Jon Smith Read online

  Jon and Chris at the same time shot her a look of; you have got to be kidding mixed with how idiotic. Amanda recognized the statement and what it meant to the two and checked her words.

  “Well, that’s what they said whether it was true or not.”

  “Ok we can catch a ride into the city on one of the transits; from there we can be at your mother’s place shortly.” said Jon.

  “Do you think the authorities will bother us I mean they do not exactly like us as they call us outliers?” asked Chris.

  “I think they will leave us alone as long as we don’t cause trouble.” said Amanda.

  “Yes that seems to be true, folks can still go in the city but I don’t plan to be there very long.” said Jon.

  The fire had made the three warm and comfortable and the coals had been made ready to cook meat. Chris placed a slab of seasoned Elk ribs on the fire and began to flip them every few minutes to keep them from burning. The smell of the fresh cooking meat sent a scent in the area that was divine. The smell of the fire mixed with the cool October air produced a euphoria in all that loved the outdoors. Amanda sat and surveyed the scene and began to think about her life and what it was and what it would be.

  Life in the city had its excitement what with the young people, the night clubs, and the bustle. She wondered if she could adapt to what seemed a slower life style. She began to wonder if she would make friends or find a boyfriend here in the woods. In her quest to find her father and Chris she had not truly thought of what the movement to their world would bring.

  Amanda made her way over to her brother as he was flipping the ribs with regularity.

  “Chris, if I am going to stay here, I have got to know something.”

  “What sis?”

  “What do you do here for fun, or at least what would be fun for me.”

  Chris thought for a minute and responded.

  “Well we don’t have that social life that you are accustomed to, you know the mindless clubs with mindless people.”

  “We do have parties. In fact, shortly is the big festival.”

  ‘Festival?” asked Amanda.

  “Yep, it is one heck of a party. It is on old Halloween, October 31st. You do remember that don’t you?”

  “Of course I do but you know they eliminated that in the city. They claimed it violated too many people’s rights and was a useless holiday.”

  “Oh Amanda, please.” replied Chris.

  “Well what happens at this festival?”

  “About three in the afternoon all the people in the valley gather at the party/ game fields. The men build a huge bonfire and then bring out the generators for electricity for the band. Grills crank up with great food and kegs of beer and casks of wine are tapped.”

  “Ok sounds good so far. What next?”

  “Well there is dancing, eating drinking and partying until late into the night.”

  “Are there any um young guys there?” asked Amanda.

  “Sis, if you are looking for dates, yes, big strapping guys that have sun bleached hair, big muscles and know how to have a good time.”

  “Just make sure they are cleared through dad as he sets a great store or rather would when it comes to the guy his daughter will date.”

  “Sounds old fashioned.”

  “If you haven’t noticed he’s kind of an old-fashioned guy.”

  “What kinds of music do you all listen to here? Techno, modern?”

  “You have to be kidding. Southern old rock, old soul. The stuff that you can dance to, you know songs that you can even hold a girl while you dance.”

  Amanda mused as she imagined being in the strong arms of a tall muscular young man.

  “Ok well it sounds pretty good.”

  “It is good.” said Chris.

  “And it will be even better when we get Mom here.”

  Chris looked down thinking maybe he should not have said that as his hopes got ahead of reality. Amanda looked at him and grabbed his hand.

  “You have missed her, haven’t you?”

  “Yes, I mean don’t get me wrong I love it here and love it here with dad but, he paused you know what I mean.”

  “Yes, I know what you mean as I have felt the same way about you and father. I can’t wait till we get this family back together.”

  “Well sis, it won’t be long as we head out tomorrow.”

  “I can hardly wait. How are those ribs coming? They smell great and I am looking forward to giving them a try.”

  “Hot ribs coming up.” Dad we ready to eat?”

  “Taters and salad ready yelled Jon from the kitchen. Let’s get a good meal in before our journey tomorrow.”

  The three sat at the dinner table with full plates in front of them. Amanda picked up a rib and took a bite of the juicy Elk. Slowly she chewed and slowly a smile came to her face.

  “Looks like I am going to fit in here just right.” said Amanda.

  “I never had a doubt.” answered Jon.

  Chapter 8

  Saturday morning dawned bright and clear. Frost covered the ground and gave a stillness and beauty to the woods and fields. The sound of the stream trickling down was all Jon could hear as he finished his cup of coffee. Walking into the house he knocked on Chris’ door and then Amanda’s

  “Time to get up kids, we have quite a journey ahead of us.”

  Chris and Amanda came out of their doors with a spring as they both knew what the day would bring. It was the beginning of the trip back to the city to get their mother. Both had fallen asleep the night before thinking of times in the past and imagining what time in the future would bring. Chris pictured the family at festivals, football games, and out back enjoying the outdoor porch. Amanda had visions of the family having meals and talking about weddings and such. No doubt Amanda was starting to truly grow to be a young woman.

