Salazar

by Chariss K. Walker

  As they came out of hiding to see who was out there, they understandably felt hopeless and discouraged. After being attacked by the monsters, they were more frightened than ever. When Salazar offered them shelter, they were intensely eager to find a safer place to hide and felt the tiniest spark of optimism once again.

  Although he had been only a teenager less than a week ago when the devastation had begun, Salazar no longer seemed youthful to those around him. He appeared wise and older even though his age was difficult to determine. It was obvious that he was the leader of the other two men. They looked up to him, not only because he was taller, but because he was simply more.

  There had always been something about Salazar that spoke of his amazing courage, leadership ability, and incomparable insight, and now, after the events experienced, he was revered. It was effortless for others to rely on him and to trust him.

  He easily convinced those he found alive to come with him as he reassured, "If you come with us deep underground, into the bowels of the city, you will find more than safety from the half-human creatures, the unsettling mist, and raging fires. You will find a new home."

  Hearing the sound of others talking in the streets, more and more people came out into the open and by the time they headed back to the tunnels, Salazar led the first one-hundred survivors to their new home.

  Not all of those who followed Salazar were from Winterhaven. As the group walked back to the tunnel's entrance, Salazar closely listened to their quiet chatter and discovered that many were from all parts of August City. Like Sam and Sondra, they had come on some errand and been unable to return to their homes and families elsewhere.

  "I didn't think much of it at first," someone muttered, "yet for some miraculous reason I was very near the edge of Winterhaven when the attack began. At first, I thought it was a curse."

  "I know," another voice confessed. "I actually thought 'Well hell, if the bombs don't get me the criminals in Winterhaven will.' However, I was more afraid of the fires and mobs running through the streets in Fallhaven so I kept heading this way."

  "If we're being completely honest, I tried every way I could to go in a different direction even though all the other paths were blocked. It was as if it was here or death. I made a conscious decision to choose here."

  Salazar turned to look more closely at that particular survivor. He wanted to put a face to the voice for future reference. He felt that this particular person had something special to offer to the others. Salazar locked eyes with the youth and then turned back to lead them to safety while the quiet chatter continued.

  "Excuse me, Sir," the voice of that particular survivor called out, "My name is Jordan Wilson and I wanted to express my deep gratitude that you found us just now." Jordan extended his hand and Salazar shook it ready to receive a vision of the young man's future.

  From the handshake, Salazar could clearly see that Jordan was an honest, kind, and efficient young man. He put family and friends first and always tried to do the right thing. Jordan was scared, however, his was not the kind of irrational fear that would lead him to take foolish measures. He would volunteer to help others.

  "I am Salazar and these two men with me are Sam and Jesse."

  There was a brief silence before the chatter continued from the others.

  "As the bombs ravished the rest of the city, I realized that Winterhaven was the safest place to be," another voice admitted.

  "I did too," someone else agreed. "I found shelter until the attack was over. While the bombs were falling, I never believed for an instant that I would live to see another day. Then, I heard these men talking in the street and came outside."

  "We all heard them talking in the street and came out," someone clarified.

  Salazar recalled the things Henry had said and Sondra's proclamation, "Divine intervention." He silently recognized that these people were saved for a reason. There was more that they had to do, more that they had to offer to whatever remained of this new world's society.

  30| Madness

  Jesse Slater had already overcome his earlier doubts. He was once again a true believer that Salazar was the best leader for their situation and followed his lead. Not that he had ever really doubted Salazar. It was more the devastation and many deaths that had taken their toll on Jesse's peace of mind. Regardless, now he could trust again that there was hope for all who had survived.

  He stepped up to help, urging the others on, "Keep going. That's it, just keep going. Watch your footing. That's it, nice and easy," his soft baritone voice soothed and encouraged the ragtag group as Salazar led the way underground.

  It was dark in the tunnels and the temperature was surprisingly cool in the passageway in spite of the fires that burned above. The knowledge that they had escaped the heat and destruction outside calmed most of the survivors right away and they began to hope that maybe they could start anew. The deeper they went, the more tolerable the conditions became and their confidence grew.

  "You said there were others in here?" Someone asked.

  "They are just ahead," Salazar's calm voice reassured.

  However, by the time Salazar returned to the depression where he had left his mother and the others, Phillip was very nearly stark-raving mad. He stood in a corner, repeatedly banging his forehead against the rock wall muttering unintelligible words and making guttural sounds while he held his injured arm with his other hand. The rest of the group remained silent. Somehow, with Sondra's help, they had been able to block out Phillip's insane antics.

  When Miki saw Salazar approach, she put a finger to her lips and gestured with her other hand, indicating that her son should proceed calmly and slowly.

  "Hold up here," Salazar softly instructed the newcomers as he gave Jesse a silent order to keep them there. Then, he and Sam moved toward Phillip.

