Radio Nowhere

by Lee Beard

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Fly, TN

  Millie knocked on Zach’s door and leaned against the wall outside. She glanced down the hall and crossed her arms, drumming her fingers before un-crossing her arms again.

  Zach opened the door and stepped out, greeting her with a yawn. “Hey.” He shut the door behind him, catching the look on her face. “What’s wrong?”

  “I want to leave.” She blurted.

  “Huh?” Zach frowned in confusion. “But you were just saying how much you like it here.”

  “Yeah, well that was before somebody tried to bust into my room last night.”

  “What?” He followed her second glance down the hallway.

  "Something woke me up a little last night, and when I opened my eyes, there was a shadow on the wall. I saw movement in my mirror, there was definitely someone standing there.”

  “And you’re sure it wasn’t a nightmare?”

  "Oh, come ON." Millie scoffed. "Like I would really dream up something like that!"

  “You know that’s not what I meant,” Zach sighed, “I just…you said it yourself, overheating can mess with your head. Yesterday you saw someone who wasn’t there, remember? I was just checking to be sure.”

  Millie re-crossed her arms tightly. “I know what I saw.”

  “Okay,” Zach nodded slowly, “I believe you.”

  “I think…” Millie swallowed hard. “I think it was Drake.”

  “Really.” Zach stood up straighter, teeth clenching.

  “I think so.”

  “You think so?” His eyebrows furrowed as his eyes burned into hers.

  “I mean…I wasn't fully awake, so I'm not positive it was him, but he’s got access to the copies of everyone's room keys. And he’s just…” She paused, searching for the words. “He’s creepy, okay? He’s been really weird this whole time and I get a bad feeling about him.”

  “That’s a pretty serious accusation, Mil,” Zach cautioned, folding his arms. “I’m going to need more than ‘I think he’s creepy’ as proof before I start kicking asses.”

  “I’m not asking you to do that,” she said exasperatedly. “I’m just asking you to believe me when I say I don’t want to be here anymore. When did you become such a skeptic?”

  “Listen,” he said, holding his hands up, “I believe that you saw someone. Have you considered that it might have been Cleo or one of the girls just checking in on you?”

  “I…” she faltered, stopping. “No.”

  “I don’t think we should jump to conclusions about who it was based on just a shadow. Anyone could have gotten to those keys, they’re not exactly in Fort Knox.”

  "I'm not crazy,” Millie said, lifting her chin.

  “I’m not saying you are…I just think we should do some more digging before we jump to conclusions and potentially mess this up. We’ve got a good thing going here.”

  “How good could it possibly be if I don’t feel safe in my own bed?”

  Zach’s walkie-talkie beeped, and an unmistakably smooth voice came on over the speaker. “Zach, you around?” Zach let out a huff of air and unclipped the radio from his belt.

  “Are you seriously going to answer that right now?”

  “Two seconds.” Zach lifted the radio to his mouth and pressed the “talk” button. “I’m here. G’head, Drake.”

  “Could you grab a toolbox and meet me outside the Warehouse? It looks like maintenance day is getting a jump-start; we’ve somehow gotten a flat tire.”

  Zach hesitated a moment, glancing at Millie. “Uh, yeah. I’ll be there in a second.” Millie’s eyes narrowed slightly as he clipped the walkie-talkie back onto his belt. “I know you think you want to leave-”

  “I don’t think,” she snapped, “I know.”

  “Sorry. I know that you want to leave, but maybe we should just see how today goes and pick this up later? See how you feel about it this evening?”

  Millie looked away from him. “Sure.”

  “Thanks.” Zach stood awkwardly for a moment before turning and walking away

  “’Kay.” Millie nodded curtly, dropped her arms, and pivoted, walking quickly back down the hall before Zach could say anything else.

  Zach’s mind wandered as he unscrewed another lug nut on the rear right tire. Drake and Wyatt talked about something, but Zach was too focused to really hear any of it. He didn’t doubt that Millie saw the shadow of someone in her doorway, but he just couldn’t see Drake doing something like that. He’s weird, but I don’t think he’s the sparkly watch-you-while-you-sleep kinda weird, he thought.

