Arid

by Joyce, Anne

  “Thank you,” Maria said. “Come on girls, we’re going downstairs to shower.” She went to the living room and ushered Paola and Danisha down the steps.

  “Feel free to wash anything you plan on keeping, too. They definitely need it.” Alex wrinkled his nose. “I’ll take you to the factory tomorrow if you’re willing to speak with the resistance. They’re a great bunch of people.”

  “All right, we’ll meet with them,” Joshua agreed. “Thanks, Alex. I really owe you one.”

  “You don’t owe me anything. Just get away from this godforsaken place and don’t look back.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Alex drove through the outskirts of town. They passed a cluster of dilapidated buildings and abandoned businesses. “It looks like a ghost town over here,” Julio said. He and Maria rode in the back of the car with the children on their laps. Joshua sat in the front seat.

  “They outsourced a lot of information technology and administrative jobs because most of the workers were sent to the wastelands. They claimed it was cheaper anyway,” Alex replied.

  “They couldn’t have outsourced everything. Are their servants doing all of the manual labor jobs?” Maria said.

  “They kept a small percentage of indigents for the lower level jobs. They work those people like dogs and treat them like garbage. They’re all members of the resistance,” Alex said.

  “I’m not surprised,” Joshua remarked.

  “Here we are.” Alex stopped in front of a large, decaying once-white building.

  “This place looks creepy.” Paola shuddered.

  “It’s like something out of a horror movie. I can see why people would stay away,” Danisha said.

  “I like this building already. Who would look for us here?” Joshua climbed out of Alex’s red sedan.

  “Marcus should be walking over any minute. He’s bound to have seen my car through his telescope,” Alex said.

  “He owns a telescope?” Julio lifted Danisha and stepped out of the vehicle.

  “He looks out from the top floor. He’s always watching for Purifiers. He’s a high-strung little guy. It takes a while to get used to him,” Alex replied. “Here he comes now.” He squinted.

  “Alex, it’s good to see you! It’s about time you visited us. There is much to talk about.” Marcus marched towards him. “Wait… who are these people?” The broad, Native American man stopped and stared at the strangers.

  “This is Josh Wyman, a good friend of mine and his family.” Alex clapped his hand on Joshua’s shoulder.

  “Where do you come from?” Marcus gave Joshua a suspicious glance.

  “We’re from the wastelands,” Julio said.

  “You don’t speak the truth! No one’s ever come back from there.” Marcus stared at them as if they’d just come from Mars.

  “Someone has,” Joshua said.

  “How did you do it?” Marcus asked.

  “I’m sure they’d be happy to tell you all about it. I need to be leaving for work. The water bills certainly won’t pay themselves,” Alex said. “Good luck to you.” He extended his hand to Joshua. Joshua shook his hand and pulled his friend into a hug. “Be sure to get that truck off my property as soon as possible. It’ll have to be tonight. It’s too dangerous to move it during the day.”

  “You got it,” Joshua said. Alex climbed into his car, waved goodbye, and drove away.

  “Follow me.” Marcus walked toward the factory.

  “I don’t know if this is a good idea. He seems kind of weird,” Danisha whispered.

  “If Alex says he’s okay, then I believe him,” Joshua replied.

  “What’s that thing on your arm?” Paola pointed to the diamond shaped tattoo on Marcus’ right arm.

  “It’s a work tattoo. Every grunt within the city limits has to have one. It’s their way of keeping track of us. The diamond is for janitors. Waste management and food service employees have different tattoos,” he replied.

  “They branded you? That’s messed up,” Danisha said.

  “Tell me about it!” Marcus said. “Right this way.” He held the front door for them. He lit a candle and led them through the factory with assembly lines and robots covered in a thick layer of dust. Everything smelled of mildew and vinyl. The windows were all boarded and sealed shut and only a few rays of light peeked through them.

  They went into the break room where several men and women were seated at a table. A tall muscular man rose to his feet. “Who the hell are these people?”