  Breakfast was just coffee and toast for the crew as they were anxious to get going on their trip. Jon had prepared the truck the night before as he had packed in blankets, extra water, a rifle and ammunition. He took a cooler of food out and had back packs ready with clothes just in case. Both he and Chris had picked out non obtrusive clothing to wear in the city, hoping to not attract too much attention while Amanda would wear her clothing that she had arrived with, that being the grayish green shirt and pants with short jacket.

  All was ready and the three crawled into the truck. The vehicle had room for three in the front but Amanda chose to sit in the jump seat in the back of the cab and stretch her legs. Soon the truck was heading down the drive and then out onto the dirt road that ran the length of the valley.

  The plan was simple, drive the 60 or so miles that would bring them to the outskirts of what was the suburb. They could then park the truck in a deserted garage and then cover the next few miles on foot. From there they would board the workers transit and soon be in the city. Amanda would then guide them to the high rise that contained her mother’s condominium.

  The trip was mostly non eventful and they made good time through the mountains and then on the highway. The roads were still in good shape even though they did not receive regular maintenance any more as most people did not own personal transportation. Most supplies for the city came in by train or by plane with a few still coming by truck.

  As the three made the last few miles they began to look upon empty houses that were once nice subdivisions. Yards were grown over and the houses looked extremely dilapidated.

  “How sad, we used to live in such a neighborhood; remember Amanda?” said Chris.

  “Yes, I remember we had a nice little house that we used to decorate for Halloween and Christmas. Father you always loved decorating and we would get so excited.”

  “Yes Amanda I remember but you know Chris and I still decorate for Halloween and Christmas.”

  “Yep, that’s ri
ght, Dad and I go into the woods right after Thanksgiving and find a big old spruce tree and bring it in. We put all the decorations on that we used to when we were little kids.”

  “You know they quit having Christmas. They said that it was extremely prejudicial and frankly was a waste of time and resources. The government has said that holidays with any religious or even economic relevance should not exist.”

  “Enough Amanda” said Jon.

  “What they say doesn’t matter in my world.”

  At the end of that conversation the three travelers came upon a house with a nice three car garage that seemed to be the right distance from where they could catch the transits. The reclamation machines were miles away so they felt assured that nothing would happen to the truck parked and hidden in this garage. They got out and collected their belongings for the trip. Jon and Chris took back packs and Amanda carried basically nothing. Jon pulled a tarp out of the bed of the truck and covered it over just in case.

  The three then made steady progress for a couple of miles until they came to a place that appeared as the transit station. As it was approaching four o’clock, the time when the urban dwellers quit work, the place was filling up. Shortly a vehicle appeared and came to a stop at the station. It appeared as a bus but was made up of three cars, somewhat like a train. The smell of electrical motors defined the fact that it was driven by electricity.

  Jon, Chris, and Amanda boarded the vehicle and made their way to a bench where they would sit and appear as the rest waiting to head back to their abodes in the city. When the vehicle was full it pulled away and made a brisk trek toward the city. Jon and Chris tried not to engage any of the people on the transit but they could not help but notice the demeanor of the folks. Likewise, the workers looked at Chris and Jon and knew that they were not urban dwellers. Not only did they lack of the standard clothing give them away but their physical appearance was nothing like any of the other folk.

  The trip took roughly forty-five minutes and soon the tall shiny buildings of the city came into view. Jon looked out the window and shook his head thinking how people could spend their lives in such a place. How could they not know the sun, the fresh air, the exhilaration of living in the wild? At that moment he was so glad that he did not belong to such a world.

  The transit vehicle came to a stop and all the riders got out. Amanda looked in both directions and motioned Chris and her father to follow her.

  “Honey, you do know where you are going?” asked Jon.

  “Of course Father, it is about eight blocks in this direction.”

  The three made their way up the street as directed by Amanda. The street was large and a buzz with small electric cars. Along the other side ran an electric tram carrying people home from work. The buildings were all tall and glass covered and in the lower area were shops for food, clothing and other items for everyday needs. They passed one front that read “bureau of placement” which was basically a worker placement agency. The people on the street wore various shades of the grey green suits and all had dull looks on their faces. As they passed the trio, they gave a look of wonder at first but soon put their heads down and went on about their way.

  Presently Amanda came to a stop at the double doors of a roughly thirty story building.

  “Well here it is home sweet home.”

  “Oh my you have got to be kidding.” said Chris.

  “No this is it; we live on the seventh floor,”

  They walked into the entrance hall, noting the Spartan look of the place.

  “No room for deer heads and antlers here huh.” said Chris.

  “No, no I don’t think that would be accepted here. You know hunting was outlawed nine years ago with the humane preservation laws that came with the overall law to deal with climate transference.” said Amanda.

  Jon gave her the usual look of indignation followed by a shaking of his head.

  “Honey, when we get back to the valley, we are going to make sure you have a good understanding of these laws and how they have helped destroy what our life should have been. But then again, Chris and I live life as it should be, right son?”

