This is the "first rough draft" of a book that I am working on. Please comment, critize, and make recommendations. Thank you.

[u]Sorry, The World Didn't Make It[/u]

Chapter One

Most people thought the collapse would be gradual like the decline of the Roman Empire, but the end came quickly. The attack was sudden and completely unexpected. Another 9/11, but it was a 9/11 worldwide this time. This time almost all of the United States was hit. Everyone thought the terrorist would use a dirty bomb or a real nuclear bomb. Who would have thought Electromagnetic pulse or EMP would be so effective to bring the United States and the rest of the "free world" to its knees. All unprotected and most protected electronic circuitry were destroyed.

The EMP attack was almost simultaneous in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Iraq, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. The EMP bursts were all detonated in a one hour period. The terrorist had launched hundreds of Iranian missiles from cargo ships and hit the East, West and Gulf coast lines of the United States. The missiles wiped out every electronic circuit within five hundred miles from the coast line. Sleeper cells detonated EMP bombs in every major city that was not affected by the United States coastline attack, including Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis, Anchorage and Denver. Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Canada and Mexico were attacked in the same way. No information from Europe, Iraq, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia could be confirmed because they were hit first. Little was known how they were hit. The only thing known about Russia and China is when the lights went out in the United States, Russia and China had not been hit. In fact, no information was known who the terrorist were because there was no CNN, NBC, ABC or CBS.

Even though the militaries had EMP shielding, the actual effectiveness of the shielding was minimal. There maybe some mountain or underground military facilities that were not affected by the EMP bursts, but nothing else were spared. The civilian infrastructures were completely destroyed by the EMP attacks. The countries that were attacked entered a new dark age, literally. Immediately, there was no electricity. The days of walking into a room and flipping the light switch were over. The refrigerator light did not come on when you opened the door. Lifting stations stopped, water stopped coming out of the faucet and sewage stopped flowing. Telephones were dead and televisions were black. No Transportation, cars stop running and would not start again. Trains stopped where they were. Airplanes were permanently grounded. Those airplanes, unlucky enough to be in flight, fell from the sky. Panic set into the population of the United States.

Steven was in his sunday school class when the EMP burst hit Austin. They were meeting in a church room with no windows. When the lights went out, it was pitch black.
"Come this way, Elizabeth, it's alright, I'm with you."
"What's happening, why did the lights go out?" Steven's wife, Elizabeth, was frightened by the sudden total darkness.
"I don't know, maybe it's a fuse or something."

Today, like everyday, Steven had his book bag. The book bag was made by the company who makes the swiss army knives. Steven took out a flashlight out of his book bag and shined it around the room and then towards the door. Everyone in the class made their way to the door. Steven grabbed Elizabeth with one hand and his book bag with the other hand. When they went out the door and into the hallway, they could see everyone coming out of the surrounding rooms. The hallway had sky lights. The hallway was full of people with confused looks on their faces. Everyone was talking and trying to decide whether the church had blown a fuse or the whole block had blown a transformer. None of them could have known that this was almost worldwide.
"Let's go outside and see if it's just the church that doesn't have power." Steven still wasn't worried, but that was about to change.

Elizabeth took her cell phone out. "Steven, I think my telephone is broken."
Steven looked at his cell phone. His cell phone was off too. He tried to turn it on, but it wouldn't turn on. "Something's wrong with mine too."

He put his flashlight back into his book bag. "Let's go outside." Steven and Elizabeth started down the stairwell. Elizabeth was quiet while they walked down the stairs. She had always told Steven that she had a sixth sense when something was wrong. Thankfully, the stairwell had widows that let light in. They reached the ground floor and headed to the exit door. Many people had the same idea. It was very crowded as Steven made a path to the exit door. Elizabeth was close behind him.

When they made it outside, Steven couldn't believe what he saw. There were cars in the street, but the cars weren't moving. People were everywhere. "Let's get to our Expedition," Steven had an idea what might have happened.
"What's wrong, Steven, what's happening?"
"I think it's EMP."
"What's EMP? What's happening?"
"Let's get to the Expedition and see if it starts."
"Why wouldn't it start?"

Steven started for the parking lot. "Elizabeth, stay very close to me." He unzipped a compartment in his book bag and made sure his Glock 17 was ready, but didn't take it out. Elizabeth stayed right with Steven. She trusted him and knew he would take care of her. Steven was almost jogging to the Expedition. Steven tried to open the Expedition with the remote. Nothing happened. He tried the keyless entry, but he put the code in twice and nothing happened. Steven had to use the key to open the Expedition's door. Elizabeth was frightened by the serious look Steven had on his face. "What's wrong? What's EMP?" Steven didn't say anything. He got in the driver's seat and tried to unlock the Expedition. The lock button didn't work either. Steven leaned across the console and unlocked the passenger door. "Elizabeth, get in the truck." Elizabeth quickly got into the passenger seat. "Lock your door." She locked her door. He locked his door too. Steven put the key into the ignition and turned the key. Shit, nothing happened. Steven looked at Elizabeth. Tears were welling up in her eyes. Elizabeth was about to panic.

