by S A Ison
“Yeah, digging a deep hole keeps the majority of it hidden. As it gets darker, I’m sure it will be a bit easier to see, but unless and until it is pitch black, the fire is almost invisible. Smiles greeted them and the carcasses. Lydia took one rabbit and rinsed it off with a bit of water and began to butcher it. She threw the pieces into the pot, then added water. She pulled out a plastic baggie of spice and added it to the water. Jael thought of everything.
Phoenix set the other carcass on the grate and Lydia sprinkled some of the spice over it. The coals were hot enough to roast the rabbit. It smelled wonderful and there was a series of stomach growls that ran around the group.
“God, I could eat.” Monica said as she fed Demi the last of the rice balls. Lydia pulled out a jam biscuit and handed it over. Monica pinched off pieces and let Demi feed herself. Around them, night began to close in once more.
“Hopefully tomorrow, we can make good time. Especially if we wake at daybreak. Hopefully it won’t rain either.” Phoenix said.
“Yeah, don’t jinx it either.” Monica laughed, looking up into the sky. There weren’t any clouds, but that didn’t mean a lot.
An hour later, the group was tearing off bits of rabbit and taking spoons of the rice mixture from the pot. There wasn’t much talking and even Demi seemed no want to break the silence. There were snaps in the woods, but the group kept their weapons at the ready. It was night sounds that made them jumpy.
Soon each began to lay down, to rest after the long day and Yuma would stand the first watch. Lydia was drawn into Phoenix’s arms and he spooned her. She pulled the sleeping Demi into her. She watched as Monica and Yuma spoke softly, their movements slow and their smiles soft. Lydia smiled. She hoped that Yuma and Monica would end up together. She was a romantic at heart. This life was just too uncertain and no one should be alone. Her eyes began to droop and soon, she was sound asleep.
Monica shifted and felt the heat of Yuma beside her. She’d caught his looks and knew that he was drawn to her. She wasn’t sure what she felt at this point, their lives were in such peril that romance was the last thing she had in mind. She thought perhaps, once they got to the farmhouse, she and Yuma might see what was what.
She’d been so disappointed when the jeep had died. It had been the first time in a long time that she’d not had to walk for hours and hours to get a great distance. She had never ever thought about traveling before everything went to hell. Now, their lives were contingent on planning and moving quietly and quickly. Getting from point A to point B took time, hours in fact, and it took days. Before, hoping in the car to take a quick trip of one hundred miles was nothing, didn’t even register.
Now, going ten miles, a fifteen-minute trip, now took five hours. She now understood why people stayed home in the olden days. Why people in remote locations only went to a bigger town or city a few times a year. It took a lot of planning and a lot of time. Going one way, then back again. If you had a horse, better. But if you didn’t, you stayed put. She shook her head. The world had become more complicated in some ways, the logistical side. Each action had to be assessed, the pros and cons of just what it was worth, to go someplace or take a trip or move. There was nothing simple now, nor anything rushed or quick. It all took time.
It took time to grow things. It took time to cook things. It took time to hunt things. It took time to gather water or hunt water. Things that kept you alive, it all took time. The instant world was gone, except for instant death. She sighed and shifted. Her eyes followed Yuma as he walked around their small camp. She smiled; he was a serious man. He took his job of guarding them seriously. Lydia said he looked like an accountant when she’d first met him. Now, his hair was brushing his collar. He had a beard, but it wasn’t as thick or full as Phoenix’s beard. She suspected that Yuma shaved when he was home.
She mentally shrugged, shaving took time now too. She let her eyes close and she left her fate and life in Yuma’s capable hands and found sleep.
SEVENTEEN
US Highway 12 West, MT
They walked in a group and not spread out. After Taya had been killed, because she’d been too far back, none of them wanted to be strung out and more than a few feet away from another. It was nearing the end of another day, all were tired. Demi was fussy and they had allowed her to run, keeping up with her. They had seen no one throughout the day and Yuma thought that perhaps yesterday had been easy, since they were hidden by the dense forest. It had been nearly a twelve-hour day of walking.
