THE END - Book I - Of THE EVENT SERIES

by Marshall Huffman

  She hiked her back pack one notch tighter and started off. The brightness of moon made traveling easy. She was startled by large jack rabbits occasionally and once she thought she saw coyotes on a ridge not far from her but nothing happened.

  The one piece of equipment that she had brought along, but didn’t tell her dad about, was a .38 Colt revolver. While it didn’t pack much of a punch it would probable stop anything she was likely to run into. She patted her pocket to assure herself that it was still there.

  Six hours later she stopped and took a breather. She sipped some of the warm water, letting it roll over her tongue and swishing it around in her mouth before she swallowed it.

  After resting a few minutes she started out again. A slight breeze was picking up and the temperature was dropping quicker than the previous nights. She thought about finding a place to stop but decided against it. She needed to get to the mining town.

  Two hours later she saw the shapes of a few buildings. It had to be the town. She picked up her pace and was mildly surprised at how long it took her to reach the first building.

  Distance is distorted when there is no real reference point. She walked into the center of the old wind and sand blasted town. She entered one of the dilapidated buildings but it was just a shell. Nothing remained inside. She went to the next one and it appeared to have been a barber shop at one time. An old barber’s chair was in the center of the room. She sat down in it but it was frozen in place and wouldn’t turn any longer. It was still interesting to find.

  She walked from building to building, exploring the contents. A rusty bed springs lay on the floor in one of the rooms she entered and she decided that it would be a good place to crash until the sun came up and she could find the water supply. The springs made a creaking racket every time she moved but it was better than the hard ground she had slept on the previous days. She soon fell asleep and dreamed she was home in her own bed.

  She awoke at ten o’clock and rolled off of the creaking bed springs. She left her backpack in the room and went searching for the water supply. She found it in the form of a rusty old pump that was next to a water trough that probably was once used for horses to drink out of.

  She had to pump the handle a long time before the first drops of water finally emerged from the faucet. She pumped harder and a gush of brown water poured out. She continued to pump the handle and after a few seconds the brown water started to turn clear. She put her face under the facet and let the water wash over her head. The water wasn’t exactly cold but it still felt great to her.

  She continued to let the water wash away the grime and she stripped down and climbed into the water trough and took a bath. It was the best bath she had ever had she decided as she sat there soaking in the bright desert sun.

  Finally she reluctantly climbed out and dressed. She went back to the wire spring mattress and lay back down. She decided she would sleep for a few more hours, take another bath and then head out.

  She felt like she had just drifted off when she was awakened by a sound she didn’t quite recognize at first. She looked out and saw a plume of dust rising. It appeared to be headed toward the mining town. She packed her equipment and quickly slipped out as the roar grew louder. She found the entrance to an old abandoned mine and hurried inside. She wasn’t about to go too deep, no telling what lived in it or how safe it was.

  She watched as a group of motorcycles raced into the town and stopped. A bunch of scruffy looking men and women got off the bikes and started exploring the area. They didn’t look like a particularly friendly group. Most had wild hair and full beards.

  The women looked like hookers they had found along the way. Almost everyone had on leather pants and vests or jackets. Even in the middle of the desert they had on leather. Strange she thought, as she peeked out at the events unfolding. They wouldn’t stay long she decided. The sun would be going down in a few hours and she was sure they wouldn’t want to be caught out in the desert at night. She couldn’t have been more wrong.

  They built a huge bonfire and began drinking. Several fights broke out but quickly ended. They continued to drink and raise hell until almost two in the morning. Finally the noise died down and the group started to drift off in pairs. She waited another half hour before she decided she could leave.

  She stepped out of the mineshaft and just as she did a deep voice said, “Who the hell are you?” She froze.

  “Hey, I’m talking to you. What the hell are you doing here snooping on us?” a rough man’s voice said.

  A hand landed on her shoulder and spun her around. A big man with a huge head of hair was looking straight at her. Even in the dark she could feel his eyes piercing her.

  “I wasn’t snooping. I was sleeping in the mine. I’m on my way across the valley,” she said.

  “You’re walking across Death Valley?”

  “That’s right. I started four days ago,” she said.

  “Bullshit. No one can walk across Death Valley.”

  “Maybe not, but I’m sure going to try. I was just starting out again. I always travel at night because it’s cooler then,” she explained.

  “Cooler hell. It gets damn cold,” he said.

  “Not when you’re walking. It’s kind of nice actually,” she said and started to take a step. His grip on her tightened.

  “Don’t be in such a hurry to leave little girl. Why don’t you come meet the rest of the gang,” he said, squeezing her shoulder a little harder.

  “I really need to get going. I have to make it to the next check point in time. I have a team that is shadowing me and I check in with them at a certain time each night. If I don’t make it in time they start looking for me,” she lied.

  “Doubt if they would find you too easy. It’s a big desert. Shit happens out here and no one ever knows about it,” he said.

