Bleaker

by Jacqueline Druga

  There were several people just inside who watched them walk in. Merks could see the village in the distance, smoke from chimneys rising up.

  As they walked a bit further a man hurried to them. He looked to be in his sixties and in good shape. He carried something in his hand and Merks could see that the man smiled.

  But as soon as the man was close enough, the smile dropped from his face and was replaced with a look of disappointment.

  “This is our leader,” Pyle said.

  “Why do you introduce me like that,” the man said. “I’m sorry. I…saw the craft fly over and the blue streak, I thought for sure…I thought for sure you were someone I knew. I even brought him something.”

  “Who…who did you think we were?” Merks asked.

  “The Robinson.”

  “We are,” Merks replied.

  “Well…is Tucker Freeman alright?”

  Pusk let out a short laugh. “He’s fine. You know Tucker? Sorry, I know that’s not funny, but a desolate, changed Earth, God knows how far in the future…”

  “For you guys, a hundred and forty-two years,” he said.

  “Christ,” Merks gasped.

  Pusk found it even more amusing. “Over a hundred years into the future and one of the first people we meet knows Tucker? How is that possible?”

  “Long story,” the man answered. “I was convinced he was here. I even”—he held up the container—“brought him milk. It’s a…it’s an inside joke.”

  “You can put that away for now,” Merks said, “and give it to him later. He’s on another scouting team.”

  “I will. And I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce myself.” He held out his hand. “Joshua. Joshua Quinn. We left Earth the same time as you. I’m the commander of the Genesis project.”

  <><><><>

  “Did I ever tell you,” Sam spoke slightly out of breath as he and Tucker walked, “I’m not a physical person?” Walking was understating. Since leaving the buggy, they climbed over things, through things, and once under.

  “This isn’t physical,” Tucker said with a chuckle.

  “You don’t think?”

  “We’ve only been walking twenty minutes. You’re funny.”

  “I’m serious. It’s been years since I did anything physical. I’m a desk guy. I use a JAXA discontinued Robot Max to get my beverages from the fridge at home and sweep my floors.”

  “So funny, I’m surprised you didn’t pack him.”

  Sam stopped walking.

  “You did?” Tucker laughed even harder. “You packed your housekeeper.”

  “It was a pretty brilliant invention,” Sam said. “Four feet tall, light weight. Just because it tried to kill someone once…once, they scrapped it.”

  “That’s a shame.”

  “Okay, you know what? I have to stop.” Sam bent over slightly grabbing his knees.

  “We’re almost there. I know we’re close. In fact, you’ll get a kick out of this.”

  “I doubt it.”

  “You and I, we’re about ten feet from a road. Well, what’s left of one. Bet it’ll be easier to walk.”

  “We’ve been walking on the side of a road?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I hate you,” Sam said. “How do you know?”

  “Well, aside from the fact I can see it sort of, this…” Tucker stomped his foot causing a ‘thunk’ sound.

  “What the hell was that?”

  “A sign. Not like…oh, a heavenly sign, but a sign. Look.” Tucker pointed down.

  How he even saw it, Sam didn’t know. It was completely buried, all but a tiny bit of a rusted corner emerging from the ground, along with part of the metal post. Erosion or a storm had probably brought it to the surface.

  “This way.” Tucker led the way up the small grade. “No more physical walking. Well, one more time. I think this used to be a guardrail.” He felt through the brush. “Yes, it is. But let me clear it for you.”

  Tucker pulled branches and weeds creating a small enough opening for Sam to climb over.

  On the other side of the rail, Tucker waited for Sam.

  Sam stumbled a bit as he climbed from the other side of the guardrail. “Why do you look so tall?” Sam asked.

  “That’s because I am.”

  “You’re not that tall.” Sam held out his hand for Tucker to help him over. As soon as he cleared the rail, he realized why Tucker looked so tall. The road on the other side had grown over or lifted so much it was nearly even with the rail.

  “Man, you really aren’t physical,” Tucker said.

  “I’m tired from walking and climbing. I think I need an energy bar or something.”