  "Try to distract him," Sam whispered.

  "Phillip, what's going on, buddy?" Salazar gently asked as he moved closer to get a better look at the man. Phillip, with wild, hate-filled eyes, turned slightly to glare at Salazar, the one person he considered his archenemy, the one person he blamed for everything including his injury.

  Salazar knew instantly that Phillip had begun to change into something more like the other half-human creatures he had seen topside. After the things Henry had said, Salazar wondered if there was any way to save Phillip.

  Salazar considered that Phillip had only been exposed to the fumes a short while before entering the tunnels while those above had continual contact with the toxins. Since that was the case, he wondered if having less exposure would help him to help Phillip.

  Could his condition be reversed?

  Salazar wondered if that was the purpose of the exercise. Had they tolerated Phillip's hostile behavior because Phillip could be saved? Or was his condition permanent?

  Phillip's forehead was raw and bloody from the repeated head-banging. His broken wrist was swollen and inflamed. The bones of his wrist protruded in a gory, fleshy mess of tangled tendons and tissue.

  "Why didn't you let Sue Ellen tend to your hand?" Salazar asked in bewilderment. "She's a nurse, Phillip, and she could have helped you."

  Phillip stopped the strange mutterings and suddenly lunged toward Salazar in an attempted attack, however, with his arm straight, Salazar easily held him off. As he touched Phillip, Salazar expected to see part of Phillip's future; and he hoped that he would see a solution or remedy for him.

  Instead, he saw something he had never imagined.

  Phillip's mind was filled with red.

  While Salazar kept Phillip's attention on him, Sam quietly slipped behind the deranged man to place his index and middle fingers on the side of Phillips carotid artery. His thumb applied the necessary pressure and Phillip's rabid eyes immediately calmed. He went down to his knees and then promptly fell asleep.

  Surprised by what he had seen Sam do and shocked at the images in Phillip's mind, Salazar's eyebrows lifted high on his brow as if asking a question.

&nbs
p; "Cheap-shot," Sam quietly explained. Then, he casually shrugged his shoulders in response before he eased Phillip to a seated position to prevent further injury.

  "How long will he be out?" Salazar asked.

  "He'll sleep for a while and, if Sue Ellen works quickly, it will give her a chance to sedate him further and try to repair his hand."

  "Well hellfire!" Freddy loudly cursed when he saw how easily Sam had taken care of Phillip. "If you guys are going to leave me behind and in charge in the future, you're going to have to teach me how to do that!"

  Phillip started and jerked as Freddy's strident voice penetrated the haze of the cheap shot sleep that Sam had administered. The rest of the survivors, fearful that Phillip would rouse again, held their breaths.

  "Shush," Miki hissed, "you'll wake him up, Freddy!"

  "Sorry," Freddy acknowledged using a much softer voice.

  Freddy's interruption had also disturbed Salazar's musings about what he had seen in Phillip's mind; however, he also had a group of people depending on him to give them a new, safe home. With so much relying on him at that moment, Salazar put his worries about Phillip aside for the time being.

  "It's true," Miki softly added. "Phillip injured himself only a few minutes after you left. If Freddy had known how to handle him, Phillip and the rest of us would have been spared a great deal of torment. It was pretty awful."

  "I'm sorry, Mother. We'll take care of it," Salazar comforted while Sam nodded in agreement.

  Sue Ellen sedated Phillip while he was out and he was placed on a blanket that four conscripted men used to carry him the rest of the way.

  If Phillip had been aware of the manner in which he finally entered the cavern, he would have cringed at the dishonor and insult. He had envisioned that he led the way with a torch held high and all those who now followed Salazar following him. Now, he lay unconscious on a blanket and had to depend on others to transport him there.

  However, none of that really mattered to the rest of the survivors. Now, with plenty of light, they could finally see what was at the end of the passageway.

  Would they find a new home?

  Would there be enough room?

  Were they headed into their future or their past?

  31| Hope & Faith

  There was excitement, almost giddiness, in the air as the survivors ventured further underground. Whether it was merely being alive or the coolness of the tunnels, it didn't matter. There was hope for something more and something better than what those present had endured above.

  While Salazar led the way, he confided to Miki, "I can't help wonder whether one day another city will be built on top of the ruins above us."

  "Or perhaps there is even another city beneath this one," Miki thoughtfully added.

  "I suppose it is possible," Salazar admitted. "That only proves my point. How many times has history repeated itself? How many times have we humans blown ourselves up and rebuilt our lives only to make the same mistakes and do it all over again?"

  "I know those are troubling and discouraging thoughts, Son," she softly acknowledged. "Remember what our grandfather often quoted?"

  "Yes, 'those who cannot learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.' And he always stressed that the author of that quote was George Santayana, not some president who claimed it."

