4 Sisters of the Apocalypse

52- Meg

Meg

Rory and I managed to follow the detour away from the city. I'd never seen Rory look so serious and take charge. I liked this new side of him even if the circumstances were not ideal. He entered the coordinates from my bracelet into the GPS. For now they were working.

"Okay Meg, it says we will get there before dark. That's good cuz it looks like we are heading for the boonies."

"Oh you haven't seen anything yet Rory! When daddy said he wanted to be off the grid he meant it."

Rory looked worried. "Is there running water?"

"A hand pump."

"Tell me there's a toilet--please!" Rory begged with his eyes."Not an outhouse!"

"Oh there's a toilet alright... but it's one of those compost things. Smells dreadful."

Rory muttered as he drove. "It's only temporary... It's only temporary..."

"Rory, remember the youth camp we went to when we were in middle school? We had to dig a hole in the ground to go number two. Why are you being so squeamish all of a sudden?"

Looking straight ahead Rory explained. "Okay number one I barely did... I didn't go number two the entire time."

"Rory! We were gone for five days!"

Rory grimaced. "I know I ended up with a bladder infection and had to drink milk of magnesia for a week!"

"You poor thing!" I laid my head on his shoulder.

"Meg, I'm not the outdoorsy type... In case you haven't noticed."

I tickled him. "Oh I've noticed mister! No camping trips for our family!"

"You got that right. Suites and hot tubs for us."

In the middle of laughing I noticed another blockade up ahead. "Rory, slow down."

When we reached it an officer in a gasmask held up a stop sign. "Follow the detour around New Rochelle."

Rory put his window down and spoke politely, "Why has there been a gas leak or something?"

The officer didn't answer Rory. Instead posed questions of his own. " Are you from New Rochelle? Do you have family there?"

"No sir. It's just a straight run to our final destination." Rory looked nervous.

I interrupted. "We're just checking on my dad. He lives alone..."

The officer brought out a clip board. "Where does your dad reside? How old is he? Is he in good health?"

Rory took charge. "Are we being detained, officer? Have we broken any laws?"

The officer sighed. "No, just stay away from New Rochelle. It's a hot spot for Covid 19. Very deadly and very contagious. If either of you or your father gets sick you must report it to the CDC. Then he tossed a pamphlet about Covid 19 through our window. "Have a nice day." Then he signaled us to follow the orange detour signs around New Rochelle.

As Rory followed the detour signs he looked nervous. "Meg, I think your father went off the grid for a reason."

"I think so too. I pray my sisters get here soon."

"Can't you call your sisters? You need to warn them."

"I've been texting Jo, Beth and Amy all day. No response from any of them. When I call, it goes straight  to voicemail."

Rory turned pale. "Do you think the satellites are down?"

"Your GPS is working though," As soon as I said that Rory's phone went blank. "Oh no! Did your battery die?"

"No, it's fully charged."

Suddenly an alarm sounded from Rory's phone. "Emergency. Marshall law is in effect. Stay in doors. A mandatory curfew has been enacted throughout the entire New York Area. Anyone out after dark will be prosecuted."

After that Rory's phone went back to black. "Do you have a map Rory?"

"You mean one of those ancient paper things that folds out and is really confusing?"

"Yes Rory." I couldn't tell if he was joking.

"It's in the glove box." My dad's motto, "Always be prepared."

"Isn't that the Boy Scout's motto?"

He shrugged. "I don't know... I've never been a boy scout."

I teased, "Of course you weren't."

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