As daylight faded into twilight, Miles and Coal appeared in the doorway of the clinic. Kyle picked up the medical kit from the counter and moved to join them.
“My space car is torqued up, fully greased and ready to roll Pale Face,” Coal reported with a grin.
“Sounds good and the tools?” Kyle asked looking at Miles.
The old man nodded, “I took out every tool that was a duplicate, but I still don’t like it. If we break or lose one, we could find ourselves in a real pinch.”
“We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it. Here, now that we have the room, stick this in the tool bag,” Kyle’s replied handing over the new first aid kit.
Miles nodded and then begrudgingly accepted the plastic container.
“Well, is that it then?” Kyle asked looking between the two men.
“I believe so,” Miles replied.
“I’m going to swing by Wally’s rat farm and pick up some essentials for the trip,” Coal said with a grin.
“Dried meat, excellent idea,” Miles said.
Coal shot the old man a grin and then looked at Kyle, “Yeah sure, I’ll get some of that too,” Coal said with a smirk.
“Remember Coal, we’re leaving first thing in the morning,” Kyle cautioned.
“I would like to give the batteries a solid hour of sunlight before we leave,” Miles added.
“Okay, an hour after sunup it is then,” Kyle amended.
“Well shit looks like I get to sleep in then. I might as well get hammered tonight!”
With that, the half-breed laughed and then turning walked out into the first shadows of the night. The remaining men watched him go, and the Miles turned to look at Kyle.
“Sometimes I don’t understand how you can even put up with his antics, let alone trust him,” Miles said.
“He’s loud, he’s a drunk, and a damned killer, but I trust Coal, well…I trust Coal to be Coal if that makes any sense,” Kyle replied before looking squarely at Miles.
The old man returned Kyle’s gaze, “And what are you saying, that you can’t trust me?”
“No, but sometimes I think your priorities get a little messed up.”
“My priorities are just fine! We’re going to go save this town.”
“I glad to hear you say it.”
“Well I’ve said it, but we also need to keep in mind the bigger picture. If we can find out more about what those things did and who they are, then just maybe we can save this whole damned planet!” Miles snapped back.
Kyle shook his head, he wasn’t in the mood to argue with the old man and the trip ahead of them was going to be hard enough without starting it out with a fight.
“Goodnight Miles,” he said.
The old man held Kyle’s gaze for a moment longer before simply nodding and then limping his way out of the clinic. A hand brushed against his lower back, and Kyle turned to find Anna standing next to him. His arm snaked around his wife’s waist, and she settled in the crook of his arm with a practiced motion. They stood together in silence, his hand just brushing the edge of her swollen stomach and stared out the doors of the clinic as the first stars of the desert sky began to appear.
Kyle lay awake for hours before the first rays of dawn began to filter into his and Anna’s room. She lay next to him snoring softly, something that she had never done before she was pregnant. She lay on her back, and he watched as her swollen stomach heaved with each breath. Over the years Kyle had gone out into the wasteland many times, alone and in search of salvage. Out there he had seen his share of horrors and when forced, had even committed a few of his own. But he had never been afraid before, not like this. While many of his trips had ended in disappointment and a few had nearly cost him his life, this trip would be different. This time, if he failed to find the parts that the town needed, Anna and their child that grew inside of them would suffer and almost certainly die.
“Our child,” Kyle said in a whisper.
Anna let out a small whimper in her sleep and rolled onto her side, trying to find a comfortable position with her swollen midsection. The movement caused her t-shirt to ride up and exposed a few inches of her belly. Kyle reached out to pull her shirt back down, but in mid-reach, he paused, and instead rested a callused hand gently on Anna’s stomach.
“I don’t know what to tell you kid. This isn’t the best of worlds you are being born into, in fact, most people would consider it pretty damn terrible. Your mom and me are just doing the best that we can with what is left. That’s why I have to go on this trip, it’s not because I want to leave you, it’s because I don’t have any other choice. You, you didn’t do anything wrong. I was confused about that for a while, but now, now I’m not. Just know that I’m doing all of this for you and your mom,” he whispered.
