-“What are you talking about? The man in the dinner said the same thing. Why is Barstow a ghost town? What is happening?” I asked while consciously trying to placate a wave of panic; this was surreal.
-“What do you mean, what’s happened? This is all man made. The world is at war for the most precious resource – water. The droughts, over population, massive building, and global warming have worsened the water shortage. This has forced people to migrate elsewhere, and countries to war for sovereignty of dwindling water sources.” He said as he kept his gaze on the road ahead.
-“So, is everyone charging $7 a bottle too?” I asked while calculating I’d have to do without some other luxuries - like food, as water was of vital necessity.
-“Listen, I don’t know if you ever read a newspaper, but like I said, times have changed. Everyone is out to get theirs and screw the rest. It’s survival of the fittest now. I drive nationwide, and I gotta tell you, it’s not pretty.
Across the plains of what used to be green fields, it’s only dry, barren land. Of course this feeds the fires, which are just let run its course now. Horses are left to die of starvation, all skin and bones; that just breaks my heart. See it’s just too expensive to feed animals, hell even humans - He said with a grimace.
You know, I seen it coming for quite some time. Too many containers hauled in, and a lot less taken out. Jobs sent there, and good manufacturing jobs lost here. They's got so big, now they run the show. See they used the money they made to load up on arms. So China runs the show now, and they try to control the water, and cut off others in Asia.
India too feuds with Pakistan over the Indus, see there’s your job outsourcing dollars at work. I could go on, and on. There’s the middle east, Africa, and just too many neighboring feuds for water.” He said clearly disturbed.
-“Thanks for telling me this. I feel bad now that I like to take long, hot showers.” I said as I itched to take a cool (quick) shower just now. This kind man must be deranged as well I thought. Either that, or I was in a vivid nightmare.
-“Listen to me, and pay attention. You can’t go walking dressed like that there. There be no women in these parts, so you best watch your back. Very dangerous people dwell there.” He reminded me again.
I thanked the driver, as he drove away, leaving a trail of dust in its wake. I walked to the gas attention. It was locked with a hand written sign which read, “Back later.”
I walked around to the restroom, to find it locked...figures. Usually on a bristling summer day in the arid desert, the streets are nearly deserted, except for cars on the road. Now, the streets, as well as the roads were eerily deserted.
I noticed that next to the gas station there was a barber’s shop. The front window was broken, from which I could see there was no one inside. The hole on the window was ample enough, so that I was able to enter sideways.
I found what I was looking for, and walked to the back of the shop to the bathroom. The smell of caked excrement and urine in the clogged toilet was vile. I needed to urinate badly. What to do? Go outside and squat in broad daylight to pee, or make my contribution to the collage in this toilet?
I kicked the toilet lid down, and exited the restroom, closing the door shut. The pestilence and the flies swarming over the toilet were intolerable. I looked around and found a cleaning bucket, and improvised its utilitarian use. Afterwards, I walked to a mirror in the back room so as to be as inconspicuous as possible.
After I cut my hair as short as a boy’s, I minced hair strands in diminutive bits. I used the Elmer’s glue I found in my search for loot, and spread a thin film of glue on my lower face. After carefully adhering the shortened strands of hair to my face, I stood back to carefully inspect my reflection on the mirror.
I looked like an effeminate, pretty boy sporting a closely shaved beard. Now, I just needed to find a shirt long enough to cover my ass.
To be continued…
