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Post date: Apr 15, 2016 10:27:36 AM
The roads are mostly destroyed beyond recognition. On some of them I ride the bike, and on some others I just endure the harshness of what's left of the roads. Either way, she's tagging along...
I'm almost guiding myself by instinct, trying to imagine the roads there used to be and the path I used to take. Almost no landmark is still standing or recognizable, and also, some spots are still covered in large fields of dust in the air similar to fog... Judging by these areas I'm passing through, I'd say that we got it the softest. I'm not finding any survivors... Not even one out off of these roads...
At what looked like noon, I decided to stop and sit by the first sizable shadow I could find. It's weird... Creppy even... So much silence all around except for the occasional wind blow. I left without eating anything for I was more concerned with time and now, there I was... Killing time to rest and, because it was getting too hot.
Wait, I think I recognize that signpost! I believe there used to be a restaurant somewhere around here, but with all the mess around is hard to pinpoint where exactly. I choose to again rise and take a look around. I refuse to quit! I didn't went too far so I wouldn't get lost. Looked and looked... Searching for any signs of the place... Until finally, a piece of a bag from the store coming out from under a giant rock. I didn't even tried to get it out. That would be insane, but that is the proof I needed... It's like a statement saying that it's nearby! ...or so I hoped.
Marking the spot as I could, I went back for my bike to place it near that boulder and the search continued...
It must have passed a good hour searching before I decided to just sit down, conserve strength and just rest before continuing. I'm acting reckless and stupid, and I shouldn't waste time and efforts.
Ended up sitting in a nearby shadow contemplating the sky, trying to relinquish myself to it's calm nature... Eventually, I must've dozed off 'cause when I looked again it had already started to become a brownish and reddish aurora borealis but on the opposite side of the sky relative to the sun. It felt... dangerous and weirdly metallic. Still got my phone with me but it was turned off so it should be mostly safe from any ambient discharges these types of environments usually have. Still... An aurora in the middle of the day sounds ominous. I recall only seeing photos of it either from the beginning of the day or towards its end.
No matter the case, I decided that I should move from there and found what looks like the remains of some garage... Looks looted but safer than outside.
It's probably gonna take a while 'till it dissipates and without food I should just rest. Found a plastic cover rolled over one side of the place so I unfold it, placed the bike nearby, sat down, trapped one foot in one of the wheels and lay down trying to get some shuteye time.
I came back to my senses when I tried to move my locked foot. The sky had already started to darken...
No sign of the aurora from earlier so I just grabbed the bike, set aside the idea of finding some place that is probably completely buried and decided to went my way from there. Tighten my clothes, check for anything possibly missing (not much to check really), and departed.
Along the way, I found no light in any direction. The clearly visible and immense sky that slowly unfolds starts to amaze, marvel and frighten me for its vastness. Still, with one goal in mind I continue through out the night...
On my way, I found one of those places that are open 24 hours a day in... well... most pieces! How ironic!...
It's a good place as any to spend the rest of the night and, if lucky, I might get something to eat.
And well call me 'lucky' 'cause as I see some bread, potato chips, some intact water bottles and what looks like a small market fridge in the distance. I'm having a feast tonight and do the thinking about it tomorrow! Though, as I stuffed myself I hear a little rock slide and tried to pinpoint it's origin location but to no avail... Eventually, I got back to eating but at the same time, two slow dimmed glowing points in the distance start to approach me... At first it locked like a hungry cat but soon I realised that that was no cat. Instead, it was actually a fully grown dog. Now I don't really know much about dogs... But I think that's what people call a Husky. If I wasn't fearful for my life, I think some company would do me well.
He must be as hungry or even more than me, and althow I don't look like a turkey I most definitely could pass like a delicious fillet.
As it's approaches more and more the little moonlight revealed more details of it's figure. Oddly enough, as he got very close, he grunted, lower his head almost to the floor and kept approaching me in a mildly innocent way.
As a tryout, I grabbed a slice of bread turned it into a ball and rolled it in his direction. Before it could stop, he snatches it from the floor and eat it. After that, he just lay in the floor... Looking at me!
