Aftermath (Book 2): Chicago Calling
Page 34
John nodded in appreciation to Lester, before turning to Andrew, who he knew was about to speak.
“I don’t want us to split up, to weaken this place, to send you out alone”, Andrew explained.
“It’ll only be for now”, John replied, “Trust me, once I know that-“.
“I know”, Andrew cut in, holding up his hand so as to spare John from having to repeat the reassurances he’d made plenty of times before, “I know”, he repeated, before moving on to the final and most important thing he had to say; “You have my blessing too”.
John broke into a smile as he looked at someone who’d long since become his closest friend in the new world, before nodding in appreciation.
Finally he looked to the last remaining person whose approval he sought; Sonja. The woman had never looked so stubborn, nor so powerful, than she did right then, holding the last and most important card in the palm of her hand, her vote enough to sway the situation drastically. John and Sonja had gotten along well since the camp had taken him in, and that was something he hoped would be evidenced now.
After a long delay, Sonja finally opened her mouth, and John’s heart clenched slightly as he listened to her speak.
“Just don’t you go turning into a city boy over there”, she said.
John’s slight smile turned into a huge show of joy and emotion, as he finally got the third and final green light not only for his journey, but for taking some residents with him, and thus easing the pressure on the guard’s that remained.
“Thank you”, John said to Sonja, who opted simply to nod in response.
* * *
It was a few hours shy of midnight when John next emerged from his tent, having gotten some much needed rest ahead of his duties on watch that night. By the time he entered back into the outside world, the temperature had dropped dramatically, evidenced by John’s breath which began to emerge as a cool white fog in front of his own eyes. The cold didn’t bother him, not with the number of layers he had on, but it did serve as a chilling reminder of just how close he’d come to being thwarted by the weather, had he taken just a few more weeks.
“Evening”, came Andrew’s voice to John’s right, him too having just gotten out from his own dwelling.
“Get much sleep?”, John asked of the man, himself holding back a tell-tale yawn.
“Enough”, Andrew replied, “Only one of us is gonna’ need it tomorrow”, he joked.
“You’re gonna have a million questions fired your way the second I leave, and from what I hear the bridge is about ready for the final move, so I’d say you need it just as much as me”, John laughed back.
The two men began walking over towards the north-east corner of the building – where Sonja sat in position, her legs swung over the edge of the rooftop and a rifle in her hand – despite neither man speaking to coordinate the decision. Of course, both men knew why the other was awake, as not only was this John’s last time on watch, but it was his last on duty with Andrew also, a fact that seemed to have a kind of sentimental value to it.
“You remember how we met?”, John asked of Andrew, sensing he might benefit from a more light hearted look at their past at a time when he was most likely dreading their parting.
“In the motel?”, Andrew asked, thinking back to the “Good-Night Inn” Motel where they had first crossed paths.
“I was actually thinking ‘bout when I found you hiding out behind that chair, inside the house back in Ashton”, John said, laughing as the words came out. “But sure, we can stick with the motel”.
Andrew laughed too, knowing that despite his still timid and nervous nature, he’d come a long way from the terrified figure that had been hunched over and shivering behind that chair.
“You taking a radio with you tomorrow?”, Andrew asked hopefully.
“Those things will stop working by the time I’m barely five miles out”, John said.
“How about a flare then?”, Andrew suggested, “Something to signal us?”.
“Andrew”, John said, “If I come back to get you all, that’s a signal things are okay”.
“And if you don’t come back?”, Andrew asked.
“Then that’s about the best sign you could get that you shouldn’t come either”, John pointed out.
“Thank god”, came Sonja’s voice from a few metres away, “Finally I can get some sleep”, she said, swinging her legs back over to their side of the wall.
“You sure can”, John confirmed, before gesturing for Andrew to take her spot, “I’ll head downstairs”, he said, “See you both in the morning”.
“Night”, Sonja replied to both men, herself more interested in finally shutting the world out for a few hours of rest.
Following the pleasantries, John turned and began making his way back over to the stairwell, passing by a number of tents he had visited earlier in the day. As it turned out, there had been no shortage of volunteers to head for Chicago, and John had in fact had to weed out some candidates in order to make sure he could fit them all on the boat. A little part of him had hoped he might fit more people in with him, but then a much bigger part felt it was safer to test the place first, lest he simply increase casualties.
Some of those volunteering wanted a change, sick and tired of being cooped up inside the same building for months on end, and others hoped to find family in Chicago, originally separated nearby and so hoping they’d have headed there. But of most interest to John, were those whose children, friends or other relatives had gone on a previous boat, and so those were the ones John confirmed a place for first. He knew only too well how hard it was to be so close to someone you missed, and yet feel so far away.
Having spoken to Michelle about the plans, and confirming the details with everyone who wanted to listen, John had spent some time packing up his supplies – after instructing his future passengers to do the same – and then caught as much rest as he could manage, knowing the next day could be one of his longest. Finally, as John made his way one final time down the steps towards his last ever shift, with all his worldly possessions slung over one shoulder, John felt like he was ready.
* * *
That night, not a single thing stirred in the surrounding darkness. John wasn’t sure he knew of a time as peaceful as those few hours, not since the apocalypse had begun and probably not prior to it either. It presented John with a blissful time of contemplation and planning, a period of time he made every use of, right up till the sun began to rise out front, and in doing so signalled that his last night was coming to an end.
Drawing an almost completely straight line between himself and the emerging light, John found his gaze caught on his transport for the day, thankfully still tethered in place and seemingly ready to go. Having spent so long looking for what was once so readily available, John had been sure some freak twist of fate might have ripped it from his grasp during the night, but thankfully such a cruel event had kept its distance.
