by Tara Ellis
“You all should really be wearing these,” Jim states emphatically, as he approaches us from the now darkened tents. I appreciate the distraction. Hanging from his hands are several of the N95 flu masks. He handed them out when we first started on our trek, but no one had actually kept one on. I don’t need a mask, but tried it on earlier anyways, just to see how they are. I understand why they found their way back into the bag. It’s hard to breath with the thick material covering both your mouth and nose. We’ve only seen a few people so far, from a distance, so there wasn’t a sense of any real, immediate danger.
“We’re going through a more populated area tomorrow,” he explains, as he passes them out. “Including a couple of large neighborhoods, so we’re likely to encounter some people. Best to keep one of these around your neck at all times.”
“And our rifles at the ready,” Kyle adds while taking the offered mask.
“Hopefully that won’t be necessary,” Chris says, taking over Baxter’s grooming. Rolling onto his back, my dog happily exposes his stomach and Chris obediently starts scratching. “Either the masks or the rifles.”
“Well you’re being extremely optimistic,” Seth sneers. “Be careful not to underestimate the Mudameere. Just because we’re in the middle of nowhere, doesn’t mean that the Shiners aren’t a threat. My father and the other leaders are long gone into hiding by now, but I’m sure they established an efficient deployment of the virus first.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you sound kind of proud,” Chris retorts, his expression looking dangerous in the shadowy light.
“So, you really think that RA is out there scouting for the best place to start mining?” Kyle interrupts, and I silently thank him for breaking up the mounting tension. “Because I thought that’s what the pyramids were used for. Why doesn’t he just fire those babies up?” The ship hasn’t turned up again, which is a relief, but it’s also ominous not knowing what’s happening elsewhere.
“That was five-thousand years ago, Kyle,” Benuk answers patiently. “They are made of stone and were beyond repair long ago. Nator converted the main ones for the antivirus anyway, so they wouldn’t even mine if they were in good working order. No, it will be much easier and beneficial for RA to find other areas rich in gold, and start over there. With the work force and resources he expects to have, it will be a much easier task than when he was here last.”
“Oh, well I figured since it was alien technology and all, that maybe the rock was a disguise on the outside,” Kyle says a bit defensively. “It seems like if these guys are smart enough to build a spaceship that they could come up with a better way to get gold.”
“He has a point,” Nate interjects. Kyle eyes his friend suspiciously. It’s rare that they ever agree with each other. Nate turns to Benuk seated beside him, scratching at his red hair while thinking about it. “Why haven’t they developed better technology? I know that it’s well beyond what we’ve created so far, but still, if you can beam yourselves around using a rock, why can’t you just zap the gold out of the ground and up to the ship or something. Or why can’t they use something else for a power source?”
Benuk closes his eyes for a moment before answering. I can tell he’s doing his best to explain things without becoming irritated with our lack of understanding. Although he only looks about twenty, I know that he’s much older. At least a couple hundred years, maybe even more. I’ll have to ask him sometime.
“It isn’t that simple,” he finally says. “The quartz reacts with organic matter of a specific DNA composition. Inanimate objects directly connected to the persons being, such as clothing or a strapped on bag, is also encompassed. You must be careful about the volume of inorganics, or else it could lead to a…mishap. To use it to transfer something such as gold, you would only be able to move a few bars at a time, depending on the weight of the carrier. It would be highly inefficient.
“When it comes to transporting larger inanimate objects or groups of people to specific areas, Nibiru has a smaller shuttle that is capable of landing on the surface.
“As to the properties of gold and why other elements are inadequate, this is something that our scientists here on earth have not quite figured out yet. The theory has been hypothesized, but to explain it to you would require a lot of schooling that frankly, you wouldn’t understand. It’s because of its unique atomic structure that no other replacement has yet been discovered.”
“Oh,” Nate responds, disappointed. “Good to know.”
“Why didn’t RA just spend the last few thousand years to come up with a better way?” Seth presses.
