Silence.
“How many people did we lose?” Collin asked. He wondered what chance, if any, his family actually had, if it was as bad as Koby and Dr. Horner made it out to be. Was Pastor Pendell just toying with him?
Koby glanced at Dr. Horner. His hands were fidgeting with the buttons on his jacket.
“From what we could tell before broadcasting failed, it was around eighty percent of the population,” she said. “But that’s just the US, of course in less developed countries the casualty rate would be higher, due to lack of medical care.”
“Without BT76, most of the initial survivors likely contracted the fever,” Julie added.
Collin stopped walking. He could barely breathe - eighty percent? At least. A tragic disaster of epic proportions. He could hardly believe it. What had become of his parents? Friends, neighbors, and distant relatives? Probably all dead.
“How did you guys survive such terrible odds?” Collin said gasping for air.
“We got lucky here because we are relatively isolated. Traditionally, this region favors livestock over agriculture, which helped,” Kobyashi said. He kicked at the gravel. “After an attack by the Vipers that burned a bunch of our food crops, I realized we’d need a safer way to grow produce. That’s when we started the indoor gardening systems in everyone’s basements and spare bedrooms.”
“Sometimes the best things happen when you least expect them,” said Dr. Horner.
“Like a finger in the butt,” Koby proudly said, laughing at his own joke. He stopped fidgeting.
The doctor made a vomiting sound.
Collin cracked a faint smile. It quickly faded. His mind was still reeling at the thought of what happened. With so many people gone, what would the world look like, how would it function, was it possible that humanity would go extinct?
“Do people still come down with the fever?” said Collin.
“Rarely these days. We have a treatment called BT76, which protects us but we have to take it consistently, every month,” said Julie. “Sometimes supplies aren’t always consistent.”
Collin glanced at her. “Where does this treatment come from? Do you know if my family has access to it?”
Julie raised her hands. “I really don’t know anything about your family. The treatment comes from a company called Hathaway Agricultural Genetic Sciences, who air drops it periodically.”
“They know about the town?” asked Collin. “Why don’t they send help?”
Kobyashi shook his head.
Julie shrugged. “Who could they send?”
“Thing is,” Kobyashi said. “HAGS is also the bad guy. I mean, they’re the whole reason we’re in this mess. They created the crops that ended up infecting everyone.” He took a deep breath. “They destroyed the world.”
Collin didn’t say anything.
Julie touched his arm and it sent a shockwave of emotion through him. “That’s why I would like to ask you to help me with something critically important.”
He looked at her, curious about how he could help. He was no scientist that much he knew for sure. However, he had a feeling that he would do whatever she asked of him.
“Since you’re the first to wake up from the fever, that means your body must have some mechanism for beating the infection. I would like to take periodic blood samples in order to synthesize a vaccine. This way we can wean the town off BT76 and free ourselves from reliance on HAGS.” She looked hopefully at him.
“If my blood is able to help people, I’m honestly surprised you didn’t already take it while I was in the hospital,” he said with a crooked smile. “It’s not like I could have objected.”
Koby snorted. “That’s what we told her!”
“There was no way to know he wouldn’t succumb eventually, and until he woke up we had no idea how special he was,” Julie said to Koby, slapping his shoulder. “Besides, unlike some people, I have ethics. I wasn’t going to take and use blood samples without consent.”
“I’m special too right?” Koby joked, causing the doctor to roll her eyes.
Collin pushed Koby playfully and said, “I appreciate the consideration, Doctor.”
Just then, he felt something splatter on his ear and trickle down his neck. It was too sunny to be rain. He touched his ear and felt something sticky. Looking at his fingers, he realized it was blood.
During their walk, the group had wandered underneath one of the Eagle’s Nests, the security posts the town installed high up in trees. Collin looked up just as another droplet splashed down the side of his neck.
Koby saw the blood on Collin’s hand. “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah but whoever is up there isn’t,” Collin said pointing up the tree.
