“You see that?” Eda said.
Becky had been quiet since the old man’s death. As she looked at the nearest set of marked trees, she cleared her throat.
“Shapes? Oh yeah, I see them.”
“I’ve been thinking about it,” Eda said. “Wanna know what I think? It might be some kind of mapping system designed by the Children. Or maybe it was put there by the people who came here before the Children – you know? We’ve seen tables and chairs and other things left over from the past. People used to come here all the time before the war. How did they find their way around? Don’t you see Becky? I’m talking about directions. That right there might be our way out of here.”
“A map?” Becky said.
“Why not?” Eda said. “You’ve got to admit, it’s pretty easy to get lost in here and…”
She was about to say – let’s face it, we’re probably lost already – but decided against it.
“Look at it Becky,” Eda said. She could hear the enthusiasm in her voice again. Despite this, the two women kept their distance from the carved trees, cautious spectators hovering in between faith and skepticism.
“I see the carvings,” Becky said. “But what makes you think it’s a map?”
“Not a map so much,” Eda said. “More like road signs.”
“I still don’t see it,” Becky said, shaking her head.
“You’ve got two trees with markings,” Eda said. “In each set there are always two trees with either circles or triangles. A narrow path runs straight through the middle, you see that? It’s kind of beaten down but it looks like a trail. You go through that and then it’s a short walk to the next set. I don’t know Becky, it looks to me like it’s leading somewhere. Go through the trees and you’re following the route.”
“But where?” Becky said. “If that is a route marked out, where’s it taking people?”
“Two Bridges Road?” Eda said. “Why the hell not? We’re going north aren’t we?”
Becky looked at the markings again. She scratched her arm, leaving an angry red patch. “Maybe we’re just seeing what we want to see Eda.”
“Maybe,” Eda said. “But maybe not.”
“And the circles and triangles?” Becky asked. She tilted her head to the side a little. “Why the different shapes?”
Eda sighed. “Who knows?” she said. “Maybe they got bored. Who cares as long as it takes us to the road?”
“I guess it could be a path,” Becky said. She sounded a little less doubtful.
“I think the Children made it,” Eda said. “The grass looks kind of beat down in between the trees, doesn’t it? That’s a fresh trail if you ask me. Think about it. It only makes sense they use some sort of mapping system to find their way around this place. They’ve probably got them all over the swamp.”
“So do we follow it?” Becky said. “I guess we’ve got nothing to lose right?”
Eda held up a hand. She strained her ears, certain that she’d picked up on voices behind them.
“Warriors,” she said quietly. “They’re catching up.”
Becky shook her head slowly. Her haggard features suggested a cocktail of emotions – fear and exasperation. There was something unnerving about being the centerpiece of an enduring, determined pursuit. About being hunted. But it was annoying too, it was damn annoying. Why couldn’t they just leave her alone?
“Okay,” Becky said. She put a hand on Eda’s shoulder and squeezed. “We follow the Children’s map. Right?”
Eda nodded. “We don’t have a choice,” she said. “Not if we want to get out.”
They walked quickly towards the marked trees. As they did they heard that eerie high-pitched yapping sound again – the one they’d heard back in the Children’s camp. It was closer this time, even though it still sounded like it was deep inside the Meadows.
“That’s a scary fucking noise,” Becky said, glancing in all directions. “But I think I’ve figured out what that is. It’s a deer barking – apparently they do that you know.”
“Sounds like he’s telling us to run faster,” Eda said.
“Yep,” Becky said. “That’s exactly what he’s saying. Wanna know why? He lives in the hunting grounds and he knows only too well what happens to the hunted when they get caught.”
At that moment, Frankie Boy came trotting through the dirt. He had a panting grin on his face.
“You little bastard,” Eda said, stroking him behind the ears. “You’re having the time of your life in here aren’t you? Hey guess what? We might have found a way out of this shithole at last. You ready to run?”
She leaned closer and Frankie Boy licked her on the face. His stale breath almost knocked her dizzy.