  “What do you think, Zach?”

  Zach looked up at Drake, who held the toolbox at the ready. “Huh?”

  “Is it worth trying to fix?”

  Zach looked back at the tire. “Oh. Uh, yeah, I guess. It’s still got a fair amount of tread. If there’s an automotive shop around we could find a tire patch kit and rig it up. Blow it up with air and listen for the hiss to find the hole.”

  “Good idea! I’d appreciate if you’d head that up.”

  “Sure.” Zach went back to working on the tire, and soon wrenched the last lug nut off. Wyatt grabbed the tire and pulled it off, with Zach guiding it to the ground. Zach stood and dropped the wrench into the toolbox that Drake held.

  “If you wouldn’t mind taking Xavier and starting on the doors on the south side of the motel, I’ll assist Zach with the tire,” Drake told Wyatt. Wyatt looked at him, then Zach, then turned without a word toward the center of town. Zach raised an eyebrow and grabbed the tire, hoisting it off the ground. They walked in silence for a moment, Zach still mulling over what Millie had told him.

  “I’m very glad that you both decided to stay,” Drake said, the toolbox jostling slightly. “You and Millie are such great assets to the town.”

  “Thanks,” Zach replied, adjusting the tire in his arms.

  “Millie’s medical knowledge and desire to learn more about it will come in handy, and I believe that you’re just the guy to help shape the future of Fly.” Drake smiled.

  “Yeah?”

  “Yes! The way you took charge when Millie had her episode was very impressive.” They passed the library, and Drake turned down a road that Zach hadn’t been down before. “This is a very exciting time for our generation,” Drake continued. “While it’s unfortunate that so many were lost to the Great Disaster, those of us who are left have the opportunity to build a better society than we had before.”

  “True,” Zach replied, intrigued. “Everything’s a blank slate, now.”

  “Think about it…we’re entering a new age of humanity. We are pioneers, the new Founding Fathers, if you will. We have an opportunity that hasn’t been afforded to us in hundreds of years; we get to shape the future, come up with our own system of government, and found our new society on the best principles and practices of history.”

  “Like what?”

  Drake grinned. “Historically, things have always progressed in a certain manner: men and women each have strengths specific to their gender’s wiring that should be encouraged, as well as personal strengths. There's a reason that humanity has followed the same general path that has succeeded for thousands of years!” Drake beamed. They rounded another street corner, and reached the auto shop next to the car wash. “Historically, communities have revolved around the idea of family. Yes, it’s a well-known cliché that the men provide and protect while the women keep the home and bear children, but it goes beyond that.” Drake held the door to the shop open for Zach to walk through. “Take, for example, a wolf pack. The alpha males are the leaders, protectors. They provide for their pack and protect their family from those that would do them harm. They fight to achieve that rank and hold it, and are rewarded thusly. Any male that can't handle those responsibilities or can’t hold their own in a battle are beta males, and they essentially will do whatever the alphas tell them to do. Alpha females are the mates of the alpha males, and serve as the leader of the other females
who maintains order amongst them.”

  “Yeah, but people are more sophisticated than wolves.” Zach scoured the shelf in front of him, looking for a patch kit. Finding one, he turned and headed back for the front door with Drake in tow.

  “True, true,” Drake admitted, getting the door for Zach again. “Modern humanity had shaken off most of its animalistic instinct, but the society that supported that model is gone now. We must revert to what has kept the human race going for as long as it has.”

  Zach knelt beside the air tank, noting that it still had a fair amount of air inside. Drake leaned against the air pump, gazing off into the distance as Zach attached the air hose.

