The Day The Lights Went Out: In The Beginning

By Terrence Aubrey

Inexplicably the City of Phoenix, Arizona, is plunged into darkness at four AM the twenty third of November, two thousand and thirteen.
A small group of power workers from Phoenix Power, the sole suppliers of power for the city of Phoenix work through the night. They are faced with a mystery, nothing is down or broken, in fact everything is as it should be.
Phoenix is effectively plunged into chaos, there is no functioning communication. Paul Sanderson, the plant manager despatches six technicians to investigate the situation further afield. Using the plants powerful BMW motorbikes he sends four of his men elsewhere in Arizona, New River, Apache Junction, Buckeye and Gilbert. This was the only means of knowing how widespread the power outage was. For good measure he despatches a further two of his technicians further afield, one to El Paso, Texas and one to Pueblo, Colorado.
The news that the technicians bring back is worrying. All four of the chosen towns within Arizona are without electricity and equally there is no physical or logical reason why this should be.
Even more bizarrely they discover that vehicle lights will not function, even whilst vehicles fire up normally, competelty illogical.
It is decided that a small group of them should set off in convoy to investigate further afield the mystery. Girlfriends, ex girlfriends and a dog included.
Rapidly they give up the cause, something inexplicable has taken place. Realising that without power life within America was about to change dramatically, they change the nature of their mission.
They head south to Florida with the intention of setting up a farm. They effectively become a group of survivalists.

Unknown to them a small, but powerful group of military commanders to the south have declared martial law. They are increasing convinced that the power has been intentionally turned off!
As they drive south the situation deteriorates rapidly and they encounter increasing military road blocks.
Out of the blue, a young and extraordinarily gifted girl joins them, pairing up with their sole fellow traveller without a partner.
Eventually they encounter an army road block and discover the untruth’s that the armed forces have been fed.
A mutiny begins that slowly spreads in the hills of New Mexico. One afternoon, after Paul and their new recruit take a break from helping the soldiers in mutiny, she tells Paul the nature of the problem.
“The plug has been pulled on Man kind’s folly, she tells him and it will not be put back in!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Terrence Aubrey
• Release date: Sep 14, 2012
• ISBN: 9781621543176

Terrence Aubrey

Terrence Aubrey was born in Bristol, England, the only son of a Ballet dancer mother and composer father. Rebellious of nature and from an early age, he abandoned his education at the earliest possible moment, fifteen. He showed no inclination of following in the artistic footsteps of his parents during his formative years. Preferring a self enlightening process, he set off upon an adventure that led him to experiment with understanding the mind and the development of self awareness. During that period he enjoyed extensive World travel across the countries of Europe, the America's, north and south and the FSU. He found those travels, enriching, mind opening and educational and in equal measure. He discovered both a passion and love of writing by chance, while establishing a website. It was a website than required a lot of varied content. That ultimately led him to the writing of many articles upon diverse subjects. That in turn led to him creating a blog. The leap from blogging to writing full length novels was a gradual process. Many of his novels reflect his environmental concern for the way we, the human race have evolved and the consequences that path has led us towards. Whilst many of his novels are dramatic, even apocalyptic, they also show a way forward. Whether you believe that way to be better or worse than the current status quo is for you to decide. Terrence Aubrey currently lives on a farm in southern Spain and cultivates Avocados. He has four sons, three dogs and writes. He has now published several works of fiction and they can be found on Smashwords.

Book preview

The Day the Lights Went Out.

In the beginning

Book 1

Terrence Aubrey

Copyright © 2013 Terrence Aubrey.

All rights reserved worldwide.

All contents copyright 2013 by Terrence Aubrey

Warning sexually explicit

This book is not suitable for people under 18 years of age.

All rights reserved. No part of this document or the related files may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the Author and publisher.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction, an invention on the part of the author. All names, characters and places used within this trilogy have been invented, from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, places or localities is completely coincidental.

