Beyond the New Horizon: The Last Sun,

by Christine Conaway

  As soon as everyone was awake, Sam put his idea to the rest of the group. Once finished speaking, he let them digest what he’d said, over a breakfast of the cooked root and the meat from the night before.

  Ben stole everyone’s attention when he moaned and tried to sit up. Abby ran to his side and helped prop him up.

  “Is that food I smell?” He croaked rather than spoke and Journey hastened to give Ben some water.

  “It is,” Evelyn confirmed, “and I have something special just for you.”

  Sam had noticed a bean can sitting beside the fire and had wondered what it was until Evelyn tested the can for heat and then picked it up with a piece of tee shirt used for a hot pad. She blew across the top of it as she carried it to Ben.

  She held it to his lips, “Be careful, it’s still a little hot.”

  Ben tasted it and then began to drink. When he was finished, he laid back down. Abby scooted forward and lifted his head into her lap.

  Ben smiled up at her, “Thanks, kiddo…but,” Ben looked around expecting to see someone else. When he didn’t, he frowned, “This is it? This can’t be everyone?” His eyes glistened as if he already knew the answer. Journey moved to him and said something quietly to his ears only. When she moved away, Ben closed his eyes, but not before a tear escaped. He moved to put his good arm over his face.

  They gave him his privacy leaving Abby to tend to him while the rest moved away to discuss their next venture. For Ben, this was the first he’d heard about Lucy and his son and those who hadn’t survived. The others had had time to process and accept the deaths, and the few days since escaping the cave had already begun to soften the blow.

  They sat around the fire, in silence, trying not to hear Ben’s soft sobbing questions while Abby tried to comfort him with her answers.

  The silence was deafening with only the pop and crackle as the wood burned, to mask Ben and Abby’s conversation, until Matt asked, “Did Ben say how he got out of the cave?”

  “Mathew? We all sat here together and just heard Ben’s first words. So, no. We don’t know anything yet, but I’m sure we will after we let him deal with the loss of his wife and child,” Evelyn’s voice sounded just a little condescending to everyone else, but it shut Matt up.

  He had the grace to flush with embarrassment, “Sorry. I thought that maybe he’d woken before this.”

  Evelyn sighed, “I’m sorry too, Mathew. I had no reason to attack you like that, you had no way of knowing. I guess I’m just tired and maybe a little under the weather today.”

  “We’re all tired and a little under the weather, as you call it Evelyn. Rather than waste more days sitting here, I think Gina and I should go south to see what we can find. Where highway 12 comes over Lolo Pass, there should be a welcome center, and if I remember correctly, there’s also a bar and bed and breakfast close by. The highway didn’t see much traffic in the winter months, so I’m hoping there’s something there.”

  “Isn’t that a long way from here?” Willy asked.

  “Not really as the crow flies. And it looks to me like it should be an easy trip down there. All we’d have to do is follow the river south.”

  “And you expect us to sit here and do what? Wait for you to come back?”

  “Nope. I was hoping when Ben feels up to traveling you guys can follow our tracks and meet us somewhere south of here. We could get to where the pass should be and check out the welcome center…there used to be candy and snack machines there as well as drink machines. With any luck at all, they’ll still be there and untouched, because no one in their right mind would try to get over Lolo Pass in the winter, especially on foot.”

  “You really think that no one has been up there in the last…what? Ten months. That’s asking a little much don’t you think?”

  “Come on Charlie, we’ve all driven across it at one time or another, so could you imagine how hard it would be to walk it? People fleeing the cities would take the easiest way out and over Lolo Pass would not be it.”

  “And what if there’s nothing there? Then the two of you have made the ride for nothing.”

  “Not for nothing. At least we’d have an idea what we’re facing out there and maybe have the chance to bring down an elk or a deer. Up there, a bear wouldn’t be out of the question either.”

  Charlie looked down the length of the river as far as he could see, “In case you missed it, there doesn’t seem to be an up there right now. I don’t profess to know what the other people are doing or have done, but I guess it makes sense. If you guys have to leave the river, leave us some kind of a sign. I’d sure hate to pass you guys by and miss you.”

