by Hamrick, R M
Chapter Fourteen:
Proposals
The burned-out car broke Satomi’s routine on the seventh day as she was brought to the meeting area. The gray and black smoldering of last night’s fire pit marked the center and she stood just beside it. Two empty lawn chairs waited under the awning of a recreational vehicle. Before long another circle of men formed.
The man with the ponytail and beard brought in a z-virus patient on a leash and pole. The patient pulled and struggled against the device and all the outside stimulation. Satomi did not have to look hard to recognize the man with the now-ashen face and dark hair as Dennis. Her hand clammed and perspired around the syringe she was to inject him with.
Satomi knew she had taken a big risk not working on the soldier serum for the last four days. She had researched the notes heavily to inspire her newest route, but rabbit hole or not, she had been given orders by her captors and she had not fulfilled them.
And Dennis could die because of it.
She could die because of it.
Satomi stared numbly at the car, even though she knew she shouldn’t. All the glass, plastic, and paint had given way. It was patched of black and ash white. If it was a scare tactic, it was a good one. Satomi imagined Ryder arriving to rescue her and being directed to the police car as Eli set it on fire. Would she ever see Ryder again?
The recreational vehicle’s thin metal door opened with a clatter. Jack and Jill both tried to exit at the same time and fumbled over each other. Jack gave his sister a playful shove and came out first. Jill followed. The crowd laughed and cheered. Jack flounced down into his lawn chair, which creaked with the sudden weight. He flung his leg over the arm rest, which bent wide.
“Are you ready to show us your progress?” he asked.
“Perhaps she should thank us for her accommodations, first, Jack,” said Jill, sitting down more gracefully. She played with her fishtail braid as she waited, staring at Satomi intently.
Satomi was hesitant to address them. “Um, yes. Thank you for keeping me safe so far. I appreciate the opportunity to work with the soldiers.”
“Treating soldiers is worthless if we never get any more serum,” said Jill dismissively, turning her eyes to her braid’s end.
Satomi was very clear on their priorities.
“I understand you want to build an army, but I’ve thought of a better use for your resources and I think you’d agree.”
A look of exasperation played on both the siblings’ faces. How were they not twins? Ignoring Satomi’s words, Jack tapped his fingers on the closest plastic arm rest.
“Get on with it,” Jack said to Eli.
Eli grabbed Satomi roughly, which surprised her. He had never really touched her the entire week they had been together. He yanked the syringe from her hand, then moved toward Dennis, who had been forcibly pinned to the ground with the leash and pole.
“STOP!” Satomi shouted. “I think I can cure your father.”
Eli froze with one hand on Dennis and the syringe in the other. He looked to Jack and Jill for direction. Jack raised his hand, and Eli let go and stepped back holding the full syringe.
“How do you know about our father?” asked Jill, arching back to relax into her chair.
“I met him, by accident,” she replied, not wanting to get Eli in trouble. “He has some sort of early-onset neurodegenerative disease, right?”
“Uh something like that. What makes you think you can cure him?” asked Jack.
“The soldier serum,” Satomi replied as if it explained everything.
“You are NOT going to infect him,” said Jack firmly. Jill sat more upright in her chair with her disapproval as well.
“No, no, I’m not. It’s just the soldier serum proves that you can modify the virus! You can keep some of the ‘good’ things about the virus and circumvent what’s bad. Dr. Bren designed a serum that modified end-metabolism so that the infected could move better, but kept the end-neurotransmitter levels low so that higher brain functions remained damaged. Willpower and sense of self stayed lost.”
“And what would you design?” asked Jack.
“The z-virus triggers an excellent cleaning system in the brain, destroying malfunctioning and dying cells. It also bolsters neuroprotective properties. I’d use that to heal your father. But, I’ll prevent the virus from consuming neurotransmitters so all high brain functions will remain intact.”
“We’d have our father back?”
“If I can make it work, yeah. But, you have to agree to not make any more soldiers.”
