by KM Fortune
“Why, of course,” the man said with a smile. “One cannot travel this magnificent world of ours and have no way to announce himself. Even the minutest of creatures who walk, crawl, or soar among us have a name of some unique variety. I have thus been labeled as Simon, by my long departed, God rest his soul, benefactor. It is a grand pleasure to make your acquaintance, madam. Might I ask your moniker in return?”
“Her what?” Hector asked with a frown. It was clear this Simon guy was missing a few screws and the sooner they could get rid of him the better. All Hector wanted to do at this point was ditch the guy, take his ride, and be on their way. Unfortunately, Hector could tell Helen had far different ideas as she curtsied with all her regal bearing.
“The pleasure is mine,” she said. “My name is Helen.” She gestured to Hector. “And this is Hector.”
CHAPTER 4
For the rest of breakfast, while Matthew ate his eggs, The Duke explained to the group why he needed a scientist. "So not too long ago, we had a guy show up here with quite an interesting story," The Duke said, his face animated with excitement. "Let me tell you, the stranger was in bad shape. Apparently, the journey had not agreed with him, and he was sick as a dog. Rather nasty, now that I think of it. Didn't live long, unfortunately." The Duke stopped to take a drink of his coffee. No one at the table said anything. It seemed wise to not interrupt. The Duke swallowed. "The part I wanted to tell you about, Matthew especially, being you're the scientist, is the guy claimed over and over he found details about a cure for the plague."
Matthew nearly choked on his bite of toast. “Are you sure?” he said with a cough. “A cure for whatever is making women infertile?”
"Yep," The Duke said with a grin. "I mean the stranger raved like a lunatic most of the time, but I have it on good faith, the doc taking care of him heard him say many times he knew where the information needed was stored." Matthew looked at Raven, and her face was more serious than he had ever seen it. If she was excited about The Duke's proclamation, she did not show it. She doesn’t believe him, Matthew thought and wondered if perhaps her suspicion was well founded. The Duke was a showman, and certainly, this tale was enthralling. But why makeup something like this?
“Where?” Raven asked.
“Well, that’s the rub,” The Duke replied. “Ever heard of a place called Area 51?”
RAVEN REALIZED, AFTER a pause to search back through her faded memories, that she most definitely had heard of Area 51. It was a legend of sorts. She nearly laughed. Yet another secret government facility in the middle of Nevada? she thought. It seemed impossible, yet here they were talking about it. “Never heard of it,” Blaze interjected, clearly scornful of The Duke’s whole story. He looked over at Kit who was sitting a short distance away from the group. “Kit, you been there?” The girl shook her head. “Well then I think you’re making it up,” Blaze said. “Kit’s seen just about everything around here.”
Raven saw The Duke bristle and his eyes narrowed. “You calling me a liar?” he asked. Before Blaze answered, Raven held up her hand.
“Just stop,” she said. Enough with all the male posturing already, she thought. “There is such a place.”
The Duke laughed sounding delighted. "See?" he said specifically to Blaze. "You're just a pup who doesn't know anything. Best learn to keep your mouth shut." Blaze's face turned red, and he started to stand up. This time it was Matthew who tried to keep the peace.
“Blaze, please,” he said. “This is important information. Don’t you understand? If there is a possible cure, I need to hear about it.”
"Fine," Blaze said and sat back down. Raven smiled a little at Blaze to let him know she appreciated his restraint and he nodded back. Turning to The Duke, she noticed his eyes were cold, and she noted the man had not missed her silent interaction with Blaze. Unwilling to be intimidated, Raven tilted her head and smiled at The Duke. The cowboy snorted a laugh, but made no comment and turned back to Matthew.
“So anyway, apparently this place has a bunch of crazy old things there,” The Duke said. “Including cure stuff.” Matthew nodded, looking very thoughtful. Raven could tell he was intrigued by this new information. He’s a scientist who’s spent his life trying to find a cure, Raven thought. Of course he’s interested. Then a question came to her.
