Post-Apocalypse Dead Letter Office by Nathan Poell Page B

between Aroya and Colorado Springs, very little in the way of people. Should take you two and a half, maybe three days to get there from Kit Carson. Now, to get to Pueblo, take 287 south. Don’t stop in Eads, you should be able to get past it and to a reservoir around there within one day. Day after that head down past Wiley and take highway 50 west up the Arkansas. Plenty of water and a decent road! Should take you a couple days to get into Pueblo after turning west.

    From Pueblo or Colorado Springs, it’s up to you. –Ron Hightail

    Lawrence to Hays

    Not sure if I understand the entire concept correctly. You’re moving out to Oregon, I got that. But you’re – how are you going? It sounds like you got kids, so I hope to Christ you either own a good, converted compact car as a wagon and a few damn strong horses or a couple unobtainium-light tandems with strong kids as stokers and a couple decent cargo trailers. The other legs sounded like they thought you had animals. Being half-camel wouldn’t hurt, either, but anyway... hey, look, the letter and accompanying junk made it this far, so it’s possible. Guess you should look at it that way.

    I’m assuming you know how to get from De Soto to Lawrence. If not, you’d best just cancel your plans right now, because you’re sure as hell never going to be able to figure out how to traverse half – and the arid, most mountainous half, at that – the continent. So, you get to Lawrence. Whichever way you came into town, you’re going to want to take I-70 out. There are three place to get on the interstate, not that hard to figure out. Stay on 70 through Topeka – don’t take 470 or you might get confused. Now, you’ll probably be tempted to stop in Topeka. That’s your call, but if you push through town there’s a nice stream just a few miles to the west. Good place to rest people and animals. The next place you’ll really want to take a rest is Salina. You might think you can make Junction City in a single day. It’s possible, but don’t. Don’t stop in Junction City, don’t even look at it as you’re passing through. It’s not clean and not safe. You could stay a night in Manhattan, but it’s a ways off the route. Best to just camp by a small stream wherever you can find one. Sure hope you have a decent tent or something. So yeah, stay another night in Salina. River’s just east of town, for watering your horses if you have them. A couple stores in town, so stock up on food if you need to and sundries. Fill up on water here! Things get drier the further west you go. There’ll probably be a stream here and there for you, and there’s a good lake just north of Wilson but it’s off the beaten path. Actually, staying in Wilson is probably your best bet. If you need water, you can make a sidetrip up to Wilson Lake. Another day, probably, and you’ll be in Hays. Like the last guy said, steer clear of the bars and anywhere along the main drag at night, it can be a rough town these days. Fill up on water again and God speed you the rest of the way. If you see a guy on a mint green bike, that’s me. Wave if you feel like it, but don’t bother stopping.

    – B. Onkey

To: Candace Gillentine, Overland Park, KS

    From: Sam Gillentine, Wichita, KS (mailing from Salina)

    June 12th, 20+4

    Hey babe, it’s Sam.

    Got your letter earlier this year. Quite a surprise to hear from you. Sorry to learn about your beau Harlan. It’ll come as no surprise to you that I never cared for him too much, but since he made you happy, I suppose that made him OK in my book.

    Still can’t believe it has been five years since you left. I figured you’d head on over to Kansas City, have yourself a big time for a few months, wind up flashing your tits (or other parts) to the wrong guy in front of Harlan, then make your way back. Never counted on the whole world going to hell in a bucket. After that it’s been almost all thinking about my next meal, parting out old cars and vans