by E A Chance
He heard the door unlock and a different nurse came in who looked to be about his age of twenty-five. She had spiky, multicolored hair and looked like she’d just stepped out of a high-end salon. It made Nico wonder if these people knew they were living in an apocalypse.
“Hi, Nico. I’m Candace,” she said, in a lighthearted, singsong way. “I bet you’re about to burst. Let’s get you to the toilet.”
As she reached out to help him up, he saw the tattoos covering her arms. He’d never seen or worked with a nurse like her.
As he shuffled along beside her toward the bathroom, she said, “Do you need me to come with or can you manage?”
“I’ve got this,” he said, closing the door behind him.
“Such a big boy,” she said, and snickered at her joke.
While she walked him back to the bed and helped him get settled, he said, “Are you allowed to tell me where I am or are you sworn to secrecy, too?”
“You’ll get your answers when the Colonel comes in after breakfast. It’s not as cloak and dagger as you think. I can tell you that as soon as you’ve recovered, they’re shipping you back to your unit. I bet you’ll be happy to be back with your own people instead of those strangers you’ve been stuck with. I’m going to get your breakfast. The food’s excellent here.”
She breezed out before he could say another word. What she’d said had creeped him out even more than he was before. He couldn’t figure out how these people knew so much about him without computers or internet, and the last thing he wanted was to be sent back to Kearns’ Army. Dashay, Coop, and the others weren’t just some strangers he was tagging along with for company. They had become his family. Thinking of them made him want to get home to his real family, but they were 1500 miles in the opposite direction.
Candace danced in carrying a plate piled with Belgian waffles, poached eggs, and real bacon. Nico wondered if he’d either died in the night or was dreaming, but the incredible aroma was a dead giveaway that it was real. He couldn’t remember ever having a dream with smells.
She put the tray on his rolling table “Enjoy, sweetie. Buzz me when you’re finished, and I’ll inform the Colonel you’re ready for him.”
He caught her wrist as she brushed past the bed to go. “Can’t you stay and talk to me while I eat? I’m tired of being alone. I promise not to ask questions about this place.”
“Sorry, cuteness. I have other work to do. I’ll sit with you after my shift. I got nowhere else to be tonight.”
She went out, locking the door behind her, and he pinched himself to make sure he was awake. Convinced he was, he wolfed down his food, then immediately regretted eating so fast. He kept it down but made a mental note to pace himself at his next meal.
He pressed the call button to let Candace know he was finished. She came in five minutes later, followed by Colonel Yeager, who was again dressed in civilian clothes. Candace winked as she picked up Nico’s tray and flittered out.
“There’d never be another war if more people were like her,” Colonel Yeager said, as he watched her go. “Good morning, Corporal Mendez. I trust you slept well.”
Nico straightened as much as he could. “Yes, sir. Thank you for asking, sir.”
The Colonel lowered himself into a leather recliner in the corner. “At ease, Corporal. You can relax. I’m here to help you.”
Nico let out his breath and relaxed against the mattress. “May I ask which branch of the service you serve in, Colonel?”
“Used to be the Marine Corps. I guess you haven’t heard that we’re all one force now. We’re simply the Military Forces of the United States. With all five branches decimated after the CME, President Kearns’ pressed what remains of Congress to combine our country’s armed forces. You’re no longer in the Army. You’re in the US Military.”
“It’ll take time to decide how I feel about that,” Nico said. “Sir, may I ask what’s happening here? Where am I?”
“Certainly. This is a secure underground government facility. Several of these facilities exist throughout the country. We were fortunate to have one close to Charleston.”
Nico leaned closer to him. “I’d heard rumors about these places, but I wasn’t sure I believed they existed.”
“We keep knowledge of them from the public, which I’m sure you can understand given conditions in the world.”
Nico nodded. “Makes sense. Why am I here, sir? Do you need a medic? Candace said you’re returning me to my unit once I’m healed.”
“You won’t be staying. You’re here for another reason.”
