The Collapse Trilogy (Book 3): Through the Ruins

by Rod Carstens

  Blondie had been included in the meeting of the command group. Vin, Dr. Rule, Danielle, Julia, and Cat were all trying to come up with a solution short of violence.

  “Boss, this lady is batshit crazy. I could see it in her eyes. She may be trying to help women, but she is feeling the power just like Bear did, and you know where that can lead,” Blondie said.

  “When something awful happens to you, unless you have someone or a community to guide you, the best of intentions can go off the rails. If she had an experience anywhere like Blondie’s, then she could be as crazy and as dangerous as Blondie thinks,” Danielle said.

  “When the rules of society have fallen away, Rule said, “and there are no consequences for your actions, people react differently. It’s strange. Studies were done after disasters, and what they found was that many people would act at the extremes. The first was the one we are most familiar with—violence, lawlessness, and survival of the fittest. The other is the emergence of collective actions to help one another and to share resources and aid the injured. This was noted in a number of studies, yet it never got the attention that the violence and lawlessness did. In fact, those two reactions could and did occur at the same time during the same disaster, separated by physical distance. While those two extremes occurred, there was also a whole range of behaviors between them. That’s what we’ve been seeing in the Zones for the past years, and what will occur or is occurring now in the cities as the pandemic spreads.”

  “Doc, with all due respect, all of that’s interesting but what do we do with this woman and her…what did she call them, Blondie?” Vin said.

  “Shield Maidens. She said they were female Viking warriors,” Blondie said.

  “She thinks of herself as a Viking queen,” Tanner said.

  “We could just drive right through them. The gun trucks and buses are armored up enough that we could run right through their shacks,” Cat said.

  “And there would probably be casualties on both sides. Innocent victims. No, that’s not an option. I did send Johnny out on a scouting mission to see if he could find a way around this bridge. He should be back any time now,” Tanner said.

  “What kind of toll could she ask? Food, weapons, a vehicle, what?” Brandon said. “You got closest to them, Blondie. Were they well supplied?”

  “Yeah. They looked like they had everything they needed. Everybody seemed to have a job and was busy at it. Just like us.”

  “They must have had other convoys come through. Maybe not as large as we are, but somebody. They must have a price in mind,” Brandon said.

  “You would think. But she’s acting like this is the first time this has happened,” Vin said.

  Just then Johnny came running up to the bus and stuck his head in the door.

  “Anything?” Vin asked.

  “Nothing, boss. Unless we go all the way back to the last off-ramp, and we don’t know if that leads to another bridge. I did go up on that hill over to the left looking for another crossing, but there was nothing in sight. It was getting dark, and I could head back up there tomorrow morning, but until then we’re stuck.”

  “Thanks. Depending on what Jo says, I may send you out farther tomorrow. We’ll have to wait and see. Go get some food, Johnny. You did good.”

  Vin turned to the others and said, “Looks like we’re stuck until we find out what she wants. I think we all better turn in. It could be a long day tomorrow.”

  As the others filed out of the bus and headed to where they slept at night, Julia came up to him, put her arms around him from behind, and rested her chin on his shoulder.

  “You all right?”

  “No. I don’t like this even a little bit, just like when Nikki got snatched. I don’t have a good feeling.”

  “Let’s get to bed then. Tomorrow could be a big day.”

  Vin and Julia went to the small bed they shared at the back of the bus.

  Tanner stood in the middle of the interstate the next morning with the others of the command group and Blondie, waiting for Jo to show up. He’d had a hard time sleeping trying to come up with some sort of solution, but he’d realized that he couldn’t solve a problem he didn’t understand. He needed more facts.

  Jo emerged with a group of five guards surrounding her. They were all heavily armed and spread out behind her as she approached Tanner and the others. She stopped twenty feet short and said, “I’ve decided what the toll will be. First and most important, I want to make sure every woman in this convoy knows they have a choice.”

  “How do you propose to do that?”