"Honey, I think there has been an EMP explosion, that's the only thing that would explain the electricity going out, our cell phones and all the cars not working."
"What is EMP, are we going to die?" Elizabeth was fighting back the tears.
"No, we are not going to die, but if I am right this vehicle and our cell phones will never work again."
"How are we going to get home?"
"It looks like we have to walk home."
"What do you mean walk home?"
"Well unless you want to steer while I push this truck home, which isn't going to happen, we have to walk home."

Elizabeth looked down at her shoes. They looked great on her, but the open toe high heel shoes were not made for walking. She was overwhelmed by the situation and the tears came rolling down her cheeks. It was a seventeen mile walk home. She didn't know how she was going to make it wearing these shoes, but there didn't seem to be many choices.

"Honey, it's going to be OK." Steven really didn't know how this city was going to react to being deprived of the modern conveniences that had become necessities. He wasn't going to scare her with that right now. Just then someone knocked on the driver's side window. It startled Steven and he reach for the Glock. It was Bob and Sharon. They were Steven and Elizabeth's closest friends in church. Steven opened the door and stepped out of the truck because he couldn't roll down the electric window.
"Bob, can you believe this?"
"It's got to be an EMP burst." Bob was some what like minded as Steven. Steven was an end of civilization nut, but Bob was more of a conspiracy theory nut.
Yea, that's what I told Elizabeth too." He and Bob stood there looking around. People were actually panicked. Some were running, others just stood by their cars.
"Sharon and I are walking home. Do you and Elizabeth want to come to our house or are you going to try to make home." Bob and Sharon lived about three miles from the church. Steven thought Elizabeth could manage that walk more than the seventeen miles back home. Elizabeth had left the truck and was standing next to Steven. She looked like a frightened little bird. Looking around and looking at Steven.
"I think we'll go with you. Elizabeth doesn't have walking shoes and I don't think she would make the walk home."
"Maybe we can find something she can wear at our house." Sharon was a nice lady and tried to comfort Elizabeth.
"Thank you." Elizabeth looked relieved that they weren't going to try to walk home in her high heeled shoes. Sharon and Elizabeth started their own private conversation. It was obviously relaxing Elizabeth from the near panic state she was in.
"Let me get stuff out of the truck." Steven emptied all of the papers out of his book bag. He kept the bible. He had always kept a case of water and two fleece sleeping bag liners in the back of the Expedition because it was just easier to keep the cup holders filled with bottled water. There was about half a case left. Steven put all the bottled water into his book bag. He had to unzip the part of the book bag that allowed the book bag to expand. He also found another flashlight, extra batteries, tissues and folding knife in the console. These went into the book bag too. With the book bag and sleeping bag liners, they were ready to leave for Bob and Sharon's house.
"Bob, we're ready to go."
"Good, I think we want to get off the streets while people figure this out."
"Probably a good idea and I am hungry too."
"We have food, but the refrigerator won't be working if we're right."
"Barbeque?"
"You bet, why not."
Elizabeth broke of her conversation with Sharon as they walked to Bob and Sharon's House. "What's happening? What's EMP? Why doesn't the truck start?"
"I don't know what is happening. EMP stands for Electromagnetic Pulse. EMP is emitted from a nuclear explosion. It not harmful to us, but it will destroy electronic circuitry if you don't specially shield the circuits from EMP. All of our electrical systems run through circuitry. That's why the electricity went out, our cell phones and Expedition is dead."
"What does that all mean?"
"Honey, that means we are back to the old days. No electricity, no cell phones, no cars."
Bob joined the discussion while they walked towards his house. "That's not all, no sewage, telephones, running water, fire trucks, ambulances, or police."
"No police?" Now Elizabeth was frightened again. She looked at Steven.
"Do you have your gun?"
"Yes and extra ammunition too."
"You brought your gun into the church!"
"Well, I was a little apprehensive about it at first, but it seems like it was a good decision, now. I do have a concealed handgun permit."
"I can't believe you brought your gun into church."
"Honey, I look at it this way, Proverbs 22:3 says 'A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.'"
"The devil misquotes scripture too!"
Bob laughs. "Well, that's water under the bridge. It is a good thing that you have your pistol with you. I don't think we will need it on our way home, but you might when you walk to your home."
The walk to Bob and Sharon's house was relatively normal, with the exception of no cars moving anywhere. In August, it's hot in Austin. Everyone was hot and worn out from the three miles to their house.
"Hey Bob, it's hot in here. Oh, yea, no electricity."
"Yea, we'll have open all of the windows. Unfortunately, the air conditioning is not working until further notice." Everyone laughed and started opening the windows in their house.
The women went into the kitchen to see what they could eat from the refrigerator because that food would spoil soon. The food in the freezer would keep a little longer. Steven and Bob stayed in the living room. They started to assess the situation
"I've got my pistol and some ammunition. Do you have weapons here?"
"My shotgun and 1911, but I don't have much ammunition."
"I think we both should be armed. People will be freaking out soon and bad guys may see an opportunity."
Bob stood up and went into a bedroom. He came out with the shotgun and pistol, one box of ammunition for each.
"Bob, what water do you have?"
"None."
"We could drain your water heater. Do you have a water hose and some thing to hold the water?"
"Yea, the hose is outside and I have a water cooler in the garage."
"You load your weapons and I'll go get them." Steven put his pistol and holster on his belt and his folding knife in his pocket. The holster had an extra magazine pouch on it. He started toward the back door. As he walked through the kitchen, he caught Elizabeth's eye. "Hey, baby, I'm going to get some things to drain the water heater for water. Lock the door behind me. OK?"
"OK, be careful."

