by Joyce, Anne
“I wasn’t spying! I could hear you from the living room. Your voices were muffled, but I could tell who it was. You shouldn’t be so noisy,” Danisha said.
“What I do is none of your concern. You were supposed to be sleeping, anyway,” Julio retorted.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“What were you two doing up so late?” asked Joshua.
“We were just talking. It’s nice to meet someone you enjoy talking to. I like her company and we have a lot in common. I told her this is a dangerous place and to watch out for bad people. I’d give her one of our guns if we could spare it,” he replied.
“If you like her so much, you should be straight with her,” Danisha said.
“Somehow I get the feeling you two did more than just talk.” Joshua stared at him.
Julio’s cheeks turned a bright shade of pink and he looked away. “We need to be leaving.” He pushed Danisha toward the door.
“It’s a damn good thing her parents didn’t come downstairs for any reason. You could’ve gotten us kicked out in the middle of the night, dimwit!” Joshua hissed.
“I didn’t. I have no regrets, and I don’t think she does, either.”
Danisha dropped her water jug when she reached the living room doorway. It hit the floor with a loud thud.
“Oops.” She shrugged.
“You did that on purpose!” Julio glared at her.
“So, what if I did?” she retorted.
“Dammit! Danisha, why would you do that?” Joshua hissed.
“Why do you think?”
“I told you we’d warn them,” Joshua said.
“They need to hear what the looters did to my family. I can’t describe what I went through in a note.”
“We are the adults and we make the decisions. This isn’t a democracy,” Julio snapped.
“But I’m just trying to—”
“Get outside and stand on that porch with the other girls. I don’t want to hear another sound out of you. I’m tired of arguing.” Joshua cut her off.
Danisha gave Joshua a wounded look. She walked outside and stood on the porch.
“Help me move the rest of these containers.” Joshua picked up Danisha’s container and Julio grabbed the last one.
“Hey fellas, wait!” Clyde hurried down the stairs.
“Oh, shit,” Julio groaned.
“Thank you for your hospitality, but we need to be leaving,” Joshua said.
“Why don’t I take one of those water jugs off your hands? They’re too heavy for those kids to carry,” Clyde said.
“We need all the water we have and then some to make it to Nogales,” Joshua replied.
“I’m sure you could spare a little. You’re resourceful and you’ve got a fine hunter here with you,” Clyde pressed.
“I can’t hunt water,” Julio replied.
“You can’t leave us here like this! We’re old and not meant for this kind of life,” he pleaded.
“None of us are meant for this kind of life,” Julio said.
“Dad, what’s going on?” Cassidy came down the stairs in her robe.
“They’re leaving and taking all of the water,” he said. He paced by the door as Julio set Danisha’s water jug on the porch. “All right, I know there’s nothing free in this world. What do you want for a water jug? Do you want eggs?” He turned back to Joshua and Julio.
“Eggs are too fragile to pack. They’re not worth the trouble.” Joshua shook his head.
“There’s got to be something you need. Look around the house. I could part with a lot of things. Estelle says I collect too much stuff anyway.”
“We don’t want to carry any more stuff than we have to,” Julio said.
“Okay, then, take my daughter.” He grabbed Cassidy’s arm and pushed her towards Julio. “She’s strong, intelligent, and she adapts well. She’d be a great asset to your crew.”
“Dad, what the hell is wrong with you?” she shrieked.
“You’d be better off with them, honey. Your mother and I are becoming a burden.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this.” Cassidy jerked free from his grasp.
“Guys, come on,” Maria called from the porch.
“We’ll be out in a minute,” Joshua replied.
“Your daughter’s wonderful, but we don’t need another mouth to feed,” Julio said.
“There’s no winning with you. Can’t you see we’re doomed on our own?” Clyde put his head in his hands.
“I wish you and your family the best, but we can’t help you,” Joshua said.
