by S A Ison
As soon as the lethal missile left the launcher, he fitted another spear in it, his eyes not leaving the spear that was soaring toward Connor. Its silent deadly track was true and hit Connor in his chest, the power of it driving deep into his body, knocking him sideways. Matt must have caught the movement, because he turned to look at Connor.
At that moment Aiden launched another spear and he saw two other spears enter Matt. And then his entered and then he saw one spear go into Joey’s neck. Then in rapid succession, three spears went into Joey’s torso. In less than thirty seconds all three men were down.
Aiden strode quickly over to Connor, who had a surprised look on his face, both his hands clutching the spear. He was gasping, his mouth bloody and bubbles foaming around his mouth. He saw Diana beside him. He watched as she brought a large rock down on Connor’s head, hitting him over and over, the sight of bone and brain becoming a pulpy mess. Aiden stepped forward and gently took the rock from her hand. He helped her up, she was unsteady, but stood. He kept his arm around her waist and could feel the tremors moving through her body.
“Are you okay Diana?” he asked her softly, and she looked up at him and smiled grimly.
“I’ll live, I’ll live.”
Sarah came over to her and took her into her arms. She said soft quiet things as the two women walked away from the horrific scene. Aiden watched them go to the other side of the fire. Leo and Gabe walked over. Gabe saw Connor’s head and bent over and puked. The sound of his retching filled the small clearing.
“We need to put this fire out, I say leave the bodies here. Let nature take them, they sure as hell don’t deserve a burial.” Aiden said and he saw Gabe nod, wiping his mouth, not looking down.
“Sounds good to me, I saw Grayson, he looks rough, but he got the job done.” Leo said, satisfaction in his voice.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t count on him joining your group any time soon. I think he might stay by himself, it looks like he is doing okay.” Aiden said, beginning to scoop dirt and fling on the fire. He kicked the roasting meat off to the side. They set aside five torches to guide their way home again. It was full on dark now.
Aiden didn’t want to stay here and he wanted to get Sarah away from it as well. It took nearly an hour to get the fire down to coals and safely mitigated so there wouldn’t be a forest fire.
Once that was done, everyone grabbed a torch. Leo took over and helped Diana walk. She was still unsteady on her feet. She didn’t say a lot, but she seemed okay.
“Do you think she will be okay?” Aiden asked Sarah quietly, they were brining up the rear.
“I think so, she was more pissed off than anything. She didn’t remember them raping her, but she knew they did. Thankfully, she’d been unconscious for most of it. She said she woke up to Connor over her, and she’d vomited in his face. She laughed about that, a real laugh.”
Aiden could hear the smile in her voice. He was glad that Diana would be okay, bar the head injury. He placed his arm around Sarah and drew her to him and kissed her head. He heard something behind them and paused and looked. It the darkness, he could see the shining black eyes of Grayson. Once more the hair rose on his arm at the madness he saw within the depths. But he didn’t fear Grayson, only pitied him. He turned back and continued walking through the woods.
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Grayson watched the people go, he watched them and their torches. He didn’t need a torch, he could wander the woods without that need. It was quiet now and a slow smile spread across his face. He saw Aiden stop and turn and look at him. He didn’t move or wave. Then the man turned, with his woman beside him.
Grayson turned back to the carnage and walked to each of the bodies. He took out the knife that he’d stolen out of Christian’s tent the night before he died. He’d slipped past the people guarding the main camp and he’d gone into Christian’s tent, looking for a weapon. He’d found it, a Swiss Army knife, the blade sharp. He’d gone over to look down at the dying man. He could smell the putrefaction.
“You won’t need this Christian, so I’ll take it.” He’d said and smiled down. Christian’s eyes had been open, but the man hadn’t said anything to him, just nodded. Grayson had slipped out of the tent and back into the forest.
He walked among the bodies, they’d retrieved their spears. He admired their work, they’d done a good job of killing these fellows. He squatted down beside Matt, he yanked Matt’s shorts down and then took his knife and cut Matt’s privates off. He then opened the dead man’s mouth and shoved the bloody mass into it. He performed it again with each dead man.
“See Carol, they can’t hurt you anymore. You can go to sleep and dream sweet dreams, you don’t have to visit me any more and you don’t have to cry. I won’t dream about you either.” He promised.
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It took a few hours, but they made it back to main camp. They were welcomed with hardy cheers and laughter. William came up and hugged Diana to him, and she began to cry hugging on to him. He took her to the med tent to take care of her. Aiden looked around at the faces of the survivors of the group. Their numbers were now down to fourteen survivors. But they were mostly whole and resilient. He and Sarah would spend the night, but in the morning, they would head home.
“Do you think you will stay with us, Aiden?” Marla asked, her hands fidgeting.
“No, Sarah and I want to live where we are now. We like it and it has become our home. But don’t worry, we’ll be back every few weeks for visits and trading. Grayson is out there somewhere. I think he’s lost his mind a little Marla, but I don’t think he is a threat. He helped us. It might take time for him to rejoin you, but he might eventually. For now, I think he will just stay on the perimeter of your camp.”