Rustling. Thumping. A body dropped between the branches.
Collin launched himself at Julie, pushing her out of the way.
The body slammed into the ground behind him with an audible crunch.
Collin turned to look at the body. The man landed on his side but twisted so his torso faced the sky. His head arched back unnaturally from a ragged, sloppy gash low across his throat. It gaped at him like a demonic grin.
Julie gasped. She quickly looked him over then said, “I’ll tell the guards.” She ran off in the direction of a nearby patrol.
“Christ!” said Koby. He slowly backed away from the body until he bumped into the tree. Startled, he ran a few dozen feet away from the tree. Once he realized he just bumped into the tree, he stopped and stared at the body.
Collin was looking at the tree figuring out how to get up to the nest. The Eagles operated in pairs and whoever did this might still be up there. Or the other soldier may need his help.
He rushed around to the far side of the huge tree, the side facing the town, and found a ladder.
Twin lengths of thick rope hung down from branches high up in the tree supporting solid wooden rungs. Wood spacers attached to the back of each rung pressed against the tree trunk for stability, yet left ample space for hands and feet. Collin also saw several places where rope was looped around the tree to provide lateral support.
Collin grabbed the ladder and started up.
Koby’s panicked voice yelled at him from behind. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to see if the other Eagle needs help,” Collin said.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Collin ignored him and kept climbing.
The strong, sappy scent of pine surrounded Collin as he pushed and pulled himself higher through the branches to reach the Eagle’s Nest. His shoulders and forearms burned with the effort, but he kept going.
Another odor mixed with the pine. One he’d smelled in the hospital after the attack.
Death.
Finally, Collin reached the bottom of the nest.
The structure was just above him. Entry would be through a big cutout in the camouflage-painted, wooden floor. Not ideal. He’d be exposed. Of course, he was exposed the entire time he was on the ladder.
Collin stopped below it, pulling his feet under him so he had to bend over to not bump his head against the edge and settled his breathing. He didn’t sense anyone inside. That didn’t bode well for the other soldier.
Straining his ears for any sound, he plotted his entry strategy. Coming up through the hole would be awkward, and anyone inside would have an easy shot at him. Speed was the key and he hoped he could muster enough strength to move quickly.
With his strategy decided, Collin held onto the rungs just below the opening. He moved his legs up underneath him as close as he could, so he was effectively squatting down like a frog. He took a deep breath and sprang.
He launched up, caught the edges of the hole with his hands, and held his weight as he moved his legs up. He flung a knee on the floor and crouched. There wasn’t much room to move and it was readily apparent that no attacker was inside. Where had they gone?
Collin was impressed with the Eagle’s Nest.
What started out as a simple
tree stand had been heavily modified. A necessity given the amount of time Goshen needed to defend itself.
There were two hunting-style tree stands securely lashed to the tree trunk, facing roughly thirty degrees apart, giving the two soldiers overlapping fields of fire and a full view of the valley and farmland below. The wooden structure was like a small tree fort. It was minimal but would provide cover from the elements and incoming arrows. It consisted of a simple slanted roof and a low wall with a wide windowsill to accommodate sandbags for the soldiers’ rifles.
Slumped sideways, dead in the second seat was another Eagle. A long knife protruded from his chest. It pinned a note to the man’s body.
Collin snatched the note away and read it to himself. He shook his head in disbelief.
Before heading back down, Collin looked around for any clues, but he saw nothing of interest. So he climbed back down.
As he neared the halfway point and was partially visible below, Kobyashi yelled, “Anything?”
“We need Major Logan and Pastor Pendell right away,” he replied.
Julie came jogging back with a half-dozen Eagles before Collin reached the ground. He looked down and saw them covering the body with a sheet, and preparing a body bag.
“What were you thinking?” Dr. Horner said, wagging a finger at him like an angry mother as soon as his feet hit the ground.
Collin scowled and stepped back from the ladder. “I was thinking the other guy might need help.”
Her eyes grew wide and she looked up, then back at Collin.