“You’ve left me no choice,” Clyde mumbled. He pulled his butcher knife from his pocket, grabbed Joshua’s shirt, and slammed him against the wall with a surprising surge of strength. He pressed the cold, steel knife against Joshua’s throat. “You’re going to give me some of that water, or I’ll kill your friend,” he demanded.
“Clyde, I don’t want to hurt you. Put it down,” Joshua said.
“Drop it or I’ll make your head into a canoe.” Julio drew his handgun and aimed it at Clyde’s face.
“If you kill me, my family gets the water jug.” Clyde pressed harder. A trickle of blood ran down Joshua’s neck.
“Dad, put the knife down!” Cassidy screamed.
“Julio, what’s happening?” Maria banged on the door.
“Just stay outside,” Julio said. “I’m giving you until the count of five, old man. One…two…..” Clyde stood paralyzed. “Three….four….”
Joshua stomped Clyde’s bare foot. Clyde wobbled backwards and grabbed his foot. “Ow! That’s my arthritic foot,” he yelled. Joshua punched the side of his face. Clyde dropped the knife and fell on his back while Julio and Joshua ran out of the door.
“I’m sorry,” Clyde sobbed.
“Start walking.” Joshua took Maria’s arm and stepped off the porch with her.
“Are you all right?” she said. “You’re bleeding.”
“I’m fine. I just don’t want to talk about it.”
“I’ll race you,” Paola said to Danisha. She ran through Clyde’s hilly, uneven front yard, scurried up a small mound, and disappeared from sight. Danisha chased after her.
“Girls, don’t run so far ahead of us. You need to be where we can see you,” Xiomara called.
“Why isn’t Paola carrying a jug?” Julio said.
“We used a container and a half of water last night. Her jug is gone,” Joshua replied.
“That’s not good at all,” Julio sighed.
“Wait!” a voice called from behind them.
They turned to see Cassidy running to them, waving her arms. They stopped to let her catch up. “Cassidy, what are you doing?” Julio said.
“I wanted to apologize for my father,” she panted. “He’s never done anything like that before.”
“Desperate people do desperate things, I guess. Josh saved his life by beating him up,” Julio replied.
“You assaulted an old man?” Maria raised an eyebrow.
“The old man brought it on himself,” Julio replied.
“I know your dad’s a good man. I don’t have any ill feelings towards him,” Joshua said.
“I’m relieved to hear that.” She kicked a rock and looked back up at Joshua. “Do you think I could come with you?”
Joshua was stunned. Julio seemed to revel in the idea for a moment, but then reality hit him like a lead pipe. “I like you, Cassidy. I think in another life we would’ve been amazing together. I wouldn’t tell you that if it wasn’t true. I meant what I said to your dad though. We don’t need another mouth to feed and water.”
“I have my own water.” Cassidy pulled a canteen from her little black duffel bag. “I got it from the well.”
“That’s not going to be enough,” Joshua said.
“Let her come along. She won’t be risking her life any more than we are,” Xiomara said.
“I don’t want to see her drop dead from heat stroke,” Julio said.
“I�
��m not any better off here. I’d rather have a heat stroke than sit around and wait for the food and water to run out,” she said.
“She does have a point,” Maria interjected.
“There are some trailers a few miles up the road, at least there used to be. They might have some supplies. We’d at least have shelter for the night,” Cassidy said. “What do you say?”
“It sounds crazy, foolish, dangerous…and great all at the same time.” Julio put his hands on her waist and pulled her close. They kissed noisily.
“Will you guys stop lip wrestling so we can go?” Joshua said with both annoyance and amusement. They picked up their belongings and started walking.
“I guess you’re one of us now, Cassidy,” Maria said. Cassidy smiled.
“Listen. Do you hear that?” Joshua stopped and looked around.
“It sounds like a car or a truck.” Xiomara strained to see over the hill.
“What would a truck be doing here?” Cassidy said.
“Oh, shit!” Maria yelped.
Paola and Danisha’s screams rang through the hills. “It’s the Purifiers!”
Chapter Ten
“Give me a gun.” Maria dropped her water jug and held out her hand.
