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Post by ncsfsgm on Mar 5, 2022 15:46:42 GMT -6
Diluvium
Chapter 1 - The Beginning
They didn't even see it coming. Their attention was on the first asteroid that was going to be coming to close to the earth. It was seen first 46 years ago and it's rotational path brought it even closer to Earth. They were certain there would be a fireball and it would skip off the atmosphere and not return for another 46 years. But the asteroid held an even deeper threat shadowing it that would be a life changer for millions of people and a bringer of death for millions more.
Thirty-two years previously……
Liam Boyle looked through the trash that usually ended up in his Inbox at his mundane government job. A notice caught his eye. There was a land auction for a decommissioned NSA Antenna site in east Tennessee. The notice was two months old but he decided to call the number on the notice and see if the land had been sold. The woman at the number said the auction was on-going and would end on the last day of the month. So far, they had received no bids. Liam decided to put in a bid and got the information from her for submitting one. When he hung up, he wonder why he was even doing this. What the heck, he wouldn't lose anything if his bid didn't win, not like losing $2 on a lottery ticket.
Three weeks later he received a phone call telling him he had won the bid and to come by their office and sign the paperwork. He left work early and went by the Bureau of Land Management and signed the paperwork. There was a map and a survey of the land which to his surprise, totaled 630 acres. He went home stunned. The land must be worthless if his paltry bid won it.
The asteroid made its way past the sun and arched back around, and swinging wide, came back around the sun, but unfortunately, was deflected only a minuscule, but in distance, it was enough.
Liam didn't get a chance to check the land out until summer vacation. He had rented a cottage for a month down in Virginia Beach. Linda was going to take Cole down in the station wagon while he flew to Kingsport, checked out the land and then fly to Norfolk. He made it to Kingsport and was able to rent a car. With a Tennessee map, he managed to find the old NSA site after making a few inquiries in the area. He drove up to the paved lane and stopped. At one time, there had once been a chain linked fence around the antenna field, but it had been removed, and you could see where they had removed the poles that had held the antennas. Driving on up toward the ridge in front of him, he came upon the concrete slabs where buildings once stood. "Man, they took everything!" Liam thought.
He pulled out the topo map that came with the packet and looked at it. He took a walk up the ridge on a macadam road and came out on the top of a flat area that showed evidence of buildings having been there also. There was a beautiful view. Looking at the map again, he figured out this spot was 2200 feet above sea level. No wonder he was huffing and puffing getting up there. This would be a great place to build a house. He walked around and estimated there was about an acre up here. He saw a capped four inch pipe sticking out from the middle of a small concrete pad with a spigot sticking out one side of the pipe. Curious, Liam turned the handle and water gushed out. Artesian well! This really would be a nice place to build a retirement home.
Walking back down the ridge, Liam got in the car and headed back to Kingsport to find a room for the night.
The 3 kilometer wide asteroid headed back out into space, slowly turning and pulverizing the smaller space debris in its path.
Liam got a flight from Kingsport to Richmond to Norfolk. He tried to call Linda while waiting for his flight in Richmond but got no answer at the cottage. Well, he'd just take a taxi. He landed on time, quickly caught a taxi, and went to the cottage. When he got there the station wagon wasn't in the parking spot. Liam set his bag on the little porch and sat in the swing. A few minutes later, a Virginia State Police car came slowly down the street, then pulled into the driveway. The officer got out and walk up to the porch.
"Sir, are you Liam Boyle?"
Liam got up and walked to the steps.
"Yes officer, I am."
"Sir your wife and son were in an accident. Your son is in Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center."
"My wife….is she…is she okay."
The Trooper's eyes saddened.
"I'm sorry sir, she didn't make it.
Liam's knees went weak and he grabbed the porch railing, tears welling in his eyes. He felt like throwing up. No gut punch had ever hurt him as much as this.
"Mr. Boyle, I can give you a ride to the hospital, if you like."
Liam nodded and followed the officer to the patrol car. On the way to the hospital, everything was blurry. The officer gave Liam some tissues but they were soaked by the time they got to the hospital. The officer accompanied him through the hospital to ICU where he was handed over to a nurse.
The Trooper handed Cole his business card and said, "Mr. Boyle, you can call me at this number when you want to picked up the things out of the car. I will also have an accident report for your insurance company."
"Thank you Officer James."
"Mr. Boyle, I'll get the doctor and he can talk to you." The nurse said.
Cole sat down. His mind was in a fog. A few minutes later the doctor came up to him and sat in the chair next to Cole.
"My Boyle, I'm sorry for your loss. I want you to know she didn't suffer. Your son will be fine. He has green fracture of this left Radius and a fracture of his left Fibula. He should recover with no problems."
"When can he leave the hospital?"
"Well, I want to keep him overnight for observation. If he is good tomorrow afternoon we can discharge him."
"Thank you, Doctor."
"Come on, I'll take you to see your son."
Liam followed the doctor down the corridor and through double doors to Cole's room. Cole was asleep and Liam didn't try to wake him. He'd be back early in the morning.
