“Thought about that, but I needed a special investigator. And you’ve got the qualifications.”
“Sorry, Zach. You’re not my type. And I’m not really looking for a boyfriend now. My head is still spinning from, you know, the whole damn world blowing up.”
He continued walking at her side, making a series of strange faces, stumbling on half started words. She glanced off into the trees, at the houses, generally anywhere but at him.
Eventually, Zach blurted, “You should be with a real man.”
In the back of her mind, Veronica snapped, Too bad there aren’t any real men around here. Harper couldn’t bring herself to say that though. Her voice wavered a bit under the memory of her lost friend. “That sort of attitude is exactly why I am never going to date you.”
“So it’s true? You’re seeing that border jumper?”
She stopped short and whirled on him. “I’m not seeing Logan. We’re friends. I lost my parents a couple months ago. All my friends are gone. I don’t know if they’re alive or dead. My whole life got taken away and replaced with… whatever this is. The last thing on my mind right now is finding a boyfriend. Hanging out with a boy and talking is not throwing myself at him. I’m not ready to even think about a relationship now. I…” She faced away. “I dunno if I ever will be.”
“You just haven’t met the right guy yet.”
Harper glared at him. “Yeah… I still haven’t.” She clenched her fists, about to yell, but couldn’t think of what to say and stormed off.
She’d barely had the nerve to date when the world had been normal. Too shy. Sure, she’d had boyfriends, but not like some of her friends who obsessed constantly about being with whatever boy they dated at the time, acting as if they somehow screwed up at ‘girl’ if they didn’t have a guy. Harper’s boyfriends had thus far basically been ‘friends who happened to be boys,’ barring the odd kiss or two, hand holding, or trite dates like going to the movies or ice skating. Christina used to tease her that she dated like a twelve-year-old. The closest she’d ever felt to love had been this kid Kyle she’d gone out with sophomore year. They’d met in a Starbucks one of the times Harper had been there with Madison and their mother.
The boy had triggered all sorts of weird feelings in her gut and she kept racing from being thrilled he noticed her to worried he wouldn’t call her back to convinced the second time he saw her, he’d realize she wasn’t pretty enough and leave. But all that anxiety disappeared when he did show up again. Alas, they only dated for the rest of that year. He’d moved to Washington State that summer. She’d been bummed out for a whole month, but barely thought about him after that.
But, now… every time she started to think about boys, it just made her dwell on the world being blown up. ‘Ooh, I think he likes me’ turned into ‘we could go to the—no we can’t, it’s destroyed,’ and that sent her down a rollercoaster of sadness at everything she’d never be able to do again, like spend time with her parents or friends.
Zach jogged to catch up. “Hey, Harper… you can’t let what happened kill you inside.”
She stopped walking, peering over at him, one eyebrow raised in shock. Whoa. Did this guy actually say something sincere and thoughtful?
“I want to help you heal. Okay, so the world’s a mess, that’s true. I lost my parents, too. Everyone on that bus with me did, well, except Cheryl. Her mom was with us. But, I mean… I know what you’re going through. But we can’t give up. People existed long before electricity or cars. There’s so much potential in the world. You need a guy like me, not some Mexican.”
Harper blinked. Nope. So much for thoughtful. “I can’t believe you just said that. Wait, yes I can… Your varsity letter isn’t in hockey, it’s in douchebaggery. For a second, I almost thought you might have really been sincere, but you’re just saying whatever you think you need to say to get into my pants.” Again, she stormed off, fuming. She ranted and screamed in her mind, everything she didn’t have the nerve to say to his face about being a racist moron.
It took Zach a moment to decide to try again. At the sound of him jogging up behind her, she walked faster. A weird, rapid clicking noise came from a bend in the road up ahead. Seconds after she noticed it, Walter Holman cruised into view on a mountain bike. He looked straight at her with an ‘aha, there you are’ sort of expression.
Crap. What’s he doing all the way up here? I’m so busted. Someone caught me sleeping.