Elizabeth looked calm for the situation. Steven thought to himself that busy work must help her cope with what's happening. He went out the back door and down a small flight stairs to the back yard. The back yard had a wooden privacy fence. It was in pretty good shape. He checked the only gate. There was no lock on the gate. A lock would need to put on that gate. The hose was attached to the faucet. Bending down on one knee, Steven unscrewed the hose from the faucet. When he got the hose off the faucet, he carried the hose to the back door and dropped it. Now, He needed the water cooler in the garage. The garage was a wooden one car garage with a side door. He cautiously opened the side door to the garage. The flashlight wept all around the inside of the garage. He was relieved there was nothing he had to deal with. It was like the inside of a lot of garages. Some shelves along the walls and stacks of boxes. A couple of old bicycles were leaned against the wall. They were now worth their weight in gold. Next to the bicycles was the water cooler. Steven grabbed the water cooler and headed toward the back door. He set the cooler down by the back door and took out his folding knife. He cut the hose to an eight foot length from the female end of the hose. Then he heard a shot and it was close. Steven quickly pulled his pistol from the holster. Nothing was moving or making noise outside the fence. Holstering his pistol, he quickly grabbed the water cooler and the section of hose. Elizabeth was waiting for him at the door and let him in. They locked the back door behind him.

Once in the house, Steven found Bob watching out the front windows with his shotgun. Sharon was standing in the hallway.
"Do you see anything, Bob?"
"No, but that gun shot was close."
"I need to lock the fence gate. Do you have anything to lock it with?"
"Yea, there's a lock in the kitchen drawer. Sharon can you get it?"
Sharon started for the kitchen without a word. Steven followed her into the kitchen. She opened a drawer that was obviously the junk drawer in the house. After some digging through the drawer, she handed Steven the lock with a key hanging out of it. He opened the back door and checked the back yard before going out. He didn't see or hear anything. Moving quickly to the gate, he placed the lock on the gate and removed the key.

Back in the house, Elizabeth and Sharon had gone found fresh vegetables and some steak in the refrigerator. The gas stove still worked for now. Who knows how long the gas pressure would hold. It smelled good.

Bob was still in the front living room watching out the windows.
"Anything going on out there?"
"Some drunk with a bottle and a pistol."
Steven looked out the front windows. Sure enough, there was a man in his forties staggering around the street with a liquor bottle in one hand and a revolver in the other hand. He fired a shot in to the air and yelled something. Neither Bob nor Steven could make out what he yelled. The drunk took another swig from his bottle and staggered down the street.
"People are going to get weird"
"You said it."
After hearing the drunk shoot his pistol in front of the house, Elizabeth and Sharon were in the living room with them.
"I hope dinner's not burning."
Sharon was not in a joking mood. "No, Bob, your dinner is not burning. Was that a gun shot? It was so loud."
"It was a drunk shooting into the air. He was almost in our front yard."
Steven looked at Elizabeth. She was visibly shaken by the sound of the drunk's shot.
"Honey, you doing alright?"
"Is he gone?"
"Yea, I guess he's having a party."
"Where are the police?"
"Well, Austin is a pretty big city. The police relied on radios, telephones and police cars to patrol and police the city. I don't think they have any of that now. I think we are on our own for protection."
"Steven, I scared. How are we going to get back home? What about the kids?"
Steven and Elizabeth were both forty-seven years old. Although, Elizabeth looked like she was in her early thirties. She was a slim, petite woman. She says she was five foot and one half inch tall, but Steven had his doubts that she was above five foot tall. Steven, on the other hand, had grey in his hair. He was broad and six foot-two. Definitely, considered a large man. The two of them were quite a contrast.

"I know you're scared. I can't tell you that I don't have some serious concerns too. We will make it through this. I have made a lot of preparations for crisis situations and you know that. This sort of crisis is hard to prepare for, but we have a head start. We will get home. I want to leave early in the morning. The kids are probably home already and if I know Andrew, Forrest and Chaise, they are already holding down the fort. I hope Chaise hasn't shot anyone, 'yet.'" They all laughed.