  “It’s all right, Aaron. They’re friends of Alex Jenkins,” Marcus replied.

  “They’re strangers to me and Alex doesn’t even come to the meetings anymore. They shouldn’t be here,” Aaron complained.

  “Alex wouldn’t send spies. He’s one of us,” the short, stocky man assured.

  “If he’s one of us, then where the hell is he?” Aaron retorted.

  “Look, pal, we’ve spent the last several years living in filthy shacks in the desert with very little food and water. We’ve watched people we love die because of the scumbag water barons. We hate these people as much as you do. We’re not the enemy.” Julio held up his hands. The room fell silent and everyone looked stunned.

  “You were living in the wastelands? What’s happening out there?” The blond woman raised her eyebrows.

  “A lot of horrible things that are being swept under the rug,” Joshua replied.

  “How did you get here?” the stocky man gasped.

  “How do we know they’re telling the truth?” Aaron pointed an accusing finger at them.

  “Are you being serious? You think we’re making this up?” Maria sputtered.

  “How’s this for proof?” Danisha stepped forward and unwrapped the bandage around her leg. Marcus shined the light on her.

  “What happened to you?” A thin brunette leaned over the table to get a better look.

  “A Purifier shot me,” she replied.

  “That’s definitely a bullet wound, Aaron,” a man with dark-rimmed glasses said.

  “You poor thing,” the blond gasped.

  “Please have a seat.” The thick man gestured toward the breakroom chairs. “My name’s Jethro, these ladies are Diane and Rowan. He’s Trevor.” He pointed at the blond, the brunette, and the man with glasses in turn as he spoke.

  “Nice to meet you.” Joshua pulled up a chair.

  “I thought there would be more of you,” Maria said.

  “Most of the resistance is working right now. If we’re lucky we get a day off every couple of months. Even our higher income members work like Hebrew slaves. They have nicer homes to pay mortgages on and higher water bills. It makes planning anything difficult,” Jethro said.

  “What are you planning?” Paola said.

  “A lot of things, dear. We want to make life better for everyone. You know, I used to work in this factory.” Jethro glanced around as if it were yesterday. “I was an operator. I ran the machines that helped make windshields. Those were much happier times.” He smiled.

  “The factory wasn’t a great place to work, but it was paradise compared to our new jobs,” Trevor said.

  “They don’t want to hear about the stupid old factory. Tell us how you came here,” Marcus said.

  Marcus, Jethro, Diane, Trevor, and Rowan leaned forward and sat on the edge of their seats as they listened to Joshua’s story. Aaron sat in the corner with his arms crossed over his chest.

  “No one should have to go through that. It’s one of the saddest things I’ve ever heard.” Tears welled up in Diane’s eyes.

  “This is why the water barons must be stopped. Poverty has become a crime punishable by a slow death. Convicted murderers are treated better.” Marcus shook his head.

  “How do you plan to stop them?” asked Danisha.

  “We have to rise up but we all have to come together. If we’re united, we can overthrow the water barons and take back what’s ours,” Marcus replied.

  “The last group with that idea didn�
��t succeed.” Maria rested her elbows on the table.

  “The last resistance was sloppy, poorly planned, and disorganized. They just ran out of the woods with guns blazing and shot everyone around them. You have to go after the ones in power when they least expect it. We’ve also got Trevor here, and he’s a huge asset,” Jethro said.

  “I think I can breach the water barons’ security systems. Once their systems are disabled, they’ll have a few thousand angry house guests,” Trevor said.

  “Are you a computer genius?” Paola said.

  “You could say that.” Trevor pushed up his dark glasses.

  “Do you have guns?” asked Julio.

  “We do. They passed a law making it illegal for citizens to own guns, but we have connections,” Jethro replied. “It pays to know the right people.”

  “Even if you succeed, the government’s just not going to let you take over,” Julio said.

