by Maxey, Phil
“How’s it looking?” said Zach.
Greggs kneeled down and slid her hand over the cold metal “Just looks like a bent bumper. I don’t think it’s going to affect us.”
“We need to keep moving, try and keep as far from the edge as you can. And keep an eye on the forests.”
Bass and Greggs nodded, and retuned to the bus. Zach ran back to the Humvee, which was still silent when he got in the driver’s seat. He then turned the ignition and pulled off.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Soon the road transitioned back into a tarmacked highway, and the going was easier. Not much was said during the next few hours as they wound their way through the mountains and finally the valley’s. Even the children sat in silence with only the occasional whisper, for when they needed a bathroom break. It wasn’t until they were on a multilane highway heading south, that Fiona spoke up.
“We’re at the halfway point, another three hours and we should be close to Roswell.”
“I can’t help but think we should have gone through Albuquerque,” said Abbey.
“Rob lost his brother there, that’s the last place he wanted to revisit,” responded Fiona.
“Poor Tyler,” said Abbey her voice strained.
“The best thing we can do for Rob is to get Tyler to Roswell, and then Bravo,” said Zach.
On the bus, Tyler’s sobs had grown quiet, and in unison people started talking again in a hushed tone. Addison looked through her backpack and pulled out a few candy bars. Choosing one, she slowly got out her seat and walked up the aisle to where Tyler was sitting against the window and held the candy out to him. He looked at her with red eyes, and smiled, taking the candy. She smiled in return and walked back to her seat. Mary watched this play out from a few seats in front of Tyler, and tears filled her eyes. She grabbed Irene’s hand who was sitting next to her. Irene could hear Mary swallowing and didn’t need to know why her friend needed to grasp her hand.
Mary thought about all the kids under her care, and wondered how she would cope once she got to the camp. She had no money and nothing to sell, all she had was legal expertize and she doubted that lawyers would be in demand in the chaos of the camp. In her mind she briefly saw herself as the literary character Fagin, looking after a young team of thieves who would survive on their wits and skills to deprive the residents of the camp of their possessions. A smile started to push its way onto her face, at this vision of absurdity, then fell away as she remembered the young man at the back of the bus. I have to find a way. Maybe we can stay at Morgan’s. Maybe Tyler would stay with us? Maybe he could be persuaded to join their troupe, perhaps that is why Addison offered him her food.
Zach clicked on his radio. “Bass, we’re about to head into Santa Fe, be alert to threats. Over.”
Bass acknowledged and as they moved into the city, a wall of snow-covered vehicles met them in the opposite lane.
Abbey wondered to herself where all the cars and trucks, drivers went. What had caused them to leave their cars? and then she saw a clue to the answer. As they approached a junction, the cars on the other side of the road sat crushed and flat to the ground at regular intervals. It was as if a giant had strolled along that piece of road, instantly snuffing out the inhabitants lives. Elsewhere, vehicles lay on their roofs and sides, scattered by an unknown wind, in all directions.
“What the fuck happened here?” said Fiona, amazed at this new scene of horror.
“I’m not sure we really want to know,” said Michael.
Zach slowed to squeeze passed an upturned rust red pickup, and scrapped along the side of it, causing icicles to drop to the ground and shatter. The bus followed quickly behind, scraping and then pushing the pickup to the right.
“Greggs, pickup speed if you can, I don’t want us to be in this city for much longer,” She responded to Zach’s request, and the small convoy sped along the wide highway, passed sandy frost covered stores and homes, until the buildings pulled back from the roads and the desert like plains of New Mexico appeared once again.
Zach clicked on his radio. “It’s now a straight run to Roswell, maybe two hours. Over.” Bass, acknowledged and Zach looked over to Abbey, who was smiling. He knew her well enough by now to know it was a fake smile, perhaps as much for the others in the Humvee as for him.
“I’m going to try Brad, we might be in range now,” and with that, he clicked on the radio again. “Brad, you out there? Over.”
