by Otto Schafer
“Screw you, Len – but yeah, this beats the hell out of running,” David agreed.
Ed looked considerably less excited than the others. “Great, another bike trip.”
“Well, you could always fly to Mexico,” Pete said, shrugging his shoulders as he cinched down the shoulder straps of his pack.
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t quite work that way.” Ed shook his head and tested the weight of one of the packs.
“But that’s how you got here,” Garrett said.
“It is but, I can’t just fly all day. There’s the issue of stamina. I weigh two-forty. I weight lift mostly and haven’t run much since I blew out my knee in SEAL training. Flying is like running, it’s like a cardio thing, but I also have to focus constantly. I lose my focus even for a second and I drop like a rock. When that happens, I’m moving fast enough I can’t get my feet under me, and then it’s head over heels,” Ed said, punching a fist into his palm.
Garrett shrugged. “Well then, I guess we won’t have a problem keeping up with you.”
“Better not, because I don’t plan on waiting around for any of you. I don’t need a bunch of kids slowing me down.”
Ed’s chest muscles seemed to twitch beneath his too-tight tee shirt – either involuntarily or maybe subconsciously, Garrett wasn’t sure which, but it was weird, like his muscles had a life of their own.
It was plain that Ed cared little for Garrett. And while Garrett couldn’t blame him, he needed him to understand right here and now how this was going to work. “Listen, Ed, you won’t have a problem with me keeping up with you. It’s the other way around I’m worried about. You drag ass and we won’t wait for you. I made a promise to your brother I plan on keeping, but even if I hadn’t, I would still be going after Bre. Besides, it sounds like this Sarah lady needs David pretty bad. Personally, I don’t care if you come with us or don’t, but you don’t have to be a dick, and you better not slow us down.”
Lenny’s eyebrows sprang up, and he shot David a look.
David threw a hand over his mouth.
Ed stared down at Garrett, his mouth screwing up in a sneer.
“So, listen up,” James said, jumping in to get them back on track. “I have these bikes equipped with tire change kits strapped under the seat. They contain all the tools you need for tube changes. Oh, and you’ll find tire pumps mounted under the cross tubes. Look, these bikes should be sturdy enough to get you to Mexico, and you can probably make the trip in three weeks barring any unforeseen circumstances.”
“Like dragons, giants” – David started ticking off fingers – “trees, looters, roving gangs—”
“We get it, David,” Garrett said, cutting him off.
“But if you have to ditch these bikes, you’re going to just have to figure it out. Garrett, Lenny, I know you guys love to run, but if you lose the bikes, you better find another way. Running will simply take you too long.”
“So what you’re saying is, commandeer a bike along the way if we need to?” Lenny asked.
“Yes, if it comes to that. But what I am really saying is, take care of these bikes. Safeguard them when you sleep. Don’t leave them unattended.”
They all nodded.
“Why bikes?” Pete asked. “Diesel engines don’t rely on electricity, right? All this time knowing this was coming, you couldn’t have come up with something that wouldn’t require electric spark? A hand-crank diesel or something?”
James shook his head. “There are plenty of reasons that’s a bad idea, Pete. If we could have given you guys something big enough to travel far with, you would need to find fuel along the way, but worse, you would be a bigger target than even these bikes are going to make you. Then there’s the issue of the God Stones and what they’re doing to this world, even as we speak. Now that they’re assembled, their effect is even more unpredictable than we expected. Suppose your diesel engine just explodes for no understandable reason? I would not have been comfortable sending you out of here riding a potential time bomb.”
“Well, sheesh, when you put it like that, bikes sound like the way to go.” Pete reached to push his glasses up the bridge of his nose and then quickly realized he no longer wore glasses; he awkwardly played it off by brushing his dark bangs to the side.
“Let’s move then,” James said, leading them into the corridor.
They made their way through a switchback of narrow passages and into a long tunnel with no offshoots. Up ahead, a horse neighed.
“Stables?” Garrett asked.
