Afraid of the Dark

by Chris Hechtl

  “Is it true?” she asked. A few more people started to gather round. Others stopped what they were doing or quieted down.

  “Is what true?” Shane asked, looking at her.

  “Are we really taking a break? A carnival?” she asked excitedly.

  “A gathering actually,” Shane said shrugging.

  “Gather,” Tamara said. He looked at her. “Its, its from a famous science fiction series I've read. A very good one with dragons and an alien menace called thread.”

  “Sounds like a fantasy novel if its got dragons,” Jayne said amused.

  Tamara shook her head. The girl did too. “No, she's right,” the girl said. She was wearing a simple dress that had a wide purple belt. She smiled. “Pern, I know what she's talking about. I've read the books too. Pern is a colony on an alien world. The dragons were genetically engineered.”

  Jen and Jayne exchanged amused glances. “If you say so,” Jayne said, wrinkling her nose.

  “Well, the thing is the people live in fortresses called holds. Armored strongholds, like castles. Most are built into cliffs or underground. They have a rest day every week, and if the weather is good they have a gather. Dancing, music, food, and a open market.”

  “I don't think we can do the market, but we can do something about the first two,” Jayne said with a smirk. “I take it you're interested in singing?” she asked.

  “Singing?” Jen asked.

  “Brenda here is a local country singer. She's good,” Jayne explained. Tamara blinked at her and then smiled. Brenda blushed a little.

  “Get Gabe to put out the word for people who are interested in doing the bands,” Shane said.

  “Um...” Brenda looked a little put out. He snorted softly.

  “Not everyone is into the same type of music. So if we're going to do this we can do it in the entire complex. One band doing a concert here in the mall maybe two if the acoustics are alright. Another in the parking lot of John's Pizza, and a third in Towngate Center. Maybe another at the Lowes fort or wherever works best. Each with its own music type. That will let everyone cater to their own tastes.”

  “It takes all kinds,” Jen said with a shrug. Jayne nodded, looking at Brenda. Reluctantly she nodded as well.

  “We can also do karaoke,” Tamara said grinning. “I wonder if I can get Bob to sing?” she asked. Jayne giggled with her at the very idea. Jen smiled softly at that.

  “Better save your energy to get him to dance. You'll need it,” Jen suggested.

  “Hmmmm...” Tamara said smiling a little and looking up in the air, the picture of thoughtful contemplation. It didn't help that her eyes and entire manner were mischievous. Shane glanced at Jen who was smiling at him now. He chuckled softly as she took his hand. He knew what energy they really had in mind now.

  “Since you were first up you get first dibs on a site,” Jayne said to Brenda. Pick one. Get with whoever you know who can play and do a practice session in your off time.”

  “Really?” Brenda asked surprised. She was looking a little torn. “I don't know of anyone here who can play...” she said looking a little crestfallen.

  “Get your guitar and set up in the food court,” Jayne said waving her hand. “Do it around rush hour. We'll put up a sign for the concerts there and at the other troughs. See who signs on.”

  “Troughs?”

  “Where else do people go to eat?”

  “Cute Jayne,” Shane said shaking his head. “Diners would be more appropriate,” he said.

  “Never worked in one have you?” Jayne asked him sweetly. He opened his mouth to retort that he had but Jen stepped on his toes and glanced at him firmly.

  “We're getting off topic again,” she said warningly. She looked at Brenda. “We'll excuse you from half your work. In fact I'll re-task you to entertainment in the evenings from now on if that's what you want.”

  “Entertainment?” Brenda asked, eyes wide in surprise.

  “Sure. People like to have entertainment. We can afford a few troubadours to sing and play. We shouldn't forget music,” Jen said firmly.

  “Really?” Brenda asked surprised. “I've been working, I mean I don't mind cleaning...”

  “Other people can do that. I'll take care of it,” Jen said with a nod to Jayne. Jayne nodded back. Jen looked around at the crowd. “If anyone,” she raised her voice so they could hear her clearly. “If anyone can play an instrument and is willing to perform and has an instrument, report on the web to me or personnel. We'll set up a site. You better be good if you want in.”

