by L K Hingey
Although she had been anticipating Elizabethtown on the northern horizon for hours, when it finally came into view, she met the reality with mild dismay. The sun had only just begun to sink, and they had arrived at the biggest metropolis of their journey. Apprehension coursed through her body and she found herself desperately hoping they would keep traveling beyond the town, beyond the sunset. She had become accustomed to the welcoming numbness that the monotony of the road provided, and she was tentative to break from it.
Exchanging only glances, Kimber and Tristan entered the south side of the city. I65 took them north through the city for a few minutes before the pair peeled off on an exit that arced to the west. Apartment complexes and business gave way to residential neighborhoods as they traveled, the commonality of destitution making everything in Elizabethtown look as bleak as every other abandoned town. As Kimber and Tristan rounded the arc, they slowed to a walk and gazed west over the buckled overpass of interstate and Highway 31.
Beyond the crumpled concrete was a giant manufacturing plant. The sign was terribly rusted, but Kimber could make out the words Corken Steel Products Incorporated. The factory was as massive as it was sterile, rising from the dust like offshore oil rigs once rose from the tide. Dozens of smokestacks ribbed with metal ladders rose into the dusk while the borealis played tricks on Kimber’s still dreamy state of mind, looking like neon smoke fluming from the silhouetted chimneys.
To the north of the industrial plant laid the heart of Elizabethtown. The many shops and houses marched off into the grey of the twilight. As Tristan surveyed the city, his hungry stomach tightened into knots. He stole a sideways glance at Kimber, who was also calmly watching the evening set in. Her body may have looked relaxed, but her eyes were anything but calm. Tristan recognized the silent panic and decided to quiet his growling stomach.
“The borealis looks bright tonight. Want to continue for a couple of hours? We can make Radcliff and find a hotel to break into. We can press hard for a bit and earn some good sleep on real beds.” Tristan was fighting to make his voice sound cheery and up to the challenge.
Kimber eyed him suspiciously. “You sure you’d be okay to keep going? I figured you’d be starving.”
Tristan kicked at the ossified dirt to mask his grumbling stomach and forced a smile. “I’ll put my foot down for water, but dinner I can wait for.” His smile spread playfully. “Plus, it means less miles for me to carry the pack tomorrow. Mind grabbing the map? If I am remembering correctly, there should be a river cutting through Elizabethtown somewhere.”
As Kimber pulled the map out, Tristan squinted at the collapsed bridge in front of them. “There’s something metallic out there. See it glinting every once and a while?”
Kimber passed the map to Tristan and followed his gaze. Sure enough, something on the ground glimmered under the brightening purple tendrils in the sky. She peered at it while Tristan studied the map. “I think it’s a drone,” Kimber shrugged.
Tristan folded the map and passed it back, craning forward to make out the dim outline of the object in question. “I think you’re right. Looks about the same size Scoop was.”
Kimber nodded. Scoop had been the first drone they had ever found. The team of Auroras who had found it were so excited they hiked the drone all the way back to Inanna from the southern city of Bowling Green. When they proudly presented the drone to the trade masters in the engineering sector, they were met with unenthusiastic grunts. The team had worked hard to carry the drone back, as Scoop was no small piece of machinery, and the Auroras grumpily took the robot back for themselves.
From that point on, Scoop had resided in the mouth of the cavern system where the Auroreans took turns dissecting and putting him back together again. The excitement wore off once more drones were found and the Auroreans realized how commonplace drones had been in the lives of those who had lived before the flare. One of the male Auroras though, named Lo, had a fascination with everything robotized, and his interest in Scoop never faded. Months later, after painstakingly restoring Scoop’s power distribution board, he managed to get Scoop to execute its basic hover programming.
Kimber smiled thinking of her brother’s face when Lo had brought the Auroras to the mouth of the cavern to watch Scoop hover for the first time. Lo’s mind understood the signaling of electronics better than it understood people, and he seldom spoke, preferring to keep to his sweet introverted self. On that day though, Lo grinned like a champion as Scoop lifted into the air, powered by the rays of the early morning sun.