No response was forthcoming, but just as Zach put the radio down, Brad’s voice came through.
“Hey, Zach, good to hear from you, what’s your status? Over.”
“We are about two hours from you. We just lost one of our people, in the mountains near Los Alamos, as well as most of our supplies. Over.”
“Sorry to hear that Zach. I can give you what you need to make it back to the camp. Over.”
“That’s appreciated, Brad. I’m also going to need to have a talk with you, as soon as we get in. Over.”
“Understood. Over.”
“What’s the status, of the other convoy? Over.”
“They arrived in Roswell, last night. Over.”
The knowledge of the other convoy already being in Roswell, hit Zach like a punch to the stomach. And he suddenly realized Tinley could be standing behind Brad as they talked. “Are they with you now? Over.”
“Nope. I got one message, informing me they were staying in the southwest part of the city, and that’s all I’ve heard. Over.”
Zach couldn’t be sure, but Brad sounded like he wasn’t being coerced. “Okay, we’ll see you in two hours… Brad, if any of their soldiers make an appearance at your place, let me know. Over.”
“Will do. Over.”
Fiona thought Zach referring to the other convoys soldiers as ‘their’ soldiers sounded a bit weird, but then continued looking at the distant hills float by.
After all the twists and bends they experienced in the first part of the day, the flat unending directness of the highway they were now on, allowed most in the convoy to contemplate what living in the camp would be light, and to reflect on where they had come from.
Mary and Irene discussed, getting a place together, and possibly taking in more kids that needed helping. Sam and Isaiah talked about maybe opening a bar, presuming whoever was in charge of the camp allowed alcohol. Bass, thought about all that had fallen under his command, and facing their families and superior officers. He was sure he would be relieved of his command the moment they drove through the camp’s gates. Jacob watched the bleakness of the landscape they were driving through and felt unease. Nobody knew who he really was, but those back at the camp did, and would they finally tell the rest of his fellow travelers? Tyler didn’t think anything, his eyes just being used to convey images of his surroundings to his brain.
In the Humvee, Fiona thought of her daughter. Now there was the real possibility of being back at Bravo she allowed herself to think about her once again, and perhaps the idea of building some kind of life with her. She would resign her commission once back at the camp, her days of finding survivors were over. Cal, felt warm and content. Since what happened back at the truck stop, his confusion over the choices he had made since leaving New Mexico the first time had stopped, and now he knew what he had to do. Michael, thought about his parents, and how they would feel about a granddaughter.
In the front of the Humvee, Abbey sat pensive, trying to control her breathing. Roswell marked the end of a journey for Zach, and she wasn’t sure he was up for that. She couldn’t stand losing him.
Zach watched the frosted painted white lines in front of him disappear below him, and he knew he was ready.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Raj sat in a plain wooden chair. His face stung from the lesions that were drawn across his face by Tinley’s men. He stopped calling them ‘soldiers’ a few days into their trek back to the Bravo, due to how they treated the people they were meant to be helping. Whatever was wrong with Tinley had infected his subordinates that he surro
unded himself with. They saw him as their savior, and would die for him if it meant they were part of his larger plan. Raj had learned of the ‘larger plan’ a day ago, when he overheard a conversation between two of Tinley’s henchmen.
They were hold up in what used to be a distribution center just outside Tucson. This was after they had pretty much moved through every major town or city from when they left the desert in Nevada, and had taken so many casualties that Raj had to close him mind off to it. Mostly it was due to the E.L.F’s picking the vehicles off one at a time, like how lions used to target the weakest of their prey, but other times it was due to illness. Tinley thought he had jettisoned all of his weak by offloading them to Zach, but he was wrong. Those were just the people that admitted to being ill, far more hid their conditions, rightfully thinking they would be left behind. This slowed the convoy down only as long as it took Tinley and his people to come up with a plan to conveniently leave these unfortunates in vulnerable places. Raj eventually came to the realization, that they were even being used as sacrifices to divert attention from Tinley’s own people.