As I grabbed a pair of chips to continue eating, he lift his head observing my actions. So, I put the chip back. Slowly extended my legs while still sitting and grabbed another slice of bread, turned it into a ball and throw it near him. Immediately he got up, wave his tail and eat the bread ball. I got advantage of his distraction and eat some chips myself.
But then he silently and unexpectedly approached my legs and just dropped his head over them with the rest of the body also layed down. I like dogs, but I'm not that trusting at first sight... or second for what matters... So I quit eating, closed my jacket and just sit there on the floor with that majestic dogs head over my legs... I remained vigilant but eventually, tiredness got the best of me...
I woke up with the warmth and very shiny rays of sunlight hitting my face... After those first moments, reality came over me and I remembered the dog. He was not far, sitting with his back towards me just looking around. As soon as I moved, he noticed the silent sounds I made and slowly came closer. I was observing, and as he turned on himself... Ups... Ok... Not a dude! My bad...
Upon closing in, he... I mean... She, just sit right there beside me again, looking all around.
I refrain from moving as I observed her... She was a beautiful animal with no collar so no hope of finding her owner specially in this new world of ours. I decided to ballify a slice of bread and give it to her but as I was about to throw-drop it for her, she snatched it right as I released it, almost taking a couple of my fingers with it. Scary stuff... But I'm ok! She didn't even scratched me. Still, my heart is pounding like crazy from that scare...
Picking myself up from the dirty floor I attentively observed her. Looks like all is ok...
Continuing my search in what's left of the store I ended up in a corner with backpacks... Not much to choose from but ended up with the one mostly gray with a couple of very dark stripes of red and blue and said:
"Love is like friendship on fire!"
Hmmm... Sounds familiar... And I like it...
After dropping the rest of the chips and bread inside the bag I also grabbed two protein bars from some shelf and two small water bottles still intact. I staggered as I returned to the exit, for I noticed what was left of the owner... I did wonder where he could be... well, squashed... It seamed.
Trying to take it lightly and not freak out, I closed my eyes for a moment there and put on the backpack, grabbed the bike and exit that place to continue my journey. On my way out, I even found a sports hat!
I haven't even got away ten meters when I heard a strong bark. I immediately braked and turn around. The missy was at what was left of the entrance looking at me and it was acting like she was on the edge of a cliff or something like it. A few more seconds later, another bark and another affliction gesture like she couldn't walk any further. I got one of those feelings like:
- I know I'm gonna regret this later on but I just can't leave you alone...
And so I called her as I gesture to come closer. Getting by my side I asked her as if a real person...
- Do you wanna come with me?
It's truly amazing that she looked like she understood me as she barked more lightly, twirled her tail and started leading the way... I just couldn't contain myself from laughing as I slowly but surely continued my path... And now, with a companion...
Another day passed with more of the same very morbid view along the roads... In some places there's still dust in the air falling into the floor. In those spots it is very clear the destructive power that fell upon the land for it broke it wide open displaying what looked like a cliff with no bottom into the earth... Scary stuff... Some cars are burned, others upside down, broken in half or even spread out in pieces... some trees and broken branches spread out burnt to crisp... and very few pieces of the buildings that once were, are still standing...
Day by day, always the same, everywhere I pass looks like the same road over and over again. Felicia (the miss dog) is, so far, the best thing that happened lately! She's always playful and ready to play with me. I ended up naming her 'Felicia' 'cause it derives from the latin adjective 'felix', meaning 'happy', though in the neuter plural form, it literally means 'happy things' or 'happy times'. Looks like a suitable name for her and she responds to it very well. She's been a great help by finding water bottles and some food thoough the later she usually ends up taking a bite before calling upon it. Sometimes I pretend to not notice and act surprised. She seems to like that...
On occasion, she starts what looks like some sort of argue about the route I'm picking even going to the extreme of pulling me back by grabbing some part of my clothes. So far, I lost every of those argues. Nonetheless, we've made good time and I predict we'll be arriving today...
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