Chaise was fourteen years old, the youngest of Steven and Elizabeth's five children. Being the youngest of five children, she didn't take anything off anyone. Andrew was twenty-two and the easiest going of all the children. Forrest was sixteen and the most serious minded of all the children. All of them lived at home and knew how to shoot well, especially Chaise. Richard and Cindy were the oldest children. Cindy was married to Brant and lived in San Antonio and have a daughter, Kaylee. Richard was married to Jennifer and lived in Austin and have a son, Hunter.

"There's a good chance that Richard, Jennifer and Hunter are at the house with the Andrew and the kids. Cindy, Brant and Kaylee have Brant's family living close by. So, they're probably with his family."
"I hope so." Elizabeth wasn't just worried Steven and herself, but the entire family. So was Steven. He couldn't show it. He had to have a strong presence or Elizabeth might fall apart.
"We to start walking home early tomorrow."
"I don't want to go when it's still dark."
"OK, Honey, but at first light we need to start."
Just then a gun shot rang out. It was farther out, but not real far off.
Bob checked the front door lock and started walking to the kitchen. "How about dinner everyone." Bob had to keep that same strong presence for Sharon too.
Everyone realized how hungry they were and forgot about what was happening. Plates and utensils were already on the able. When they reached the table, Bob leaned his shotgun against the wall next his chair. Elizabeth and Sharon started serving the food. After they asked God for blessings and protection, they ate everything. None had realized how long it had been since they had eaten.
"Bob, how much food do you have?"
"Just what's in the pantry, the refrigerator and freezer. That should last us about a week if we are careful."
"We have food at home. If you and Sharon want to join us, you both are welcome."
"I don't know. I'll have to discuss it with Sharon." Bob looked at Sharon. She didn't say a word.
"Let me know."
"OK, we'll let you know."

There was a knock on the front door. Bob grabbed his shotgun. Steven took his pistol out of the holster with a natural motion.
Bob went to the front and looked out a window. Susan was a single mother from a house down the street from Bob and Sharon's house. She had a teenage daughter about the same size as Elizabeth.
"It's Susan from down the street. She's got her daughter with her."
"Bob, you watch to make sure she's alone and I'll let her in."
Bob continued to watch out the window as Steven opened the door to let them in. Both were carrying back packs and a sleeping bag.
He locked the door as soon as they were inside.
"Sorry Bob, but we had no where else to go."
"What the matter?
"We saw them kick in the front doors of two houses. We knew we were next."
"What are you talking about? Who is kicking in doors?"
"There are three men. They are kicking in the doors to houses and going inside. I thought I heard screams from one house. I don't what they are doing or if there were people in the houses, but it can't be good. I just knew we were next."
"Don't worry Susan, you and Terry are safe."
"Steven, what do you think?"
"If they're armed, it could be bad. We should be ready to move. Sharon, do you have any shoes that Elizabeth could wear?"
"I wear a size 7."
Elizabeth shook head no. "I wear a size 5 or 5 ½."
Terry, Susan's daughter, dropped her pack to the floor and started searching through it. "I wear a size 5 ½." She pulled out a pair of tennis shoes. "You can have them." She handed the tennis shoes to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth tried the tennis shoes without socks.
"Do they fit?"
"Yes they fit." The tennis shoes fit well enough.
"Bob, I'll stand guard. You and Sharon start packing to get out of here."
"Here, take my shotgun." Bob and Sharon went to a back bed room. They were talking quietly to each other as they left the room. Bob came back into the room carrying a medium size back pack. Bob had been an eagle scout and, then, a scout master.
"I found an extra back pack and some canteens, we can pack whatever food and water that we can carry."
Elizabeth grabbed the back pack and canteens. She went to the kitchen and Bob went to the back bed room. Susan and Terry followed Elizabeth into the kitchen. Steven could hear the noises from the kitchen. Steven was watching out the window with the shot gun in his hands. This was supposed to be a relaxing Labor Day Weekend. Life likes to play jokes. There he was. Hot and sweaty, watching for bad guys with a shot gun in his hands. The sun was still pretty high in the sky. Steven looked down at his watch. Damn, that's worthless. His watch had stopped at 10:30. Should have worn a wind up watch. He looked at the clock on the wall. It had stopped at 10:35. Oh well, what does the time matter? He seriously doubted he was going to the office in the near future. Or any future for that matter. Most business lived on electricity and computers. There was no electricity and computers were worthless junk now. Movement in the yard brought Steven's attention back the front yard. It was a small dog. He could hear popping in the distance. Probably gun fire. The dog was smelling around the bushes in the front yard.

The dog looked up and then trotted off. After a couple of minutes, Steven could hear voices. Then he could see five men and six women walking down the street. Some of the men were carrying rifles and shotguns. One of the women was carrying a rifle. All of them were carrying a pack of some sort. They were talking between each other. He heard one of the men say they needed to reach the police station by dark. That sounded like a reasonably plan, if the police officers were still there. Steven had a suspicion that most police officers would go to protect their on families. The man was right about being somewhere safe after dark. Without out electric lights, people were going to freak out when it gets dark or worse. He stayed out of sight and watched as they passed by. Another couple of minutes, he couldn't see or hear them. Strange groups are dangerous. Now was not the time to take any chances. A low profile was the best way to stay safe. Steven didn't know how they were going to keep a low profile walking home.

