36 Hours: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Fiction Series (18 page)

“The earth’s magnetosphere will be weakened by this first blast,” said Dr. Stanford. “A second CME of the same magnitude may have a damaging radiation effect on the latitudes nearest the poles.”

The group continued to study the magnetogram. The bulging loop of the solar flare held onto the solar disk like a drop of water from a leaky kitchen faucet. The loop, filled with helium and hydrogen particles, did not close and return to the sun under its intense gravitational pull as Jose predicted. It kept rising from the surface, swelling like a balloon about to pop. As the solar flare’s footprint grew, both across the solar disk and into space, it became apparent it would not be contained.

The solar plume grew, and then it released toward the earth at three million miles an hour. Like the massive flare that was headed their way, this X-flare would gain steam with the solar wind, and its charged particles would follow in the wake of the X58 scheduled for full impact on the earth’s atmosphere in just over six hours.

“
Dios mío, con espalda con espalda
,” said Jose.

“That’s right, Jose,” translated Dr. Stanford. “Back-to-back.”

“Should I call it in?” asked Jose.

“Let’s finalize our predictive model,” Dr. Stanford replied. “Realistically, this geomagnetic storm will be secondary to the damage caused to the power grids of those nations affected by the X58. My concern relates to the potential collapse of Earth’s magnetosphere, even if for a short time. If this new CME chases the X58, this is not a minor situation. The blast of heat energy can trigger earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and unpredictable ocean currents. We’re talking real climate change here.”

Dr. Stanford tapped her associate Deb Daniels on the shoulder and instructed her to pull up the BATS-R-US model. The computer model used an adaptive grid program that allowed it to create an infinite number of calculations upon the elements of solar wind plasma—density, velocity, and temperature.

She began to bring up numbers and showed Dr. Stanford the results. She gave Daniels further instructions. “Now, plug the models into the SWMF—the Space Weather Modeling Framework.”

Everyone in the room had joined the trio as they watched the results come on screen. The room was deathly silent.

“That’s what I was afraid of,” started Dr. Stanford. “We might experience a geomagnetic excursion.”

“Excursion?” questioned Jose.

“Yes,” started Dr. Stanford. “A geomagnetic excursion is a significant shift in Earth’s magnetic shield, just like a geomagnetic reversal. Unlike reversals, an excursion does not permanently change the large-scale orientation of the field.”

“Does it flip the poles?” asked a member of the JAO Team.

The pole-shift hypothesis suggested that in the past, there had been geologically rapid shifts in the relative positions of the north and south poles as they related to the axis of the Earth’s rotation. These pole shifts were deemed responsible for triggering tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic activity near the tectonic plates.

While there were scientific studies indicating that the poles did wander, the studies did not lend credence to the theory that a rapid shift was possible. These shifts took many years. However, the studies were all based upon speculation due to lack of hard scientific data. The potential was real, it just hadn’t occurred in modern times.

“In the case of a geomagnetic excursion,” started Dr. Stanford, “there is a dramatic, typically short-lived decrease in field intensity, with a variation in pole orientation as much as forty-five degrees.”

“What’s the impact on Earth’s geomagnetic field?” asked Jose.

“The last geomagnetic excursion occurred forty thousand years ago, during the last Ice Age. It was called the Laschamp Event. Based upon radiocarbon dating analysis, the reversed field was seventy-five percent weaker.”

“So these things happen,” interrupted Jose. “But does it necessarily result in a mass extinction?”

“The danger is the substantially elevated levels of radiation for years to come,” continued Dr. Stanford. “An analysis of the Laschamp Event revealed substantially greater production of beryllium-10 and carbon-14. Carbon-14 is the radioactive isotope that is emitted from nuclear power plants.”

“How does this relate to the weakening of Earth’s magnetic field as the X58 hits the planet tonight?” asked one of the scientists.

“Due to the weakening of the magnetic field, particularly during the impact period, another major geomagnetic storm would allow greater amounts of radiation to reach Earth, increasing production of the radioactive isotopes beryllium-10 and carbon-14,” replied Dr. Stanford.