“Yes, stay quiet and let me do the talking,” James said.
Two guards stood on either side of what Garrett guessed were stable doors, from the sound and the smell coming from within. One guard, Yogi, he had seen earlier in the day. The other he didn’t recognize. Both men dropped to their knees, pressed their faces to the floor, and bowed. “Please stand, guys,” Garrett said, still hating when people bowed down like this.
“At ease, men,” James said as Yogi and the other man stood. “I am giving the Light a tour of Undertown. Why don’t you both knock off for tonight? Tomorrow I want you two stationed outside on the square. You’ve worked some long hours below and have earned some sunshine.”
The two guards smiled and both bowed at the waist to James.
“Protect the Light!” Yogi said, pounding a fist over his heart. His eyes shifted briefly to Garrett, then straight ahead.
“Protect the Light!” the other man said, slapping a fist to his chest.
“Protect the Light!” James returned the strange salute with a fist over his own chest.
Garrett had always disliked Yogi. The older boy seemed to have a mean streak that reminded him of Jack. Now though, he thought maybe it was just part of the façade. Some strange Keeper strategy to mold Garrett into the man he was to become. But as the two men turned to leave, Garrett’s guilt for hating the guy eased as he caught a strange sort of backward glance – a hint of unkindness in Yogi’s narrowed eyes. It was subtle, but it was there. Then again, maybe he was seeing things after having been deceived by everyone around him.
Once the men vanished around the corner, James motioned them forward. “Come, this way. They know I just lied to them.”
“What? How?” Lenny asked.
“We are carrying packs full of gear,” Ed said. “It’s obvious we don’t need all this for a simple tour.”
James nodded. “They are on their way to report what they saw, but you will be long gone before they get back.”
They crossed through the stables, past dozens of wagons, and into an area loaded with bikes. On the far end was a group of black mountain bikes.
“These are for you guys. Each of you grab one and follow me,” James said.
They jogged with their bikes through the tunnels for what had to be several blocks. After a few turns, which had Garrett certain he couldn’t find his way back if he wanted to, the group carried their bikes and gear up some unassuming stairs and stopped at a plain concrete wall.
“Garrett, you guys played in the Z tunnel under Route Six, right?” James asked.
“By the concrete plant? Sure, every kid plays in that tunnel. It’s the largest, but boring otherwise. It just zigzags under the road and doesn’t really go anywhere,” he replied.
“Well, every kid doesn’t know about this,” James said, pushing on the wall. The wall eased forward to the sound of burbling water. “Walk your bikes out that way,” he pointed. “The water is shallow. You’ll realize pretty quick you are in that strange dead-end nook midway through the Z tunnel.”
Looking out the opening, Garrett could see James was right – without taking a step, he realized right where they were. “But we’re on the north end of town.”
“What did Father teach you? You have to always be thinking, Garrett. If those dragons are looking for you, they will expect to find you going south. So, go north out of town, cut west, and then once you are far and clear of their search radius and only then, go south. Stay out of the open and fol
low rivers when you can. Once you hit the Gulf, you’ll be able to follow that through Texas and into Mexico. Oh, and be wary of large cities. We don’t know what’s happening out there, but it can’t be good – and it’s only going to get worse as people run out of supplies.”
James reached out to clasp his wrist, and Garrett pulled him into a hug.
“Thanks, James.”
James nodded. “See you soon, little brother.”
“See you soon, James.”
2
I Will Show Them Something Truly Special
Monday, April 18 – God Stones Day 12
Petersburg, Illinois
“There! That big brick building with the dome on top,” Jack shouted up from his grip in the dragon’s talons. Goch, the giant red dragon that had found Jack along the Sangamon River, refused to allow him to ride on his back. Jack knew one thing – being carried in a dragon’s talons sucked. “Land on the north side in the parking lot. I see people there.”