“There are probably hundreds of them wherever their homing station is,” Kimber said, recalling the crowded drone charging field that had been discovered in Bowling Green. During the flurry of curiosity that Scoop had drummed up, the educators in Inanna told the Auroras, rather coolly, that drones had become highly commercialized after the Last War. Drones were luxuries that only cities with large populations had, and even the idea of drones now seemed like a slap in the face to the humans.
“Yep. This little guy was probably out doing surveillance or deliveries when the CME wiped out his nav capabilities. Bet Lo would love to tinker with it.” Tristan tried to stifle a yawn but failed, smiling apologetically. “Let’s go find that water and get underway while I still have enough energy! Valley Creek is only a mile or so to the north.”
Kimber nodded, and they departed again under the now bright borealis. The pair passed by many shops in the night, pausing only when they got to the creek. After a quick filtration and fill up, Kimber, and a much more contented Tristan, eased back into their running cadence. Time slipped away again as the shadowy metropolis smeared itself back into the nightscape of old Kentucky.
The ten miles in between Elizabethtown and the city of Radcliff took them roughly two hours to jog. Tristan, who was consumed by the thought of food and sleep, howled happily when the first silhouettes of the town came in view. Even Kimber had reached the point of exhaustion and was ready to collapse into a bed. The pair trotted into the town’s limits and immediately looked around for dinner and a hotel. They crossed a small highway and nodded in agreement towards a cluster of hotels and fast-food options.
The restaurant in front of them was dark, illuminated by the churning light from above. Tristan went first, cautiously trying the door. It was unlocked and the space inside was empty. The pair quickly slipped into the kitchen and rooted around for anything they could find. Kimber came across industrial-sized cans of chili and tomatoes, and Tristan found cans of applesauce and several vacuum-packed bags of croutons. They did not even attempt to open the giant commercial refrigerator. They both knew how spoiled food could stay in the warm, air-tight spaces.
They brought their dinner options to a table in the dining area and tucked in. Kimber found the croutons surprisingly delightful and dipped them into the chili. Tristan was ravenous and didn’t speak until after he had had his fill. He checked his wristwatch. It was just after 10:00 P.M. and by the goofy look on his face, Kimber could tell it was time to get him into a bed before a food-coma set in. She stood up with more vigor than she actually felt and hauled Tristan to his feet.
Attempting to be extra perky, she led them out of the restaurant and into the establishment next door. The tall hotel sign shimmered a grotesque green in the purple light, but the building was large and modern. Breathing a silent prayer of thanks, Kimber opened an unlocked door on the side of the expansive breezeway. She dug around for her flashlight and carefully surveyed the area. The service desk in front of them was uncluttered, making it easy for her to find the hotel’s master set of key cards. Tristan, who was trying to be helpful, stumbled upon a cache of bottled water in one of the cabinets.
Kimber led them down the first hallway to the left and chose a door at random. She could feel her own dinner settling and with it, waves of exhaustion. Tristan helped her exchange the batteries on the door’s automatic lock, and before they knew it, they were in the room. Two white beds laid peacefully out in front of them, and without
so much as a sound, they each threw themselves down on one. Within minutes, they were lost in grateful sleep, not stirring even once until the sun rose.
Morning light streamed into the windows of the hotel room, blissfully wishing Kimber good morning. She was so comfortable all she wanted to do was to throw the blankets back over her head and pretend the day did not exist. The white linens were so soft and so luxurious, and Tristan was sleeping so soundly in his bed, that the morning light felt like a very unwelcome guest. She tried to be as quiet as she could not to disturb him.
She gazed around the compact room. The twenty years that had gone by had not done much, except make the place a little dustier. The pictures that hung on the walls were placid beach scenes. Though they were probably once considered tacky, Kimber loved them, and they reaffirmed her desire to one day see an ocean. The carpet was bright blue speckled with white, and the ambiance of the room was dedicated entirely to transporting one to a far-off place of sea breezes and pina-coladas.
