Countdown to Doomsday Begins: A Tale of Hope and Despair
Will this be how the world ends? JL and his wife, Lisa, are on the run as if their lives depend on it. And it does. Navigating through a world of famine, death, war and pestilence, they search for a safe place, as their Florida home becomes too dangerous. In Louisiana, a young woman is on the run for her life. Will their paths ever cross? Stay connected for each new chapter.
Countdown to Doomsday Begins: A Tale of Hope and Despair
Chapter 6: It's a Jeep Thing
What if a world reshaped by cataclysms became the backdrop for an extraordinary tale of survival and courage? Join us as we journey through a post-apocalyptic Florida with JL, David, Lisa, and Marcy in their modified Jeep. They're not just battling the elements but also the emotional scars from their past, including David's poignant haiku—a testament to his resilience after losing his family during the pandemic. As they navigate this desolate world, unexpected encounters remind them of the ever-present dangers lurking in their path, pushing their limits and testing their resolve.
Meanwhile, Brenda and Cat are on a high-stakes ride across backroads, evading military patrols on a motorcycle. With each twist and turn, they're not only calculating their escape from the Alabama-Georgia checkpoint but also unraveling a personal history tied to a book Cat's grandmother entrusted to her. This isn't just a story about survival; it's about uncovering hidden legacies and forging new paths against all odds. Tune in to witness these intertwined stories filled with suspense, strategy, and the indomitable spirit of resilience.
Welcome back to a new chapter, as always ad-free, curated just for you. Those of us at the Leaping Cat Studio want to thank a new sponsor helping produce each episode of Countdown to Doomsday, keeping it ad-free. And now follow the journey. Countdown to Doomsday, chapter 6. It's Jeep Thing.
Speaker 1:The sound of the Jeep's engine puzzled JL. I thought Jeeps use gasoline-powered engines. This doesn't sound like that. We had to improvise. They designed Willie's Jeeps to use continental four-cylinder engines producing 45 horsepower. David said those guys were capable of speeds up to 65 miles an hour.
Speaker 1:I found a magazine with all the specs. The fuel tank capacity was 15 gallons with an operational range of close to 300 miles. That's impressive. That's impressive. But when I found this jeep in the back jail it was in an old barn and decent shape, except for the tires and an engine frozen by corrosion and rust. A friend in miami put me in contact with two mechanics originally from Havana, cuba. They had specialized in keeping those pre-revolutionary American cars on the road by using diesel engines. How did they manage that? Well, they're magicians, david said. I'd like to see the face of the owner of a small delivery van in Fort Lauderdale when he discovered his motor was missing. Is it much different from the gasoline-powered. Well, we've gained in horsepower but we lost in speed. I can still get up to 45 miles an hour, but we have the same operational range, maybe even a little better.
Speaker 1:Jl did some mental calculations. David has 65 gallons of fuel to work with, but he told me it was 658 miles. Well, at 45 miles an hour it's going to take over 14 hours, and that's not counting avoiding checkpoints and other difficulties. David interrupted we need to get started, and he helped Marcy and Lisa to the back seat. And JL noticed his wife's discomfort when she squeezed in with Marcy in the rear seat. Are you okay, lisa? I don't have a lot of leg room, but it's going to be okay. Jl considered her words and hearing an undertone telling him Lisa was not feeling well Married for so long, jl knew something was wrong other than the leg room. There was a jolt when David popped the clutch, but after shifting seamlessly through the gears, the rides smoothed and Jail heard Lisa let out a brief moan at the initial jolt. I need to keep a watch on her, jl thought.
Speaker 1:Spotting the dark clouds ahead, jl turned to David. It hasn't rained for years. Everything is brown. The rain from this hurricane is doing nothing more than turning the ground into mud and those clouds that we're heading towards. They look ominous. I'm keeping track. David said I don't imagine they have put the overhead canvas up on this Jeep in years. He pulled the Jeep to the side of the road and JL thought it was funny pulling over like that when they were the only vehicle in sight on this road. Why bother pulling off the road? They both laughed. It was a struggle to raise the overhead canvas, but the four decided it wouldn't provide any protection from the rain but maybe it would offer the illusion of helping.
