by Joyce, Anne
“Be ready tomorrow morning,” the giant called to Josh from the passenger side window.
Joshua watched the truck speed down the dirt road until it was out of sight, the image of Skylar’s scared face frozen in his mind. Julio broke the awkward silence. “Those sons of bitches think everything is theirs!” Blane stared directly ahead at nothing. His face contorted to an expression of sorrow and rage.
“Blane, I’m so sorry.” Xiomara put a hand on his shoulder. He spun around, sprinted to his hut, and slammed the door.
“He’s going to cry,” Julio said.
“Let’s leave him be for a while and get inside. The temperature’s rising,” Xiomara said.
***
Joshua looked up as Julio entered Xiomara’s hut “How’s Blane holding up?” Xiomara asked.
“He won’t come out of his house. When I knocked on the door, he told me to go away,” Julio replied.
“I don’t blame him. Skylar was everything to him,” Xiomara said. She and Paola were seated on the bed next to a sleeping Maria. Joshua sat in a chair across the room.
“She doesn’t look so good.” Julio stared at Maria. “She’s really pale.”
“Even if the Purifiers bring what I asked, I don’t know if it’ll be enough. She needs medical attention,” Xiomara said.
“Can we get the Purifiers to take her to the doctor?” Paola said.
“They won’t do it, not unless one of them decides to marry her,” Xiomara replied.
“I don’t want any of them to marry my mom. They’re gross!” Paola folded her arms.
“Yes, they are. We’ll keep your mother out of their sight from now on. It’s bad enough they took Skylar,” Xiomara said.
“Why did they take Skylar anyway? Why can’t they marry somebody in town?” asked Paola.
“City women probably don’t want Purifiers. They’re not forced into marriage because there are laws to protect them. We don’t have any rights out here. The water barons make the rules. We used to have a working government, but now it’s just a façade. The water moguls own this country, and they don’t have a reason to care about us,” Xiomara replied.
“They have a reason to care about Josh,” Paola said.
“The turbines are almost finished. They won’t need me soon. They’ll leave us to starve like the rest of the indigents,” Joshua said.
“What’s an indigent?” asked Paola.
“A poor person with no means of survival, like us,” he replied.
“So, we’re going to starve? I thought we could take care of ourselves,” Paola said.
“We’re not going to starve. Don’t you worry about that.” Xiomara glared at Joshua. She knew it was not like him to talk that way.
Joshua leaned back in his chair and stared at the floor. He was still shaken by the events of the day. They were a painful reminder of what happened to his own wife and unborn child.
“You know Josh is right. Denial won’t put food on our plates. If we stay here much longer, we’ll be buzzard food. We’ve taken way too much crap from the water barons and their Purifiers. Enough is enough.” Julio took a seat on the dirty floor.
“What are we supposed to do?” Xiomara said.
“The Purifiers don’t have any bullets in their guns. I saw the way Sanders handled his rifle when he pointed it at Blane. There’s no way it’s loaded,” Julio replied.
“How can you be so sure?” asked Xiomara.
“He didn’t aim that rifle like he truly intended to fire it. He shoved it in Blane’s face like the goal was to scare him into submission.”
“I think Sanders handled his weapon like any other trained professional,” Xiomara retorted.
“You’re not an expert on firearms; you wouldn’t have noticed the subtle difference. I know how to handle guns. I used to be a coyote.”
“A coyote? You mean you smuggled people illegally into the country?”
“I don’t know why you’re making a big deal of it, Xiomara,” Julio said.
“Coyotes are nasty people, from what I’ve heard. They hold immigrants hostage if they don’t get enough money from them,” she said.
“Well, don’t believe everything you hear. I’ve done a few things I’m not proud of, but I never took anybody prisoner,” Julio retorted.
“I think you’re right, Julio. If their guns were loaded, they would’ve shot Blane,” Josh said.
“Why wouldn’t they have bullets?” asked Paola.
