Self Apocalypse: The Beginning Read Free

surprised to find that they weren’t operating in this area anymore.  You would think that even with the economy the way it was, that wood would still be in high demand.  Then again, new housing construction had almost come to a complete halt last summer.  I also noticed that more and more people were buying used furniture rather than investing in the new.  I guess things were bad for everyone.  Even the town I had shopped in looked horrible.  It had used to be a thriving place of commerce in this area.  Now it just resembled a ghost down, decaying into dust and eventually history.  That’s how things were though.  That’s how they have been for quite a while now.  Again I was reminded why I needed this little get away.  To temporarily forget about the problems we were facing.
     
    It wasn’t long before I found myself driving over that small hill just before the camp.  I could see the camper nestled in the small valley, cradled in overgrown weeds and saplings.  The river flowed softly by just beyond it.  I couldn’t wait to get some fishing in, but I would have to get things straightened out first.  It was getting late and the sun was beginning to set.  I used what daylight I had left to get my sleeping gear into the camper and start a fire.  I would take care of the rest and clean up around the camper tomorrow.  Tonight I was going to relax and enjoy a quiet night in the woods.
     

 
     
    Chapter Two
     
    A Plan Is Needed
     
    “Behold, I come as a thief.
    Blessed is he that watcheth,
    and keepeth his garments, lest
    he walk naked, and they see his
    shame.”
    - Revelation 16:15
     
    The tremble startled me from my sleep.  The camper’s windows displayed the early dawn outside.  Again the trembling came, and I sat up alarmed to the threat of an earthquake.  The tremors were brief in their passing, but enough to warn me of a possible quake.  The camper shook yet again then fell silent.  I then heard something fall outside, and what sounded like something moving through the tall grass outside.  I stood up and looked through the windows until I found the source of my natural disaster.  He was pretty big for a black bear, and obviously looking for an easy meal inside my camper.  He stood by the window, pushing his mighty paws against the camper shaking my dwelling as he did.  I banged two pots together and yelled, which seemed to startle him greatly as he turned and ran for the tree line.  No one has been here for quite sometime now, so the prospect of a new inhabitant must have shaken him up.  We had bears come through our camp a lot in the past, but they never shook the camper before.
     
    Now that I was awake, I decided I should make coffee.  I now wished I had brought a propane tank so I could make it inside.  I wasn’t exactly sure if the coffee would attract the bear back or not.  He seemed to be long gone though.  It didn’t take long to re-kindle the fire with the embers that were still burning from last night.  After I got some hot coals started, I placed the metal percolator by the fire.  Before long I was enjoying that first cup of coffee, and watching the sun rise over the surrounding hills.  It was so peaceful here.  I wished I had done this much sooner.  As I enjoyed my coffee, I decided that I would spend more time at the camp.  Even if I just came up for the weekend it would make a difference.  I started to realize it wouldn’t hurt to have someone around to share it with either, but I always had problems finding a woman in my city that didn’t mind spending weekends in the mountains.  They didn’t exactly have strip malls in these hills, and the only day spa was the slow moving river by the camper.  That reminded me, I had been itching to get some fishing in.  I drank another cup of coffee, gathered my fishing gear, and headed over to the river’s edge. 
     
    I could see some rises on the other side of the river.  Isn’t that how it always goes?  Just