  Sam looked at Matt and pointed at Lucas, “Can the two of you put the saddles on Sham and Clyde?”

  “On Sailor and Sham please,” Gina corrected. She smiled at Sam, “In case you forgot, Clyde still has the tendon problem. I’d rather ride a horse I know is sound and one who will stay that way.”

  “I thought that Clyde was in better shape, but suit yourself.”

  “Sailor never carry’s excess weight. He’ll be fine.”

  Sam nodded at the two boys, and they ran to catch the horses. Gina whistled, and the whole pack moved their direction.

  By the time they were ready to leave, they each wore an extra set of clothes and Gina’s rucksack hung nearly empty from her saddle horn. In it were a cut of dried meat they would have to whittle pieces from and the two remaining water bottles. Evelyn had boiled the water, to fill the bottles with but they were the last of their containers. Water in camp would have to be shared from a communal pot.

  They watched in silence until Gina and Sam grew smaller as they rode away. When Ben called out for help, Journey, Charlie, and Willy returned to sit by the invalid. Abby had never left his side until Ben told her to go and help gather wood.

  “But Dad…what if you need something?”

  “Go,” he said, his voice stronger than it had been all morning.

  Reluctantly, Abby rose and went to where Matt, Lucas, Olivia, and Sherry stood to wait for her. She stomped toward them.

  “You can’t blame her. She’s only just got you back.”

  Ben’s eyes followed her until she stopped stomping her feet and walked normally as she approached the others. He tried to laugh and groaned instead. “Can one of you help me sit up?”

  “Are you sure you feel good enough to sit?”

  “Please, just help me up,” Ben said, struggling to push himself upright with one hand.

  “Do you feel good enough to tell us how the hell you escaped and found us?”

  Ben looked at Willy and nodded, “I thought I was the only one who escaped until I found the tracks going around the side of the canyon wall. I followed them and fell going down to the cave entrance. I thought it would be an easy climb down instead of going a long way around.” He used his chin to point at his shoulder, “that’s how I got that.”

  “And that as you call it, is a broken collarbone. Gina and I realigned it, and strapping your arm down is the only way to immobilize it, so be careful. I wouldn’t want to have to do it again.”

  Ben nodded, “I think I remember it. Maybe. Anyways, When I got down, and up on my feet again, I saw the plaque you’d put up for the others. Then I noticed the tracks leading away from the cave. Long story short, I followed, and here I am.”

  Journey nodded, “So, you did know about Lucy and the baby. I thought that you had to know when you didn’t ask for them right away.”

  Ben looked at Journey, and nodded, “I guess I did. I know I read the plaque, but for the life of me, I hoped it was wrong. I guess I just needed to hear the words from one of you. Hearing it, made it real for me.” He stared at the fire in silence.

  “What about the backpack? Is there anything in there that we will find useful?”

  “It’s the one I had set up for Abby, so I guess it would depend on what she or Lucas took out of it. I didn’t realize it was still around until I tripped over it in my confusion.”r />
  Charlie picked it up by one strap, “It’s got a padlock on the main compartment. You have the key for it?”

  Ben reached to touch his neck, feeling around for something, “I guess I lost mine. It was on a chain around my neck.” He looked at Journey, eyebrows raised as if asking her if she’d taken it off.

  Journey shook her head while answering, “Nope. There was nothing around your neck. You must have lost it.”

  “Well, we can wait for Abby to come back or just cut the thing off then. It’s heavy, so there’s something in it.”

  Charlie picked it off the ground and let it settle with a thump, “You’re right. It’s got something in it, but we’ll wait for the kids to get back. That bag is one of the few things we have to carry stuff in and it won’t be much good if we have to cut it up.”

  “Now, how did you get out?” Willy asked.