“When the water barons decided to exile us, not everyone went in peace. Thousands of indigents with guns chose to fight for what was theirs. They waged a brutal war that caught everyone off guard. They killed every Purifier that crossed their path and anyone who wasn’t with them. They hid in trees and on rooftops to ambush people. It was a massacre unlike anything they’d ever seen. When the indigents were marching to the homes of the water barons, the army was called in, the real army. They did what the Purifiers couldn’t do and put an end to the uprising. The death toll was outstanding. I think there was a bullet shortage after that,” Joshua explained.
“I think ammunition shortage was a problem before the uprising. A lot of lives and bullets were lost during the War of 2040. It was a tense situation even before the bombs were dropped,” Xiomara added. “Homes and businesses all over the country were reduced to rubble. Nothing was the same after that.”
“Can’t they just make more bullets?” Paola questioned.
“A lot of military factories that made bullets were bombed in 2040. I think they’re still working on rebuilding them,” Joshua replied.
“The Purifiers are supposed to be some super army, but they’re just a bunch of thugs. If they’re thugs without guns, we can take them.” Julio paced the floor.
“I don’t know about that. Those guys look like linebackers,” Xiomara said.
“They’re not all built like that. Some of them have let themselves go since the uprising. That short butterball Purifier is a perfect example. The rest of them may be strong, but so are Josh and I,” Julio replied.
“Do you really think the Purifiers would risk their lives coming to Poor Man’s Land unarmed?” Xiomara said.
“I don’t think they make a lot of trips out here. Julio and I have been all over this area and we haven’t found another living person. I must be one of the few they consider useful,” Joshua said.
“If they’re not used to the wastelands, that means they’re vulnerable,” Julio injected.
“What are you suggesting we do?” Xiomara said.
“We kill them when they come back tomorrow. We can take their supply truck and drive to Nogales,” Julio replied.
“What’s in Nogales?” asked Joshua.
“Nogales is the perfect place to disappear if you don’t want to be found,” Julio said.
“Mexico might be in the same situation,” Xiomara countered.
“I don’t think it is. Business slowed down a lot for me and it was never slow before. The illegals just stopped trying to come to America,” Julio replied.
“This is insane. If we’re caught, we’ll be executed.” Xiomara ran her fingers through her hair.
“We’ll die a slow death here. Which death do you prefer?” Julio said.
“If you’re wrong about the bullets, everyone will be dead tomorrow including Paola.” Xiomara glanced at her. She sat beside her mother, combing her hair and humming a soft tune.
“Should we be talking about this in front of her?” Joshua chimed in.
“I see death all the time. Why can’t you talk to me about it?” Paola replied.
“Good point. What are your thoughts on this?” Josh asked her.
“Could my mom see a doctor in Nogales?’
“Yes,” Julio replied.
“I think we should do it,” Paola declared.
“See? Even the kid agrees,” Julio said.
“She’s eight years old,” Xiomara retorted.
“Josh, please say you’re with me on this.” Julio turn
ed to him.
“I’m with you, man.”
“You’re outvoted, Xiomara. It’s safe to say we can count Blane in,” Julio said.
“We need to drag him out of his hut. We’ve got a lot of planning to do tonight,” Josh said.
Chapter Six
“You look like you’re going to throw up. Are you going to be okay?” Joshua asked Xiomara.
“I’m nervous about this,” she replied.
“I know, but we’ve all got to act natural.” He’d washed himself as Sanders had told him to and groomed himself as best he could with limited water.
“You clean up nice,” Xiomara smiled.
“Thanks.” Joshua felt his face turning red. “Are you ready?” He turned to Blane and Julio.
“I was born ready.” Julio tucked his knife in his pocket.
“You know I’m ready for these bastards,” Blane said.
“Good, because here they come.” Joshua eyed the supply truck speeding towards them. He swallowed hard and took a deep breath.
The truck stopped in front of Xiomara’s hut. “Wait here, Masters. This shouldn’t take long,” Sanders told the giant. Masters sat in the driver’s seat while Sanders, Brad, and Chubby hopped out. Brad seemed less awkward than the day before.
“Move it, turbine guy! We don’t have all day to wait on you!” he shouted.