Speaker 1:Further on, as they drove through Sebring, florida, jl looked around trying to remember what this part of Florida looked like before the cataclysmic devastation of disease, food shortage and climate change. How could all this happen in just 13 years? What David said Sorry, I didn't realize I was speaking out loud. I kept thinking back to the way it was before. How old were you when the volcanoes erupted? I was in middle school. It was batshit crazy, jail. The schools jammed, our smartphones and our parents were going crazy trying to call us and their calls just kept going to voicemail. Jail looked back and Lisa was almost asleep and Marcy had her head on Lisa's lap, his wife slowly stroking the girl's hair. Jl knew she was thinking about the death of their own daughter, vera, in the early stages of the pandemic. Yeah, it was crazy.
Speaker 1:David sounded melancholy. What about you? And getting through COVID, david? The question caused David to grimace and looking like he was getting ready to cry. My case was mild. That said, mom, papa and my older sister, violet didn't make it through. He turned quiet Sorry, lad, I don't have the words for it Recalling his own daughter's death.
Speaker 1:After a few minutes, david began speaking again. I had nobody. Despair and grief were with me 24-7. Then I picked up and read a book about haiku, one of the few books remaining on the shelves. I put all my emotional baggage into creating what I thought was the perfect one. That's incredible. Did it work? It did, sir, until it didn't. Time was more of a healer.
Speaker 1:May I hear what you wrote? It's about a black-throated blue warbler singing a shitty song. Please go on. Gl said I'd like to hear it. David stared ahead, as if focusing on the driving, and finally he began his voice revealing sadness. I can't read it out loud Reaching into his shirt pocket. Here it is. Read it for me. Jl stared at it and finally started reading. Mom, dad, sister heard a warbler singing a song as heaven greets them. Jl search for words. That's spot on so poignant. Well, my family had faith. I carried it for them. Now that's why I do this, for the sacred resistance. I wasn't old enough to fight in the second civil war, but I can do something now. Did you grow up around here? David laughed. No, I was born and raised on a farm in Iowa. Jl turned to check on Lisa when David did a full, hard stop, screeching brakes and all what the Lisa yelled as the sudden braking thrust her forward onto the back of Jail's seat. Marcy rolled down to the floorboard. What's wrong? She yelled Lisa helping her up Ahead.
Speaker 1:Two men and a woman stood at the intersection, each held automatic weapons. Barrels pointed down. How much you got? The woman, said Jail looked at David. They don't look official. I think they mean to rob us. David said Of what? What's going on? Lisa demanded.
Speaker 1:The woman approached the driver's side of the Jeep and after 15 minutes of negotiation, david handed over two containers of water worth its weight in gold. He opened the box welded to the rear of the Jeep and gave them three cartons of cigarettes as well. They're just trying to survive, like everyone else as well. They're just trying to survive like everyone else. Lisa feels hot. Jail said He'd swapped seats with Marcy. She was riding up front trying to act unafraid.
Speaker 1:Jail moved as far to the side as he could to give Lisa enough legroom to lie on her side, knees tucked. She'd been asleep for almost three hours when she finally stirred hearing Jail's comment. Oh, I think it's just a cold Jail. First the heat, then all the rain and damp. Jail knew it was one of her fibs. When he heard one, he pushed his thought to the side. That was scary, jl. They looked and sounded what desperate.
Speaker 1:David said we have to get past I-10, lisa. Once past, he said the next challenge is crossing into Georgia. It will take skill and luck to get over the state line undetected. Just when they thought the hurricane was done with them, it started raining hard and David tried to keep the canvas top up, but it was useless. Instead, he draped the canvas over Lisa and JL. Instead, he draped the canvas over Lisa and JL. Marcy assured them all she was enjoying the soaking rain. Well, if nothing else, this weather is keeping militia patrols off the road. Best of all, we're ahead of schedule, david added.
Speaker 1:Jl sat with Lisa, his concern for her growing by the hour he knew she had a fever and massaging her back and legs. He felt the dry, thin skin wrapped over not much more than bones. Ah, this isn't just a cold or flu, he thought. Finally, david said we're nearing I-4. The militia patrols a five-mile-wide zone on each side of the interstate. They use drones equipped with sensors to identify humans and vehicles emitting heat. So what's the plan to get past I-4? Jl asked. Minutes earlier, david pulled the jeep into a cluster of trees. Lisa and Marcy spread the canvas and were soon to sleep, glad to have some room to stretch.
