When The Fault Breaks: Life Will Never Be The Same Page 20

  There was no one at the gate controls to manage the outflow from the lake from the year's spring thaw. Lake Powel filled up fast to the overflow, which put stress and extra pressure on the already undermined dam. It must have made some eerie sounds before it gave way. The force of all that water was punishing the dam and as the dam gave way giant chunks of concrete, steel, and silt-laden water careened down the valley.

  We all watched in astonishment from above as the water rushed down the valley floor below us. It was horrible; all the people down there had set up a hell of a settlement, as they were getting ready for the winter.

  None of the settlers ever imagined they were sitting below a failed dam and in the path of a wall of water that would reach over a hundred foot tall. The water carried all the debris from the dam and everything it picked up along the way. It came crashing down the valley so fast no one had a chance of getting out of its path, everyone perished. Even more disheartening, we knew the water was on its way to Lake Mead and everyone on its shores, and below the Hoover Dam we could only assume the worst was still to come.

  All that debris and water did indeed make its way to Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. Unlike Lake Powel above, Lake Mead was over a hundred fifty feet below its normal level. Most people had made camp as close to the water as they could far up the river. Huge numbers of people had made their homes on the shore of Lake Mead above the Hoover Dam, and even more for miles along the bank of the Colorado River below the Hoover Dam.

  Like the people below Glen Canyon, they too had no warning about the impending doom heading their way. When the waters from Lake Powel, and all the debris, reached Lake Mead it instantly raised the water above the normal level and killed scores of people along the shores.

  Hoover Dam was also damaged by the quake and had been weakened. When the flood hit Lake Mead it filled so fast that the Hoover Damn could not take any more. All at once the dam ruptured. A giant wall of water, concrete, and steel exploded and the entire upper face of the dam blew apart with a tremendous force.

  More and more chunks broke away until most of the dam gave way and Lake Meade spilled out into the valley below. As the water rushed down stream it obliterated everything in its path. Everyone living on it banks were gone, crushed by the power of the water and the debris or just washed away.

  The water continued to make its way down the entire length of the Colorado River taking out every dam and bridge along the way to the coast; it eliminated every man made obstacle along its entire length. It took some time before the flood ended but when it did the river flowed free again all the way to the Gulf of California for the first time in more than a hundred years.

  As odd as it sounds though, while this was a tragedy for everyone killed, it was a blessing for the four of us. After the water receded it left an easy path to follow up the Colorado River. We found it left wide flat barren banks on both sides since everything along it had been washed away.

  By now the place we were at was overcrowded and was no longer a nice place, so began preparing to leave. We decided that we were going to take advantage of the disaster and make our way up the river as far as we could. We figured if we drove on the flat we could stay off the roads and avoid most of the people.

  We thought that the only ones that knew about this new route were those in our camp, so we figured it would be smooth sailing. I still had most of my diesel left in my Land Rover and all the full Jerry cans, so we headed back to ALT 89 and down to the river below.

  However, it turned out that we were not the only ones to have found this new super highway. Many others had discovered it as well and were making their way up it too. But because we had the Land Rover and extra fuel we were able to make it much further than anyone else before we ran out of diesel.

  As we went along, we discovered that the river had changed course in many locations and had formed large lakes now teaming with fish. Many of the people that had headed up the river opted to stay along these lakes, so the number of travelers dwindled quickly. We had also stopped for a while and enjoyed some good fishing before continuing on the new path. We found traveling to be easy going all the way up the river as far as the base of the ruins of the Glen Canyon dam.

  The ruins were a strangely beautiful site. The rubble and debris formed what looked like a giant fan that made a perfect ramp. There was a large waterfall cascading down the middle as the stream washed away the fan down the center. We had no problem getting past it because the sediment was still behind the dam in very much the same fashion.

  From the base of the dam we could look back at the devastation below and we could also see way up valley. It was a very eerie scene ahead of us, as there was no life to be seen. Everything was this dreary grayish color with countless large broken tree trunks as far as the eye could see. Let me tell you it is a strange feeling walking where a lake used to be not very long ago.

  We made it all the way past what used to be Lake Powell and well into Utah when we came upon a large confluence from the north that had fed the lake. I could tell from the map that this branch came out of the canyon lands and the dessert, so we decided to continue east toward Colorado, deep into Navajo Nation territory.

  We were a couple days into the reservation, camping on a nice plateau, when we saw a line of men on the edge of the canyon above us. Then we heard splashing coming from the river and it was clearly getting closer. As we looked in that direction it was like something out of a Hollywood movie.

  Materializing slowly and approaching us was what appeared to be a band of Navaho warriors on horseback. Our adrenaline started pumping as we realized it was not just a band of warriors, but a war party complete with painted horses, men wearing war shirts, and all with painted faces and carrying rifles or AK-47's. I immediately told everyone in my group to not move.