She wandered to the entry and stared at a wall of enlarged photographs featuring images of wildlife along the Chilean coastal regions.

“Some forms of migratory life that are thought to navigate based on magnetic fields may be disrupted. These species may or may not be able to adjust, although some of these species have survived excursions in the past.”

“Will the biggest impact be seen at the poles?” asked Jose.

“Since geomagnetic excursion periods are not always global, any effect might only be experienced in certain places, with others relatively unaffected,” replied Dr. Stanford. She thought about the potential duration of such an event, and then added, “The time period involved could be as little as a human lifetime or as much as ten thousand years.”

“What would the effect be on people?” asked another scientist.

“Increased ultraviolet radiation will result in a variety of skin cancers, including the life-threatening melanoma,” replied Dr. Stanford as she continued to stare at the photographs. “For the eyes, cataracts are likely to develop, as well as conjunctiva, a malignant cell cancer. Then there is a suppression of our immune system. UV exposure will enhance the risk of infection and decrease the effectiveness of vaccines.”

“None of this is good,” interjected Jose.

As Dr. Stanford returned to the group, she walked up to the monitors and leaned over them. She studied the ever-changing numbers and the pulsating images of the sun.

She summed it up, taking a deep breath before speaking. “It will all depend on the speed of the second CME. Guys, now we have something else to watch. The first wave may knock us against the ropes—robbing us of our power, but the second wave may knock us out.”

Chapter 33

7 Hours

4:40 p.m., September 8

West End

Nashville, Tennessee

“I still think we should take the gun,” said Alex as Madison approached the intersection of Harding Pike. This portion of US 70 South stretching toward Bellevue was far less crowded than the White Bridge Road intersection a few miles closer to town.

“We don’t know how to use it, for one thing, and we won’t be long.” Madison inched forward as the traffic ahead of them moved through the green light. As Walgreen’s parking lot came into view on her left, she saw a line of cars stretching around the building. The drive-thru pharmacy window was overwhelmed.

But this turned out to be a blessing because other potential shoppers avoided the store on the premise that it was too busy. Unlike pharmacies of years past, Walgreen’s and their counterpart CVS had become more about selling sundries and household items and less about dispensing prescription medications.

They parked the Suburban and walked briskly across the parking lot. By 4:30, the sun had heated up Nashville to one hundred one degrees, which was another record if such things were worthy of discussion on a day when the Sun planned on dealing a death blow to the planet. They dashed between two of the cars standing in line and entered the store, finding it surprisingly empty.

Alex immediately noticed the
cash only, no checks
sign and brought Madison’s attention to it.
Figures
. They’d scraped together every piece of loose change in the house. Alex had even retrieved a twenty-dollar bill out of her golf bag, which was there for emergency money. With their seven-hundred-and-eighty dollars, the two shoppers would have to be frugal. The big-ticket items, if they were available, would be found at their next two stops.

Madison produced the list and the two got to steppin’. Personal hygiene and additional overlooked grocery items were the top priority. Madison grabbed more vitamin and nutritional supplements. Finally, she grabbed a couple of boxes of Walgreen’s Stay Awake Caffeine tablets. The three of them would have to establish a round-the-clock security rotation. Caffeine could help them stay awake until their bodies adjusted to the midnight shift.

While Alex was checking out, Madison ran back to the pharmacy counter and found three last minute items—a digital thermometer, an inexpensive blood pressure unit, and a glucose monitor. The last item, oddly enough, came to mind when she saw the pool water-testing equipment. Their eating and sleeping habits would change dramatically. She thought it might be a good idea to monitor their blood sugar.

She added the items to the pile and Alex held up several packages and asked, “What are these?”

“Mylar blankets,” replied Madison.

“They look like aluminum foil. Are they like the balloons?”

“Same material, but they’ll keep us warm if we get stuck out somewhere. People put them in their medical kits.”

Some of the other items Madison picked up were hand warmers, lighters, matches, two manual can openers, and some baby wipes.