Anna’s hand came up to rest on his face, he turned to look up at his wife and found that she was smiling at him and that her eyes were filled with tears. He smiled back at her, and she reached down and gently brushed the tears out his own eyes.
Coal rolled out from beneath the wagon and looked around for a moment in confusion. He tried to stand, but the world seemed to spin around him oddly, and he fell backward against the wagon barely managing to stay upright. The drunken bounty-hunter looked down accusingly at his own feet as if they had somehow betrayed him and that was when he discovered that one of his boots was missing.
“Well, that’s your problem right fucking there.”
The bounty-hunter then attempted the laborious task of kicking off his single remaining cowboy boot while trying to maintain his balance. The struggle lasted several minutes and ultimately Coal was forced to surrender to gravity collapsing back to the ground in a heap. There flat on his back he was finally able to kick off the troublesome boot.
“Fuck you and your kind, I was always more comfortable barefoot anyways,” he hissed.
Coal rolled onto his side in the dust and for a moment considered going back to sleep, then his eyes fell upon last night’s empty bottle and his missing boot, both under the wagon.
“Oh, I see what this is, it’s a fucking c-o-n-spiracy! My favorite bottle running off with my second favorite boot. Well fuck you both, I’ve got another bottle and believe me when I say it, that she is so fucking full!”
Coal sat up and digging into his shirt pulled out a small dark bottle. He was about to uncork it and start the day off right when he looked up and realized that he had an audience. Miles and Juan stood next to one another in the shade of the clinic’s entryway, both openly staring at Coal. The bounty-hunter froze and then slowly lowered the bottle back inside of his shirt.
“Howdy,” he offered.
“Coal, were you just talking to one of your boots?” Miles asked.
“No,” Coal snapped back and then after a pause added, “me and that son of a bitch aren’t currently on speaking terms!”
Coal laughed at his own joke, and Juan smiled in return. Miles, however, didn’t seem amused. Then with no small effort, Coal pulled himself up to his feet. He then staggered over to join the old man and the boy in the shade, his wayward boots at least for the moment forgotten.
“What brings you two out here so early?” Coal asked.
“What? Are serious?” Miles replied in shock.
“Jesus Christ, lighten up old man. I’m fooling, I know, today is the big day.”
“And you’re ready for this?”
“Don’t worry about me old man, I’ve spent more time shit faced in the desert than you have sober. In fact, you may want to have a drink yourself. Trust me, it makes the whole experience a hell of a lot more enjoyable,” Coal said with a nod.
“I have to agree with Coal on this, at least the part about him being shit faced in the desert,” Kyle said as he stepped out of the clinic.
Miles just shook his head again and turning to the scavenger asked, “Are we ready then?”
“As much as we can be, your tools and the first aid kit are loaded, other than our guns and the clothes on our back
we aren’t bringing much else along. You brought the water I take it?”
Juan nodded and turning gestured towards a pair of white 5-gallon buckets resting on a small red wagon behind them in the shade.
“Good, let’s get them loaded and then do one more walk around.”
Miles nodded, and with Juan’s help, the old man began loading the precious water on to the buggy. Kyle turned and found Coal sitting in the dust again trying to coax his missing boot out from beneath the wagon. On a hunch, the scavenger walked over to the wagon, and as expected, he found Coal’s rifle, saber and knife belt tucked neatly away beneath one of the cots. Kyle retrieved the weapons and carried them over to Coal, still struggling with his boots.
“Thanks partner,” he said accepting them.
Kyle held onto Coal’s belt for a moment, forcing the half breed to look up and meet his eyes.
“How are you doing, really?”
“I was fucking serious Kyle, I’ve been way drunker than this and been fine out there all on my own,” Coal protested.
“I don’t doubt it, but that’s not what I meant. I know you have to be thinking about Two-Steps, and what could happen if we run across him out there,” Kyle replied.
Coal stopped and stared up at Kyle, his face went blank and for a moment his eyes vacant, then the bounty-hunter blinked twice and replied.
