Arid

by Joyce, Anne

  “What a jackass!”

  “Tell me about it!”

  “Well, if you can’t eat any more, at least try to rest.” Joshua leaned over and kissed her forehead.

  “Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?”

  “Sure.” He lay beside her and put his arm around her.

  ***

  Julio’s shouting woke Joshua from his slumber. “Hey everybody, get out here! Wake your asses up!”

  “Hallelujah!” Xiomara grinned when she opened the door.

  Joshua rolled out of bed and tip-toed across the room, careful not to wake Maria. He ran outside to see everyone else already there. Blane’s prediction had come true. He never thought he’d be so overjoyed by the sight and sound of pouring rain.

  “Look at me. I’m singing in the rain.” Paola skipped and cheered.

  Skylar stripped down to her undergarments and let the water wash over her body. “It’s almost as good as a shower. I just wish I had some soap,” she said.

  “I told you it was coming!” Blane cried. He picked Skylar up and twirled her around. They danced, rejoiced, and caught water on their tongues like snowflakes.

  “Some of the cups blew over. We need to retie them and get more,” Joshua said. He, Julio, and Xiomara lined the ground with cups and glasses while Blane, Skylar, and Paola joined hands and played Ring Around the Rosie.

  “You need to quit playing. You should be helping us,” Julio called.

  “Leave them alone. We all need a moment of joy in this hell,” Xiomara said.

  “Is it really raining?” Joshua looked up to see Maria step outside.

  “Hey, how are you feeling?” He walked over and hugged her.

  “I’ve felt better,” she replied.

  “You should be in bed,” Xiomara said.

  “I just wanted to feel the rain. I’ve missed it so much.” Maria cupped some rain water in her hands and splashed it on her face.

  A clap of thunder startled them. “Uh oh,” Xiomara said.

  “Let’s get these glasses inside before it storms,” Joshua said. He, Xiomara, and Julio brought the water into their huts while the rest of them stayed outside enjoying the feeling of rain on their skin. The rain came down in sheets and the wind blew fiercely, knocking Maria to the ground.

  “Are you all right?” Joshua rushed over and helped her to her feet.

  “I’m fine.” She brushed herself off. “Paola, it’s time for you to go back to Josh’s,” she called and headed back to Xiomara’s hut.

  “But Mom—”

  “It’s not up for debate. Get inside!”

  Joshua stood in front of his window and watched the raging storm. The wind pounded and rattled the frail huts. Water seeped in and drenched their bedding. A thick layer of mud covered the floors. The door to Julio’s hut blew off its weak hinges and Joshua went to help him to grab his belongings. They carried his things to Maria’s and Joshua ran back home. He threw some clothes over Paola to keep her dry, but she still shivered. His blanket and pillow were soggy and cold. It was a terrible night’s sleep for all of them.

  ***

  Joshua stretched and stood up. The morning light blinded him. He looked out to see Blane dragging his bedding outside to dry in the sun. “Well, that was a bittersweet night. Most of our cups were knocked over. Wind blows right through these lousy shacks,” Blane said when Joshua stepped out.

  “My place is ruined. There’s a huge hole in the roof. The shingles must have blown off and I can’t even find them.” Julio stared at the broken remains of his home.

  “I guess you’ll have to bunk with Maria. You’ve got the place to yourself for now,” Joshua said.

  “You know I like my own space,” Julio complained.

  “Have you forgotten what it was like when we came here? There were twenty-five of us, five people in one little hut. We couldn’t even turn around,” Joshua said.

  “Not to mention three outhouses for all those people.” Blane shuddered.

  “How could I forget? They let us each take three changes of clothes and three personal items as long as they weren’t perceived as weapons. We didn’t even have room for what little we brought. They were too generous.” Julio rolled his eyes.

  “It was supposed to be twenty-eight of us. A man was caught smuggling extra items, like nonperishable foods and toys for his daughter. They killed him for it. That’s what I heard anyway,” Blane said.

  “What happened to the wife and child?” asked Joshua.