He caught a taxi to a car rental agency and rented a Chevy Blazer. He next needed clothes. He found a Penney's and bought underwear, a couple of shirts, two pairs of khaki pants and two pairs of socks. Next to find a hotel room close to the hospital. He almost left the mall area when he remembered toiletries. Liam swung into a Walgreens and picked those up and a cheap toiletries case. When he pulled into a hotel, a sudden wave of sadness swept over him. Liam cried for a few minutes, then blew his nose. Suddenly his mind cleared and he called one of the funeral homes in Manassas and arranged for Linda to be picked up. He explained his situation and they said he could come in to finalize arrangements when he got back. Cole then called his insurance company and told them of the accident and that he would get them a copy of the accident report as soon as he could. The woman on the phone said that wasn't necessary, they could get one. Liam hung up and went inside and got a room for the night.
The next morning Liam called the number on the card the Trooper had given him and was given directions on where the contents of the car could be picked up. When he arrived, it was The Williamsburg Police Impound lot. The officer in charge help Liam remove the tarp covering the car. Liam pulled the bags out and surprisingly there was very little blood, and mentioned it to the officer.
"From what I heard, the crash broke her neck on impact." The officer said. "It's none of my business, but I'd be getting a personal injury lawyer if I were you. We can keep the car here for thirty days before it has to be removed. Your lawyer will probably want to take some pictures. That driver for that company should never have been behind the wheel."
Liam went to the hospital to see Cole and was let into his room. Cole was sitting up and tears were in his eyes when he saw Liam.
"Mom's gone, isn't she?"
Liam sat on the edge of the bed and nodded.
Cole took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.
"The car is a mess isn't it?"
"Yeah, it's totaled. I'll have to get something when we get back."
"When can I get out of here?"
"The doctor said maybe this afternoon. He'll be by to check on you."
"Dad, what are we going to do without Mom?"
Liam's eyes teared up and he looked out the window.
"We'll honor her, son. We will go on living as if she were here and do things that will make us remember her as the loving mother and wife she was."
The nurses got Cole ready to go home while Liam took care of billing. The nurse rolled Cole out to the front door and were waiting while Liam brought the vehicle up. Liam got Cole in and his seat belt fastened for the two hour drive back home. On the way home, Liam stopped and used a pay phone to call Al Jeffords, his lawyer and told him what had happened. His main need right then was a foldable wheelchair for Cole. Al said he knew where to purchase one and asked Liam what his ETA was home. Liam gave him an approximate time and Al said he would meet him there.
Liam Boyle was a self-made millionaire. He'd done his time in the Air Force as an Atlas II crew member and had gotten out after six years. Being from the Manassas area. He decided to start his own small company to do contracting through GSA. He was successful, so successful he sold the company after eight years for $79,000,000. It had been easy because he had hand picked the right people to work for him and chose the right companies to subcontract the work, although he would never tell anyone that. The sale of the company included a non-compete clause, pretty standard, so he couldn't start another similar company for another five years. He was going nuts with nothing to do and accepted a position at GSA to straighten out their contracting office. He didn't financially need to work but it kept his mind clear. As he was driving back, Liam made the decision to give up the GSA job. Cole would need his undivided attention.
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Post by frankie on Mar 5, 2022 15:59:46 GMT -6
OMG, another great story.
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Post by cavsgt on Mar 5, 2022 16:39:41 GMT -6
Nice start, ready for the next ride.
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Post by texican on Mar 5, 2022 18:11:10 GMT -6
Seems like the NSA site will become the BOL.
Thanks N for the new story.
Texican....
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Post by gipsy on Mar 5, 2022 18:38:31 GMT -6
Cool beans
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ydderf2
Member
"I'm from the government and here to help" hahahaha
Posts: 321
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Post by ydderf2 on Mar 5, 2022 20:09:56 GMT -6
Looks like a winner. Thank you.
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Post by steamroller on Mar 5, 2022 20:26:05 GMT -6
The start of another great story.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Mar 5, 2022 22:45:11 GMT -6
Chapter 2 - The Healing Begins
When they got back to Manassas, actually seven miles southwest of Manassas, Al was waiting for them with the wheelchair. They got Cole in it and lifted the chair onto the porch and got him into the house. Setting him in front of the TV with the remote, he was satisfied so Al and Liam went out back to the patio.
"Al, I want to sue those bastards. The driver, his company, the State of Virginia the whole damn crew. Put a team together. I want them to have blood coming out of their eyes!"
"Okay, okay, calm down. I know just who to get. It's going to cost though."
"I don't care. I just want them to hurt like I'm hurting now. If it's emptying their wallets that hurts the most, find the biggest, baddest vacuum cleaner in existence and suck the life out of them!"
"I'll take care of it. You worry right now about taking care of Cole."
I've got so much to do. I'll need to find someone to stay with Cole while I go finalize the funeral plans an…"
"I'll get my sister Ginny to come over whenever you need her. Hold on…"
Al got out his address book and a piece of paper from his notebook and wrote the number down.
"Call her. She'd be more than willing to help."
"Okay, thanks Al."
"Now, you. Don't go hitting the bottle. Cole needs you now more than ever."
Liam sighed. "I know. I've got a lot of decisions to make."
Liam called Ginny and asked her if she could come over in the morning so he could go to the funeral home and finalize the arrangements. She said she would be there at 8:00, if that was okay. Liam said that would be fine.
At the funeral home, Liam listened to the options he had. He decided to have her cremated and had selected the urn and two heart shaped marble containers they would put Linda's ashes in for Cole and himself. Liam had a feeling they wouldn't be in Manassas much longer. There was just too many memories.
