We spent the next two days repairing our roofs, gutters, solar panels and other things damaged by the force of the storm. We replanted all the gardens knowing we would have enough water for a complete crop including corn and potatoes before it grew colder and the rain started again in the fall. We would have greens and scallions within a week as the heat returned every day. The other crops would quickly follow.

Hector had recovered enough to join his son and daughter, Juan and Selma, repairing the damage, including the front wall concrete work and stucco to near normal so they could move into the former Rodney Owens place. Stephanie was glad, but wanted no memories of the way that place was under her father's ideas, rather content to stay with Martha Rosenberg who had become her surrogate mother. Everyone wondered who had got her pregnant, but she wasn't telling.

On the third day, wondering about Gramps, I gave him a call and he didn't answer. I was hoping he was out cleaning up away from the house and that was the reason  he didn't answer. Still, I worried. The storm, I knew, would make it difficult to get there. So much wind and rain could be devastating to the roads with debris blocking them, washouts, and landslides.

But Ray called and asked me to come and survey what they had done as well as bring him home.

"Hi, Ray. Glad that you were able to help Van and help the port out. We missed you here, too. But we got the crops replanted without you." Ray laughed.

"I knew you could do it." He snickered.

Van popped into view. "Ray, he did good. You see when you come. You coming, aren't you?"

"Got nothing better to do. I'll hop in the truck and head over there right away."

As I drove to the port along the now familiar route, I noticed that I didn't see any street flooding anymore. The streets were dried out nicely and I could hear hammers from people working on their houses in the distance. No more gunfire. They were coming out after the storm with new energy from having fresh water.

At the barricade there were people signing in. They had that sad, giving up, gaunt look of starvation. With help from the good graces of Captain Jensen and his crew they would be restored to health in no time and become productive members of the growing community.

Unfortunately, so many didn't know, couldn't or were afraid to come. They told stories of how they had to leave family members behind because they died or were too weak to come with them. Some who got to the infirmary couldn't be saved. They already had too much organ damage from, malnutrition or intense dehydration.

Nobody was keeping count. It was just too sad to think how many had died from the pandemic and its aftermath. I could only try to keep the living healthy enough to live on. A heavy burden on my shoulders.

As usual, Van greeted me and gave a call to Ray who was up on a nearby roof helping to fix a solar power source damaged by the storm. 

"How are you doing Van, everything okay?"

"Some good, some bad. We getting storm damage repair pronto. But we so many sign up no work. And we don't have places them to stay. Some have gall to tell they don't eat fish or seafood." He frowned and shook his head.

"Except for the ship; they get other food and place to stay. I'm so glad you make me arrangements with the Rambler. Otherwise, we not do what we doing with no food than just what we catch and now, grow soon.

"You ready to go up in Valley? Take fish? We're ready here."

"Not yet, Van. I'm worried about the roads. But I've lost phone touch with my grandfather and I'm getting worried about it.”

"No need to worry, you the boss. Everything you do turns out right. Your grandfather's okay. Wish mine was still to see what happening with us. Wouldn't believe it. He was fisherman in the Tonkin Gulf. He fed both Vietcong and USA troops. Taught me everything about fishing but died in reeducation camp!" He spit on the ground in disgust. Tried to hide the tears coming to his eyes. Ray arrived and told me that he had to load some netting that Van had given him, along with instructions on how to use it at the Santa Monica pier.

While they were doing that, I gave Captain Jensen a call. He was busy, but Dani Steffensen answered. I was immediately struck by her beauty and her accent.

"Hello, Drake Hutchinson. I hope you are okay after that hurricane. We are used to hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons. While at sea, we are usually able to steer clear of them. But when in port we can weather them, even this one."

"We had some damage we have almost repaired already, Dani. Are you handling all the stragglers coming in okay?"

"We are carefully screening them. Something we've always done while traveling to different countries.

"There are a few who we are watching who have some criminal background. We've put them in work crews where we can closely watch them. So far, everyone is so grateful for the food and lodging that they are all cooperating and helping us keep the ship, shipshape." She giggled.

"And the infirmary?"

"So sad to see so many in such bad shape. Some have died no matter what we do to save them. The stories they tell are heartbreaking."

"And your food? I'm hoping to leave for the Valley soon to get fresh meat, vegetables, fruit and nuts within a couple of days. But I can't guarantee getting much because I've heard that the Central Valley is flooded."

"The only fresh food we are getting is from the fish market. But we have a large store of frozen food we need to eat before it gets over a year old. The good news is, the captain checked on our food warehouse and it was not broken into. So we have a lot of basic foodstuffs to last a very long time.

"We are training some of the new people to be crew members. Perhaps by the fall, we can take short cruises, say, to Catalina Island or up the Coast. We also checked our methane storage tank and we have ample methane for years to come."

I hated to stop the conversation because I was in love with her beauty and compassion already. Not knowing if she had a boyfriend or even a husband. Told her I would talk to her again soon and said our goodbyes.

It didn't take long to load the netting and we were off. I was still curious about the LA River, so we got on Cal 1 leading to 710 to see if anything had changed. Very quickly, it was obvious that things had.

The river was much higher, flooding a mile from its concrete ditch boundaries. Such a raging torrent was both mesmerizing and apocalyptic to watch. Up ahead where we had been on the interchange with 101, there was obvious failure with parts of both highways missing!

I dared not drive any further for fear of driving off a hidden missing piece of roadway into the water below. I turned around and drove back in the oncoming lanes without fear of running into anyone. But, with a new respect for what water, so needed for life, could do.

After helping finish up replanting all the gardens in our compound, Ray grabbed a couple of the kids and headed down to the beach to try out his new nets on hopefully, willing fish wanting to get caught for our food.

I went hunting out back in the park. Everything was muddy so slopes were treacherous. Also a lot of tracks. I found a heavily traveled deer trail and waited. As evening approach, a buck in velvet appeared and we would have fresh venison to eat that night. I was grateful we could hunt so close to what we could raise or grow.

As I returned carrying the buck on my shoulders, I could see the lights on throughout our compound. Glad we had solar power throughout that we didn't have before. We had seen the last of the PG&E power grid. Good riddance.

While everyone scrambled to help me with dressing the deer so we would have fresh grilled venison, Ray had a dismal tale to tell.

"When we arrived at the beach, it smelled. There was a line of oily substance along the beach sand and the beach was littered with driftwood of all sizes, including whole trees. And there were bodies. We could see them floating in the floating debris… Just part of it. Part of the reason the water stunk of chemicals and other nasty things."

The kids were crying and Ray just hung his head.

I tried to be reassuring. "Van said they have a large store of seafood from recent catches. I'm sure what you are seeing is the result of the storm and flooding of the LA River and others spilling all that into the ocean. Eventually it will clean itself, but I think you guys should get busy and clean up as much of it is you can as soon as you can, so the fish will come back sooner."

Copyright 2023 © Ronald W. Hull

7/10/23