The Geostorm Series (Book 5): Geostorm [The Tempest] Page 6

  Tommy tipped his cap. “Hello, ma’am. You takin’ these kids shopping?”

  The woman didn’t respond and instead turned to gather the children under her sizable umbrella. She looked to the young man for guidance.

  “They’re okay.”

  She still didn’t respond to Tommy’s attempt to make small talk, so he got right to the point. “Ma’am, can you tell us whether the tunnel is open to the other side?”

  She was still dubious as she glanced from the young man, to Tommy’s shotgun, and then up to his eyes to get a read on him.

  “Please, can you help us?” asked Levi.

  She pursed her lips as she thought. “Yes. It’s clear all the way through. We lived over there, but our house got flooded. Now we live, um, in there.” She nodded her head over her shoulder.

  Levi looked past her through the open zippered door. “You live in the tunnel? With these kids?”

  “Sure do, but in the tent. We’re gettin’ by just fine.”

  Tommy continued the questioning. “Is the tunnel passable? I mean big enough to drive, say, a pickup through it?”

  “If’n you had one,” she said. “People would have to get out of the way, but it’s sho ’nuf big.”

  One of the children raised her hands over head and then pointed up the hill. “Bigger than two of those.”

  Levi and Tommy immediately swung around to see a Caterpillar 797 dump truck with a four-hundred-ton payload capacity.

  “Bigger than that?” asked Levi.

  “Oh yeah,” the woman replied. “They had to move all that rock and dirt out somehow. Now it’s all paved like a highway.”

  “Really dark, though,” added another one of the children.

  Tommy looked to Levi and shrugged. “Makes sense. It’s a massive stormwater drain. I’m just amazed it’s dry.”

  Levi lowered his eyes and thought for a moment. “I bet the last thing they install are the vertical stormwater drains. This entrance is probably sloped to let the trucks in and out. They keep the entrance shielded from the rain so it doesn’t flood until it’s ready.”

  Tommy looked around. “There has to be a vehicle entrance somewhere.”

  The young man pointed toward their right as he wiped the rain off his face. “Around the corner. Now, we good?”

  Levi answered the question. “Just one more thing.”

  “Now what?”

  Levi reached his hand out to Tommy, who removed his sidearm and handed it to him, grip first. “I want you to escort the nice lady and these kids to where they need to go.”

  “Sure.”

  “And,” began Levi, “don’t use this gun for anything but self-defense. Are we clear?”

  “Yo, no problem.”

  Levi placed the weapon in the young man’s left hand and the two exchanged a fist bump. After they walked away, Levi led Tommy into the tent. What they saw was astonishing.

  Chapter 9

  The Tunnel

  Louisville, Kentucky

  A decade prior, Louisville’s Metropolitan Sewer District had completed a four-mile-long tunnel to store excess sewage and stormwater during extraordinary storm events. Phase I, completed at a cost of over $200 million, was designed to protect the Ohio River and nearby Beargrass Creek. The city’s wastewater treatment facility didn’t have the capacity to treat all of the excess sewage and stormwater during heavy rains, so the MSD dumped the overflow into the local waterways before the federal government stepped in.

  Phase I of the Waterway Protection Project, which stretched from Downtown Louisville along the river to the east side of the city, was considered a success by most measures, and the MSD accepted the initial praise. Until, however, residents on the west side of the city felt slighted.

  Special interests, from Shawnee Golf Course down to the Waverly Park community, demanded they be treated equally. The governors of Kentucky and Indiana jointly petitioned Congress, and a second phase of the Waterway Protection Project was underway.

  Using a four-hundred-twelve-foot-long boring machine nicknamed the Bumblebee, crews worked around the clock eighteen stories beneath the Ohio River to drill through ancient limestone.

  Every day, sixty to seventy feet of the eight-mile-long tunnel was excavated and removed through the tunnel entrance into Indiana by massive dump trucks and later, after rails were installed, a miniature locomotive. The tunnel was designed to capture nearly five hundred million gallons of overflow in a given year before being treated at a newly constructed water treatment center. It was a marvel of engineering, and now it became something much different.

