by Kip Nelson
Mack leaned against the barrier with his hands, looking down at the man who led this army of humans and beasts, wondering what circumstances had forged the alliance. It was a smart idea, to use nature as a means of survival, and it was an inspired choice to build an army of animals, which took its own set of skills.
“Quite an impressive band of soldiers you have there,” Mack called out. The other leader smirked and steadied his horse.
“And it's quite an impressive place you have here. These barriers look sturdy.”
“We've built them that way. I'm sure you know that there are dangers lurking in the city.”
“All too well, I'm afraid,” the leader said, and flashed an unsettling smile.
“But then again, there always were dangers, some more easily dealt with than others.”
“I know what you mean.”
“I'm not sure that you do. I was talking about something more philosophical, something that can't be settled by a mere show of force.”
“And what would that be?” Mack asked.
“We just should mow them all down now while we have a chance,” Saul said, leaning into Mack's ear and speaking quietly, wanting to press the advantage they had, but Mack shook his head.
He didn't know what would happen with the animals. They were unpredictable, and for now the barriers would hold. They had the advantage and Mack wasn't going to slaughter a group of men without hearing them out.
“You know, all this,” he gestured to the broken city around him, “happened for a reason. We had become too reliant on technology and had forgotten our roots. But what happened wasn't enough. There still are people who cling to that world, who cannot accept the new order of things, people like yourself. You want to rebuild the world in an image that long ago was long rendered obsolete, that was proven not to work.
“We are moving toward the future by looking back to the past, by choosing to return to our natural world order where humans and beasts work together. We must accept nature, and monstrosities like these need to be razed to the ground. You do humanity a disservice by hiding in your buildings. We are stronger than that, we are better than that.
“We once walked this planet freely, and that is what we can do again, but you need to embrace it and let go of all we have learned. I do not blame you for holding on to what you know, but it is time for you to let go and leave this place. Return to your true nature and embrace what the world is trying to tell you! These animals do not deserve to be kept as pets. We are equals, and they have just as much right to be here as us.”
“Is that why you're riding on the horse's back?”
The leader smiled a little. “We are just using each other for our unique skills. You'll come to understand when you accept the truth.”
“Quite frankly, I'm tired of hearing everyone else spout off about their truths and the new order of the world. You're not the first fanatic I've come across who thinks that all this happened for some grand reason, and I doubt you'll be the last. I'm not going to tell you what to believe, but there is no greater meaning or purpose behind the end of the world. The only meaning is the one we make. You've chosen to go down your path, and we've chosen to go down ours, but that doesn't mean you get to impose your beliefs on us. We don't want to hurt you, but we'll defend ourselves if necessary. You'll find that we will put up more of a fight than the others you've come across. You speak of your new world order, but from what I've seen of your handiwork there hasn't been much order about it.”
“If you've seen our work, then you should know not to resist us. The others felt much the same as you. They didn't want to go down a violent path, even though that is the inexorable conclusion, and completely unavoidable. I understand why you are so reluctant to give up everything you know, but this is the new way of the world. It does not matter whether you accept the new order or not. It is simply the way things are now, and you must deal with that.”
“We know you've been coming for a while. We've seen the path you've been on.”
“Yes, we have known about your group for a long time, but we had...other targets we needed to deal with first. The pyre you lit was not a smart move. It showed us that there was a big group of people here, people who needed to be shown the new way of the world. There will be many people after you as well. We are going to straddle the world and gather more people. I am sure there are some of you who will want to join us. We have taken in others, too, ones who have been able to see the light. For those who cannot, we simply extinguish the fire of their lives, as that is the merciful thing to do. Why let someone live in a world that has no place for them?”
“That sounds cruel to me, about the furthest thing from mercy as I can imagine.”
“That is because you still are tied to an erroneous way of thinking. We seek to release you from the shackles of your cultural programming. Embrace the new world, do not cling to something that is decaying and dying.”
“We've taken on people such as you before. We're not afraid of you. We're going to defend ourselves, and what we believe in. This place is called New Haven for a reason. We don't judge people. We don't tell other people how to live their lives. We just want to build a settlement and live with each other in peace and harmony. I'm not going to give that up without a fight. You can believe what you want, but is it really worth all of this? Do you really want to get into a fight and sacrifice a lot of innocent lives, both human and animal, just for the sake of making a point?”
“I serve a higher purpose, and it is not for me to choose the time of my death. I only can seek to deliver the message. That is my duty, and that is what I am choosing to do. Any life that is not in service to this ideology is one that must be slain. It is the way of nature, and the way we should be doing things. Animals do not care for all this philosophical talk, they just act and do whatever they need to survive. That is what needs to be done, and I will vanquish every remnant left of the old world to bring about the new.”
“And I will stand firm and resist you. You cannot win here. We have the advantage. All you're going to do is get a lot of your people killed.”
“Dying for what you believe in is a worthy death, but I know my cause is just and I shall not fail. You are not the first ones to resist the will of the world, and you shall not be the last.”