Speaker 1:Oh, this is my regular route. I've been driving through this sector for nearly four years now. Early on, I noticed an opening as I scouted the highway. Thanks to the drought, I know that there's a dry riverbed close by A wide concrete conduit. Once directed the river's flow, we can put this old Jeep to the test. Four-wheel drive is going to come in handy, so you've used it before More than once. A bush hogger cleared part of the way. Someone did it a couple of years ago, but it's still clear enough to use.
Speaker 1:Do we have a chance of making it to that mountain in Georgia? Not to worry. I've helped many get to the next way station north. I know where the dangers are. Yet the three of you are the first I've ever taken all the way to Brasstown Vault. It's a place of myth and mystery. Legend has it that souls of the Cherokee who died on the Trail of Tears now inhabit that mountain. What's it like? Well, I've never been GL. Like I said, this will be my first trip all the way to the ball.
Speaker 1:That's a place serving as a way station for special travelers like you. We're never informed about the destination of groups. They told me, however, that your group has a special destiny. I promised to do everything in my power to help you along your way, to do everything in my power to help you along your way. Gl watched over Lisa and Marcy as they slept and pondered what David meant by special destiny. We'd better try to get some much-needed sleep. Sir, it will be dark soon. You'll be walking ahead of me with a hooded flashlight. It will be your job to guide the jeep. God willing, we will make it to the farm near Albany, georgia, later today. We will meet a man there we call the station master. He'll have some shelter, food and much needed water food and much-needed water. Jl. Sprawled next to Lisa on the canvas On his back he looked up at a leafless tree, its branches bending and swaying in the strong wind. What did that young man mean about special destiny? Meanwhile, kat shouted gotta pee.
Speaker 1:Kat decided she hates motorcycles, at least riding on this one. She trusted Brenda's driving, but the wind and rain made the ride uncomfortable. Plus, she had to pee Again. Brenda said if this keeps up, I need to adjust our arrival time. When the doctor told me I was pregnant, kat said he told me I would need to pee more often, sorry. Brenda watched Kat walk to some bushes and joined her and they squatted to pee. Brasstown bawled. That depot is for exceptional persons. She thought. I wonder what makes this young black girl special. She decided to put that thought on hold. Feeling better, she said, straddling the motorcycle as Kat returned I'm sorry, brenda, it feels like I need to piss, even when I just finished doing it. Hang on, we'll stop as often as necessary. Just give me a heads up Later, as Brenda feared, militia patrols were more active in the Birmingham-Atlanta corridor.
Speaker 1:Seeing something in the distance, she pulled over and reached into the storage compartment for some binoculars. What's wrong, brenda? It's a militia checkpoint at the state line. I think they've spotted us. Cat cried Is it my fault having to stop to pee so often? Nonsense. But there's a dirt road about a mile back. A friend told me it made a good detour. If it needed, we need to vanish it needed we need to vanish. Cat clung tightly as Brenda opened the throttle and turned to the road she mentioned about two miles back. I think we're out of sight of the militia, brenda said as she shut the motor down. Give me a hand, cat. We need to push it through the grass alongside the road so that we don't leave any tracks.
Speaker 1:When Brenda thought it was okay, she started the bike, motioning Cat to get back on. I think this was an old logging road or something like that. Look, they watched as a military patrol paused on the roadway below but seeing no tracks, they drove on. After negotiating a series of sharp curves, brenda and Kat reached the top of a ridge and it gave Brenda the vantage point to consider her options. I hope these old bricks are up to it. She said If we make it down the other side, that road takes us around the Alabama-Georgia checkpoint. Cat reached into the inside pocket of her jacket and touched the book her grandmother kept so carefully wrapped in butcher's paper and twine. Until she told me about this diary, cat thought or whatever it is I'd never heard of Jews that were black, ethiopian black Jews. The sound in Safta's voice, however, had meant it was important, and Cat put that thought to the side. It was time to hold on tightly as Brenda alternated between braking and speeding ahead.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to another episode of Countdown to Doomsday. What's in store for JL, lisa and Kat in their next episode? We welcome your comments and you may contact us at chuck at chuckwaldroncom. Narrated by me, chuck Waldron. Produced by Edna Francis.