This morning, they had left the forest and foothills behind, once more crossing fields and farms. There were only about five or six miles from home now and his heart kept up a rapid tattoo, hope and fear mingling. Yes, yesterday had been easier. They had started off early, wanting to get a jump on the day. His heart flipped in his chest at the thought. It would be something he would remember for the rest of his life, if he lived that long.
Yesterday, it had been late in the day, and they were keeping a look out for a place to stop for the night. It had been a tense day, because every snapped branch and noise had them jumpy. Demi was walking and running around them, Lydia wanted her tired for the night. The forest had thinned out, and the elevation was dropping. Tomorrow, they would leave the foothills and the forest behind. The group froze when they heard grunting and Phoenix reached down and pulled Demi into his arms, bringing his AR15 around. Yuma looked around, his heart racing. They heard the grunting again. Monica and Lydia moved closer to the men; their weapons drawn as well. No one spoke, and Demi was quiet as well. Yuma thought she sensed the danger too. But what was it? He’d never heard anything like it before.
Standing in the middle of the forest and not moving wasn’t getting them anywhere. Phoenix began to walk slowly, and Yuma and the others followed. The grunting grew progressively louder. There was nowhere else to go, they had to move along the road, they had to get home. They had gone about fifty feet, slowly moving as a unit when the grunting stopped. They stopped as well. Yuma could hear his heart beating in his chest, the blood thrumming. It was noisy.
They began to move once more, their eyes scanning and searching. The wind shifted and Yuma detected the scent of blood and the hair rose on his arms. He pushed Lydia and Monica behind him. Phoenix turned and handed Demi to Lydia. Yuma though Phoenix must have smelled the blood as well. They moved forward, unable to do anything else and then it moved and they saw it. It was a massive black bear, and he was standing over a body, Yuma couldn’t tell if it were a man or a woman, but he saw an arm sticking up, the hand curled into a fist. The arm was bloody. The bear grunted and put his face back into the body and the arm began to move.
For a moment, Yuma thought the person was still alive, until he realized the bear was moving the body, there by moving the arm. More hair on his body rose. He felt ice water pour down through his veins, his body tingling. His mouth dried up in a second at the visceral scene. One of the women whimpered softly and he could feel Monica pressing against his back, her arm sliding around his middle.
Once more the grunting stopped and the bear’s massive head swung up, scenting the air. The group moved slowly, and the bear’s head swung back and forth. Yuma saw the absurdly small ears twitch. The scent of blood was now strong, coppery, mixed with the pungent reek of bowel. The bear moved forward, still sniffing the air. Then the bear took another step, this time, turning toward them. The bear grunted, and he must have seen them, because he started to charge and Yuma thought he would shit himself, there on the spot.
He was about to shoot, when the bear abruptly stopped. There was more grunting, and he charged again and stopped. The group was now moving backwards, past the bear and keeping it in their line of sight. He could feel Monica pulling him, guiding him, so he wouldn’t stumble. He and Phoenix were the phalanx, guarding their loved ones. The men stood between the bear and the women, a fragile barrier. Neither he nor Phoenix wanted to use the ARs, that would bring a lot of attention their way. They could kill the bear, but their shots would ec
ho through the forest. They didn’t want that kind of attention.
The bear once more charged and Yuma’s finger was on the trigger now, the muscles in his arm bunched. The bear was now only twenty feet away and Yuma could see the small beady brown eyes. The bear was massive, it was certainly bigger in person, than what he’d seen at the zoo and he could smell blood and shit on it. They kept moving though and slowly, they moved farther away. The bear continued to grunt and slowly, they put distance between themselves and the bear. The women were leading them now, and their steps were hurried, but he and Phoenix never turned their backs on the bear.
It had been a very restless night and it was agreed to walk a while longer to put more distance between them and the bear. Yuma wasn’t sure what he felt for the dead person, and the thought made him shiver. It had never once occurred to him, in his life, that he wasn’t the master of his universe, until Taya. This was again piercing evidence that he was not. He shook himself out of the dark thoughts. They were close to home now.