Elizabeth came out where Steven was watching out the window.
"We've got all the food and anything can be drunk in the pack, but it is too heavy to carry."
"I think we can mount all the packs on two bicycles that I saw in the garage. We can push them home."
"I'm worried about the kid's."
"I know you are. I'm worried for all of us, but we will make it."
Susan and Terry had joined Elizabeth and Steven in the living room.
"We don't have anywhere safe to go."
"You are welcome to come with us, but it is a long way from here."
Susan and Terry looked at each other. "Thank you, we won't be any trouble."
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yes, but we can't carry the pack with the food."
"I think I have an idea to cover that."
"We're ready too." Bob and Sharon had walked back into the living room. They both had backpacks and hiking boots.
"What's the plan?"
"If nothing happens, Elizabeth and I are leaving in the morning"

Suddenly the front door burst open. A man was coming through the splintered front door. Steven raised the shotgun and fired. The blast caught the man in the center of his chest. It picked him off his feet and sent him out the front door backwards. A moment later, the back door burst off the door frame. Another man was running through the back door and into the kitchen. Bob shot his 1911 Colt three times at the man coming through the kitchen. All three of the 45 caliber bullets struck the man in the chest. Both of the men hit the ground dead. Bob dropped his backpack and covered the back door. Steven was covering the front. If these were the same men that Susan had seen kicking in doors, then there was one more out there. The sun was setting, but there was plenty of light.
These men must have built up a lot of confidence preying on people who still thought the world was the same. They thought they the police would keep them safe, but the police department could not police the city without cars or radios. Steven could not see anything moving in front of the house. Bob had made his way into the kitchen and was watching the back yard. The ladies were huddled in a back corner of the living room. Bob and Steven kept this watch for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, when nothing moved, they decided the other man had run off after he saw his buddies get blown away.

"Bob, this house is no longer safe. The garage has only one easy point of entry through the side door. Let's take everything to the garage and hold up there until morning."
"That's a good idea. We should make sure the garage is clear before all of us go in."
"Yea, nothing like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. I don't want to share the garage with the third member of that gang. Stay here, you take the shotgun and reload. I'll clear the garage."

Steven took out his Glock and flashlight, and then cautiously walked out the back door. He checked the gate. It was still intact. The lock was still there. The garage door was closed. Slowly, Steven opened the garage side door. While he held his pistol ready, he shined his light all around the garage. Nothing. He entered the garage and made a thorough search. He didn't find anyone in the garage.

Bob and Steven took shifts guarding the small group in the garage. All of them tried to sleep. No one could except Steven. Bob had told the others that Steven must have a clear conscience. Sharon laughed, but Elizabeth knew better.







Chapter Two

It 4:00 a.m. on Labor Day, they were ready to leave for Steven and Elizabeth's house. The packs had been strapped to the two bicycles in the garage. This would allow them to move faster without having to carry the weight of the packs on their backs. Elizabeth didn't like that they were leaving while it was dark. Steven and Bob wanted to avoid as much contact with other people as much as possible. They hoped that most people were either asleep or still inside a building at this hour of the morning. Steven went out the side garage door and through the house. He crouched next to a bush in the moonlight and watched the street where the main garage door opened to. He saw a cat walk leisurely across the street. After a couple of minutes, he decided the coast was clear. Steven lightly knocked on the main garage door. Bob lifted the door and they started walking.

The group had decided it would be best to make the least amount of noise as possible. No talking was allowed unless they saw trouble. Their route took them through neighborhood side streets and then west on forty-fifth street. It took an hour to travel from Bob's house to the expressway. The group didn't see anyone or anything moving until they came to the expressway. Mo Pac Expressway or just "Mo Pac" was the western expressway running North and South in Austin. It was a main artery of the city. Mo Pac had three southbound lanes and three northbound lanes. Staying out of sight in the tree line along Mo Pac, they could see a small but steady stream of people. Some were headed north and some going south. Everyone was carry or pulling something with them. The people on the expressway did not have weapons in sight except for an occasional baseball bat. There were cars and trucks all over Mo Pac, but none were moving. Everything looked orderly in a weird way.

They needed to go south. Watching the people walking in both directions, they decided to travel north on the expressway. The sun was beginning to rise. Bob stowed his shot gun on the bicycles that he was pushing and put his pistol under his shirt. Bob could still get to the shot gun easily. Steven did the same with his pistol. He was pushing the other bicycle. They didn't want to call attention to themselves. Everyone in the group walked close together around the bicycles. Since they were now in the open, they talked freely between each other.