  “I will speak to them. I demand you let me talk to the people of your so-called settlement.”

  “Listen, you are welcome to speak to them, but your little army is going to stay where they are. I’ll take you to the second bus where we gather for meals and other community events. Let’s keep demands out of this. This is a negotiation, and we are on equal footing.”

  “All right, then take me to where you said.”

  Vin led Jo to the second bus. Nikki had fixed breakfast for everyone and since they were stopped, the ramp was down and the pop-up roof was open. Most of the families and children were gathered there. It was the usual chaos around the kitchen, and Nikki was leaning against the bus. She had a pleased look on her face seeing all the happiness the breakfast had brought to everyone. Jo walked up to the kitchen and stood waiting for Tanner to introduce her.

  “Everyone, this is Jo. She is the leader of the community on the bridge. She wants to say something to you.”

  “I’m here to set you free. I know some of you sisters are being kept against their will by force and I want to tell you that you can be free. Any one or all of you who wants to can leave and live free in a violence-free community not run by men but by women. We invite you to join us. Who will be the first?”

  No one moved or said a word. They appeared too stunned to speak. Nikki crossed her arms and leaned against the but and said. “No one is being forced to be here. This is our home, and I would never leave it. I know what men can do. I have experienced it firsthand, and I also know that it was these men and women who rescued me. So the answer is no, and I speak for a lot of us when I say get lost.”

  Jo seemed truly taken aback by Nikki’s answer.

  “You work in the kitchen. I’m sure you were forced into that role because you were a woman instead of taking your rightful place. Will you come with us?”

  “Lady, I don’t know you or what your little community thinks is happening here, but you couldn’t be more wrong. Everyone here is here of their own free will and is welcome to leave anytime they want to. As for my job, I chose to be the cook because my work makes people happy and their world a little better each day. You don’t get that with carrying a gun. This is bullshit, and you’re wasting my time. I’ve got work to do.”

  Nikki turned back into her kitchen and began cleaning some vegetables she had foraged.

  “There must be someone who will come with us. Who has the courage to come with us? We will protect you from those who are oppressing you.”

  People began to drift away, heading for their morning chores.

  “Looks like you struck out there, Jo. Now what?” Blondie said.

  Jo stood there, stunned, watching the group disperse. She turned and stormed back toward her group of guards.

  “I don’t know how you did it, but I blame you,” Jo said, pointing at Tanner.

  “Jo, I told you. We are a peaceful settlement and everyone is here because they want to be here. So you’ve had your say. Can we move through your community and be on our way?”

  Jo looked almost desperate then, pointing to Blondie. “If you want to pass, she must stay with us. I have met with her, and I recognize a Shield Maiden when I see one. No matter what she says, she is. She is being held against her will, I know this in my heart. I will not let you pass unless she stays with us”

  “Fuck you, lady,” Cat said, starting for Jo. Blondie grabbed her and held her bac
k.

  “I think my friend Cat said it best,” Tanner said. “You can go pound sand before I give you someone who doesn’t want to go.”

  Blondie was glaring at the woman, her eyes hard and her face set. Cat was still struggling to get at Jo, but Blondie held her back.

  “Okay, You’ve talked to the settlement, and that got you nowhere, and there is no way that Blondie goes with you. So now what?”

  “Then the only way you will pass is by the use of violence. We will not let a Shield Maiden be held captive. We will free her or die trying!” Jo raged.

  “We can arrange the dying part, but it doesn’t have to come to this. Innocents on both sides will be killed. There must be another way.”

  Blondie caught Tanner’s eye, and he walked over to her, out of earshot of Jo. “Vin, I’ll go with them,” Blondie said.

  “What!” Cat said, looking up at Blondie.

  “No, I can’t let you do that,” Tanner said.

  “Vin, if I don’t, you and I both know there’s going to be trouble. She means all the bullshit about Shield Maidens. I told you she was crazy.”

  “Goddamnit, you just got your freedom and have found your place. You can’t leave now,” Cat said.

