Chapter 35 The Dillards and the Goddard-Wans
It had been a long journey from Willow Creek, long and sad because Pauline had been taken by the plague on the first day. At last the five of them had reached the mountains around Oasis Springs.
They found a small park deserted, of course -- and Rhiannon couldn't help wondering whether they would find any other survivors here. The two children settled down to play chess, but Henrietta got bored and soon wandered off.
Ismael Dillard found a picnic table surrounded by flowers and told Rhiannon to come and sit down.
"As soon as I've finished the potatoes," she called back.
Even if there was no one left in Oasis Springs, she thought they might stay in the park for a little while. She'd spotted lemon trees and strawberry bushes on the way in, so they wouldn't starve, and they could always sleep on the benches.
"Rhiannon Dillard? Is that you?"
She turned and saw Alexander Goth coming towards her.
"You're a sight for sore eyes," he said. "We didn't think anyone had survived from Willow Creek. Who all is with you?"
Rhiannon felt tears pricking at the back of her eyelids. "My husband Ismael and our son Ian," she said. "And Hank Goddard and his daughter Henrietta. Pauline didn't make it. And neither did your parents. I'm sorry," she said.
"Cassandra and I kind of figured that," said Alexander. "Well, we've got a couple of houses you guys can move into. They're just cinderblock boxes, but the lots are huge."
"Ian!" Rhiannon called.
"Let him finish his game," said Alexander. "Cassandra will see that he gets to your new home."
The view from the top of the hill was amazing. "Who lives in those houses?" Rhiannon asked.
"No one," said Alexander. "We left them empty in case they're contaminated. Well, I think you'll find everything you need. And if there's something missing, you might be able to get it at one of our stores." He gave them directions to Dahl's Basic Needs, Lewis & Zest Outfitters, Goth Gallery, Bagley's Bagels, Work It!, Bookcakes, Steampunk, and of course his own Child's Play. And then he left, walking back down the hill.
Ian was up early the next morning and ready to go exploring. The first thing he found was a frog hiding in a water pump.
There were all kind of rocks around, and Ian was pretty sure that some of them held crystals and fossils, maybe metals, too.
He also discovered an abandoned mine shaft. He thought he could crawl through the gap in the boards, but then he heard his mother calling, telling him it was time for lunch. He'd be back with a flashlight, he promised himself.
Rhiannon looked out over the hills. She didn't know if she could ever get used to seeing rocks and sand instead of green grass and bushes, but she had to admit that the air here was clearer and cleaner. The main thing was that they had found a community again.
It was amazing to Hank that with so few people alive there should still be a need for a police force, but such was the case. His first day with Oasis Springs, he was assigned to rookie work, just so the captain could take his measure. The first thing he had to do was pat down one of the local lowlife, Dwayne Wayne. He had a turkey baster in his possession. It had a sharp point, so Hank confiscated it.
The second thing was a trout.
"Where'd you catch that trout, Dwayne?" one of the other officers called.
"Wouldn't you like to know," Dwayne called back. "It's not my fault you guys can't catch any fish."
"Bag it and put it in the fridge for him," the officer told Hank. "He can take it with him when he goes home."
Later that day Hank was sent to patrol a deserted neighborhood. "No one's living there," the chief told him, "but we want to make sure the houses stay in good condition."
The house reminded Hank of the one that he and Pauline had shared back in Willow Creek even though the lawn was overgrown with daisies.
At home that evening he asked Henrietta how her day had gone.
"Okay, I guess," she said sadly. "I miss Mom."
"I do, too, honey," he said. "Lots and lots."
Just then there was a knock on the door, and Henrietta went to see who it was.
"Hi, Alicia," she said. "Dad, can I go outside and play with Alicia?"
"Sure," he said. "Just make sure she's able to get home before dark." Hank smiled at how quickly Henrietta's mood had changed, and he realized his mood was lighter, too. It was good to be in a town again, where his daughter could find friends.
The next day, Hank had a case to work on. It wasn't much, just a broken window at a nightclub on the edge of town, but he took the witnesses' statements diligently.
And later he posted the clues on the crime map.
Cassandra Goth stopped by and asked him how he and Henrietta were settling in. "Just fine," he told her. Hank had always considered the Goths to be a bit stuck up, but he realized that the plague might have changed them. Cassandra was certainly friendlier than he remembered her.
In the park later on, Hank stopped a girl who fit the description the witnesses had given except that no one had said her skin was green. It seemed to him that might have been an obvious detail, so he let her go. He didn't want to get off to a bad start in Oasis Springs by making a false arrest.
Even without the arrest, he was promoted to Corporal. "Don't let it go to your head," the captain warned him. "It's because you have the most experience of everyone except our graybeards."