When Liam got back to the house, Ginny had lunch ready. Ginny wheeled Cole into the dining room and served him an Liam.
"Ginny, you didn't have to go to all this trouble."
"Oh, it wasn't any trouble. Cole helped put the salad together."
They had a pleasant lunch and Ginny moved Cole back out to the sunroom. Liam tried to help her clean up the kitchen but she shooed him out. So Liam and Cole played chess the rest of the afternoon.
"Dad, could we maybe get out a little more?" This place is getting……"
"Depressing?" Liam said.
"Yes Sir."
"Sure. Your casts come off in in a couple of weeks. What do you say we look at Airstream travel trailers we can pull with the Blazer I bought and see some of the country? We could go out to visit the land I bought and stay for a few days."
Cole's eyes lit up. "That would be great!"
"You'd still have to keep up with your studies though."
"I will. Can Ginny come with us too?"
"Cole, I don't think that would be a good idea, I.."
"Dad please. She has been taking good care of me….of us and she deserves a vacation too."
"Some people would think it wouldn't be right her traveling with us."
"When can we go looking for trailers?"
"When you get your casts off."
The morning Cole got his casts off he insisted Ginny come with them. When they walked out of the clinic, Liam treated them to lunch at Sambo's. After lunch, Cole asked if they could go look at trailers then. Liam finally agreed and they headed to the dealership on the edge of town. Cole looked at one of the smaller ones and didn't like it, even though Liam thought it would work just fine. Cole went into one of the bigger ones, a brand 1978 Airstream International thirty-one foot trailer. He looked it over carefully and declared they should get this one.
"Why this particular one?" Liam asked.
"Well, it has two beds for us, and the couch pulls out as a bed for Ginny!"
Liam blushed and stared at Cole, then looked at Ginny, who was blushing also.
"Cole, we discussed this…"
"Ginny, you will go with us won't you."
Ginny's mouth open and closed a couple of times. "If you father says it's all right."
"See Dad! She said she would go!"
Liam looked at the woman. "Ginny, are you sure about this? Is this something you really want to do?"
Ginny took a deep breath. "Yes. Yes, I want to go with you two. Liam, it's 1978. No one pays any attention to whom a woman travels with. If anyone asks, just tell them I am Cole's nanny, which I guess I am.."
"Okay then sports fans, let's go buy a trailer."
They spent the next week stocking the trailer and selecting the clothes they wanted to take with them. Most of 's Ginny's clothes were slacks, jeans and shorts with a pair of sneakers, a pair of sandals and a packable dress in case they went somewhere nice and a pair of low heels to match the dress. They all doubled up on underwear because laundromats might not be readily available. Al would come by the house to check on it and a housecleaner would come in once a week to basically dust.
Liam wouldn't let them plan where they would go first. On the day they did leave, Liam laid a map out on the dining room table and had Ginny blindfold Cole and spun him around three times then faced the map. Liam had him put his finger on the map and that would be where they went first. Col almost put his finger on Manassas.
Ginny pulled the blindfold off and Cole saw where he pointed. "Well, since we started close to home, why don't we head over to the Shenandoah Valley and go down it." Liam said, handing Cole a thick travel guide and a road atlas. "While we're traveling, find us some places you're interested in seeing."
Cole grinned, clutching the books to his chest. "Let's go!"
They drove to Front Royal and drove down the beautiful Skyline Drive. Stopping occasionally for Ginny to take pictures with the camera Liam had bought for her to record their travels. He purchased the camera from the best camera shop in the D.C. area and the camera bag weighed a ton with all the extra accessories he had purchased. A separate pack held dozens of rolls of film recommended by the shop owner. Ginny didn't know much about photography, but she was learning.
Cole wanted to see the Luray Caverns so when they reached highway 211, they headed west to Luray, Virginia. It was late in the afternoon so Cole looked in the travel guide and found a nice trailer park and they set up there. Making sandwiches for the evening meal, they were satisfied, sitting out under the trailer awning as the sun went down.
The next day was visiting the caverns and the couple of museums at the site. Although Ginny had taken a light sweater with her, she was chilled by the fifty-eight degree temperatures of the cave. Liam took them down to a local restaurant that evening for a decent meal after eating hotdogs for lunch.
"Dad, where is the land you bought?" Cole asked.
"It's down in Tennessee, south of Kingsport."
"Did you get plenty of pictures in the cavern today, Ginny?"
"I shot three rolls of film." I hope they turn out all right."
Liam smiled. "I'm sure they will. Where to tomorrow, Cole?"
Cole looked at the road atlas. "Well, if we take 211 west to Staunton, we could catch I-81 down to Bristol and catch highway 11W to Kingsport."
"Well, if you want to go to the land, we needn't go to Kingsport. I just use that as the nearest big town. We can stay on I-81 until we get to the highway 93 and be at the land sooner."
"Yeah, I'd like to go there next." Cole said. "Well, we'd better get to bed early. I need to get up early in the morning and fill the water tank and empty the waste tanks before we leave."
Liam and Cole stayed outside while Ginny took a shower and got into her sleepwear, Cole helped fold up the chairs and take down the awning. After stowing everything, Ginny said they could come in and they took showers and got to bed.
