The Longest Road (Book 3): The Other Side

by A. S. Thompson

  "Hold on. Nick's going to go check it out."

  The front passenger door was busted shut, so Nick climbed out through the side door. A moment later, he returned and shut the door to keep the rain out. "They're right. We are fortunate.”

  The bruise on his head kept Steve's eyebrow from arching. "Did you see the others?"

  "Yes."

  "Far?"

  "Let’s just say we rolled a long way."

  "Steve, come in.”

  "Ya, what's up, West?"

  "We have another decision to make. It's still coming down pretty good out here and-"

  Steve heard what sounded like a struggle on the other end.

  "Let me have it, damnit! Let me talk to him. Steve, it's Alex. Can you hear me? Are you guys okay? Is Lisa okay?"

  "Ya we are fine, more or less."

  "Oh thank God. That was a brutal spill," Alex said, almost laughing. "I want to come down there and help, but I'm getting vetoed."

  "Steve, it's West. From where we are, and where you are, it's not an easy rescue. We don't have the proper equipment to facilitate it either, so it would take a few hours to get down to you guys and pull you back up one by one. Now we would do it, but...but this delay would put us way behind schedule. Additionally, we don't have room in the Suburban for all of you."

  "So what are you telling me?" Steve said, unsure of what the plan was, mostly because the throbbing headache had intensified.

  "I don't think there's anything we can do for you-"

  From the background, Steve heard Alex say, "What? Fuck that!"

  Crackling static took over as the radio went without broadcast.

  "Hello, what's going on?" Steve called but received no answer.

  "West is right," Nick said, continuing to survey Eddy's body.

  "About what?"

  "I was in search and rescue. I saw where they are in relation to us. While it is doable to get us up one by one, it would come at a steep price. They would lose precious time."

  "We are a group, we have to stick together! Besides, we don't have a car. Where are we gonna go?"

  "Let me ask you this, Stephen. Is our temporary situation worth the hours that Alex has left? Is it worth what LIFE has in store for the rest of humanity if that truck arrives at its destination?"

  Steve strongly considered the question, but soon realized that Nick was right. So, he clicked the transmit button as said, "Go on without us. We'll figure it out."

  "I'm sorry,” replied West. “I have never left a man, but you guys are on-"

  "The WAY!" Alex interrupted. "West, let me have the mic! Steve, get out a map of Utah. Tell me when you're looking at it."

  After digging through the glove compartment, Steve came back on. “Got it.”

  "Alright, find our location. We are near Hixey and Blenman. You see it?"

  Steve dragged his finger along the top right side of the map. "Ya."

  "Alright, this road continues north for another thirty miles or so before cutting back east. Then it dips south for a little before continuing east again, you see that?"

  "Ya, but why? What does that matter?"

  "Because there’s a road that goes back down south on the other side of this valley. It runs right next to a city called Donner. You can't miss it. We can meet up with you there! You guys could totally trek across the valley. Shit, you'd probably beat us there since you have a straight shot. I'm sure we can find a car there-"

  "Alex," West said, attempting verbally and/or physically to stop the broadcast, but Alex had left the transmit button on.

  "We need to get to that truck! Not just to destroy the Ambrosia, but to get you some of it! Alex, if you want to live, you need to get to that vaccine. You don't have time to regroup-"

  "If anything, this is a fifteen minute detour. One I'm perfectly fine taking. One where we could possibly reunite, and at the very least leave a way so we can eventually meet up. Plus, I feel fine. I know you guys don’t believe me and that’s whatever, but I do feel fine. I really do. Painkillers and energy drinks are keeping me wired-"

  “It’s too risky.”

  “Fine, if you won’t do this, then I’m staying here. Plain and simple. I won’t abandon them, they could die out here. It’s not worth it to me!”

  "West, we don't have time for this, I'm with you," Clint said.

  Travis followed, but not with a response West hoped. "I'm with Alex. If he wants to, I say let's do it. It's only fifteen minutes. Besides, we will be making up time by flying right?"