  Tommy zipped the vinyl doors closed and followed Levi down a slight slope toward the entrance of the tunnel. The large tent was occupied by homeless refugees sleeping in cardboard boxes and lean-tos made from plywood and tarps. Scattered throughout the tented area were fifty-five-gallon steel drums that were used to burn trash and to cook food. The tent was designed so it rose to a peak, much like a circus tent, with ventilation gaps to allow the carbon monoxide to escape.

  “Wow!” exclaimed Tommy as he observed their surroundings. “The city has no idea these people have taken up residency here.”

  Levi nudged Tommy with his elbow and nodded toward a paved concrete road to their right. The two men wandered through the crowds, drawing stares because of their weapons. Both made a conscious effort to return the glances and smiled when appropriate. If all went to plan, they’d be back with their family and varied means of transportation. They wanted to leave the impression they were reasonable, somewhat friendly, but far from weak.

  When they reached the vehicle entrance, they noticed some water trickling down the concrete entrance and into the tunnel itself. It became dark quickly as they looked downward, where only a few fires were burning. It seemed the people who now called the Tunnel home preferred the higher ground.

  “That’s a helluva an incline,” said Levi as the two men stood on the concrete curb to assess the tunnel. “It’ll be tough to take the horse and wagon combos down the slope. The weight of the wagons might be too much for them.”

  Tommy nodded as he looked up and down the entrance road. “Whadya think they weigh? Loaded down?”

  Levi removed his cap and scratched the back of his head. “Um, maybe a thousand pounds or so empty. Possibly eighteen hundred fully loaded with a driver.” Then he thought for a moment before continuing. “If we could get them down to the bottom empty, then we could reload them until we get to the other end. How much does your car weigh?”

  “Maybe thirty-five hundred? It doesn’t have any weight in the rear.”

  “Does it have a hitch?” asked Levi.

  Tommy laughed. “It’s not a truck. It’s a damn race car. I mean, it’s got a strong motor and the rear end supplies a lot of torque. We’d have to run a real heavy-duty chain through the frame, and I’d have to ease the wagons down the slope. It might get away from me, but I doubt it. The other side might be a challenge, but not as much as this.”

  Levi sighed and rubbed his temples. He scraped his right boot along the surface of the concrete entrance. “The tires might spin if it’s wet like this.”

  “It all depends on how this thing was built. It’s a grooved surface up here. That helps some.”

  Levi turned back toward the vehicle entrance and peered through a plexiglass window stitched into the door. “From the looks of that mountain of debris out there, I’m guessin’ the Indiana side served as the dumping ground.”

  “I also haven’t seen anything that resembles a concrete plant,” interjected Tommy. “A project of this size would need a shit-ton of concrete. They may have built it on the other side.”

  “How would that help?” asked Levi.

  “Two ways. First, all of the mud and rock was probably taken out this way, which makes the downslope a little more treacherous. On the other side, concrete trucks invariably spill some on the ground. When it hardens, it leaves clumps everywhere. That can be useful to give me traction as I try to pull
the wagons up the other side.”

  Levi wandered away and continuously looked up and down the concrete entrance. He rolled his eyes and shook his head before turning around. “Doggone it, Tommy. This sucks. There are so many variables.”

  “There are no good options. We could keep going upriver, but we could run into the same troubles with each bridge we try. Besides, the rain’s not letting up. It’s a matter of time before these roads near the river become impassible.”

  “We gotta go for it, don’t we?”

  “Yeah. I think so.”

  Levi walked up to Tommy and slapped him on the back. “Good. I’ll let you explain how this is gonna work to my know-it-all brother and sister.”