Ginny was up early and made breakfast sandwiches and coffee and milk for Cole. Liam unhooked the power and water line and went over to the dump site to empty and rinse the waste water tanks. Forty minutes later they were on the way and an hour later were headed south on I-81. They ate lunch in Colonial Heights at a Perkins Restaurant before the last leg of the trip.
When they drove up, Cole and Ginny saw nothing interesting. As soon as Liam turned onto the property, he stopped.
"Well? What do you think?"
Ginny and Cole looked around but there was nothing but an over-grown field.
Liam put the Blazer in gear and followed the macadam road across the field then along the edge of the rising terrain then up a draw that wound its way up hill. Finally, they reached the top and Liam stopped and got out of the vehicle. Ginny and Cole got out and looked around.
"Look at that view! You can see forever!" Cole said.
Ginny smiled as she looked around. It's beautiful! Of course, it needs some work. But someone could have a beautiful home up here."
"What was this place Dad?"
"Well, this used to be a NSA, National Security Agency, signals intelligence and electronic warfare facility and monitoring station. They intercepted radio signals. That big field below at one time held hundreds of antennas. When they decommissioned this field station they wiped the place clean. The only thing left are those concrete slabs over there and a few down below."
Cole turned around and around.
"Do you feel it? Cole asked.
"Feel what?" Ginny said.
"It's like…..it's like the land is whispering to me. Dad, we should build something here. Not just a camp to come to now and again, but a home." Cole said, eyes bright.
Ginny looked at Liam quizzically.
"Would you like to live here?" Liam asked.
"Yes! It would be perfect!"
"Well, let me think about it. First, let's get the Airstream set up."
Liam bowed deeply to Ginny. "M'lady, pick your view."
Ginny grinned and looked round. "There!" She said, pointing.
Liam maneuvered the Blazer and the trailer until the door of the Airstream was facing the view that Ginny had selected. After leveling the trailer, Cole and his father set up the awning and laid out the large square of indoor/outdoor carpeting and set up the chairs and the table. Ginny came out with drinks, sandwiches and chips for them to eat and enjoy the beautiful view.
"We'll have to go somewhere for supplies in a couple of days." Ginny said.
"How big is the property?" Cole asked.
"It's about a half mile wide by a little over one and a quarter miles long, mostly encompassing the ridge, a total of a little over six hundred acres."
"Wow!. Can I go look around some more?"
"Sure but be careful. No more broken limbs."
They watched the almost eleven year boy trot off down the ridge.
"He's getting better." Ginny said.
"Yes. I think this trip is what he needed." Liam replied. "Want to take a walk?"
Ginny smiled. "Okay."
They walked around the area for a while and returned to the Airstream. Ginny helped gather rocks and Liam built a fire ring.
"I've got hotdogs we could cook over the fire this evening." Ginny said.
"Sounds good. I'll go gather some firewood."
The asteroid slammed into another similar sized rock on the edge of the asteroid belt and change both their paths. It wasn't by much, but the difference would threaten a world in the future. Both asteroids continued on their fateful journey.
Cole came back and Liam started the fire. They burned a lot of wood because the wood Liam managed to break up was small and burned fast. Liam would have to get an axe and saw for his kit. Finally, they had a good bed of coals. Liam had cut forked branches and peeled the bark off of them to cook the hotdogs. Cole was loving it. He ate two hotdogs, a bunch of potato chips and drank a Coke and had a Moon pie on top of all that.
"Dad, could we just stay here instead of traveling around?"
Liam looked at Ginny, who just shrugged."
"Well, I would have to run the truck more often to keep the batteries charged for the trailer." "Couldn't you get a generator?"
"Yes, but where would I keep it? We don't have room in the trailer to carry it when we go home."
"Couldn't we keep it in the that building down there?"
"What building?"
"There's a building down that overgrown road over there. Well, not really a building. It's a door with concrete around it and it has a big lock on it."
We'll check it out in the morning. Ginny, are there any more hotdogs?"
The next morning Ginny cooked the last of the sausage and eggs and used the last slices of bread for toast and Cole drank the last of the milk. Once the breakfast dishes were done they all walked down to see Cole's building. Sure, enough, there was a concrete abutment that contained a door that was aged by the weather and secured by a military lock Liam recognized from his time in the Air Force. In fact, the door looked oddly similar to the bunker doors at the Atlas II missile sites.
"Well, I don't have anything to cut the lock off with and we'll probably need flashlights to see anything. We'll look for something when we go into town to get groceries."
They headed back to the trailer and locked it up. When they were in the Blazer, Liam looked over his shoulder at Cole and said, "Okay navigator, where to?"
Cole looked at the atlas. It looks like Jonesborough and Johnson City are closer."
"All right then. Follow the map and tell me when to turn."
Liam cranked the truck and they headed down the ridge.
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Post by hobbitt on Mar 6, 2022 6:42:21 GMT -6
Looking great so far. Can't wait to see where it leads us.
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Post by bluefox2 on Mar 6, 2022 8:47:36 GMT -6
Another good start sir. I used to ride parts of Skyline Drive in the early 70s on a 72 Kawasaki 750 triple. It was a real twisty run as I remember. I also remember cutting sticks for hotdogs as a kid in NH.
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Post by solo on Mar 6, 2022 9:04:57 GMT -6
Thank you! And two thoughts:
1. I was wondering when they'd find the bunker site... Sites likes those usually have a supply bunker that supplied them.