He reached into his pocket and took out a piece of paper. He slowly unfolded it and held it up for Nico to see. It was a sketch of Adrian. In an instant, everything that happened the past day made sense.
The Colonel studied him for a moment. “I can read from your reaction that you recognize this man.”
Nico understood that there was no point in denying it, and he couldn’t lie to an officer, even if he worked for that snake, Kearns.
“That’s Dr. Adrian Landry. I was held hostage with him at a camp in Virginia. We’ve been traveling together since we left the camp. At least we were until my group had to leave without me.”
Nico sensed he hadn’t told Colonel Yeager anything he didn’t already know.
He watched Nico stoically for several moments, then said, “Yes, we were aware of that. I appreciate your honesty.”
“Even if you hadn’t known, I’d have no reason to hide it, sir. He’s just a person I met and traveled with, nothing more.”
“Not that simple, Corporal. You may not be aware that Dr. Landry is a dangerous, unstable man who has committed crimes against our country and needs to be brought to answer for those crimes. He’s skilled at hiding his true persona.”
Nico struggled to keep from laughing. The idea of Adrian being anything more than a wimpy, absentminded scientist was ridiculous, but the Colonel was portraying him as some evil genius mastermind. Nico had no doubt the Colonel believed what he’d been told about Adrian by Kearns, but if he’d spent five minutes with him, he’d figure out none of it was true. Nico didn’t dare contradict an officer, though, so he tried to act shocked.
“Are you sure we’re talking about the same person? Adrian seems so mild-mannered and geeky. He’s smart, but his favorite thing to do is collect plants.”
The Colonel leaned back and crossed his arms. “All an act. If you knew the truth about him, you’d realize how dangerous he really is. We indent to capture him before he hurts anyone else. What can you tell me about his current whereabouts?”
“I honestly have no idea where he is, sir. He left with my other friends to travel west four or five days ago. They wanted out of Charleston before the war started. I was too sick to go with them.”
“What’s his eventual destination, Corporal?”
“I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t know. He may have said Oklahoma or Texas. I didn’t pay much attention to Adrian when he talked. He’s kind of annoying.”
The Colonel reached into his other pocket and took out another piece of paper. Nico recognized it before he unfolded it. It was the map Brooks had drawn for him. Fortunately, it only showed the route as far as Lexington, Kentucky, since Nico knew they were going to St. Louis. Nico tried to keep his face neutral while the Colonel studied him with a strange grin but laser-focused eyes. Nico sensed something unnatural about the man and realized this was not a man to be trifled with. Even so, he instinctively knew that he should keep to himself the group’s plans to go to St. Louis.
Nico nonchalantly reached for the paper. “Is that my map? I wondered what happened to that.” Colonel Yeager held it just beyond his reach. Nico gave what he hoped was a lighthearted smile and withdrew his hand. “Guess I won’t need it now since I’m going back to my unit.”
The Colonel continued to study him, then said, “You told me you don’t know where they are.”
“I don’t. That’s the way they planned to go, but we both know how thos
e kinds of plans go these days. They could be anywhere along that route by now, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find them. I hope you do so he won’t hurt my friends, though he never seemed like he wanted to hurt anyone.”
Nico realized he was rambling, so he closed his mouth and waited for the Colonel to speak. He watched Nico for several more moments. He sensed the Colonel hadn’t bought his act. Nico’s only choice was to be quiet and force himself to relax.
“Before I go, Corporal, are you sure there’s nothing else you want to tell me?”
Nico shrugged. “Like what, sir?”
“Things Dr. Landry told you about the CME, his history, or what he plans to do when he gets where he’s going. We’re aware that he told the other hostages in that compound about his role in the CME disaster.”
“All I know is that he said he knew the CME was coming earlier than everyone was told, and he kept his mouth shut. He was beaten nearly to death for confessing that in the camp. I ran the clinic and didn’t spend much time with Adrian until we left the compound months later. Then all he talked about were planets and plants. Like I told you, he was annoying, so I didn’t pay much attention. If you want more information, you’ve got the wrong guy.”