“If you know this, why haven’t you already sent someone to go get it?” she asked. The Duke chuckled. “Well,” he drawled. “Here’s the thing. I have sent a few of my folks that way to grab whatever they find, but no luck.”
“No luck?” Raven asked, not liking the sound of what he was saying.
“Yeah,” The Duke said as he fiddled with his fork and would not look her in the eye. “Pretty much no one’s come back.”
BLAZE LAUGHED. HE HAD heard enough of The Duke's stories. Everyone knew there was no cure for the thing which kept his people from having enough babies. Yes, it was true, not every woman he encountered was barren, but the odds were far against the long-term survival of his clan. Between the crusades, the lack of babies, and nature itself, humans could not win. Eventually, Blaze knew the end would come for humanity and any man who thought he could stop it was a fool. "I'm not going to sit here and listen to any more of this," Blaze said and this time did push his chair back from the table to get up. "Come on. Let's go. There's nothing we can use here."
“Sit down,” The Duke hissed and Blaze glared at him.
“Or what?” Blaze said. “You’re going to sucker punch me again?” Now it was The Duke’s turn to stand up. The anger in his eyes gave Blaze a sense of satisfaction and he smirked at the older man. “How about you take off that big pistol you’re packing and let’s have a fair fight this time?”
“I’d wipe the floor with you,” The Duke said.
Blaze shrugged. “Bring it on, old man,” he said and started toward the end of the table, his fists clenched. Matthew, who was seated between the two angry men, jumped to his feet and blocked Blaze’s path.
“Let’s hold our tempers, gentlemen,” Matthew said. Out of the corner of his eye, Blaze saw Raven shaking her head. She was clearly upset. Blaze felt a sliver of remorse for making her worry, but in his heart, he knew he could take The Duke down if he had to do it.
“This is not helping,” Raven said. “Please, both of you sit down. I want to hear more about what The Duke has to say. This is important.”
“It’s all garbage,” Blaze snarled and continued to scowl at his nemesis.
The Duke nodded. “You just go on thinking that,” he said. “But guess what? In the very near future, you’re going to find out if it is true or not.”
What does that mean? Blaze wondered. As if reading his thoughts, one of the twins cleared his throat.
“Uhhh,” he said. “What does that mean?”
“Exactly,” chimed in the other. “What are you thinking there?”
Sitting back down, The Duke picked up his napkin and wiped his mustache. Then he leaned back in his chair and looked at the group. “Pretty simple. I need another squad to fetch whatever it is out there in Area 51,” he said. “And you fellas are going to be it.”
“And if we don’t?” Blaze asked already guessing the answer. His worst fear was confirmed when The Duke leaned forward and put one of his big hands on Raven’s wrist.
“I reckon you will,” he said, smiling at the woman Blaze most wanted to protect in the world. “Think of it as a wedding present.”
Furious now, Blaze pushed hard against Matthew, but the man held him just long enough for the twins to get ahold of Blaze’s arms and keep him off of The Duke. The entire time, the cowboy smirked at him. Someday, I will kill this guy, Blaze thought and then relaxed. Shrugging off the twins and Matthew, he sat back down. “If you think sending us on this wild goose chase will be the end of me, you’re wrong,” Blaze promised.
The Duke shrugged. “I see it as a win-win,” he said. “You come back with the goods, I have a way to make a cure and I’ll become the richest man in the world. If you don’t, well
... you don’t.”
Blaze saw Matthew stiffen and glanced at his face to see an unusual flash of anger. It vanished as quickly as it appeared, but Blaze was happy to know he was not the only one in the room who hated the cowboy. "So, you'd make a cure to sell?" Matthew asked through gritted teeth.
“Well, yeah,” The Duke answered, disbelief anyone might think otherwise clear on his face. “This here is a barter town. People come to trade me stuff they find from the old world for food and supplies. How is this different? Only more valuable, of course.” Matthew lowered his eyes and looked at his cold plate of food. For a moment, Blaze thought the scientist would refuse, but then he realized Matthew would not. He cares for Raven as much as I do, he thought.
"How do we find it?" Matthew asked, looking at no one.
