Escape to Canamith

by Richard Friedman

  “Wolves? Car chases? We definitely need to catch up.”

  “We will, I promise, but first let’s talk about tomorrow.”

  “Can’t it wait until the morning?”

  “This can’t wait another hour.”

  “Alright, go ahead.”

  “J.J., we must leave here.”

  “Wait, you were insistent that I get here and now you want us to leave? I understand you and my sister don’t see eye to eye, but—”

  “No, no, it’s not her. She must think I’m nuts. Don’t answer that. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. All three of us need to go to Canamith. It’s the one place that’ll be safe.”

  J.J. sat up in the bed, dumbfounded by the words he just heard.

  “Lila, what’s going on with you? What did your brother say? I should have left him at the College to fend for himself. I don’t even know who you are anymore. Canamith? The place you couldn’t get away fast enough from. You’re buying that load of crap from your brother?”

  “It’s not crap. Please don’t say that.”

  “Pardon me, but you’ve been the one calling it crap for years! You call me in a panic and tell me I’ve got to get Sophie and come here, then you get here and a few hours later you’re chasing us out of here too. What’s the rush?”

  “It’s not that easy to explain, but what matters is we must survive. It doesn’t matter who is right or wrong. We can’t eat the fish. It’s too full of poison and heavy metals.”

  “We won’t eat fish. Who cares?”

  “It’s not only the fish, J.J. You were at the grocery store with me. Is that how you want to live? We’re going to have to buy a gun. Have you ever fired a gun in your life? The way I see it, we’ve got to get somewhere safe. Somewhere with shelter, food, and water. The only place that exists like that right now is in Canamith.”

  “Lila, you promised that you’d never go back there.”

  “I guess that’s one promise I can’t keep.”

  “If you can’t keep that one, why should I believe any of your promises?”

  “That’s a cheap shot, and it’s not fair. What do you think is going to happen around here?”

  “I don’t know. Kate has food stashed away. She said that it’ll last awhile.”

  “A while? What if we can’t get food for a month? Or two months? What then? What if Sophie’s leg has a problem?”

  “Stop it! Her leg is fine,” J.J.’s voice grew louder.

  “Shhh, you’ll wake her. She needs her rest. We’re leaving first thing tomorrow.”

  “That’s it? You decided our fate?” he asked.

  “I decided long before I walked in the door. Mathis gave me the strength to say it to you that we’re leaving.”

  “Wait a second. We don’t give each other ultimatums.”

  “I’m sorry, J.J., but you’ll have to trust me on this one. It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better, and I don’t want to witness any of it. This is hard for me to accept. You know how much I want to fix everything. Right now I’m playing the role of mother, not scientist. And mother wants to keep her baby safe and the best way to do that is to go to Canamith.”

  “That’s it? We’re leaving? How do you suggest we get there?”

  “Your sister can drive us to the outskirts of city, or as far as she’s comfortable going, and we’ll have to walk the rest of the way. We have to leave early in the morning.”

  “Glad we discussed this together as a couple.” J.J. mocked.

  Lila was not amused. She turned away from him and faced the window, catching a glimpse of the rising moon. “I love you, J.J. I was sure I could fix this. I wanted to show myself, you, Dr. Massey.”

  “Your father?” asked J.J.

  “Yes. Him too. Him more than anybody. I wanted him to see that there was another way to live.”

  “You did live another way. Now you’re going back.”

  “I don’t want him to feel ashamed of me, or think less of me.”

  “Is that what kind of man he is?”

  “No, but—”

  “Then don’t think like that. Lila, I have one question for you.”

  “And?”

  “Are you absolutely sure?”

  “I’ve reviewed the scientific data. I’m totally sure of it. With every bit of my heart.”

  “Your heart? When did you ever make a scientific decision based on your heart?”

  “I guess it’s better now than too late.”

  “I’ll go ask Kate. This ought to be interesting. I’ll be right back. If you hear her throwing lamps at me, don’t be surprised. I can’t imagine she’d be on board with packing up and following you anywhere.”

  “Then she can stay put if she wants. I can’t believe I’m suggesting this, but tell her I think she could come with us.”

  “There’s a better chance of Sophie going back to a petting zoo first.”

  Lila was sound asleep before J.J. returned to the room. Her exhausted body needed rest to recharge for the emotional and physical journey her family was about to take.

  CANAMITH COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT

  Update #718

  Mass Suicide

  Unspeakable. Tragic. Heartbreaking. Those were the words used to describe the human carnage found in the sanctuary of the New Heart Church.

  Church members heard discussions about a “historic” event planned by Minister Aloyouius Renalt from online chat rooms and Internet banter, but nobody believed the rumors.

  Church janitor Charles Whitson was the first to find the dead bodies, totaling 419 men, women and children.

  “It was unimaginable. I drove into the parking lot, and wondered if I’d missed something. I mean we’ve never had a full parking lot at four in the morning. My mind started playing tricks on me. I was thinking, Charles, what in the world is going on?