  Chapter 10

  Antioch Church

  West of Louisville

  After Levi and Tommy were able to inspect the construction facility in order to confirm they could get their vehicles into the tunnel, they made their way back to the Mustang. The slightly shorter route that ran parallel to the river was now flooded, so they had to travel through the hills. The narrow road was treacherous because of fallen tree limbs and boulders that had dislodged from the sides of the ridge.

  It was early afternoon by the time they returned to Antioch Church and a welcoming committee consisting of Chapman and Carly. They were both in their rain gear and preparing their horses when the guys arrived.

  “We were about to come lookin’ for you guys,” said Chapman as he opened Tommy’s car door.

  “Yeah, it was quite the adventure,” Tommy said with a shrug. “We’ve got a plan, let’s just put it that way.”

  Carly hugged her husband, and the two of them chatted as they walked into the church arm in arm.

  Tommy gestured toward the married couple. “They seem to get along well.”

  “They’ve had their moments,” said Chapman with a chuckle. “You’ve got two young, fiery personalities that mesh perfectly most times, and others, it’s like cats and dogs.”

  Tommy continued. “You and Levi seem very different. Kristi, too, really. I can’t put my finger on it.”

  “Well, we’re a lot older, for one thing. Plus, neither of us have had relationships that worked out. We loved our work, and everything else, including family, came second. Ironic, isn’t it?”

  “What’s that?” asked Tommy.

  “Kristi and I valued our independence and rarely leaned on our parents, or even Levi. Now look. Everything’s gone to shit and we’re all back together. The Weather Channel and the Brookfield Zoo are a distant memory.”

  Tommy stopped Chapman before they entered the church. “Everything happens for a reason. Think of the knowledge you have regarding weather, both on Earth and related to the Sun. Without it, we’d be sheep awaiting slaughter like all those other people.”

  Chapman nodded. “I guess you’re right. You and Isabella are assets, too. She understands the geological aspects of all this. We’re rapidly entering a period of time in which the planet will be going through a evolution of sorts. You have a common sense about you that is calming. The two of you complement me and my sister perfectly.”

  Tommy reached for the door handle and opened it for them. “Well, I’m glad you feel that way, because what we are about to suggest is absolutely nuts.”

  The two men joined the rest of the Boone family inside. The conversation was lively as everyone peppered Levi with questions. The small country church had been built in 1890 and was home to a very small congregation. It was spartanly designed with simple oak pews and choir seating. Somehow, Chapman knew this house of worship had survived many storms and sheltered many a soul.

  Levi took the floor. “Okay, let me cut right to the chase. The bridges are blocked with stalled cars and people. The city isn’t making any effort to clear the roads because, well, we didn’t see any other operating vehicles at all. In fact, we ditched Tommy’s Mustang so fewer people would see us.”

  “Anybody else on horseback?” asked Kristi.

  “Not that we noticed,” he replied. “Mostly foot traffic and a few bicycles.”

  Sarah asked, “Son, if the bridges are impassable, then what are we gonna do? There are more bridges, right?”

  “Sure, but like Chapman said, they’re too far away and time is not on our side. The road we took into town was flooded, and now the other country road is getting cluttered with debris.”

  “Like what?” asked Sarah.

  “Trees, rocks, creek water. Stuff like that. We’re gonna need to get goin’, I’m afraid.”

  “So how are we supposed to get across the river?” asked Kristi.

  For an awkward moment, neither Levi nor Tommy chose to respond. Finally, Tommy fielded the question from his girlfriend. “Not across. Um, under. There’s a tunnel, sort of.”

  It took three seconds of total silence before the questions came flying from all directions. Even young Jesse asked if they were going to ride in a submarine. Rachel said she wasn’t a very good swimmer. It was Chapman who appeared the most concerned.

  “What kind of tunnel?” he said with a scowl.

  “It’s a wastewater cont—” began Tommy before Kristi cut him off.

  “The sewer? Seriously?”

  Tommy fidgeted on his feet. “Not totally, at least not yet, anyway. It’s a project designed to control floodwaters and excess sewage during high rain events.”