He shook his head.
“This was stuck to his chest,” he said pulling the note out of his pocket. He cleared his throat and read it to them. “The next drop of BT76 is ours. Leave it be. Try and die.”
Everyone was quiet.
Chapter Eight
“You two go,” Julie said. “I’ll stay here and do what I can.”
A couple of Eagles were already climbing up the rope ladder to retrieve their friend’s body.
Collin nodded and glanced at Koby. “How fast can you run?”
“Faster than you, Sleeping Beauty.” Koby took off at a fast jog toward the bridge.
Collin quickly rolled the note and held it in one hand, like a relay baton. Then he took off after Koby.
By the time he neared the bridge they were neck and neck. Koby bumped him with an elbow, which he returned.
Kobyashi lost half a step trying to dodge the elbow bump and failed.
Collin estimated the distance to the church, where they were most likely to find Pastor Pendell, at about three-fourths of a mile.
He shook his head at the realization that it’d been at least sixteen years since he ran that far. It still blew his mind. Even after just two days, he was feeling stronger. Strength was returning at a much faster rate than his memories were, which was frustrating.
Koby and Collin jogged along together, feet crunching gravel, rushing to pass the news on.
“You’re fast,” said Kobyashi between breaths.
“Thanks. You too,” said Collin.
With a single block remaining until they reached the sidewalk in front of the church steps, Koby sped up. Collin said, “Aw, hell no.”
The two men sprinted down the street like kids during summer vacation. Arms pumping, legs churning, and lungs processing oxygen at a magnificent rate, they reached the massive white building.
Koby had him by half of a step.
Huffing loudly he said, “Great run, sir.”
“Thanks.” Collin wiped his arm across his sweaty forehead. He felt fantastic — so alive — as the energy buzzed through his body. “Okay, okay. You ready to do this?”
Koby nodded and motioned for a him to follow.
The pair made their way through the center aisle of the church while they tried to catch their breath from the sprint. They would need to do so prior to reaching the staircase to Pendell’s office.
Koby slowed until they were shoulder-to-shoulder. Then he started humming, “Here Comes The Bride.”
Collin chuckled, but elbowed his friend. “Not the best time for jokes.”
“You’re probably right.”
The alcove containing the cross and carved wooden display was much larger up close than it had seemed earlier. Ten feet past the podium where Pastor Pendell had given his speech, Koby motioned to the right. Through an oversized door was a winding staircase. Collin followed Koby up the staircase to the second floor. A short hallway led to the office.
Koby knocked hard three times and waited to be summoned inside.
Muffled from behind the thick doorway, they heard Pastor Pendell say, “Please come in.”
Koby opened the door and held it open for Collin.
Pastor Pendell was sitting behind his desk. To their surprise, Major Logan was seated across from the Pastor. Collin ignored Major Logan’s skeptical glare.
“Pastor, there’s been an attack on the Eagles. This note was left behind,” Collin said, leaning forward to hand him the note.
Major Logan’s hand shot up and snatched it from Collin. He stood up and read it. His jaw clenched, tightening the skin on his reddening face.
Lowering the note slightly, Major Logan looked at Pastor Pendell and said, “I told you this day would come.” Then he slammed the note down on the Pastor’s desk and began to pace the room.
Pastor Pendell stood up calmly and fixed a hard stare on the man. “Major, I would remind you to address me with the respect I am due.”
Major Logan stopped pacing and stared back. “Of course,” he said slowly. “My apologies.”
The major went back to pacing. Pastor Pendell sat down and looked at Koby and Collin in turn.
“Please sit.” He waved a hand at the two empty chairs across from him. “Tell me what happened.”
Kobyashi looked at Collin and motioned for him to go ahead and explain. So Collin told him everything, that they were walking and discussing things when the body suddenly fell out of the tree. He told them how Julie ran for help and how he climbed up to try and help the second Eagle or stop the attacker, but there was no attacker and the second Eagle was already dead. No one spoke when Collin finished.