Terry asked, "How far is your house?"
"It's about fourteen miles from here, we should make it long before dark."
Elizabeth looked at Steven. It was obvious she was racked with worry.
"What time do you think it is? How long do you think it will take us to get home? "I'm really worried about the kids."
"It looks like it is about 7:00 a.m. We should get to the house in four to six hours. The kids are fine. Andrew, Forrest and Chaise know what to do. Richard and Jennifer are there by now. Richard will set up everything before we get there. They'll be waiting for us. How are your shoes holding up?" Steven was trying to get Elizabeth's mind off the kids for a short while.
"I wish I had some socks."
"When we stop for a rest, we'll see if anyone has spare socks for you."

The group continued south on Mo Pac. As the sun rose higher in the sky, more people were traveling on Mo Pac. Obviously, a lot of people got caught away from home. Occasionally, they heard some popping in the distance. The walk was not hard. Some motionless cars sometimes created a bottle neck, but, all in all, there weren't a lot of obstacles in the road. The people they passed didn't say a word. The shock was obvious in their faces.

There were many streams of dark smoke in the sky. Fires and no firefighters.


As they approached the Town Lake Bridge, they saw a police officer on a horse. Everyone was surprised. He was armed with a shot gun and looked normal, except he was sitting a horse. As they got close, Steven could see a body lying on the ground in a pool of blood close to where the police officer was. The group gave the police officer and the body a wide berth.

"Steven did you see that?"
"Yea Bob, I guess that's the new law and order."
Elizabeth looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"Honey, it doesn't look like they are taking people to jail."
"You mean they are killing them?"
"The police didn't have enough police officers to be everywhere when they had cars. I doubt they have many horse or bicycles or officers. How would they get a prisoner down to the jail downtown from here with out a car?"
Bob was visibly uneasy while he listened to their conversation.
"What do you think that man did?"
"I don't know, Bob. I only hope that it was serious enough to get shot for and not just an example."
"Me too."

The group started to move more quickly trying to put distance from them and the dead man lying next to the mounted police officer.

Well you're off to a reasonable good start, Prepper: I was getting stuck into the story when it suddenly stopped. You'll have to continue now or I'll be wondering forever what happened, lol.

I realise that this is a rough draft and that you will probably tweak it here and there as you develop the story, but one thing I did pick up on is that there are a number of very short sentences together that tend repeat words unnecessarily, and could be combined. For example, you wrote:
"The back yard had a wooden privacy fence. It was in pretty good shape. He checked the only gate. There was no lock on the gate. A lock would need to put on that gate."
Nothing really wrong with that, but, if I might make a suggestion, for a novel it might be better to read something like:
"The backyard had a wooden privacy fence that was in pretty good shape, but on checking its only gate he found that there was no lock on it, and one would need to be fitted."
or
"The hose was attached to the faucet. Bending down on one knee, Steven unscrewed the hose from the faucet. When he got the hose off the faucet, he carried the hose to the back door and dropped it."
to
"Bending down on one knee, Steve unscrewed the hose attached to the faucet and carried it to the back door, where he dropped it."
Mind you, that's only an opinion from someone who tends to be long winded in his own sentences, as you'll find if you read some of my posts, lol.
One other tip: After you finish writing a chapter, or even a page or two, read it through a day or two later. You tend to find more of your own mistakes that way. Even better is if you have a friend who can read through it for you. Other people are more likely to pick up on errors than the writer. (Just make sure it is a good friend who understands what you are trying to convey.)
But keep up the good work: I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Much more to come. I am working on the second chapter. I posted this for honest and meaningful responses. This is my first attempt at fiction writing. I am thick skinned about my writing. So, no comment will be offensive (unless you say something bad about my wife, then I have to hunt you down and kill you slowly) lol.

it's a good start. as for critiques, try shortening the names. instead of steven or elizabeth, try steve and liz. use different phrases to identify objects and people. instead of 'steve grabbed the bookbag and opened the bookbag. steve unzipped the bookbag and loaded the water into the bookbag' try 'steve grabbed his bookbag and dumped the contents on the ground, he expanded it and began loading bottles of water insidew from the stash he kept in the truck. when it was as full as he could get it he slung it on his back, grunting under the added weight.'.

also, try not to use narrative to tell as much of the story. use dialogue to tell what the different characters are feeling or thinking.

one thing i called BS on immediately was the gunfight. a shotgun blast does NOT pick people up or throw them back. if it did, according to physics, the shooter would also be thrown back when he fired the weapon (equal and opposite reaction, remember). next, the other character turned and put 3 rounds into the chest of a moving opponent after being surprised by him. in reality he would have missed wildly and maybe connected with one shot, and not in a vital area. the MZB would have probably screamed like a girl and tried to get away and that would have been it.

you have a good story line here and i am interested in which way you will take it. the things i mention are common to all new writers...please don't be discouraged.

"a shotgun blast does NOT pick people up or throw them back."

But, but, but CFI, I've seen it happen! Many times! On the TV, and at the cinema! (And I know that American cars nearly always explode in a massive ball of flame after being involved in collisions, especially when driven by bad guys.)