  “We’re not trying to take over. We know we’ll never have that kind of power. The government will have to step in at some point and run the country. No one’s going to pay them to sit on their asses anymore. I bet they’ll think twice before they let anyone steal our water, though,” Rowan replied.

  “They might just put a bullet in your head for all of your troubles,” Joshua said.

  “That may be so, but that’s the risk we take. This is no way to live,” Diane said.

  “I think you’ve come to us for a reason. People will listen to you more than anyone else. You’ve been to hell and back.” Marcus leaned against the table.

  “That’s right. They need to know what their futures will be if we don’t act soon,” Jethro agreed.

  “Hold on. I wish you nothing but success, but I don’t want to be involved in this movement. We’ve spent enough time fighting for our lives. We just want a new beginning,” Joshua said.

  “Why are you here?” Aaron unfolded his arms.

  “We were hoping you could help us get to Mexico,” Julio replied.

  “What do you think we are, a charity group?” Aaron snapped.

  “Nobody’s asking for charity. I saw your van in the parking lot. We have a Purifier truck we could trade for it. We just need some work clothes and a normal vehicle to get out of the country,” Joshua said.

  “You still have the Purifier truck? Where is it?” asked Rowan.

  “It’s in Alex’s garage,” Maria replied.

  “He let you leave a Purifier truck on his property?” Trevor looked at them like Alex was harboring their alien spaceship.

  “We could use that truck for the prison break,” Diane said.

  “What prison break?” asked Danisha.

  “We have some members who are corrections officers. We’re planning to set the inmates free so they can help us. They’ll have no problems thumping Purifier skulls,” Trevor replied.

  “Our friend Chad said they’ve got an inmate who came from the desert. Purifiers brought him in last night and they haven’t seen him since. His boss said he was transferred from Leesburg due to overcrowding, but nobody believes him. The Purifiers are torturing the poor man,” Diane said.

  Joshua’s mouth fell open. “Did Chad tell you the man’s name?” He leaned forward.

  ““Blake, maybe? No, that’s not it. Bl… Blane Henderson, I think. Yes. That’s his name.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “This is an outrage! Is every member of your regiment a complete buffoon?” Mr. Pickett shouted into the phone. “Do the Purifiers in your command receive any kind of training, General? You sent two different teams to exterminate a few indigents and they failed both times!”

  “Sir, I know this is unacceptable, but in our defense, we couldn’t have known they were armed. We still don’t know how the vagrants acquired guns,” General Watkins replied.

  “Of course, you don’t know how they got guns, because you don’t know anything! The vagrants didn’t even have firearms the first time they overpowered your men. There are going to be some changes around here, General. Every Purifier will receive formal combat training from officers of the United States military. Effective immediately, there will be no more visits to the desert. We’re not giving those people any more handouts.” The portly balding man paced in front of his desk.

  “But, some of them know how to—”

  “I don’t care what they know. We’ll just have to get by without them. This rubbish is not going to happen again.” Pickett cut him off. “There’s still a Purifier truck missing. I want it found. We’ve wasted entirely too many resources on these degenerates. You’re going to find them without the expense of any more weapons or lives. You will report to me and keep me updated on everything that happens.” He ended the call.

  Pickett buzzed his assistant. “Get in here.”

  “How can I help you, sir?” The anxious young man rushed into his office.

  “I want a report of every Purifier truck that’s passed an Arizona checkpoint during the last four days.”

  “Yes, sir.” The young man ran back to his desk.

  Pickett sat in his chair and admired his spacious office with glass walls, a breathtaking view of the city, and a stone fountain in the corner. He closed his eyes and let the sound of the trickling water calm him while he thought back. He’d grown up in a run-down trailer with his parents and three brothers in New Mexico. His father, the idiot, lost everything to a gambling debt and the family never recovered financially.