  The men circled us on horseback and what looked like the oldest of the warriors dismounted. I noticed that all of these warriors had short unevenly cut hair as if chopped off with a knife.

  Watching the warriors approach, I remembered reading how when traditional Navahos lost someone close to them, they cut their hair to show they were in mourning. All of these men had short cropped hair, which also increased my level of fear.

  The older man walked to within an arms-length of us, turned, then signaled all his warriors to dismount. As the old man climbed off his horse, I could see he was wearing a painted war shirt that was very soiled and had traces of blood. The old man was about six feet tall and built like a tree stump. His face was etched with a road map of wrinkles showing a difficult life outdoors. I found myself stretching to my full height and introduced myself as Mark."

  Chapter 25: The New Navajo Nation

  "As this old man looked me up and down, with a face that was unreadable, he said, 'my name is Black Cloud and I am the chief of the Navaho Nation. You are trespassing on Our land."'

  To Black Cloud I said, "We mean no disrespect. We only want to pass through your land. If we have overstepped our bounds, we ask your forgiveness. We would be grateful if you would accept our generosity in extending some of our provisions to you in exchange for passage through your land."

  "I then told Floyd to grab a case of freeze-dried ice cream. In his haste to comply with the request, Floyd too quickly reached into the Land Rover. As he did so we heard the sound of rifles being cocked. Floyd's face was as white as a sheet and he became as stiff, rigid, and unmoving as the freeze-dried ice cream. We looked around and we all laughed so hard. As soon as Black Cloud saw Floyd's response he and his warriors also joined in on the laughter.

  As Floyd stepped away from the Rover, his adrenaline still pumping, with the case of freeze-dried ice cream in his hands, he whined, 'Yea I bet you would not have thought it so funny if it was you they all had their guns trained on.'"

  Anyway Floyd slowly placed the case at Black Clouds feet and I pulled one out, opened it, and handed it to him to eat. He took a bite of it and stood there for the longest moment when he took a second bite, the
corners of his mouth turned up in what looked like a slight smile."

  'What is this stuff? It tastes like chocolate ice cream.'

  "I smiled and told him. It's freeze-dried ice cream. We have several cases of it as well as other foods. Black Cloud, why don't you and your men join us for a feast?"

  'Yes but I want some more of the ice cream first.'

  "Of course that case is yours, we have lots more."

  "With that for an ice breaker, no pun intended, he motioned to his men to lay down their weapons. I then also invited Black Cloud's warriors to join us as well. He nodded and sat down by the fire with us and continued to eat his freeze-dried ice cream. I had Floyd pull out cases of MRE's and we all feasted, so to speak. Later that night we sat around the fire eating ice cream in the middle of the desert, it was quite the odd site and we developed a bond with Black Cloud and his men.

  Black Cloud motioned to one of his warriors to bring his pipe to him; I could not believe it when he lit up a bong. We had a long talk with Black Cloud about what had gone on so far and about some of our harrowing experiences.

  I asked him how he felt about the fall of the government that had taken their land. He paused for some time on that one and with a slight sigh he spoke in a soft almost emotional voice.

  'It was long ago that the Bilaganna took our land, Dinetah, from our ancestors and much has changed. Through education our native language has once again returned to our people. Most of our people are now bi-lingual, speaking our Native language and English as well.

  The tribe paid for my law degree from Harvard. In return I represented the tribe on litigation involving our disputed land and treaty rights. I had practiced for 10 years in your courts and saw many injustices. I found that what the Bilagaana calls justice and what we call justice are two very different things

  After completing my agreement for my tribe to represent my people, the Dine, in your injustice system, I decided I wanted nothing more to do with your world with its injustices and misinterpretations of the law. I returned home twenty years ago to live my life here amongst my people, and here I will remain. The more I lived amongst the Bilaganna, the more I understood their life, the more distrust I had for other people. At least my people rattle first.

  Your government was run by a few rich men driven by the lure of easy money, they all spoke of morals but lived an immoral life. All of them were rotten, starting with the bankers who were the worsts, then followed by the corporations, Congress, Senate, and not the least among them, the President. None of them could be trusted, because they each had their own agenda and it was not in our best interests.'

  I would like to say that I understand, but to do so would be to diminish your feelings. I can say that I have also wished for so long that things would be different, much in the same way as you have. I can also say that I respect your feelings and your views. It hurt to see our country run by unknown, unseen faces.

  'Now the world we once knew is no longer. Your government no longer runs our lives or anyone else's. But this may not be such a good thing. Now there is no order or law. Large groups of heavily armed people are attempting to control their small parcel of land and will kill anyone in their way.'