“I think the boy is becoming a man.” Sanders smiled at Chubby.
“I knew this job would be good for him.” The hefty Purifier chuckled.
“Where’s the medicine?” Joshua demanded.
Sanders pulled it from his pocket and threw it on the ground. “Do you need to take it now?” he asked.
“I can wait until you bring me back,” Joshua replied.
“Get in the truck. The rest of you can go inside,” Sanders said.
The four friends stood together with their hands at their sides. Josh could feel their tension.
“Are you deaf or just plain dumb? Get in the truck, turbine guy! The rest of you get inside!” Chubby yelled.
They stayed as still as statues, their faces stoic.
“All right, if that’s the way you want it, I can start splitting some skulls.” Sanders grabbed his rifle from the back of the truck and marched toward them. Joshua stepped in front of his friends. “Get out of the way, boy, before I—”
Joshua took Sanders by surprise. He grabbed the muzzle of Sanders’ rifle with one hand and jammed his finger into the trigger guard with the other hand. Click!
“They don’t have bullets!” Julio shouted.
Sanders’ eyes widened. He dropped his useless gun and ran for the truck. Brad sprinted ahead of him and hurled himself inside the cab. “You’re not going anywhere!” Blane grabbed the boy’s belt and pulled him back. Brad kicked at him and gripped the steering wheel.
“Get away from my truck!” Masters swung his massive fists at Blane’s head. Blane dodged the first swing, but the second hit his cheekbone like a thunderbolt. He and Brad toppled out of the vehicle. Joshua lunged at Sanders and knocked him to the ground. Sanders spun around and caught Joshua’s nose with a right hook. His head snapped back and he reeled from the blow. Sanders struck the side of Joshua’s head. His vision blurred and he fell onto his back. His head ached and dizziness threatened to overcome him.
“Leave him alone!” Xiomara hurled a rock at Sanders and missed. Chubby swung his big, black baton at her head. She ducked and kicked him hard in the crotch.
He bent over and groaned. Julio yanked the club from Chubby’s hands and struck his back with enough force to break the baton in half. The tubby man shrieked and hobbled toward his commanding officer. When Joshua opened his eyes, Sanders’ baton was pressed against his throat. He felt his airway narrow and his oxygen depleting. He struggled to free himself from the strong man’s grip but couldn’t shove him off.
Julio sprinted over and delivered a hard kick to Sanders’ rib cage. Sanders’ ribs cracked audibly, and he doubled over. Chubby lunged at Julio, ramming his fist into Julio’s stomach. Julio’s muscular body barely seemed to feel the impact. He sucker-punched Chubby and watched his eyes roll back in his head as he hit the ground. Julio grabbed the stunned man by the hair and slit his throat.
Joshua hauled himself up, grabbed Sanders by the shirt, pinned him down, and pulled the knife from his pocket. Masters leapt from the vehicle and charged Xiomara. She drew the knife Julio gave her but panicked at the sight of him approaching. She dropped it, ran into her hut, and slammed the door.
“We were good to you people.” Sanders struggled to no avail.
“That’s a joke, right?” Joshua raised his knife and plunged it into Sander’s chest. Sanders took a last ragged breath and stopped fighting.
“Paola, go hide!” Xiomara cried. Paola darted under the bed. The ogre kicked the door open, knocking Xiomara to the floor.
She leapt to her feet and tried to run, but he latched onto her blouse and pulled her back. “Help!” she wailed. He grabbed her by the hair and flung her like a Frisbee onto the bed. She landed on Maria’s legs and her foot knocked over and shattered a glass as she struggled to get away. He dealt a hard blow to her face and she flopped down with a groan, pain exploding in her head.
He wrapped his huge hands around her throat and squeezed. Xiomara clawed at his face in desperation and tried to gouge his eyes. He tightened his grip and stared at her with a sadistic smile. A grunt of laughter escaped from him. She felt dizzy, terrified, and helpless. White spots clouded her vision. Her arms flopped to her sides. She didn’t have any more strength to fight.