  “Consider the hierarchy of the middle ages,” Drake continued, “Or of the Vikings. There were three distinct socio-economical classes that were essentially the royalty, the middle class, and the servants. The word ‘royalty’ carries a negative connotation in America, but it’s how humanity was governed for thousands of years across the world.” Zach ran his hand over the tire, searching for the hole as Drake talked. “I’ve always thought that there is a middle ground somewhere between monarchy and democracy that, if found, could be the best move for humanity. As it stands, I lean more toward monarchy simply because in a small society, there is far too much opportunity for a standstill to occur.” Zach remained silent, leaning his ear closer to the tire. “Like I said before, history doesn’t lie; the best way for us to get the world back to where it needs to be is to embrace our wiring and rebuild using our strengths. The alpha men must lead, the women must bear children and run the home, and those who aren’t fit to do either of those things – namely the disabled and mentally or physically weak – must be used elsewhere. I know that sounds harsh, but we must do what’s best for humanity going forward."

  “Ah,” Zach said slowly, finding the hole in the tire. He put his finger on it and reached for the patch kit. “And that’s something that everyone here believes?”

  “Some find my views to be a bit extreme and are hesitant to switch from the old way, but they can be persuaded,” Drake said serenely. “With time, they’ll see that my model for the future is a solid one and will guarantee the livelihood of generations to come.”

  Zach nodded slowly and peeled open the tire patch. He applied it in silence, focusing intently on what he was doing.

  “Women only have approximately three decades of fertility,” Drake said bluntly, “And that’s in the best of times. We also must realize that the rate of infant and mother mortality has just drastically risen with the fall of civilization and disappearance of modern medicine – which again, Millie’s medical knowledge and continued research will help with. All that to say: with all factors considered, humanity needs to get a jumpstart on procreating.”

  Zach didn’t respond, choosing to inspect the tire closely instead.

  Drake paused a moment. “Are you planning on pursuing Millie?”

  Zach stopped and looked up at him. “Why?”

  “Why pursue her or why do I ask?”

  “Why are you asking?” Zach attached the hose, filling the tire back up with air.

  “While I hesitate to possibly endanger the only medically-inclined personnel in our town, she is a female of prime childbearing age.”

  Zach popped the hose off the tire and attached the cap, raising up to his full height. “What are you getting at, Drake?”

  “I was merely probing to see if you had intentions to pursue her,” Drake replied, looking slightly up at Zach. “As I’ve said, your children would be of good stock. But then, with her brains, she might be a good fit for either of the others in town or anyone else who comes to join us.”

  Zach’s jaw tensed slightly. “Nah.” He bent down to pick up the tire. “She’s a pain in the ass, no other guy would be able to put up with her bad habits.”

  “So you’re considering it, then?” Drake raised his eyebrows. “Or at least, the idea isn’t off the table.

  Zach shrugged. “Maybe.” He turned away to head back toward the warehouse.

  Millie dug at her beans and rice, the supper choice of the day. Caprie babbled to Kathryn about planning a day trip to the outlet on the other side of the town, ignoring Millie entirely. The door suddenly opened, and Zach stepped in, uncharacteristically late. Millie looked up and caught his eye. He started forward, but Drake called him from the front of the table. Zach stopped moving and talked with him for a moment before Drake gestured for him to sit down, leaning in intently like the conversation was something serious. Zach glanced at Millie, and sat anyway. She rolled her eyes and went back to digging at her food.

  She glanced up as Wyatt returned from the bathroom. He habitually moved to toward his seat next to Drake, stopping short when he saw Zach there. “Hey, man,” he said, “That’s my seat.”

  “Oh, sorry-”

  Drake held up a hand for Zach to stay put. “I asked him to sit here today, Wyatt,” he said placidly. “We need to discuss some things. You wouldn’t mind sitting at the end today, would you?”

  Wyatt froze a moment. “I guess not.” He moved slowly toward the seat next to Xavier.

  After a moment, Zach finished his conversation with Drake and stood up again. Kathryn practically leapt from her seat, intercepting him before he could take more than three steps.

  “Hey, there,” she said, brushing her hair out of her face. “I was wondering, if you’re not busy, do you think you could help me rearrange a few things in the kitchen?”

