Free Grid Attack (Cyber War #2) by Emerson Hawk

the pumps to run and they could allow people to have water and sewer service for at least a month after the power went out.
     
    That would give people a chance to come up with “alternate” plans for their sewage. They suggested that men go outside on the grass and that if at all possible, women catch their urine in a bucket and throw away the bathroom tissue after use.
     
    We did as much as we could to comply and since four of us were men, we just got used to going outside behind the garage to pee.
     
    The only thing that they decided to do differently, was to conserve water. Instead, they filled up each bathtub and as many containers as they could with water.
     
    The well wasn’t going to go dry anytime soon, but with winter coming on, the less they had to go out to the main well site to hand pump the water, the better.
     
    They decided that Evan and Carl would share one upstairs room, while Kat and Tony the other. If it got too cold, then everyone could make a bed down in front of the fireplace.
     
    Carol had complained because for years she wanted a wood burning insert in the fireplace because it would be so much more efficient, and would heat the entire house if needed.
     
    They just hadn’t gotten around to it yet, so the only thing available was a wood burning fireplace and not very much wood.
     
    The weather was starting to get really cold now, so Tony and the guys decided to go and hunt down some wood.
     
    Katherine, Carol and Albert kept busy by putting up things over the windows. They wanted to be able to see out, but not allow people to see in when it got dark. Even though they were in a small town, Katherine knew that eventually, there would probably be people that would migrate down to the area once they learned that the town was doing well enough.
     
    Katherine worried about those people who might come to take advantage of the seniors that lived throughout town.
     
    “How is Mrs. Graves doing?” Katherine asked her mom. Mrs. Graves was a neighbor across the street.
     
    “Actually, she is probably weathering this better than we are. She grew up in the country and when she was a girl, they didn’t have electricity yet. So she has already had to live life off the grid long before it was popular.” Carol quipped, getting a little giggle out of Katherine.
     
    Carol knew Katherine was having a hard time, but she was holding up okay and would be fine.
     
    Carol continued to share the local gossip as they found ways to insulate the windows with blankets and boards, leaving just enough of an opening to be able to peek outside if needed.
     
    “We did this at home for the month we were there.” Kat said. “It really helped to make the place look dark and un-lived in. From the outside you couldn’t tell we were there with a bunch of candles.”
     
    “What happened up there?” Carol asked, trying not to upset Katherine but her curiosity got the best of her.
     
    Kat paused and stared out the window she was just getting ready to cover.
     
    She quickly went through all the events that had changed her forever. Ernie dying, then Alice. The man she shot and they buried in the neighbors back yard. The men who were dressed as police shooting anyone who came out of their houses.
     
    There was nothing that made sense, other than people getting hurt and people doing bad things.
     
    “It was bad, mom. I’ll tell you all about it, but let’s do that later when we can sit and talk at dinner, okay? I really want to focus on getting things safe and prepared here.” Kat said as she refocused her attention on all the windows and doorways that were at any level that someone could break into easily.
     
    Katherine tried the best she could to put all of it out of her mind. But she knew it would take a while.
     
    She knew she probably wouldn’t be able to relax until things felt safe again. And who knew when that would