I gave them a brief description of what Isaac had told us about his experience, and then what we’d learned from Hosea, leaving out that 90 percent statistic that I still couldn’t believe was accurate. There was no reason to terrify people unnecessarily. “The grid won’t be back up for a long time, potentially years. People are going to be coming from the cities and eventually, some of the towns,” I said. “We’ve seen foot traffic pick up quite a bit. Right now, it seems like folks heading specific places—namely to family—but I’d imagine that soon it will simply be people escaping hopeless situations. Like Emily said, the stores are emptied out by now. In a few weeks, most pantries will be dry. I don’t know about everywhere, but in these parts, farms will eventually be in possession of the last of the food. And that eventuality is fast approaching if it’s not here already.”

Jane took Tom’s hand between them, and the three boys moved closer to where we were seated.

“Your chickens will become more precious than gold. I’d work with neighbors you trust to have them guarded around the clock. I’d also gather your neighbors and form a perimeter. Moving as many of your garden plants inside and starting to preserve seeds. Families will come here looking for help. There’ll be children, and babies. You’ll have to turn them away because if you don’t, your own family will die. Some won’t ask, some will be prepared to take, and you’ll have to be ready for that too.”

Tom glanced at his sons and then met my eyes. “We have ammunition.”

“Are you ready to shoot a hungry mother who’s trying to feed her toddler or a child the same age of one of your sons?”

Jane let out a small sound of distress, and Tom scrubbed a hand down his face. “I’m not telling you what you have to do—I’m only telling you to be prepared.”

Jane gave a jerky nod. “Yes. We understand.”

“How soon do you estimate?” the oldest boy named Uriah asked.

“Isaac was among the first to leave the city. He was alone and kept moving. If you’d been on his route, he’d already be to you.”

“We’ve seen some travelers out on the road, and a few have come this way, which is why Kyler was on the porch watching for trespassers when he spotted you. But…”