  Ben closed his eyes as if that would help him remember, “When the shaking started, I was crossing through the kids sleeping area. When the rock started falling, I fell and landed on top of the damn bag. Without thinking, I grabbed it and dragged it along. I knew the horse's pen was close and was trying to reach it because I thought the ceiling would be stronger in there. When I got almost there, some of the roof fell and pinned me down. When I came to, I was banged up pretty bad. I was hoping I was still facing the right direction and began moving the rock. When I got through, the horses were gone. I saw the rock in the entrance had been cleared away, but never thought anything about it. All I could think of was the horses were gone, and I was alone. I thought how easy it would be to sit down and die right there until I saw boot tracks. I knew then that someone had escaped…and, well, you guys know the rest.”

  The young people returned with their arms full of sticks and short pieces of wood. Lucas and Matt dragged longer pieces of tree trunks too large to carry. As soon as Abby emptied her arms, she hurried to her father’s side and sank to the ground.

  Journey went to Abby and whispered into her ear. Abby felt for the thin strip of leather tied around her neck and pulled it off over her head and gave it to Journey, who slid it into her pocket until later.

  “Okay,” Evelyn said, “that’s enough for now. Ben drink this, and if it stays down, we’ll give you something solid.”

  This time Ben held the tin to his lips and sniffed the steam, “What is it?” He blew on it and took a sip. “Mmm, it’s warm and feels good going down.”

  “Daddy, you know it wouldn’t matter what it tastes like, you can’t smell or taste…remember.”

  Ben rolled his eyes, and laughed, “but I can remember what food tastes like. Memory plays a part in whether or not I’ll eat something.

  “It’s broth I made from the heart, kidneys, and the liver,” Evelyn told him.

  Ben’s face lost some of its color, “did I ever mention that I really don’t like organs?”

  “Did I mention how good they are for you? So, drink up.” Evelyn laughed to take the sting out of her words. She was going to make Ben drink the broth if she had to hold his nose and pour it down him. He needed to build up his system, and the liver and kidneys were high in iron.

  Ben wrinkled his nose in distaste. He looked like he wanted to do anything but drink Evelyn’s concoction.

  When Evelyn made as if to hold his nose, Ben downed the cup of broth. He gagged and made faces, at the idea of what he’d just drank, but the liquid stayed down.

  “Now, if you feel up to it, you can try a piece of the meat.”

  Ben held his hand out, and Journey put a slab of freshly cooked meat into it. He tasted it and grinned, “Now, this is more like it, anything to get rid of that nasty taste…or at least the idea of nasty.”

  “Oh pooh, it’s the idea of the taste, not the taste itself. That’s what’s wrong with today’s people. They have no idea what their food contains. Why, if I told you how hot dogs were made, you’d never eat another one.”

  “I never did eat them, but give me some chicken nuggets…and honey mustard sauce…the memory of them and how good they were.”

  Evelyn laughed loudly, “Oh my. Those things don’t have enough chicken in them to call them chicken anything. Those are made up of everything but the chicken meat and all glued together and shaped to make their cute little chicken shapes. Why if you could see…”

  Charlie held his hand up to stop the conversation, “I think we’ve all heard enough about chicken nuggets and I think we’ve all eaten our last meal at McDonald's, Burger King or Taco Bell, but please let us savor the memory.”

  They ate in silence with the occasional sizzle as hot grease fell from the sticks they were cooking the meat on. Evelyn was rationing the cattail root, and they only received a slice each, but they filled up on meat.

  When they were finished, Ben asked, “So who was the great white hunter? That was the tenderest meat we’ve had in a while.”

  Journey looked at him, and with a frown. She shook her head before he could ask again.

  Ben mouthed, “What?” to her, and Journey put her finger in front of her lips and tipped her head to where the girls were sitting. Ben wrinkled his eyebrows, still not understanding.

  “Daddy, she doesn’t want to let the kids know we’re eating horse meat.”

  “Oh, is that…horse?” He paled.

  “It’s no different than any other meat. We have to do whatever it takes for us to survive.” Journey told him, in a quieter voice she told him, “We didn’t know that they knew what kind of meat it is.”

  “Hello?” Abby said, “did you think we didn’t know what kind of hide was wrapped around the smoker? We’re not blind.”