  “They don’t really give you energy. We can stop if you want. I think it’s a straight shot now to where we’re heading.”

  Sam stood there looking around. If it was a highway, it was lumpy. But they weren’t lumps or mounds, they were cars. Nature had encompassed and devoured them until they became part of the landscape. “Cars. We’re walking on cars.”

  “Looks like an exodus,” Tucker replied. “Did you want to stop, you didn’t say.”

  “How far do you think we are?” Sam asked.

  Tucker pointed outward. “See for yourself.”

  Sam looked. “Holy shit. Holy…fucking shit.”

  “That’s your Planet of the Apes moment, isn’t it?” Tucker asked.

  “Yeah, yeah it is,” Sam replied. “Is that yours, too?”

  “Nah, but I’ll let you know when I see it.”

  “I think I need to pause.” Sam set down his bag. He sat down on one of the mounds.

  He needed more than just to take a break. It wasn’t that their destination was all that far ahead. They were actually close. Sam needed to take minute to absorb when he saw his Planet of the Apes moment. It was worn some, perhaps overgrown, but from the distance Sam couldn’t see any damage. It was the defining moment that reiterated what had happened to the world and that they truly were in the future. It was hard to believe it was still there, still standing and he couldn’t take his eyes off of the Washington Monument that poked high above the wilderness and trees ahead of them.

  PART THREE: MERGER

  THIRTEEN

  Nate Gale traced his finger over the rounded edge of the shoe imprint in the dirt. “They don’t care that they’re leaving a trail.” He brushed his hands off as he stood. “They’re still together. Two of them. They’re walking.”

  Curt shook his head. “Tell me again why we’re following them?”

  “Well, Clutch,” Nate sarcastically called him by his nickname. “We need to know if they are from the ARC…or somewhere else.”

  “Why?”

  Finch grumbled. “Does it matter? We should look for them. But…” He faced his crew. “I think Ben should stay back. He’s barely walking as it is from his injuries.”

  “Yes,” Ben said. “Everyone keeps forgetting since landing in this godforsaken version of Earth, I have been the Kenny from South Park. If you don’t get that reference”—he looked at Rey—“I don’t know what to tell you.”

  “Me?” Rey laughed. “I get the reference.”

  “I don’t,” Nate said.

  “Me either,” said Westerman. Of course he wouldn’t know, he was born in the future far after even an inkling of the laugh out loud television show remained.

  “South Park was a cartoon,” Rey explained. “The Kenny character died or was hurt in every episode.”

  Westerman laughed. “Really?”

  Rey nodded. “Yep.”

  “What’s a cartoon?” Westerman asked.

  “I’ll stay with him.” Sandra lifted her hand. “He and I will walk back to the ship. Make sure your tracking is on. We’ll be in close enough range to pick you up, and if there are any problems we can come and get you.”

  “I’ll stay with them, too,” Westerman stated. “In case anything strange happens.”

  “Like what?” Finch asked.

  Westerman shrugg
ed. “I don’t know. Strange. Like an animal I know but you don’t.”

  “Great.” Ben tossed out his hand. “You know if one of us gets attacked by a mutant future animal, it’s going to be me.”

  “Probably,” Finch said. “But you have Westerman. You’re good. Let’s put a time limit down. If we don’t find these people, we head back.”

  “Three hours?” Sandra suggested.

  It was a plan, but before they continued on following the footsteps, Finch had Curt and Nate stay with the footprints while he and Rey went back to the ship with the others.

  Finch wanted to get flag markers. A lot of landmarks and areas were overgrown and he didn’t want them to lose their way back.

  <><><><>

  “What?” Nate asked Curt. “You’re just staring at me.”

  “I’m not staring at you, I’m thinking. I mean, who could they be? Could they be natives?”

  “We have their solar charger.”

  “But think about it,” Curt said. “Who’s to say they didn’t take it from Quinn’s people or the group that fractioned off from Quinn.”

  “I didn’t think of that.”

  “So, should we really go find them?”

  “Yes,” Nate replied. “Anyone we talk to is a source of information for us. We’re stuck here for the rest of our lives and I for one would like to know what we’re in for.”