He needed to act, but what could he do, against a band of thugs pretending to be soldiers? He just needed to get to Roswell, where he would tell Zach and Brad, and hopefully they would have a plan. But then he learned of the scheme to supplant Trow, and for Tinley to step in. The idea of that seemed crazy to him at first. Tinley had been responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, by the very least, incompetence. But then that night when he was actually allowed some time alone from his guard, and he was stumbling around on the roof of the building they were keeping him in, he heard voices below of two soldiers that were on patrol.
“That bitch won’t be in charge for long, then our contacts in the council will put the boss in charge.”
That’s what they called him, ‘Boss’, not sir, or Colonel or even Tinley, but ‘Boss.’ Like he was the head of a criminal organization. For that’s what they now were, and he realized he was their prisoner. This was the point that he realized, waiting until Roswell was not an option. He had to get to his hosts powerful mobile radio system and contact Trow, or if that wasn’t possible Zach. Even if it meant dying while doing it. They had to know what was coming their way.
He looked down the side of the building, and luckily found a fire escape that took him to the ground. The building he just climbed down from was a smaller one, off from the large warehouse where most of the convoy where staying. The vehicles were parked all around, six or seven deep across a huge parking lot. The darkness around him completely blocked any view of what he was looking for, but as he crept between the buses and coaches, he spotted some military vehicles entering a loading bay of the warehouse.
Running, while trying to keep low, he made it to a door, a hundred yards from the loading bay entrance, and went inside. He listened into the darkness of the stairwell, but the only thing he could clearly hear was his own heartbeat. What am I doing? I need to go back. But he knew this might be his only chance to warn people, as they were only a day out from Roswell.
Feeling along the wall, his fingers found another door, and he pressed his head up against it. No noise came from the other side, so he gently pulled it open. As soon as he did the sound of voices flooded into his senses and he quickly closed it. Waiting a few seconds, he opened it again, and this time the voices were further away. So he slipped through the gap and into a vehicle area, which must have been used to fix up delivery trucks before the Cascade. Ahead of him were a number of military vehicles, including trucks, and another which he had not seen before. It was similar to those around it, except for the back was a complete cab, with a multitude of antenna and dishes covering it, one of which stretched twenty feet up into the air. It was also the only vehicle that had any activity, with its rear door being open and light streaming out from the space inside.
He ran to the back of the nearest supply truck, and hunched down, looking below it. A soldier walked from the communications truck and walked off to the back of the area. This was his chance. He ran as silently as he could to the back of the truck from where the soldier had just left, and peered around its open door. Empty. The brightness from the lights inside the cab made him blink a few times, but he was soon walking up small metal steps, and sitting down in front of an impressive array of high tech radio equipment, most of which he had no idea how to use. He did recognize the mike though, which he grabbed, clicking it on.
“This is Dr. Raj Joshi. Calling Camp Bravo, are you there? Over.”
Only static came from the speakers.
Raj, went to talk again, when the sound of voices could be heard outside.
“This is Raj Joshi, Bravo camp are you there!”
The voices grew louder.
“Yes, Dr. we are here, is everything okay?”
Raj went to reply, when he felt the pressure of someone watching him. Turning, a soldier was pointing their rifle directly at his head.
That was a day ago, and now here he was tied to a chair, trying to figure out a way to escape.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“Brad, we’re entering the northern outskirts of Roswell, we are about fifteen minutes out. Over.” Brad acknowledged and Zach dropped the radio back into his pocket. He then reached across and briefly squeezed Abbey’s hand, which felt clammy.
“I gotta admit, there were many times, that I didn’t think we would be back in this city,” said Michael.
“You and me both,” replied Fiona. “I just hope that fuckwit Tinley hasn’t killed everyone, getting here.”