“Jesus,” Eda said, recoiling backwards. “What have you been eating?” She wiped her face dry of dog spit.
“Let’s hope this trail doesn’t lead us back to Camp Crazy,” Becky said. “That would just about finish me off I reckon.”
She walked towards the marked trees. Despite her words, her stride was confident.
“Alright,” she said. “Deep breaths. Here we go.”
Becky led the way, running in between the first set, two triangles about fifteen feet apart. Eda followed close behind. Frankie Boy took his own route, running on the outskirts of the trees.
They set a swift pace.
The next set of marked trees, two circles on the trunks, appeared up ahead. Becky glanced over her shoulder and grinned at Eda. It was a big grin, full of hope. Her eyes were alight and Eda knew that Becky could see the tall skyline of Boston again, just up ahead.
“We’re getting out,” Becky roared.
Eda smiled.
Becky charged through the gap in between the circled trees. Seconds later, an explosion of noise made Eda stop dead in her tracks. Like she’d crashed into a brick wall. At first she didn’t know what was going on. In a split second, everything happened. She’d heard a vicious, metallic crunch followed by the worst scream ever.
It was Becky.
“AGGGHH!!”
Her leg was caught in a steel-jaw trap.
“No!” Eda yelled, running over to her. “No, no!”
She dropped to the dirt and her hands frantically probed the trap. It had been nailed into the earth but to secure it further, a long piece of metal chain had been fastened around the base of a tree trunk. Most of the trap was buried under a mound of grass and dirt. Now it returned to the surface, victorious and with prey.
“Fuck,” Eda said. A single tear ran down her cheek. “This isn’t happening.”
Becky’s face was horribly contorted as she looked down at the damage. She’d dropped the sword when the steel jaws had shut around her lower leg. Now she fell onto her backside, both hands clawing helplessly at the trap.
“Oh God,” she hissed. Her face was scorched red with pain.
Eda realized their mistake, far too late. It wasn’t a map they’d been following after all. And it wasn’t road signs either. They were on a hunting trail and those carved shapes on the trunks weren’t indicating the route to the Two Bridges Road. The markings pointed to where the Children’s hidden traps had been set. It was a miracle that Eda and Becky hadn’t triggered the first set of markings they’d raced through just moment before this one. Maybe some of the traps didn’t work anymore. Maybe they were just old.
It didn’t matter. Not now.
Eda crouched down beside Becky, an arm locked around the woman’s shoulder. Her knees sunk into the spongy surface of the swamp.
The serrated jaws had clamped down tight around the ankle. The trap’s jagged teeth had pierced through Becky’s suit pants and the initial struggle after it was triggered had only made the wound angrier.
“Becky,” Eda said, placing a hand on the woman’s back. It was soaking wet. “Don’t worry, I’m going to get you out.”
Becky was on the brink of hyperventilating. She gripped her leg tight with both hands while Eda probed at the trap, searching for the release trigg
er. There had to be something – a lever or a switch that would open the jaws. She pulled and pushed at everything she saw. Not a damn thing worked. The chilling thought came to Eda that maybe the release lever was broken. After all, the first trap hadn’t sprung. Maybe this one was partly broken too. For all Eda knew, these traps had been out here for months, years maybe.
“This fucking thing…” Eda screamed. It felt like her head was about to explode. She pulled at the jaws with all her strength but they were razor sharp and clamped tight. Her arms felt like they were going to snap. Several minor cuts had opened up on her hand.
Becky looked at Eda, tears flooding down her cheeks. Her shoulders sagged to the dirt.
“It’s over,” she said.
Eda shook her head. She gritted her teeth, not taking her eyes off the trap.
“I’m getting you out of this,” she said. “Don’t worry about a thing Becky.”
She jumped up to her feet and picked up one of the swords lying on the dirt. Gripping the handle tight, Eda hacked furiously at the metal chain fastened around the tree.
“Eda,” Becky called over. “Stop. Just give it up.”
