Grid Down: A Strike against America – An EMP Survival Story- Book One by Roger Hayden Page A

cars.
    “Take a left on Front Street,” Mila said pointing to the approaching intersection.
    Rob made a left, and they found themselves on a clear road, with the hospital in view. Peter took a deep breath, still in a state of shock.
    “Nearly gave me a heart attack there, Rob,” he said. “Don’t make my wife a widow. She’ll kill ya.”
    “That’s not going to happen,” Rob said, gradually increasing their speed.
    They could hear Carlos and Brad tumbling around in back, trying to get upright again.
    “Sorry,” Mila said, knocking on the window. Both of them held their heads in pain and looked more than a little angry.
    The Nyack hospital was in range: a large, five-story brick building with several smaller buildings arrayed around it. Parked vehicles lined the road on both sides, and the main circular lot was full as well.
    The trees surrounding the parking lot were shedding their brown autumn leaves, leaving skeletal, curvy branches, silhouetted against the sky. The hospital building seemed intact, with no activity outside and no one around.
    The windows were dark, and it wasn’t clear if there were people inside, but with so many buildings, floors, and rooms, Rob believed there had to be someone in there. He turned at a sign reading “Nyack Hospital: Main Entrance” and then past another sign that said, “Main Hospital” ahead.
    “Best find a spot out of sight from the road,” he said. “They’ve seen our truck now. They know we’re here.”
    The truck chugged along as they circled around to the rear of the emergency room. Rob looked at the fuel gauge. They were low, nearly on empty. The earlier excitement had taken his mind off thinking of a plan for getting back.
    They had brought two empty five-gallon cans and a hose just in case. He only hoped that the fuel in the vehicles around them was still worth a damn—having sat dormant for weeks. 
    He stopped and backed in, within inches of a rear entrance to the emergency room. He joggled the shifter on the steering wheel to Park and switched off the ignition.
    “OK,” Rob said. “Is everyone ready for this?”
    Both Carlos and Brad hopped out of the back.
    “Ready as we’ll ever be,” Peter said. “What’s the plan?”
    The rusted truck door squeaked as Rob opened it. “Mila will lead the way.” His feet touched the pavement as he took Mila’s hand, helping her out. “You good with that?”
    “That’s why I came,” she responded, retying her ponytail.
    “What happened back there?” Carlos asked.
    Brad held his head. “Tossed us around like a couple of rag dolls,” he added.
    “I’m sorry,” Rob said. “Some men zeroed in on us. They were armed.”
    “And how about those guys cutting the lawn. What’s with that?” Peter asked.
    The group assembled at the rear of the truck as Rob scanned the area. “I don’t know. But we have to assume they’ll be looking for us soon.”
    “Where the hell is everyone?” Brad asked. “We’re in the freaking Twilight Zone here.”
    Mila looked at the hospital building, feeling a welter of emotions. She hadn’t been to work since the EMP strike, and it felt good to be back, but in a weird way.
    She saw two ambulances parked on the side of the building, unattended. The quiet, ostensibly empty building had a somber aspect. She thought about her friends and coworkers, her patients.
    “This is the plan,” Rob said, handing empty tote bags to Peter and Mila. “Mila, Peter, and I will search the hospital for supplies. Carlos and Brad, we’re low on gas. I need you to fill up the truck. Twenty gallons should do the trick.”
    Carlos stepped forward, angered. “You want us to suck gas out of these cars now?”
    “Just do what he says, Carlos,” Mila said and stepped between them.
    Carlos shook his head and laughed, appearing to calm down. “Damn … I’d hate to get on your bad side, señorita .”
    Rob held his hand up, asking them to tone it down. “I’m asking you both because you’ll