ISBN 978-1-62154-317-6

About the Author

Terrence Aubrey was born in Bristol, England, the only son of a Ballet dancer mother and composer father. Rebellious of nature and from an early age, he abandoned his education at the earliest possible moment, fifteen. He showed no inclination of following in the artistic footsteps of his parents during his formative years.

Preferring a self enlightening process, he set off upon an adventure that led him to experiment with understanding the mind and the development of self awareness. During that period he enjoyed extensive World travel across the countries of Europe, the America’s, north and south and the FSU. He found those travels, enriching, mind opening and educational and in equal measure.

He discovered both a passion and love of writing by chance, while establishing a website. It was a website than required a lot of varied content. That ultimately led him to the writing of many articles upon diverse subjects. That in turn led to him creating a blog. The leap from blogging to writing full length novels was a gradual process.

Many of his novels reflect his environmental concern for the way we, the human race have evolved and the consequences that path has led us towards. Whilst many of his novels are dramatic, even apocalyptic, they also show a way forward. Whether you believe that way to be better or worse than the current status quo is for you to decide.

Terrence Aubrey currently lives on a farm in southern Spain and cultivates Avocados. He has four sons, three dogs and writes. He has now published several works of fiction and they can be found on Smashwords.com

Synopsis

Can you imagine life on earth without electricity? Wednesday the twenty third of November, two thousand and sixteen was the day the lights went out in Phoenix Arizona. At a stroke it plunged the city into chaos. If that was not enough, illogically, cell phones also ceased to function, but that was only the beginning of the unfolding mystery. Initially it was assumed that the loss of power was a local problem and affecting only Phoenix. It would be quiet so time before anyone would realise just how widespread the loss of power was.

Paul Sanderson, the Director of Phoenix Power, the sole suppliers of electricity for Phoenix had sent his engineers out find an explanation for the power outage, nothing was either damaged, or broken. He then sent six of his engineers further afield in an attempt to discover the reasons for the power failure and how widespread the power failure extended.

The news they came back with was disturbing in the extreme. The entire state of Arizona was without power and worse, so was Texas and Colorado. That was not what Paul Sanderson found worrying, no, it was something far more illogical, nothing was either broken or damaged.

After discussing the situation with his colleagues it was decided to assemble a convoy. He, together with three of his engineers would search further afield for an explanation to the inexplicable phenomenon.

The convoy began to encounter, or pass increasing numbers of heavily armed military convoys. The soldiers they saw were grim faced and the convoys seemed to be heading every which way. What the hell was happening?

It wasn’t long before Paul and his team gave up looking for a tangible explanation. Their mission changed and became increasingly perilous; they became a group of survivalists, their destination Florida.

As they travelled south they encountered increasing military activity. While they had no clue as to what the Army’s mission was, it became increasingly apparent that it was nothing good. In many ways the small group of power workers knew more than most. They realised that they had a moral obligation to share their knowledge and as a consequence found themselves caught up in what was fast becoming a civil war.

Book one in this series covers their increasingly perilous journey south and the gradual breakdown of civilisation across the southern states of America.

Prologue

Tuesday, twenty second of November, two thousand and sixteen

Angie was pleased to be home, the weather was unseasonably hot and humid in Phoenix, Arizona. Angie had experienced a particularly trying day at the department store where she worked as head of the customer service department. She stripped off and headed straight for the shower hoping to wash away some of the built up tension that she had felt developing throughout the day.

To some extent it worked and toweling herself dry in front off the full length mirror felt happy with what she saw, Angela was in good shape. She’d been taking good care of herself the past two years. Whilst mentally she’d fallen to pieces she worked off just about all of her excess fat. At five foot nine, she was now slim, toned, with small but pert breasts and a firm almost muscular stomach and butt. She had recently changed her hairstyle and now wore her light brown hair quite short. It complimented her impish beauty and big brown eyes. She found an old shirt she liked to wear about the house and some white panties. Then, taking an ice cold beer from the fridge sprawled out on her comfortable Sofa.