The Colonel stood and stepped next to Nico’s bed in one fluid motion. As he moved his face close to Nico’s, all pretense of compassion faded. “This isn’t a game, Corporal. I’m here at the request of your Commander-in-Chief. If I find out you’ve withheld crucial information, the consequences will be severe. Is that clear?”
Nico’s heart pounded as he slowly nodded, and he hoped the beats weren’t visible through the blankets. The Colonel straightened, and a smile crept up his face but never reached his eyes. “Good. Get well soon. We need you back in the field, son.”
Colonel Yeager left without another word. Nico prayed he’d seen him for the last time but feared that wouldn’t be the case. The Colonel made that psychopath Branson look like an amateur. As Nico struggled to calm himself, he was sure of one thing. He wouldn’t see his home or Dashay anytime soon, if ever again.
Chapter Eight
Riley ignored her swollen feet, her back muscles spasming into knots, and the tiny blisters that had bubbled up on her sunburned cheeks as she trudged along on their fourth day to Huntington. Her complete focus was on Echo’s labored breathing, the way he hung his head as he walked, and his worsening limp. It was the outcome she’d feared when she’d changed his bandages that morning before leaving camp. The skin around his wounds had been swollen and warm, despite her efforts to fight the infection festering in his abrasions. Their first order of business in Huntington would be to locate a vet, which would be no small feat.
It was a clear sunny morning in May when they approached Huntington, West Virginia. As they made a turn in a valley, Riley could see the entrance down into the city with the Ohio River meandering slowing north of the city. She scanned the area to get a sense of where they were. Just ahead of her was a busy street surrounded by office and retail buildings. She scanned the area for signs of a check point or military presence and was relieved to find none.
The scene that greeted them was the opposite of what they’d encountered in Charleston. Residents rushed along the debris and garbage-strewn streets in panic-stricken groups. No one seemed in charge. It reminded Riley of cities she and Coop had passed through in the first weeks after the CME.
Adrian pulled Biscuit to a stop and turned to Coop. “Which way, Boss?”
Before Coop could answer, a middle-aged woman with a mass of tangled curls sticking out of an olive-green helmet sped by on a bike. She wore a yellow flowered skirt, a cherry red tank top, and cowboy boots. As she passed, she lifted a megaphone to her lips and bellowed, “Get out while you can. The troops are on their way. They’ll make you prisoners in your own homes or worse. Get out now!”
Dashay chuckled as the woman pedaled off, then said, “What in the hell was that?”
“Her helmet’s probably lined with tinfoil,” Adrian said, shaking his head.
Riley watched people scurrying past her, carrying their belongings stuffed in packs or bulging boxes. She walked Echo to a patch of grass off the side of the street, and said, “Crazy or not, it looks like everyone else has the same idea. What if she’s right? Kearns’ people could have had time to take over Charleston and be on their way here by now.”
The roar of an engine behind them interrupted her. She spun around as an ancient, dilapidated Ford truck with smoke pouring out of the exhaust pipe came barreling towards them. Dashay dove into the patch of grass beside Echo to avoid getting run down. The driver didn’t bother taking his eyes off the road to see if he’d struck her.
Riley helped Dashay to her feet and helped her dust the grass off her legs. She checked to make sure she wasn’t hurt, then said, “We need to get off the major streets and find out what’s going on around here.” She ran her hand along Echo’s neck. His skin was hot to the touch. “And Echo is in bad shape. We have to find a vet immediately or we could lose him.”
Adrian, who had come to care more about the welfare of the horses than his other traveling companions it seemed, walked back to her and patted Echo’s forehead. “Isn’t there anything you can do?”
She shook her head. They had a small stock of antibiotics, but she had no idea if any of them would work on a horse or what the dosage should be. Mammals metabolized drugs at different rates. The wrong drug could be useless or lethal. She regretted not spending more time learning from her cousin Jessie, the ranch veterinarian.
