Grants Pass Read online

  Grants Pass

  Edited by

  Amanda Pillar and Jennifer Brozek

  Published by Morrigan Books

  Kindle Edition

  Östra Promenaden 43

  602 29 Norrköping

  Sweden

  http://www.morriganbooks.com

  All stories copyright 2009 by their respective authors. Published by permission of the authors

  Cover art by Reece Notley

  Design and layout by Mark S. Deniz and Amanda Pillar

  Typeset in Garamond and Times New Roman

  Kindle Edition, Licence Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook my not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.

  Dedications

  Amanda

  To my friends and family,

  May we stand together.

  Jennifer

  For my parents, John and Sigrid,

  For their support and encouragement.

  For my husband, Jeff,

  Who has his own hut on the island and always will.

  Jennifer Would Also Like To Thank:

  Rick Silva and Rory Clark, for being there at the start and sticking with me through thick and thin. Montgomery Mullen, for indulging my flights of fancy and not laughing at me when I presented you with the idea of Grants Pass as a place of sanctuary.

  Thank you, Mom, for enduring years of fiction and editing each piece with firm tact and support.

  Finally, thank you, Amanda Pillar, for being an excellent co-editor and Mark Deniz of Morrigan Books for making some hard decisions and taking a chance on both me and the Grants Pass anthology.

  Amanda Would Also Like To Thank:

  Thomas G. Bicknell for proofing and offering his journalism skills in preparing the news articles for Grants Pass. Maria-Luisa Rodriguez for translating three of the news articles into French and Spanish.

  And of course, Jennifer Brozek for letting me make Grants Pass my baby too.

  Foreword

  ****

  Introduction

  What makes Grants Pass, Oregon, in the USA so special? It is a small city of 23,000 people in the middle of the Rogue River Valley. It also happens to be almost exactly halfway between Redmond, Washington and Mountain View, California. This is important because I drive between these two cities twice a year on average. Grants Pass has become the turning point for my road trips. It has also sunk itself deep into my subconscious.

  It may amuse some readers to know that the journal entry written by Kayley in the prelude is based on one I wrote online back in May 2004. After receiving a number of responses from my friends saying that, yes, they would be there or no, they would not be there and why, the idea for the anthology was born.

  I spent the next four years advertising the anthology, collecting stories, editing stories and shopping the manuscript around. The most common response I got from publishers was, “This is a great idea but you don’t have enough big-name authors. Let me know if you ever get it published”. It was both encouraging and heartbreaking at the same time. All the while, my apocalyptic minions would send me story after story of every natural disaster, every possible plague and every great catastrophe that occurred around the world, proving to me that this anthology was relevant to what was happening in today’s society.

  In early 2008, I had a heart-to-heart conversation with Mark Deniz, who had a story in Grants Pass. I knew he was succeeding with his independent press, Morrigan Books, and I asked if he would be interested in publishing the anthology. He told me that he would on two conditions: First, his editor, Amanda Pillar, had to approve the anthology. Second, he would have to pull his story from it for integrity’s sake. I agreed to both conditions. Though, I was sad at the loss of his story. I thought it was one of the strongest in the book.

  Long story short, Amanda approved the anthology with a few caveats. The first was that the guidelines had to be tightened up and that all of the stories would need to be re-evaluated to go with the new guidelines. Not all of the stories would make it. This was difficult for me. Some of these stories had been with me for four years, but, I understood why it was necessary.

  The Grants Pass anthology of today is different than the one I started in 2004 and, yet, the spirit of what I created is still there. Only better. I have learned much working with Amanda and Morrigan Books as we brought Grants Pass to life, and I appreciate the effort that goes into creating and publishing a quality anthology.

  Five years from conception to publication is a long time. It was hard work but, in the end, I believe it was worth it. This book represents many of my own hopes and dreams for the future, just as the stories within speak of trials overcome, strength of wisdom, hopes, dreams, and sacrifice in a post apocalyptic world that has not yet come to pass.

  But what if it did?

  Where would your Grants Pass sanctuary be?

  Jennifer Brozek

  July 2009

  Foreword

  ****

  Conclusion

  When Jennifer approached Morrigan Books with Grants Pass, Mark asked me to read the collection. He gave me a rundown of its concept, told me he had a story in the anthology and emailed the MS over.

  I scanned the contents page and hunkered down with a can of Pepsi, my personal addiction. I read the journal entry and was hooked on the concept. I had to finish the whole thing.

  I knew some stories weren’t going to make the final cut, and emailed Mark my thoughts immediately: We had to have the anthology, but we had to make some changes. I also emailed Jennifer with the same information, and naturally, she was reserved. Mark read the anthology and agreed.