To sleep in his own bed, to ride Golden Girl, to eat home cooked food. By now, he was sure that the crops were flourishing. They had been gone for nearly a month. The trip to Seattle had taken much more time than they had anticipated with all the backtracking and avoiding. They would be home already had those bastards not shot at them. Or, they would have at least had the jeep longer. The jeep had been dying, there was no doubt, but pushing it, that had been the final straw.
Their heads were on a swivel and they watched the fields around them. There was green everywhere, lush and fantastic. It was life, that was food in those fields. There were farmhouses in the distance, along with gray or red barns, beacons of humanity. Yuma was grateful this place was sparsely populated.
He was feeling nervous but he didn’t know why, it was like they were so close, only to have something happen to them. He was tired and he was punchy. His body was hurting from the long hours of walking. The boots were comfortable, but they were still boots. He wished he had Golden Girl, he would scoop Monica up and take her home.
Phoenix used his height to look around. He could now use the binoculars. They were an old birding pair, and one of the lenses was cracked, but he used it to look ahead and around him. There was excitement building in him, they were nearly home. Only a few more miles. He was beginning to recognize his surroundings. It was hard not to break out in a run and just keep running until they were home.
Phoenix saw horses in the distance along with cows. He smiled and handed the binos to Lydia and pointed. She smiled, and looked up at him.
“I can’t believe we’re almost home. My god, this has been one hell of a trip.”
“I know, all I want to do is run, like a crazy person. I’m afraid I’d fall down after a mile.” He chuckled.
“How long do you think?” She asked, handing him back the binos.
“Maybe another hour, more or less.” He said and smiled when she slid her hand over his arm. He didn’t comprehend when her body shot forward and she fell to the ground, until the report of a gun cut the air and he screamed her name.
Ω
Fargo, GA
Blake woke and wasn’t sure why. He sat up, scratching his head. The soft rasp of it told him he needed a haircut soon. He pushed the mosquito netting aside and felt his way to the bathroom, it was pitch black and he thought it was about two. When he finished, he didn’t flush, they conserved water at night, plus it woke Alice. Alice encouraged pissing on a tree, but he wasn’t going to get a mosquito bite on his dick. The fan above their bed moved lazily, moving the hot air. He had to admit, it was hard getting used to the heat of summer in the south. He’d grown up poor in Georgia, up near Valdosta, a sleepy farming community, but here by the Suwannee river, it seemed more humid.
He stepped quietly onto the porch; Fiasco asleep with Travis. The puppy and the boy were becoming the best of friends. He didn’t see how the child could tolerate the heat of the puppy, but wanted him there. Travis was speaking more clearly now, putting small sentences together. He was a mimic of Blake and it gave Blake a lot of amusement to see the child ape his walk or cross his legs when Blake did. It was also eye opening to see how often Blake rubbed his jaw and head.
Standing on the porch, he caught the slight breeze and it was delicious. He turned his face into it, letting it cool the sweat on his face. He froze when he hears a soft noise from the back of the cabin. Slowly, he went back into the house, easing the screen door. He kept the door well-oiled and was glad. Going into the bedroom, he picked up his weapon. He moved silently through the house and back out the screen door, then pushed out of the screened porch. He was barefoot, but his feet had toughened up over the summer and he kept the yard clear of stickers, rocks and debris. His weapon was raised and he moved to the side of the house. He could hear nothing.
He saw something white on the ground, it was Fiasco’s bone and he sided stepped it. He heard the sound again, and then he caught the scent of gasoline and his heart slammed into his chest. Someone was trying to set a fire. Was it the same person who’d set Kena’s shed on fire? He moved quickly now and saw a figure. There was no moon, and it was dark as hell but he sighted his weapon and pulled the trigger. The shot echoed in his ears for a long moment, as he moved forward to the fallen body. He didn’t know if there was anyone else with them. His eyes searched for any movement.
