by Phil Maxey
More clumps of snow and alloy appeared in front of the bus, causing Rob to weave left and right with Fiona close behind. The sound that Raj and Dr. Tanner first noticed was now being heard by everyone, including bright flashes and glows far off on the horizon, behind a silhouette of trees.
“Are we sure we want to keep going this way,” shouted Rob over the explosions and roars that were ahead.
“This is Captain Felton, we are approaching the south gate, what’s the status there. Over.”
“Good to hear you Captain, unfortunately we are having some problems on the south side of the wall, I would advise turning off the I-5 and going to the west side gate. Over.”
Zach and Bass, looked at the stretched out map.
“If we go west we head back into mountains, which I don’t want to do,” said Zach.
“Especially with the south gate just a few klicks ahead,” said Bass. Zach looked at Bass, and an unspoken agreement passed between them.
“This is Captain Felton. We are coming in through the south gate, be ready to cover us. Over.”
Bass stood up to face everyone on the bus. “We might have to fight our way through, I want your guns ready and be ready to leave the bus if you have too.”
The sounds of creatures screeching and the clatter of gunfire sounded like it was just outside the bus, and bright red streaks sprayed across the night sky. Rob stopped the bus. There was no need for anyone to question why. Three hundred yards in front of them, the wall rose up, but unlike the wall they had seen before, this one rose and fell according to the hills it was traversing. The lowest part was the gate directly in front of them. But that wasn’t what had everyone transfixed. A maelstrom of E.L.F’s of all sizes were running, jumping and flying around the wall.
“There are so many of them,” said Abbey, her words just hanging in the air.
“We can’t get through that,” said Michael.
Zach went to reply, when something heavy slammed into the side of the bus, causing it to momentarily balance on two wheels. Everyone ducked in their seats holding onto what they could as a large creature looking like a Rhino but larger with more horns stampeded past them, pushing cars and anything else out of the way.
For a moment everyone sat in their crash positions, then Zach’s radio came to life. “Are you okay? It just came out of nowhere. Over,” said Fiona.
“We’re fine, but we can’t stay here. Over.”
Fiona went to respond, when she looked in her side mirrors at the scene behind her. Shadows in the dark were moving towards them. “I don’t think we can turn around, there’s lots of things behind us coming this way.”
The pain in Zach’s eye increased as he squinted looking at the now partially torn map in his hands. “Rob, we have to go through.”
Just as Rob was going to slam down the accelerator, Raj sprang out of this seat and moved to the front of the bus. He looked frantically at the dashboard.
“What the hell are you doing?” shouted Rob, trying to be heard over the constant noise outside.
“Does this bus have an outside speaker?” said Raj impatiently.
“Yes… but I never really tried it…”
Before Rob could finish Raj turned and faced everyone. “In your backpacks, you were all given a high frequency audio device, it’s like a foot long and black,” Everyone looked a bit mystified. “Now! Find it and give them to me.”
“What’s the plan Raj?” said Zach as Raj ran past collecting the small black plastic devices.
“We might not have to fight our way throu…” The sound of metal tearing caused the bus to slide forward making everyone duck. As they did a single hook like talon moved along the inside of the roof of the bus, slicing through it without any resistance. Everyone looked forward and saw a large winged creature fly back up into the air towards the wall. Raj continued, piecing the devices together end on end. “I designed these devices to be used together if needed, it amplifies the signal.”
“You’re going to use the external speaker to broadcast the high frequency sound?” said Abbey.
Zach’s radio came to life. “What the fuck are we doing, they are everywhere!”
“Hold on Fiona, we have plan, a few more seconds.”
By now Raj had assembled the devices into a long tube that was almost the length of the bus, he quickly moved to the end near Rob.
“Where’s the mike for the external speaker?” Rob pointed at a dust-covered mike with a curly plastic cable. “Okay, drive, get up a good speed, and don’t stop.”
Rob turned on the engine, pulling off as quickly as he could while keeping traction.
“Portland camp, we are literally on your doorstep, get ready to get that south gate open. Over.”
“We see you Captain, we will try to cover you best we can. Good luck. Over.”
“Is it working?” shouted Abbey as the bus increased its speed.
“I haven’t turned it on yet, we need to be closer to the gate, it will only be a short burst before their power goes.” shouted Raj.
“Have you used these things before?” shouted Rob while weaving left and right to avoid vehicles and dark moving masses that kept sweeping past.
“This would be the first time,” replied Raj holding onto the closest seat, and trying to make sure his contraption would hold together.
The bus was now doing sixty-five miles per hour, as the wall grew bigger in front of them. Crimson and orange dotted lines streaked out from the wall over and around them, causing roars and squelches. The area in front of the wall was a sea of creatures, some scratching and trying to climb the wall, others attacking each other, all climbing over rotting carcasses.
“We’re at seventy, she won’t go any faster!” shouted Rob as the bus’s engine strained to propel itself through the madness around it. “There’s a mass of creatures ahead of us, I hope your thing works!”