  “If I can stop the violence by going with them, I will,” Blondie said. She looked down at Cat. “Baby, I can’t let any of those kids get hurt because I was afraid of doing something. I’m not scared of these bitches. They got nothing on Bear. I can and will survive this.”

  “What are you thinking? I know you. You’ve got something planned. You’re too smart to walk over there without it,” Tanner said.

  A glint appeared in Blondie’s eyes and when she said, “Never could fool you, Vin. Yeah, I give myself up to this crazy bitch, and you guys move on down the road, but the first time you’re out of sight of the bridge, you unload one of the ATVs and stash it on the north side of the interstate. I’ll give you enough time to get away from here, and then I’ll escape and catch up to you on the ATV you leave behind.”

  “Oh, no, you don’t. You’re not going to leave me. I’ll go with you. The two of us can take all of them,” Cat said.

  “She wouldn’t take you. She knows you’re former military. That’s why she wanted to talk to me alone. She didn’t trust any of you,” Blondie said.

  “Vin, tell her it’s crazy! It’s a suicide mission!” Cat said.

  Tanner looked at Blondie. If he tried to run the convoy through this community, there would be casualties on both sides. This might be the only way they could solve the problem for the whole community without violence. And if anyone could pull it off, it would be Blondie with her prior experience as a hostage and her training. She had a unique set of skills.

  “No, I think she can do it.”

  Dr. Rule, Julia, and Danielle walked up to them. “What’s going on?” Julia asked.

  “Blondie just volunteered to go with them to avoid the violence,” Tanner said.

  The three were speechless. You could see it in their faces—none of them expected this kind of sacrifice.

  “But…” Brandon began.

  “Blondie’s no fool. She wants us to leave an ATV down the road for her. Once we are good and gone, she’ll escape and catch up to us.”

  “As you once said, that’s a long string of assumptions you put together,” Danielle said to Blondie.

  “But I’m the only one who can pull it off.”

  “No, you’re not. I told you I’d go with you. We can do this together,” Cat pleaded.

  Blondie grabbed her by the shoulders and looked at her. “The settlement can’t afford to lose you. You’re second-in-command for security and Vin depends on you every day. Me, I’m just one of the fighters, but this is a fight I can win.”

  Cat clutched Blondie, and Blondie took her into her arms and hugged her for a long time. She kissed the top of Cat’s head and said, “I love you. You know that, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” Cat whispered. “You come back to me, do you hear? You come back.”

  “I will. I will.”

  Finally, Blondie carefully pulled herself out of Cat’s arms and said to Tanner, “Let’s get going before crazy lady over there changes her little mind.”

  Tanner and Blondie slowly walked toward Jo and her group of guards. As they walked, Vin said, “You good on ammo and stuff?”

  “Yeah, I’ve got my whole kit on, and I resupplied everything this morning. So I’m ready to go. Just make sure that ATV is waiting for me. How long is long enough before I take off?”

  “Twenty-four hours and we should be good and gone, but they’re going to be watching you closely at first, so it may take you longer to escape than you think. Don’t let too much time pass or we’ll go too far for you to catch us on a single tank of gas. I’ll slow things down a bit after the first twenty-four hours, but if you’re not back in ninety-six hours, I’ll have to assume you aren’t coming back.”

  “Oh, I’m coming back. Do you know what Cat would do to me if I didn’t? She’d find me, and there would be hell to pay.”

  Tanner and Blondie exchanged a quick smile.

  “Well,” Jo said.

  Tanner and Blondie stopped and shook hands, and Blondie walked over to Jo, who put an arm around her shoulders. Tanner had seen a lot of brave things done, but he doubted he had ever seen one like this. With Blondie’s demons from her years as a captive of Bear, this had to be the hardest thing she would ever do.

  Tanner turned and walked back to the convoy. “Okay, load up and let’s see if this woman keeps her word.”