Jack and Jill looked at each other. Satomi assumed they were doing that sibling non-verbal communication thing to discuss their options. Dennis struggled, but he and the soldier serum were quickly forgotten.
“Deal,” said Jack. “What do you need?”
“I need to build a peptide. I have the right equipment, but I need a biopeptide anchor medium.”
“All right...” puzzled Jill. “We’ll take your word that’s a real thing. Where can we get such an... anchor?”
“If anyone can find it, Audra can. She’s your best bet.”
“Your friend from your compound? She’s your best bet. Remember what happens if this fails.”
Satomi didn’t need reminding but glanced at the sedan all the same. She knew what would happen. Death, one way or another. But she knew this was her best bet to keep her oaths, and herself alive. Eli handed her the syringe back, and Satomi pocketed the prepared saline with a hidden smile.
* * *
Audra sat munching on greens in the mess hall when the alarm sounded. It felt like confirmation to her nerves, which were already on high alert. She wasn’t sure what she expected when she peeked through the reinforced slats on the gate, but her breath caught in her chest when she saw the long black hair of the half zom. It wasn’t Satomi, but it was purposeful. The zom trudged forward. An arrow with a white flag fletching protruded from her chest. It secured a paper note, sealed in salvaged plastic.
Seeing no other signs of movement in the forest, Audra slipped through the gate and reached for the note. The zom made no motion to stop her. Upon closer inspection, the zom’s body bloated and the glassy orbs of her eyes bulged. Audra pulled the note gingerly, avoiding the sticky masses of blood that clung to the wound and plastic.
Jack and Jill wanted an audience.
Audra’s heart ached to see Satomi, and each step in their run drew them closer. She was happy that Gordon and Marcos had volunteered to come. She was still upset with Dwyn.
This time they spent no time in the forest line, but instead marched straight into the convoy. Two men escorted them to a central area where some of the vehicles had been circled around a campfire site. Even maniacs needed camaraderie and company, she guessed. The lawn chair thrones that held Jack and Jill were laughable, but Audra lost the thought when Satomi was brought to her. She gave her a giant hug. Her body felt thinner. Audra apologized that she hadn’t been able to set her free yet.
“Are you OK?” Audra asked.
“I am. I really am.” She exchanged hugs with Marcos and Gordon.
Audra pulled her close again and searched her eyes for the truth. She did, bodily, appear intact. No bruises. She looked tired. Her face was wrinkled in new places.
“How’s Ryder?” Satomi asked as another fold climbed her face.
“She’s great. We’re fighting to keep her in bed.”
Satomi giggled. Then, “her chest tube?”
“It stopped bubbling, whatever that means. Should we take it out?”
“Yes, but make sure to perform a Valsalva maneuver when you pull it. Then close it really well.
“- a what?”
“Have her hold her breath,” Satomi explained.
“OK.” Why didn’t she just say that?
Jill cleared her throat. Satomi must have taken it as a hint.
“I need a biopeptide anchor.”
Gordon nodded. He knew what it was. Audra didn’t.
; “For Jack and Jill? A what?”
“Yes, sort of. It’s a medium used in peptide synthesis.” This time the second explanation didn’t help. “I wrote it down.”
Thank God. Audra pocketed the folded-up paper.
“If you bring us what we need, we will return Satomi after this project,” proposed Jack. He sat stiffly on his throne.
“What’s it for?” Gordon asked.
“None of your business,” replied Jill. Audra and Jill locked eyes. Jill was quickly climbing her hit list, right below Larange Greenly.
Satomi brought her back. “It’s OK. Trust me.”
It didn’t really matter what Jack and Jill wanted in the interim. Audra was playing the long game.
“I’ll get it for you.” Another hug. “Hang in there, Satomi. I’m sorry you’re still in here. I promise to make it right.”
Away from the convoy, with the trees wrapped around them, the group breathed a little easier. Satomi was holding up well. She didn’t seem abused. They seemed almost reasonable.