  “Actually, I’m-”

  “Oh, pretty please?” Kathryn clasped her hands together under her chin, batting her eyes in what could only be assumed was a flirtatious fashion. “It won’t take but a minute. You don’t even need your bad hand.”

  Millie stared at her food, stabbing a hunk of stuck-together rice.

  Zach sighed. “Yeah, okay. What do you need moved?”

  Kathryn grabbed his hand and pulled him into the kitchen, a confused look on his face.

  Millie, having had enough, stood abruptly and grabbed her paper bowl, tossing it in the garbage on her way out of the diner.

  Halfway across the motel parking lot, Zach caught up with her. “Mil, wait up!”

  Millie stopped, and turned on her heel. “What.”

  Zach stopped short, taken aback by her sharpness. “Uh, how are you?”

  “Fine.” Millie looked across the lot to her right, purposely avoiding his gaze.

  “Is that like an ‘I’m okay’ kinda ‘fine’ or an ‘I’m pissed’ kinda ‘fine?’” He asked, half-jokingly.

  “What do you want, Zach?” She crossed her arms and looked at the ground.

  “…I just wanted to check in and see if your day went okay or not.”

  “It wasn’t good, wasn’t bad. It doesn’t change the fact that I want to leave, though, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

  “That’s actually what I wanted to-”

  Zach’s radio crackled loudly, cutting him off. “Zach?” A high-pitched voice sang out, “It’s me, Kathryn. Could you come back to the Diner for a minute? I need help with one last thing, please!”

  Millie smiled bitterly and took a step back. “Go on. Your fan club awaits.”

  “Mil, don’t-”

  Zaaaach? I know your radio is on, silly!”

  “I don’t want to be around these…people anymore.” Millie said bluntly, still refusing to look at him. “There’s literally nothing here for me.”

  “Nothing, huh?” Zach uttered, his voice betraying his hurt.

  Millie squeezed her eyes shut. “I don’t fit in here, and I never will. I’m leaving tomorrow, and you can come with me if you want or…” she paused. “Or you can stay. It’s up to you.”

  Zach nodded slowly, looking to the ground as Millie spun on her heel and marched away from him for the second time that day.

  Millie slammed the door to her room and locked it forcefully. She dragged the chair in front of the door and wedged it under the handle, kicking the door for good measur
e. She pulled the handle, satisfied that it wouldn't open. Kicking off her shoes, she jerked the curtains closed, submerging the room in darkness. She crossed to her bed and threw herself backwards onto it.

  You're acting like a child, she heard her dad say. Suddenly she was five years old again and throwing a tantrum because she didn't want to go to sleep. "No," she said aloud, "He's acting like a child. I'm right about this."

  Sometimes it takes a while for truth to sink in. Millie reached over and felt around on her nightstand for her wind-up light/radio. She turned the crank for a while, staring into the darkness. Was he really that obtuse? Could he really not see what was going on out there? She turned the light on dim and set it forcefully on her nightstand, accidentally pressing the "channel scan" button in the process. She sat up and brushed her hair out of her face as the soft hiss-click of the radio gently filled the room.

  "Fine," she said, standing. "If he wants to be friends with those people, I'm not going to be a part of it." She stomped into the bathroom and shut the door.

  Hissss...click...hissss…click… “…might put you in harm’s way. If you’re driving a motorcycle and have a wreck, even with the proper safety equipment you may die. Remember…it’s a lot riskier to take chances now.”

  The hair on the back of Millie’s neck stood on end as she stuck her head out of the bathroom door. A man. There was a man talking on the radio.

  “There are no more ambulance teams and staffed hospitals to come to your aid if you get injured. Whatever you do, take it slow and easy-” Click…

  She dove for the radio, snatching it from the table and pressing the “channel back” button.

  “Secondly, if you cut or scratch yourself, stop immediately and clean the wound out.”

  “Oh, my God,” Millie breathed, staring wide-eyed at the radio. She hadn’t imagined it, there was a living, breathing person, on the radio.

  “Carry iodine and a decent first aid kit with you. Stop in a book store, get a good first aid book, and read it.”