Julio pulled a rifle from the burlap sack and tossed it to her. She ran in the direction of Paola’s screams.
“Maria, wait!” Joshua called. She disappeared behind a mound of dirt and didn’t look back.
“I’ll bet they have bullets this time.” Xiomara glanced around.
“I don’t think their truck will make it down here.” Julio handed the other rifle to Joshua.
“You’re right. There are way too many mounds and hills in this yard. The terrain would tear up their vehicle,” Joshua said. “They’ve got to be sneaking around on foot. Take Cassidy and Xiomara back to Clyde’s house. I’ll find Maria and the kids.”
“Why are the Purifiers after you?” Cassidy demanded.
“There’s no time to explain.” Julio took her hand and the three of them started running.
“This way,” Paola whispered to Danisha. She darted past a small patch of cacti toward a mound. Danisha ran after her, tripped over the skeletal remains of an animal, and fell on her stomach.
“Paola, don’t leave me,” she groaned. Paola ran back and helped her up.
“All we have to do is run that way. It’ll take us straight to the house.” They hid behind the mound of rock and dirt. Paola tried to get her breathing under control.
“But, that’s right out in the open. The Purifiers will see us,” Danisha hissed.
“It’s the fastest way,” Paola replied.
“It’s also the craziest way,” Danisha retorted.
“Don’t move.” A scary looking man marched over with his rifle in hand. The girls jumped back startled. “I said don’t move,” he snapped. “Hey Evans, come over here.” He radioed his comrade. Paola stared at the man and his gun. It felt like this moment was part of a movie script. Nothing seemed real. A scrawny bald man with bad teeth made his way over to them. “What is it, Weston?”
“I found these children. What do you think we should we do with them?”
“Shoot them,” Evans replied.
“We haven’t done anything wrong,” Danisha cried.
“Shut up!” Evans barked.
“They’re just kids,” Weston retorted.
“They’re indigent kids. Purifiers don’t take prisoners,” Evans said.
“We take prisoners all the time. Your wife was indigent,” Weston replied.
“That’s different. We’ve got no need for them. Get rid of them.”
Weston pointed his rifle at Paola’s head. She and Danisha huddled against one another and covered their eyes. His finger hesitated on the trigger, almost as if he was having second thoughts. Beads of sweat dripped down his forehead.
“Do it already,” Evans hissed.
“Help us! Somebody, please help!” Danisha screamed.
“Move, you coward. I’ll shut her up.” Evans shoved him out the way and stuck his gun in Danisha’s face.
“No no no!” Paola cried.
Weston turned away. The gunshot almost sounded like a cannon ball. It echoed in Paola’s head like a gong from hell. Her ears rang from it. She gasped as a mist of blood sprayed her and Danisha.
Evans fell on his stomach. Blood gushed like a garden hose from a hole in the side of his head. Weston whirled around and his eyes went wide when he saw a figure leap from behind the mound and open fire on him. He stumbled backwards and fell over, writhing and twitching on the ground, and coughing up blood. Paola and Danisha ran to Maria and threw their arms around her.
“Are you okay?” She cupped their faces.
“I think so,” Paola said.
“We have to move.” She walked over to Weston, took his rifle, and slung it over her shoulder. “When I say ‘go,’ we’re going to run that way as fast as we can to the house.” Maria pointed.
“But they’ll see us out in the open,” Danisha protested.
“They’ll find us if we stay here. We just gave ourselves away with all the noise. Get ready… set… go!” Maria sprinted toward the house with the girls running right in front of her.
***
“Holy shit!” Thomas cried when he and Townsend reached the giant mound.
“Weston!” Townsend ran to his injured comrade.
“Indigent shot me,” Weston choked.
“There they are!” Thomas pointed to three figures running in the distance He picked up his rifle and fired in their direction. The blurry figures kept running and darted behind a small pile of rocks.
“Dammit! I missed. You should’ve helped. You know I’m blind in my right eye now,” Thomas said.
“He needs help.” Townsend pointed to Weston.