“Me too!” shouted Raj. “Okay, here goes.” Raj flicked a switch on the closest device to him, while holding down the button on the mike. Instantly like an invisible wave creatures starting reeling, some collapsing with their bodies thrashing, others turning and scampering away from the bus.
“Well I’ll be… It’s working,” said Rob trying to hold the wheel steady while looking at the wall of creatures dissipating ahead of them.
The gate started to open. Huge steel battle scared doors slid to the right, disappearing into the wall.
Rob slowed the bus. “Why aren’t they moving?”
Two large creatures standing upright, covered in fish scales and tentacles that sprung from what looked like arms, stood on the road just in front of the gap that was widening.
“The frequencies not effecting them, or the power… I thought it would last longer,” said Raj twisting the black devices frantically.
Rob hit the brakes best he could but the bus continued onwards relentlessly. “We’re going to hit them! Hold on.”
The creature’s tentacles spun around, whipping through the air as they both looked at the bus speeding towards them. Just as the bus was within a few yards from the creatures, more fiery streaks emanated from the opening in the gate hitting and causing them to fall to the side enough for the bus to pass by and through the gate.
Rob slowed the bus to a halt. The sound of heavy breathing was the only sound, until everyone started shouting with joy.
“That was a bit close,” said Zach, patting Raj, then Rob on the back. Outside Humvees pulled up, and soldiers jumped out with one approaching the bus. Rob opened the doors, and the soldier stepped inside. Zach held out his hand.
“Captain Zach Felton.”
The man grinned and shook his hand firmly. “Colonel Tinley.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“That was some entrance son.” Colonel Tinley insisted that Zach drive with him in the Humvee as they led the bus and truck back to their compound. Zach sat in the back next to him, not thinking about what his mind wanted to think about. Instead he turned his attention outwards
to this new camp. As they rushed through the streets, explosions and the clatter of gunfire played out behind them, and the Colonel explained how the camp came about. “We were one of the first camps to be put together, our role was to take the influx of survivors from Seattle and Portland, unfortunately we were attacked daily right from the start. My senior officer was killed and I had to step up. I had hoped we could make a go of it, but…” Tinley looked outside then back to Zach. “But anyway you’re here now,” The words sounded sarcastic to Zach but he was too tired to be sure. The Colonel continued. “From what I’ve heard it’s been some journey.”
“We lost half of our people trying to get up here. Are your vehicles ready? Some of my people sent some possible routes back to Austin ahead, have you looked them over?”
“I believe you’re forgetting something.” Zach looked unsure of what it could be. “I don’t know how things are in Bravo, but here we still use sir for a senior officer.”
Zach could feel anger in the pit of his stomach, but breathed out slowly to control it. “Yes, Sir.”
“We have looked over your proposed routes, and they seem adequate. I will of course be taking charge of mission back to Bravo.”
“General Trow informed me that I would be in charge of the journey back…Sir.”
“They’re my people, I got them this far and I will get them to Austin.”
Zach wanted to argue, but thought this was not the time. “Yes. Sir.”
“We will find a place for you and your people. Maybe you can be in charge of one of the smaller convoys and can go back the way you came.”
“Yes. Sir.”
The Humvee, bus and truck drove past wire fencing, and up to a large stone colored building, with many windows lit up.
“This is our base of operations. We call it the factory. Your people can find beds in one of the large halls inside, and some food. Get rest, then be ready for a briefing at zero eight-hundred hours.”
“Yes… Sir.” As Zach got out of the Humvee, the slim middle-aged man with gray hair, waved him off before he had a chance to salute, not that he would have done anyway and the Humvee drove off around the side of the building.
“Is that Tinley?” said Bass getting off the bus.
“Yup.”
“I thought he might spend some more time with us.” said Abbey.
“I’m sure he’s busy. He said there are beds and food inside.”
Slowly everyone traipsed into the lobby of the former school building. A dark-haired woman in her forties sat behind a large counter, and directed them through some double doors, and down a corridor into a large hall. As they entered people who were sitting and lying on bunk beds sat up and watched.
A young boy walked up to Zach as he put his backpack on the bottom bed. “Are you here to rescue us?”
“We have come a long way to do just that,” said Zach smiling and kneeling. “Are you ready to go on an adventure?” The young boy nodded and ran off to a weary looking blonde woman who smiled back at Zach.
Abbey walked alongside the bed putting her backpack on the top bunk. “I kind of thought there would be more of a fanfare with us arriving.”
Zach lay back on the bunk and looked up at the wire mesh. “We made it, that’s what matters.” She went to say something else, but instead, just climbed onto the top bed.
Everyone else found a bunk and collapsed into it. Jacob walked unsteadily, his old legs not being thankful for sitting on the bus for so many hours. Resting on a bottom bunk he rubbed his aching knees and felt the welcoming feeling of sleep crawl over him. Laying back his eyes started drooping and his mind returned to when his cell door opened.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Two hundred and fifty nine lines made up the inside of Elijah’s cell. He knew because he had counted them many times over the years. Counted and involved them in various algorithms and math puzzles. He had too. Others did physical activities, push ups, sit ups, he didn’t care about that, he only cared about keeping his mind sharp, because that had always been his most useful weapon. The barren cuboid he resided in had been his home for over twenty years, ever since they deemed him too dangerous to be left in the world. Not too dangerous for normal folk of course, just them and their dirty little secrets which he had been involved in for half a century.