As she was gasping for what felt like her last breath, his grip on her throat loosened. The look in his eyes went from maniacal to frightened. He held the side of his neck and collapsed on the floor. What just happened? Xiomara glanced at Maria sitting on the edge of the bed. “Are you all right?” Maria said.
“I think so.” Xiomara panted. A pool of blood formed around the Purifier. A shard of glass stuck out of his neck. “You stabbed him,” Xiomara realized.
Maria nodded. “Where’s Paola?” Paola crawled out from under the bed and hugged her mother.
“Is everyone okay?” Joshua ran into the room.
“We’re all right. Where’s Julio?” Xiomara said.
“He’s out by the truck. He’s fine,” Joshua replied.
“What about Blane?” Maria said.
“He’s probably beating the tar out of the young Purifier. I should go check on him.”
Joshua and Xiomara ran outside to find Blane crouched over Brad. “Where is she, you son of a bitch? Where’s my wife?” he shouted in Brad’s face.
“You mean my wife. I suggest you let me go before my uncle kills you,” Brad snarled.
Blane punched him hard between the eyes. Xiomara cringed when she heard his nose crack. Brad screamed and covered his bloody face. “Look, moron, your uncle is dead.” Blane pulled him up by his shirt collar and pointed in the direction of Sanders’ corpse.
“You barbaric sons of bitches! You’ll be executed for this!” Brad wailed. “Why? My uncle didn’t deserve that!”
“He deserved much worse than that. Where is Skylar?”
“Go to hell.” Brad curled into a fetal position and sobbed.
“Hey, snap out of it!” Blane shook him. “You can either tell me how to find her or get beaten to death!”
“You’ll never get her back! Killing me won’t change that. You can’t just ride into town on your white horse and scoop her up. There are armed guards at the gates and they don’t let any degenerates in,” Brad cried. Blane raised his fist. “All right, stop already! I’ll tell you,” he shrieked.
“We’re listening,” Joshua said.
“She’s at the Purifier’s quarters. Purifiers have their own special housing,” Brad gasped.
“Where is this special housing?” Blane said.
“It’s on our base in Sierra off of Canyon Drive.”
“What base?” Blane yelled.
“Purifiers have bases kind of like army bases.”
Blane glanced at Julio. Julio handed him the sling blade knife. He stood over Brad and raised it above his head. “Wait! You said you wouldn’t kill me!” Brad cried.
“I said I wouldn’t beat you to death. I didn’t say anything about stabbing you.”
“No, please!” Brad wailed and raised his hands.
Blane plunged the knife into Brad’s chest. Brad let out a weak sob as blood seeped from his mouth. His body twitched and then went limp. Blane dropped the knife and walked away. His anger seemed to leave him. He pulled a rag from his pocket and wiped off his hands.
“Is everyone okay?” Maria staggered out of the hut.
“You shouldn’t be out of bed,” Joshua said.
“Everyone’s fine except the Purifiers,” Julio replied.
“Where’s the medicine Sanders threw on the ground? I need to give it to her,” Xiomara said.
“Paola, come out here and help Xiomara look for your mom’s medicine,” Joshua called. “I’m going to get my food and water rations. We need to hide these bodies and get out of here.” Joshua started toward his hut.
“What’s the plan now?” Maria said. Her voice was weak and she looked like she’d lost weight.
“We’re going to my friend Esteban’s place outside of Tucson. He used to sell guns to people crossing the border, so I know he’s armed. Once we have weapons, we’ll head for Nogales. Esteban might want to go with us. He’s crazy but he’s street smart. He’s a good person to have on our side,” Julio replied.
Blane marched over to Julio. “Hold up! We’re rescuing Skylar.”
“You heard what that kid said. They have armed guards at the town gates now. We can’t just show up in a patrol supply truck and ask for her back,” Julio said.
“Once we have guns from your friend, we won’t need to ask them for anything,” Blane replied.
“Are you crazy? She’s on a damn Purifier base and at least some of those guys will have guns. Their main men have got to be armed. You can’t go barging into a Purifier base and shoot up the place!” Julio cried.
“Some of them will have firearms. That means we stand a chance,” Blane said.