She was pleasantly surprised when Sandy knocked and entered, Sandy was her closest friend and they had exchanged keys to each other’s apartments a year or so back. Angie rose to give her a welcoming embrace,

You look hot and bothered, she noticed, would you like a beer?

I’d love one, I had to work on and help with some stock taking; can I use your shower too?

Of course you can and you know you don’t need to ask, I’ll find you some dry towels. Angie went to find a bath towel as Sandy stripped off.

At five ten Sandy was an inch taller than Angie, though they shared similar slender and well toned figures, both of them blessed with pert breasts and firm buttocks. The fact that they played squash twice a week and sometimes three had a lot to do with it.

Angie and Sandy had met at the department store, ‘Sanders and Platt’ and had hit it off, practically from day one, they were now almost inseparable. Whist Angie was one year older than Sandy, she deferred to her and trusted in her advice and guidance. Sandy was simply wiser and better able to share her wisdom, both simply and articulately.

Angie had moved to Phoenix, Arizona nearly four years previously. Until that time she had lived with her parent’s in Spokane, Washington.

Angie had applied for and had been offered the job of running the customer service department at ‘Sanders and Platt’ and had jumped at the chance.

She had reached that point in life of needing to spread her wings. Her long standing boyfriend had become more of a habit than a lover and there was a big wide World just waiting to be explored. Angie had been lucky; everything had fallen into place and with almost zero effort. She’d found a nice and affordable apartment quite close to her work, had met a nice guy that she really liked, enjoyed the warmer climate and the sunshine and then had gone to pieces!

She still didn’t understand exactly why, but in retrospect viewed it as part of her maturing and developing as a person. Somewhere in the middle of that difficult time she had met Sandy and she had really helped her to get herself and her priorities sorted out.

Sandy excited the bathroom wrapped in a towel and Angie passed her one of the short Japanese kimonos that she liked to wear when relaxing.

Whilst they shared a body type, there the similarities ended. Sandy had green eyes, long and straight dark hair and perhaps a hint of Mediterranean heritage. Sandy hung up the towel, donned the kimono and joined Angie on the sofa.

So, how was your day? She asked Angie as she reached for her can of beer

Difficult, Angie replied. Why do the customers vent their anger and fury at me?

Because that is your job, Sandy replied reasonably. It’s why they pay you almost twice as much as they pay me. You are the front line, the public face of Saunders and Platt and that is the job you took, remember?

Angie knew all of that really, but sometimes it just got to her. When she’d started the job Sanders and Platt had been an up market department store. Sadly slowly, slowly, that had changed. In order to compete they had started stocking and selling more or less the same Chinese products as all the other big department stores. As a consequence her workload had gradually increased.

She was entering the fourth year of working for them and had to admit that in general, she quite liked her work. Angie had made a new life for herself and made new friends. She glanced at Sandy, now her best friend. It had been Sandy that had helped her to turn her life around.

Yes of course you are right, she said giving Sandy a hug. Do you want to stay overnight? Angie asked. They often stayed over in each other’s apartments.

Sounds good, Sandy stretched languidly. I feel nice and cosy right now.

Have you eaten yet?

No, Sandy admitted, and I fancy a snack They put something together between them. A French Omelet, a side salad of tomato, cucumber, lettuce and Swiss cheese, a dressing and a few slices of whole meal bread. Angie opened a bottle of red wine and put on her favorite Coldplay CD, one of their early ones. They eat in silence, enjoying each other’s company and the moment.

They watched a movie after supper and snuggled up together. It was an old one ‘Brave Heart’, enjoyed each others company, the movie and the moment.

I’m off to bed, Angie announced as the movie finished.