  “They would. We are in touch by GPS. They keep a satellite fix on me at all times.”

  It was the best she could come up with under the circumstances.

  “A satellite huh? Somehow I don’t think anyone would bother to track you by GSP or any other way.”

  “GPS,” she corrected, “And yes, they would. This is an experiment developed by NASA and they are controlling all aspects of my journey.” She was trying to find the right words to make him just leave her alone.

  He looked at her for a few minutes and then said, “Hell, they can join us too. Come on, you’re gonna love these guys.”

  “Look, nothing personal but I really do need to get going. I have a strict schedule and I am already falling behind. Sorry but I have to go,” she said and spun out of his grip and started jogging away.

  “Hey bitch. You get your sorry ass back here,” he said, starting out after her.

  She started to run faster but she could feel him starting to gain. His footsteps were getting closer. She leaned forward and tried to increase her pace but it was no use. He grabbed her backpack and yanked her off her feet. She hit the sand and bounced once before he grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head back.

  “What’s the matter, you don’t like bikers?”

  She tried to speak but he was pulling her head back making it almost impossible for words to get out.

  “Well?”

  “Please. It has nothing to do with you,” she finally gasped, “NASA needs this data.”

  “NASA my ass. I don’t care about NASA, your GPS, or anything else. You’re coming back to party with us little girl and that’s all there is to it,” he said pulling her to her feet by her hair.

  “Please, I haven’t done anything to you. Just let me get on with my mission,” she pleaded but it fell on deaf ears.

  He continued to drag her back toward the town. She knew if he got her back there it could well be the end of her. They would probably rape her and then kill her and leave her body in the desert some place. No one would ever know exactly what happened to her.

  Maybe her father had been right after all. He said this was a possibility but s
he had just blown him off. She had to do something fast. She reached into her front pocket and pulled out the Colt revolver.

  “Stop you son of a bitch or I’ll shoot you,” she said.

  He looked back at her surprised. She was holding the Colt and it was pointed at his groin.

  “What the hell? Look girl, you ain’t gonna shoot anyone with that little thing. Hell, I doubt it would break my skin,” he snarled.

  “Maybe not, but I will blow your balls off. You won’t be raping anyone for a long time,” she said, pulling the trigger back on the Colt.

  “Easy bitch. Don’t try to pull that crap on me. I’ve eaten tougher girls than you. You want to play tough with me you had better be ready to shoot me,” he said starting towards her again.

  A flash of light and a loud bang filled the night air. The large man looked shocked. He reached down and felt his groin. He slowly sank to his knees and just looked up at her.

  “You bitch,” he spat out.

  “Sorry boy, you ain’t getting any of this girl,” she said and started running toward the desert.

  “God damn you, you filthy whore,” he screamed, but no one seemed to hear him or care. No one stirred back at the abandoned mining town.

  She knew she wouldn’t get far if they decided to come after her. She changed her direction and headed for a large outcrop of rocks that seemed only a few hundred yards away. She ran and ran but they never seemed any closer.

  She looked back over her shoulder and saw lights starting to flicker on. He must have made his way back and told them what happened and they were going to try to find her. It spurred her on and she ran faster.

  It seemed like an eternity before she reached the first rocks and started to climb. The motorcycles were coming closer and she wondered if they could follow her tracks in the bright moon light. There was nothing she could do about it so she continued to climb higher and higher.

  She found a cave that was between two giant rocks and she slowly went deeper and deeper inside until she reached the back. She felt around but nothing was in there with her, at least for now. She knew the previous occupants could be out hunting and might return at any time. She kept the gun clutched tightly in her hand.

  ****

  At some point she fell asleep. When she awoke it was slightly lighter in the cave. She slowly crept forward toward the entrance and looked out. She could see several bikes parked down below her. A couple of the women were walking around but she could see none of the men. They were probably looking for her among the rocks.

  “Hey,” she heard a voice call out. She froze.

  “Hey,” he shouted again. “Up here. Up here dumbass,” the man yelled.

  She realized he was near but was calling down to the women below. What the hell was she going to do? If she tried to make a break for it they would run her down in no time. If she stayed here they would more than likely find her. She went back as far as possible in the cave and looked for a place to hide but there was no place to go.

  She decided that if they did find her, she would kill herself first before she would let them rape and kill her. She had resigned herself to end it right here if it came to that. It was brave talk but she wondered if she could really do it if the time came.

  She could hear voices and knew it was only a matter of time now. They were getting closer and one of them was bound to explore this opening before long. She pulled the hammer back on the Colt and held it in her lap. She would kill one of them first and then shoot herself. She wasn’t going to go out with a whimper. She waited.

  A bright light filled the cave momentarily and then a deep rumble. The ground shook and dust fell down on her. She was startled. Did they throw dynamite to seal off the entrance? Terror raced through her at the thought of being trapped in this cave.