“Why would he bother himself with something so beneath him?” Benuk retorts. “Look, in order to understand why RA does things, you must first grasp the culture of the Nephilim. RA sees himself as one’s ultimate genetic perfection: a god and leader of gods. During the Nephilim’s time on earth, under RA’s rule, the hierarchy system was further developed. There has always been the upper and working class, but each was still treated with equal respect. Not anymore. By the time RA fled earth 5,000 years ago, the working class was used as aids and caretakers but not afforded the same quality of lifestyle or recognition among their peers. From what I have learned, this has only worsened since they’ve been gone.
“RA will not have even considered spending any more of his time or energy on this planet and its vermin. That is what he sees you as, you know: something to be used and then tossed aside. What he needs to suck the life out of the earth is already here. He’s just stopping by to check on things, make sure it’s moving forward and then reap his just rewards as a god should.” Pausing to throw a log on the fire and poke at the burning embers, Benuk’s bright blue eyes reflect the flames and I feel like I’m a kid again, sitting around at camp telling scary ghost stories. Only this is real, and I won’t feel better about it once the sun comes up.
SIX
Jim was right and we do encounter some people the next morning. None of them are shiners, as far as we could tell, but Chris still didn’t get his wish. I would have felt bad for them and offered to help, if it weren’t for the fact that they literally ambushed us.
There were four men and two women, one of them holding a small child. Three of the men had guns, but it was obvious they didn’t expect us to be well armed and willing to fight back. Fortunately, no shots were fired, and we convinced them that our gear and horses weren’t worth it.
That was two days ago and we have been headed east through the mountains ever since. Well, until now anyway. Jim is adamant that there isn’t a way to avoid this small town. To the north is a mountain range too steep to attempt. Going around to the south, because of yet another lake, would add more than a day to our journey. So here we are, trying to stick to the outskirts but still seeing numerous houses and signs of life like smoking fires and wet clothes blowing in the slight breeze.
Beauty surrounds me and the day is hot, but there’s a chill working its way up my back. I think I would feel better if it wasn’t for this nagging sensation that we’re being watched. Where are the people? I know we have rifles, but other than that, we don’t look very threatening. Just a bunch of teenagers and one older, small man. I don’t know why they would all be hiding from us.
Chris and Benuk are out in the lead, with Seth and me bringing up the rear. We planned it this way, strategically placing our strongest and most accurate shooters. Nate, Kyle, Missy, and Jim ride more closely together in the middle, surrounding the horse with all of our supplies. Baxter, as always, is by my side. Looking down at him, I can see that the hairs at the scruff of his neck are sticking up. So he feels it too.
We’re on a small, paved road, the weeds already starting to retake their rightful place. Ahead and to the right is a burnt-out gas station. Directly across from it is what’s left of a small store. A dark traffic light dangles in the useless intersection, with the only cars nearby sitting vacant and long ago abandoned. I can see a couple of other buildings further down the road, but oth
er than that, this appears to be a small outpost for the scattered houses around us.
As Chris nears the gas station, I’m about to call out to him, but he and Benuk stop before I issue the warning. They start talking to each other and I can see that they’re debating the route. Good.
“I don’t like this,” Seth says to me, bringing his horse up alongside mine.
“No. Something isn’t right,” I agree.
“All we need are some corn fields for the little kid Shiners to come out of.”
I try not to chuckle at the imagery, because it’s not funny. Turning to Seth, I plan on telling him just that, but as I open my mouth to speak, I’m hit hard by the same sensation I felt back at the lab. An incredibly loud, white static noise resonates from my head and through my body. Grabbing at my ears in an attempt to block it out, I gasp and almost fall out of the saddle.
Baxter begins to bark aggressively, and it takes Seth a moment to realize that I’m in real agony and not just reacting in some bizarre way to his joke. Understanding replaces the startled expression on his face and he yanks hard at the reins. Kicking his horse into a gallop, he yells simultaneously, “Shiners!”