  “One of the Purifiers liked her, so he made her his wife. I guess he’s raising her child, too,” Blane replied.

  “She has to live with the guy who murdered her husband? That’s twisted,” Julio said.

  “That’s the way of the Purifiers,” Joshua said.

  “The storm did cool things off a bit. We needed that,” Blane remarked.

  “That’s a good point.” Joshua stared at Julio.

  “I’ll get my knife.” Julio ran to Maria’s shack. He tied a handkerchief around his face and grabbed his knife. He and Joshua stumbled upon a vacant trailer the year before and found a few useful appliances. Joshua dissected a blender and used the blades to make a small knife while Julio tore apart the lawn mower, removed the blade, and wrapped some masking tape around the top.

  When he emerged, Joshua was waiting with a bandana around his face, a ball cap on his head, and water container in hand. “Why don’t you come with us for a change, Blane?” Julio said.

  “That’s okay. I’ve got work to do here. We need firewood. You catch it, and I’ll cook it.” He smiled.

  “Suit yourself.” Julio shrugged. “Let’s head south today. I’ll bet the storm drove some animals out of their hiding places.”

  “How did you get so good at being a survivalist?” Joshua asked as they trekked across the desert. The sky was clear and the sun was blinding.

  “It was out of necessity. When most kids were getting ready for prom and looking at colleges, I was living in a tent near the Superstition Mountains. At first, it was kind of like camping, but then the reality that you must do everything yourself to survive hits you like a ton of bricks. It’s easier to live off the land when you’re close to civilization, but it’s the same concept.”

  “Why were you homeless?” Joshua looked stunned.

  “It was just better than being with my dad. I stayed in that tent for several months before Child Protective Services found me and made me go home.”

  “Were you out there all by yourself?”

  “A girl from school wanted to run away, so I let her come with me. She didn’t stay long, though. I woke up one day and found a note on my pillow. She must’ve decided her home life wasn’t so bad after all.”

  “That must have been depressing to suddenly find yourself alone.”

  “I was kind of sad, but grateful that she left all of her stuff. Extra pillows and blankets are like jewels to homeless people. She didn’t even take her books. Maybe she told her parents she’d been kidnapped. Who knows?”

  “She brought books?” Joshua said.

  “She was preparing for boredom, I guess. I read every one of them. I was really into reading after that. I hated the books they made us read in school, but these were different. They let me escape my crappy life for a while and enter another world.”

  “I never would’ve pegged you for a bookworm.”

  “What can I say? I’m full of surprises. This looks like a good spot.” He pointed to a cluster of rocks and greenery. He tip-toed over to a large stone, gently lifted it with one hand and drew his knife with the other. Nothing. Joshua mimicked Julio’s actions, and found only dirt under his rock. They scoured the area, but there were no signs of life. “I really thought there would be a snake here,” Julio sighed.

  “We just have to keep looking. There’s got to be one somewhere.” They moved to another area and then another. They were sweaty, tired, and ready to give up when Julio spotted a thick patch of brush. He crept over, knelt, and waited p
atiently. A snake swished its tail and darted under a rock. Julio pounced like a cheetah, throwing himself on the ground and turning up the rock. He grabbed the reptile and squeezed its neck until it stopped struggling.

  “Nice job!” Joshua said.

  “This guy is kind of small. I don’t think he’ll be enough for all of us.” Julio stood and inspected it.

  “Hey, it’s better than nothing. It’s rare when we get to eat every day.”

  “Maybe we should keep looking.” Julio took a sip from the container.

  “No, we need to be going. It’s getting hotter and our water container’s almost empty,” Joshua said.

  “All right, man.” Julio tucked the snake in his knap-sack and they started towards the camp.

  “What did you get? Is it another snake?” Paola ran to them.

  “It’s just a little one,” Julio replied.

  “Can I see it?”

  “You’ll see it later,” Joshua said.

  “Hey, Blane, where’s the rest of the rain water? The walk back made us pretty thirsty,” Julio called. He and Skylar were cleaning the floor of their hut with rags.