  Steve and Nick listened intently as the vote was at a 2-2 draw. It all came down to Harry Jones. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm with the infected kid."

  "Are you serious?" asked Clint.

  "Whatever delays the bullets and fighting. And if we can get another car and get his diseased body away from me, I'm all for it. Look at him, his eyes are all red and veiny like he’s just about to change."

  Alex held his tongue against Jones. “West you said it yourself, you need every able body.”

  Neither Steve nor Nick could see the look of West's and Clint's faces, but they both knew they were ones of frustration, anger, or both.

  "Okay it's settled. We'll see you guys in," Alex paused, "ah shit, I'm terrible with math."

  "Seventy-five minutes," West grunted. He wasn't happy with the decision, but at the risk of losing Alex and Travis, he conceded. "And not a minute more."

  "We'll need a little time to take care of the wounded, but if you guys think it's doable."

  "It is," Alex said confidently. "Just trust your compass and stay in touch with the long range handheld radios, and you guys will be fine. Look at that, even the rain is letting up a bit..."

  Through the speakers, Steve heard the sounds of doors closing and grumpy complaints from Clint, then Alex when he asked, "You sure you guys are alright?"

  "Ya, just get out of here. We'll be alright."

  "Do me a favor, tell Lisa that I wanted to come down there but it's too dangerous. Tell her not to worry though. Tell her I'll see her soon."

  "Okay..."

  There was a long pause. Steve wanted to say something. He had every intention to. Any combination of words; an apology, a frustrated vent, anything would have been justified; anything would have been welcome, but out came only two words.

  "Drive safe.”

  "Alright," Alex replied, sensing the off-moment. "Well, we'll see you guys soon...and Steve-O?”

  "Ya?"

  "I'm glad you're okay, bro."

  Chapter 5

  “The Bad”

  Somewhere in north eastern Utah

  December 2, 2009

  0555 hours

  As the minutes ticked away, the rain let up, but it never truly stopped. It became more of a light sprinkling, bordering on a heavy misting.

  From the time the Suburban took off, much was done in preparation for the trek across the valley. First was medical stabilization. While Jenny and Lisa cleaned up one another's cuts, Steve created a split for Kelly's arm using strips of cloth to keep the wooden spoons tight in place.

  "I know it’s not the best, but it should hold for now. How does it feel?”

  Kelly tested the limited mobility. “Hurts but I’ll be okay. Thanks, Steve.”

  “Don’t mention it. Now after you girls are good, dress warm and start packing bags, one for each of us. We won't be coming back. If you need me, I’ll be in the front helping Nick.”

  Eddy was in bad shape. He sustained a compound fracture on his right Fibula, had a six-inch laceration down his left arm and a gash on the top of his head leaked blood over his face. The construction worker screamed as Nick cleaned, dressed, and splinted his leg securely; and again when Steve brought over a bag of ice and braced it against the opening where a small section of bone penetrated the skin.

  After tending to the leg, Nick patched up Eddy's arm, while Steve wrapped a cloth around the man’s head. Nearly fifteen minutes later, the group was ready to move.

 
"We weren't sure what to do about the rest of the guns and ammo," Lisa said, signaling to a stack of more than ten long guns.

  "Take the ones with slings, and whatever ammo will fit. Leave the rest," Steve said, putting on a rather heavy backpack. "We have enough to carry as it is. Alright, we don't have too far to go, but it's not going to be easy since we are pretty banged up. Nick and I will carry Eddy, so I need you girls to carry as much weight as you can manage, okay? Lisa, Jenny, I know you have hurt ankles so do your best to help one another. Just keep up with our pace, and we will be with the others in no time. Everyone ready?"

  Eddy took a handful of anti-inflammatories and grunted. “As I’ll ever be.”

  The girls wore anxious looks, but came to terms with the situation.

  Steve kicked out the front windshield and turned around. "Alright, let's move."

  Traversing the initial slope was by far the most difficult. Not only was the terrain soggy and muddy, but the decline seemed better when Alex had proposed it. Eventually, though, the group made it down with minimal slipping and began the longer, but less arduous and relatively level, portion of their hike.

