One Second After

On the 10th day following the EMP burst, John goes to town for a village council meeting. He has developed an infection in his wounded hand and is lightheaded with fever. He arrives in the middle of a report. Doc Kellor, the town’s MD, is concerned about a salmonella outbreak: “‘Most of us haven’t bathed in ten days, toilet paper’s getting scarce, soup line meals twice a day at the refugee center, food now of real questionable safety’” (154) 

The group debates the best place to begin burying bodies, since the regular cemetery is too far away, and agree to use the local golf course. The council then turns its attention to the food problem: they have enough supplies for a few weeks but may need to go to half rations after that.

Carl Erwin, the police chief from nearby Swannanoa, proposes that the two towns join forces. Black Mountain can keep out an influx of refugees from the west while Swannanoa can guard the east. Charlie and Carl negotiate the terms of the alliance, discussing how to shares resources and who will get a seat on the combined council. John is struck by the medieval nature of the negotiation: “The formal ritual had been played out.