Marla looked around, as though she could find him in the woods. She smiled and nodded, she turned and went to the med tent. Everyone was talking amongst themselves and Aiden and Sarah went to sit before the fire. It wasn’t as large as the one that Connor had built. He suspected Connor lived in fear and tried to keep the night at bay. He should have worried about the people he hurt. Sarah sat beside him and sighed heavily.
“I’m so glad they are dead Aiden, life will be difficult enough without having to look over our shoulders. What do you think will happen to everyone?”
“I think we’ll all find our rhythm with this place, I suspect we’ll live our lives out in seclusion from the rest of the world. I’m almost glad, I don’t know what it is like in other places, or how far the EMP struck, but I think that the world is filled with Connor’s waiting to prey on the weak and vulnerable. We’re actually lucky, we killed our enemies. Unless and until anyone can cross that huge gorge, I think we won’t be bothered and I think the rest of the world will turn in on itself until there are only a few left.”
¤¤
Grayson sat watching the sun rise. He was facing the east this time. He’d come up here last night, after he’d taken care of the men for Carol. It had been a silent hike to the top. He’d not heard her crying, or whispering to him. He smiled, he thought she was happy. He’d slept up there among the rocks. It hadn’t been comfortable, but he’d slept. He had wanted to see the sun rise and so it was.
Around him, he heard the rousing of his companions, they would be coming soon. He would feel their small busy hands, and their calming presence, but today he would not weep. He could feel now that the madness was gone. It had gone away last night. Now he would sit and enjoy the sunrise and he would accept his life in this land primeval.
EPILOGUE
Five years had passed, once more spring was making the earth around them vibrant with flowers and insects. The birds in the trees were noisy with their ardent cries of lust. Aiden led the way past the falls, they were going to the main camp. He had three-year-old Michael on his shoulders and Sarah was bringing up the rear with Grace, wrapped warmly in soft rabbit fur.
They hadn’t been to main camp for two months. Grace was six months old and squirming to get down. Sarah held tight and nuzzled
her daughter. She smelled clean and soft.
Michael was talking, one arm waving as he pointed out interesting things to his father. The other hand was clasped in Aiden’s long dark hair. She smiled softly at her two boys, father and son. She was looking forward to seeing Diana and her twins. Though the beginning of their creation was heinous, their birth and their existence brought joy to the group. The four-year-old twins were as sweet and wild as the land around them.
They were hailed with happy shouts as the camp came into site. There were several sturdy stick homes built in and around the campsite, Henry’s and Gabe’s handywork. They formed around the central fire and gathering place. Sarah saw the twins, Caleb and Darcy running naked around the fire, Diana sitting and weaving something in her lap. She looked up and grinned waving.
Marla came out of one of the homes, carrying two-year-old Jessica. Her stomach held the weight of the toddler. Marla was six months pregnant, she glowed with happiness. Henry came out behind her, his face glowing a happy bright pink. His large hand rested on her shoulder.
Marla let Jessica down and the little girl ran squealing to the other children who started up more squealing and laughter. Sarah smiled, everyone looked healthy and happy. Her eyes went to William, Hunter, Leo and Gabe, who were playing cards. She shook her head, degenerate gamblers all. They all grinned and raised their hands in greetings, but none got up, too much on the table to leave the game.
“How are the kids?” She asked Diana, who scooted over as Sarah sat down beside her.
“Into everything of course, you know how it is. Let me hold that little girl.” She cooed as she took Grace from Sarah.
Sarah watched Aiden walk over to the table, and laughed, she hoped he wouldn’t get sucked into the game. He’d lost a good knife the last time.
“Where is everyone else?” She asked.
“They’re off hunting. Tom said he saw some pigs and so he and Sam, Bruce and Hudson left earlier this morning. Hopefully we will have some smoked ham at some point.” She laughed.
Sarah looked over and saw Grayson, he was nearly naked except for the loin cloth. His body was thin and hard, but healthy looking. His hair was completely gray, and he was talking to Michael, she smiled because Michael leaned over and patted Grayson’s face, making the older man smile.
He’d lost that madness look in his eyes, but she knew he preferred to live away from the main camp, only coming in from time to time to trade or visit. Often, she thought he knew of their coming and came to the main camp to visit them. He liked the children and he was always gentle and sweet with them.
Sarah looked around and smiled softly, though their numbers were few, there was a joy here among these people. She was sure they missed their loved ones and often wondered, just as she did, on how they fared, but they all seemed happy in their lives here and now. It was a beautiful primeval land that they inhabited. Their children were going to grow up in a wild paradise, without technologies, without crime.
She laughed, Marla had taken both Henry and Gabe as her husbands. They’d all rewritten their lives. She almost thought that they were all the better for it. Almost. A small part of her, the tiniest part was sad that they’d lost the rest of the world, but when she looked down at her daughter, she couldn’t help but be thankful that things had worked out the way they had, in their primeval life.