She kept fast-walking toward him, head down like she marched to the principal’s office to be sentenced to expulsion.
“Harper… been looking for you.” Walter rolled to a stop next to her. “Hello, Zach.”
“Mr. Holman…” He nodded and kept right on going.
She slouched in relief. Getting yelled at for sleeping would be totally worth ditching that jackass. “Sorry. I’m here.”
“That boy bothering you?” asked Walter.
“Not really. At least, not yet.”
Walter nodded. “With Fred Mitchell injured, would you be willing to take his spot on a quick scavenging run?”
I’m not busted! Elation at getting away with napping stomped on any trepidation about an excursion. “Umm. Sure.”
“Thanks. I realize you just went to Idaho Springs… three times, but this came together at the last minute. Jaylen’s kinda new yet and, well to be blunt, she’s a little jumpy. We hadn’t been expecting to send anyone out this soon, next couple of people on the roster were up ’til sunrise watching the quartermaster’s place.”
She managed a nervous smile. I caught up on sleep… damn karma. “It’s no problem. I understand. Why the sudden trip?”
“Doctor Hale managed to convince us that we should hurry over to St. Joseph’s hospital and try to collect as many medical supplies, drugs mostly, as we can before someone else gets to them.”
“Uhh…” She blinked. “That’s in Denver.”
“Yes. Is that a problem?”
“Near Lakewood.”
“I’ve only seen the color drain outta someone’s face that fast when they’ve been handed a death penalty, life sentence, or the donut place ran outta Boston crèmes. There something that bad in Lakewood?”
She sputtered. “Well, it’s… I used to live in Lakewood, and it’s full of… The bastards who killed my parents.” Harper took in a stuttering breath, trying not to break down crying in front of him.
Walter put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s all right. I can wake someone up.”
“I’m okay.” She closed her eyes and swallowed. “Just hard to talk about them, yanno? We ran into the same gang at the Walmart. Don’t know if they’re only in Lakewood or if they’d be north in downtown as well. Maybe they’re not. I’ll go. Someone’s been up all night, they’re gonna make a mistake.”
“Are you sure?”
I take back what I said about karma. I got sleep, so I need to do this. “Yeah. How is Fred doing?”
“According to the doctors, he has a good chance of pulling through, but he’s going to be in bed for a few weeks. He and Josh are keeping each other company.”
She grinned at the hopeful news. “When’s it going? Do I have time to tell Madison? It would really mess with her if I just disappeared.”
“Looking at within the hour, but sure. Go on up to the school and let them know.”
“Can you get word to Cliff?”
He chuckled. “Don’t have to. He’s going on the run, too.”
“Umm. You’re sending us both out? What about the kids?”
“Cliff already made arrangements with Carrie next door to look after them until you’re back.”
Dr. Hale’s been asking for those meds. We’re going to need everything we can get to make this work. If he can’t find people willing to go, they might change their mind and not do it. “Okay. Let me run up to the school so I can tell them what’s going on, then I’ll meet the truck in the usual spot?”
“Sounds good. Oh, they’re not taking the semi.”
&nbs
p; She stared at him.
“No, you’re not walking. Rafael has a van working. We figured the city might present a challenge to navigate in a big rig, since the streets could be clogged with cars and debris. And there wouldn’t be enough medicine to pack a fifty-foot trailer. That, and the truck is getting low on gas.”
“Oh. Wow. Two working cars?”
“Progress.” He smiled. “All right. Thank you, Harper. Go on and let your brother and sisters know, then meet in front of our humble little hospital.”
She nodded and rushed up the street. It didn’t hit her until she reached the school that she’d been so relieved at not being in trouble for sleeping that she hadn’t fully processed what she’d been asked to do.
Go back into Denver.
Near Lakewood.
Near the blue gang.
She stopped by the school entrance, looking down at herself. Here’s hoping I don’t fall to pieces the second I come face to face with my greatest fear… and if I can handle telling Madison I’m going to Denver, I can probably deal with those idiots.