“Your total is two hundred and seventeen dollars, fifty cents.”

Madison counted out eleven twenties and handed the money to the clerk. She noticed the store had filled up while they were shopping. Taking her change, she thanked the clerk and headed for the exits. Walgreen’s knocked out a big part of their list.

After they had loaded the SUV, Madison shot across the street to Hart’s Ace Hardware. The family-owned store had been a fixture in Nashville for nearly seventy years. Alex was a classmate with one of the Hart boys in grade school.

As she pulled into the parking lot, she glanced to the front of the building to confirm that they still had some standard, twenty-pound propane tanks used for most barbecue grills. She also hoped to find a more portable propane grill just in case mobility became necessary.

The store only had a handful of customers. A small retail hardware store was looked over by most of today’s frenzied shoppers. As she entered the store, she noticed the handwritten
BROKEN
sign taped to the credit card machine. She casually asked the clerk if she would accept a check since the machine was out of service. The answer was yes, and the items on Madison’s list just grew significantly.

“Outstanding, Alex. Let’s get started.”

Madison began to walk towards the outdoor living area in search of a camping grill when she suddenly stopped to ask the clerk a question. “Do you have any generators?”

“We only have one left. It’s a Generac Tri-Fuel for six hundred eighty-nine dollars.”

“Tri-fuel?” asked Alex.

“Triple fuel,” replied the clerk, adding, “they operate on gasoline, electricity and propane.”

Madison didn’t hesitate. “We’ll take it. Set it aside for us, and add two tanks of propane too. Okay?”

“You got it,” replied the young woman.

Madison and Alex both grabbed a cart and hustled toward their lawn and garden department.

“Good job, Mom.”

“Why, thank you! Now, let’s find something more portable to cook on.” They found a Camp Chef modular cooking system that provided two burners. Madison added a Wenzel three-person tent to the cart, and then sent Alex back up front for another cart.

They moved through the store and quickly added items on the list, and a few that were not, including a variety of knives. She found an Eton Solar Crank emergency radio, several styles of flashlights, and batteries to power them all. She also grabbed a solar charger that could handle smartphones, iPads, flashlights and other electronic devices.

The last two items, which the girls had to carry, were ten-gallon galvanized trash cans with lids. A roll of 3M aluminum tape finished off her list.

“Mom, really?” asked Alex, holding them up in each hand. “Are we going
industrial
with our home décor?”

“Ha-ha, very funny.” Madison laughed. “When we get home, I’ll show you. Your beloved iPod will thank me as well.”

A helpful ACE hardware man, unlike the more modern, politically correct ACE hardware person, arrived on the scene to help them check out. He escorted them to the parking lot to assist with the loading of the generator and other items into their truck.

After he closed the deck lid, Madison thanked him and then asked, “Do you know where Nashville Gun and Knife is located? It’s supposed to be close by.”

“It is,” he answered, “but it’s closed. They stopped by here as they were going out of town.”

“Out of town?” asked Madison.

“Yeah, they have a place on the Cumberland Plateau. They’re gonna ride out this solar storm over there.”

“Aren’t you worried about it?” asked Alex.

“Young lady, the Hart family has lived here for nearly a century. I’m seventy-eight years old. I’m not goin’ anywhere, and neither is this hardware store. If somethin’ happens, then we’ll just set us up the Hart Family Trading Post.”

The three of them laughed and Alex spontaneously hugged the man. They smiled at each other and he slowly walked back inside with his hands in his pockets, looking around the exterior of the store with pride.

“Mom, what did you plan on buying at the gun store?” asked Alex as the two entered the truck.

“I was gonna give it a try. You know, buy a used gun
under the table, sort of.”

“It would’ve been worth a try.” Alex shrugged.

Madison was about to turn onto Harding Place, pleased with their haul, when she accelerated through the light instead.

“Hang on,” said Madison.

“Where are we going?”

“I’ve got an idea,” replied Madison, and she pulled into Phillips Toy Mart.

“Toys, really, Mom?” Alex started to thumb through her Facebook news feed.