2. Ginny, Ginny, I have your number... 867-5309.... Oh, it's not the early eighties.
Solo
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Post by sniper69 on Mar 6, 2022 9:43:56 GMT -6
Thank you! And two thoughts: 1. I was wondering when they'd find the bunker site... Sites likes those usually have a supply bunker that supplied them. 2. Ginny, Ginny, I have your number... 867-5309.... Oh, it's not the early eighties. Solo Jenny by Tommy Tutone. Gotta love humming that song. As for the bunker site - wonder what kind of goodies are in there.
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Post by gipsy on Mar 6, 2022 11:04:02 GMT -6
What is behind door number 1?
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Post by bluefox2 on Mar 6, 2022 11:47:50 GMT -6
Do I see a whole lot of "Cosmic Buckshot" coming?
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Post by texican on Mar 6, 2022 13:33:26 GMT -6
Yep, Cole, Ginny and Liam will have a lot to get done before the rocks start hitting the earth.
How old are Ginny and Liam?
Thanks N.
Texican....
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Post by ncsfsgm on Mar 6, 2022 13:38:22 GMT -6
Yep, Cole, Ginny and Liam will have a lot to get done before the rocks start hitting the earth. How old are Ginny and Liam? Thanks N. Texican.. .. Liam is 35, Ginny is 26...
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Post by CountryGuy on Mar 6, 2022 13:38:38 GMT -6
Yep, Cole, Ginny and Liam will have a lot to get done before the rocks start hitting the earth. How old are Ginny and Liam? Thanks N. Texican.... Sounds like they got about 32? or 45? years to worry about it till the rock comes back around
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Post by ncsfsgm on Mar 6, 2022 13:40:32 GMT -6
Chapter 3 - Decisions To Make
Liam found an ACE hardware store so he stopped and got a few hand tools, flashlights, batteries, a heavy lock and a set of bolt cutters. He walked by a stack of cast iron fire grates and picked one up. They went on and picked groceries at an IGA and grabbed burgers at McDonald's for lunch. When they got back, Ginny put the perishable foods in the refrigerator while Cole and Liam put the batteries in the flashlights and tested them. Picking up a pencil and a stenographers notebook, they all headed down to the door and with just a little effort, Liam cut the padlock off the door.
Liam handed Cole the stenographer's notebook and pencil, drew the north arrow on the first page and a symbol of the door.
"Cole, as we go along, I want you to make a map. If we go too fast, tell me. Think you can do that?"
"Yes Sir!"
Liam opened the door and shined his light inside. There was an eight foot concrete hall then a set of stairs going down. After three flights they came out into another short hallway with a thick steel door partially opened. This led to another hallway with a ninety degree turn at the end. This finally opened out into a spacious room with closed doors on each side. The room showed little use in the past and there was no equipment or debris inside. Liam stopped and watched Cole draw the room and doors.
"Ready?"
Cole nodded.
Cole started a second page for the first door they were going through. Going counter-clockwise, Liam opened the first door on the right and walked down the corridor to another heavy steel door. Swinging it open they came out into a large room. It must have been a barracks room because the area next to it was a latrine with multiple commode stalls, urinals and a huge open shower. There was a storage room, a utility closet and a separate room, which could have been a bedroom for the NCOIC or ranking officer. Cole finished drawing the area and they went back out to the big foyer room. Liam opened the second door.
"Wait Dad. Let me start another page." Cole said.
Liam waited until Cole nodded to him. Liam opened the door and it was identical to the first barracks room. This was easy for Cole. He just referred to the previous page. They came back out into the foyer and walked across room and went through that door. It was just smaller 12x14 rooms, twenty of them with a bathroom connecting two rooms.. Officer's quarters, no doubt.
They came back out and Cole started a new page Going through the next door, they came out into what was the kitchen and dining area. It looked like you could seat a hundred people in there. The eight-burner stove, two griddles, a freezer unit and a large refrigeration unit were left in place. When Cole finished drawing and writing notes, they returned to the foyer room. There was one last door. Liam opened it and before them was a long corridor, long enough their lights didn't Illuminate the end of it. After about sixty feet the corridor turned ninety degrees. Every twenty or twenty-five feet were storerooms, approximately 15x20 feet. There were sixteen of them, eight on each side of the corridor. At the end of the long corridor were two doors. Liam selected the door on the right first. When Liam opened it, there sat a 60kw generator. They must have left it here because it was too big to get through the door. Liam closed that door and went to the next one. It held an intact air handling unit. Nothing looked like it had been removed. Liam closed the door and they made their way back to the foyer room and up the stairs.
"Dad, what was that place?" Cole asked.
"I'm guessing it was for use in case of a nuclear war. They built a lot of these in the sixty's."
"Neat! We have our own bomb shelter!"
"Well, it would take a lot of work, but we could make it back into a livable shelter." Liam said.
"What about it Ginny, you in?"
Ginny grinned. "Of course! I can't let my two favorite men go it alone out here!"
Liam looked at her and smiled.
They spent the next month and a half relaxing, taking walks and planning their new house. Cole did his studies in the shade of the awning each day and when he was through, would go exploring. Liam bought him a compass and taught him how to use it and a military surplus web belt with a canteen, a bottle of iodine tablets that went into a little pouch on the canteen cover, canteen cup, a waterproof container with matches inside, first aid kit and a hunting knife. He later added a butt pack with the suspenders to attach to the web belt, a Swiss Army knife and a whistle for signaling in case he got into trouble. Cole used his knives to make himself a walking staff.
