Apocalypse Drift by Joe Nobody Page A

running or being chased.” Wyatt swept his arm around the house, “Who needs all this stuff anyway?” He paused for a moment and used his best salesman’s voice. “As far as I’m concerned, we are taking this step to purge all these petty material distractions from our relationship. We want to concentrate on our love for each other and experience more of nature and the great outdoors.”
    Morgan burst into hysterics. She tried to contain herself, but couldn’t. Wyatt’s feigned hurt look didn’t help her efforts. After a few attempts, she finally managed to blurt out the words “Horse feathers,” and then it was Wyatt’s turn to lose it.
    A good hearty laugh seemed to brighten both their moods. Morgan looked her husband in the eye and smiled. “Do you love me?”
    Wyatt’s look was just as genuine. “I do. With all my heart, I do.”
    Morgan enjoyed their connection for a moment before raising her cup in a toast. “Let’s do it then.” Wyatt touched his cup to hers with a loud clink, and then they kissed.

    AP Press Release –New York, New York – U.S.A. 08:00 February 2, 2017
    Today, Moody Investments Limited announced a downgrade on US government debt. Effective immediately, US issued treasury bonds will carry a B- rating, lowered from a previous grade B assessment. A quote from Moody’s senior manager cited the continued economic stagnation and the federal government’s inability to reduce the deficit as the justification for the change.
    This is the third downgrade of the once bellwether bonds that has occurred in the last six years.
    Analysts anticipated the move since the US debt topped $19 trillion last week, and efforts to reduce spending stalled in Congress.
    Thurmond Howell, senior analyst at Bork, Sterns and Lewis, stated, “This move is going to make it even more expensive for the federal government to borrow money. The international financial markets are becoming more agitated over the staggering amount of US debt. Fiscal stimulus measures have failed, while entitlement programs have grown.”
    The announcement is expected to result in further downward pressure on the Dow Industrial Average, which has already lost more than 300 points in the last three trading sessions.
    In related news, the US Department of Commerce reported yesterday that core inflation rose to a level of 4.4% for the fourth quarter of 2016. This news was welcomed by European stock exchanges in late trading, as analysts there feared the Federal Reserve’s polices were artificially suppressing inflation.
     
    Houston, Texas
    February 2, 2017
     
    Wyatt had been on the computer practically all day. H e picked up the pad of paper resting next to the keyboard and leaned back, causing the chair to squeak. “I should’ve put that in the description,” he thought. Yesterday, after reaching their decision to live on the boat, Morgan spent her day off inventorying household items. The couple had categorized every nightstand, blender, and knickknack to be sold, given away, or stored. They had gone to bed, emotionally and physically exhausted.
    After this morning’s coffee, Wyatt immediately began listing the items to be peddled on various online auction sites. Even though Saturday garage sales were a regular occurrence, he was surprised at the sheer number of items that still occupied their home. He also needed to make the rounds to the local charity drop-off, used furniture store, pawnshop, and Sage’s apartment to distribute boxes of items that were unmarketable on the World Wide Web.
    Wyatt glanced at his watch and whistled. For the last ten hours, he had taken pictures, typed in descriptions, and set prices. Sites like eBay, Craigslist, and other internet based secondhand portals were all familiar territory now.
    On one hand, Wyatt was impressed with how much cash they could potentially raise. Going from a nicely furnished, four-bedroom home, to the bare essentials required for onboard living was a massive undertaking. The