  This is just one of the reasons that we traveled to your land Black Cloud. We are trying to stay away from those areas with rampant anarchy. If we went into those areas they would take everything we have left, if given a chance.

  'What makes you think we won't? We have you outnumbered and you are in our land.'

  We knew as soon as we made the decision to enter your land that we would be virtually at your mercy. We only hoped that you would allow us to pass through, so that we could avoid passing through the militia's lands. Like you said earlier, at least you guys rattle before you strike!"

  'You are correct, at least we are talking before we shoot,' he laughed but without humor.

  Now with a more serious look he said, 'you asked how I felt about the events that have led you here. The U.S. government took our land many generations ago and now we have it back, need I say more. Many Dine have returned to our native land, Dinetah, since the fall of your government and now we will fight to the death to keep it. This time there are no armies, armed forces, or an organized government with unlimited arsenals to again take our land.

  There are only unorganized groups of people spread over this vast land. We know our land as we know ourselves. It is living and breathing as we are. To outsiders this land is unknown and hostile terrain. They will fight to take what is not theirs and we will fight to keep what is ours. I ask you, who will fight harder?

  As an Iraq war veteran I am saddened at the loss of a great nation, but as the Chief of the Navajo Nation, I am overjoyed. Our Nation was once able to live in harmony on our land before the Bilagaana stole it, bringing their treachery and their religion. Now we are still a nation and this is not the case for the white man! You too said you were unhappy with how things were.'

  I was very unhappy. But what could I do? You had the option of coming back home, to your land and leading your people. I did not have that option! (I said slowly working around the lump in my throat.) I fought in the Gulf war, stood by and watched two sons risk their lives fighting another war to defend our freedom. It was insanity!

  I had only wanted the country to become a bit more humane, not to be destroyed. But I have also learned that sometimes before things are able to change, destruction is necessary, and there is no other way.

  We were exactly what some wanted to be as a nation, driven by the moral minorities and money. We lived with great abandon not caring about the ultimate outcome, only caring about our personal gain.

  'Mark, there is one important factor that defines the differences between our survival and our ability to thrive. They could destroy our lands but not our connection to this land or our spirit.'

  You are absolutely right Black Cloud. Most people today have lost all ability to survive in anything other than their house, as long as there was food in the fridge people did not care. They lost the ability to survive in adversity, without hot and cold running water, electricity and heat. If they are put in a situation of having to survive, their faces would go blank with the deer-in-the-headlight stare. They would panic or remain in denial with their heads in the sand, most do not even know how to make fire without a lighter.

  'That is so true Mark, you hit the nail on the head. You seem to be fairing very well in this new world.'

  That is because most of us here are of the same mind. We have spent many years honing our survival skills backpacking or camping. We know how to make fire and treat water, we can hunt and fish without modern gear. I have personally ensured I would be ready no matter what, even if I had not been able to get the things I did.

  It will be those without skills that could be the most dangerous, but they are also the ones that are going to die in large numbers as time goes by and all the store shelves are empty. Billions will perish around the world, lost to the elements and lack of food.

  Sensing that some catastrophic event was inevitable due to the raping of this earth, I have always had the basic survival gear ready for use. Anyone that paid attention to the direction in which this country has been heading would have been able to see it. However, in this case the moment the quake hit I knew this was it. I did not wait for any signs that the apocalypse was coming before I acted.

  Most of the militias have known for a long time that this day was coming. This is why they have stockpiled huge arsenals of weapons and built well-defended compounds that many have lived on for years expecting catastrophe long ago. The difference between them and me, or us, is they decided it is ok to just take what they want and we don't see it that way"

  Floyd asked, 'Were you here on your lands when the quake hit Chief?'

  'Yes I was.'

  'Have you traveled outside your land lately to witness what is happening in the rest of the country?'

  'No.'

  Black Cloud hesitated, closing his
eyes before continuing to answer Mark. He had seen the destruction and chaos in a vision. He was drawn out of his silence by Mark again asking if he'd seen what had happened outside his land.

  'Mark, I have not left Dinetah and have no desire to leave. There is nothing out there that we need. I know what is going on in the rest of the country with its complete unrest almost everywhere. I did not have to leave here to know what is happening.'

  "What have you heard?"

  'Well Mark, some of my people were able to make it here from Denver, they said they barely made it here alive. There was rioting everywhere and total chaos in the streets. All of the stores had been looted and set on fire.'

  Was there anything left of it?

  'I was told that most of the outlying area survived being burned, but there was still rioting and looting. Lawlessness prevailed and there was no food or water for people, which will certainly increase the turmoil. Many in their haste to get away from the mayhem headed for the mountains. They left as soon as the shit hit the fan, trying to get away from death, but without any provisions. It did not take long before the roads into the Rockies where blocked by abandoned cars and hordes of people on foot just trying to get away.