I’ll join you, Sandy agreed as she stretched her self contentedly. They climbed into Angela’s big and comfortable bed and Angie set her electronic alarm for six thirty AM. They snuggled up together feeling good, Angie soon drifted into sleep enjoying Sandy’s caress and feeling that the World was as it should be.

Chapter one

Day one 23-11-2013

Angie awoke with a start from the noise of blaring car horns rising from the street below and glanced at her clock, the dial was blank. She fumbled for her watch on the bedside table, seven fifteen! Oh shit she thought. She woke Sandy and like a Whirling Dervish flew through her morning ritual. She skipped breakfast and was out of her front door in ten minutes flat and into complete chaos!

What the heck! Traffic was backed up every which way and for as far as she could see. Okay, scrub the bus I’ll catch the metro she decided quickly and set off at a brisk pace for the nearest metro station. Fortunately she lived quite close to the Department Store, but she was not in the habit of walking to work. It didn’t take Angie long to reach the Metro station. A crowd was gathered and a policeman was barring the entrance, she forced her way to the front of the mob.

Sorry miss, the Metro is out of action right now, she was told by the young policeman. So are the traffic lights she realised, glancing around, hence the chaotic traffic jams.

Angie was now not so far from the department store and realised that if she set herself a brisk pace should not be late at all. Now feeling more awake, Angie took in the scene and could barely believe what she was seeing. The traffic was stacked up every which way she looked and many of the cars had been abandoned. What the hell is going on today, she wondered as she set herself a brisk pace.

In the four years that Angie had worked at the store she had never been late for work, it was something she prided herself upon and despite her unusual start to the day she was determined that today would not be an exception.

She need not have bothered, when she turned the corner she saw that all of the staff of Saunders and Platt were gathered outside of the store on the sidewalk. As Angie reached the edge of the crowd Angie saw that the security guys trying to get the entrance doors open.

What’s going on? she asked the guy next to her.

Power cut, right across the city and the phones are out as well, she was told. Of course she realised suddenly becoming fully awake, that’s why my alarm failed and the traffic is such a mess.

The security guys did not seem to be having much luck. The doors were strongly made, reinforced sliding triple glazed doors. At least I’m not late she thought to herself. She looked around to see if Sandy had arrived, there was no sign of her. Sandy actually got away with murder, she was constantly late but her lateness was tolerated because she was brilliant at what she did. She worked in the women’s wear department, was allowed to wear whatever they were selling and was a walking advertisement. She also was a natural with the customers and if something did not look right she told them straight, then helped the customer find just the right item.

Sandy didn’t know it, but she outsold all the other salespersons twice over. One of the senior partners arrived and was immediately engrossed in an intense conversation with the security guards. Clearly a decision had been taken as the security guards immediately began to usher the staff back from the doors, way back she thought and then she saw why. An excavator had been summoned from the nearby road works and began backing up to the doors. Angie realised that they’d asked the digger driver to use his back hoe to smash the entrance.

I don’t believe what I’m seeing here, this is turning into a very strange day, Angie thought, as she watched. The machine reversed itself up to the doors, extended its back hoe and smashed the reinforced glass doors; she wished she’d had a camera. After the mess of broken glass was cleaned up the staff was eventually allowed to enter and that for Angie and most certainly for everyone else was the beginning of the chaos.

There was no electricity, zero, no lights, no functioning cash tills, no computers, nothing. Smashing into the store was in fact a complete waste of time; the entire business was electricity dependent in every department!

After a hastily convened meeting the staff were sent home and told to await further instructions. This is a seriously strange day, she thought, as she walked back home past traffic jams that seemed even more chaotic than earlier. She met Sandy strolling to work and in no hurry when she was halfway home and explained the situation.

Great a day off, I’m going to enjoy the Sun from my terrace, come and join me if you like.

Maybe later, do you want a coffee first, Angie asked?