  “What kind of future animals do you think they have?”

  “I don’t know. I’m a geologist not zoologist.”

  “I’m just making idle conversation. Which way did you vote to go?” Curt asked.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Stay or hit the Androski? Three of us voted to go, three voted to stay. Which way did you vote?”

  “They call it a secret vote for a reason,” Nate said.

  “Oh, stop, which way did you vote? I voted to stay.” Curt shrugged. “Why bother trying to go back or to a future that could be worse?”

  “Because no matter where we go, there’s nothing there for us,” Nate replied.

  “So you decided to take a spin on the wheel of future.”

  “I did.”

  “Crazy.” Curt shook his head. “I wonder who the other two were.”

  “Us.” Finch’s voice carried to them from behind as he and Rey returned. “We did.”

  “Why?” Curt asked.

  Rey answered, “Me, I was kind of hoping we’d hit the time-travel jackpot and end up with the dinosaurs.”

  “Great…” Curt growled out the word. “And you know, Ben being there means we’d arrive when the extinction meteor hit.”

  Finch shook his head. “Let’s just follow the footprints.”

  Nate led the way. “They definitely are walking together. It looks like they keep stopping though. One set stops. Like here.” He pointed. “The other kind of moves around in small circles.”

  “Like he’s antsy?” Rey asked.

  “Yes. Maybe the one is hurt,” Nate suggested.

  “Or old,” Curt said. “They can’t keep up.”

  “Then why are they walking here?” Finch asked. “They set up a campsite, so obviously they don’t belong.”

  “Maybe it’s a local tourist attraction,” Rey said. “I know that sounds silly, but maybe they’re both young and it’s like a thing for young people to sneak off to the forbidden or verboten zone.”

  “That’s a good point,” Finch said.

  “I did that as a kid,” Curt said. “We all did. By chance did Quinn mention if any of the ancestor cities were this way, I mean the original cities built after the event?”

  Finch shook his head. “I think he said they’re out west, but maybe he doesn’t know about one this way.”

  “I know we found the solar charger,” Curt said. “But like I was telling Nate, we don’t know if whoever had it stole it or found it. They have to be natives or part of the other Genesis group. The ARC hasn’t shown up according to Quinn so who else would have flown through?”

  “That…” Finch pointed. “Is a good point. Maybe the ARC did show up.”

  “I find it hard to believe,” Rey stated. “Quinn didn’t see them. He watches the skies.”

  “It’s a big sky,” Finch replied.

  “Whoever they are…they’re definitely headed somewhere.” Nate followed the trail, walking a little ahead of everyone else. “They know where they’re going.”

  “I was thinking,” Rey said, “you know what’s funny.”

  “Funny?” Finch asked. “You’re finding something funny? I would love to hear what you’re finding funny.”

  “Maybe not funny, but ironic,” Rey said. “Quinn told us Wyoming was a safe state. Nothing ever happened there, right?”

  “Right.”

  “That means Yellowstone never erupted. All those years they kept saying it would blow,” Rey said. “And the world shook and shifted and it still didn’t go off.”

  “That is funny in an ironic way,” Finch said, then noticed Nate had stopped. “Nate, what’s wrong?”

  “They stopped. I mean.” Nate turned around. “When I crossed that patch of weeds, they just disappeared.”

  “Maybe they veered off before that,” Curt suggested. “Everyone look around.”

  “Oh, there,” Rey said. “Right there before the weeds.”

  Curt laughed. “The mighty tracker missed it.”

  “I’m not a tracker.” Nate started walking back. “I’m a…” His startled scream faded with an echo as he suddenly dropped out of sight.

  “Nate!” Finch shouted, charging forth.

  “Stay back!” Curt held out his hand. “We have to be careful.” He inched forward. “Nate!”

  A distant groan carried to them. “I’m okay,” Nate replied, his voice sounding deep and hollow. “The thingy broke my fall. I’m fine. I think.”

  “The thingy?” Curt looked questioningly at Finch. He then inched a little more. As soon as he neared the weed patch that Nate was talking about he saw the opening in the ground. “I found him.”