Sliding off my horse to the ground, I hold onto Baxter, trying to stay on my feet, as he stands quivering up against me. This is so much stronger than what I experienced in the past, and it’s only happened when there were Shiners close to me. My thoughts are confirmed as I look up in horror to see over a dozen of them pouring out of the two buildings nearest Benuk and Chris. Obviously, their plan isn’t to kill us, but infect us.
Everyone springs into action, while the increasing pain in my head leaves me immobilized. Kyle, Nate, Missy, and Jim spin their horses around. They pull their masks up from their necks, and take off across the fields to our South. We already agreed that if we came under attack, the best thing to do is to run as far and as fast as possible. The virus is airborne, so sticking around for a gunfight isn’t necessarily going to save us, even if all the Shiners are killed.
Benuk and Chris are too close to them and their horses are bucking wildly. Chris is an incredibly good horseman and manages to stay on, but it requires both of his hands, so he isn’t able to grab his rifle. I see that Benuk, on the other hand, opted to leap from his mount and take a knee, his rifle already coming around. Just as Seth reaches him and the Shiners start grabbing at Chris’s horse, shots begin to ring out.
As the first bodies hit the ground, an explosion of pain erupts through my temples and I cry out, falling to my hands and knees. It’s almost as if I can feel a clawing at my brain, as if multitudes of awareness are trying to yank my soul out. Baxter is torn between his loyalty to me and the fight playing out in front of us. Racing in circles, he whimpers and then even howls, his anguish apparent.
“No!” I scream, crawling forward. “Get out of my head!” Sucking in ragged breaths, I look up to see Seth and Benuk trying to shoot at the Shiners now pulling Chris from his horse, but they’re unable to do so without hitting him.
Racing into the crowd, Seth slams the butt of his rifle into the backs of the Shiners, working his way towards Chris, who I can’t even see anymore. Benuk continues to shoot at other attackers still coming out from the buildings and the body count is quickly rising.
I can’t let them take Chris! I think desperately, not willing or able to accept what’s happening. I won’t let you! Almost immediately, the wave of pain and noise recedes, retreating from my thoughts, but then slowly slithers back into place.
“I won’t let you!” I yell hoarsely, still crawling slowly in their direction. “Do you hear me? I won’t let you take him from me!” My head begins to clear and feeling empowered, I stagger to my feet. I’m still several yards from Benuk and even further from Chris and Seth, but I can hear each of them clearly: breathing, yelling … agony.
“Get away from him!” I say with more strength, desperate now. “LET … HIM … GO!” My final words sound more like a roar and the effect is immediate. All of the shiners stop and turn towards me, their dull, lifeless eyes searching me out. They ignore Chris, Seth, and Benuk as they step around them and gather in front of me.
I don’t know what I expected, but this certainly wasn’t it. Confused, my confidence falters and I take a step back from them. This seems to break whatever spell I’ve cast and the noise begins to overwhelm me again as they start to turn away.
“Move, Alex!” Seth shouts to me and I leap aside, out of the line of fire. He quickly eliminates the remaining Shiners and I cover my face with my arms to block out the carnage. I know that we can’t help any of them right now, but they’re still victims: husbands, wives, teens that aren’t any older than we are. The last thing we want to do is kill them, but the sudden silence in my mind confirms the finality of it.
“Come on.” I look up to see Benuk standing over me, a mixture of concern and anger clouding his nearly perfect face. I take his offered hand and he easily pulls me to my feet. “There are more coming. We need to leave before they get here. I don’t wish to shoot anyone else today.”
Nodding in agreement, I look frantically for Chris. To my relief, I see Seth helping him back onto his horse. Encouraged, I climb up in the saddle of my own horse, that Benuk retrieved, and we all race away in the same direction as the rest of our group.
