AFTER THE DUST SETTLED (Countdown to Armageddon Book 2) by Darrell Maloney Read Free Book Online

you’ve turned it into a truck.”
         Tom laughed.
         “Well, I found that it hauls more stuff than your Gator. It has a huge trunk and a huge back seat, and a sturdy roof. This is one of those steel cars that you whippersnappers have heard about but never seen.”
         Joyce had seen the car pull in and thought it a good time to take a break after all.
         “Well hello, neighbor!”
         “Hello, Joyce. You’re looking well.”
         “Thank you. You’re looking pretty bright and cheerful yourself. What’s with all the boxes?”
         “Well, I wrote out a check for twelve thousand dollars and left it on the steering wheel of one of the Walmart trucks. It’s all the money I had left in the bank, but I figure that’s enough to own what’s in the back of the truck. And I’m finding all kinds of good stuff. And it’s way more than I need. So I figured I’d share it with you good folks.”
         About that time Sara came running out of the field and over to the car.
         “Oh, my God! Am I really seeing this?”
         Her eyes were locked in on a box on top of the car that was imprinted with the Brach’s Chocolates logo.
         Tom laughed.
         “I thought the kids would especially like that one.”
         Joyce corrected him.
         “Not just the kids, Tom. Us ladies like our chocolate too. Thank you so much. You are staying for dinner, aren’t you?”
         “Well, to be honest, I was hoping for an invitation. I’m used to eating like a single man, but a good home cooked meal sure sounds good occasionally.”
         “Okay, then, it’s settled. We’re having pot roast tonight. It’s in the crock pot cooking now. I hope you brought your appetite with you.”
         “I certainly did. Now, where can I put this stuff?”
         Scott said, “Just drive it on into the compound and we’ll put it in one of the sheds. And while we’re unloading it, you can tell me all about how you managed to get this thing running again.”
         As they stacked cases of canned goods, breakfast cereals and boxed pasta into the shed, Tom explained what he’d been working on the previous days.
         “Like I suspected, the auto parts place had everything I needed. A new solenoid for the starter and a new ignition switch. They had the old fashioned glass fuses this old girl uses, so I was able to replace all the fuses in the fuse box. Now it runs like a champ.
         “I picked up some extra stuff for you too. In the trunk are a couple of dry batteries. Eventually you’ll need them as your others wear out. Have you ever used a dry battery before?”
         Yes, but it’s been a few years.
         “It’s easy. It has caps that come off and there’s six cells on the inside of it. There’s a plastic package of powered acid for each battery. You pour the acid more or less evenly into the six cells. Then you add water, and the acid reacts to the copper plates on the inside. That’s what gives it its power. With these kind of batteries you’ll have to pull the caps off every month or two to add water. These aren’t maintenance free like the newer batteries.”
         “So they survived the EMPs because they didn’t have water in them?”
         “Exactly. Since there was no water, there was nothing to connect the two terminals and short the battery out.”
         “Thank you, Tom. I appreciate you thinking of us.”
         “Shoot. Why wouldn’t I? You’re great friends and great neighbors and you’ve treated me kindly. It’s the least I can do.”
     
     
    -9-
     
         Over dinner, Scott asked Tom, “Would you be willing to share the information about fixing your car with the San Antonio police?”
         Tom gave him a blank look.
         “Sure. But how?”
         “I set up my ham radio the night before last just to try it out. I didn’t do any talking. I just listened in to see