  “Like now?” asked Carly.

  “Well, yes. It’s the second phase of a project. The first phase is already put into use. This project was nearing completion when, you know, the power went down. A guy showed it to us, and we honestly think it can work.”

  “A guy?” Chapman asked Tommy.

  “Yeah. Street kid. He overheard us talking to a couple about the conditions on the other bridges and what it was like across the river. He was willing to trade the location for …” His voice trailed off before he nervously continued. “One of my, um, Kristi’s guns.”

  “Which one?” she asked.

  “The twenty-two throwaway. I kept the nine millimeter in my ankle holster like you told me to. The twenty-two was in my belt.”

  Kristi provided him a smile of approval and a thumbs-up.

  Chapman wanted to hear more about the tunnel. “Can the wagons fit through?”

  Levi took over. “Yeah, it’s massive. Ginormous dump trucks were going in and out during construction. The toughest part will be taking a long downward slope until we get under the river, and then, of course, we have to come up the other side.”

  “How long is it?” Chapman asked.

  “There was a sign with a map drawn on it. It looks to be about eight miles. Here’s another good part of this option. It dumps out south and west of the city. We might be able to avoid a lot of aggravation that way. The people we talked to said the streets are very flooded and there’s limited elevated ground to get through.”

  Tommy recalled the man’s description. “Yeah, he said it was like ants walking nose to tail. Apparently, it’s pretty narrow.”

  “How do we know that part of the city is better?” asked Kristi.

  Her brother continued to field questions. “We don’t. However, I do believe we’ll encounter a whole lot fewer people.”

  Chapman rubbed his forehead and ran his fingers through his hair. Isabella sensed he was distressed and joined his side, wrapping her arm through his. He reached over the back of a church pew and retrieved the map. He glanced at it for what was probably the hundredth time in the last several days and then flung it back on the pew.

  “I don’t like it,” he said abruptly.

  Levi tried to defend his plan. “You’ve talked about the problems with going farther north along the river. The bridge options gradually disappear. There are no guarantees.”

  “It beats getting bur—” Chapman snapped back and then caught himself as he turned to Jesse and Rachel, who were listening attentively. He sighed, and in a calmer tone of voice, he said to Tommy, “Are you fully on board with this?”

 
; “It’s the best option we’ve got, and if it works out, we get to avoid a major obstacle that concerned us when we first came up with this plan—Louisville and a million residents.”

  Chapman turned to his mother out of respect. “Mom, whadya think?”

  “Assuming it’s passable and not flooded, what’s the worst case?”

  Levi furrowed his brow. “We could lose the wagons. It’ll be tough to get them down the incline and back up again. Tommy and I have a plan for that involving his car. If it doesn’t work, then we’ll be on foot, using the horses as pack animals.”

  She looked to Tommy. “Do you agree?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Sarah stood and mussed Jesse’s hair. “Then let’s do it. Time’s a-wastin’.”

  Chapter 11

  The Tunnel

  Louisville, Kentucky

  Levi led the procession to the front gate of the Waterway Protection Tunnel project. After looking around one last time for any security guards, he reached into the back of Sarah’s wagon and retrieved a large set of bolt cutters he’d taken from their barn. He’d felt like the bolt cutters would come in handy as they traveled across Kentucky, to access propane tanks at convenience stores or to open secured gates, like this one.

  The heavy-duty chains would also serve another purpose. He hoped they’d be strong enough to affix to the frame of the Mustang when it came time to move the wagons up and down the severe slope in the tunnel.

  It took all of Levi’s strength to cut through the first chain. He turned the cutters over to Tommy, who easily used his powerful forearms to cut the second one. With the chains triple wrapped through the gates, they were long enough to tow the wagons.

  They rumbled up the gravel road, which led around several construction trailers until the tent’s entrance came into view. Each of the trailers had been vandalized, so none of the group bothered to look for anything of value. They’d had a conversation in the church the night before about where they stood on foraging.