"Liam, did you realize Cole has a eidetic memory?" Ginny asked.
"A what?"
"A photographic memory. Everything he reads, he remembers."
"I thought he was just smart."
"Well he is, but he can quote back the test answers, paragraph and line of every test answer."
"Well, he will go far in the world then."
"Are you doing all right Ginny? Are you getting bored?"
"Liam, I am the happiest I've ever been in my life. Thank you for letting me come."
"Well, I needed a dish washer." Liam said jokingly.
"Liam, I'll wash your dishes any time. By the way, we need to go to the laundry tomorrow."
"DAD! DAD! I found a metal door in the ground!" Cole said, running up.
"Well, let's go check it out!" Liam grinned, getting up out of the chair.
"You coming, Ginny?"
"Sure."
The three walked down the ridge on a wide, overgrown trail and came to a level area under the pines and Cole took his stick and moved the carpet of pine needles back, uncovering a textured steel cover.
"What is it Dad?"
Liam looked around. "Well, it could be an escape hatch.
"Dad, I found two more of these but smaller over there."
Cole uncovered the first one and there was a handle on it. Liam lifted the cover and there was a threaded cap on a pipe. Liam knelt down and finally loosened the cap and took it off. Sniffing the pipe, he smelled diesel fuel.
"This is probably where they filled the tank for the generator."
Cole uncovered the other cover and Liam immediately recognized the propane fill valve.
"This is the propane fill valve for the kitchen. See? It is seventy percent filled."
"Can we check out where the escape hatch is?"
"It's getting late. Let's do that tomorrow. Let's go cook burgers on the fire and we need to do some talking."
Cole took off his web belt and sat it in a chair and helped his dad get some firewood. They found a large oak branch that had broken off and they used the bow saw and camp axe to cut the wood to usable lengths. They carried the wood back and Liam watched as Cole built the fire.
Ginny brought out hamburger patties, a spatula and a piece of aluminum foil for Liam to scrub the grate with. She went back in and came back out with sodas, condiments and rolls. Cole went in and brought out the paper plates and napkins.
They ate their meal and burned the plates and napkins. Liam sat back in his chair and looked at two.
"Well, we have a decision to make." Liam said. "We can go back to Manassas and rely a contractor to get the house built like we want or we can move out here permanently and oversee the build."
"You mean sell our house?"
"Yes, It would just be something we probably wouldn't go back to anyway." Liam said.
"Cole stared into the fire. "Let's move here. I can still do my home school and oversee everything."
Liam and Ginny grinned.
"Well, there will be a lot of things to pack up when we get back. You need to pick carefully what you want to bring. We'll have to put everything else into storage until we get the house built."
"Okay Dad. Can I get a tent when we come back here? I could set it up right over there."
"I suppose so. Ginny, are you still in?"
Ginny smiled. "Of course."
"Well then sports fans, let's get this stuff in, Cole, get a bucket of water and make sure the fire is out. Don't forget to…."
"…stir the ashes. I know." Cole grinned.
The next morning they got busy securing the awning and packing everything away. They left the grate, axe, saw and tools they had bought on the inside of the door of the "bunker," as Cole had started calling it. They rolled out around 10:00 and headed back to Manassas to start a new life.
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Post by cavsgt on Mar 6, 2022 19:44:58 GMT -6
Tighten your cinches, here we go again.!!!!!
Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by texican on Mar 6, 2022 20:13:04 GMT -6
"Liam, I'll wash your dishes any time. By the way, we need to go to the laundry tomorrow." ______________
"Okay Dad. Can I get a tent when we come back here? I could set it up right over there."
"I suppose so. Ginny, are you still in?"
Ginny smiled. "Of course."
Liam is a goner before it is over.
Texican....
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Post by gipsy on Mar 6, 2022 20:25:22 GMT -6
Roll on
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Post by ncsfsgm on Mar 7, 2022 9:14:16 GMT -6
Chapter 4 - Beginning A New Life
It took them two weeks to get everything sorted out that they wanted to take with them. One day Liam looked at Ginny and asked, "What's your favorite color?"
"Uh…blue. Why?"
"Cole! Let's go!"
Cole came running in. "Where are we going?"
"I'll show you when we get there."
The three got in the Blazer and headed to Potomac Chevrolet. They got out and walked over to the new 1979 Blazers on display.
"Pick one." Liam told Ginny.
"What!"
"Pick one. Look, we're going to have more we need to take than we've currently got room. We need another vehicle to pull an enclosed trailer to carry the rest of our things in."
"But I've never towed a trailer before." Ginny said.
"It's easy. You point the truck where you want to go and the trailer automatically follows you." Liam grinned. "Now pick one. Make sure it has 4-wheel drive. We may need it this winter."
A salesman came out.
"Can I help you folks?"
"The lady wants to buy a Blazer, 4-wheel drive and blue if you have on."
"Uh…right this way."
They walked down a few vehicles and stopped before one.
"Yes!" Ginny said. "That's the one!"
"I'll have it pulled off the lot and prepped while we do the paperwork." The salesman said.
For some reason paperwork always seems to take a long time, but they threw in a set of nice floor mats. When Ginny got behind the wheel, Liam helped her adjust the seat and side mirrors.