Oh, and I noticed that Australia wasn't among the targets hit by the EMP Nukes, which is a good thing for me. (And don't bloodywell change that part, lol!) Was that deliberate?

By the way, Prepper, If you look down our range of forums you will find one labelled "Users' SHTF Stories". Could you continue posting this story there, where we can all find it easily? Thanks.

moved

Kudos...

I suppose you will have your protagonists find a wizened pioneer type dude with a "utility resistant" shelter... the type that has superinsulated walls, movable insulated window shutters, a rainwater fed cistern and a hand pump in the kitchen.

Instead of refrigeration, this "Wise Ant" has a root cellar and food caches tucked away where "evil grasshoppers" cannot find them.

On the sunward side, there's a solar oven, for fueless cooking.

In the basement, there's a dry composting humanure system.

Instead of an automobile, there's a recumbent tricycle and small trailer in the garage.

Best of all, the structure is practically invisible, due to the festooning vegetation (edible).

Sounds like he might stumble into some place that you've designed Ozmirage.

You know, you've just given me an idea: How about this?

One of us writes the first chapter of a story. There's no fixed plot at this point - Just an initial location, a key character and several others, (a family, perhaps?), a description of a SHTF event from which to begin and possibly the supplies/vehicles/weapons that were at hand when it happened.
(It would be better to keep these items limited to those that might be expected of a person who is relatively new to prepping, and doesn't have too much. This of course means that your hero/heroine will have to obtain things that are needed, but are perhaps not easy to come by.)

Then each member who wants to can add a chapter that will keep the story moving. Put your name down if you are interested in taking part, and a yet-to-be-decided coordinator will, without fear or favour, pick each succeeding writer. To keep everything in a chronological order, after each chapter has been posted and read, the next chapter's author would be selected from a list of the would-be novelists among us. You can post several chapters, but they must not be sequential. Another important point to be kept in mind would be that you would have no control over the direction that the story might take, so you can't be offended if it goes a different way than you might have wanted it to.
As happens in real life however, several characters might break away from the original group and travel a different (story) route.

Reasonably, given the location of most members, the story would be set somewhere in the lower 48, however somebody like Dennis or myself could still make a contribution. (We'd have access to ham radio communications perhaps?) If I was to make a contribution it would be rather generic in content, but I don't see that as a problem.

Anybody got any thoughts on this, or want to put their hand up? Think the idea should be bandied about a bit before anyone puts 'pen to paper', as it were, though.

Days of Chaos
- a "what if" fiction -

The End came without fanfare. One day, we all were busy busy busy. The next day, shock and dismay. Mostly, we stood around, wide eyed, wondering what would happen next.

The Great Solar Storm came with little advance warning. The wave of charged particles hit the power grid, induced great currents and burned out mighty transformers as well as delicate electronics equipment. Automatic safeguards were insufficient to prevent equipment damage to the power transmission network, and suddenly there was silence.

The sudden breakdown in centralized power distribution had a ripple effect. No electricity to pump water, fuel, or even information. Pipelines stopped. Fuel that was available, stored in tanks, wasn't accessible. Deliveries dwindled, then stopped. Panic arose.

The supermarket shelves were stripped bare within 18 hours of the "Big Nothing". At first, anxious shoppers bid up the price. Later, sly owners closed their stores, and cached away supplies for themselves. Money was no longer of any use, since there was little left to buy at any price.

On the third day, order broke down completely. Desperate people began to take what they wanted, without regard. There was no help to call, and if you could reach a government agency, there were few who could respond. Riots broke out and gang predators roamed at will. Few police intervened. The police personnel were loathe to leave their own families unprotected. Apparently 'someone' had prepared a "hit list" of government personnel and their families. Rumors of hit squads taking them out, stirred even more panic. Vengeful ex-convicts took the opportunity to seek out their tormentors and terminate them.

The majority of full time military were stationed overseas, and had their attention on those who were methodically sniping at them. And as support from the homeland was no longer forthcoming, they, too began to feel the dread of abandonment. They became strangers in a strange land.

The minority remnants of professional military were dispersed to guard the government establishment and their personnel, leaving the majority unguarded, to fend for themselves. Forts, bases, and stations were secure from organized attack, but they were not tenable refuges, as supplies conveniently vanished. By whose orders, no one knew.

Financially, we were wrecked. No one was paying their bills. Workers were unpaid, even if they worked. There was nothing to buy if one did have money. Suddenly, the whole system of expectations and behavior had no basis in reality. It was as if someone flipped a switch, and a darkness of mind and spirit descended upon us.

Unattended houses were occupied by squatters, who trashed them without any regard nor respect. Rumors flew regarding supplies of food and fuel. Organized "freedom" gangs appropriated (stole) whatever they could find.

In the most densely populated areas, the suffering was accelerated by the huge demand for basic necessities. There were no surpluses nor stockpiles sufficient to meet all the demands. Without fuel, no deliveries were possible, even if supplies were found.