Jack had spent most of the night below the bottom of Lake Petersburg, although it wasn’t much of a lake anymore. Now it was more like a giant swimming pool that had had the plug pulled. Except instead of a pool, it was a stank-ass mud hole. Goch had made him go into the large hole at the bottom of the lake, while he and the four remaining juvenile dragons waited up top. There had been six, but the large oak trees had killed two of the smaller dragons before they could get off the ground. Walking trees and dragons, and all looking for Garrett Turek, just like he was, but why? And who knew trees could be so badass?
Ultimately, Jack was able to wade through the large chamber and into a tunnel, which he followed until he reached a crevice. What he had found was a giant bloated torso still filling a portion of the crack, but no sign of Garrett. The swollen torso smelled worse than the lake mud.
Unable to go any farther, Jack returned to the lake and climbed back up the muddy bank, where he found an impatient Goch and the others waiting. He explained that he’d have to enter the tunnel on the other side, from the Sangamon, to search further and, minutes later, he’d found himself standing in the exact spot where Garrett had murdered his brother, Danny. Jack searched the tunnel all the way back to the rotting corpse in the crevice, but there was no sign of Garrett or the others there either. Exhausted and hungry, he knew searching here was pointless. Garrett was alive. He was sure of it. They needed to stop wasting time! Tired as he was, this was no time for rest. We’ll get all the rest we need when Garrett’s dead, Danny!
As the dragons descended on downtown Petersburg, the morning sun was just peeking up over the Sangamon River, washing the glistening dew in sparkling sunshine. But dark clouds were rolling in from the west. Jack could smell the rain coming. This was a good sign. His arrival should bring darkness with it. It should bring a cold, wet hatred, not sunshine. No, there would be no sunshine for him, and there damn well wouldn’t be any for Petersburg.
Goch and the four juvenile dragons landed in the empty courthouse parking lot adjacent to the Petersburg town square. Just before Goch landed, his talons opened, dropping Jack to the ground.
Garrett’s karate place, along with half the buildings attached to it, had been burnt down. Charred frameworks, rising like blackened bones from the rib cage of some ancient beast, were all that remained. The whole place reminded Jack of how he felt inside… dark and hollow. But the emptiness was filling with every passing hour. In its place, something new occupied him. Hate. And he had so much of it to share with the world.
“You!” Jack shouted across the street where two men were trying to hide in the burnt-out karate place. Each wore tactical gear with guns slung over their shoulders. Jack caught sight of a familiar face as the men turned to flee. “Yogi? Don’t try and run. Who’s that you got with you?” Jack turned to the young dragons. “Well, don’t let them escape! They may know where Garrett is.”
Two of the juveniles took flight, racing forward.
Yogi and the other man unslung their rifles and took aim.
Only Yogi managed a misplaced shot before the two dragons were smashing through charred two-by-four framing to pounce on the men, pinning them to the ground.
Jack crossed the street, stepping cautiously into the rubble of the burnt-out building. He didn’t recognize the older guy, but Yogi used to hang out with Danny. “What are you doing here with a gun, Yogi?”
Yogi tried to respond, but with the dragon’s talons across his chest he couldn’t breathe, let alone speak. It must have felt like having an elephant stepping on his chest.
“Ease up so he can talk, would you?” Jack said, looking up at the young dragon. Thick saliva dripped in long strings from its bared teeth, like it was an overgrown Saint Bernard. This one was a dark brown with short horns the color of coffee-stained teeth protruding from each side of its head. Jack noticed none of the young ones were colorful, not like the red dragon.
“What do you want?” Yogi managed as he turned his head from the dragon’s drool and gasped for breath.
“For starters, what are you doing here? Why do you have a gun? And why are you dressed like you are going to war?” Jack asked.
Yogi’s body was shaking, but he found his words. “If you… you haven’t noticed, the world has gone a little crazy. No electricity, so no vehicles, which means no food delivery. You… you got to protect what’s yours. Please, Jack, please get it off!” Yogi begged.