  “You bet you dad.” said Chris.

  The three walked into the elevator and Amanda pressed number seven. An advertisement for a night club was playing on the teleprompter in the elevator as it began to go up.

  “Hey Chris, do you want to go to a club to see what you are missing here?”

  Chris looked over at Jon for an answer.

  “Why not son, take a good look at what you don’t get to do, I always want you to have an open mind.”

  Quietly the elevator went up seven floors and opened onto a well-lit hall. Amanda took a left and proceeded down four doors before stopping at number 704.

  Jon began to get a flutter in his heart and a feeling of nervousness. It had been ten years since he had seen his wife and wasn’t sure what kind of reception he would get. He began to wonder what she looked like, how she had aged. He began to wonder what she would think of him.

  Then all that passed as Amanda slid her security card through the scan and the door unlocked. She slowly opened the door onto a dimly lit room and the three entered the domicile.

  “Mother, are you here?” spoke Amanda.

  “Amanda?” came the voice of a woman from the back bedroom. A woman of about five and a half feet with brown blonde hair came around the corner and stopped to look.

  Then her mother came rushing into the room and grabbed Amanda and hugged her.

  “Thank goodness you are safe. I was so worried about”

  At that moment she raised her head to see the two men standing behind Amanda

  “Jon, Chris.”

  She ran to hug her son and the tears began to flow out of her eyes. Chris in turn became misty eyed and hugged his mother.

  “Mom it is great to see you. I have missed you.”

  Then Jon spoke.

  “Catherine, it is good to see you.”

  Catherine came over a bit unsure of what to do but then emotion got the best of her and she grabbed her husband and stepped up and gave him a kiss. The two then stood there a moment looking into each other’s eyes. Amanda and Chris took each other’s hands.

  “Well let me get a good look at my boys.” said Catherine.

  She stepped back and looked over Jon and Chris, noting their healthy complexion, hair, and features. She also took note on how big and strong they looked, particularly Chris. He was nothing like the young pudgy men of the city. Chris was chiseled and had the look of strength.

  “Well Amanda, I guess all those reports from the news and bureaucracy about how the outliers were all a bunch of scare crows just scratching a life off of the land weren’t true. Your father and brother look like a cross between Adonis and Tarzan of the Apes.”

  “Tarzan of the who?” asked Amanda.

  “Guess she doesn’t get a lot of reading in here.” said Jon.

  “Catherine you are looking well yourself.” said Jon.

  “Yea mom you don’t even look your age.” said Chris.

  “Well thanks guys but I feel it.”

  Jon began to take a good look at is wife and even though she did look good he noticed that she was a bit skinny. Her cheeks were a bit hollow and her complexion a bit grey, even for the urban dwellers.

  “Well enough, come on in and get settled. You all will have to tell me all about your trips, especially you Amanda.”

  “Oh it was quite exciting and scary, especially when the pack of coyotes chased me into a tree.”

  “Then again I am not sure I want to hear all of the details.” said Catherine.

  “I am afraid we only have two bedrooms but Chris, the sofa pulls out and you can sleep there. Jon, I think you and I can share the bed in my room as it is room for two adults.”

  “You sure” said Jon.
r />   Catherine leaned up to Jon’s ear and whispered, “We slept together for fifteen years, and I think we can manage one night.”

  Jon laughed and shook his head.

  “Chris, put your bag in Amanda’s room and Jon put yours in mine. It is almost six are you all hungry?”

  All three shook their heads and said yes.

  “Well I will pull out some protein and concentrated vegetables.”

  “Um, not to be impolite but Chris and I brought some food as well. We brought potatoes, bread, lettuce and some ground elk. You do have a means of cooking, don’t you?”

  “Well father we have a stove with radius cooking and the ultra-wave.” said Amanda.

  “I guess you can’t stomach the urban food one night? Well I don’t blame you; frankly it is pretty bland.” said Catherine.

  “We have enough to share with you.” said Chris.

  “Well why not. Amanda, are you going to join in for the down-home cooking?”

  “You bet I am, when I was up there with Father and Chris, we ate Elk ribs, bacon, toast, eggs, coffee.”

  “Oh my said Catherine, you know that stuff is poison, much of it outlawed.”

  Chris and Jon looked at each other and at once said “Oh my here we are going to hear what laws we are breaking.”

  At once all four laughed.

  Jon had pulled out the food that he and Chris had brought and began to prepare the meal. The extras he placed into the refrigeration unit for the next day. There was no schedule as to when they would all return to the valley but no doubt that would be a discussion for later. Thirty minutes later dinner was ready and the four sat down to enjoy the feast as such.

  “Ok Catherine, give it a try.” said Jon.

  Catherine took a fork full of potatoes and slowly chewed them up. Next, she took a bite of elk followed by a bit of salad. A slow smile rose to her face.

  “I had forgotten how good this food tasted. That is probably why it is not allowed here as we urban folks would remember what it was like before all the laws and the New World Order.”