“I’m hoping that it won’t matter and that we’ll be out and back before he even knows I’m gone.”
Kyle nodded slowly, “It seems that’s what Miles is counting on also, but do you think that’s the way things will actually play out?”
Coal simply shrugged in reply, “No telling, on either account.”
The three men made the last checks of the buggy and their limited gear while Juan and Anna watched them from the shade. The doctor had offered to allow the boy to stay at the clinic with her while they were gone, but Juan had adamantly refused. It seemed he was already taking his responsibilities tending to the pump very seriously and intended to remain at the tower. The only condition that Anna and Miles had managed to pry from the boy was a promise to deliver Anna her water ration every day, guaranteeing that she would at least get a chance to see Juan and make sure he was doing alright.
The sound of footsteps on gravel announced the arrival of Council members Wadsworth, Johnson and Little Bird a moment before they entered the compound.
Without preamble, Wadsworth asked, “Are you ready Miles?”
The old man looked over at the packed and waiting buggy and then between Kyle and Coal.
“I believe that we are Madam Councilwoman,” he replied.
“Good, but before you go, I’d like to share a few words with you all.”
Coal Kyle and Miles gathered around the aging Councilwoman as Juan and Anna moved to join them.
“Let me just start by apologizing to the three of you. I don’t have to tell you what is at stake here. You all have families, loved ones and even if most of them don’t know it, an entire town counting on you. You should be receiving a hero’s send off, but unfortunately, that can’t happen. We are going to some great lengths to keep this entire situation a secret. I don’t want to even think about what would happen if the town discovered the dire straits that we are in and if you're successful, no one ever will.”
Wadsworth paused for a moment, and Kyle realized that the woman was on the verge of tears. She looked between the three of them and spoke her next words very carefully.
“If this town is going to survive, then we need those parts. Do whatever it takes to find them and bring them back to us. And remember, while it may seem like you are out there on your own, all of our hopes and prayers are riding with you.”
As Wadsworth concluded, Councilman Johnson stepped forward and presented Kyle with a crumpled brown lunch bag.
“And here is something a bit more tangible, just in case you run across anyone out there that happens to be impervious to hopes and prayers,” Johnson grumbled.
Kyle glanced into the bag and found that it contained a handful of bullets, the equivalent of a small fortune these days. The scavenger nodded and then tossed the bag to Coal.
“My favorite Johnson, how did you know?” the half-breed exclaimed.
“Thank you Wadsworth, but I really hope we won’t be needing them,” Kyle said.
“I hope so to,” she replied.
With nothing else left to be said, Wadsworth and Johnson turned and began to walk back towards the street, while Little Bird joined Anna in the doorway to the clinic. But after taking just a few steps, Johnson turned and shouted back over his shoulder.
“But if you don’t use them, just remember that those bullets are City property and we expect them to be returned.”
Never missing an opportunity, Coal shouted back, “We got a name for people who give gifts and then ask for them back, but I’m not going to repeat it because it’s insulting to my people…and, and because I’m hungover…and I…I think I may puke.”
With the council’s parting gift and the ammo that they already had, their small arsenal now consisted of 7 rounds of .30-06 for Coal’s rifle, 5 rounds of .357 for Kyle’s magnum and just 3 shotgun shells for Kyle’s 12 gauge. The scavenger loaded both barrels of the shotgun and then handed it out for Miles to take.
“It looks like you’re literally riding shotgun.”
Miles frowned as he awkwardly accepted the weapon.
“Ok, final goodbyes and then we mount up,” Kyle announced.
The men parted company as Coal moved to the buggy, rechecking the last of the gear before pulling on his knife belt and saber. Miles turned and found Juan waiting for him by the buggy and the old man crouched over and gingerly set the shotgun down in the passenger seat. Mile turned to face the boy, not sure what he should say, but Juan threw his arms around the old man and Miles quickly realized that no words he could find would matter. So instead of speaking the old man just hugged Juan back and tried to hold back his own tears.