"Okay, follow me. I'm going to a trailer sales place."
"Will you tow it home?" Ginny asked.
"I'll tow it home but you'll need to practice a little before when we head to Tennessee. Probably better if you practice with the trailer loaded anyway so you get the feel of it."
Liam bought a six-by-twelve foot trailer and towed it back home. I didn't bother registering it because he could do that in Tennessee. They began loading the boxes in the trailer, mainly to get them out of the way. Ginny brough her grandmother's cast iron cookware and they loaded boxes of non-perishable foods also. The packers would be there the next day so they made sure they go everything they wanted. Liam loaded his hand and garden tools last. They went out for an early dinner and afterwards, went to an outdoors store and bought Cole a four person tent, sleeping bag and an inflatable sleeping pad. They got lights on headbands so Liam bout three and lots of fresh batteries. Liam spotted a folding picnic table that sat four and got it. Taking their purchases back home they packed them in the trailer and went to bed early.
They were up early the next morning, got their showers and packed the rest of their things out of the house. Ginny collected the dirty clothes and linens they'd used the night before and would take them to the laundromat while the packers were working. The packers brought wooden crates they could nail together on the truck bed, fill them up and nail the last wall shut. Liam told them not to worry about the mattresses, they could go to the curb. Ginny and Cole rand down to a diner and got take-out breakfasts and brought them back to eat with Liam. Late that afternoon the packers were finished. Liam, Ginny and Cole sat on the steps and watched the trucks drive away.
Ginny looked at Liam deep in thought. "Old memories?"
"Yeah. Well, Ginny, you need a little practice. You ready?"
Ginny took a deep breath. "Yeah, let's do this. Before they got into Ginny's Blazer Liam showed her how to check the lights, the tires and made sure the doors were secure. They got in and she went down a few blocks in the neighborhood, made a few turns and went back to the house.
"That's not hard at all!" Ginny said.
"No, all you have to be careful with is real sharp turns. Well, let me hook my truck to the Airstream and we can go to the hotel." Liam said. Cole helped his father check the lights then ran to get in the vehicle with Ginny. Liam waved the around him and then followed them. Liam parked the Airstream in the back corner of the Holiday Inn parking lot. He disconnected then backed Ginny's truck and trailer right against the tongue of the Airstream so no one could tow it away. Checking into the adjoining rooms, they got ready to go out and eat dinner. Cole had steak and shrimp while Ginny and Liam had steak and lobster. Afterwards, they had Key Lime pie. Sated, they returned to the hotel.
"Cole, will you be all right if Ginny and I go down to the bar for a drink?"
"That's fine Dad. I'll watch TV for a while."
"We won't be long. We have a ways to drive in the morning."
"Take your time and relax. I don't mind."
"Thanks, buddy."
Liam knocked on the adjoining door and Ginny opened it.
"Would you like to go down to the bar for a glass of wine?" Liam asked.
"I'd love to. Let me get my purse."
She went back into her room and came back with her purse, pointing her finger at Cole.
"Keep the door locked."
Cole grinned. "Yes Ma'am."
Excited to get on the road, everyone was up early the next morning to get their showers. They checked out and put their bags in the vehicles and used Liam's Blazer to get breakfast at a diner down the street. They were on the road headed for Tennessee by 8:30.
When they got to Bristol they stopped for lunch and to load up on groceries. They were only a little more than thirty-five miles from the site so they also loaded up on groceries. Some of the non-perishable things may have to be stored in the bunker. When they got to the site, Liam quickly got the Airstream in position and leveled. He unhitched it from the truck and pulled the truck out of the way. He then got in Ginny's truck and parked the trailer so they would have easy access to it. He parked the trucks in their own area and while Ginny put things away inside, Liam and Cole set the awning up with the indoor/outdoor carpet, chairs and table. Before they tightened the guy lines on the awning, Liam got out another large tarp and sat down with a grommet kit and put new grommets into the extra tarp to fit the pole spikes the awning went over. Placing the new tarp on the awning poles first Liam had Cole find him three six foot slender trees and cut poles to rig the tarp/awning extension. Cole got the key to the bunker from his father and ran down to the bunker to get the axe and bow saw. He was soon back with the poles and Liam had Cole drive nails into on end of each pole to place the grommet rings over. Liam went to his Blazer and got out six aluminum G.I. pup tent stakes he had bought at an Army Surplus store and using parachute cord, they guyed the new poles. Liam show Cole how to tie a Prusik Loop to tighten the lines. Grinning, they gave a "high five" and unfolded the picnic table and set it up under the awning extension.
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Post by gipsy on Mar 7, 2022 10:17:14 GMT -6
Thanks for the update
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Post by ncsfsgm on Mar 7, 2022 20:53:02 GMT -6
Chapter 5 - Settling In
Cole got out his tent and set it up about thirty feet from the awning on the last of the level land before it rapidly dropped off. Liam had purchased a couple of Coleman lanterns. One for Cole to hang from the branches of the tree he was next to so he'd have light and one for the awning area. Liam got several bags out of the back of his Blazer and laid out the contents he'd purchased in Manassas. He had a one hundred foot measuring tape, more flashlight batteries, twelve six volt lantern batteries, three hunter's headlights with belts, four 18x24 inch sketch pads, 6 Pieces Aluminum Triangular Architect Scale Ruler Set, 2 Pieces 12 Inch Aluminum Scale Ruler with 4 Pieces Aluminum Triangle Ruler Square Set and 2mm mechanical pencils. Of course the headlamps were for the bunker and the sketch pads were for Cole and himself to better draw a map and floorplan of the bunker. He needed to figure out how to get power run into it or get the generator working. He'd also like to have a set of the plans from when they constructed the bunker and he had an idea to where to find them.
