Trepidation | Trepidation Trilogy | The Empty World Sequence

Thirteen

They reached Szczecin, called Stettin across the border in Germany, where the Oder river broke into Stettin Lagoon along the Baltic Sea, within few days of leaving Choszczno. There, they found a formal camping site and were allotted space not far from the lagoon. Seeing the place, the group decided they would settle down for at least a few days.

      It was lovely, evergreen forests thinned out by use, but still tall and fresh smelling. Combined with the sea air, it was cool and invigorating. Delicious, Danjel thought, waking up in either tent or trailer, to breathe the crisp air and stretch in cleaned sheets. Everything had been washed in the river and hung from trees to dry. Karina had found more plants to collect. Alaric had found a designated hunting area within short ride, so that they had venison or hossenfeffer spiced with fresh herbs.

      Elaborate renovation of Merideth and Alaric's old trailer was underway. Most of the large appliances had been ripped out, and a new generator installed behind cabinetry Patrick had helped Marek to build. Danjel had visited Claudia during her part in the work and seen the interior. There was a sleeping area just as there had been before, but the storage area above was more easily accessible, without doors of fake wood to cover anything. So many interior panels had been ripped out to make way for compact cabinetry of real wood and many draperies that had formerly been a bundle in Robbie's car. It seemed they had packed much of their former bedroom decorations, and so now had strings of colored lights rather than the old plastic fixtures built into the walls.

      They had only sink, refrigerator, microwave oven, and tiny trailer toilet remaining from either cramped bathroom or kitchen; these were exposed to the larger interior space, though a single curtain could be pulled about the toilet if desired. Leonore had insisted.

      Now, where Merideth and Alaric had kept all manner of office supplies, food, and clothing in disarray, there were neat stacks of electronic components screwed into wooden shelving that covered nearly the entire interior, making room for rows of discs and old books, which had strings across the them to secure the items while in motion. They had even converted an awkward sitting area into a second bed room hidden by draperies.

      Danjel liked it. It was Goth, he decided. The plastic made to simulate wood and the very compartmentalization had been rather soulless.

      Afterward, Leonore and Marek had come to the new trailer to help Claudia and Merideth make it Goth. Adelle and Patrick came to help too, sitting their daughter Maureen on the ground as they worked. Elzbieta might look after her, while cooking lunch or dinner. Elzbieta was a real doll, doing so much work and seeming to give without regret or complaint. Danjel liked her very much.

      Claudia had purposely bought a stripped-down trailer, and one of the larger models. Danjel knew it had cost quite a lot, but it was home to four of them and so it was worth it. The stove along with the under counter refrigerator had been left and where there had been a primitive sort of bathroom was left a toilet, sink, and modified shower basin.

      As with the other trailer, all functionless panels and trim were ripped out, and where desired, more beautifully crafted objects stood in their stead. Merideth coated their dining table in a decoupaged photo collage. They could sit here to work, eat, or play cards, and were able to look out the curtains and the front window to the jeep and beyond.

      At the opposite end, in the back, there was a wide bed that could be converted, with the folding of a center section, to two smaller beds. Above, reached by a ladder, there was a sleeping loft that held another wide bed. The rest of the long interior was largely devoted to functional appliances and sections of cabinetry. Claudia and Merideth had put many cushions and large pillows along the floor for resting and hooked up several machines to make news available.