Sun: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller by Cooper James R

Author:Cooper, James R. [Cooper, James R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Post-Apocalyptic | Solar Storm | Survival
Published: 2021-07-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty

“This is the sailing vessel Nomad calling Fort Loudon lock, over,” Martin said on the VHF radio. Daylight was waning as the Nomad made its way towards the Fort Loudon lock that would allow them to continue out of Knox County and downriver. He was not even sure if the old radio worked any longer; he had not heard any radio traffic since they had left the city.

“This is sailing vessel Nomad calling Fort Loudon lock. Do you copy?” Martin called again.

The Nomad sat outside the lock, waiting for an answer. None came.

“They may have comm’s down, Martin,” Al said, standing on deck looking at the lock and dam.

“Nomad, copy your last… we have a barge behind you coming down the river, and you will lock through with them. Pull forward to the foremost lock buoy and secure. Do not exit the lock without being told. Copy last?” The voice on the radio asked.

“Nomad copies, pulling to foremost lock buoy!” Martin said, surprised they answered. He started pushing forward into the lock.

The barge pulled into the lock behind Martin and the Nomad dwarfing his boat. Everyone was on deck. Martin pulled the Nomad closer to the side of the lock and anchored his boat to the red buoy that would move up and down on the side of the lock, securing him as the water was released.

“Martin, that’s a good sign,” Ben said, looking around at him.

“Yeah, Ben. I never thought of it, but the Army Corp of Engineers built all the locks. I don’t know if they would have equipment hardened against EMP, but you can bet everything buried in these dams was resistant to the CME pulse.” Martin said, hoping the luck held out as they traveled downriver.

“Sailing vessel Nomad, we are only locking through craft on the way downriver. You will not have access on the way back. We are only expending energy for commercial tugs and military vessels to go upriver.” The voice on the VHF said.

“Copy that,” Martin said.

“Why one way, Dr. Mitchell?” Susan asked.

“They expend little energy releasing water out of the lock. It’s filling it that burns up a lot of power. About all they are expending is when they close the doors on this side, let the lock drain and open the doors again to let us out.” Martin thought about the finality of what he was getting ready to do.

Martin turned to everyone, “This is a one-way trip for us people. We will not be using the Nomad to get back upriver if we ever come back.”

Everyone on deck watched as the water slowly drained from the lock, and the Nomad dropped in altitude. Al had noted the barge that had pulled in with them was loaded with thirty to forty Humvee’s and men in military camo milling about checking the security of the vehicles.

“Ahoy, Nomad,” a voice called forward and down from the barge.

“Hello, soldier,” Martin called back up to the camouflaged man.

Stand by upon leaving the lock. Our Captain would like to give you something.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.