“So, what do they want?” asked Audra, confused.
“Satomi wants to make a peptide. Peptides are signals within the body,” explained Gordon.
“And what will this one signal?”
“No idea.”
He was of little help. Was this going to be used to make more soldiers? To create a new pandemic? The possibilities were endless.
Audra sighed. “OK, you two report back to Osprey Point. I’m going to go scout out this... whatever.” She patted the pocket that held the note. She didn’t tell the others, but she began getting her bearings for the most efficient route to Lysent from their location. Probably the rail line.
“Actually,” started Gordon, “I was going to go out from here.” Audra knew what ‘out’ meant.
“You got a lead?”
“Yes, someone told me a woman and her daughter go by their names in an outpost near Atlanta. It isn’t Lysent-sponsored. It’s another community. But if you need me here...”
“No, Marcos can get back by himself, right?”
Marcos shook his hair out of his face in agreement.
“She’s married,” Gordon confessed.
“Well, you guys were divorced, right?” she asked, not sure how that changed things.
“Yeah, yeah, we were.” Gordon looked down, interested in the acorn he was pressing into the ground with his shoe. His small glasses fell a bit and he adjusted them.
“I’m sure they’d love to know you’re alive. They probably think the worst.”
“It was the worst,” he said, finally looking up at her. “I didn’t come home to them when things went south. I was too wrapped up in my work, intent on saving the world, instead of them.”
“You did help. Go now.”
* * *
“Well, well, well...” came a voice from the top of the well-manicured gate. Audra knew she wouldn’t find tufts of hair on this one. It was taller and the crow’s nest was more than a rickety scaffold.
“Hey Charlie,” she said, approaching slowly.
“You know I’m supposed to shoot you, right?” He brushed the frizzy brown mop out of his face, but it quickly returned over his eyes. How he could stand watch like that boggled Audra.
“I know.” Audra had hoped to have a plan by this point, but no revelation had revealed itself on the run. She settled for straightforward. “I have a proposal for Greenly. She’ll benefit from it. I can’t help who I am. There is no other way to get in touch... so I uh, came.”
Charlie’s eyebrows rose at her audacity. “I’ll let Lysent know that you’d like to talk to the big boss.”
“Thank you. I’ll wait here.”
“That’s probably a good idea. You’re not allowed out there, much less in here.” He disappeared and another guard took his place immediately. Audra didn’t recognize him, but he seemed to accept Charlie’s instruction.
Just in case, she walked farther up the road and leaned against a pine tree. With her pack by her side, the bark felt rough against her skin and through her shirt. She rested on its solidness. At least trees were reliable. Everywhere else she was playing a game of fake trust and caution. She pulled a pine straw that stuck into her pants.
Audra dozed for a few minutes, not realizing how exhausted she was until she had settled into the pine straw. An hour passed and Audra was sure that Greenly had decided to completely ignore her request. But then sure enough, the gate opened and two of Greenly’s henchmen waited to escort her in. Audra stood up and brushed off the things that stuck to her. A thought settled inside her - if she walked through those gates, there was a chance she’d never walk out again. Greenly could have her head. She took a deep sighing breath, pulled on her pack, and approached the gate.
With one hand by her waist and the other on the strap of her bag, Audra walked inside.
The town hadn’t changed much. That didn’t surprise her. Investments went into Lysent headquarters foremost, trickled into the township, then to the townships farther down the road. The trickle was... insignificant. Audra hadn’t changed much either. She used to bring in tagged zombies here, trying to strike a deal for her sister.
Another deal.
Another sister.
Audra’s escorts were two burly men who looked like they ate well. Must be a good gig in Lysent. They stopped her in the plaza outside Lysent’s front building. Its tall windows glimmered with extravagance. Before Audra could wonder if it would take another hour to see progress, beady eyes emerged from the interior of the Lysent building. Her salt and pepper hair was pulled too tight into a bun. Her giant guards and her choice of all-black attire made her lithe body appear even more delicate. She walked with confidence and small steps down the white granite steps.