  The forest floor was squishy, slippery and tough, but everyone did their best and kept their complaints to a minimum, and when morning civil twilight arrived, they were able to power off their flashlights.

  "Good pace everyone, let's keep it if we can," Nick said, looking back to make sure the girls were okay.

  "Where are we going exactly?" asked Kelly.

  Steve made a quick reference to his compass, and then put it back in his pocket. "It's a town called Donner. A mile or two more this heading."

  "And they will be waiting for us there?"

  "That's the plan. Oh and Jenny, tell Lisa that Alex said he misses her, and that he wanted to come down but it was too dangerous."

  Jenny passed on the information. The men could hear the girls giggling behind them, and Lisa discussing how she missed Alex and couldn't wait to see him.

  "How are we doing on time?" asked Nick.

  Steve checked his watch. "Behind schedule."

  Nick wasn't satisfied with the ambiguity, so he pressed, "How much behind?"

  "We are a little over one mile in at a fifty minute pace. At this rate, it will take us well over the seventy-five minutes West allotted."

  "You guys should just go on without me," Eddy said, cringing as the foot on his broken leg caught a stone. The slight contact shot incredible pain through his body.

  "Not going to happen, Eddy," Nick started to say, but was cut off by Steve.

  "Everyone quiet! Stop moving!"

  Despite a pounding headache, Nick heard it too. "Infected."

  Steve and Nick labored Eddy to a nearby tree.

  As Eddy sat back against the trunk, he whispered loudly, "Give me a gun and get going! I'm not gonna be the reason you all die."

  "Not going to happen," Nick repeated, handing him a pistol. This time when he said the words, his smile was replaced by a look of serious determination. He walked over to Steve who was removing binoculars from the outside pocket of his backpack. "They must have found the RV."

  Steve peered through the magnified lens and surveyed the land behind them.

  Nick though, relied on his senses. The Native American closed his eyes and inhaled the surrounding woodland forest, breathing in every detail. His eyes darted back and forth as though he was looking through the eyes of the infected.

  "That horn was a blessing in disguise. It must have drawn them there first, but not for long. They are following our blood trail..."

  Nick cocked his head slightly to the side to allow better resonation in his eardrums.

  "I count six, make it seven infected. I can hear their moans, but it's too difficult to narrow down their numbers. They are far off, but not too far. We should get moving."

  Steve found nothing in the lenses, but trusted Nick's instincts. "What do you think? Eight minutes ‘til they're on top of us?"

  "Five at the earliest. Eight would be fortunate, but not realistic.”

  "You mean those things are going to be here in five minutes?" Kelly asked, shaking from hysteria.

  "We'll be okay," Jenny said, consoling Kelly with a calm hand, "right, Steve?"

  She's come a long way from the scared girl in the bathroom of the guesthouse,Steve thought, then said, "Right. Don't worry, we'll be fine."

  Lisa was having a tough time reading Steve and Nick's lips as their faces turned constantly and went in and out of view. She tapped Jenny on the shoulder and inquired.

  "Oh no, what are we going to do?"

  "I told ya'll, just go on and save yourselves!" Eddy said, frustrated.

  Nick pulled Steve aside and whispered, "You said we are still a mile or two out. We won't make it at our current pace."

  Eddy attempted a heroic smile; it was mostly a sad frown. "Look, I know I'm slowin’ ya down, so please just go!"

  "Can't get rid of us that easily. No one's leaving anyone. Nick, help me get him up."

  "Ya, we aren't leaving you here, Eddy.”

  “You wouldn't leave us and we aren't gonna leave you."

  "Besides, who's gonna watch over us?" said Lisa, Jenny and Kelly.

  "Alright, girls we need to move fast, faster than before. We won't be able to see behind us, so you have to be our eyes, okay?"

  The girls were tired, cold and wet, but nodded.

  "Let's move!"

  Just like that, they were off, moving quicker than before; determined to beat their pursuers.

  But the adrenaline only lasted so long. Minutes later, their pace was back to a slow crawl.