Great, sounds good, Sandy said. The traffic pile up had not improved at all, as they walked to Angie’s apartment. In fact it was if anything worse, dozens of cars had now been abandoned. The drivers had clearly decided to walk to work. They stopped to ask a traffic cop why the traffic had been allowed to stack up.

The phones are down and by the time we had been summoned it was too late, the city center was in chaos but we are getting there, the friendly Cop told them. Luckily Angie had a gas cooker and she set the coffee going.

I like your outfit. Angie complimented Sandy, only just taking it in. It was simple, yet stylish, a tight fitting white vest, a short pleated skirt and sandals and she looked great. I’m glad the stores closed, Jasmine said, I wasn’t looking forward to trying to sell it. On an overweight person with large breasts and thick thighs it would look pretty gross, so thumbs up for the power cut.

They sat and chatted over coffee for a while, until Sandy headed back to her apartment and Sun terrace.

Don’t forget to come and join me. Sandy reminded Angie as she left. Angie felt what was for her, an unusual indecisiveness. She decided to call her ex, Paul the head technician for the local power company. He had been on her mind quite a lot in recent months. Maybe this would be as good a chance as she was likely to get to reintroduce her self to him? She had split up with him over two years ago and he had been in her thoughts a little too much to be healthy of late. This is it, make it or break it, she told herself.

At the time of their split up she had been in a state, something she had only recently realised and her memories of their time together were fond ones. There was no signal; her mobile was as dead as yesterday’s newspaper, it showed a zero battery reading. Ok I’ll walk; it’s only six blocks Angie decided.

Angie began to feel nervous as she drew closer to the huge power complex where Paul worked; she had dumped him with little notice and zero explanation. Ok, she now realised that at that time her head was in a mess, but Paul didn’t know that did he! Well depending upon how they got on maybe she could explain that fact to him. Angie was conscious that she could see no lights, none at all at the power plant; surely the offices should be lit up, shouldn’t they?

Angie was in luck Paul was in his office, even better, he was alone, she saw through the half glass door. He looked as handsome as she remembered him, six foot one tall. He must be thirty four now, she realised, but still well built and yet, and yet what exactly, she asked herself? Paul saw her and smiled that crooked smile that she used to love.

Hi, come in Angie, long time no see, he said on seeing her. Paul was as affable and gracious as ever Angie remembered. Why did I dump him, Angie asked herself for the umpteenth time in recent weeks?

Sorry I did not answer your messages, Angie offered, as a strange and feeble greeting.

No problem, Paul replied and I guess I know why you have come to see me now. She suddenly felt small and dirty, but that disappeared as he embraced her in a gentle bear hug that she remembered so well.

What’s happening Paul, Angie eventually asked?

I wish knew, was the less than certain answer she had hoped for, as a reply.

You don’t know either?Angie said, surprised.

None of us know right now, Paul explained. The power is down and we don’t know why. Neither do we know how widespread this problem is. All communication has ceased, we have sent six fast motorbikes to six cities to try to find out what is going on.

Motor bikes, why motor bikes, email them. Angie then realised the stupidity of what she was saying.

We really have no form of communication Paul? Just how widespread is this problem, Angie asked, beginning to feel a little more concerned.

Right now I know really as much as you, it could be local, or it could be affecting a wider area. That’s why we sent the bikes out, for all we know it might be affecting the whole state.

The whole state, Angela sat down, do you know what you are saying Paul? If the power has been knocked out across the whole state how do we communicate with anyone let alone people halfway across the country? Angie shivered a little, despite the heat.

Calm down, Paul said reassuringly, we know nothing yet, this could well be a localized problem.

Why had she dumped him, was she stupid? Angie asked herself. He was masculine and yet gentle, good looking and yet unaware of it and right now he was just what she needed!

The realization, that just about everything that she had assumed and presumed that the entire mechanics of the modern World was dependent upon this one ingredient, electricity had a humbling affect. Angela had assumed, presumed, probably the same as everyone else that it was a given, a certainty. She knew all about the latest must have mobile phone, but just like everyone else, knew more or less nothing about how the damned thing worked and what it was dependent upon! Angie felt stupid, seriously stupid.