  “Well, when I saw the sanctuary filled with those people…them good people in there. Minister Renalt, Kathy Reynolds, the Simmons boys, Nick and Steve… fine kids and good athletes too. They were all dead. I know I screamed, but nobody moved. I ran out of there before somebody struck me down too and I called the police.”

  Details are still coming into the newsroom, but insiders at the scene have told detectives close to the case that a note was found on the pulpit, allegedly a hand-written note by Minister Renalt describing the decision to commit suicide was in response to the current world crisis and the choice to die in Church was better than to die in the streets fighting over a piece of bread.

  CHAPTER 32

  The bell rang three times. The people of Canamith came to the conference hall for the Closing of the Tunnel ceremony.

  Several hours earlier, instructed by Ethan, and having seen the documents with their own eyes, Four Elders grabbed the large wooden doors located on the right hand side of the tunnel opening. They disengaged the latch that kept the doors open. Free from the confines of their mechanical bindings, the doors began their slow, deliberate path to the other side. The doors slid along their rails silently as they made their way along the path, hesitating briefly at the half way point, where another set of gears engaged and helped pull the doors the rest of the way. The doors would be closed within three hours.

  Rex was nervous, constantly looking at his watch, anticipating that Mathis wouldn’t miss the ceremony. He hadn’t slept in the two days since Mathis went missing. He called on a few advisors to go and find his son. The band of men had gone out within a few miles of Canamith on a limited search, but they failed to find him or any clues to his whereabouts.

  “Dad, he’s around somewhere, but we can’t wait. The Book is clear about these things,” said Buck.

  “You’re not in charge of this village, young man. I know what the Book says. What are these people doing here so early? And don’t you start telling me about our sacred texts! You’ve had access to them for a matter of weeks and I’ve been looking at them for years! Let’s give the men a few more hours to find him. Once the door is closed�
��” his voice trailed away.

  “I understand, dad, but we’re running out of time. He knew the timeframe. Is he hiding somewhere?”

  “That doesn’t sound like your brother. I can’t imagine where he’s off to.”

  Two hours passed and no sighting of Mathis. The crowd began grumbling, questioning the reason for the delay. Only a handful of people knew that Mathis was missing. Most people were too busy with their own affairs to worry if Mathis had departed. He didn’t have a formal part in the ceremony. The event could go on without him. Nobody would be suspicious of his absence.

  The search party returned and reported to Rex.

  “I’m sorry, Rex, there’s no sign of him anywhere. We searched up to the village limits. We didn’t dare go any further. It’s already a firestorm of danger out there. And with the doors closing so soon… I’m so sorry,” said Victor, the man who led the group.

  “Thank you for your efforts. You can’t imagine how grateful I am. I’m sorry if I placed you in any danger.”

  The search party disbanded and went their separate ways to find their own families.

  Rex walked to the tunnel entrance and stared out into the vast distance that separated Canamith from the rest of the world. He noticed a foul smell in the air. It came from a burning building in nearby Sanderell. He could see flocks of birds heading east. He shaded his eyes and scanned the long path that led up the mountain from the flatlands below. No human forms could be seen. He grabbed his handheld telescope from his back pocket and focused on the areas where Mathis might be headed back home. Mathis was nowhere to be seen. Dejected, he tossed the spyglass on the ground and turned to his trusty old friend Braham.

  “Let’s get started. We’ve got to close the doors by sunset,” said Rex.

  “Sunset? Rex, the doors are closing in an hour.”

  “One hour! Who ordered that?”

  “You did. Ethan showed me the paperwork earlier today. That’s why the crowd is growing. You must have been distracted by the search for Mathis…I’ve got the papers right here.”

  “Never mind the papers…stop the process. Why didn’t you ask me about that? Ethan must have tricked me or forged my name on the documents. Damn him. Find him! No, I can’t see him right now; I’d kill him for his treachery. Stop the doors from closing. Do you hear me? I’m still the man in charge around here. I ordered the doors to be closed at sundown!”

  “Rex, I’m sorry, but you know better than any of us that once the process starts we are helpless to stop it. Think for a second. You helped developed the system yourself.”

  “Let me see that!”

  Rex grabbed the papers out of Braham’s hand. Canamith protocol insisted that every document be signed and witnessed by at least one of the elders. On page three, clear as day, Rex’s signature was written on the paper that started the engineering phenomenon to begin closing the tunnels doors two hours earlier than Rex had recalled from previous meetings. The signature was his, as was the witnesses.

  “Rex, I’m sorry but there’s no time to stop the closing. Our only hope is that Mathis has found a place to hide inside our hallowed grounds.”

  “That appears unlikely, my friend. How could I have miscalculated the timing of the doors so badly?”

  “You have had quite a bit on your plate. It’s only natural that something had to get out of order in that head of yours.”

  “Yes, I understand, maybe something…but not something this important.”

  It tore at Rex’s heart to follow the meticulous procedures written for this special day. Entrenched in the detailed life of Canamith, Rex couldn’t break ranks. What was done was done. This moment had taken hundreds of thousands of hours to create. His wife, his daughter, and now his son were going to miss it. He had to concentrate. He could discipline Mathis at a later date, if in fact he was there at all, but this was not the day.

