by Sweet, W. G.
“As legit as anything in this world,” she shrugged. She looked around the street that really wasn't a street any longer. “Can't stay here... I know you know that.”
“I know... I think safety, if there is anything like safety any longer, is going to be in numbers. And we don't have enough numbers. We're too few.” He looked at her and waited for her acknowledging nod.
“We can be there in a few days. If they are where they say they are,” Haley added.
“Do you think they aren't? Did you feel something?” He looked unsure.
“No... I felt they were straight with us, and I felt their offer to join with them was straight too.”
“Anybody join this conversation?” Scott asked as he walked out of the house and sat down next to Joel. Joel Laughed.
“Join in. We were talking about New York. Those people last night,” Haley said.
“Ah. It's a nobrainer though, isn't it?” Scott asked.
“We think so,” Joel agreed. His face was pensive.
“Got concerns?” Scott asked.
“Same old stuff. Really it's all about whether they're real or not,” Joel said.
Scott nodded. “I think they are I don't see the percentage in luring us down there if they're just fakes. We'll come armed and ready for bullshit, they have to know that.” Scott seemed to consider. “I just don't see it. I think they're the real deal. I've been thinking about it too,” he sighed.
Haley raised her eyebrows.
“The finality of it all. I mean the fact that from here to the other side of the continent the world's done up,” Scott said after a lengthy pause.
Joel nodded. “Hard to wrap your head around, I get it. It's the same for me. That's what we were just talking about. So,” Joel brushed his hands against his, jeans and then stood from the step. He flexed his leg. Stiff but pain free. It needed exercise to work it out. “I guess we should go get a truck and get moving.”
Haley and Scott stood with him. “Where you think for a decent truck?” Scott asked.
“Probably check out on the strip. There are a few custom shops out there, about a dozen car dealerships and a few truck dealerships. I'd like to find something setup for off road. Save us some time screwing around... Probably save road time too.”
“And they aren't staying there much longer. It will help us when we move on with them,” Haley added.
“Makes sense,” Scott agreed.
“Or strike out on our own,” Joel said.
“South?” Scott asked.
Joel nodded. “They said the land went into the sea.”
“They said there was land in the distance though,” Haley said at the same time as Joel. “It got into my head... Well, that's not exactly true. It's like I dreamed about it before they said it. Like I knew it would be,” he shrugged. “I know, spooky.”
“Not really. I mean the world is gone. All the things you count on. Maybe now there is survival... Some sense that kicks in and guides you,” Haley said.
“Now that's spooky,” Scott said. They all laughed uneasily.
“Still,” Haley said. She let her argument drift away unstated.
Joel reached over and retrieved his rifle from where it rested against the porch post. He slung it over his shoulder and shrugged once to make it comfortable. “We,” he stared into the open doorway into the house and then stopped. “We don't need anything here. We were running low all the way around, about time to resupply.” He took two quick steps to the door, tugged at the handle and began to close it. He stopped with the door still partway open and laughed uneasily. “Guess it doesn't matter anymore,” he said. Haley smiled, a small, sad smile and she shrugged and turned away.
“Not really,” Scott agreed.
Joel released the door handle, turned and stepped down off the porch. He turned and looked at the house once they were a few hundred feet away. He walked backwards, taking it in. It looked ready to collapse. It was leaning, the foundation cracked and crumbled in places. He turned and caught up to Haley and Scott. He didn't look back again.
Project Bluechip:
Watertown NY: Subterranean Military base.
Commanding: Major Richard Weston
Richard Pierce leaned back as Major Weston leaned in close to his monitor.
“So they're leaving,” he said.
“I think so,” Pierce agreed. “We lost them a few times. We don't have everything covered up there, so I can't say they aren't up to something, but my best guess is that they don't have a clue about us. They're on their way out... I could take it a little further.”
Major Richard Weston looked at him. “How so?”
Pierce reached forward and rifled through a small stack of messages beside his computer. “Came from your Intel guys... Communications” He paused to find his place in the message. “Yeah... Seems they talked via CB to someone outside of Manhattan yesterday... Your guys thought they would probably head that way. Seems likely that's what is going on now. They have a truck, they're making the rounds... Foodstuffs... Camping gear, weapons and ammunition,” he shrugged and looked up at Weston.
Weston nodded. “Keep an eye on it.” Pierce nodded as Weston walked away.
Watertown Center
Joel and Haley
“I say we're good,” Joel said, He looked over the back of the truck. “Nothing left, but to...” He stopped as Haley suddenly went rigid beside him. Her pistol came up fast and a split second later he found he had shrugged his rifle from his shoulder and into his hands. Scott already had his rifle off safety and aimed. Joel turned and followed his aim to where a woman walked slowly down the street toward them.
“No closer,” Haley called out.
“I'm not armed... I'm not dangerous,” The woman said. “I need some help. Some help to get out of this place... Please.” She stopped reluctantly and looked back and forth from the rifles to Haley's pistol. She wore a long denim shirt that hung over her jeans to mid thigh. She lifted it to show she had no weapons belted under it and then dropped it again.
She had a British accent. At times in her speech it sounded more pronounced, at others hardly there, as though she were trying to suppress it, Joel thought.
