by Maxey, Phil
“So I talked to General Trow in Dallas and she has told me that if you go to Austin to help out she will reinstate all of you to your former ranks and give you a full pardon of your crimes.” A shocked silence descended in the room.
Ray scratched his chin. “Uh huh. The world must have really ended.”
“And she’s going to give us this in writing, right?” said Michael.
“Seriously?” said Abbey to Michael.
“I just want it to be official,” said Michael.
“If Trow gives her word it’s official,” said Brad.
“Why does she want us in Austin? Hasn’t she got enough personnel?” said Zach.
“She’s heavy on the personal but what she needs is guys.” Brad paused. “Excuse me, and girls who can do what needs to be done. She didn’t hesitate to make this offer once I told her about your group.”
“Sounds like an offer you can’t refuse,” said Jacob, standing in the doorway sipping on coffee.
“I’m not sure I want back in,” said Fiona.
Brad stood. “I’m going to check on the perimeter alarms, you discuss it amongst yourselves.” He then left the room.
“We should do our bit, help out,” said Cal.
“You heard the guy last night, talking about lots of people being in one place being an easy target for these creatures, why would we go and add to that?” said Ray. “If we stick together we can get by fine.”
“I get that you have been away longer than any of us, but she’s offering us a full pardon and a chance to change this shit around, maybe Austin is all there is left of the human race, and if I can do something to help I’m going to,” said Abbey in a tone, which came across as prouder than she planned. Everyone looked at Zach, who was staring intently into his coffee.
“Zach? You going to pitch in on this?” Fiona asked.
Zach sighed. “I guess it comes down to what kind of life we all want. Most of us had a life before we ended up in New Mexico, maybe even a good life.” He paused, then continued. “Then all of that was taken away from us, and we thought our lives were over.” He put the coffee down and looked up at the group. “Then we got out and discovered that the world was over, but strangely our lives weren’t. This is the world we got, and we can either crawl back into a hole like we just came out of, or we can kill those things out there that are trying to take our home from us. I’m going to Austin.”
Abbey swallowed, her eyes glistening. “Me too.”
“God damn it,” said Ray.
“I guess they always need cooks right?” said Michael.
*****
Brad pressed buttons on his keyboard and brought up different maps of the surrounding area. White circles pulsed out from various points on the map which didn’t cause him any alarm, and he switched to a different screen showing his inventory. He checked this daily and amended it accordingly. He liked the routine and just because his house was full of people didn’t mean he wasn’t going to do it. He heard them debating whether to go to Austin above his head and had to stop himself from guessing what their answer would be. He didn’t have to wait long as fifteen minutes after he first sat at his desk, he heard feet coming down the basement stairs. Then there was a stronger knock than before.
“Come in,” he said. Zach opened the door and walked into the basement. “Did you vote on it?”
“Didn’t need to, most of us felt we need to go to Austin, the ones that didn’t can do what they please, but I think we will all end up going. Why don’t you come with us?” said Zach already knowing the answer.
“And leave my palace here?” Brad smiled. “I’ve lived here for over twenty years, and this is where my final days will be. Anyway Trow likes me out here, gives her some eyes in a place where she doesn’t have any.”
“We need to work out the route, and go over that with you and anyone at the Austin camp who has ideas as to what’s between us and them. Ideally, we will leave tomorrow, if we can get our supplies sorted out before then.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
It was still dark with a chill in the air when Zach, Cal and Michael started putting their supplies into the truck and pickup. They didn’t need to take as many as before, but still filled both vehicles up with a good amount. Brad had told them that a lot of the E.L.F’s hunt at night, but they felt moderately secure being outside due to Brad’s early warning system. Still though, they ran between the basement and vehicles as fast as they could, trying not to spill their boxes contents. Once all the supplies were packed, they filled up the vehicles with diesel and gasoline from Brads supplies. Brad had told Trow the group agreed to go to Austin, and they had worked out a complicated route that kept them away from large towns, and known areas of high E.L.F. activity. Austin also didn’t want them drawing any E.L.F. attention to the camp so it was agreed they be met at an abandoned nearby town then be taken by guard the rest of the way. That didn’t sit too well with Zach, but they were told it was the only way. The route was roughly six hours. They calculated they should get to their destination around early afternoon. The group stood in the basement, in front of them on the ground was a number of different colored backpacks.
“So I guess this is it then,” said Brad. “Me and Fiona, got these backpacks ready for each of you last night. Each one contains a few days of food, a bottle of water, a few medical supplies, compass, small flashlight, rope, lighters and a few rounds of ammo for whatever gun you chose. There’s a small label on each so you know which one is yours.” The group started looking through and picking up the backpacks. “They weigh a bit, but might save your life. With comms, I’ve given Zach and Fiona a mobile transceiver each, you could have also used the CB, but what you have now has greater range. You have also all got Walkie-Talkies, some that Ray found and others I already had, the range is limited, maybe two miles in flat terrain, but it’s something.” The group stood holding their backpacks, nobody being sure what to say next.
“Definitely a flying visit,” said Abbey, forcing a smile, she then moved forward and hugged Brad. “Thank you for everything you have done for us.”
