Second Harvest

"Is everyone okay?"

After getting assurances from everyone, Roy stumbled in the dark until he found a kerosene lamp and lit it. He peered into the dust-filled space and saw everyone was unhurt.

"Are we trapped in here Roy?" asked Abe.

"For the moment, yes."

Billy whined. "How are we going to get out Roy? I don't like it in here, its dark."

"Roy, please tell me you have a plan?"

Roy looked into Sara's eyes. "I'm working on it, okay? You remain here. I'm going to check on the damage. The ceiling collapsed and I don't want anyone to get hurt. So, just wait. I'll be right back."

"Roy?"

"What is it, Abe?"

"Can I go with you?"

"No, stay and protect your family. This won't take me long."

Roy set the lamp down and grabbed another. After lighting it, he walked into the dust-filled darkness heading back toward the tunnel entrance. The Johansson's watched Roy and his lamp disappear. About twenty minutes later, Roy returned and carried several filled canning jars.

"Well, we have water and some food. The tunnel is blocked about ten maybe fifteen feet from the door. Dirt is piled from ceiling to floor."

"How are we going to get out Roy?"

"I'm not sure yet Billy, but I'm thinking about it."

"We're buried alive aren't we Roy?"

"Now Abe, stop that. You're just going to upset your brother. In fact, take your brother and fill the canteens at the spring."

Abe resisted at first. "Come on Billy; let's go so the adults can talk."

"That kid is just too darn smart."

"Well, thanks, Roy, but he's learned to be a man before he had time to grow up." Sara sounded irritated and defensive.

"It was a compliment, Sara."

"Oh. So, what's your plan?"

"In a couple of days, folks from town are going to see we aren't coming around. I'm hoping they'll come out here looking for us."

"That's your big plan Roy? That could take weeks. We won't survive."

Roy moved away and sat on the ground with his back to the opposite wall. He wanted to think. Sara could see Roy was trying, but he did not know what to do.

Sara sat down next to Roy and took his hand. "Roy, I think we should pray."

"Pray to God, Sara? He doesn't give a hoot about me. You only need to look in my family cemetery and see that God hasn't ever cared about me or my family."

"Well, Roy, we need a miracle, and as far as I know, only God can perform them."

"Don't waste your breath Sara." Roy paused, but continued. "Tell me something; how can you believe in God? You've lost your husband, you've been beaten, raped, miscarried a child and now your farm is in ruins. What kind of God allows that to happen? I've watched my best friend die, killed more men than I want to think about in a war that made no sense. I watched a man beat the crap out of a woman just for sex, and I bashed his head in to stop him. He's dead too. In my opinion, God doesn't exist-at least not in my life."