Free American Revenant: Hometown Exodus by John L. Davis IV

with
them.  The thick briquettes they smashed up into smaller and smaller pieces
fine as pea gravel, and layered that on top of the sand two inches thick. 
Alternating layers of sand and finely smashed charcoal briquettes filled the
barrel over half way.  After running out of bagged charcoal they took large
blackened chunks left behind in the cold fire pit and broke those up. 
    Continuing this to the top they
filled the barrel.  They tested it with dark river water from the lagoon,
pouring buckets of water over the top of their sand and charcoal filter. 
Though it took a while, they soon had a full gallon of nearly perfectly clear
water.  This water they boiled over a fire for ten minutes, to ensure that no
organisms that could make them ill had gotten through the filter.
                    Gordy, Jack and Jimmy stood around the
filter, beaming from their accomplishment.  This would allow them to filter
several gallons of water per day for the group. 
                    Mike walked up to the men admiring their
handy-work.  “You guys make a water filter system?
                    “Yep,” Jimmy said, smiling, “sand and
charcoal, then boil the water for ten minutes.  Good to go for drinking after
that.”
                    “Oh hell yeah, that’s bad ass,” Mike said. 
“By the way, if you guys ever want to use this just let me know.”  Mike held up
the Katadyn camp water filtration system he always carried in his pack, and
laughed one of his big bellowing laughs.
                    The other three men only stared at him for a
moment, then began laughing along with him.  “You dick, you knew we were making
this thing.  Why didn’t you say something earlier?”
                    “And where would be the fun in that Jack? 
Plus, it works, saving this one for a time when we might really need it.”    
                    Several days went by, each day proving
productive for the group.  Camp was set, fish were caught, and water was
filtered.  Evenings were spent around a fire, talking, laughing, and enjoying
the company of friends and family. 
                    On the morning of the fourth day Jimmy,
Mike, and Gordy set out for the north end of the island.  They were looking for
the perfect spot to put up a platform, a crow’s nest in the trees to give them
a long vantage up the Mississippi.
                    “It’s only been four days here but everyone
seems to be settling in well,” Jimmy said as they picked their way through the
woods. 
                    “Yeah, maybe too well.  We all know that
this island is a great place to hide out from the nightmare going on out
there.”   As if to illustrate his point they heard gun shots far off in the
distance, from the direction of the tiny river town of Saverton.   “But I
really don’t think we can make this a long term stay.”
                    “It’s too easy to attack, difficult to
defend; especially with such a small group of people.  Am I right?” Mike asked.
                    “Yes, exactly right, Mike.”
                    “That’s what the river is for, keep the
zombies away.”
                    “It’s not the zombies I’m worried about,
Jimmy.  It’s the living, breathing bastards that have no respect for human life
that concern me.  Once they find us here, and they will find us, we’re
screwed.  Even setting up an early warning system won’t help much.  I’d say
that we have maybe a month on the outside to find a more secure place to move
to, as long as we keep our evening fire shielded from the shore.”
                    The men walked on in silence for a while,
stepping carefully through the thick woods.  Each man was lost in his own
thoughts, none of them pleasant.  They had hoped for a reprieve