Tristan sighed deeply in his bed and rolled over onto his side. Kimber held her breath. She did not want to wake him. Not only did he look peaceful, but when he woke, she would have to face the realities of the coming day. She wanted to remain in this make-believe world of cleanliness and comfort with Tristan. Fort Knox and the Ireland clinic could wait.
Only, they couldn’t. The others were waiting on them to return with news. Eve’s baby’s life may be hanging in the balance. Kimber shut her eyes and remembered Eve’s attempts to plea with the council. Kimber had not known it at the time, but Eve had been fighting for the rights of her unborn child. Kimber could not even imagine the desperation and frustration of trying to reason with a committee that was as heartless as the rocks they had used to seal off Inanna with.
Kimber sighed in frustration. Her mind, zeroed in on the gravity of the coming day, was all too awake. Maybe on the return trip, they could stay here and enjoy one night and one morning of actual relaxation. Kimber, lying alert in her bed, tried not to stare at Tristan as she waited for him to wake up. He looked so handsome sleeping atop the white sheets that it was hard not to.
The usually taught and defined muscles in his square shoulders were supple and curved at rest. His incredible coloration stood out against the blank backdrop and the yellow, green, blue, and brown hues glinted in the early morning light. The sheets covered his lower half, sitting right below his belly button. His stomach muscles, which usually featured a few tense abs, were also relaxed, gracefully rising and falling in time with his chest. Kimber couldn’t help but to steal glances at his broad chest. It was amazing.
The muscles that he had worked years to build up seemed to be coiled under the surface, soft and swollen, yet ready to spring into action. More like a cat than a snake, something akin to a mountain lion. She had seen the ornate faces of these powerful creatures peeking out of the pages of encyclopedias, with their beautiful tan fur and black eye-liner. They were strong and fierce animals that could bring down prey three times their own size, but when relaxed, they were playful and lazy.
Comparing Tristan to a wild animal was amusing and helped free her mind from the anxiety of the military fort to the north. She shifted her gaze to the ceiling, thinking of the frightfully big cats. She would have loved to have seen one in real life. Any of the large animals that used to roam the Earth would have been magnificent to see in the flesh. Tristan was the closest thing she would probably ever get. His voice brought her out of her daydream with a slight jump.
“And what are you grinning about over there?” he asked, his voice husky with sleepiness.
Kimber turned over and saw his hazel eyes staring lazily at her. Yep, just like a cat, she thought.
“Just enjoying how soft everything is. I don’t think I’ve ever been so comfortable. Makes me want to stay here forever.”
“I know, right? I hope the people of the world knew how lucky they were. This is incredible. Too bad room service isn’t a thing anymore. Just imagine eggs and sausage brought straight to our room. Maybe some fresh coffee...” he trailed off and sat up. He stretched with a big groan and looked around. “Yeah, this would do for a while.”
“You can keep the breakfast. I’d turn on the water.” Kimber looked longingly towards the bathroom.
The underground rivers were the closest thing to running water that they would probably ever know, and the idea of pressurized water falling from a showerhead was intriguing. Kimber did not necessarily mind the icy river water, but the humans could not stand it. They disliked it so much, that tons of energy were put into heating Inanna’s bathhouses. Large vats of water were boiled daily for the citizens’ rotating schedule of weekly baths. The idea of warm water, falling like rain at the turn of a handle, seemed too easy.
“Speaking of water, we should grab a few more bottles on the way out. Then we should probably get a jump north. Judging by the sun, we must have slept in a bit.”
Kimber could tell that he too, had the weight of the coming day heavy on his mind. Kimber nodded and stretched out, already missing the comfort of the bed. The pair gathered up their few items in the room and looked over the map. They were on the south side of Radcliff and had approximately eight miles to go to get to the clinic. It would only take them a couple hours to get there, but they would want as much daylight as possible once they got there.
