by Alexa Dare
Icy water gushed from underground. Water gurgled out of the fissure from which the deadly gas escaped. The cold gushing into the warm air steamed and hissed.
A chill began to seep inside the leather boots encasing Nora’s feet and ankles.
“Not natural,” the blond woman said. “None of it.”
“The earthquakes have eased.” While her top part sweltered and sweat leached into her clothes, Nora’s lower half shivered from cold. “You know these woods. How far away is the cave at Devil’s Ridge?
“A mile.” One of the bearded militiamen added, “Maybe less.”
“More like three-quarters of a mile,” Roderick said.
With mouths gaped open, with the morbid fascination of watching a snail dosed with salt shrivel and die, the group witnessed their comrade’s burning. In minutes, amid a rancid scorched meat stink, only a greasy globule of blackened ashes remained.
“Rest in peace,” A man tugged off his digital-camouflage ball cap.
Roderick grunted. “Godspeed.”
The older woman twisted gray locks around her hands and tugged. Pulling at her hair, she swayed and muttered, “Amen.”
“No sign of anything like that happening to Yates," Roderick said. “Maybe he made it out after all.”
A cloud of steam, heavy and metallic, rose from boiling water gurgling out of fissures.
“Let’s get out of here,” a man said.
“To the cave?” The stocky woman grabbed a rifle with a carry sling from a balding, big-gutted man. With a look of disdain that nailed the good old boy in place, the woman shouldered the weapon at the ready.
Nora edged a few yards out from the two fallen bodies of the men who succumbed from the gas and the remains of the spontaneously combusted guy. “How far back is the camp?”
The circling group moved with her, blocking her in.
One said, “Half mile.”
“Nora’s right,” Roderick said. “We need those masks, fire retardant suits, and gloves.”
“All there if the supply depot or any of the personal stashes survived,” the woman’s ponytail swung to fan gathering smoke.
“We all won’t make it,” a rail-thin man said.
“None of us will if we don’t band together.” Nora gauged their expressions, weighed the slightest narrowing or widening of their eyes. “We have to recapture the children if we’re going to stop this.”
“If we end them, this’ll be over and done.” The man who’d waved the gun too close for comfort to Nora’s nose aimed the long-barreled gunslinger pistol at her chest.
Arms held out and up in compliance, Nora said, “Kill me and kill them and you lose any chance of stopping this.”
“Nature will right itself.” The rogue solider shifted the angle of the pistol barrel toward her head. “Always does.”
A choking tightness circled Nora’s neck as if the hateful necklace remained clamped around her flesh. “Yates sent you to find me. Give me a chance, and together we will do what Yates intended.” Nora waved her arm toward the barreling funnel and yelled over the roar, “We don’t have much time.”
“I say we hole up in the cave,” said Long Beard.
“What if the strength of the earthquakes gets worse again?” The stocky blonde gripped her rifle tight. “The ground swallowed Doc and the others whole.”
“Like a serpent devouring its tail.” The gun trembled in the soldier’s hand. “You’re one of the snakes.”
“I may be, but I’m your serpent. With me or against me equates to alive or dead. I and those children are your and your families’ only chance.”
“What about the kid? I tried to get to him in the tunnels, but the tunnel collapsed,” said Roderick.
“How far from here is Junior?” Nora exhaled out as much of the burnt flesh scorch while only taking in quick half breaths.
“Just under a mile, as the crow flies.” Roderick glanced off into the woods.
“We need him.” One at a time… Until, once again, Nora had her hands on them all.
“Kid’s trapped underground. He ain’t going anywhere.” Roderick stuffed the rag in his front shirt pocket and looped his thumbs in his belt. “Yates said you’d lead us to the young’uns. Don’t like it much, but that’s the way it’s gotta be.”
Nora backed out of the circle.
The remaining group, now less than two dozen by a few, allowed her to angle until the ravaged forest spread out at her back.
“We rescue what supplies we can.” Nora gestured toward the ruined camp. “Check dugouts for potatoes, carrots and other vegetables. We need cured meats…” She latched her gaze on the people and trees, not the corpses. “Then, Roderick, you and a crew can return to rescue Junior.”