Kyle wrapped his arms around Anna and felt her body tremble as she cried silently into his shoulder. Little Bird stood nearby silently watching the exchange.
“If there was anyone else,” Kyle heard himself say.
“I know, I know, but there isn’t and you and Coal, you’re our best chance,” Anna said.
“I just hope we’re up to it.”
“I know you are because you have to be,” Anna replied, taking his hand and resting it on her swollen stomach.
“It’s not just us anymore remember,” she said smiling.
Looking at his pregnant wife, bathed in the early morning sun Kyle couldn’t help but smile.
“I won’t forget,” he said.
“Kyle!” Little Bird suddenly shouted.
Both Anna and Kyle looked up at the old Indian woman.
“I want you to know, that if you die, I will look after Anna and the child as if they were my own blood. This I will promise you,” the woman said.
“Geez, thanks,” Kyle replied awkwardly.
Anna choked out a small laugh through her tears and after giving his wife one last hug Kyle turned and walked back towards the buggy. Miles was already in the passenger seat, his crutch riding awkwardly next to him and the shotgun clenched in his hands. Coal had also taken his place standing on the rear of the buggy, his rifle slung across his back, the bounty-hunter was grinning broadly, his hangover for the moment forgotten.
“What did that crazy old squaw say?” he asked.
“Something about treating Anna like her daughter if I die, made it sound like a damn oath or something.”
“You gotta be careful about them Indian’s and their damn oaths. They are crazy about that shit, remember that old woman is still pretending I’m fucking invisible or something.”
Kyle climbed into the driver’s seat and secured the harness, being careful none of the straps would get in the way of the magnum in his shoulder holster. He then threw a series of switches on the buggy’s dash and was rewarded when the
digital dashboard flared to life. The batteries showed a column of green bars indicating a full charge.
“Everyone ready?”
“Almost,” Coal replied.
The half-breed then handed a pair of dust goggles and a bandana down to Kyle. The scavenger accepted them with a nod in thanks and quickly tied them in place covering his eyes and mouth, as Coal did the same. Miles looked between his two traveling companions and shook his head.
“I didn’t think…” he mumbled.
“You didn’t bring any dust gear? Didn’t you think we may get a little dusty in the desert?” Kyle said grinning, as he shifted the buggy into gear.
“Aren’t you supposed to be the smart one?” Coal asked.
“I didn’t know…,” Mile began, as Kyle pulled out into the street.
“What is there to fucking know?” Coal shouted, cutting him off.
“The desert is full of like a gazillion little pieces of sand, we’re going to be going as fast as fucking possible across it, and it only takes one of those little bastards stuck in your eye to make this the trip from fucking hell!”
Kyle was grinning from ear to ear as Coal’s rant reached its inevitable conclusion, “For fuck’s sake Miles, its simple fucking math!”
The Buggy sped through the narrow streets and the sound of hard-plastic wheels on asphalt nearly drowned out the hum of the electric motors. As the trio made their way across town, anyone that happened to see them stopped what they were doing and stared. The looks the people gave them always made Kyle uneasy, to him they felt like a mixture of jealousy and fear. Jealousy that Kyle had a piece of technology that still worked and fear that it could somehow be used against them. The modern world had failed mankind before, and the results had been catastrophic. Kyle couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if the lights suddenly came back on tomorrow, would people go right back to life the way it had been before? Or would some choose to instead return to a simpler life and always remain suspicious of the modern marvels that had abandoned them once before?
The scavenger turned the buggy onto Main Street USA, but instead of turning right and heading towards the center of town as he usually did, Kyle turned left. After a few blocks, the buggy crossed over a short bridge spanning a dry river bed marking the edge of town. The handful of buildings that dotted either side of the road now were mostly collapsed and quickly being reclaimed by the desert. Once past the ruins, the countryside, like the road seemed to open up. Kyle grinned and pressing the accelerator to the floor, the motors responded with a noticeable change in pitch as they pushed the buggy to its top speed.
The Road North Page 8