But Eda didn’t stop. She kept chopping at the chain like a madwoman. Hoping for a miracle to show up.
Clink-clink-clink…
“You’re wasting time!” Becky said. “Eda, you have to give it up now. NOW! Even if you somehow got the trap off my ankle I won’t be able to run.”
“Then I’ll carry you,” Eda yelled. “I’ll carry you out of here if I have to.”
She looked at Becky and saw a look of resignation in the other woman’s face.
“You have to keep running Eda,” Becky said. “This thing, it’s not over for you, not if you keep moving. Remember what Murphy said about movement – it’s what keeps you alive, right? That’s never been truer than right now.”
“I can get it off,” Eda said, glaring at the chain.
She raised the sword over her head. Becky intercepted the strike with a scolding tone, sharper than any blade.
“No,” she called out. “It’s over Eda – it’s over. All you’re doing by staying here is killing yourself. And I sure as hell don’t want you to do that.”
Becky winced with pain as she spoke. Her skin was a ghoulish white and her breathing was slowing down.
Eda looked at Becky and dropped onto her knees in frustration. Frankie Boy walked in and out, ears down and looking at Eda intently, seemingly confused by the energy going around. Or maybe he already knew what Eda didn’t want to accept.
Eda hurried over to Becky’s side once again. Her eyes scoured the trap, searching for the answer to an impossible question. Going over old ground, she pulled at anything that might have been a lever.
It was a dead end.
Becky wiped her face dry of tears and sweat. It looked like she was trying to make herself presentable for what was coming. She reached out and grabbed Eda’s hand, giving it a squeeze. In that single gesture, Eda felt the woman’s strength fading.
“Maybe you’ll get to Boston someday,” Becky said. “You’ll go back east. Right?”
Eda nodded.
“Well,” Becky said, swallowing a mouthful of pain, “if you ever bump into a woman called Pam Burton in the south end, tell her that Mike tried to find her. Tell her about me too, I only wish I could have met her. Who knows? Maybe she’s checked out already and the reunion with Mike has already happened. But if somehow she’s still alive…I know, I know, it’s a long shot, but just tell her that Mike and I, we had a daughter. We called her little Pam. Will you do that?”
“You had a daughter?” Eda said.
“Once,” Becky said.
“That’s why you waited so long before traveling east?”
Becky nodded. “Little Pam was the fragile sort,” she said. “Too fragile for the old world let alone this fucked up version. I’m surprised but thankful we had her as long as we did.”
Eda didn’t ask what had happened. Knowing wouldn’t make it easier for anyone. Instead, she looked at the trap again, still pushing and pulling, hoping for a last minute reprieve.
Becky squeezed Eda’s hand again. “You need to go now,” she said.
“I can’t leave you like this,” Eda said. “How the hell am I supposed to leave you like this?”
“Go!” Becky said. She pulled her hand away from Eda.
Eda shook her head stubbornly.
“Listen to me,” Becky said, sitting up a little. “That bastard Baldilocks only wins if he gets all four of us. That’s why you’ve got to make it out of this swamp. You have to beat him. You have to get away from the Children, from the warriors. Somehow you’ve got to keep going.”
Becky reached for the handle of the short sword lying next to her. Groaning, she held the weapon aloft. “Fuck me, this is heavy.”
Eda threw her arms around Becky and held on tight. To her surprise, Becky’s skin felt cold already.
“I’m sorry,” Eda whispered into her ear. “I’m so sorry.”
“Find the road,” Becky said. She patted Eda’s back three times, like a mother to a child.
Eda got back to her feet, leaving Becky stranded in the mud. Becky looked up and smiled. She rubbed Frankie Boy’s head as he came over for a visit.
“Get out of here,” she said. “Both of you.”
Eda stood there, all out of words and empty comfort. With a curt nod, she turned around and ignoring the voice of her conscience, set off through the swamp, pumping her arms and legs with violence.
Everything shut down – it was what she had to do. She had to become an unfeeling monster.