He could now hear Alice in the cabin, calling his name and turning on a light. A light from the window illuminated the back shed and the man that was on the ground. The man, he didn’t recognize, was on the ground and so was a can of gas. There was a box of matches by his side, open. He must have been about to strike the match. Christ, Blake thought, if I hadn’t gotten up to take a piss, we might have been burned to death. The man was groaning and Blake kicked him in the thigh and the man cried out, holding up an arm.
“What the fuck is wrong with you? Who the hell are you?” Blake snarled.
“Fuck you man.” The man spat. Blake could see the man was shot in the gut.
“Blake?” Alice called from the house.
“Stay there, don’t come out. I’m okay.” He called, he turned his attention to the downed man and kicked him viciously again. The man groaned.
“Get up, now, before I shoot you again.” He snarled.
“I can’t man, you fucking gut shot me.”
“And you tried to burn down my fucking house. Get up.” And he pulled his foot back and the man held up a hand. The man cried out, getting to his feet, bent forward, both hands on his gut. Blake could see the glistening of blood on his hands and down his front.
“Alice, get me my keys and my shoes.” He called out and he could hear her footsteps running around. She came to the door when he got around the house. She peeked out and her mouth hung open.
“Get me some rope and a flashlight, I think this is the asshole who set Kena’s house on fire.”
“You bastard.” Alice hissed and went back into the house. He could hear Travis crying and Alice said something low and he stopped. She reappeared with a length of rope.
“Get your ass to the truck, now.” Blake said and slipped his feet into the shoes. The man grunted in pain and moved, staggering over to the Chevy. With his weapon still aimed at the man, he shoved the man onto the tailgate. The man cried out and Blake hit him on the back of the head with the butt of his gun. Not hard enough to knock him out, but get his attention.
“Shut the fuck up. Put your arms behind your back, now, or I’ll beat you to death right here and now.”
The man complied slowly, and Blake looped one handed, the man’s hands. When he thought he hand enough rope around the wrists, he put gun under his chin and held it there while he used both hands to tighten the coil of rope around the man’s hands. He then shoved the man into the bed of the truck, causing the man to scream. He turned when he heard someone running, the dooryard was illuminated by the porch light. He dropped his gun to his side when he saw Kena coming, her AR in hand at the ready. He smiled at h
er and laughed.
“You’re just the woman I was coming to see.”
“Heard the shot.” She panted.
“Well, someone was trying to burn down my shed and my home. Do you know this young man?” He asked, leading her to the back of the truck. He let the tail gate down and he turned on the flashlight and moved it over the man’s face.
“Ain’t you Lana Crawford’s boy, Jess?” Kena asked, the man said nothing and Blake jabbed him in the leg hard.
“Yeah, you killed my cousin!” Jess cried, spit flying from his mouth.
“Pull him out, Blake, please.” Kena asked in a calm voice. Blake yanked on the man’s legs and pulled him out, causing him to cry out in pain. Blake grimaced when he saw the blood in the bed of the truck. He’d have to clean that later.
“When did I supposedly kill your cousin?” Kena asked.
“You were with that bitch, and she shot him.” Jess baked then grimaced from the pain. Blake smacked him with the gun.
“Watch your mouth.” Blake snarled.
“You mean that stupid bastard with the machete?” Kena asked in surprise and then laughed. Jess gave her a scowl and tears streaked down his filthy face. Kena grunted and shook her head.
“Why did you burn my shed?” She asked.
“I told you, old woman.” Jess spit.
“You know Blake, I think this boy needs to be cleaned up. Why don’t you, say… we just take him down to the river? Have him take a dip?” She grinned up at Blake with a toothy grin. He laughed and nodded. He led the young man by the arm, his hands securely tied behind him. The man nearly fell and Blake hauled him back to his feet cruelly.
“Why you taking me to the river. I’ll get infected with that water.” Jess said, struggling as they walked down to the edge of the dock.
“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about infection from the water.” Kena laughed.
“Ain’t you gonna untie me?” Jess asked, his voice raising in panic.