  “We'll have to do light duty or something,” Jayne said softly to her, leaning close as the crowd began to murmur and turn to talk to others.

  “Probably,” Jen said with a nod.

  “Definitely,” Shane said. “We can't have people doing jobs that don't contribute like others do. It'll build up resentment from others,” he said hastily as the women glared.

  Jen firmly took a step back from her annoyance to examine what he said. Grudgingly she looked at the others and then nodded. Brenda did as well.

  “That being said, go get your guitar little lady and play us a tune,” he said to Brenda. She smiled delightedly and rushed off.

  Chapter 42

  The morning of the carnival was a bit foggy but it burned off before eight am. He was surprised to see some people putting up bunting and setting up temporary tables and tents in the parking lots. Vehicles had to be removed from the Sears area and around Sams to allow it. Grudgingly Walt and Dave organized crews to move the vehicles. Walt seemed more interested in setting up the derby arena with all the spare tires they had collected.

  “Believe it or not, not many people slept in,” Jen said coming up behind him with her cup of coffee. He looked back and tucked her under his wing as she got close. She inhaled the aroma of coffee and smiled, watching the people moving about.

  “Did Jill, Terra, or Sheila put the word out?” he asked.

  “All of them and the others. Just to the places we know we can trust. Each is allowed to send up to ten people. We'll give them temporary passes,” Jen replied.

  “Good.” He watched as booths were set up along one side in the shade of the wall. “What's that about?” he asked pointing. “Don't tell me you let them set up a market?”

  “No,” she said shaking her head. “Its the demo area I think,” she said checking her tablet. She took a sip of coffee as he rubbed her shoulders gently. She tapped at it and then showed him the map.

  “See? We've got demonstrations here in the mall, including a vehicle demo by Walt and his crew. Towngate has a homemade weapons demo, and let’s see, Costco has the garden and farm area, and Sams has the demolition derby.”

  “Oh, that's going to be fun to watch,” he said amused. Bob and his crew had dug up one of the empty fields for material. Since everyone had got into the spirit of the gather he'd sent a crew in the day before to grade one field for a demolition derby while the other was cut up into hills and tracks for a dirt bike expo.

  “Most of John's is the actual carnival, inside and out,” she said showing him. He pushed it away and hugged her to his side. “There is a good karaoke show going on in the mall,” she teased, knowing her husband.

  “Pass.”

  “You know the kids though, they'll want to see the expo at the very least. Nick's practically hopping to see the derby and motorcross.”

  “We'll see it lady, the kids will drag us all over the place.”

  “No doubt,” she laughed softly knowing how true that was. “Did I ever say thank you for doing this?” she asked softly.

  “No, but I'll take what I can get,” he said amused. She smiled against his side. He caressed her hair and kissed it briefly. “We're doing alright,” he said.

  “A lot better than some folk,” she said.

  “True, I'm just a little worried about rubbing it in,” he said.

  “Don't be. We've cleared a section of tract housing nearby,” Walt said coming up to them. They turned
. “People nearby didn't do squat, so we did it. We're going to go in with a dozer crew. Sort of a demo demolition for houses thing.”

  “I saw that on Extreme Makeover once,” Jen said with an amused chuckle. “I take it you're going to use your baby?” she asked, gently teasing Walt about his favorite dozer tank, Bertha 2.

  Walt, rubbed the back of his head, taking his ball cap off. “Shoot no, I wish, but I've got to be in three places at once as it is. Running the derby, the track, and the demo here,” he said waving.

  “Put Jesse on it,” Shane said. “Dave can handle the derby.”

  “Now that's a thought,” Walt said amused. “Too bad they made themselves scarce,” he said sounding more than a little disgusted. Jen chuckled.

  “I bet you wish you had as well,” she said. She knew Jesse was planning on running a tattoo parlor with a couple of other artists.

  “No, that'll come later tonight,” he said with a chuckle. “For now, I'm as excited as everyone to be doing this. Tomorrow...” he shrugged.