  I arranged an IM meeting with Jennifer and revisited the Destruction of Humankind. Since I have a background in science, I was harsh with the former guidelines. I emailed Russell Kirkpatrick — a fellow author and lecturer — for advice on global warming, and set about restructuring the apocalypse. It had to be as realistic as possible. After a few hours, and Jennifer probably wanting to commit murder a few dozen times, the guidelines were updated. We then made the final cut as some stories no longer worked with the anthology.

  I emailed all the authors to update them. I felt horrible, but knew the anthology needed the change. We took on new authors with new stories with the request: We want stories set outside the USA.

  And we got them.

  Why outside the US of A? This was my fault. I thought that Jennifer’s story, The Chateau de Mons was great, and Mark’s tale, Russian Roulette, also set in Europe, gave a new sense of desperation and hope to the anthology. But we couldn’t use Mark’s, so that reduced the number of non-USA stories. So I asked for more, as their tales made me ponder the concept that everyone would have an individual version of Grants Pass, if the real Grants Pass was inaccessible.

  Would I travel to Grants Pass? No, I can’t say that I would. But that’s because I live on the other side of the world, in a remote country, with an extremely harsh climate that is completely surrounded by sea. Australia.

  Would I have my own, personal Grants Pass? Yes. But you will have to read the anthology to find out where that might be.

  Amanda Pillar

  July 2009

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Prologue

  Online Journal Entry: Kayley Allard

  Plague

  World News Reports

  Th
e Survivors

  An Unkindness of Ravens: Stephanie Gunn

  Boudha: K. V. Taylor

  Hells Bells: Cherie Priest

  Ascension: Martin Livings

  Animal Husbandry: Seanan McGuire

  Men of Faith: Ivan Ewart

  The Chateau de Mons: Jennifer Brozek

  The Few that are Good: Scott Almes

  Rights of Passage: Pete Kempshall

  A Perfect Night to Watch Detroit Burn: Ed Greenwood

  Final Edition: Jeff Parish

  The Discomfort of Words: Carole Johnstone

  Newfound Gap: Lee Clark Zumpe

  Ink Blots: Amanda Pillar

  Black Heart, White Mourning: Jay Lake

  By the Sea: Shannon Page

  Remembrance: James M. Sullivan

  Epilogue

  Journal Entry: Kayley Allard

  About the Editors

  About the Cover Artist

  Prologue:

  Online Journal Entry

  Kayley Allard

  May 26

  Grants Pass

  This post is semi-in-cheek and semi-not. Occasionally, it amuses me to think about these things. The short version of my thought is this: When the end of the world comes, meet me in Grants Pass, Oregon.

  I’m not saying that the end of the world is coming. I don’t know if it will happen in my lifetime or if at all. But, as a writer, I often ask “What if…?” What if something like Skippy the Super flu virus happens? What if something like “The Day After Tomorrow” happens? What if we are invaded or World War III happens? Better yet, what if, for some reason, the government and known society collapses due to a great loss of life and/or immense structural damage…and I survive it?

  Then what?

  Well, my plan, as of now, is to meet Monte in Grants Pass. Why Grants Pass? Because I have dreamt of the coming of the end of the world several times. In my dreams, as the End comes, I always wind up in Grants Pass and that’s good enough for me. Why Monte? Because he’s a good friend, and he indulges my whims when I present him with these mental exercises. And because he has become one of my dream symbols representing Survival. Just like the few times I dreamt of Ice, who represented Leadership and Yony, who represented Desire.

  Recently, I mentioned this to Ice and invited him to meet us. If anyone is going to survive the end of the world, it would be him. Then, James jumped in and said it sounded like a plan and he would meet us there, hauling fuel. Suddenly, it occurred to me that maybe I should just let others in on this little plan of mine.

  Obviously, not everyone who reads this would survive an apocalypse. Maybe I would not survive it. My desire for immortality says I would, but that’s just me. In any case, if the apocalypse comes, and you’re a good person who wants to survive with other good people, meet us in Grants Pass. Think about what you would bring. Think about joining a surviving band of people from all walks of life.

  I know. I know. This is a silly mental exercise but there is no harm in thinking about it. Which leads to more questions: How would I get there? Would I go by car, more secure and sheltered, but meaning that I have to travel ruined roads? Or a motorcycle for maneuverability? Bicycle for the lack of dependence on fuel and ability to easily bypass obstacles…but with more exposure and slower travel time?

  What would I bring with me? Fuel? Food? Water? Weapons? Probably all of the above. I think REI would be the first place I would raid. Wouldn’t you raid a giant sporting good store for camping and survivalist gear first?

  I know I would try to contact friends by cell phone or IM as long as the electricity lasted. Mostly to see if they were still alive and coming to Grants Pass. Of course, if the end of the world is like “The Stand” and Mother Abigail is saying we should come to Colorado, well, I guess Grants Pass would be the meeting and staging point for it. It is better to travel in groups, I think. Especially if you have both human and animal predators out there, which I think would be the case.