Jack hadn’t noticed. He had been wandering the Sangamon River for days looking for Danny. Then when he found him… well, he wasn’t sure how much time passed. Things kinda got fuzzy for him after that. “You’re lying to me, Yogi. I don’t know why, but you’re lying to me. You were friends with my brother. Garrett killed him. Did you know that, Yogi? He killed him!”
Yogi stared up at Jack. “No… I… I didn’t know that.”
“Who is this guy?” Jack asked, hooking a thumb over his shoulder toward the other guy pinned to the ground.
“That’s Roger, he’s… he’s my cousin.”
Jack looked over at the man, and he noticed something. Roger was staring at him from beneath the talons of the dragon with hate in his eyes – not the fear he should have had, but hate. Jack narrowed his eyes at the man. “Do I know you, Roger?”
“No,” Roger grunted.
“You from around here?”
Yogi tried fruitlessly to push himself up from beneath the dragon’s claws. “He came when all this shit started. You know, families grouping up. Safer that way. Please, Jack, can you get this thing off me?” he asked through gritted teeth.
Jack took the rifle from beside Yogi and tossed it out of reach. Then he did the same with Roger’s. “Let them up and whatever happens next, don’t interfere.”
The young dragons looked back at Goch, who now stood filling Douglas Street. His long, spiked tail snaked across the sidewalk and back into the courthouse parking lot.
Goch dipped his scaly head in approval. “Get on with it, human, or I will burn them and you for wasting our time.”
The young dragons lifted their large talons and let the two men stand.
Roger brushed ash off himself and straightened his uniform.
“Yogi, I am going to ask you one time – where is Garrett?”
“Garrett Turek? Why would I know anything about that kid?” Yogi asked, swallowing dryly.
“You suck at lying. You’re standing in the wreckage of his karate place with a guy I ain’t never seen and he sure as hell ain’t your cousin! What are you doing here, Yogi? What are you hiding?”
With practiced precision, Roger produced a long combat knife and lunged forward.
As the knife came toward Jack’s face, he smiled.
In mid-lunge, before Roger could give the knife a killing thrust, the man bent over at the waist and retched.
Jack narrowed his eyes.
Yogi pulled a face, grabbing his own stomach and backing away.
The young dragons screeched and shuffled backward away from Jack and into the street.
Jack’s hands shook as he held them forward as if reaching for the retching man.
Bright red blood poured from Roger’s mouth, and the bulge-eyed man fell over onto his side. He didn’t stop vomiting, and soon the bright red blood became dark and thick.
“Jesus Christ, Jack! What are you doing to him?!” Yogi asked, his voice cracking.
Jack dropped his hands to his sides and wobbled on unsteady feet. He felt like he’d stood up way too fast. Blinking, he steadied himself as a new feeling pulsed through him. Suddenly he felt fresh and full, like he had eaten a meal and had a good night’s sleep. Smiling, he pointed at Yogi. “The same thing I’m going to do to you, Yogi. Only with you, I will take my time.”
“The human has power!” one of the young dragons behind him said, while the other mewled, “I feel sick. I feel sick!”
“Power indeed,” Goch said, “but do not use it on us, little human, lest you feel my wrath.”
Jack ignored the dragons. “Do you want to live, Yogi? Because if you do, you need to start talking.”
Jack followed Yogi’s gaze over to Roger. The man was no longer vomiting, but he was no longer moving or breathing either.
Yogi looked back to Jack and nodded. Then slowly he told Jack the story of the Keepers of the Light and their chosen descendant of god, Garrett Turek.
When Yogi finished with his story, Jack nodded slowly, his gaze distant. “So they think Garrett is something special? I will show them something truly special,” Jack said, and then his eyes shot back to Yogi. “And why are you here?”
“James sent me up from down there.” He pointed past Jack to an area of the building that looked just like the rest of the burnt-out structure. “Back there is an opening in the floor. It leads to Undertown.”
“Undertown?” Jack asked.
“It’s a big place, more than half the town is down there. It’s like a giant bunker,” he said, his eyes shifting to the dragons. “Jack, you’re not going to kill me, are you? I told you everything.”