  “Nate!” Finch called. “I have a rope, we’ll pull you up. How unstable do you think this area is?”

  “I don’t think it’s unstable, just…where someone tried to block off a stairwell,” Nate called up. “Guys? I think you should come down here. You should see this.”

  The bouncing sound to Nate’s voice really made Finch curious. He and Rey joined Curt.

  Curt stood at the edge of the opening, staring down. A slate of concrete had fallen into the opening. It had collapsed in a slanted way, acting like a steep slide, the edge of which rested on the first landing of a long staircase. He glanced over his shoulder to Finch. “It’s the old Metro.”

  <><><><>

  Curt secured a line onto the remnants of an old railing. It felt strong enough, and he tested it first, climbing down on the slanted slab of concrete. He waited on the first landing for Rey. She descended next, followed by Finch.

  All three of them turned on their flashlights, which gave them plenty of light to make it down the stairs.

  Nate’s beam of light moved back and forth. He was at the bottom of the staircase.

  “You alright?” Finch asked. “You’re not injured?”

  “I probably would have been if I’d rolled down the stairs,” Nate said. “Fortunately, I’m not Ben.”

  “Hey, Curt,” Rey said. “You think because he wasn’t falling to his death was the reason you failed to…clutch him?”

  “Yeah,” Nate said. “Why didn’t you clutch me?”

  “First of all, that’s not funny. Second…he was fifteen feet away,” Curt defended.

  “Why exactly are we down here?” Finch asked.

  “This is amazing,” Nate stated. “It stayed structurally strong.”

  “That we know of,” Finch said.

  “But that’s not it. Look what I found as soon as I came down the stairs,” Nate said.

  “Why did you go down the steps?” Finch asked. “That was dangerous.”<
br />
  “I know, but I saw it…” Nate pointed to flat metal object near the edge of the wall at the bottom of the stairs. “I think the reason that blockade collapsed is because they poked a hole in it. It weakened it.”

  “Who?” Finch asked.

  “Whoever lived here,” Nate replied. “This is a stove. Well, they used it as a stove. A big one too. Smoke would carry up the staircase. This whole area…” Nate walked a few feet. “Look at the tables. They moved them down here. Like this was the main cafeteria.”

  Curt walked to a table. “There are ten tables. That’s a lot of people.”

  Rey ran her hand over one of the tables. “It’s dusty but not ruined by mold or humidity.”

  “So a civilization was here for a while,” Finch said. “How long ago?”

  “Maybe fifty years by the coloring,” Nate said. “Still, this part of the county with all that happened? Did they move here or hunker down here? That’s what I want to know.”

  “It’s not important,” Curt said. “Is it?”

  Before Nate could answer, a male sounding shriek of surprise echoed to them. It was as if someone in the distance of the subway saw something that startled him.

  Rey jumped. “Someone’s here.”

  Finch pulled out his pistol and spun to the sound. When he did, he was blasted by two bright lights. He tried to shield his eyes, keeping his aim steady.

  “It is him!” the male voice shouted.

  “There is no way,” another male said.

  “I’m telling you. I’d recognize that face anywhere. It’s Commander Finch. Holy shit, it’s The Clutch. It’s the crew of the Omni-4. Some of them.”

  One light went down to the ground as the other man said, “Well, let’s not blind them.”

  Finch still held aim, even though he was bewildered.

  Rey looked at Finch. “We are so popular in the apocalypse.”

  The two men emerged from the shadows, their lights lowered. They weren’t flashlights like Finch and the others carried, or even spotlights. They were rectangular and exceptionally bright.

  “I knew it,” the taller man with the country accent said, rambling excitedly. “I knew you guys were alive. I just knew it. Didn’t I think that, Sam? Maybe I didn’t say it after Merks was all like, ‘no way could their commander snap to consciousness and not hit the big blue.’ That’s what he said. Did you guys fall down that hole? There’s an easier way down here, you know. Oh, gees, where are my manners. By the way”—he extended his hand to Finch—“I’m Tucker Freeman.”