THE COLLAPSE: Seeking Refuge by Frank Kaminski

Sometimes just one of them will, sometimes the other.  They have to find people that they can trust to watch over their ‘domain’ while they are absent.”
    “That makes sense,” Stephen agreed, nodding.
    “You should go see them.  Tomorrow.  Tonight if you have time.  They are doubled up at sites 17 and 18.  You’ll know when you’re there, trust me.”
    “Why them?  What’s the appeal?” Stephen asked.
    “You’ll see when you get there.  They’re very interesting people, to say the least.  If it’s information you want, Victor can get you all up to speed.  He’s a ham radio operator.  Don’t be surprised if you’re stuck there for a while. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!” Claudine chuckled.
    Stephen smiled and thanked Claudine for her time.  He was excited to hear that there was someone out there that could satisfy his information fix. 
    Before Claudine walked away, she told Stephen, “Don’t get your hopes up for any good news.  There isn’t any.  I don’t even bother asking Victor what’s going on anymore, it’s just too depressing.”
     
    *****
     
    While Carrie was at the three o’clock meeting, Tarra was still waiting for Julia to return for her son.  After she and Carrie had cleaned the kid up, he warmed up a bit more and played with the Kays in the small grassy area next to the RV pad. 
    Before Carrie had left for the meeting, Tarra had asked her about the two women, Sydney and Julia.  Tarra could tell that there was a lot more than what met the eye with those two, and she wanted the 4-1-1.  Carrie had laughed and asked Tarra a question.
    “Do you think they were really taking food out to their husbands at the gate?”
    “No,” Tarra answered.  “I’m not sure what they were up to, but I don’t think it was something that they wanted a three-year-old around.”
    “Exactly,” Carrie said.  Then she continued, “I’ll let you form your own impressions of people around The Park, but I will give you one fact.  Hal Hollingsworth is almost two decades older than Julia.  That’s all I am going to say.”
    “Oh, no.  I get it,” Tarra realized.
    “The sad thing is, Hal’s a really good guy.  I mean, a really good guy.  I like him, and he’s done a lot for The Park,” Carrie admitted.
    “Why doesn’t anybody tell him?” Tarra asked.
    “Nobody wants to break the poor guy’s heart.  I’m going to say something at the meeting today.  Not an outright accusation, but something that will put thoughts into his head.  Maybe he’ll dig up the truth on his own,” Carrie had said.
    And that’s exactly what Carrie had done while she was at the meeting.
    While Carrie was still away, Tarra had a visitor.  Not a visitor as in a new patient or a friendly guest, it was a frightening one.
    Larry Paulson was walking slowly past Carrie’s site.  He glared at Tarra as she sat at the picnic table watching her daughters play with the little boy in the grass.  When she had finally spotted him, he didn’t lift his gaze or turn away.  He just continued to watch her as he walked past Carrie’s RV, slowly, hands in his jacket pockets and a sneer upon his lips.  The guy gave Tarra the creeps!  She was afraid at first, but only for a moment.  She remembered that she had the shotgun inside Carrie’s RV.  Within three or four quick steps, she could have it in her arms.  Only if necessary, though.  Tarra was already aware of Larry’s temper and capacity for a confrontation.  But why would he be angry with her?  Because of Stephen, that’s why.  What better way to get underneath another man’s skin than to mess with his wife. 
    Tarra grew tired of his ugly stare and sarcastically called out, “Can I help you with something, sir?”
    Larry did not respond, he only continued his obnoxious leering.  He was almost completely past the site when he turned around and started walking back the other way.  “ Cripes, here we go again ,” Tarra thought.  She