Even dead, Yates’ ability to control her destiny lived on. If Nora had the chance, she’d kill the jerk all over again, in an even more slow and painful manner.
As Nora and the group headed back toward the ruin of the camp, the once lush rolling hills spread out in broken and barren slashes of browns and grays, with the crashing of the flaming funnel fading behind them as the group chased her back toward the camp.
In the night shadows, splits gouged the slope like slashing wounds.
Water poured from cracks and soil, while the ground shifted in gentle grinds and iron-ore gas spewed from below, making the earth seem to weep, writhe, and moan.
Heat blasted her cheeks and lungs.
Broken trees lay tossed aside like castoff children’s toys, while flash fires burned trees to ash.
Unlike Yates’ possible takeover of the world, Nora longed for a time when the burning would scour and cleanse the earth so that she, with or without her son, might have a chance at a clean slate.
Chapter 8
Abe, so much more like the boy who built the useless bonfires for so many years than the driver of a military vehicle, crouched in the Am-Sub aisle with his twin sister and little Darcy Lynn.
The three of them huddled around a fallen Brody.
Although the computer wizard’s pale, slack face scared Abe, he didn’t show his fear. He peered out the side window to the upper riverbanks’ slope.
Besides the threat being on land, no way would he look back at the boiled shrimp floating bodies in the river.
By the light of the moon, with bushy, brown, curly hair, and a tall forehead, Brody’s uncle wedged himself up to his waist in the mega-sized tank’s hatch and waved both of his arms. The big man cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Get…”
The varooming, chugging, oil-belching war tank boomed over the man’s voice.
“…down.” Uncle Merv ducked inside the hull.
The cannon gun barrel swung up and to the right.
From atop the turret, Vincent dove feet first off the behemoth cabin-sized tank.
“Oh. Get down.” Darcy Lynn said, “He said, ‘Get down.’”
In the midst of a sudden, splashing indoor shower, a blue-lipped Hannah grabbed both Abe and Darcy Lynn by the necks of their shirtfronts and pulled them down as a shield over Brody.
“Uncle Merv, don’t—” From underneath the girls and Abe, Brody’s protest sounded above a whisper, but more like a groan.
Butt in the air, Abe squeezed out from between Hannah and Brody. Ears covered, he peeked out. Beside him, Darcy Lynn wiggled beneath Hannah like a puppy hugged too tight.
“We just pulled you out of a burning river. Be still, you little dweeb.” Hannah tightened her grip on the little girl and her grabs for Abe turned to pinches. “You too Abe.”
“You’re not the boss of me.” When she tried to wrestle him down, Abe shoved the knuckle of his index finger into Hannah’s ribcage and scrubbed.
Varrrroom.
The entire ATV Am-Sub shook as if one of Junior’s quakes threatened to rip the ground out from under them.
All of a sudden, the side of the barge imploded, then wood, metal, and human pieces and parts blasted out. Debris blew and splashed into the water to crash alo
ng the curve of the riverbank.
Gunpowder trace smells joined the river stew steam.
The force of the explosion prickled Abe’s scalp.
“Why are they shooting the cannon at the boat?” Hannah asked.
Vincent’s face popped up inches from the window.
Abe flinched and toppled back. His tailbone grated the rubber mat floor of the aisle.
Through the speakers and open back window, Vincent’s voice said, “You caused the great burning; therefore, you must extinguish the flames.”
“I’ve tried. Besides, Brody’s hurt and needs help.” First Abe helped Hannah to her feet, then he and Hannah lifted the seven-year-old by her arms.
Vincent motioned for Brody’s Uncle Merv.
Bearded like a scraggly mountain man, Merv assisted a woman out of the hatch.
Hannah squealed in surprise. “Abe, Irene’s here, and she’s okay.”
Light-hearted for the first time in hours, Abe unlatched and opened the sealed door.
In a hand swirling rush, Darcy Lynn exited the Am-Sub first, bouncing down the steps as if to greet the night. Wind swirled circles around her in warm hugging breezes.
“Hold up, Darcy Lynn.” The severity of Hannah’s frown made Abe glad he wasn’t the cause this go around.