Brad smiled. “Well it’s been good to have company in this old house.” He keyed in the code to the outside door and pulled it open. The sun was only just coming up and a chill wind from the outside rushed in making everyone brace themselves.
“The M4s you have, together with the other weapons should allow you to get to where you need to be and the radios will allow us to stay in contact for about two-thirds of your journey,” said Brad. The group started to file past him, when Dee was close Brad picked up a small wooden box with the words ‘Chess set’ on the side and offered it to Dee. “Sorry I didn’t get a chance to see your games, but you can have this for when your tablets battery is flat.”
Dee’s glum expression changed to one of a large smile as he took the wooden box from Brad. “Thank you,” he said looking at his new treasure, his smile continuing as he walked up the steps. Finally only Zach was left, who held out his hand, but Brad ignored it and pulled him in for a hug.
“Stay safe,” said Zach, smiling then leaving the basement.
Brad watched him walk up the steps and followed a little to see them get in the vehicles. He waved and disappeared back down the basement steps pulling the dirt-covered fence on top of the entrance then closing the steel door.
“Brad says there’s no activity south of here as of five minutes ago. We all ready?” said Zach to the others behind him. An assortment of affirmatives came back. He then picked up his new mobile transceiver and talked into it at an agreed frequency.
“Fiona you ready? Over.”
“Sure am,” said Fiona, then continued. “Over.”
Zach fired up the truck’s engine and pulled off, Fiona following a few car lengths behind. They were soon onto the 285 which ran south past Roswell airport, moving at a good pace. Single-story dusty looking buildings on both sides raced past, along with the occasional retail sign s
tanding high and reflecting the morning sun as it rose. Zach kept checking in with Brad to make sure there was no activity as far as he could check, but soon they were beyond his grid of microphones.
“Stay alert, we’re blind out here,” said Zach to his passengers and to Fiona on the radio. The main difference with this journey compared to the long trip from White Sands was this time they were armed with M4 assault rifles, as well as a few grenades from Brads extensive stock, and a few Glocks. This should have made them feel more secure but because of what they had learned the previous night, they all felt on edge.
“On the way in to Roswell I got to the point I couldn’t stand to see any more flat featureless desert, but now that’s what I want so I can see what’s coming,” said Fiona. “I also know now you’re a sniper.” She smiled at Cal, who smiled back.
Cal had his window down with the M4’s barrel resting just outside. Every now and again he would look down the scope which Brad had put on especially for him, at a shadow only to lower the gun when it was nothing of concern. As the road flashed by he was taken back in his mind to one of his previous tours, and how he seemed to be back there again, back in a war. Something about that felt comforting, but in almost equal amounts terrifying. He leaned his head out of the window and let the rushing desert air cool his face.
This time it was Jacobs’s turn to sit in the passenger seat, mostly because it was decided he would be a better shot with the M4 than Abbey. Ray, Abbey, Michael and Dee sat in the cabin. Ray was busy writing in his small notebook, while Abbey and Dee were playing chess on the set that Brad had given Dee. Michael sat with his back up against the back of the cabin, reading ‘War of the Worlds’ by H.G. Wells.
“It’s not aliens dumbass,” said Ray, looking at Michael, “You heard Brad.”
“Do people still say ‘Dumbass’? Must be an old-timer thing,” replied Michael. Abbey looked at Dee and they both smiled.
“How far until we get onto the highway?” said Abbey stretching.
“Another twenty minutes maybe, not far,” said Zach. “How’s it looking back there, Fiona? Over.”
“Nothing on our six. Over.”
“The airport is on our right in a few minutes. Brad said there was a lot of activity there when it all went down. Keep alert. Over,” Zach said.
The ground became flatter on both sides of the highway, which made the multiple cars and other assorted vehicles even more obvious in the morning sun.
“Holy… you seeing this?” said Fiona to Zach forgetting to say ‘Over’.
“We are. Keep looking around us. Over.” Hundreds of vehicles, some twisted like they had been plucked from a junkyard, lay across fields and ditches. Way off in the distance, what looked like birds, but were too big to be so, fluttered around.
“You see them? Over,” said Fiona, while Cal looked down his scope. “What are they?” Fiona said to Cal, who pulled the scope down from his eye, and put his hand over this mouth then moved it to his chin.
“Honestly I don’t know what to call them, not something we have seen before. They don’t seem to have noticed us yet.”
“We see them, what does Cal make of them with the scope. Over,” said Zach.
“They’re not what we have seen before. Over,” said Fiona.
Beyond the civilian vehicles broken shells of large planes sat at wrong angles on the runway. Everyone in the cabin of the truck was leaning forward to get a better look, no one was talking and a silence hung in the air.
“You should be at the airport around now. Over.” Brads voice burst out of the transceiver making them all jump. “What do you see? Over.”
“Lots of carnage, hundreds of vehicles, some planes. It seems lots of people tried to evacuate through here but never made it. Over,” replied Zach.
“Any sign of E.L.F’s? Over,” said Brad.