One of the odd consequences of loss of water pressure was the accumulation of human waste in the plumbing systems. Without water, the porcelain appliances became clogged and useless. People habitually deposited in them, without a thought to the inevitable consequences. The stench was soon unbearable. Thus these limited urban refuges became unlivable within a week.

Those with health problems requiring medication, special appliances or other treatments suddenly were without. Great suffering and death followed in the days afterward. Elderly and infirm were found dead, abandoned.

In some areas, mobs of starving people began to migrate into the countryside, desperate for any food. The first wave, traveling on foot about 20 to 24 miles per day, raided the rings of suburbia.

It wasn't fruitful. The supermarkets and retail outlets were equally bare of necessities.

The suburbanites weren't much better off, since they were completely dependent upon their vehicles, which, in turn, were dependent upon cheap and plentiful fuel. It wasn't uncommon to see abandoned automobiles, littering the roadsides and even clogging the middle of the road.

The bands of wide eyed marauders didn't leave them unexamined. Anything that was food was consumed in a frenzy. Insecure homes were entered, and gleaned for sustenance. If the marauders were successful, they moved on with speed, if not, they slowly died.

It wasn't long before hunger forced further expeditions for their foraging. Some were able to get as far as 60 miles out. But in the end, it was futile. Those on the frontier, couldn't get back home. Those who were left behind, suffered as they waited for help that never arrived. Children who couldn't keep pace, nor the stamina to endure, passed away, watched by grieving parents who were helpless and hopeless.

Beyond the great cities, and outside the fringe of suburbia, some oases of abundant life were found. They were on or near arable land, convenient to waterways or other transportation networks. Rural enclaves that were independent of centralized power, and capable of supporting themselves, having the foresight to construct alternative power generation systems. Some were solar photovoltaic, some were wind powered, some were based on distilled spirits. They all had unpowered agriculture and independence from imports. Suddenly they became powerful. For they had the power of life and death, by virtue of their ability to sustain life.

Not unlike lords of old, these groups dispensed their surplus foods in exchange for fealty from the lucky stragglers who had reached them.

As expected, each isolated and sectarian enclave was unwilling to deplete their own marginal supplies for the benefit of those who were not in harmony with their rigid philosophies. Their paranoia was justified, when the next wave of chaos erupted.

It wasn't too long afterward, that news spread about the roving bandits, raiding neighboring lands and settlements. Composed of survivors from prison riots and subsequent escapes, these bands were without any veneer of civilized restraint. Hardened by years of imprisonment, without any regard for anyone else, they roamed in packs, tearing apart what little remnants of organized society they could find. It was if they were enraptured by the burning light of civilization's dying embers.

These bands were partially neutralized by vigilantes, armed and itching to shoot trespassers on sight. They learned the hard lesson that mercy and forbearance was an instant lottery ticket to the graveyard when confronting bandits.

The union of states was no more. People ceased their allegiance to anything as abstract as the nation. All that remained in favor was allegiance to their local land lord and their farm masters. The alternative was slow death, without aid nor mercy. Or a quick death, by nervous defenders, whose survival was built upon meting out death to intruders.

In areas where the "Big Nothing" didn't completely wipe out power, there was a deadly ripple passing through. The consequence of market breakdown in Europe, Asia, and America was catastrophic. No longer buying and selling, commerce collapsed. Overnight, paper empires fell into ruin. Great container ships reversed their course, and returned home, for there were no more ports able to unload them nor means to pay for their cargo.

Pockets of mining, mass production and export began to wither and die, as trade ended. Shortages and outages flowed across many lands. People who were acclimated to laboring in factories, and buying their necessities from markets were reduced to living on what they could make themselves, or trade for in their own locality.

The Great Migration was afoot, literally. People abandoned the great cities, and headed into the countryside, where ancient farming villages stood testament to survival. They could still function when deprived of power, imports and deliveries.

The great megalopolises became burned out ruins. There were few people left, once the food supply was consumed. The outlying suburban pockets were in various conditions, depending on the severity of looting, and the state of stored supplies. The rural corporate farming areas weren't better off, especially those that were entirely dependent upon deliveries of power, fuel, supplies and such to operate. Without power, the crops were untended, unharvested, and tragically rotted, while millions perished from hunger.

Though it was possible to rebuild the grid, over time, the fabrication facilities were unmanned, unpowered, and unpaid. There was no way to swiftly recover, and it was evident that mankind was going to shift back five centuries or more.

The one miracle was that no nation sought to annihilate its traditional enemy. No nuclear exchange added misery and desolation to the unfolding chaos. The world's population convulsed, consumed itself, and fell to a fraction of its previous numbers. But no war was responsible. Survival, day to day, became the all consuming activity. Lifespans shortened. Sophistication and civilization became memories. Technological triumphs became monuments of the past, and reduced to memories of the elders. The young neither comprehended, nor could replicate that which was lost. It was the beginning of the dark age.

How could we have been so shortsighted and foolish?