As if guarded by the swishing wind, the little blonde girl edged a wide breadth past Nora’s son.
Vincent started up the stairs, but Abe blocked him with a glare.
“We’ve got Brody,” said Hannah.
Vincent gestured wide in a mocking sweep of his arm and stepped away as if he were making room for royalty.
“Jerk,” Hannah fake-whispered. “If Irene’s with him, Brody’s uncle must be one of the good guys, right?”
“I hope so because Brody needs help.” Abe shoved himself under Brody’s other arm, and the two of them dragged their friend out of the vehicle. “But then again, what’s Nora’s son doing with the uncle?”
On the mud-slathered riverbank, Abe ignored Vincent and surveyed the Holston River’s width and curving stretch.
Clothes burned from the floating bodies billowed in black greasy smoke. Except for the immediate area where the ATV drove out of the river and onto shore, the water blazed in crackling, sizzling flames that lit the shore as bright as day.
Heat created a backdraft that lifted Abe’s bangs and warmed his cheeks.
“Water should not burn.” Vincent glared. “You caused this.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Anger shook Abe’s arms. His breath sped faster than the old tank’s over-taxed gasoline smoke-spewing engine. Abe aimed his gaze at the water near the wrecked and sinking barge. Water blubbed into and boiled around the faded red of the barge’s hull.
Abe stared at the sinking boat, no one alive left there anyhow, and set the ruined barge aflame. He stared along the farthest point upriver and snuffed as much of the fire in the water out as possible.
Right away, his temp shot up and a woozy weakness spiraled into his brain.
The water farther down river flowed like regular non-burning water down the winding channel, bringing a sudden brand of normalcy along with the current.
The burning wasteland of the hills tilted.
Dizzy from fever, Abe adjusted his stance and turned to face Vincent. “I fixed what I could. Can you do the same?”
Floating dead fish filled the river from bank to bank releasing human, fish and cooked fish stink into the rising smoke.
No fried catfish and hushpuppies for Abe anytime soon.
Vincent blinked whitish blue eyes and stared out of a pasty white face. A slickly smile crooked the teenager’s lips.
Abe walked slowly, so as not to stagger, toward where Brody’s uncle examined Brody atop a laid-out blue tarp.
“Abe, come see Irene,” Hannah called out. “Her burns are all better.”
“Merv healed me.” One side of Irene’s face and neck appeared more pink than the other, as if she’d sunburned only half of her body. Irene, her red hair glinting like a shiny penny in the firelight, said, “He’s a healer."
Abe edged close enough to sniff Irene’s lavender perfume but hung back.
“Leastwise there’s some use for what Doc did to me. For one thing, there’s no longer any reason to keep secrets.” Merv knelt beside Brody and held his hands over the younger guy’s chest.
Merv, dressed head-to-toe in a leafy camouflage, hovered his palms about an inch or so above the front of Brody’s green T-shirt.
“Mr. Thackett, you’re enhanced too!” Hannah hugged Irene tight.
“Reckon so and do call me Merv. Mr. Thackett was my grandpap.” Merv closed his eyes. Unexpected energy and heat emanated from the man’s hands.
Abe detected the unnatural warmth, even over the crisp, parched ground, the blazing river, and the brushfire devouring nearby trees.
A mega rad amount of power flowed from just one man.
Brody’s eyelids fluttered.
“The bad guys didn’t find you,” said Hannah.
“There was a secret room within the bunker.” Irene smiled with a tender lift of her closed lips. “Since I was unable to travel, Brody’s brother stowed me away, then Merv found me when he returned to the cabin.”
Cheeks flushed a healthy pink, Brody opened his eyes.
Abe let out a huge breath he didn’t even realized he’d held in his lungs.
“Quite a pleasant welcome home, I might say.” Merv helped Brody to sit.
“What’s the price you pay for using your gift?” Brody shook his uncle’s hand. The two men cupped their hands and bumped chests in a quick, awkward hug.
“Increased appetite, can’t you tell?” Merv chuckled and patted his broad belly. “I get so hungry, I’d eat tree bark. If all the trees hereabouts weren’t charred, I’d be chowing down about now.”