Angie was enjoying Paul’s company. She felt safe with this guy who was carefully, meticulously and logically going through the process of elimination to discover the real magnitude of the loss of electricity. He was not expecting the riders dispatched to the neighboring cities to return for some time, so invited Angie, as he had always liked to call her, for lunch. Angie readily agreed, feeling better with this methodical, practical and calm guy.

Paul suggested a nearby Italian Restaurant which Angie agreed to; in truth she would have agreed to anything Paul suggested right then, if only he had known. It was closed; there was a sign on the door that said "sorry closed due to electrical power malfunction". At first Paul frowned, but then he burst into laughter, a contagious laughter that Angie picked up and for five minutes they were hopelessly and almost hysterically consumed.

Would you like a sandwich instead? Paul eventually managed to articulate and they were off again, laughing at the abrupt but very real change of reality that they now faced. They found a sandwich bar at about the same time as they both overcame their fits of laughing. As often happens, once they’d recovered, they both became serious, very serious.

Paul just supposing this power outage is not just a local thing, what if the whole state is down?

Listen, he said, the bikes should be back in an hour or two, let’s save these speculations and concerns until we know, ok? Angie could not help to see the creases that appeared on Paul’s forehead.

They finished their sandwiches and sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they nursed their Luke warm mineral waters. Paul spotted a truck full of soldiers appear, come to help out, he assumed. Let’s head back to my office; Paul suggested eventually, some of the bikes might be back."

Where did you send them? Angie asked, breaking out of her private speculation.

All over, New River, Apache Junction, Buckeye, Gilbert, El Paso Texas and Pueblo Colorado, he told her.

El Paso Texas and Pueblo Colorado. You are checking out of state as well? They won’t be back for days. Angie said, thinking out loud.

No but the riders from Gilbert and Buckeye might be, he replied, as they strolled back to the power plant.

Sure enough a big and powerful BMW motorbike was parked in the car park next to Paul’s office. Angie felt a little nervous on entering the office where one of the dispatched riders was relaxing on the sofa.

Hi Paul and hello Angie, long time no see. It was Ron, one of the few of Paul’s workmates that she had gotten to know.

What’s the story in Gilbert, Ron? Paul asked getting straight to the point.

The same as here, Ron replied, all power went down at four A.M. this morning and just like us they have no clue why, nothing is visibly broken. Paul sat down as he absorbed this information and I’ll tell you something we overlooked, gas, Ron said, breaking into Paul’s thoughts. I was lucky and managed to buy a can full, just enough to get back here, but the gas stations are all out!" Shit thought Paul, why didn’t I think of that.

The guys that picked the long straws and the long trips to El Paso and Pueblo are going to have to beg, steal and borrow gas to get there and back again. Ron pointed out, as he wandered off in search of something to eat. Paul became thoughtful.

How much money do you have on deposit at your bank, he asked her?

About fifteen thousand dollars that I can access right now, why? Angie asked.

Ok, I have no idea what is going down here, but its time we made some contingency plans, let’s take out as much money from our Banks as we can.

Paul the powers down, how can they access our deposits? Listen you have some recent Bank Statements at home right? Let’s go get them and see what we can do.

They walked; the chaos on the roads within Phoenix was too bad even to consider using Paul’s powerful Bike. They called in to Paul’s local Bank upon the way, a smallish branch of Bank of America and luckily it was empty, clearly few people had considered the full implications of a powerless city.

I want to withdraw twenty five thousand dollars from my checking account. Paul told the young cashier.

Sorry sir, but the power is down and we cannot access your details. The young cashier pointed out.