Behind him, Mack could feel the tension of the people in New Haven. He heard them readying their weapons to fire. He had faith that they would emerge triumphant, but at what cost? So many lives had been lost already, and Mack was growing tired of these endless fights. There always seemed to be someone else out there who wanted to take away what they were working toward, and he wondered if it ever would come to an end. He was becoming jaded.
Although he would fight until his dying breath, he wished he could walk down there and shake some sense into the group’s leader. He cast his gaze around the city. The city was bigger than both of them, so was the country and the world. There was plenty of room for them all to live in peace, so why could so few people see it?
Mack was getting ready to give the order to fire when he heard a noise behind him. Then he heard the creaking of the gate and wondered what the hell was going on. He looked over and saw Tash sliding through the gate, walking out onto the open road. Mack was filled with confusion. He'd always thought Tash was on his side. She seemed so trustworthy and kind. Had he missed the signs that she was going to betray them? There were shouts of confusion behind him as the people of New Haven debated whether to go out after Tash, or just close the gates behind her and protect themselves. Saul and Maggie cursed as they raised their weapons at her, locking her in their sights.
“What the hell is she doing?” Saul asked.
Mack wished he had an answer for him, but all his hopes began to vanish. For if he was betrayed again, and New Haven fell victim to another attack, it would be more difficult to galvanize everyone. He wasn't sure there was a way back for them. Tash had seen what these people had done. Was it possible she could sympathize with them?
There didn't seem to be any sign of movement from the other group. The dogs still were snarling. The leader still was sitting on his horse. Mack waited with bated breath as Tash took her small steps out onto the road. Her hands were folded in her robe, held together in front of her. She said nothing and she didn't even look at Mack, or anyone else. Nobody knew what was going on in her head aside from herself, and nobody knew what was going to happen next.
Mack, his jaw clenched, reached around and drew his weapon, feeling the weight of it in his hands as he pointed it out toward the army that was waiting there, ready to attack. Whatever Tash did next could determine the future of New Haven, but either way, Mack and all the others were sure it would precipitate a conflict.
Chapter Sixteen
“Tash, what are you doing?” Mack said, not wanting to threaten her in case she wasn't betraying them, but wanting to make it clear to her that if she was going to endanger New Haven, then he would do whatever it took to protect the settlement.
When she didn't respond, he called out again, urging her to get back inside. Not in the least because, if she still was loyal, which he hoped with all his heart, then she was putting herself in danger and Mack didn't understand why. She wasn't able to fight the approaching group on her own, and Mack doubted she would be able to convince the other leader to stop his attack. Whatever she was doing, it was a bad idea, and Mack wished he could get down there and drag her back to safety.
Tash didn't obey any of his commands. She walked forward, and it became clear the other group were just as taken aback as the people of New Haven. So, it didn't seem as though Tash had been secretly working with them. But without that motivation, it was difficult for anyone to understand her true goal. All they could do was watch her walk toward the approaching group and hope she didn't get killed.
It only would have taken one bullet, one shot, to end her life. The moments in which she moved forward were fraught with tension. Mack, who was used to pressure, felt beads of sweat form on his temples for he was afraid Tash would be gunned down and left as a bloodied corpse. He swallowed, trying to get rid of the lump in his throat, but that didn't help. All he could do was watch forlornly.
As she drew closer to the leader, the group members raised their weapons. There was the sound of guns being readied to fire, an echo of violence accompanying the sounds of the beasts. They could sense the tension, too, and were becoming more agitated. Mack hoped that Tash knew what she was doing because the only end he could see for them was for the animals to be released.
“Don't shoot her!” the leader called out, seemingly curious as to what Tash was doing, “if she wants to get mauled to death, then that's her problem.”
Tash, however, was undeterred by the man's proclamations. She had a calm look on her face and didn't seem to be scared at all. Her steps were taken deliberately and her path did not waver. Though everyone tried imagining what was going on in her mind, nobody could fathom the thoughts going through her head. But she knew. She had an overarching serenity about her. She had listened to everything the leader had said, and knew it to be false. She also knew that nothing would drive them from the task other than being shown how wrong they were.
Like Mack, she was tired of violence, too, and had been tired of it even before the end of the world. She always had tried living her life as simply as possible, with as little conflict as she could manage. She even tried to avoid disagreements at the store where she bought her groceries, and tried to speak calmly at all times. There was no room for violence in her life. To her it seemed like a lot of wasted energy, as wasted as needless worry or stress. To manage her feelings she meditated, and in her meditation, she connected with what she interpreted as the energy of the world. In those moments, she felt as though she was in communion with whatever cosmic force bound them to the Earth, and she saw that it was beautiful and harmonious. In the old world, there had been others who had shared her philosophy, and while it had been difficult to deal with the harsh realities of life, at least she could enjoy her community. But that all had fallen apart, and in this world, might seemed to make right.