“There’s some about two miles off, near the runway, Cal says they are nothing we have seen before. Over.” Zach turned to Jacob who had a map folded over in his hand. “How far for the turn off.”
“Should be the next one coming up on the left.”
“Any chance of giving me their descriptions, I try to keep track of them if I can. Over,” said Brad.
“We are already moving away from them, don’t want to attract their attention. Over,” said Zach, turning the truck in a large arc onto a smaller road and off the highway. He was glad to be leaving the scene of ruin behind him.
“Cal said they were winged and big as a small truck maybe, but hard to tell size from this distance. Over,” said Fiona.
“That’s helpful anyway. Thanks. Out,” said Brad.
Up until now it felt like they were in a bad B-movie complete with nightmarish monsters, but seeing the cars, the dropped children’s dolls and remains of clothes made them all feel like they were waking up for the first time.
After a short distance they moved over some railway tracks and through a small town. In the distance, some E.L.F’s were drinking at a river where the road crossed over a small wooden bridge. Zach brought the truck to a stop.
“Harmadillos!” pronounced Michael not hiding his excitement. A large herd of the creature they ran into in the desert on their first night of freedom, stood arranged in a row lasting a few hundred yards, most of them drinking from the river. Brad had warned them to avoid large cities and any natural source of water because that’s where the E.L.F’s were likely to be, this river however was one they thought was worth taking the risk for to allow them a more direct route to their destination. The Harmadillo’s seemed oblivious to the vehicles.
“Look at them,” said Abbey, “it’s like going back in time and watching dinosaurs.”
“What’s the plan? Over,” said Fiona.
Just as Zach was about to reply a large dark form burst from the river, grabbing one of the Harmadillo’s with huge pincers. Everyone watching jumped back or cowered down slightly.
“What the fuck was that?” said Ray.
A creature looking like a giant centipede struggled with its new meal and quickly sunk back into the river. The other Harmadillo’s let loose a high octave roar, turned and stampeded off away from the river, causing a huge cloud of dust to rise up.
Zach put the truck in gear and rolled forward. “This is our chance, stay close behind. Over.”
“Let’s cross this river quickly,” said Michael.
The truck pickup passed over the small bridge. Everybody inside looked out the side windows for any sign of what ended one of the Harmadillo’s, but there was no sign beneath the green froth of the river.
“Your turn. Over,” said Zach.
Fiona drove across at a good pace. Not too fast, but not too slow.
Cal watched the river closely as they drove over the wooden planks. “What’s that?” he shouted as a dark shape formed under the bridge. Wooden planks and splinters flew up in the air as a huge insectoid type creature crashed upwards through the bridge grabbing the back of the pickup with its pincers. The front wheels rose off the ground as Fiona tried flooring the accelerator. Zach and the others looked on in horror as the pickup strained against the grip of the creature. Zach grabbed the M4 from Jacob and jumped out of the truck.
“My foot’s all the way to the floor!” shouted Fiona. Smoke and the smell of burning rubber rose up from the back of the pickup. Cal leaned out of the window and fired off five rounds from his gun, the bullets bouncing off the things leathery plates of armor. Zach ran onto the bridge which was now in the process of collapsing from the end they came from, and walked forward gun raised firing into the creature at the same time as Cal. One of the bullets hit something soft and the creature momentarily loosened its grip and the pickup roared forward across the bridge. Fiona pulled up behind the truck, and as Zach ran up behind them he inspected the back of the pickup. Its bumper was hanging off so Zach pulled it completely off and threw it in the back.
“Had to pull that bumper off, think it’s time we got out of here,” said Zach.
As the
y drove off they looked behind them half expecting the creature to come tumbling after them but the river’s water soon returned to stillness.
Soon they were on a long straight piece of road, which Ray, Michael and Dee took advantage of to get some sleep.
“It’s hard to believe it’s all gone,” said Jacob.
Zach wasn’t sure if it was a question or statement. “The world?”
“No more governments, no more military-industrial-complex, no more NGOs,” replied Jacob in a way again making it hard for Zach to engage with.
“We are still here, and from what we heard there are millions still in the camp near Austin,” said Zach. For the first time Jacob turned and looked at Zach, and smiled.
“God has hit the reset button and it’s a time for new kings,” said Jacob who started laughing but quickly lowered his voice.
Zach smiled. “Let’s hope they do a better job this time.”
Jacob returned to scouring the barren landscape ahead of them once again. “I’m sure they will.”
Monotone landscape passed by only interspersed by the occasional oil drill and refinery. At one point Zach informed them all that they were traveling south for the next few hours, before turning onto another dust covered tarmac road. After almost three hours, Jacob told Zach they had just entered Texas. After four hours, Zach turned the truck onto the 190, and informed everyone that they were on the main route to their destination and they just have another two hours to go.
Everyone but Jacob was still asleep, who seemed as eagle eyed as ever. The landscape now was less flat with the occasional rocky outcrop and bush-covered hill. Brad told them that this was close to when they would lose contact with him, so Zach got on the transceiver and had one last chat with Brad, before informing Camp Bravo that they were two hours out from the rendezvous point.