“I’m surprised. Quite surprised. You know I could have you hanged in the next few minutes?”
“I’m aware of that. You’re also aware that I hate you. So between those two things, you know I’m here for a very important matter.”
Greenly blinked slowly and tried to hide a smile. Audra swallowed hard and spoke before she could change her mind.
“There’s a group with a formidable army that has entered our area.”
“Is that so? How does that affect me?”
A motion caught Audra’s eye. She looked over at the fountain. A bunch of dancing cherubs. Theirs worked. Water flitted from one arch to another. Audra turned back to Greenly.
“It’s a big army. A hundred or so at least – well-built, strong zoms and people. I can take out their main strength, but it’s still too large a group for us to handle. You have the numbers.”
Greenly stared at her, her eyes darkening.
“We can’t handle them without you?” she asked.
“If you could, I wouldn’t be putting myself and others at risk. They’re going to want your resources. And as much as I hate you - it’s the devil I know. I know nothing about these strangers. I don’t want them here and neither will you.”
“And what do you need from me?”
“I need this biopeptide anchor thing that they want. That’s how I’m going to get in and plant our sabotage. Then you’ll come and sweep up the pieces.”
Like Audra, Greenly didn’t really seem to care what the biopeptide anchor was actually for. She didn’t ask. They all had their own games to play. Greenly thought on it for a moment before adding her condition. “In return, I want your corral. Now.”
“You’re already getting all of the spoils of war,” Audra countered. “Why do you want them?”
Greenly knew about her corral? Of course, she did. Maybe not for certain, but they had done the math. Somewhere, Audra had a backlog.
“Hm, more so, I don’t want them. You don’t seem to understand the strain you’re putting on the area. And the safety risk.” Greenly’s arms crossed. One set of fingers gently tapped across her thin upper arm.
Could Audra give up the corral for Satomi? She wasn’t really in a position to bargain. She needed Lysent
’s help.
Audra didn’t think hard on it. It was a deal she was willing to make.
With the small insulated box housing the item Satomi requested in her jacket pocket, Audra was escorted by the men through the township back to the gate. Audra heard whispers from people who recognized her. She ignored their murmuring. At the gate, two men sat on horses waiting.
Shepherds.
“Hop on,” said one, a man with red hair and a matching grizzled beard. He nodded toward the back of his saddle.
“Can’t we run, instead?”
“Hell no. This is the deal. Do we need to talk things out with Greenly again?”
No, she didn’t. Audra sized up her two escorts. She didn’t recognize either of them. The redhead wore a cowboy hat and sat on a big, black mare. The other, a spindly guy with long, stringy blond hair sat on a smaller spotted horse. Audra looked up to see if Charlie was still on his perch. Maybe he could tell her if these guys were all right or not. Charlie was nowhere to be seen. The guards must have switched out.
Audra breathed a deep sigh. With one hand on her knife at her waist, she offered her other to the man. His giant, rough one swallowed hers and she was swung up into the saddle. Their hips connected. Audra’s face wrinkled. He smelled of damp clothes and tobacco.
If Greenly wanted her dead, she would have done it herself, but that didn’t mean that she wasn’t in danger. The gates opened, and they headed down the road. Before the township was out of sight Audra felt the horse’s momentum shift. Her nose filled with his scent and her breasts pressed against his back as she fell into the rider. Audra heard a laugh. He had done it on purpose.
Audra felt the knife’s handle in her hand. She imagined digging it into his neck until arteries burst. She imagined him falling to the ground and his dead body being struck by the horse’s hoofs as she left him behind. Instead, she just tried to lean back as much as she dared for fear of falling off.
She pulled a red hair from her. Her stomach boiled and threatened to heave over, but she held it down. No need to piss him off. The jostling of the horse didn’t help. Audra wasn’t used to traveling in a way that didn’t use her feet. Her perspective made huge bouncing shifts while her stomach undulated in a lagging pattern.