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kettle.
    —Come on, I want to show you something.
    Ever cautious, she let me lead her to the back of the
house where I had the generator under it’s sound-proof cover. I
showed her how to start it and to verify that the exhaust vented
properly outside. I told her about the blackout curtains, and
explained why they should be kept closed.
    —If I’m not here, that’s all you’ll need to know to
get another shower. Just don’t forget to leave anything outside. I
wouldn’t want someone showing up and learning about my haven.
    —You’re right, you know. It is a haven of sorts. At
least, for me it is.
    Her gaze intensified. Why was this woman looking at
me like this? Was she sizing me up? If so, for what? I figured I’d
need to be careful with this one.
    In the kitchen I poured hot water into two mugs.
    —It should be ready in a couple. In the meantime,
there are some things we need to talk about.
     
    I tried to include the woman as best I could. I
valued her opinions. After all, she’d been on her own long enough
to get a pretty good idea of what had been going on, too.
    —Did you notice anything unusual about that truck?
Anything that stood out from previous trucks and their
contents?
    —Yes. I’ve seen them before, but not like that. A
single occupant, the driver. Oh, and he was unarmed when he got
out.
    —You have a keen eye for observation. It occurred to
me that he was careless because he knew that there was no one to
threaten him. I’m thinking that every last soul has been evacuated
into relief centers.
    —Or worse.
    I ignored Caitrin’s comment. I wasn’t comfortable
even considering it. It might be selfish, but I had more pressing
things to consider.
     
    Having an extra person to help with some projects I
had planned would be good. Until now, I never considered having a
helper. It might just end up doing us both good. I eased into the
subject.
    —Would you like to see my workshop?
    I was in the process of constructing a solar- and
battery-powered pump. I’d need it to provide the gasoline for the
generator. The only way to get more would be to scrounge from the
thousands of abandoned vehicles littering the streets.
    Already I had a makeshift trailer built for the bike
to cart the system. Empty twenty-gallon containers sat beside the
pump and the solar panel in the garage.
    —You’ve been busy.
    —When you feel more comfortable being around me, I’d
like to have your help.
    She stepped back and studied me, hands on hips, brow
furrowed.
    —So you need a mule, do you?
    —No, I can do it all myself. But now that we’ve been
formally introduced, I think it would be good for both of us.
    —How so?
    —Obviously, you’ve been scouting out your own
resources. I’m not looking to steal your secrets. I could use a
little help with my own. That generator alone will gobble up a lot
of fuel when the nights start to get longer and colder.
    —Thus the portable pump. I can understand that.
    —I’ve got a chain saw, too. I’ll have to feed that
fireplace when the weather turns.
    Caitrin gestured in the direction of the park behind
the house. It seemed she knew the area, too.
    —You won’t have far to go for trees.
    —I can’t start cutting down the trees in this
neighborhood. That could draw too much attention the next time a
lost truck driver climbs out and starts looking around.
    Caitrin walked to the door. Before opening it, she
looked through the peep-hole.
    —It’s too late for me to get home. I won’t have
enough daylight. I don’t want to be out in the dark.
    —You can stay here if you want. You’ll be safe.
    She picked up her belt with the k-bar and strapped it
on.
    —You’re right. I will be.
    She didn’t want any of the spare rooms. I left a
blanket and a pillow on the sofa.
    —As far as the help you want goes, we’ll go
fifty-fifty on it. After you’re finished, you can start helping me
with a few things.
    I wasn’t expecting that so soon.
    —Thank you. It’s a deal.
    She