“If he has, that’s on him, he’s done when he makes it back to the camp, I can’t believe Trow will put up with that level of...”
“I imagine you’re looking forward to seeing your daughter again,” said Abbey interrupting.
Fiona smiled. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”
Zach clicked on his radio again. “Brad, any signs of E.L.F’s? Over.”
“There were a few of the wolf creatures on the outskirts of town, but Tinley’s people took then down,” there was a pause then Brad continued. “Zach, I don’t suppose you stopped over at Jim Nez’s place? Everyone’s been trying to reach them, but haven’t been getting any response for a few days now. Over.”
Quiet returned to the inside of the Humvee. Zach sighed, then clicked on his radio. “I’ve got some bad news, about Jim’s place. Over.”
“Yes?”
“They are all gone, Brad. Looks like the outpost was attacked by a gang. Over.”
“Everyone? They are all dead?”
“Everyone, apart from Jim’s son, James. We couldn’t find him. Over.”
“Who… you are sure it wasn’t E.L.F’s?”
“They had bullet wounds. Over.”
A few seconds of static passed through Zach’s radio’s speaker.
“I’ll pass that on to Bravo. Jim and his group were good people. Out.”
Soon, large weather worn signs for collections of out of this world artifacts and good meals for the family flashed by, and they were driving past buildings they knew well.
“There she is,” said Michael looking out of the front of the Humvee, at the office building rising over the horizon.
“Almost feels like coming home,” said Fiona.
Zach took a right and headed down pleasant residential streets, with homes that looked not that much different from before the Cascade, apart from the frost on their roof’s and lawns. A few minutes later they were pulling up outside Brad’s home.
Brad was standing out front, with a rifle slung over his shoulder. Zach got out of the Humvee, and quickly walked over the white and brown lawn, firmly shaking Brad’s hand, which took him a little by surprise.
“Let’s get everyone inside, quickly,” said Brad pointing to the bus.
Zach waved to Bass, and soon everyone was making their way down the moss covered stairs, through Brad’s basement and up into the main parts of his home.
Everyone was briefly introduced to B
rad, who then told everyone he had to check on the generator out back, and left.
The children excitedly filtered out amongst the rooms. Brad had decorated each room studiously with tinsel, and ornaments, combined with lanterns that made each room seem smaller than when they were there before.
Fiona walked into the living room and collapsed on the sofa. On the coffee table in front of her was a feast of food. Sandwiches, with candy bars, and packets of chips, all residing next to at least ten bottles of water. There were also a few bottles of what looked like wine. Tears started to well up in Fiona’s eyes, as she leaned forward grabbing a sandwich and started chewing.
Mary and Irene followed by some children flooded into the living room. The kids spotted the sandwiches and grabbed a handful.
“Hey, put them back, one between two, unless you are taking the rest to everyone else,” the children smiled, and ran up the stairs with their bounty. Mary then whispered something to Irene.
“Wine!” replied Irene who sprang forward, her stick hitting Brad’s furniture until she was within arm length of the green glass bottle with the cork in the top.
Mary laughed. “Pour me some!” she said sitting down on a chair.
Outside Bass went to close the bus’s door as the soldiers carried their remaining supplies back to the basement. As he closed it, Bass’s hand lingered on the yellow paintwork of the bus and he thought of Rob. Sighing, he quickly followed them back inside.
Abbey and Zach lingered in Brad’s basement, which was now empty after the soldiers and Bass had passed through to the upstairs. Tears rolled down Abbey’s face as she hugged him tight. She then pulled back, and nodded. He touched her face and smiled, then walked to the basement stairs door and waited. After a few seconds, he walked up the stairs.
As Zach walked into the hallway, Jacks walked into him heavily. “Hey sorry man, didn’t see you there.”
Zach smiled. “Can you tell Brad when you see him, that I’m going to do a quick check back at the office building on the corner, he will know the one. There are some supplies we left there a few weeks back and I want to get them before the lights completely gone.”