Free Nuclear War Club: Seven high school students are in detention when Nuclear War explodes.Game on, they are on their own. by Colt Triarii

adapt, improvise, and overcome. Once you survive the initial blast, there is no reason you can’t survive the fallout.” David said encouragingly.
    Doron shook his head in agreement with David. The others just stared, absorbing the idea.
    “Wasn’t the only official Government response to civilians for a nuclear attack to bend over, put your head between your legs, and kiss yourself goodbye?”
Karen thought. David was acting like they could actually survive.
    “We have at most a half an hour to get to some shelter before we get fallout. The fallout is radioactive and will kill you. It is radioactive debris that falls like dirty snowflakes,” David said.
    “We will not be getting any help as the rescuers could not face the fallout radiation for about two weeks.”
    “I drove my Dad’s truck to school today, its half a mile away . I am sure my Dad has survival gear in the truck box. We go hiking all the time, it has a Swiss water filter, a tent and sleeping bags. The backpacks are ready,” David said, pausing.
    Karen noticed David was looking each of them in the eye, assessing them. The same way her Dad did on a roundup.
    “You are all welcome to come, or you can stay here, and shelter under the debris” David said, evenly.
    “I’m in,” Zeke said steadily.
    “What’s not to like? If I have to be in a fallout shelter for two weeks, why not with three of the hottest girls in school? ” Doron asked. Zeke laughed, Liu just sighed. Karen did not laugh, her nerves were on edge.
    The instructor shook her head, and stayed at the kitchen.
    David and Zeke quickly climbed out and started hiking to the truck. Doron followed, Jorge hobbled behind.
    Karen moved behind the wall and put a kitchen knife inher boot, covering it with her sock. She caught Liu’s eyes and tossed her a knife, without saying anything. Liu nodded, then put the knife inside her belt.
    “The teacher’s not coming,” Karen said.
    “It’s her choice,” David said.
    Ashley followed David, but then hesitated, “I am sure my parents will send someone to pick me up,” she said.
    “Ashley, this is for real. No one is going to pick you up, this isn’t cheerleading practice . Stupidity has now become fatal,” Doron said, harshly.
    Karen saw David turn back, and shut Doron up with his glare.
    Ashley stared at Doron, uncomprehendingly, then burst into tears.
    “Ashley, no one is coming for at least two weeks,” David said gently.
    “Your parents would want you to be safe. Come with us, we will be fine until your parents can come. You carry Jorge’s backpack,” David said, handing it to her.
    “OK,” Ashley said distractedly, as her hand trembled below her nose. She looked at David, then following Karen.
    Karen was impressed with David. He seemed a natural leader. She knew that without him they would be entombed in the collapsed building. She couldn’t believe how he had calmed Ashley down, and given her a task to focus on. He exuded confidence and competence, and he had a plan.
    But she didn’t trust him. She checked to be sure her knife was still in her boot.

15
    They walked silently, in single file, through the football practice field. Most of the upper level cement bleachers were crushed, but the pile of debris was still recognizable. The collapsed concrete bleachers oriented the boundary of the practice field, which was covered with debris blown horizontally.
    “Stay away from the small puddles, it’s molten metal,” David warned. The small pools had a hardened, crusted, layer but still glowed red hot, like lava.
    “Don’t breathe the smoke from the puddles, it will burn your lungs. Use your shirt as a cowboy mask. Stay upwind, not downwind,” David said, pointing the wind direction blowing the concrete dust.
    “Focus, focus,” David screamed to himself. Intellectually, he knew no one could survive above ground, but, emotionally, he hoped he would find a survivor. Zeke seemed to freak out every time he recognized the tackling