Nuclear Winter (Book 1): First Winter by Jones Nathan

Author:Jones, Nathan [Jones, Nathan]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Post-Apocalyptic | Dystopian
Published: 2017-02-05T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Unwelcome Guests

Matt wasn't sure whether or not the evening commemoration of the Gulf refineries attack, and all who'd died during it and since, had improved the mood in town or made it worse. On the one hand it gave those who'd suffered losses a chance to grieve. On the other it reminded the townspeople that everything was messed up.

Just when they thought their troubles with the blockheads were over, and they could fully focus on their troubles with the upcoming nuclear winter, suddenly more men with guns roll around to cause problems they might not be able to handle. Sometimes life just decided to keep grinding you down beyond the point where you could take it.

Whatever the mood, attendance at the ceremony looked to be nearly the entire town. Hundreds of people packed into the meadow, including those who usually didn't bother coming to town events. Only Trev's defenders on patrol and sentry duty weren't able to participate, although many came to pay their respects beforehand or intended to do so afterwards.

That included Trev himself, who'd swapped shifts to go out patrolling. Matt wasn't sure what had brought that on, but from the general whispers around the shelter group he had a feeling his friend was having problems with Deb. Some sort of argument, maybe. Matt missed him being there, but he could understand the need to get away sometimes.

The ceremony itself was fairly simple. Matt had staked out a spot where people could leave mementos of those they'd lost, with the intention that once times were better the town would put up a monument here engraved with all those names. He'd also roped off a modest sized plot in the meadow to be converted into a memorial park when times were better. The other town leaders had approved the idea, and were there along with almost everyone else in town laying down mementos.

Matt gave a short speech, feeling awkward and inadequate to be addressing such a serious topic. From there he let the event progress in a more organic fashion as people filed respectfully past the monument location. Final goodbyes were offered, prayers said, and tears shed. People clung tightly to their loved ones through it all.

Including Sam, who wouldn't let him take his arms from around her except to greet their friends and neighbors. She was quiet and subdued, dark eyes shiny with tears for her own loved ones lost in New York. Matt knew things hadn't been perfect with her family, but the grief was just as strong over missed opportunities. He knew she kept that grief buried deep and rarely mentioned her past or speculated on the fate of those she'd left behind back east, but it still weighed on her.

He wished he could think of anything to do for her there, and felt a bit selfish being so glad his own immediate family was safe with him. There were others in his extended family whose fate was unknown and not looking good, and he grieved them, but he couldn't fully know what his wife was going through.

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