“Now that’s the attitude I’m looking for,” The Duke said with a grin. Getting up, he walked to the intercom and pressed the button.
“Yes, boss?” came the voice from outside the door.
“Get me Kaleb,” The Duke answered. “And tell him to bring the map.”
CHAPTER 5
Gabriel led Willow on the same rope she recently used on him. The bizarre role reversal was not lost on Gabriel, but there was no other choice if he was going to get the woman inside. It will be tricky enough anyway, he thought knowing his beaten up face and the blood on his parka would both alert and upset the guards at the North Gate. He wondered for a second if he should have punched Willow a few times to make it look like a fight had ensued, but now it was too late as they made their approach. And I don’t know she would have gone for it anyway. It was amazing she agreed to be tied up, and Gabriel knew not to push it.
They had made sure her ties were not too tight, so she could slip out of them if things started to go badly with the guards. Gabriel sincerely hoped they did not. A firefight against his brethren was the last thing he wanted to experience. I’m doing this to help Hannah, he thought and took solace from his conviction the path he had chosen was the right one. Now they were nearing the last turn on the gate’s road, which would lead straight to the entrance. Gabriel paused and looked back at Willow. She stopped when she saw him turn and their eyes met. A look of solemn dedication to their cause filled her eyes. She is a brave one, Gabriel thought and gave her a nod before preparing to resume the march. Before he could take another step, there was the sound of men coming from the direction of the gate. At any moment, they would be in view and Gabriel was not ready to engage. He waved Willow down, and both of them dropped into prone positions in the snow.
A minute later, four men appeared. Three were in the black and gray of the Patrols, but the fourth was dressed in a white robe and sandals. What in the world? Gabriel thought. As he watched, the soldiers forced the lone figure at gunpoint off the road across from Gabriel and Willow. Gabriel could hear the man begging for his life.
“I know more,” he said. “I can find the woman, I promise you.” One of the Patrols laughed at the statement and Gabriel recognized who led the group. Although he wore a parka and snow gear, the large gold cross was still around his neck. It was the platoon sergeant so effective at leading the crusades against the waste people. The man was ruthless. Sadistic would be a better word, Gabriel thought. He had never liked the man, but there was no denying he got results. The leaders of Eden overlooked his hubris, even though it was a sin to be so arrogant, because he killed nomads with the effectiveness of no other leader. Gabriel realized they were about to execute the man in the robe and watched as he was kicked into the snowy bank. Gabriel noted the heathen was marked by the devil with a large port wine stain on the side of his face. Ah, the traitor, Gabriel thought, and then a dart of fear shot through him. He is the one watching over Hannah! If he is here, what has happened to her?
Now Gabriel was conflicted and did not know how he should react to the man's quickly approaching execution. Unable to make up his mind, it was made up for him when he heard a roar of rage come from beside him. He looked to see Willow rising from the snow and starting to charge at the group. She was making a beeline for the platoon leader and before Gabriel could help it, the tether he was using ripped from his hands. There was no way to stop her.
"A MOTORCYCLE," HECTOR repeated as he walked around the contraption Simon had ridden up on. It was an interesting device, and he had never seen anything quite like it.
"Yes, but with my modifications. As you can witness, I adjusted the—" Simon started, but Hector held up a paw to stop him mid-sentence.
"Hold it," he said. "I get the drift." Hector could not believe how much the new guy liked to talk. Being more of an action type himself, all the dialogue gave Hector a headache. Unfortunately, Helen seemed to enjoy discussing everything ad nauseum, so Hector knew far more about the stranger than he ever would have wanted. I do have to give him props for how far he’s come though, Hector thought as he examined the sidecar attached to the motorcycle. According to Simon, he started his trip in the Arizona territory, a long way to the south.
The short and skinny man had pulled a gold watch attached to a chain from his pocket, opened it and after considering it, announced he had been on the road for quite a while. “I’ve journeyed now for twenty-seven days, eleven hours, fourteen minutes, and ... let’s call it forty-nine seconds,” he said.
“And you’re still alive?” Hector had said honestly surprised.
