Salamander

by Harley Hanna

  Chapter 5

  “Now, go” Jack whispered.

  I pushed the hatch open, climbing the ladder and pushing myself out into the fresh air, bathing my body in sunlight. I pointed my gun up, checking the clearing, and the tree line for any possible threats. I waved the group to come up, lowering my gun and keeping it at my side.

  The rest of the group came up out of The Cross, Raul was carrying the body. It was wrapped in multiple blankets. We only had an hour, abbreviated grieving. Once everyone was up, we started digging. I shoved the point of my shovel into the soft dirt, trying to dig a grave for my friend.

  I had to take a break for a couple seconds as sweat dripped down my face. I stopped and Dardian, Jack and Jim all continued digging. I couldn’t stop staring at the mass of blankets sitting to my right. That’s what he was reduced to, after all this time. I thought about all the salvage missions we’d been on, all the times we’d talked or spent together. This was where it ended, a grave.

  “Karia!.” Jim said, catching my attention when I realized I was staring to long.

  “Sorry.” I said, pushing my shovel into the ground. We were almost done, and after checking my watch I realized we had thirty minutes left.

  When we finished Dardian and Jim carried the body into the grave, carefully setting it at the bottom. They stepped out and receded back into the crowd, both of them standing on either side of me.

  Jack walked in front of the group. He stared at the grave, running his fingers through his short brown hair.

  “Garret was a good man.” He started, turning back to the group. “He did a lot for us, he put his life on the line for everyone. I don’t like losing another friend, and a damn good friend at that. I’ll miss him, and today we add another cross to our collection.” I looked down at the crosses, there were only twelve in total. The most recent were Carol and Garret. Garret’s sat at the head of an open grave.

  “If anyone wants to come say something now, you can. Keep in mind we only have twenty minutes.” Jack said, walking back into the crowd.

  The crowd was silent, no one walked up at first. I was hesitant, but after the silence, I stepped up. I stared at his body, limp and tangled sitting at the bottom of the grave. I was glad it was wrapped in blankets; I couldn’t handle seeing his face.

  “There isn’t a lot of bad you could say about Garret. He was one of my best friends. He was my salvage partner, and I loved him. He was haunted by misplaced guilt. He was a good man, and he would be honored that everyone was out here risking their lives to put his body to rest.” I looked out across the clearing, seeing the flowers and the trees. Sometimes I could forget there was life beyond metal walls. “He would’ve liked this.” I took a deep long breath, inhaling my surroundings.

  I checked my watch, fifteen minutes. I walked over to the pile of dirt that lay beside the grave and picked up my shovel. We’d be able to hear the footsteps soon. I started shoveling piles of dirt over his body, letting the earth take him in. The final embrace of Mother Nature.

  We finished with ten minutes left, and all headed back into the bunker. I walked down the corridors, feeling enclosed in the narrow hallways. I needed the largeness of my room. I avoided the crowds and headed back to my room. I walked in, leaving the door lightly ajar behind me. I sat on the edge of my bed, wondering what I could have done. How I could have prevented this. But I realized I couldn’t, his death was inevitable.

  I grabbed a book off the shelf and laid back in my bed, ready to escape to another world and read of the adventures of Talion and his gang. Just as I opened the cover, someone approached my door.

  “Knock knock.” Dardian said, popping his head in the door.

  “Hey, come in.” I said, going back to the edge of the bed and setting my book on my mattress.

  “How are you?” He said, sitting beside me on the bed.

  “I’m okay.” I said. “Better than I thought I would be.”

  “It must be hard, to go through this by yourself.” He said.

  “Yeah, I mean, I have people. Jack, Tim, and you of course.” I replied.

  “I’m always here if you need to talk.”

  “Thanks.” I said, realizing how many people I actually did have there for me.

  “So, what’re you reading?” He said, pointing to the book on the bed.

  “Oh, it’s called ‘Talion’s Last Adventure’. It’s a sci-fi book that I found in the bunker when we got here. I’ve probably read it at least ten times.” No one knew I liked science fiction novels; it was one of the things I didn’t really tell people. But, with Dardian I felt like I wouldn’t be judged.

  “Science Fiction? I never would’ve pegged that as one of your interests.” He said, chuckling and flipping the book over.

  “Yeah, well I take what I can get down here. If I see any during salvage missions I pick them up. It’s one of the perks of being Head of Salvage.” I said.

  “But you aren’t Head of Salvage anymore; you’re Head of the Assault.” He replied over-dramatically, putting his fists up.

  “Yeah, I’m not too sure about that.” I said, rubbing my neck.

  “What do you mean? You’re the only person for the job. I mean, I knew as soon as I heard that speech you gave at the meeting the other night.”

  “But, I feel like I’m not qualified. What if I lead everyone wrong and get everyone killed. It’s not a game here, it’s real life.” I said, getting more serious than I wanted to.

  “Trust me, I know it’s not a game. But Karia you are qualified, if anyone here has the tenacity to lead an assault, it’s you. If anyone has the skills to take one of those things down, it’d be you. I mean, we know fuck all about that thing. You’re one of the only survivors that’s seen that thing in real life, and gotten away multiple times. I believe in you, we all believe in you.” He said, putting his hand on my back. Hearing that made me feel much better, I felt like I had the strength to continue. No one had ever made me feel like that before.

  “Thanks Dardian, I needed to hear that.”

  “Well it’s only the truth.” He said, standing up. “Listen Sal, I got to go, I’m meeting Tim in the Mess Hall. But don’t be too hard on yourself. I’ll leave you to your books though.” He said chuckling and heading for the door.

  “Wait, Dardian.” He stopped at the door, turning towards me. “Do you think I could come with you guys?”

  A smile came across his face; he looked me in the eyes. “I’d actually prefer it” He said.

  I stepped out the door and headed for the Mess Hall, Talion could wait.