“Sorry,” Abe blurted. Doubt thickened and raised his voice an octave. He cleared his throat and shuffled in place.
“Abe, it’s a pleasure to meet you and your lovely family, as well as little Darcy Lynn. The river served as your bonfire. We followed the heavier fire and smoke.” Merv’s gaze, a tad deeper in color than Brody’s, settled kind and gentle on Abe. “This mess ain’t your fault, son.”
“I’m no one’s son.” A muscle jumped in Abe’s jaw and balled his fingers into fists. The man knew too much about him and Hannah. And he had powers.
“I reckon that’s so. Can’t blame any of you kids for being ticked off. I’d be pretty POed myself.” Merv ducked his head. “Sorry, Miss Irene. Forgive my ignorance and my slip of the tongue.”
Abe couldn’t figure out how not to stare at Irene’s and Merv’s blushing faces, so he glanced toward Vincent standing off to one side.
Vincent held out his hand where a curled-up smoking hard-shelled beetle sat belly up on his palm. Crushing the beetle, which released an ashy acrid puff, he offered the smashed shell, with spindly legs twitching for Darcy Lynn to view.
Darcy Lynn squealed and backed away from the teen.
“Leave her alone, you creepazoid.” Abe squared his shoulders and propped his elbows out from his body to make himself bigger and badder. Hard to do when Nora’s son had two feet or more height and at least a hundred pounds on Abe.
“Name calling is rather juvenile and quite impolite.” Vincent canted his head to the right. “Besides things are not always as they seem.”
With a skinny stick, Vincent drew a bug in the sooty mud.
In his other hand, the legs of the beetle, shell shattered and whitish insides mushed out, wiggled. With a grand, sweeping wave, Vincent placed the bug feet downward on the ground.
“Eew. A zombie beetle.” Hannah shot Vincent a pursed-mouth glare that Abe knew too well as the look. “That’s so gross.”
Darcy Lynn ran to Hannah and hid her face against Hannah’s belly.
“You think that makes you big and mighty, scaring a little kid just because you can?” Abe cringed at the sight of the bugs crippled l
egs scratching at the crusted ground. “You don’t have a place here with us. You have to know that too.”
Forehead wrinkled and eyebrows lowered, Vincent skulked off to hover on the other side of Merv’s massive bulk.
Merv and Irene glanced at each other with gazes that made Abe wish the ground would open and swallow him so he wouldn’t have to see.
An uneasy heat rushed to his cheeks and ears. In all the years they’d known the sisters that had taken them in, neither of the woman had dated.
“Abe,” Irene said, “I’m so glad the two of you are safe and that we found you.”
“Why?” He eyed the fish and the other gunk sweeping down river. “Your sister burned to death because of me.”
Irene winced. “Louise’s death was not your fault. I’ve only caring and love for you and Hannah.”
Abe edged back toward the Am-Sub. He held his breath against the river’s foul sludge , but the smoke stung his eyes. “We have to find Junior. He’s one of us, and he needs our help.”
Darcy Lynn snuffled. “We’d better because I think Junior may be in bad trouble.”
A smug-faced Vincent cast a smirky sidelong glance toward Abe.
As if he’d never been hurt at all, Brody stood and helped fold the tarp. “The Am-Sub is functional. We’ll follow Uncle Merv in the tank. Maybe even scrounge some sweet cakes and potato chips for Junior along the way.”
Abe’s belly cramped. “I know he’s your uncle, but do you think he’s on the up and up?”
“Look at him. He’s love sotted.” Brody grinned. “He can’t help but be golden.”
“Your uncle fixed you? Hannah wrapped her arms around Brody’s upper leg. “Your heart’s all better.”
“It’s like I’m sore inside, but on the mend.” Brody rubbed his chest.
“You didn’t know he could heal?” asked Hannah.
“A lot of things I’m figuring out that I didn’t know.” His face sadder and older than before he collapsed, Brody hefted his shoulders in a massive sigh.
“You’re uncle’s a nice man, but Vincent’s not nice at all. He scared me with the bug.” Darcy Lynn held Brody’s leg tight. “I’m happy you’re all fixed up.”
The two girls and Brody hugged.