“This is out of my wheelhouse. Echo needs expert care,” she said.
As Coop rubbed his sunburned neck, he said, “Let’s split up. Dashay, why don’t you and Adrian take Biscuit and find a place for the night on the west side of town? Riley and I will search for a vet and get info on the situation here. We’ll start at the medical college hospital and tell them we’re doctors. Grab the map, Dashay, and we’ll pick somewhere to hook back up in three hours.”
After choosing to meet in a park near the center of the city, Coop and Riley headed toward the university hospital, hoping someone there could give them news of what was happening and point them to a vet. Adrian and Dashay turned Biscuit toward the western edge of the city so they could make a quick getaway in the morning.
As Riley and Coop headed toward the hospital with Echo, she watched the evening sunlight glitter on the Ohio River, wishing she had time to enjoy the view and wondering if dousing Echo in the river might bring his fever down if they couldn’t find a vet.
It took ninety minutes to reach the hospital, and after tethering Echo in the shade of a large oak tree, they hurried inside and were met with silence and deserted hallways. They searched for ten minutes before spotting what looked like two young doctors conversing near the nurses’ station on the surgery ward. They both looked like they were fresh out of medical school. As they approached, the men stopped talking and stared wide-eyed at Coop and Riley.
The young, tall and thin doctor with thick, jet-black hair stepped toward them and held up his hands to stop them from coming closer. “This area is restricted to medical staff. You can’t be here.”
As the other doctor, who reminded Riley of a younger version of Coop except for the hipster glasses, came up behind the first to offer moral support. He was going to cross his arms, but stopped when he got a look at Coop.
He extended his hand, and said, “Dr. Cooper?”
Coop raised an eyebrow and studied the man’s face for a moment before saying, “Should I know you?”
“You wouldn’t remember me. Name’s Brent Holverson. I did my residency in Chicago and attended some of your seminars. You’re a legend.”
Coop turned to Riley and winked. “Hear that? Legend.” Riley rolled her eyes as Coop turned back to Dr. Holverson. “Sorry for not remembering you. Dozens of doctors passed through my seminars over the years, but it’s nice to meet you now.” He gestured toward Riley. “This is my wife, Dr. Poole. Ortho. Running into you
is a stroke of good fortune. We’ve traveled a long way and stumbled into Huntington a few hours ago. We need your help.”
The first doctor moved closer and cleared his throat. “I’m Dr. Walser. It’s an honor to meet you, Dr. Cooper, but I’m not sure how much help we can offer. We’re closing the hospital today and moving out of the city under orders from Governor Mitchell. Since the fall of Charleston, he’s ordered us to empty Huntington and not give Kearns the satisfaction of capturing us. Her people will be here by morning.”
“Where will the people go?” Riley asked. “How do you hide an entire city’s population?”
Dr. Holverson shifted his feet. “There wasn’t much of a population left after the CME,” he said, softly. “It was a rough time, especially for the students who had just returned for the new semester. Out of those that survived, most moved to Charleston when the snows came. As word trickled in about the residential zones a few weeks ago, more headed for the hills. The rest traveled west to warn residents of what’s coming. I have family in Cincinnati, so I’m going there.”
“I’m staying even though we’re shutting down the hospital,” Dr. Walser said. “My family is in Arizona. I wouldn’t make it there on my own, and I figure they’ll need doctors in the zone. More so if what we hear of how the troops are treating people is true.”
Coop pulled off his cap and ran his hand through his hair. “It is true.”
The doctors glanced at each other. Riley recognized the look. She’d seen it in countless faces of the poor souls she’d passed on her journey. These young men had experienced horrors they couldn’t have imagined six months earlier. Riley wished for the power to erase their memories and pain, but hadn’t been able to do that with her own demons.
“What is it you need, Dr. Cooper?” Dr. Holverson asked.
“First, call me Coop. Believe it or not, we need a vet. We have an injured horse whose leg is infected. I think his condition is critical.”