  The ground continued to tremble for several seconds before it finally quit shaking. If it was dynamite it must have been one hell of a big bunch she decided. It had felt like the whole mountain had shook.

  She crept back to the opening but found it wasn’t blocked at all. She stuck her head out but saw nothing. The sky was eerily dark. She ventured out, one step at a time, until she could look over the edge at where the bikes were parked before. She could see the motorcycles but not the women. It was hard to see but she was sure they were no longer there.

  She looked up at the sky and saw that it was a dark swirling mass of clouds unlike anything she had ever seen before. She glanced at her watch. It was just after noon. Nothing made any sense to her.

  She finally decided to come on out and see what was going on. It was so strange. The land seemed perfectly smooth. No plant life was standing as far she could see. The abandoned mining town was still there but nothing else could be seen, not even a single cactus plant. She made her way back down and stepped onto the ground. It made a crunching sound. She knelt down and felt the sand but it was no longer sand. It was like glass. She stood there trying to understand what had happened but nothing made sense. Nothing at all.

  Tears started to run down her face. Her face was caked with grime and her hair was matted down. She wasn’t sure why but she just had the feeling that something terrible had happened.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Napa Valley

  “Raymond the figures are wrong.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “No I mean it. Could you have made a mistake on the inventory?”

  “Give me a break. I’ve been doing this for ten years. I know where every bottle is. I didn’t make a mistake.”

  “And I’m saying you may have, that’s all. It is possible you know?”

  “Say what you want. The inventory is right and I’m not doing it over,” Raymond insisted.

  “Let’s see if I got this right. I’m the Operations Officer and you are the control foreman. The last time I looked at the chain of command, you answered to me.”

  “Don’t try to pull that bullshit with me. You started here two years ago. Just because you have an MBA doesn’t mean you know what goes on around here. Your name may be higher on the chart than mine and you may have that fancy, James Lawton, COO plaque on your desk but I’m willing to take this up with Brandon if you like.”

  The Operations Officer just glared at him.

  “Look, the numbers are right. If they don’t jive with what you think they should be, then that’s your problem. I can count.”

  “All I’m saying is that it is possible to make a mistake when you are trying to account for close to one million bottles of wine.”

  “I have a very specific routine. I always follow the exact same path when I’m in the storage caves. I check off each passage and write the totals in each branch I go down. I do that until I have accounted for every branch. I’ve been using the exact same system for the past ten years. That’s over one hundred and twenty times that I have done inventory and we have never been off. Not once. The error, if there is one, has to be in the accounting part.”

  “I doubt that. The accounting is almost totally automatic in the plant today. It would be very difficult for an error to occur at that level,” the Operations Officer replied.

  “Okay, how much difference is there between what we have and what we should have on hand in the caves?”

  “Over two thousand bottles.”

  “No frickin’ way I missed two thousand bottles. That’s just impossible,” Raymond said, tossing the clipboard on the desk so hard that it slid clear across and landed in Jim’s lap.

  Jim took it off his lap and gently laid it on the desk. He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands. He just sat looking at Raymond for several seconds before speaking again.

  “Raymond, I will take just so much crap from you or anyone else. You may have been here before me. You can even look down your nose and think what you want about my MBA. I really don’t care. What I do care about is getting to the bottom of this and that starts with eliminating the most logical area first. You may be right about your inventory numbers but I’m telling
you that is where we are going to start. If you don’t want to do it, I’ll damn sure get someone else who will. You want to do an end run to Brandon; you go right ahead and give it a try. You know where his office is; give it your best shot. Your only other option is to get your ass back to the storage facility and redo the inventory count. I don’t like confrontations like this but neither you nor anyone else who threatens going above me will have one hell of a fight on their hands. Understood?”

  Raymond was livid. His neck turned red and white blotches appeared on each cheek but he managed to hold his tongue. This was just a piss-ant college boy who thought he knew more than he did about how things worked around here. Hell, Raymond had been here when the White Horse Vineyard was just starting to make a profit.

  The inventory system they current used was his idea. He was the one who spent months in those cold, damp caves getting everything in just the right location. Before he cleaned up the mess, the Merlots, Chardonnays, Cabernet Sauvignons and everything else they produced where just stuffed into one place or another. He had spent months working out a system so they could find exactly what they needed at any one time. Now this jerk was telling him that he had messed up on taking an inventory that he could do in his sleep.

  “I’m going to go back down there and count every frickin’ bottle of wine we have and then when I total them all up and it matches what I already have, you are going to owe me an apology, Mr. COO.”

  “Actually, I hope you‘re right. If it is something else, we have a much bigger problem on our hands. And no, I will not apologize for doing what I’m paid to do. Just like you’re paid to keep track of stock and its location,” Jim said, holding up the clipboard for him to take.