“Just need a lift out.” She spread her hands out flat, palms up. “Nothing else. I have been stuck here from the first, it's complicated, but I got away from some people that had me.” She seemed to consider the three of them. “Maybe you have got no room to spare?” She looked from one to the other.
Joel spoke. “We have room, it isn't a question of that. It's a question of whether we'll accept you to fill that place.” He lowered his rifle and motioned her forward. “Scott? Make sure she isn't armed.” Scott nodded, lowered his rifle, re-slung it, and started forward. A second later he was patting her down. His hand found the inside of her thigh and started up.
“There's a piece there,” she said quietly. Scott's hand stopped suddenly, just below where the shirt overhung from her waist. He felt her tremble. “It's small... I've been scared. Just something for safety.”
“But you said you had nothing,” Scott said as his eyes held her own.
“What's up?” Haley called.
“Got a piece in her... I guess, her panties,” Scott raised his hand and carefully felt the small gun. Haley was at his side when he looked up. “Really small,” he said and shrugged. Haley passed him her pistol. “Keep it on her.”
Haley reached forward and freed the buttons that held the fly of her pants. She reached in and came out with a small .22 pocket pistol. She looked it over.
“Five shot... .22 Mags,” the woman said.
Haley looked up. “I can see that. “So why didn't you say something? Or maybe, why did you say something? This is small enough to stay concealed.”
“Your mate was on his way up.” She shrugged. “Look. I'm alone. I had to have something. This town may look dead, but it's far from dead. I'm just looking for a way out. The road. Leave this place. It's been... It's been bad.” her eyes seemed to c
loud at the end. “Mind? It's a bit cold.” she looked down at her open fly.
“Go ahead,” Haley said. She buttoned the fly back and then took a deep breath. “So?”
“So, What's your name,” Haley asked.
“Pearl... You?”
“Haley... Joel, Scott,” she nodded to each with her head. “I guess she's okay,” she told Scott. Scott lowered the gun and then handed it back to Haley a second later.
“We're headed for the city,” Joel told her.
“Syracuse?” Pearl asked.
“No... When people say city around here they usually mean New York... Manhattan,” Joel said quietly. “Why should we make room for you, Pearl. Especially since you didn't want to tell us about this gun?” He had taken the pistol from Haley and was turning it over in his hand. It was very small and didn't seem capable of doing much harm.
“It will kill you well enough,” Pearl said as if reading his thoughts. “It's a bad world. You need another shooter. Who knows what you're going to run into between here and there.” She paused and then nodded at the pistol. “You can see I'm resourceful.” She met Joel's eyes when they swung suddenly up to her own. “I'm not dangerous unless someone is tying to hurt me,” she finished quietly.
Joel raised his eyes to Haley and Scott. They both nodded. He looked back at her. “Guess you're in, Pearl,” he told her. He tossed the gun and she caught it in one hand.
“I like it, but here,” Haley said retrieving a rifle from the back of the truck. She tossed it to her lightly.
“Zero to sixty?” Pearl asked as she looked over the rifle.
Haley pulled a clip from a pouch at her side. She frowned. “Guess so,” she said as she tossed the clip to Pearl. “I guess so.” Pearl socketed the clip home as she nodded.
“Okay,” Joel said. “Looks like we need another truck.”
Haley nodded and they all piled into the truck. Joel turned it around and started back out to the strip.
Project Bluechip
Richard Pierce
Richard pierce watched the two trucks pick their way around the wrecked pavement. Lately he had found himself wondering what the outside smelled like? Was it sterile the way the air here smelled? Slightly burned? Something like that. It had a constant smell of hot steel. He really didn't notice it unless he concentrated on it.
He had watched the three become four. So Pearl had made her way out. He could only hope she would remember what he had done for her. How he had cut her loose. Anyone else in this place would come unglued to find out he had not only let someone go, but that the natural containment of the project, encased over a mile deep in stone was now breached. He had let her out through the air ducting. It had taken two days of looking over the schematics to be sure that there was a way out and where it was, but he had found it and sent her on her way. She had found her way out, and that could only mean that project Bluechip was not a secure facility any longer. Air was being exchanged with the outside. Air sucked in from that same ducting, directly through the opening she had cut into the duct work, and then drawn in to their clean air supply. So, he thought now, why does it still smell like hot metal? He had no answer, except, maybe it took time. Maybe the small amount of air was not so noticeable. No matter, he knew it had been breached, he knew the truth.
Of course they would know. He had very little time, maybe only minutes before she was discovered missing. He felt cowardly about the way he had worked it out. He had sent her first, she had made it and so he knew it was safe for him to go. He had no intention of going along with the ones she had found though, He had his own plans, His own ideas, He had waited a long time to get out of here and he had, had a long time to think about what he wanted to do once he was out: Where he wanted to go. He punched up a camera view in one of the tunnels. The hole was obvious immediately. Ragged sheet steel curled away from the side of the pipe. So she had done it. She hadn't found some other way, she had done exactly what she was supposed to do. The duct was breached. All he had to do was go.