  The Elders promenaded to the pulpit and formed a semi-circle encompassing their leader.

  Rex stared into the gathered crowd. They waited patiently for him to speak. Two minutes passed. Elder Braham inched closer and placed his right arm around Rex’s shoulders.

  “Rex, my friend. We can’t wait any longer.”

  Rex acknowledged his old ally with a reassuring voice. “You’re right. I’m afraid you’ve seen me at my lowest. You’ve been a wonderful friend, advisor, and confidant. I want to thank you.”

  “This isn’t the time for sentimentality. A few more years of me and you’ll be sick of looking at this old face.”

  “I don’t think that’ll happen. If this situation doesn’t change, I won’t be charming company these next eight years.”

  “It will all work out Rex. Think positively is what I say.”

  Rex tapped Braham on the back a few times and began the short walk back to his place with the other Elders. Rex stepped up to the podium and faced the village. He opened one of the sacred books. Before he read from it, he made a short opening announcement.

  “Friends, I speak to you now with a heavy heart. My responsibilities leave me with the unenviable task of fulfilling our legacy. It is both a privilege and a tragedy. Nobody within these revered halls knew that it would be in our lifetime we would close ourselves off from the world. As you are aware, part of my task as your Chief Elder is to prepare my replacement. I have chosen Buck to lead us into the New World. We will open the tunnel doors and go back out into the world when the time is right. He has the attributes you deserve and require. We have followed the words of the ancients carefully and those before us knew that a commitment unlike anything ever seen in this world was required for us that culminate today.”

  Rex turned the page and read the instructions for closing the door. “Millions of people outside these walls will die soon.

  “Citizens of Canamith: I have gathered you here today for the ending of one era, and the start of another. We will begin anew someday free of these walls that protect us. These walls protect us from the planet’s retribution and they protect us from our fellow man. You have waited your entire lifetime to learn why this was necessary. Closing these doors today, we reaffirm that mankind can be evil and we are not. We choose to forge a new path. That path will allow freedom for all inhabitants of the world. I know that each of you spent the first part of the today taking a final glimpse of the world you will temporarily leave behind. The wonderful memories you hold dear, the sky, the mountain air, nature, you will see it again when you leave the tunnels. As you can see, the doors have already begun their final path.”

  As the sunlight faded from the room, small lights began to shine inside the hall, compensating for the loss of natural light from the outside. The layers of the rock doors were sliding into place, just as designed. Seven interlocking pieces came together at precise angles and formed a perfect seal. If an outsider happened to come upon the entrance to the tunnels, the multiple layers of rocks that protected the people of Canamith wouldn’t even appear to be an entrance, just a wall of solid rock. Only the trained eye of a villager could find the seam.

  When the doors reached their final destination, a loud thud brought an end to 2,000 years of work.

  Rex Templeton stepped back to the podium. He choked back his grief as he addressed the crowd once more. “That concludes the closing ceremonies. Thank you for your hard work.” Rex reached out to Buck, who gave his father a big, lingering hug.

  “Dad, I don’t know what to say.”

  “There’s nothing left to say. It is what it is. Today we fulfilled our obligations. Tomorrow will be another day. Come, walk with me.”

  Rex heard a distant yell from afar. He prayed it was Mathis.

  It wasn’t. It was Elder Braham, holding a sealed envelope.

  Panting, out of breath, the Elder caught up with Rex and Buck.

  “Here, it’s a note from Mathis.”

  CHAPTER 33

  Roger Drake excused himself and left the room.

  “Where’s he going in such a hurry?” asked Morales.

/>   Dr. Goldman shook her head. “Probably went to the bathroom. He’s been chugging down coffee like it’s going out of style.”

  “It may in fact be out of style,” said Morales. “We’ve heard reports that the coffee crop has been devastated by a potent form of a disease that we’ve been unable to identify. Nature better not mess with people’s coffee or we’ve got big problems.”

  Drake did go the restroom, and once he entered the stall closest to the window, he reached up under the toilet roll dispenser and fiddled with the controls until he heard a snap. A small piece of plastic fell between the seat and the door. A roll of single-ply toilet paper dropped to the floor. He reached inside the dispenser again and removed a small black box. He slid his fingers along the top of the box, pushed it open and removed a key. He turned his pockets inside out, inspected them for any holes, and finding none, pocketed the key. He then replaced the roll of paper, leaving the next guest no reason for suspicion.

  Drake stepped out of the bathroom and turned left, instead of right, leading him further away from his colleagues. He thought he heard someone shout his name as he reached the end of the hallway. He ignored a possible second request and pushed open a door that had been guarded by two heavily armed men.

  “It helps having the money to buy what you need,” Drake mumbled to himself as he opened the door and strode another hallway toward a set of double doors. Drake had arranged for these doors to remain unlocked. He heaved a sigh of relief when the second set of doors opened too.

  Drake arrived at the helicopter pad. Sitting on the pad was the prettiest black helicopter Roger Drake had ever seen.

  He removed the key from his pocket and opened the cockpit door. It swung open wildly, slamming back into the body of the flying machine. Drake worried that it damaged the door. He climbed in and closed the door without a problem.