Eda’s exit built up to a tremendous speed. She ignored the obstacles – the long limbed trees, the sharp branches and the black glue-like surface that tried to slow her down.
She had to get out.
Frankie Boy ran at her side all the way. Thank God, he didn’t bark as they accelerated through Great Piece Meadows.
11
Frankie Boy charged ahead of Eda. He stayed well clear of the marked trees like he had first time around but now he was telling her to do the same. But although she avoided the booby traps, there was no skipping over the fact that Eda was lost. She was so lost that she might as well have been wearing a blindfold.
After losing track of how long she’d been running for, Eda slowed down to a stop. The Meadows’ consistent landscape – the trees, grass and mud – surrounded her on all sides. No matter how far she ran, it felt like the scenery would never end. There was no way she could ever outrun it.
“Where the hell are we?” she said, doubling over and trying to catch her breath. She’d pushed her body too hard trying to get away from Becky. Her heart was pounding. Her lungs burning up.
Frankie Boy trotted forward. He caught a whiff of something in the air and disappeared through a wall of greenery.
“You’re leaving me again?” Eda said, watching him go. She straightened up, still breathing heavy. “This isn’t a good time Frankie Boy.”
Eda wiped a trickle of sweat off her brow. She was alone.
An almighty roaring noise in the distance made her jump. It came from somewhere else in the Meadows – somewhere far enough away that Eda didn’t have to worry too much. She spun around and her eyes fell upon a barrage of maple trees about a hundred feet back. Eda looked over that way, listening closely. She heard loud voices – male and female. The pounding of feet on the ground, shaking the world. It sounded like a horde of barbarians running rampant through the swamp.
Then she heard it – the familiar clash of steel on steel.
Before she knew it, Eda was creeping towards the noise. Going back in the direction she’d just come from. Somewhere in her head a voice screamed in protest. This was her chance to get away.
But Eda ignored the voice. She had to see it.
After a five-minute walk, she crouched behind a row of birches. Very carefully, Eda peered through the foliage, down a steep slope that tumbled to a massive clearing. A
skirmish was taking place. The Children and the warriors, having already collided at the crater and on the Passaic, were now squaring off for a third time in the heart of the swamp.
Eda watched with fascination.
Despite the overcrowded canoes coming out of Fairfield, it looked like everyone had made it back to the Meadows. The Children outnumbered the warriors by about three to one on the battlefield. It should have been a massacre but the warriors, while fewer in number, had a lethal combination of skill and savagery on their side. Their stamina was solid too and Eda knew they would fight all day if they had to. Literally.
The women stood their ground as a swarm of camouflaged figures encircled them.
The Children charged in recklessly. Eda’s head rang with the sound of clanging steel and battle cries as another wave of fighting commenced. From her vantage point uphill, it didn’t look like anyone was winning the second skirmish. There was a blur of close quarter fighting and it didn’t paint a clear picture of how things were going. The Children were nothing more than a blunt instrument, crude and inelegant in their assault. They took some losses as they closed the distance. But they were getting through. They were a stubborn mob, clearly intent on revenge for the ambush at the crater. And if their strategy was to overwhelm the warriors with sheer volume there was every chance of success, albeit at a great cost to their numbers.
Eda felt an outburst of relief. Her enemies were killing each other and it was beautiful to watch. Their screams and dying shouts were poetry in her ears. In order to get what they wanted, both the Children and the warriors had to get past one another.
That was proving too much for either side.
Eda retreated backwards, scolding herself for wasting time when she should have been running. But now she could at least run with the knowledge that her pursuers wouldn’t be coming after her anytime soon.
She looked around for Frankie Boy. No sign of him anywhere.
“Damn it,” she said.
Eda heard a noise to her left. Her first thought was that Frankie Boy had come back to her and she turned to greet him with a smile. She would tell him about the battle – tell him that they had a chance of getting out.
Mega Post-Apocalyptic Double Bill Page 27