29
Independence
Rafael had breathed life into an old white Ford van that presently carried them down the highway.
Harper stared at the rear doors, the Mossberg across her lap, trying to settle a war between her emotions. Plenty of things bothered her about this trip now that the reality of it had time to seep into her consciousness.
Her little sister had, as expected, been upset. However, rather than scream and beg, she’d withdrawn and stopped talking entirely. The reaction could’ve meant she hated Harper had to go on the scavenging run but understood it necessary—or that she expected never to see her again. Since they wouldn’t be loading an entire tractor-trailer, everyone thought this run would be quick.
She hoped it would be as—relatively—painless as the last run, but prepared herself for the worst. At least the ‘blue gang’ wore those stupid sashes. Those would spare her the worry of wondering what a stranger wanted. Anyone who belonged to that gang, she’d shoot as soon as she saw them.
Before meeting the van, she’d run home to grab ammo. For walking patrol during the day, she only carried twenty extra shells. Going back into Denver, she’d stuffed about fifty into a hip satchel. It had been three months since she’d been anywhere near her old home. Maybe the ‘blue gang’ had already been wiped out, or split up into smaller groups that killed each other off. Unfortunately, they could also have grown.
In addition to torturing Madison with worry and facing the dread of going into the city again, this run bothered her for another reason: Zach had come along. Apparently, he’d decided that ‘farming isn’t cool.’ Or at least, he’d told Walter that. She figured he considered farm work ‘beneath him,’ or maybe he asked to join as part of some lame bid to impress her.
She did, however, find no small amount of amusement in Walter issuing him a varmint rifle chambered in .22 rimfire. Sure, in skilled hands such a bullet could kill, but she didn’t think anyone who knew anything about guns would ever carry a weapon chambered for .22 long rifle into battle when other options existed. Harper didn’t consider herself an authority on guns, at least nowhere near as much as someone like Cliff, but she knew enough to snicker under her breath when Zach called it an assault rifle. Someone had modded it up with a synthetic stock and pistol grip so it looked impressive, but it remained a .22 rimfire.
Cliff made a joke to the effect of if they got attacked by ‘gang squirrels,’ he’d be good to go. Zach laughed, totally missing the mockery.
He should be relatively harmless with that thing… I just hope he keeps his damn head down and doesn’t get himself killed.
Rafael chatted with Cliff, who sat in the passenger seat, about the van, a 1982 Chevy that they’d found sitting in someone’s garage. It had apparently been recently restored as a hobby project and only took a little bit of work to get it running since the engine didn’t have much electronics. Rafael, the town’s mechanic, considered it a tragedy that whoever spent all the time fixing this thing up never got to enjoy it due to the war.
Harper sat on the floor in the cargo area, her back against the bench seat they hadn’t removed, which currently held Zach, Teagan (Dr. Hale), and Annapurna. The third and fourth row seats waited in the parking lot outside the clinic to make room for the medical supplies they hoped might still be in the hospital’s storage room.
Tegan insisted on going with them because the trip had been her idea, and also because she would know what to grab, what would be useless, and what would be dangerous. Of course, she could have identified dangerous or useless meds after they’d been brought back to Evergreen, but given the smaller size of the van compared to the semi, it made sense not to waste space on transporting crap.
Walter had loaned her a 9mm Beretta for this trip, even though she had never handled a firearm before in her life. At least Zach had gone hunting a couple of times with his father and brothers. Even if he couldn’t tell the difference between a varmint gun and a 7mm Remington magnum, he still knew generally how to operate a firearm. Dr. Hale got a quick course before they left town, but she hoped to stay out of a firefight if at all possible.
Madison probably lay curled up on Carrie’s couch next door, crying. Harper hoped that talk of going to Denver didn’t do damage and send her back to the mental state where she kept trying to get calls from their parents on a dead iPhone.
Tegan once told her that grief came in waves. It didn’t seem likely her kid sister could handle another tsunami.
