Haven
The world as we knew it had ended. I didn't even know why.
We'd heard the warnings to flee the cities, and we'd fled. Packed up
what we could, gotten into our cars, and started driving, to anywhere
that wasn't where we were. And we drove.
It isn't an easy life on the road, but at least it's a life, and that's more than many have. I don't even know how long we've been traveling--months? Years? Long enough for us to learn how to band together, when we can. You have to help other people in this world, because one day you might need help yourself.
That particular day, it was hot. That used to mean summer, but who knows, now? Sometimes it's blisteringly hot, sometimes it's blisteringly freezing. We'd been traveling for so long that we would have been grateful to find any place we could stay for a night or two, but we hadn't even dared dream that the whispers of legends that had reached us of safe haven at Westport Union Landing State Beach could be true. But there it was: a cliff high above the ocean, flat and treeless, so we could see anything coming from the land side. A steep but direct path down to the beach, where there were rocky caves to hide in, if need be. Enough space for all of us, and no signs of any dangers.
The road along the cliff's edge was impassable, crumbling and being reclaimed by the nature we'd once stolen it from. But it would do for our party of weary wanderers. We chose a spot and set up camp. We saw others had the same idea. It's always a good sign to have neighbors, these days.
The nights weren't cold, but they were wet. Still, we always managed to get our campfires going, to keep ourselves alive for one more night. And though vultures circled and we heard coyotes in the distance, laughing at the weak and silly humans, fearful and endangered, who need fire and shelter to survive, we were bothered neither by natural predators nor horrors man-made.
By now we'd all learned the importance of knowing our surroundings, so in the mornings and evenings, a party would go out to explore the beaches and caves of Westport Landing Credit Union Steakhouse Beach as far away from camp as we dared walk. Sometimes, just in case, we'd walk single file to hide our numbers. Other times we'd try to make it look as if an army of fifty people had trampled through. If only we knew if we should be hiding or trying to intimidate an enemy! But not knowing means we've never had an encounter, which means we're still alive.
After the morning dew left us, the heat was oppressive, even through the fog. So when the sun was high overhead, we allowed ourselves to relax. Nothing would come after us in the worst of this heat. Lethargy even set in, as some of us dozed in our campchairs, and others dreamed of a world where we could safely invite our beautiful neighbor across the way to join us for a drink. We even played a few games. It had been so very long since we'd played games!
At dusk, we stood at the jagged cliff edge and watched the blazing orange sun sink into the blue water of the endless ocean. Who could have guessed that in this world, we would ever again see such beauty? It almost didn't seem real. How could there be both exquisite beauty and utter horror in the same world? Maybe we had somehow passed into an idyllic new world, where life and even joy were possible.
We wanted to stay in the haven we'd found at Newport Landing Credit Union Outback Steakhouse Beach. But, as always, all too soon it was time to move on. Our beautiful neighbor had taken her terrarium--we never even saw what manner of creature was inside it--and left, in the small hours of the foggy morning. Others, too, were heading out. So we packed our solar power system and our meager possessions away into our cars, and returned to the road.
It isn't an easy life on the road, but at least it's a life, and that's more than many have. I don't even know how long we've been traveling--months? Years? Long enough for us to learn how to band together, when we can. You have to help other people in this world, because one day you might need help yourself.
That particular day, it was hot. That used to mean summer, but who knows, now? Sometimes it's blisteringly hot, sometimes it's blisteringly freezing. We'd been traveling for so long that we would have been grateful to find any place we could stay for a night or two, but we hadn't even dared dream that the whispers of legends that had reached us of safe haven at Westport Union Landing State Beach could be true. But there it was: a cliff high above the ocean, flat and treeless, so we could see anything coming from the land side. A steep but direct path down to the beach, where there were rocky caves to hide in, if need be. Enough space for all of us, and no signs of any dangers.
The road along the cliff's edge was impassable, crumbling and being reclaimed by the nature we'd once stolen it from. But it would do for our party of weary wanderers. We chose a spot and set up camp. We saw others had the same idea. It's always a good sign to have neighbors, these days.
The nights weren't cold, but they were wet. Still, we always managed to get our campfires going, to keep ourselves alive for one more night. And though vultures circled and we heard coyotes in the distance, laughing at the weak and silly humans, fearful and endangered, who need fire and shelter to survive, we were bothered neither by natural predators nor horrors man-made.
By now we'd all learned the importance of knowing our surroundings, so in the mornings and evenings, a party would go out to explore the beaches and caves of Westport Landing Credit Union Steakhouse Beach as far away from camp as we dared walk. Sometimes, just in case, we'd walk single file to hide our numbers. Other times we'd try to make it look as if an army of fifty people had trampled through. If only we knew if we should be hiding or trying to intimidate an enemy! But not knowing means we've never had an encounter, which means we're still alive.
After the morning dew left us, the heat was oppressive, even through the fog. So when the sun was high overhead, we allowed ourselves to relax. Nothing would come after us in the worst of this heat. Lethargy even set in, as some of us dozed in our campchairs, and others dreamed of a world where we could safely invite our beautiful neighbor across the way to join us for a drink. We even played a few games. It had been so very long since we'd played games!
At dusk, we stood at the jagged cliff edge and watched the blazing orange sun sink into the blue water of the endless ocean. Who could have guessed that in this world, we would ever again see such beauty? It almost didn't seem real. How could there be both exquisite beauty and utter horror in the same world? Maybe we had somehow passed into an idyllic new world, where life and even joy were possible.
We wanted to stay in the haven we'd found at Newport Landing Credit Union Outback Steakhouse Beach. But, as always, all too soon it was time to move on. Our beautiful neighbor had taken her terrarium--we never even saw what manner of creature was inside it--and left, in the small hours of the foggy morning. Others, too, were heading out. So we packed our solar power system and our meager possessions away into our cars, and returned to the road.