  “Abigail, you apologize right now. You don’t take that snotty attitude with anyone or I’ll…”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come out quite like that. But you guys need to give us some credit, we all know what we have to do.”

  “Abby…that’s enough.”

  Journey laid her hand on Ben’s, “It’s okay. We’ve all been under a lot of strain, and we do tend to forget how smart our kids are. It’s like someone said earlier, we tell them to be mature and act like adults and kill people, and in the next breath or actions, we’re treating them like children. We can’t have it both ways.”

  Ben sank back on his bed and closed his eyes. Journey went to ask him if he was okay until she saw a tear leak out. She realized when she’d said, kill people, that her words would be a reminder and it had only been a little while since he’d found out that they’d lost Lucy and the baby. The thought made Journey want to cry too, but she just plain didn’t have the energy for grief right then.

  Andy must have known what she was thinking when he took her by her hand and led her away to where Willy, Charlie, Evelyn, Joe, and Kenny were sitting looking up at the stars. Sierra and the girls were talking and giggling as Sierra recounted one of her flying stories. The girls had heard the story before, but apparently still enjoyed listening to Sierra talk.

  As Journey and Andy sat down, Willy asked, “how soon before you think Ben will be able to travel?”

  “I guess whenever we are. There’s nothing wrong with Ben’s legs. We’ll just have to make sure he has someone beside him at all times. We can’t take the chance of him falling and doing further damage to himself.”

  “I guess tomorrow, we can pack up and make our way south. We’ll meet up with Sam and Gina hopefully before they get too far back,” Willy said with a sigh. “Now, how about that backpack or are we going to keep it for posterity or make a time capsule out of it?”

  Andy got up and went to where the pack leaned against a rock and carried it back to set it at Willy’s feet. Journey used the key and removed the padlock.

  With the lock off the pack, Willy reached in and laid the contents out on the ground in front of them. They had one Keltek rifle, folded and locked, several ready to eat meals from Mountain Home and a half-dozen MRE’s. The bottom of the bag held boxes of ammunition for a nine-millimeter and .45. There was a small medical
kit, two knives in nylon sheaths, two water filters, a small plastic bottle of purification tablets, socks and a folded piece of paper, that had obviously been handled a lot by the number of wrinkles in it.

  “How did we not know this stuff was here?” Willy asked while looking over the array of items spread out on the ground. He reached for the paper, unfolded it, but couldn’t see well enough to read it, folded it along the creases and slid it into his shirt pocket to return to Abby later.

  Charlie set the rifle and ammunition aside and handed the medical kit to Journey. “This is your department.”

  Holding a pair of the rolled-up socks, he thought about the dirty socks he had on his feet and sighed, “I bet we all could use a pair of these,” and reluctantly set them aside. As much as he wanted to put a pair on, his weren’t as bad as some of theirs.

  “You got that right,” Willy mumbled and began to put the packaged food back into the bag.

  “I wish we could have sent a couple of those meals with Sam and Gina,” Journey told them as she dropped an MRE on top of the Mylar packaged food.

  “They’ll be fine. You know they’re both pretty resourceful.”

  Charlie slid the pack of food to Evelyn, “and it appears as if this is in your department.”

  Evelyn took the pack and had to drag it away. Even without the rifle and bullets, the pack was heavy. Too heavy for her to carry it.

  Lucas walked up behind them and knelt between Willy and Charlie. He leaned over and said quietly, “Abby and I hear something.”

  Both men frowned and looked at Lucas. “An animal?” Willy asked.

  Lucas chewed on the inside of his lip, “Nope. It sounded like a motor.”

  “A motor? Are you sure?” Charlie asked, frowning. He knew to trust the kids hearing, as their ability had forewarned him before, but the idea of someone with a running motor was almost too much to believe.

  Lucas nodded, backlit by the fire, Willy and Charlie exchanged glances, reaching the same conclusion. “We need to put the fire out now.”

  Lucas looked over his shoulder, and the girls were visible sitting in plain sight. They had built the fire up for warmth, and it popped and crackled but sat like a beacon telling anyone looking, that they were there.