Yes I realise that and that is why I have brought my deposit book. You will see that I have thirty four thousand dollars credit here. Equally you will see that I have drawn no new cheques from this account in the last two weeks. I need to take out the twenty five thousand dollars today; I’m off to visit my mother in Tucson, he added, pressing his case.

Just one moment sir, I will have to check with my manager, this is all a bit unusual. John the deputy manager recognised Paul immediately.

What’s happening with the power, he asked.

We had some major problems last night, but we’re working on it, Paul lied, unwillingly to admit that he had no clue.

How much longer do you think we are we going to be without power, the deputy manager asked?

Like I say we have some serious problems, (like we have no fucking clue about what’s going on, he thought to himself), but we are throwing all the staff we have at it, he replied truthfully.

Well Paul it’s a little unusual, but so is having no power. Under the circumstances I think we can release you twenty five thousand. You are off to visit your mother in Tucson? He asked, Yep, said Paul, just as soon as we fix the power problem, he again lied, pre guessing the deputy managers unspoken question.

So far so good, they both agreed, as they walked out of the bank.

How long have you been with your bank? Paul asked.

About seven years, Angie told him and remembered her move to Phoenix, Arizona, from the city of Spokane, Washington her home for the first twenty four years of her life. Both her Mother and Father had tried to talk her out of it, but equally they knew the she was a strong willed daughter. If she wanted to make the move, then she most definitely would. Equally, they had to admit that she would be earning far more in Phoenix than she could hope to in Spokane. Why Phoenix Arizona they had asked her? Why not, had been her atypical response? Angie was conscious that she hadn’t visited them for quite a while.

They reached her apartment after a very strange walk across the city. The roads were still clogged with traffic, largely due to the fact that hundreds of people had abandoned their cars. Presumably to walk to wherever they were going and leaving the police with the job of towing them away. It was clearly going to be quiet some time before the roads would be clear.

Angie quickly found the paperwork she needed.

Do you mind waiting while I take a quick shower and change I’m still in my work outfit, she shouted from the bedroom.

Go right ahead he shouted back. When she returned she was wearing a well cut blue skirt, white sneakers and a tight fitting white vest. Paul could not help but notice that she seemed to have given up on bra’s and was surprised at how attractive he found her; it was quite some time since he’d last seen her.

You’re looking good, he complemented her, how do you keep so fit?

Squash, two or three times a week with Sandy, a friend from work, plus a healthy diet," she told him.

Paul, she asked as they walked around the corner to her local bank, why actually do we need so much money, what have you got in mind?

Right now not a lot, he replied, but if this carries on for much longer accessing money could become a real problem, everyone will want cash.

Hello Angela, Hazel the cashier greeted her as they entered Angie’s bank. What a day, I don’t even know why I’m here, there’s not a lot I can do here without power.

Angie frowned, listen I need to take some cash from my checking account. Hazel was shaking her head.

Sorry, but I cannot access your account details.

Yes, I thought of that, Angie responded, so I brought my deposit book, copying Paul’s technique, it worked for him! She produced her deposit book.

Look I have just over fifteen thousand dollars and no new cheque’s drawn on this account for the past three weeks and I only want to take out ten thousand dollars, Angie told her persuasively.

Ok, let me just check with the Manager, Hazel said over her shoulder, before walking towards the offices at the rear of the Bank. She returned with a smile.

You are in luck, the manager knows you and told me to go right ahead, she told Angela, counting out ten thousand dollars. Angie walked out of the Bank feeling like a Bank robber.

Ok, we’ve now got a bunch of cash between us, now what? Angie asked Now we need to find a cafe and catch up on each other, he replied with a smile.

Paul it’s five thirty and in an hour it will be getting dark. Why don’t we check your office, some more of the bikes might have returned?

Yes that makes sense, he agreed, so they retraced their steps. The police seemed to be making some headway and in some places the roads were a little less jumbled. Paul stopped to chat with a cop he recognised.

When are you guys going to fix the power, he was asked We’re working on it, Paul lied for the second time