“What does the letter mean?” Collin finally asked.
Pastor Pendell flattened the paper down on his desk. He stared at it for several seconds before pushing it to the side.
“Nothing you need to concern yourself with,” said Pendell. He folded his hands calmly on the desk in front of him and leaned forward. “It’s no trouble at all. Just more of the usual boasting. The Lord is watching over us, and we shall be thankful for his blessings.”
Collin couldn’t believe Pastor Pendell. He turned in his chair and glanced at Major Logan pacing.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me. Two men, who should have been safe, just died gruesome deaths. Gauging by Major Logan’s reaction this isn’t exactly a normal situation. It’s not just the ‘usual boasting.’ I’m tired of getting evasive answers to things,” said Collin. “What’s really going on here, Pastor?”
“I don’t believe I need to explain myself to you.” Pastor Pendell watched him sternly over his folded hands.
“You’ve been teasing me along since I woke up. I have yet to hear an explanation about my family’s whereabouts. I have no tangible evidence that you have any clue about them at all,” said Collin. “When I was asleep, I had no choice about where I was. Now I do. If you can’t back up your claims, then it’s time for me to move on.”
Pendell continued staring at him. Kobyashi didn’t say anything. Major Logan stopped pacing.
Pastor Pendell shifted slightly in his chair. Collin didn’t budge.
“Perhaps you’re right-”
“Perhaps?” Collin said.
“No. You’re right. I haven’t been entirely forthcoming with you.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “The Vipers are becoming more bold and ambitious in their attacks. A few months ago, an assault like the one they perpetrated on the hospital
would have been unthinkable. They’re clearly growing desperate.”
“Desperate for what? The BT76 treatment?” said Collin.
“Exactly. They want to steal what isn’t theirs and deny our peaceful citizens their treatments. We can’t allow that. The Vipers will feel the Lord’s wrath.” Pastor Pendell slammed his fist on the desk.
No one said anything.
Then Collin leaned back in his chair. If his family was still alive, they would need BT76. Helping the town protect their supply would help his family. He sighed.
“What can I do?”
Pastor Pendell guffawed. “Not fight. The fight with the Vipers is our fight. Besides, you’re far too valuable to risk on the battlefield.”
“Have you already forgotten?” Collin said looking at Pendell like he was crazy. “That was me in the hospital. Taking out Vipers. Alone. I’m sure I can handle myself out there.”
“Too true. I remember all too well,” Pendell said. He rubbed his wrist, looking uncomfortable with the memory. “Very well, but we need you to stay off the front lines. Can you do that for me, please?”
“I suppose,” Collin said grudgingly. “Then what can I do?”
“Stay back with us and help guard the town in case any of those bastards slip through.”
“Babysit you mean?”
“There’s no shame in safeguarding the weak, Collin. We have many families who lack your particular set of skills. They could use your help. Kobyashi and Dr. Horner could use your help. Major Logan has sufficient manpower within his Eagles to handle these Godless scoundrels.”
“Sorry to interrupt,” said Kobyashi. He stood up and cupped his ear. “Do you guys hear that?”
“Is this another stupid joke?” said Major Logan.
“I hear it too.” Collin jumped up from his chair and rushed for the door.
Kobyashi followed him.
Collin looked over his shoulder and yelled at the others, “Come on.”
A steady thumping grew louder and louder. Something was coming closer to the church.
Collin and Koby burst out of the church just as two Apache helicopters escorting a Blackhawk flew by overhead. The Blackhawk broke off from the other two, diving toward the farmer’s fields. Both Apaches flew in slow circles overhead, while the Blackhawk slowed and flared some thirty feet off the ground. Two olive drab supply crates painted with bright white HAGS logos popped out of the side door. The chopper immediately began to rise and turn away from the town before the tubs even hit the ground. As the Blackhawk gained elevation, the Apaches circled around and took up their flanking positions.
Praying for War: The Collin War Chronicles Page 8