  "Put me down, put me down!" Eddy cringed. He fought through the pain of semi-limping for long enough. He sat back up against a fallen log, and slammed his fists into the earth. "Damnit everyone! Look, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but you are gonna get yourselves killed. Leave while you still have a chance! I'm beggin’ ya!"

  There was no fear on Eddy's face, but his courage did not transfer to the girls.

  They were almost to tears. Not just terrified for their lives, but for Eddy's sacrificial intentions.

  "Steve," Nick said, pulling him to the side, "maybe he's right. We need to start thinking about these girls. I'll stay here with Eddy and hold them off. You get the girls to the rendezvous-"

  "What? No! No way! There's got to be another way!"

  "There's not, and there's no time to debate this."

  Strings of saliva flew from Steve's mouth as he began to hyperventilate. His dilated pupils shifted right to left. The familiar sensation of fear snuck back into his psyche.

  Think, Steve. Think!

  But he was stuck; literally crippled by fear. His mind could only process the impending danger. And little by little, everything started to slow down. The arguing voices that had seemed like a stir of screeching echoes, was lessening in volume. The droplets of rain that dripped off nearby pine needles fell at an impossibly slow rate. Everything slowed and slowed and slowed.

  Then Steve blinked, and when his eyes opened, it happened.

  The world was motionless. Every animate and inanimate object froze in time; as though life pushed the pause button. Steve's body too, was frozen, but his mind remained active.

  And in that moment, it was as though a voice was talking to him; a distinct voice, feminine, one he had not heard in a very long time.

  Too many have died, too much has been lost, Steve. Don't give up. You're almost there.

  "But I don't know what to do," he answered internally.

  Sure you do. The answer is right there...can you hear it? the soft voice replied, trailing off.

  "The answer is where?" he called back, but the voice was gone.

  Then, the play button was pressed and little by little life caught up to itself, but not before Steve found the answer.

  "Shh! Everyone, quiet! You guys hear that?"

  "Hear what?"

  "A river. It's close."

  "What about
it?"

  "I have a plan. I need you guys to trust me."

  "Steve, we don't have time for half-baked plans," Nick protested. "The infected are almost here, you need to get the girls and get going."

  Steve took a step toward Nick, looked him in the eyes and said, "Do you trust me?"

  Nick pursed his leathery lips. He didn't want to say it, but he noticed a change in Steve, one that was full of determination. "Yes."

  "Good, then I need you to get Eddy and the girls and get moving," he said, digging into his pocket for the compass. "Head southwest. There's a town there. I saw lights coming from it earlier. Kelly, can you help Nick carry Eddy?"

  Petite-framed Kelly looked unsure. "Okay, ya, I guess. I'm not sure I'll be much help but okay."

  "What are you going to do, Steve?"

  "I'm gonna buy us some time, Jenny," he replied, searching his backpack. He pulled out and pocketed a spare five-round magazine for his .308 rifle.

  "I don't know what you have planned, but I hope it works," Nick said, lifting Eddy to his feet.

  Steve put a hand on Jenny's shoulder and while his words were for everyone, he looked at her in particular. "Don't worry, I'll be okay."

  "I want to stay behind with-"

  Steve shook his head. "Not this time, kiddo. I need you to protect the group," he interrupted. Then he pulled out his pistol and handed it to Jenny. "Do you remember what we talked about?"

  Jenny gripped the weapon and replied, "Sight alignment and trigger control."

  The smallest of smiles formed in the corner of Steve's lips. "Good. Nick, get everyone out of here."

  Without a goodbye, Steve took off directly east, shouting loudly to draw the infected away from the others. "Come on! Come and get me! I'm over here! This way!"

  Steve ran as hard as he could; hopping over fallen trees and rocks. He sidestepped pools of water and muddy pits, but eventually, he was compelled to stop and catch his breath. He spared a glance over his shoulder and saw his pursuers for the first time.

  He was unable to determine the exact number, but there were many.

  Break time’s over, move, Steve! he thought, and then pushed off. He pumped his arms and used the pain in his shoulder as motivation.