  "Oh, I've always believed that nothing is new or original. It seems that everything has been said again and again. To think that we plagiarize words is absurd," Miki softly advised. "Perhaps Santayana said it in our distant past, while someone else said it long before that. I believe that each generation gets the same messages over and over. Aside from that, you have done a great service to humanity by getting these people to safety, Salazar. I am proud of you."

  "Yes, and I must return to look for more."

  "So soon?" Miki sighed, knowing that she had reared a strong, responsible man who took his duties seriously. She was proud of her son even if she did worry about him.

  After the group descended some four-hundred meters, or about a half mile beneath the bedrock, the tunnel finally opened into a massive cavern just as Serena McKay had said it would. The entire expanse before them appeared to cover almost as large a surface as Fallhaven above. It could easily house hundreds of thousands of people if they were lucky enough to find that many survivors who had weathered the various assaults.

  Although it was not a naturally formed cave and had been built with excavation tools, it appeared safe. The wavering lights from their torches cast an eerie glow on the surrounding walls; however, with closer inspection, the people could see the possibilities. Those opportunities evoked tears of joy in some. Others experienced worry and fear.

  The party of survivors stood in awed silence as those carrying torches lifted them high to get a better view. It definitely appeared to be 'a city beneath a city' just as their benefactor had claimed. That knowledge was disconcerting to some of the people because it appeared that the former residents had vanished without a trace, leaving all their worldly possessions behind.

  Many wondered what had caused such an exodus. What had precipitated an evacuation of such magnitude? Where did they go?

  And, would they return one day?

  Streets were paved without breakage or potholes while homes and businesses still stood, dusty for sure, and from what they could see in the dim light, in surprisingly good condition. Even though those present could see the potential for a better life, they couldn't help wondering why the city had been abandoned to begin with.

  What dangers lurked in its dark recesses?

  Could the perils here be worse than their ravaged city above?

  Were they trading one disaster for another?

  As they silently pondered those thoughts, suddenly, an eerie grandmotherly voice rang out, quoting a passage from a book she had once cherished, "Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to naught and devastation."

  A hush fell over those around her while fear filled their eyes and gripped their hearts. Needlelike prickles of apprehension raced down their spines as they conjured their own terrifying meaning to the words they had heard. They were on the verge of outright panic when Miki took the woman by the hand and said, "Shush now and keep the faith. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are renewed day by day. Keep the faith, little woman and trust that we will survive this calamity in a new and better place. What is your name, little grandmother?"

  "I am Margaret," she replied.

  "Then, keep the faith with me, Margaret," Miki encouraged.

  "Keep the faith!" many voices echoed and, as the light of hope chased away the darkness of fear, calm was suddenly restored.

  "Yeah, it's better than what we had," a voice called out.

  "So much better," another voice agreed.

  It was true. After the many years of shortages, deprivation, and near starvation the average citizen had suffered as residents of August City, there appeared to be plenty of everything in this new world. It was a paradise to those who had suffered from the abuses of a corrupt society above.

  "It's Eden," a young mother joyfully exclaimed as she held her toddler in the crook of her arms.

  The name took hold and a new city was born – a new city that did not divide itself into sections. It was a new city that would not separate its residents by religion or race or status. It was a new city that, at least in the beginning, was united.

  There were plenty of houses for each of them. As the survivors curiously looked about and beyond them, they realized that they now had a place to rest and a place to call home.

  In Eden, there were no feelings of loss or abandonment. There was no elite group to get special privileges. There were no corrupt politicians or government officials who only served the people from greed and selfishness. There was no one to cruelly exert their unjust power and autho
rity over them. There was no one to oppress the general public… and all those standing there on the precipice of a new world and new beginning realized that they were all that was left of the general public.

  In Eden, each person felt equal to the neighbor standing beside them. For once, they felt as if they had a chance in this new place where the system was not weighted against them. Many sighed in relief and exhaled their first real breaths of freedom. Freedom from tyranny was an empowering feeling.

  In Eden, there was only hope for a new and better life.

  32| Considerations

  Salazar prepared to go back out to look for more survivors. They had only managed to cover a small distance while topside and he and Sam were convinced there were more survivors out there who needed them. With that in mind, Sam taught Freddy how to administer the 'cheap-shot' and then they rested for a few hours before returning to search for more people.

  Before Salazar left again, he pulled Miki aside to speak with her in private, "Mother, I think I know how the fumes are affecting people," he began and then shared his theory. His mother nodded in agreement as he told her his ideas about how the gases had affected those exposed to it.

  "Son, I believe you are right. I feel it too." Miki agreed. "While you and the others were away, Phillip acted-out worse than ever. He became more and more aggressive and belligerent. Apparently, the symptoms grow worse over time."

  "Or better," Salazar interjected, hoping to put her fears to rest. "You can see for yourself that Sondra's ability has increased and so have mine and Sam's."