Post Grid: An Arizona EMP Adventure by Tony Martineau

made it to where?”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 3
     
    Kelly woke in her bed. She lived in a historic area in North Mesa called Lehi that bordered both the big city and the rural Indian reservation. It still retained its horsey past; horse fencing crisscrossed nearly every yard, and “horsekind” abounded.
    She heard nickering from her living room. Her mind wandered in and out of wakefulness, limbs still heavy with fatigue. The earthy smell of the corral drifted into her nose. Kelly loved her horses, Hokey and Pokey. Wait—they were in the living room of her tiny house.
    There it was again—the sound of a horse. Startled awake, her mind cleared and everything came back to her. The hospital had burned down with all those they couldn't get out still in it. The bedraggled nurse had picked her way home through the neighborhoods in a state of exhaustion, hunger and delirium. She avoided the looters she saw in strip malls and convenience stores. Ash fell from the sky. Neighborhoods had banded together into armed groups to protect their families and homes. They allowed her to pass through only after interrogation.
    Kelly had stumbled into her barn in the wee hours of morning, gathered her horses and their tack, and proceeded into the house. Fears raged in her head that they might be stolen during the night or be spooked and run off because of the smoke. She filled a couple of bowls, pitchers, and some large plastic tubs with the water remaining in her water heater, remembering that her bathtub drain leaked.
    I can't believe it. Yesterday I needed to find love, settle down, have some kids, but today the world is turned upside down. My goal for today is to live 'til tomorrow. My head aches—probably dehydration, the nurse in her thought.
    She didn't have time to waste reliving events from last night. Survival was at hand. By now people must be realizing, as she had, that no help was coming from the government, and that everyone's lives were in danger. The stupid ones would still be out looting televisions and computers.
    Kelly rose quickly and made her way to the kitchen. She unwrapped her arm wound and scrubbed it with dish soap and water. Not too bad, fairly clean. It has to be redressed well if it's going to withstand the long trail ride today.
    She walked to her desk in the living room and started a list of items needed to get her to her mom's house in Sunflower. Hokey walked up to her and nuzzled her neck.
    “I hope you are ready for the trip, girl,” Kelly said. 
    “It's going to be forty-five miles of hot pavement and scruffy desert for us today.” Kelly took Hokey's halter and pulled her nose around, staring into her horse's eyes. She often spoke to her horses as if they understood her every word.
    Sunflower, where her mother lived, was an enclave of homes nestled in a canyon halfway between Phoenix, the metropolitan area that included Mesa, and Payson, ninety miles to the northeast. The horses could travel that distance in a day, but it would be a long, hard ride for them. If she had to travel off the main highway, it would be rough going and add to the distance. After reaching Fountain Hills, the rest of the trip to Sunflower would be rocky and mountainous. That would give her thirty-five miles of washes, brush and cactus to pick her way through. Water would be another issue. Kelly could think of only two sources of water between here and there. Her horses were lucky that it was September and not July, but a night's camp might still be in order.
    Hay was hauled into the house. My poor carpet . After caring for the horses, she started assembling the must-haves from her list. I wish I could take everything. There'll be nothing left to come back to. Either looters or fire will take it.
    It was time to go into Navy stealth mode and really pare down. After about two hours, everything was packed and she had dressed herself for the trip. The outfit consisted of a