He leaned forward and punched a series of numbers and letters into his keypad. Hiding it with the forward movement of his body. A second later the system switched over to a camera loop that it had released no more than a few minutes before, and once more the tunnel looked untouched: The duct piping solid and whole once more. He stood from his console and stretched.
“Christ,' he complained loudly, as he fisted his hands and worked at his eyes. “This shit is about to put me to sleep, Graham.“
Graham looked up and smiled. “Not you. Usually you're a bear for this shit.”
“Yeah, yeah, but not today. Not enough sleep. I'm going to the cafeteria... Get some of that shit that passes for coffee,” Pierce told him.
“Yeah, but what if Weston comes around?” Graham asked. He seemed alarmed, Pierce thought, and well he should be. There was no leaving the monitor station during a shift.
“Cover for me... Tell him I had to use the can,” Pierce told him quietly. When he looked doubtful Pierce added, “Come on, man, I'd do it for you, Graham. You know I would.”
“Yeah. I know.” He looked around the room quickly. “Okay... Just not too long, okay?”
“Not too long,” Pierce agreed. He clapped Graham on the back as he walked past him. “Not too long at all, buddy.”
SEVEN
Joel And Haley
Mannsville New York
They were pined down in the remains of a pole barn, in a field just a few miles outside of Watertown off route 11 south. The rains had been so hard, and so frequent, that the fields and roads were completely flooded. They had been forced to stop after twice driving into water far too deep for the trucks.
The field they were in was higher ground that most of the others. They shared one wall and the partial metal roof of the collapsed pole barn with a few wild cows they eyed them suspiciously.
Their corner was reasonably dry, but several days of rain and boredom had blighted their spirits and they worked hard to keep off each others nerves.
“I learned to sew as a girl,” Pearl said now. She held Haley's hand and guided the needle as she repaired the hem of her jacket.
She had caught it on the ragged edge of one wall as she had run over into another part of the pole barn that had no ceiling. In her haste to get out of the rain she had caught the edge of the jacket and ripped out the seam. The seam also formed the bottom of the pocket on that side. Without it she had found herself slipping items into that pocket that then fell to the ground, or the concrete floor of the pole barn, or down between the seats in the truck. She focused and tried to keep her line straight. It wasn't so hard once you got the needle threaded.
“Just like that, good girl,” Pearl encouraged.
Haley smiled. “So,” she raised her eyes from the seam, “Where were you back there?.”
The smile that had been on Pearl's face fled. “I was held... Held by mad men...” She seemed to consider a moment. “A mad man, perhaps. The rest were not quite so rabid.” She rubbed at her eyes and then raised them from the floor where they had sunk of their own volition.
“One of his own men let me go... I suspect, of course, that he let me go to make a way for himself to escape...” She shook her head. “He was not a virtuous man. No, he let me go and if I made it he knew that his chances would be likewise as good or better. Why, he could even say he was out looking for me if he got caught, could he not? Right.” She looked back down and then out at the falling rain.
“Sorry,” Haley said. “I didn't mean to make you relive it. It doesn't matter.” She looked back down at the hem, nearly half done, and took up another stitch.
“It's all right. It's not so bad. The bad part is this,” she raised her hand to indicate the world. “Who knew all of this was... Gone... Who knew?”
“I suspect your mad man must have,” Haley said quietly.
Pearl nodded. “I suspect, no, I know he had something to do with this. Played some part in all of it. His man, Pierce, near as well told
me as much.”
“You mean, something to do with the whole world being messed up?” Haley asked surprised.
“I believe so... There is a base there, you know.”
“I knew that. My boyfriend worked there until he was transferred overseas,” Haley agreed.
“No,” Pearl said quietly. “Another... One far below the city itself.
Haley raised her eyebrows. “Below the city?”
“Sounds crazy, I know. But believe me it is there. That is where they held me. My mad man, Weston, Major Weston is all I know him by, commands it with an iron fist. It is sealed, or it was until I broke out... Supplies to last a very long time. I suppose he could grow to be an old man, if he isn't already, and die there hiding from... Well, whatever it is that he is hiding from there... Or waiting out.” She met Haley's eyes and they were dark, contemplative, sad.
Haley stayed quiet, she had questions she wanted to ask, but she held them back. She had the feeling if she pried that Pearl would close up again as she had been the first few days she had traveled with them. “Are you... Are you okay from it? … I mean did they hurt you? I know it's not my business. I know I shouldn't pry. Forgive me.”
“More than once. I really had no hope of making it out of there alive. I knew, you see. I knew it was there. Sort of like that old joke where the man says, 'Yes, I can tell you, but then I would have to kill you.' Only, it was no joke.” She focused on her hands were they clutched one another and battled in her lap. She raised her eyes and tears threatened at the corners. “It's alright. I'm alright, or I will be alright. I just... I just need some time before I talk about it. Just...”
“Hey,” Scott said. “Is this a private party or can anyone come?” He and Joel had been across the road checking a small shopping complex that was mostly collapsed. They both had boxes in their arms.
“Yeah. We've been toiling away in the rain, but we bought you some good stuff.” He smiled, a lopsided grin that lit up his face. His hair was plastered to his head, and his skin was overly white from the cool air and the constant rain.