When his cell door unlocked and drifted open, he had been aware that it was early December, perhaps the only inmate in the New Mexico maximum security prison that was. He managed to keep all kinds of numbers in his mind. The date, the time, the frequency the guards passed by, even the regularity of the various sounds that emanated from pipes hidden behind his cell’s walls. After all these years Elijah’s world had simply become a math’s puzzle to be continuously solved. But this morning his cell door was open and that data was incorrect.
He went to talk, but found his throat dry, so clearing his throat he tried again. “Guard?”
During the night he thought he had heard screaming, but wasn’t sure if it was a dream, or maybe even a sound that had flowed through the air ducts. Now that his door was open and he was not getting any response, that sound took on more significance. The chances of their being a riot in the prison he was in, was nearly zero, but not exactly zero so without looking he reached for a book that he had been allowed to read. Seven hundred pages of the history of Rome, bound with hard thick board. Not much of a weapon, but something to deflect a blow if any came his way. Walking forward, even before he got to the door, the metallic smell of blood impacted his senses. It was a smell he knew all too well and one that he never forgot. He listened into the gap between his door and the hallway but couldn’t hear anything. Slowly he walked into the corridor, as the florescent light above flickered. The cell door next to his was open too and even though he knew there was no inmate in there, he peered around the door to see anyway. Empty.
His mind started to race through various possibilities. Has to be a riot He thought, and then whether the best course of action was to return to his cell, close the door and wait. At his age being in the middle of rage and revenge was not the best place to be. Standing there he was unsure of what to do but the feeling was exhilarating. An emotion he rarely felt in his predictable world.
He walked forward listening as best he could until he came to the door to the floor’s central hub. It was open too, and revealed a scene of devastation. Guards, covered in blood lay scattered like dolls on the mesh-like floor. Two doors led to dark hallways also had doors slightly open. One of the guards was alive, trying to crawl back into the control room. Elijah walked over to him, bending down to see the condition of his wounds. As he did the guard grabbed at him.
“Run,” said the guard with a rasping voice, blood trickling from his mouth.
“Run? Why run?” Just as Elijah spoke a metallic clanging noise rang out from the stairwell at the end of the dark hallway. He brushed the guard’s hands off and stood looking in that direction. No movement or sound was down there. The other door had the sign “Elevator” next to it. He knew he was on the lowest floor in the complex, but never knew the exit to the outside world was down here too. Looking through the reinforced glass into the control room, a monitor was flashing with the words “12/12 Cells open.” but not much else. Grabbing an I.D card from one of the dead guards, and their charge baton he looked down the hallway to the stairwell, only shadows looked back. He went to walk forward when he heard another noise from the stairwell, this noise was not as before but instead sounded like the distorted whimpering of an animal. When in Vietnam he had heard the noises of many exotic creatures but this sound was different, this sound was multilayered, almost human in quality.
He looked back again at the sign that said elevator and then back towards the gloom of the distant stairwell and stepped backwards. His instincts were telling him to leave, and they had kept him alive on many occasions. He could feel the presence of something, not exactly human in amongst the darkness at the end of the hallway and even with a curiosity to know what was
there, the chance to escape was overpowering. Turning he ran, opened the elevator hallway door and ran down to the elevator. As he slid the card across the small screen the sound that was out of place started to grow louder. The elevator door opened, but Elijah stood, looking back to the control hub, waiting. The sound increased in intensity, and now it was combined with a shuffling skidding sound. He slowly stepped into the elevator not taking his eyes off the end of the hallway. The sound stopped and then a human scream bellowed out from where he just stood in the control hub, a scream that ended abruptly. He quickly scanned the available buttons and pressed “Ground”. The elevator door started to close, his view of the hallway getting smaller and smaller, until just with a few inches left, long spindly wet fingers appeared on the doorframe at the end of the hallway.
The elevator started to rise, and within a short time, a voice announced “Surface.” The door opened and a rush of dust hit him in the face as he walked out. Turning on his heels to see his surroundings, he held the book up to try to shield his eyes from the morning sun. He had always known he was in New Mexico but hadn’t known exactly where. It had to be remote as there were no obvious roads to be seen. Probably somewhere near White Sands he thought. Ahead were two shacks. The small one looked unused so he tried the other. Its door was locked with a flimsy lock, which quickly broke when he kicked at the wood. Inside it was cool and dusty. Tilted shelves contained a row of torches, and on a large wooden worktop were a number of backpacks, most were empty but one contained a map with two bottles of water. He quickly opened one of the bottles and drank just enough to quench his thirst. He then laid the map out on the worktop. The wind whirled around outside making the door bang against the frame, he turned to see if anyone was there, but then looked back at the map. The town of Baldo was the closest, but it meant trekking across the desert. Even in winter it wasn’t something a man of his age would jump at doing, but looking at the map he didn’t see much choice, unless he wanted to stay in this shack.