  “There’s none left.” Blane stepped outside. “Xiomara gave it to Maria.”

  “Why the hell did she do that?” Julio sputtered.

  “Maria spent the morning throwing up. She needed it.”

  “Oh, no!” Joshua started toward Xiomara’s hut.

  “Josh, she’s sleeping. Leave her be. There’s nothing more we can do. Go home and lay down before you get heat exhaustion.” Skylar stood in the doorway.

  Joshua marched to his shack, slammed the door, and threw himself on the bed. “Please be okay,” he whispered.

  Chapter Four

  Joshua wiped the sweat from his brow and stared at his battered ceiling. It was midday and hotter than ever. His hut was like a locker room. His mind replayed the horrors of the past few days like a reel from hell. Paola sat on the floor and begged him to play Cowboys and Indians with her, so she could think about something else. He tried to play the role of cowboy gunslinger from the Wild West but couldn’t get into it. She finally gave up and went to visit Blane and Skylar.

  He would’ve taken another nightmare over lying awake thinking about Maria, but sleep wouldn’t come. His stomach was in knots over how sick she’d gotten. He’d never been a religious man, but he closed his eyes and said a quiet prayer for her. The thought of speaking to an invisible higher power was awkward to him and he wasn’t sure if he was doing it right or if there was a right way to do it. He rolled on his side and faced the wall. Is something supposed to happen after you pray? Does the universe give you a sign… or some sense of relief? A pounding on his door startled him. He jumped up, darted across the room, and flung it open. Julio’s brow was furrowed with concern. “Xiomara wants you to come to her place and bring your battery fans.”

  When they arrived at Xiomara’s Maria was sprawled on the bed in her underwear. Her feet were propped up with a pillow. “My head hurts, and I feel dizzy,” she moaned. Her skin looked dry and pale.

  “Maybe this will help.” Joshua set his little fans on the end table next to the bed and aimed them at her.

  “She threw up the javelina meat. She has classic symptoms of anemia and I’m sure she’s dehydrated, too.” Xiomara hung her head. “The water rations are almost gone.”

  Joshua’s throat tightened with tension and fear. He sat on the edge of the bed and forced himself to calm down. Losing your mind won’t help her.

  “Is there anything we can do?” Julio said.

  Xiomara shook her head.

  “What about plants? You guys said they hold moisture,” Julio offered.

  “That didn’t help Edgar. I think she needs a proper meal more than anything right now. Her body’s lacking essential nutrients,” Xiomara replied.

  “Josh, I need you to promise me something.” Maria took his hand. “Tell me you’ll take care of Paola.”

  “Hey, look at me. We’re not letting you go anywhere.” He stroked her hair.

  “You might not have a choice,” she replied.

  “Don’t talk like that. Edgar was in way worse shape than you. You’re strong and resilient.”

  She nodded but still looked worried.

  “Are you still nauseous?” Xiomara blotted her face with a cloth.

  “No, I just feel really tired and sluggish.”

  “Close your eyes and rest, then. Maybe you’ll feel better when you wake,” Xiomara said.

  “I don’t know if I can sleep. It feels like the bed is spinning. It reminds me of the time my uncle took me to a carnival when I was nine. He said I had to ride the roller coaster with him, even though I didn’t want to. My mom told him not to let me out of his sight and he wanted to ride it to impress some slutty girl. The damn thing looped around in circles and flipped us upside down. I puked all over myself and the people in front of me. My head felt like a tilt-a-whirl for hours. I couldn’t even walk straight.” She took a sip from her water can.

  “Did your uncle score a date with the slutty girl?” asked Julio.

  “No, she left with some thug she later married.”

  “He sounds like a nit-wit!” Xiomara said.

  “He was definitely not the sharpest or most successful of the family,” Maria replied.

  “Don’t think about him right now. My mom used to do this when I couldn’t fall asleep.” Joshua took Maria’s hand and rubbed her palm. She stared at him and started to relax. Her eyes rolled back, and she drifted to sleep.