  You can’t tell me that some survivor (probably male), wouldn’t get it in their head to become some sort of warlord and try to rule their own little bit of land. You know it would happen. Personally, I’d rather band together with people I already know than some random tough guy who has figured out how to rule through strength and fear. Though, I admit, not all warlords would be bad. Generally, things go better when there is a clear leader in a group; someone with the ability to make decisions quickly.

  Still, coming up with a way to protect and feed a group of people during and after some sort of apocalypse brings to mind some interesting ideas. Some of it goes back to my parents’ lessons on wants versus needs. Needs would be paramount — food, shelter, protection. Wants would have to be indulged when it was possible and safe to do so. But, one person’s need could be another person’s want. It can be very subjective. That’s where we come back to the importance of leadership. Someone must be the parent and the bad guy for your own good.

  Now, I’m randomly babbling. In a time of crisis, having a plan can make the difference between life and death. If an apocalypse comes and you survive, think of me and then head to Grants Pass.

  My whimsy could save your life.

  Plague

  ****

  Hospital Quarantine Declared

  The Sydney Morning Herald

  Wednesday, June 20th

  Authorities have imposed quarantine in a wing of the Prince of Wales Hospital, following an outbreak of Ebola on Monday.

  The hospital’s Albion Street Centre was closed late last night following the fifth confirmed case of the disease, which doctors believe is the Zaïre strain of the Ebola virus.

  “At this stage we don’t think there’s any significant risk to the general public,” said Professor David Rawlinson of the Prince of Wales’ virology department. “The disease requires contact for transmission, and the outbreak has been isolated, so there’s very little chance of it spreading.”

  No other cases have been confirmed since the quarantine was declared, but hospitals throughout Sydney have been put on alert for early symptoms of the disease, which include vomiting, joint pain and fever.

  Hospital staff members have been unable to trace the origin of the first reported infection, but are investigating whether the disease was carried by a passenger on a flight from Africa.

  “Ebola has historically originated in Africa, although it has appeared in the past in the Philippines and the US,” said Professor Rawlinson. “We’re looking at the possibility it crossed from one of those regions via plane.”

  The Ebola virus typically has a mortality rate of 50-90 per cent, and is transmitted via skin and mucous membrane contact.

  The Price of Wales quarantine coincides with three other cases of rare disease outbreaks that occurred early last week in Paris, Tokyo and Austin in the US state of Texas.

  Diagnosed as bubonic plague, the other outbreaks are also suspected to have been spread by airline passengers, and have already led to several deaths. The US Centres for Disease Control has declared the outbreak contained, echoing statements from authorities in France and Japan.

  ****

  Ogawa Calls Black Death Emergency

  The Japan Times

  Friday, June 25th

  TOKYO (Honshū) Prime Minister Taro Ogawa has declared a state of emergency in the Adachi, Kawaguchi and Hatogaya metropolis wards in order to contain the spread of what has become Japan’s worst disease outbreak on record.

  “We cannot ignore the fact that there is a humanitarian crisis underway,” Ogawa said at a news conference on Friday in Tokyo. “We have acted to contain the spread of the disease, and we are evacuating neighbouring wards.”

  Cases of the Black Death have risen to the hundreds since the original diagnosis of the virus almost two weeks ago, and the body count hit 90 early this morning.

  Coinciding outbreaks of bubonic plague in the United States and France have already quarantined sections of Austin, Texas and Paris, France and health authorities have estim
ated cases at 220 and 312 respectively.

  Scientists are still struggling to isolate the exact strain of the disease, which has exhibited significantly higher fatality rates than other known forms of bubonic plague and has so far proven resistant to antibiotics.

  The carrier for the disease has also yet to be found, with the historic transmission via flees having already been discounted.

  Meanwhile, efforts to control the spread of the Ebola strain dubbed Severe Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (SVHF) in Sydney, Hollywood, Cape Town and São Paulo have stalled as…

  ****

  Peruvian Army Begins Lockdown

  Agence France-Presse (AFP)

  …said General Muñoz.

  Army trucks have begun ferrying bodies to mass graves on the outskirts of the city as improvised morgues have become overwhelmed, according to local media reports.

  The flood of refugees to neighbouring states, many wearing the white surgical masks already proven so ineffective, have had to contend with police roadblocks and bridges washed away by heavy rains.

  Peru’s government remained optimistic that the international research coalition formed yesterday under the aegis of the World Health Organisation would yield a vaccine quickly, despite the WHO’s declaration on Tuesday that the three diseases ravaging the globe had been deliberately engineered.

  “We have determined that the Severe Viral Hemorrhagic Fever and the new strains of bubonic plague and the Super Flu were intentionally created ― designed to become more transmissible and fatal than their original forms,” WHO Director General Dr Paula Chernoff said in a statement.