  “I think tomorrow there are going to be a lot of hangovers and people sleeping in actually,” Shane said amused. They had made the formal announcement about the carnival gather yesterday, not that it really needed to be announced. Everyone had known anyway. Jayne had told them she'd been nearly deafened by the cheering in the food court.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  As things kicked off the kids dragged them along from one place to the next. Both parents were amused and retaliated by dragging the kids off to see the demonstrations and farm expo's before the kids go to go to the carnival. “Once you're there we'll never get you out,” Jen teased.

  “No, once Nick gets near the motocross or the derby we'll never see him again,” Trina said. “I want to check on the animals,” she said sounding concerned. Tori nodded.

  “Animals?” Shane asked. Nick wrinkled his nose.

  “One of the doctors put us up to running a petting zoo. Not Nate, its a therapist. Something about getting people used to animals again. Therapy,” Tori said.

  “It is,” Jen said nodding. “I should have thought of it,” she said. She looked a little tired. The noise and crowds were something else. Just like a carnival. People were milling about, having a good time. The theaters were in use, people were watching the concerts, and someone had even gotten the mall train back into service. It was going around with kids inside it. There were pick up games of soccer and basketball nearby. Spectators were having a grand old time. A group of women were leading kids around on horses too. Quite a relaxing atmosphere, but charged with good will. Quite overwhelming. Shane looked at her in concern but she waved it off. “I'm fine, let's keep going,” she said. Shane was a bit concerned, he knew she was pushing herself with all the walking and stress. But he knew better than to try to get her to stop. Least of all now. She'd easily hand him his head if he tried. And then she'd push herself even harder to try to prove she was fine.

  The kids rushed through the demonstrations area. Shane was amused to see groups from other enclaves there. A few had wandered off to explore the rest of the campus but a good half of them were there, taking advantage of the demonstrations. Walt's crew were handing out packets and flash sticks with information on how to do just about anything they could think of. They had kept a few things to themselves though, things like plastic explosives and other advanced weapons tech. Kyle had insisted and Wayne had backed him up.

  “I like the soap making demo,” Jen murmured. He wrinkled his nose. “I bet you were into the cars,” she teased. They each had a lemonade. Jayne had a crew making it from lemons they had picked from backyards. The trees had been transplanted to the mall or traded to neighboring enclaves who wanted them. Lemonade and tap water were the only things that anyone could have as much of as they wanted... and of course didn't want. Probably because the lemonade was weak and had no sugar in it.

  “The generator one and how it works was good, and yes the weapons demo was good too. I hear we've picked up a couple of dozen orders for both. But I was more interested in the farming. People were blowing that off at first. But a few who looked a bit hungry were taking it in.”

  “They'd better,” Jen said. She nodded to Bob and Tamara. Bob had his arm over his wife's shoulders. The kids were playing nearby. “Waiting for the bus too?” Jen asked amused. She'd let Shane talk her into taking the bus instead of walking to Johns. Let him think he'd won that round. She felt tired, a lot more tired than she'd expected.

  “Yup,” Tamara said. She leaned forward to look down the street. Her son did as well and then pointed, bouncing as the bus rumbled up over the hill.

  “Stay here kids,” she warned, watching the vehicle warily as it pulled up. People piled out and then the waiting people piled on. The women and kids got seats but Bob and Shane ended up standing. They didn't have far to ride, just down Day Street to Canyon Springs Parkway and then around the bend to the pizza place.

  “Should have saved this for last,” Shane said.

  “Nick's idea,” Jen said looking up to him. “We girls can hang out there while you men get your fix of crushed metal and bruised egos,” she said smiling maliciously.

  “Now that's what I'm talking about,” Bob said with a grin, rubbing his hands together. His son Frankie was grinning as well. Tamara rolled her eyes at Jen and teased little Kathy in her lap.

  They got off at the parking lot and Jen took a deep breath as she looked around. Shane snorted softly as people pushed past them to pile onto the bus.

  “Derby is in an hour Nick so make it fast,” he said waving.

  “Thanks dad!” Nick said rushing off with a jump and wave. Trina and Tori looked as though they were going to object. They looked at Jen. Their mother shrugged.

