by Kevin George
EMENT: THE MOVIE
a post-script: by Kevin George
Foreward: If you’ve read all 12 Comet Clement books,
the best thank you I could think was… well, more
Comet Clement story. Once again, thank you for all
your support and I hope you enjoy the final chapter…
Eddie and Thomas Fare loved baseball; their friend, Zander McKay, not so much. Still, Zander pretended to play with them every day, if only to appease his father, who often spoke of his former glory days on the diamond, whatever that meant. Zander was a year younger than his twin eight-year-old friends, but was much more mature, more cerebral in his outlook on life. He spent most of his time daydreaming about life beyond the walls, about what else might be in this world.
What else might be beyond the Heavens above…
“Catch it, Zander!” Eddie yelled.
As usual, Zander played the ‘outfield’ while his friends took turns pitching and hitting against each other. The outfield basically consisted of the small amount of open space remaining in the compound. Eddie was the best hitter and proved it by smacking a deep fly ball. Zander began to ran back to catch it but knew he’d run out of room. The ball smacked into the side of the farmhouse, barely missing the window of the last room on the top floor.
“Uh oh, we better get outta here,” Thomas said. “Old Man Luke is gonna yell at us again.”
“He doesn’t yell at me,” Zander said.
“That’s because you’ll listen to his boring stories,” Eddie said. “They’re not even real like what Professor Frat teaches us.”
The twins ran off but Zander stared up at the window, hoping to see the older man come to the window. Zander hadn’t seen him for a while and missed hearing all about the stories Luke told him, all the stories he was responsible for turning into something called a movie, which was apparently a version of a moving picture. Before Comet Clement struck – which happened years before Zander was even born – movies were a normal thing but none of the post-comet kids ever saw one. The closest they came was looking at a TV stored in the underground garage, one salvaged during a scavenging mission, though there was nothing to watch on it.
Luke told Zander incredible tales, not like the history lessons the compound’s teacher told the kids. A few dozens intact novels had been found but Luke swore that he was able to make his stories move on-screen. Luke still remembered every word from every scene and often acted them out for Zander.
At least until recently, when Luke’s sickness stopped him from accepting any visitors. He didn’t even yell at the kids anymore for playing outside his window. Zander waited another minute – hoping this would be the day Luke felt better and appeared in his window – but there was no movement above. Instead, Zander headed back for home, passing between rows of small huts that filled the compound. School was out for the day but his mother was working in the gardens, his father out on another mission. With the twins off making trouble somewhere, Zander wondered if he was destined for another boring day of –
The warning bell began to ring, signifying that someone was approaching the compound. People scattered, heading toward their homes to grab weapons before rushing toward their battle posts at the wall. Zander and the other children were supposed to rush home and hide but he didn’t feel the same nervousness as everyone else – few of the children did. Zander had yet to see the same danger that many of the adults had. In fact, the bell usually meant good news and he hurried toward the gate, careful to stay out of sight of grown-ups that might yell at him to hide.
Hundreds of compound citizens lined the top of the wall but it wasn’t long before word began to circulate that the scavenge mission returned. Pastor Mike made his way to the gate as most of the people climbed off their perches and returned to their daily routines. When the gate opened, a large security truck rolled into the compound. Zander’s insides raced at the sight of the man driving. He stepped out from his hiding spot and raced toward the small group of people descending on the truck.
Colin McKay climbed out from behind the wheel, while John Fare exited from the passenger side. Colin looked at the small crowd for someone with a shock of blonde hair but his wife no longer rushed to see him when he returned from missions, not even when he was gone for a few days; she didn’t worry about him as much as the days when they were first married. But his friend’s wife, Emily, was also in no rush to greet her husband, which at least made Colin feel better.
Pastor Mike was the first to greet them but Colin saw someone else running toward the small crowd.
“Dad!” Zander cried out.
Nothing could’ve placed a wider smile on Colin’s face. His son was getting older and it probably wouldn’t be long before Zander stopped worshipping him so much. Colin planned to enjoy every time he returned and his son rushed over to see him. Zander jumped into his arms and Colin grunted; his son was getting so big he could barely believe it.
“Did you find lots of good stuff?” Zander asked.
“I was wondering the same thing,” Pastor Mike said.
Colin gave the compound leader a quick rundown of what they found. Normally he handed over the truck’s keys and went straight to his house to sleep. But he took Zander’s hand and led him to the back of the truck.
“I got something for you,” he told his son.
“What is it?”
Colin rummaged through the back of the filled truck, which mostly contained building materials of various sorts. But he came out with a small box-like piece of machinery and held it out to Colin. His son had been asking for it since he first started spending time with Lucas Stevens; Colin never thought he’d be able to find one, especially after several years passed since he and John found the big-screen TV. Zander looked at the piece of machinery and didn’t know what it was until his father pointed out the words on the front of it. The boy’s eyes lit up.
“Will it work?” Zander asked.
“You’ll have to ask your Uncle John about that one,” Colin said.
Zander turned to John, who looked toward the compound village for any sign of his own boys.
“I can’t say for certain but it looks in pretty good shape and it has all the proper wires,” John said.
“Can I go tell Old Man L… I mean Mr. Stevens?” Zander asked. “He’ll be really excited.”
Colin looked at Pastor Mike. The man with the heavy facial scarring frowned and shook his head.
“I don’t know how you can stand that old coot,” John interceded. “Stevens wasn’t nice to your Aunt Emily when they first met. Plus he always yells at Eddie and Thomas.”
Zander didn’t bother saying that the twins usually deserved it.
“He’s not so bad if you want to listen to the moving stories he once made,” Zander said.
“And people change over time, you should know that, John,” Colin said, playfully poking his friend. “Besides, Stevens isn’t doing well so I think any of his past indiscretions can be put aside.”
John shrugged; he obviously didn’t agree but wasn’t about to put up a fight. Colin had been excited to get back to the compound to show his son what he found; now, he was even prouder that Zander didn’t think of himself upon hearing the good news.
“So can I go tell him now?” the boy asked.
Colin started to nod but then thought better of it, an idea popped in his mind at that very moment despite having more than a day to think about it.
“Actually, I have a better idea to honor your friend. Come with me,” father said to son.
Instead of heading to the farmhouse and Lucas Stevens’ room, Colin and his boy turned to the
far side of the compound.
------------
Lucas Stevens woke in a cold sweat. He squirmed in bed. His mind was in a fog, heavier than it had been in months. He looked around the simple room and had no idea where he was, no idea what was causing him such agony. He should’ve been in king-sized bed in his mansion atop the hills, cuddled next to the hottest young actress trying to make a name for herself. But a tiny voice in the back of his head reminded him that times had changed.
That hasn’t been your life for years.
He suddenly remembered it all: the comet, his movie, years spent constantly working while aboard the space station, leaving aboard the final shuttle, being brought to this amazing compound in the middle of the desert…
My bag! Lucas thought.
When he tried to sit up quickly, a wave of revulsion crashed over him, his head spun. Darkness crept along the corners of his eyes but he still reached over the side of his bed for the bag on the floor. The effort nearly caused him to fall off. Though nearing unconsciousness, he zipped open the bag and felt inside: the case was still inside. He breathed a deep sigh of relief and clutched the bag tightly; if he was going to pass out, he’d make sure nobody had a chance to come into the room and rob him.
Not that crime ran rampant at the compound; as far as Lucas knew, not a single incident had occurred in the years spent there. Once more relaxed, his vision cleared. He was still in agony but fairly certain he’d stay