She had enjoyed meeting Mack because he had a similar soul, even though he had lived through a lifetime of violence and was well-acquainted with the worst aspects of humanity. However, in New Haven she saw a chance for a fresh start and a way for everyone to turn their backs on resorting to violence. She did not hate this new group, for hatred was not part of Tash's vocabulary. She pitied them. She wanted them to change and feel the love that she felt inside her because that was far more fulfilling than the visceral feeling of pain and hatred, and the need to control others. Yet, she knew, too, that everyone had their own personal journey to embark upon, and that each had to come to an understanding in their own time.
For herself, it felt as though she had lived on the planet for thousands of years and was deeply connected to the fabric of the universe. She was a perceptive person, and could see things to which others were blind. Even now, she knew that if she was not successful in this endeavor it likely would cost her life, and New Haven would be coated in blood. She also knew that the people of New Haven needed to be shown that there was another way. That just because the world had ended didn't mean it was inevitable the world would descend into chaos and anarchy.
Mack had shown them all that it was possible. With the resources of New Haven and the people within it they could build a peaceful society, and they could prove the myth of violence being a central part of the human condition as just that, a myth. Tash had many times shaken her head in disbelief as people put forward the idea that humans were inherently destructive. If that was the case, then the species never would have reached a point where it could build vast cities and sprawl across the globe as the dominant force on the planet. Yes, aggression was a natural part of humanity but, like everything else, it could be moderated and controlled.
Tash continued walking past the leader into the main pack, where the animals were located. Dangerous beasts were there, and as she walked, all of her friends watched with bated breath. Some quickly turned their sights away in case the scene turned tragic and they were forced to witness something they did not want to see. But Tash had the strength of her convictions. She knew in her heart what was right, and she knew the animals would not hurt her. Just like everyone else, the world had changed for them, and they were hurting because of it.
Tash was irritated that this group had taken these animals, cast in confusion, and used them for their own mission. She had heard the leader speak about the new world order, but found it abhorrent that he would corrupt innocent animals. It was hypocritical of him to use them in such a way that made it clear they certainly weren't equal, and she wanted to show him how far wrong he was.
She walked up to the main group and stopped in front of the animals. They were growling at her, some of them even were foaming at the mouth. Tash knew that one mistake would cost her life, but she was calm and kept her breathing steady. She looked at all the animals in turn, and tried peering into their souls. She reached out and tried feeling their hearts, the hearts of warriors. They had been caged in zoos for so long, but none of them had forgotten their true nature, that of roaming free throughout the world, not tethered to any person or any other purpose than that which they made for themselves. In turn, she revealed her own soul to them and bowed her head with respect, for although they were in a city men had built, it was important to show deference to the animals as well. The leader of the group was right in that they deserved the respect of humans, and that their lives were valuable, too.
Then Tash moved forward again, getting even closer to the animals. She went up to a lion, the king of the jungle. She got so close she could feel its hot breath against her arm as she wrapped it around its thick neck. She felt the coarse mane, and then the strong muscles underneath. She was small, so small compared to it, and the lion was a picture of raw strength. Tash slowed her breathing and placed her forehead against the animal, nuzzled into it, and repeated th
e process with many of the other animals there. After they had shared in this silent communion with Tash, they lowered themselves to the ground and seemed relaxed. It was at this point that many of the other people shouted at Tash and tried to rouse the animals, but they were settled and nothing would do the trick. With a smile on her face Tash returned, walking back in the same manner to New Haven, stopping to look up at Mack.
“The animals will not attack. They are creatures of peace, and it is not right that they should be ordered to war.”
The group leader looked stunned and turned back to his men, none of them able to comprehend what Tash just had accomplished. Mack smiled and ordered the weapons to be raised. As the gates opened for Tash to return, others ran out and pointed their guns, training them on those who would threaten New Haven's safety.
“You've carved a trail of destruction through the city, but you haven't met a group like New Haven yet,” Mack said, feeling smug after Tash's astounding feat, although even he was a little confused about how exactly she had accomplished it.
“We do not take kindly to being threatened. You may not like it, but this is how we choose to live. We're going to rebuild society in the best way we see fit, and you're free to disagree with us, but that doesn't give you the right to try stopping us. We have you outnumbered and outgunned, so any move you make against us will be futile. It's a big city out there. I suggest you leave us in peace and go find a piece of it for yourselves. Try to enjoy your own lives rather than taking other people’s.”
The leader was fuming. He paced around on his horse, looking back to his men and the animals that now were lying down. It was clear he had lost all advantage that he once had had. Mack's wishes were fulfilled as the leader begrudgingly retreated with his forces. They tried ordering the animals to leave, and some did, for they were used to being trained, but others were rooted to the spot and wandered off later, ready to fend for themselves. Mack breathed a sigh of relief as the group moved away into the distance. He knew because of the humiliation that they were unlikely to return. They had seen what New Haven could bring to bear to defend itself, and they would think twice about attacking again.