  Jo kept her word. Once the convoy was loaded up, she had the one lane down the middle of the bridge cleared. With Tanner in the lead SUV, they slowly and carefully drove down the lane, crossed the bridge, and were on their way. Tanner kept looking back, trying to see Blondie, but he never did.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  As soon as the convoy was out of sight, four of Jo’s bodyguards jumped on Blondie. She threw one to the ground and managed to bring her shotgun up, landing a butt stroke to the face of a woman, before someone hit her from behind and the world suddenly went black.

  She opened her eyes and could see light through the cracks in the walls around her. She tried to move but found her hands tied behind her back and her feet tied together. She groaned as she moved her head around, trying to figure out where she was.

  All her weapons had been taken by Jo and her crew. The room was dark except for the light through the cracks in the walls, and empty of any furniture. She lay on the floor, which was the concrete of the interstate. It looked like she had been thrown into one of the shacks that lined the bridge. Whoever had hit her had not been gentle. She could feel her hair matted with blood.

  The first thing to do was get out of these ropes binding her hands and legs.

  Tanner and Cat had taught her some old Resource Control tricks that they still made a daily practice. As Resource Control operatives they had always been in danger of being captured by one of the gangs, so they’d made sure they had escape tools sewn into and hidden in their clothes. And Blondie made it a daily practice.

  Last night she had double-checked her clothes to make sure she had what she was going to need. She had a razor blade in the waistband of her pants. She used parachute cord as her shoelaces. She had a microcompass in the tongue of her shoe, and she even had a handcuff key in the hem of her pants leg. She also had a tactical pen in the inside pocket on her vest. The pen was made of aircraft-grade aluminum and could be a very nasty close-in stabbing weapon. She felt it against her breasts when she rolled onto her side. Finally, she had a stiletto boot knife that her captors had missed.

  This told Blondie a lot about Jo’s crew. They were not well trained, or they wouldn’t have missed the pen and knife. This was important. She needed to figure out what else they didn’t know; it would help her decide how to escape.

  Blondie was reaching for the razor blade when she realized now was not the time to escape. She didn’t know enough about th
e layout outside of the shack, and she didn’t know how long it had been since the convoy left.

  When she realized this, she did what she had always done while a captive and not being abused: she relaxed and tried to get some sleep. You live moment to moment, and if you are going to survive, you need as much rest as you can get when they aren’t doing things to you. Blondie closed her eyes, trying not to think about what was going to happen to her and focus on the fact that she was prepared for this and would survive. She was soon asleep.

  Rough hands grabbed her, startling her awake. The door to the shack was open, and two of Jo’s guards were pulling Blondie up. Another was untying her feet.

  “Get up, bitch,” one said.

  Blondie said nothing and let herself be led out of the shack and down the lane in the center of the bridge. Again, as the guards guided her along the path, their lack of training was telling. There had been at least three different times she could have easily taken these women. These guards must have been picked because of their size and loyalty. They weren’t showing Blondie any real tactical knowledge.

  Now she needed to take in as much as she could about the settlement; there was no telling when she might be back out among the general population again. Women, children, and a few men stared at her as she stumbled along being guided by the guards. The settlement looked well organized. Everybody appeared well fed and healthy. She passed a teenaged boy as he pulled a fish out of the river below. In another shack, she saw a woman cooking something in a pot with children waiting for their meal around her.

  People stopped what they were doing to stare at her as the two guards led her across the bridge. She realized she was headed in the direction that the convoy would have gone, so she looked around to get her bearings and find some sort of landmark she could use when it came time to escape. She spotted a huge, old, dead tree that towered over the others. Its branches formed a skeleton against the sky. That was it. The skeleton tree would be her landmark, day or night. Freedom and her friends were down that road somewhere.

  As they continued to move through the crowded settlement, she noticed that some of the younger girls had painted a line across their faces, and wore shells around their necks and some sort of fur over their shoulders. The older girls had what looked like leather tied around one arm, as if they were designated something. None of the boys wore such stuff, so it looked like Jo was taking this woman-warrior shit seriously.