If anything happened to Harper out here, Mila would seem as cheerful as Lorelei by comparison to what Madison would become. For her part, Lorelei had responded with an “Okay, don’t do the stupid” when told about the trip. Even Jonathan became emotional, crying a little and hanging onto her until she peeled him away.
The two of them insisted on following her to the van, and Walter had seen their reactions. He certainly looked guilty, perhaps even coming close to changing his mind and telling her to stay. She suspected she’d be at the bottom of the scavenging roster for a while as a thank you for going on this one. Maybe even until her siblings got older. Then again, once the farm matured, the need for scavenging at all might end.
Driving to St. Joseph’s Hospital from Evergreen meant going straight east on Route 6—right through Lakewood. Rafael estimated it would take ‘about an hour’ to get there, but admitted he based that on pre-war traffic. Without speed limits, cops to enforce them, or other cars on the road, they could make it there much faster. Of course, if the debris they expected got in the way, the trip could also take significantly longer.
Harper swung back and forth between two extremes. One moment, she wanted to stay down on the floor, not even looking out the windows. The next, she came close to asking if they could stop at her old house. Part of her didn’t want to see anything even remotely familiar for fear that it would trigger a waterfall of painful memories. A smaller part wanted to jump at the chance to maybe recover some of her stuff. Clothes, mementos, framed pictures of Mom and Dad, even if that meant possibly seeing their bodies. Unless the gang had moved them, her mother would still be in the kitchen, her dad in the dining room. She could go upstairs to get photos without looking at either one of them.
But how horrible would it smell there after bodies had been sitting for three months?
She closed her eyes in a futile attempt to hold back tears. Thinking of her parents as ‘bodies’ went past a line she couldn’t handle. Harper curled up in a ball, doing her damndest to sob without making a sound. She couldn’t let Zach see her that vulnerable. He’d definitely take advantage of it.
Anger at him helped her force any thought of going home or of her dead parents out of her mind. She wiped her face on her sleeves, then stared at the floor between her sneakers, mentally playing a modified version of Call of Duty where all the enemy soldiers looked like blue gang members.
Her weight shifted to the right from the van taking a turn. Th
e motion pulled her away from her daydream. I can’t be a wimp. I’m going to see stuff that’s gonna kick me right in the feels, but I gotta hold it in until I get home. She lifted her head to look outside.
The van turned off 6th Ave, weaving among a handful of stalled cars before pulling two quick right turns and rolling into the lot of a Loaf ’N Jug gas station, stopping beside the wreckage of a white and red canopy that had once covered the pumps. A blast wave from the south had knocked it over forward, creating a wall between the pumps and the convenience store.
“Okay. We’re gonna try and siphon some gas for this beast out of the ground tanks,” said Cliff. “Rafael can handle that part on his own. Everyone else, keep your eyes open for anyone who appears hostile. You see someone wearing a blue bandanna around their neck, or something similar, and they see us, you call it out. They don’t see us, mention it quietly. Got it?”
“Got it.” Annapurna nodded.
“Yeah,” muttered Harper.
“Copy that, chief.” Zach smiled.
“I ain’t no chief, son. Didn’t go into the Navy.” Cliff patted the roof twice. “Any questions?”
“What do you want me to do?” asked Dr. Hale.
Cliff twisted to smile at her. “Stick close to me or Harper.”
Everyone except the doctor got out of the van.
Harper took up a guard position at the back right corner. Annapurna went around to the driver’s side while Zach hovered by the van’s side door, seeming more interested in picking his nose than keeping watch. Tegan remained in the van, sitting low, trying to stay out of sight.
Cliff stepped around the wreckage of the gas pump canopy to check the convenience store. The building mostly appeared intact, though large portions of its roof had vanished. No glass remained in any of the windows, only brown aluminum frames across gaping holes. Windblown dirt and trash had gathered inside, collecting on shelves that had been looted months ago of anything useful.
The World That Remains (Evergreen Book 2) Page 27