After several minutes of galloping, I manage to come beside Chris and glancing over, try to gauge if he’s all right. As he turns to look at me, his flu mask hanging in torn remnants from his neck, my worst fears are confirmed. His expression of dread can’t be mistaken for anything else. He’s been infected.
*****
The type of total darkness that is only found deep in the mountains presses in on us. I can still see which is why I’m in the lead, but everyone else is virtually blind. The moon has yet to rise so we have no light to guide us.
Chris is already getting sick. It’s been nearly twelve hours since the attack and we’ve hardly slowed down, but it’s still not clear how much further we have to go. Jim tried to determine the best he could as to where we are, but we’ve been searching for a logging road for hours now and have yet to cross it. We might be lost.
Kyle tried to approach us right after it happened, but Benuk was adamant that no one else risk exposure. He ordered everyone in danger to continue wearing their mask, and made Nate, Kyle, Missy, and Jim stay at least twenty or so feet away from Chris. I got a new mask for him from the packhorse.
Trying to get the image of the torn mask out of my mind, I almost miss the change in the surface under my horse. Pulling back on the reins, I look down and study the ground. “The logging road!” I call out to whoever can hear me. “We found it!”
Taking the flashlight out from under the saddle, where I have it wedged so everyone can see me, I wave it in the air for emphasis. “Stay here,” I say to Chris, Seth, and Benuk. While we are almost positive that Seth and Benuk are immune to the Nephi Virus, I’m the only one 100% certain not to be a carrier. Since Seth and Benuk were also likely exposed, we all agreed that they should separate themselves from the rest of the group too, until they are clear of symptoms for twenty-four hours. Of course, by then, if we haven’t gotten Chris antiviral meds…
I can’t think about that. Not now.
Concentrating on the positive news instead, I trot up to the rest of our group. “We reached a logging road,” I tell Jim, accidently shining the light in his face. He winces in the bright glare before I shift it to the side.
“Yeah, I heard you,” he says wearily. We’ve been riding hard for hours and it’s taking a toll on all of us. I hand him my flashlight, so he can look at the maps that I hear him pulling from his pocket.
“How’s Chris doing?” Kyle asks quietly.
I’m not sure how to answer that. Sighing, I know that honesty is the only way to deal with it. “His glands are already swelling. He has a sore throat, watering eyes, and beginnings of a fever. We have to get him to the base and on the antiviral meds in about twelve hours, to have any
chance of beating it.”
“We don’t even know if they’re going to have the meds at the base yet,” Nate points out.
“I realize that!” I snap, frustrated. “But it’s the only hope we’ve got.”
“Sorry,” Nate whispers sheepishly. “I’m just feeling like an ass for leaving you guys back there.”
“We both are,” Kyle adds angrily, his voice rising. “I thought he was behind us. By the time I realized he wasn’t with us, he was already pulled off his horse and Shiners were in between us. I didn’t know what-”
“Stop it, Kyle!” I interrupt. “You did exactly what you were supposed to. If you hadn’t, all of you would probably be infected, too. Including Missy,” I add, knowing that will get through to Kyle. He’s become very fond of my best friend and I know he’s protective towards her. Although he can’t see my face in the dark, I can see his and have confirmation that my suspicion was accurate. His features soften and he reaches out for Missy, finding her arm and holding on.
“Alex is right,” Missy agrees, covering Kyle’s hand with her own for reassurance. “It all happened so fast that it was essentially over before we could have done anything. Right now we need to concentrate on finding the base.”
“It’s close,” Jim suddenly says, the flashlight bobbing. “Closer than I thought, if that’s the right road. There are only a few of them out here though, so odds are that it is. You see?” he continues, holding the map out towards us, pointing the light at it. “I believe we are right about here, where this line that represents the logging road is. If we just follow it South, Southeast for a few miles it intersects with this access road which then connects to the freeway, which is only about forty miles from the city and base.”
“That’s still nearly fifty miles,” Nate states with concern. “We’re averaging a bit less than that for a whole day.”