“Hector,” Helen admonished. “Be nice.”
Hector raised his eyebrows at her to show his comment was innocent. “Hey, you have to admit he’s not exactly warrior material. Did you see how he held the gun?”
"You're quite accurate, sir. I certify my venture has not been without mishap," Simon started, and Hector groaned. Here we go again, he thought. Simon did not seem to notice and carried on with his explanation as he paced along the side of the road. "For the sake of testimony, at the onset, I was towing a quite versatile, and immensely handy, trailer of my own design, but alas it was extracted from my possession most impolitely. By a band of unsavory men and women might I add. As you can undoubtedly imagine, I debated my position with lingual cunning, but they persisted in their argument that it was a toll I must honor in order to traverse the Grand Canyon. My explanation as to the imbalance of value of my assets versus the simplicity of using a bridge was most discriminatory."
“So, if they took your supplies, what have you been eating?” Helen asked. Simon smiled at her and gave a little bow.
"Not to toot my own trumpet, but although I am not a master of firearms as Hector has noted, my proficiency with traps is exemplary," he answered. "Although, over the last few days, I admit my desire to move with more expediency has impacted my securing any nourishment. Hence my stopping at this station to investigate as to any sign of rodents, which I might lay in wait for as patience is not only a virtue, but the fundamental ingredient to achievement while attempting to ensnare lunch." Much to Hector's dismay, Helen laughed, delighted with Simon's incredibly long-winded and confusing answer.
"Can't you just say you're hungry like a normal person?" he snapped. This only earned him a stern look from Helen. Hector sighed and went back to checking out the bike. Deciding to try how it felt to ride it, he swung his leg over and sat down. The springs creaked under his weight but held steady. "How do I turn this thing on?" he asked. When there was no answer, Hector glanced over at Simon who looked paler than normal. "What? You're worried I'm going to break it?"
Simon quickly recovered himself. "Not at all. It is quite resilient," he said and hurried over to the motorcycle. In his typical fashion, he explained to Hector how to use the throttle, gears, and kick starter. Before Simon could elaborate much further, Hector waved him off. "I got this," he said and started the machine. The rumble felt fantastic, and he laughed. Simon stepped back and wrung his hands at the sight of the giant beast on his little vehicle. Hector gave him a grin and then goosed the throttle to make the bike roar. "I'll be right back," he said to Simon and kicked into gear before blasting off down the
road.
AT FIRST, RAVEN WAS excited over the idea of looking at a map. Even though she knew she was in the city of Reno, Nevada, it was apparent a lot had changed and anything which might help her understand her new world would be welcome. Unfortunately, when Kaleb arrived with the rolled up piece of parchment, it proved vague on details. It was comprised of some arrows and a big red circle where The Duke was pretty sure Area 51 resided. "So this is it?" Blaze asked. "You expect us to find it based on a few scribbles and a circle?" He barked a laugh. "Why am I not surprised?" Raven watched The Duke bristle and prepare a nasty reply, but she interrupted before the two men could start another round of threats toward each other. Although Raven was worried about the safety of her friends and their quest, she also knew it would probably be best to get Blaze away from The Duke for now. The hate between the two men was growing more intense by the hour. She turned to the new man, Kaleb, before the insults started.
"Do you know more specifically where it is?" she asked him. The man nodded as he rubbed the thick beard covering his dark skin and leaned over the map.
"It doesn't look like much, I admit, but based on this and what the survivor was able to describe to me. I believe I can find it," Kaleb answered.
"But you've never been?" Matthew asked.
"No," Kaleb said with a regretful tone. "Until recently I was the only person here with any medical knowledge, and it was too risky. But I look forward to making the trip this time." He looked at The Duke. "Assuming that is still the plan." The Duke grinned.
"Most definitely," he said and moved to pat Kaleb on the shoulder. "Now that we have another quack in town, you're free to go where you please, Doc." Raven saw Kaleb stiffen subtly at The Duke's statement, but then it was gone. What is that about? she thought. Maybe The Duke is not as popular here as he lets on.