On the way out, they each grabbed three bottles of water. They drank one, put two in the sack, and then each carried one in their hands. There would be no time to be searching for or filtering water today. The borealis was a beautiful, but unusual, red color with rivers of green spilling out in all directions. The skies looked clear enough though. Crumbling buildings and roads surrounded them, but it was not nearly as crowded of a city as Elizabethtown had been. They settled into a slow run up Highway 31.
Normally, Kimber would have been fascinated by the differences of the cities they ran though, but not today. Her mind was honed-in on the vault of secrets they were about to break into. When Tristan stopped on the north side of the city, she had to force herself not to argue.
“I know you don’t want to stop,” Tristan said intuitively. “But we do need to find something to eat. Let’s stop and see if we can find anything. We don’t know how long the day is going to be, or if we will get another chance.”
Kimber nodded. She appreciated Tristan’s common sense. Even though she doubted the butterflies in her stomach would make room for breakfast, he was right that she had to try. They had their choice of shops and convenience stores, looking around until they found one with a busted side door. They peeled off to the left, sneaking into a familiar grocery store chain.
Kimber’s eyes adjusted to the gloom. The store was set up like a warehouse and had nearly been cleaned out. They wandered around and halfheartedly found the canned goods aisle. They each picked out a couple things without speaking, before exiting and picking a spot in the parking lot near a couple concrete barriers. The pair sat down in the small amount of shade and opened their cans. Kimber had picked out some split pea soup, and Tristan had picked out his standard can of chili beans.
Kimber was grateful that Tristan didn’t try to coax her into speaking. She wanted to be left alone with her overwhelming thoughts and somehow, he sensed and respected that. The quietness did not feel awkward. Instead, it felt surprisingly comfortable. They sat on the cool ground, sizing up the landscape around them. It was a dismal scene of concrete and ruin under the red light of the morning. Absentmindedly, Kimber fiddled with the vial of teeth attached to her vest, and her thoughts drifted to her mother’s pleas.
She was not exactly looking forward to discovering the crimes that had haunted Kimberly for twenty years. Kimber had always looked up to and loved her mother. Would what she might find make her question that adoration? Was there anything in the world that could jeopardize that kind of love? And would they even be able to pull off getting inside the labs? Kimber’s mind spun on the unknown, and Tristan watched the anguish and anticipati
on roll like thunder in her lightning-like eyes.
When they were done eating, Tristan took the cans and set them aside. Kimber had not eaten all her soup, but the butterflies had at least made room for some of it. He didn’t say anything, grateful that she had at least tried. He did not know how he would feel or act if he was in her shoes. Well, bare feet, he thought. Either way, he did not envy that task that was before her. Kimberly had always been a respected figure in Inanna, but more importantly he knew she had been Kimber’s best friend.
As they stood up, Tristan silently renewed his resolution to help Kimber bear whatever burden she would pick up in the clinic, for as long as she would need help carrying it. Kimber simply smiled in shy gratitude for the mental space he was giving her. She loved him being near, but every step that brought them closer to Fort Knox seemed to tax her emotionally. They each drank some of their water and then they were off again. No fanfare, no jokes, just business. They were on the last leg of their journey north, and the fort would soon be on the horizon.
Chapter XIV
There was no mistaking Fort Knox when it swam into view. There were no impenetrable concrete walls to scale or fences of barbwire that tangled themselves into the distance, like one might have thought. There was only a single, oddly segregated, building atop a hill far off in the distance. It looked stoic and angry, as if it were a soldier himself imprisoned in granite. As they traveled closer and closer, both Kimber and Tristan hoped the building was not their destination.
The map had told them to veer off to the east onto a road called Bullion Boulevard. The street sign had been long ripped away by winds, but the massive road curving into the huge military complex was quite distinctive. On the right side of the road, they could see skeletons of old military buildings. On the left, were the remains of an old golf course. Now it was nothing more than a groomed desert with narrow plateaus cut strangely into its rolling hills.