the signup sheets and permission slips right?" he said over his shoulder as he walked in my office. "Guess you heard, after Christmas John and the boys are going to conduct open survival classes and do a couple of workshops on how to make weapons, snow shoes, animal snares, and stuff. We figured if things get really bad they might need it to survive." "Really I thought those classes had already started, when you requisitioned the snow shoes and skis in the first place." "Well we had to learn to walk in them, didn't we; they'll need backup instructors for the classes?" ***** "Want to walk over with us and see what all they have at the Auction. Lizzie's itching to buy something so we'll probably stop at the stores too if we don't find what we want at the auction." "Sure why not. Between the snow and the Holidays and how organized this place is becoming I was actually looking for something to do anyway. Besides I hear the new patrol recruits are getting lessons in cross country sking and snow shoeing out by the road and it's hilarious to watch even if it will make everything easier being able to walk on top the snow instead of trying to wade through it when they get the hang of handling them." I was standing in front of a sculpture created by Anya, one of the art students who had worked on the stained glass pieces up on the ridge when Paula walked up. "If the piece interests you Ms Jo I can find out when the bidding will start on it." ***** "Starr, I need a voucher for 60 work credit hours, maybe more. I left Amy and Tina at the Auction." Kevin said coming in the office. "What did you decide to buy? You know your Mom placed a bid on something over there too - some sort of sculpture." "I heard, did she get it? Kevin said taking the vouchers Starr handed him. "I don't know, you'll have to ask her. Here, I authorized you for 250 credits if you need more let me know. You didn't tell me what you bought." "A sculpture titled 'Mother and Child' and another one called 'The Everlasting Gift' by Anya." he whispered in her ear and put a finger to his lips. ***** The play had been fabulous; afterwards I came back to the house to take a bath and then relaxed and read for a while. My intention was to read until just before midnight and then prepare the alter room for a private ritual - I wanted to go up on the ridge as soon as the sun came up but Mother Judy said the roads would be almost undrivable by morning so I best do whatever it was I was going to do at home. ***** "Mom, have you been out here all night?" Danny said waking me up and stoking up the fire when he came in. "I guess so. I was going to read for a while before my ritual, what time is it anyway?" "A little before 8:00, the older kids are delivering stockings and people are visiting and leaving or exchanging gifts. I was actually sent over to deliver a message and let Ms Cora and Mother Judy know they are invited to have Christmas brunch with the family. Everyone will be here about 11:00. Starr and Lizzie are cooking and the others are helping." "Hey Dad, you been over to the cabin yet, because you might want to throw some sand down before you go after the ladies." ***** "According to the National Weather Service there's a major Winter Storm coming in and we are supposed to get freezing rain or snow depending on the temperatures when it hits." Andy said over breakfast. "Either way I guess we'd better figure on losing power again and ice might interfere with the solar and wind power too." "I's dun tol you to be ready. We be alright sur nuff but we needs to star watchin who cummin here from now on lots closer then we has been. We got time to talk bout that later though I reckin we oughta open them presens now an then Ms Jo can tell us bout her dream." "One of you all go on an han them out. I's mighty anxous to see what I got." ***** Mother Judy and Cora received shared or identical gifts from everyone, there was a set of 6 flags from the chidren; red for 'S.O.S, blue for need assistance, the yellow smiley face meant 'story time', purple was 'coming out' green was Cora's and pink was Mother Judy's so they could signal for help or someone to pick up supplies for them. They also both got a set of moccasins with attached snow shoes and deer skin robes, crochet bed throws, plus a collection of teas and chocolate and other snacks and an album of photographs and drawings with notes from everyone showing every important happening at Sanctuary from the beginning and a sculpture titled Christ Risen by Anya. ***** When everyone had opened their gifts Lizzie and Starr went in to make hot chocolate and cut the Yule Log for snacks. "Mom there's one more gift for you; you need to go check your alter room," Amy said. ***** "Okay. It be time fo you to tell us bout that dream of yours. You can skip the part bout the storm, we already knows it comin soon - real soon - may be even fore New Year." "Yes, I'm afraid so, The Goddess also warns that winter will last until almost Summer whatever that means so we need to plant everything we can that will grow under heat or solar anywhere we can and hope we can stretch the fresh foods. She also showed me 4 new graves up on the ridge in the family graveyard and said they would each hold a piece of our hearts meaning the ones buried there would be a part of our families." "She showed me an RV almost buried in a snow bank and said we needed to start patroling the roads looking for survivors and that David should be on the watch for his Soulmate - that she was his future as well as this country's hope." "I'm also supposed to have Kevin and his people set up a quarantine area away from the main living areas and get people trained to care for the sick, but there is some good news." "Missy should be home by Candlemas, she's traveling with an ex marine that The Mother says several of you know; and I'm also supposed to remind Mother Judy she is not invincible. That's it. I can't tell you anymore right now." "Oh, there is one more thing." "Seems we are getting a name change. Sometime before the New Year Sanctuary will become Sanct-u-iry thanks to Mother Judy." ***** Later that day one of the kids who manned the Hamm Radio at all times came hurrying out of the Communications room. "We're getting something on the radio, hurry." she said. ***** %#^^ Houston and Dallas 25000 injured or dead. Washington ^$$%# total blackout $$#$% isolated areas spared. Martial Law^%$^ Bombings ^%$^ Europe ^%*^President rumored ^%#^ Portland ***** "That's it? That's all you got?" Wes asked. "So far Sir, we didn't want to loose it before giving whoever it was a chance to come back on - Dad said we shouldn't transmitt except in an emergency; that a transmission would be like sending up a flare and draw attention we may not want." Cindy answered. "Smart man. Give it another 10 minutes and then go back to searching the air waves, we need to increase our range somehow. I'll send in some food and drinks and a couple of people to relieve you both for a spell." ***** "Well Wes, what do you think? Danny asked when he'd joined us back in the main room. "Given what the kids are picking up on the radio and the sworn statements of Mr Barker's client whose name I've seen somewhere that I am not at liberty to discuss and some of the things I witnessed myself before I managed to get out of DC I'd say the possibility of the government going into seclusion is likely. Add to this the visions and dreams Ms Jo and a few others have experienced and I think we better assume we're on our own; at least for now and we need to start being extra diligent about who we let in."
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