  “This is bad.” Julio walked to the window and peered outside. “I never thought I’d want to see a Purifier so much in my life.”

  “I wonder how many more people we’ll have to bury before they show up again,” Xiomara whispered.

  “We’re not burying anyone, so put it out of your mind,” Joshua said.

  “Even the buzzards are getting desperate,” Julio remarked.

  “What are you talking about?” asked Xiomara.

  “There’s one flying over Edgar’s grave right now. They usually go for a fresh kill instead of a day-old carcass.”

  “Disgusting! One of you should go chase that thing away.” Xiomara shuddered.

  “Hold on a second… I’ve got a better idea. I’ll need your help, Julio.” Joshua rose to his feet.

  ***

  “Are you sure about this, man?” Julio tip-toed alongside Xiomara’s hut with Joshua following. They squatted and peered around the corner at the bird standing on the dirt mound that was Edgar’s resting place.

  “I’m not sure about this at all, but I don’t see another solution.”

  “That’s my stepping block on his grave! Who the hell took it?” Julio hissed.

  “Forget about the damn block right now!”

  “Hey guys, how’s my mom?” Paola ran toward them.

  “Be quiet and get down!” Julio hissed.

  “Why? What are you doing?” She fell to her knees.

  “We’re trying to catch that buzzard,” Joshua pointed.

  “Why?”

  “It’s a red-blooded animal and its body has nutrients that could help your mom,” Joshua replied.

  “But buzzards are dirty!” She grimaced.

  “Lower your voice!” Julio mumbled.

  “Won’t dirty bird juice make her sick?” Paola whispered.

  “We’ll do our best to purify the blood so it’s safe for your mom. Blane can cook it with the snake we caught,” Joshua said.

  “We just have to figure out how to catch this damn thing first.” Julio squinted.

  “That shouldn’t be too hard of a task for you, Master Hunter,” Joshua said.

  “I’ve never tried for a bird, though!” The vulture turned around, flapped its wings, and took flight, circling their camp.

  “Shit! He’s getting away!” Julio gasped.

  Joshua’s heart skipped a beat. “Oh, no, he’s not!” He ran to the fire pit where Blane cooked the javelina. He dug some bones fro
m the ash and ran back to his spot beside Julio. Joshua flung the bones onto Edgar’s grave as the bird flew over Blane’s hut.

  “Why did you do that?’ Paola said.

  “Buzzards are attracted to bones and these are fresher,” Joshua replied.

  “You’re really smart, Josh,” she said.

  “We’ll see how smart I am if the bird comes back.”

  “Take that rubber band out of your hair and give it to me.” Julio held out his hand.

  Paola yanked on her ponytail and pulled the elastic loose. She winced when a clump of her hair came out with it. “I hate these things.”

  Julio pulled his masking tape from his pocket, taped two sticks together at the center, and separated them at the top so they formed a ‘Y’. He picked up a rock and flung the rubber band over the top of the sticks. “Sling shot.”

  “Good idea,” Paola said.

  “It’s not a great one, but it’s the best I can do on short notice.”

  “It’s back.” Joshua pointed to the buzzard looming over the grave. His chest tightened, and his breathing seemed to halt as he watched it circle the area several more times before landing. It took a quick look around and started pecking at a rib bone. Julio took aim. Paola clasped her hand over her mouth. The rock struck the side of the bird’s head. It fell on its side and writhed on the dirt mound.

  Julio and Joshua leapt to their feet and sprinted towards it. The vulture flapped its wings and was several feet off the ground before Julio pounced on it. It fought and kicked at him, scratching his arms with its sharp talons. “Josh, get over here and kill it!” Julio put both hands on the bird’s back and pinned it to the ground. “Snap its neck.”

  “Cover your eyes, Paola,” Joshua called. Paola did as she was told. Joshua twisted the buzzard’s head with one hard motion. Its neck snapped and its body went limp. Julio grabbed the bird’s lifeless body and held it in the air.

  “Paola, have Blane bring us a pot and start a fire,” Julio instructed. She ran to his hut shouting his name.