"Guys! Dinner's ready!" Shouted Ginny.
She had places set at the picnic table, a basket of dinner rolls and a pot of beef stroganoff. She poured Cole a glass of milk and She and Liam had a glass of wine.
"This is good M…Ginny! Cole said.
"It is good, Ginny." Liam said.
Cole only closed his mouth to eat a bite of food once in a while. He was full of questions of what they were going to do next and when they were going to do it.
When Liam finished his plate, he picked up his wine and took a sip.
The first thing I need to do is find a generator dealer to keep the trailer batteries charged, also a trailer dealer to pick up a utility trailer. I think those are the first things we should do."
Ginny deferred to Liam and Cole went along.
Liam went in to help Ginny clean up and they returned with glasses of wine to the "patio" to enjoy the evening. Billy was busy in his tent arranging his things."
"Is he going to be all right out here?" Ginny asked.
"His only problem will probably be getting asleep, he's so excited. Oh! I forgot something!"
Liam went back to the blazer and came back with a battery powered lantern. He went over to Cole's tent and leaned inside. "Here. A gas lantern in here wouldn't be a good idea."
"Great! Thanks Dad! Now I can read before I go to sleep."
Cole came outside and turned the Coleman light off in front of his tent.
"Good night Dad! Good night Ginny."
"Good night Cole." Liam and Ginny echoed.
Liam finished his wine and sat the glass down.
"Whenever you get ready for bed I'll wait out here until you're finished."
There was a moment of silence, then Ginny said in a faint voice, "I don't mind if you come in."
Liam looked a Ginny and took a deep breath.
"Not yet."
Ginny nodded in understanding and took her glass inside. Twenty minutes later she called out, "You can come in now Liam." Liam turned the lantern down low, picked up his glass and went inside. Ginny was laying on the fold-out with the sheet pulled up to just below her pajama top covered breasts, Liam stopped and looked at her.
"Good night, Ginny."
"Good night Liam."
The next morning when they finished breakfast, Liam got up to help Ginny finish the dishes. "No. I gets too crowded. You and Cole go out and do 'manly' things."
Liam and Cole retreated to the outside.
"Dad, can we talk?"
"Sure buddy. What's up?"
"Dad, do you like Ginny. I mean really LIKE her?"
"Well, Cole, I am fond of her."
"Dad!" Cole said in frustration, "Would you consider her for a girlfriend?"
Liam frowned. "I don't know Cole. It's a little early, don't you think?"
"Dad, I think Mom would want you happy. I've seen you look at Ginny and I think she makes you happy. Did you know I almost called her 'Mom' last night. I won't ever forget Mom, but I wouldn't mind having Ginny as my second mom."
"Cole, Sometimes I think you are just too smart."
"Ready guys?" Ginny shouted as she locked the trailer door."
"Waiting on you!" Liam grinned.
They went to the phone company in Johnson City and then to the park. Sitting at a picnic table drinking Cokes, they browsed through the Yellow Pages looking for architects and trailer sales. They picked an architect first and found a city map at a drugstore to look for the address.
They found the office of Ralph Batchlor and walked in. The Secretary took Liam's name and had them wait in the small waiting area. Soon, they were ushered into Mr. Batchlor's office and asked if the cared for something to drink. They declined. Mr. Batchlor shook Liam's hand and they took a seat.
"How can I help you?"
Liam told them about the property and their desire to build a house there and their need for some unique design elements..
"I didn't even know that property was for sale. My uncle use to work there. Times change. Yes, I think I could help you. What type of construction are you looking for; wood, steel, concrete?"
"I'm leaning for concrete with no concrete interior walls. That way, if we ever decide to renovate, we won't be limited in design choices. I plan to make this our forever home."
"Good choice. Well, I'll need to come out and do some measurements and I'll bring a book of sample floorplans you can take a look at. If you'll leave me you phone number…"
"We don't have a phone, not even electricity yet."
"I see. Well, what about Wednesday morning, say around 10:00. I could meet you out there."
"That's fine. I can give you directions."
"Oh, I know well where it's located. I still remember the acres and acres of antennas out there."
"Okay then Mr. Batchlor, we'll see you Wednesday then."
"Please call me Ralph."
"And I am Liam, Ginny and Cole."
"Well, great! I'll see you Wednesday."
Ralph walked them to the outer door and wished them a good day.
"That was easy." Liam said. "Now let's find a trailer dealer."
Ginny looked in the Yellow Pages and found a dealer not far away. Liam picked out a trailer and they were out of there in thirty minutes. Next to find a generator and the salesman directed them to a place just a mile down the street where Liam bought a three horse generator that would meet their needs. Liam found four five gallon gas cans and filled those up and stopped at a Howard Johnsons for lunch before leaving for home.
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Post by udwe on Mar 7, 2022 21:54:53 GMT -6
Very good story! Keep going!
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