  They stopped in the petting area at the girls' insistence. They overheard a visitor trying to barter for a dog. Shane shook his head and pushed them on.

  “Why does he want a dog if he can't feed it?” Tori asked, looking up to her mother.

  “I think he was more interested in using the dog to feed his family,” Jen said, not looking at her. Tori gasped and looked back but Jen firmly pushed her onward.

  Towards the end of their circuit Jen's energies began to flag. Shane felt her leaning against him more and more. He could hear her breathing. She didn't sound good, she sounded winded. He insisted on a stop.

  Jen felt guilt when Nick came running up. Shane looked at him and felt torn. “Go,” she said waving to them. Nick looked at his father in earnest. His father looked at Jen.

  “I'll take him,” Bob said quietly, picking Frankie up and putting him on one shoulder. He placed one meaty hand on Nick's shoulder. “Come on, let's go get a good seat,” he said.

  Nick looked confused and kept glancing over his shoulder to the others. Hurt was first on his face, but when he saw his mom leaning into his father's arms he came back and hugged her.

  “I'm fine son, just tired,” she said a little weakly. “Go. Your dad and sisters will get me back to bed,” she said stroking his hair.

  He nodded and stepped back. Bob waved. “You comin' or what?” he called. The kid looked at his dad.

  “She's okay,” he said, voice a little husky. “All that walking tuckered her out. Go. Make sure you take some video with your phone!” he called as the kid backed up and turned. Nick grinned and waved as he rushed off.

  “Dad?” Tori asked, kicking a rock.

  “Yes dear?” he asked looking at her.

  “Um, I ah, was ah...”

  “Go. You too?” he asked, looking at Trina. She nodded. Jayne waved. She waved back. “Jayne?” he yelled waving a come over to her. Jayne came over. Sheila trailed behind her.

  “You're up to spot checking on the terrible trio?” he asked. “Bob's got Nick at the derby.”

  “I want to see the concert,” Trina said, indicating the rock band setting up. There were two bands here, one boy band and what looked like a metal band.

  “I promised to help in the petting area,” T
ori said looking from her mom to Jayne. She bit her lip.

  “Its okay,” Jen said trying to get up but he firmly pushed her back down. Jayne looked torn now as well. She looked at him but he was looking at Jen. He stroked her hair gently.

  “Sure,” Jayne said nodding and coming to a decision. “Sheila and I can keep an eye on the brats. No wandering off,” she said, admonishing them both with fingers. Stay where you said you'd be. We'll check on both of you at odd times just to be sure,” she said. Both nodded and rushed off.

  Sheila watched them go and looked at Jayne. Jayne shrugged.

  “They'll be okay,” Jen said tiredly. Her eyelids were a bit heavy. “I just need to rest,” she gushed out with a soft sigh.

  “Yeah, well, you can do that out of the sun and where it is warm,” Shane said scooping her up in his arms. He looked around. A pair of guards looked at him and one said something to the other. After a brief moment the other nodded and came over.

  “Boss uh...”

  “Jake right?” he asked. The kid nodded. “Think you can find a set of wheels? I don't want to wait for a bus,” he said. Jake nodded. People around them watched or got out of the way as he moved through the crowd to the street. A few hands patted him sympathetically. He ignored it all.

  He got her back to the mall and bedded her down. She had fallen asleep in his arms on the way over. Jerry came by after an hour and took her pulse and checked her over.

  “She's tired,” he said quietly to Shane. “The chemo last year...”

  “Tired her out, I know doc,” Shane said nodding.

  “It tends to do that. But you've been through this before. I wish she hadn't tried to do it all though,” Jerry said.

  “She's a stubborn woman,” Shane said amused. He could hear the country band playing down the way. “I'll just stay with her for a while.” He rubbed his thumb against Jen's hand gently, stroking it.

  “I can have someone check on her,” Jerry said. Shane looked at him for a moment and then nodded.

  “That would be good doc, I've got to check on the kids and the shows here in a little bit. Jen'll have my hide if I don't,” he said smiling a tight lipped humorless smile. Jerry nodded.