  He was always ashamed of his life and vowed that when he got older, he would never be poor. During his teens he worked as a janitor and that was how he met the man who convinced him to invest in the oil business. He smiled. Several years later he was a self-made millionaire. He prided himself on his status and fortune and gave little regard to those without either. “I don’t know what kind of game these vagrants think they’re playing, but they’re messing with the wrong man,” he said to himself.

  ***

  “I can’t believe they’ve got Blane.” Paola clasped her hand over her mouth.

  “You know him?” Rowan asked.

  “He lived with us. He’s our friend who stole the supply truck,” Joshua said.

  “He was bound to get caught, but I never imagined he’d be imprisoned. I thought the Purifiers would shoot him,” Maria said.

  “Something’s fishy about that. Purifiers tend to shoot first and ask questions later.” Jethro stroked his beard.

  “Someone wants him alive for a reason. I’ll bet it has to do with finding you.” Marcus stared at Joshua.

  “He’s the only one who knows where you’re going. They’re trying to beat that information out of him,” Diane said, the realization showing on her face.

  “Can anything else go wrong?” Maria laid her head on the table.

  “I haven’t even thought about Blane since he left. I guess I’d convinced myself he was somewhere safe,” Julio said.

  “He can’t stay in a torture chamber.” Joshua shook his head. “We have to get him out of there… and we’ll need your help.” He turned toward Marcus.

  “Who the hell do you think you are?” Aaron jumped to his feet. “You’ve got some nerve asking us to risk our lives for you.”

  “You’re risking your life by being here, you fool!” Joshua snapped.

  “You son of a—”

  “Hold on a second.” Julio cut Aaron off. “I hate to say it, Josh, but I agree with this douche-bag. Blane left us stranded and surrounded by murderers. I don’t like the thought of him being tortured, but he brought this on himself,” Julio said.

  “What Blane did was lousy, but he still doesn’t deserve what they’ll do to him,” Joshua said.

  “That’s true, but he should’ve thought of that before he sped off toward a Purifier base. It was a dumb move,” Julio replied.

  “It’s not just about rescuing poor Blane. A person can only take so much abuse. They’re going to break him, and when they do, he’ll tell them everything,” Joshua said.

  “Every entry
to Mexico will be blocked, and we’ll be stuck here forever.” Maria raised her head and pushed back her hair. “We have to help him.”

  “If you don’t want to aid our cause, why should we get involved in your problems?” Marcus said.

  “You’re going to bust out the prisoners anyway,” Danisha said.

  “This is far more dangerous. I’m sure he’s isolated from the rest of the population and harder to reach,” Marcus replied.

  “He could also be surrounded by guards too,” Rowan interjected.

  “What would you be willing to do for us in return?” Trevor leaned back in his chair.

  “What do you want?” asked Julio.

  “We want at least one of you to stay and fight with us. Your story is powerful. You could be the most influential people the resistance has ever known,” Trevor replied.

  “I’m not splitting up my family,” Joshua said.

  “Don’t you care about the fate of this country and its citizens?” Jethro said.

  “I do, but I—”

  “It’s okay, Josh.” Danisha stood and put her hand on his shoulder. “I’ll stay with them. You know what they did to my family. I can’t pretend I don’t care. I think of revenge every day. I’m ready to fight.”

  “No!” Paola said. “I’ll never see you again.”

  “We might cross paths again someday,” Danisha replied.

  “But… I’ll miss you.” Paola’s eyes filled with tears.

  “I’ll miss you too, but I think this is where I belong. I can make a difference. I don’t want my family’s deaths to be in vain.” She hugged her friend.

  “You’re very young, Danisha. This is some dangerous territory you’ll be getting into,” Maria said.

  “Don’t worry about her. We’ll take good care of her. We’d be glad to have you with us, young warrior. Do you know how to use a firearm?” Marcus said.

  She shook her head.

  “That’s okay. We’ll teach you,” he replied. He turned to his comrades and scanned their faces. Joshua held his breath as each one in turn nodded their heads slightly. “All right then. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Marcus said.