“He’s dying. There’s nothing we can do. Get Hufnagel and Croft on the radio. See if they can catch up to them.”
Townsend pulled out his radio, stunned by his comrade’s callousness. “Blue bird, come in. This is red jay. Come in, blue bird.”
“They gave us the dumbest code names possible,” Thomas complained.
Weston tried to sit up, but the staggering pain in his chest forced him to lie back down. “Stay still.” Townsend grabbed the wounded man’s shoulder. “How did those bastards get your gun?”
“They have their own guns,” Weston gasped.
“What?” Townsend scratched his head.
“Get ready to run again, girls. There are no more mounds, hills, or rocks to hide behind so run harder and faster than you ever have before. We’re not too far away.” Maria peered over the rock pile.
Paola and Danisha nodded. Paola took a deep breath and they sprinted across the open patch of land. The sound of gun fire was much closer than before. “They’re going to shoot us!” she yelled. She tried to pick up her pace but her side ached and her lungs felt like they were going to burst. Maria grabbed her hand and dragged her along.
Danisha let out a horrific scream and fell holding her leg. “She’s been shot!” Paola screamed. A Purifier crouched behind a cactus.
“Run to the house,” Maria told her daughter. She knelt over Danisha and fired her weapon. Her bullets missed the gunman’s head and he ducked behind the cactus. She shot at him several more times, piercing holes in the giant saguaro. The Purifier flopped on the ground and covered his head.
“Help!” Paola darted into the house, screaming.
“Get down, Maria!” Julio called.
Maria threw herself over Danisha and covered her head. Julio crouched in the doorway and fired at the Purifier. A surprise onslaught of gunfire to his left forced him to jump back and crawl across the living room floor. Paola hid behind the big, green couch and covered her ears.
A gust of wind blew across the yard, kicking up dirt and debris. “Not this again!” Maria tried to cover her face with her hand, but dirt still got in her eyes. The man behind the cactus shot at her and missed. He hunkered back down
, squinting and rubbing his eyes. Maria blinked the dust away and took a shot at him. He fell over, holding his shoulder and groaning.
Another round went off in a different direction. A stout, muscular Purifier fell like a slab of concrete. A tall, lean figure walked over to him and fired once more. “Josh!” Maria called. Joshua ran across the yard to her. He scooped up Danisha and they darted in the house.
“She’s hurt,” he said as he handed Danisha to Xiomara.
“Clyde, I need some towels.” Xiomara laid Danisha on the couch.
Danisha wept and held her wounded leg. Clyde hurried to the kitchen.
Paola got up and stood beside Xiomara. Blood oozed from the hole in Danisha’s leg and Paola was worried it wouldn’t stop. “Can I do something to help?”
“Try to keep her calm.” Xiomara tied a dishtowel around Danisha’ leg.
“What on God’s green earth is happening out there?” Clyde exclaimed.
“Purifiers are about to force their way in,” Joshua said.
“How many do you think there are?” asked Julio.
“There are two in close proximity to the house,” Joshua replied.
“I don’t hear gunshots anymore,” Cassidy said.
“They must be planning something,” Maria said.
“Julio, if you were a Purifier what would you do? Would you just march right up to the house?” Joshua turned to him.
Julio thought for a moment. “No, I’d probably sneak around and come in through the back door, catch everyone by surprise.”
Joshua, Julio, and Maria glanced at each other and ran into the kitchen.
“What are you doing?” Clyde called.
“We need to barricade the back door,” Joshua replied.
The three friends pushed a heavy cabinet in front of the door. “Do you have a basement, Clyde?” Joshua came back to the living room.
“The house has a lower level, but it’s not really a basement.”
“Xiomara and the kids would be safer there. You and Cassidy should join them.”
“I’m not hiding down there. This is my house. I’m going to defend it and my family. I’m not surrendering to any Purifiers.”
“I want to help, too.” Cassidy got up from the chair.
“We have an extra gun now. How good of a shot are you?” Maria turned to Cassidy.