Mercifully, after being on watch for what felt like an eternity, a few minutes after the sun had finished basking the area in a rare glimpse of light, the sound of footsteps and voices to John’s left drew his attention. Midway between himself and the northern side of the building was a grouping of figures, varying in age, build and gender, some of them carrying bags with whatever they had left in the world stowed carefully inside, and others armed to the teeth.
John couldn’t help but smile as he inspected his rag-tag crew of survivors, as well as the three guards that were here to escort them along just as much as they were coming to say goodbye. Nobody heading with John knew how to sail, few knew the basics on how to defend themselves, and even fewer were capable of actually doing so, but each and every one of them was coming with him on what he hoped would be the final stage in reuniting his family, and that alone was enough to make them special to him.
“Everybody ready?”, John said happily, sounding akin to a boy scout leader readying a group for a woodland trek, as he grabbed his own bag before greeti
ng Michelle with a kiss.
A series of confirmations nervously fired out from the various folk in front.
“Alright then, this way”, he said, gesturing towards the dock, before nodding a silent but meaningful farewell to Lester, who reciprocated, before stopping at the building’s entrance, himself opting to take duty and look after the base while they were out.
The small group of residents, flanked by three armed guards who looked to every possible angle of attack meticulously during their brief spell of movement, slowly made their way across the street. For some this was the furthest they’d been from camp in months, and it showed on their faces, each of them growing more and more excited the further they travelled. Soon though, the group arrived at the dock, and one by one began stepping down into the boat, their minds now focused solely on the task at hand.
In the distance behind the group, the sound of a meaty engine kicking into life signalled that Lester had started up the eighteen-wheeler, ready to try out Andrew’s theory of using it as a barricade, as had been discussed the previous day. John could see the pride on Andrew’s face as he watched the truck pull its trailer into position, and he too felt suddenly better, knowing the camp was that little bit safer, despite his present absence.
Before long, everybody was on board the small boat, at which point John turned to Andrew and Sonja, each of whom seemed to have finally accepted the situation, judging by their reasonably upbeat personas.
“This isn’t goodbye”, John said happily, “I promise”.
Each of them nodded in response, Sonja opting then to turn and make her way back to camp.
“Good luck”, Andrew said finally, to a smile from John, before himself following in Sonja’s footsteps.
John turned and stepped down into the boat, looking as he did to each of the anxious but excited faces that encircled him, and then finally to his beloved wife.
“Alright then”, he said happily, “Chicago here we come”.
* * *
“Can’t believe they’re actually going”, Sonja said, standing next to Andrew atop the camp, having just finished their ascent back up to the rooftop.
In the distance, the small white outline of the “Milwaukee Runner” was slowly carving its way through the water, on a direct line for the main docks of Chicago.
“I know”, Andrew concurred, “Seemed like this would never really happen”.
Down below, the trailer had been carefully positioned over the ramped entrance to the car-park, leaving just enough room for people to continue to climb through, albeit with some difficulty. Numerous residents had been tasked with preparing a variety of barricades to affix to the trailer in an attempt to make it a more water-tight defence, but for the time being it at least made entering more difficult, and would thus help plug the hole left by John’s departure.
“You ever think we should write some of this stuff down?”, Andrew pondered.
“This?”, Sonja asked, still staring out to the boat in the distance.
“Yeah, you know, keep a record of everything that happens”, Andrew explained, “Something for people in the future to see”.
“Oh sure, I can see it now”, Sonja said, “Today, a boat full of people went to Chicago, so we started writing a book, November 21st, 2014”, she continued, laughing loudly at the thought of how dull the vast majority of such entries would be, before turning to face Andrew.
But to Sonja’s surprise, she did not see a smile on Andrew’s face, or even any evidence that he had taken in the majority of what she’d said. Instead, Andrew’s stare had quickly filled with worry, and he’d begun frantically mumbling the last thing she’d said.
“November 21st, 2014”, he repeated.
“Andrew?”, Sonja asked, “What is it?”.
Without another word, Andrew turned and darted over to his nearby tent, disappearing through the part open flap and hastily searching for something.
“What’s going on Andrew”, Sonja asked again after him, raising her voice due to the worry he’d suddenly dumped upon her.
Before long, Andrew reappeared from his makeshift housing with an object clutched in one hand, his other frantically winding its attached handle.
“Andrew?”, Sonja asked again, “What’s with the radio?”.
Andrew ignored her question, but instead continued to wind, until the device’s tiny speaker eventually began to kick into life.
“…to … head … them down, provi… it pierces brain tissue”, it began, cutting out from time to time until Andrew had built up enough electricity for it to work reliably.
“The broadcast”, Sonja said, “From Chicago”, she added, herself now going cold with dread, as she realised what Andrew had suddenly become so worried about; the fact that none of them had checked it in some time.
“This message will be repeated constantly”, the pre-recorded voice continued, “Today’s date is…”.
Andrew and Sonja each held their breath, knowing that what that tiny, rarely used piece of electronics said next could tell them whether or not they’d sent their friend and fellow survivors to a land of safety, or potential death.
Finally, the pre-recorded voice broke away, and was replaced instead by a different one.
“November 19th, 2014”.
To Be Continued.
Dear Reader
Thank you for taking the time to read Chicago Calling.
I thoroughly enjoyed the planning, writing and editing that went into this novel, and really hope you enjoyed it just as much. I’d like to forward you a special thanks if you’ve followed the series from the beginning and especially if you intend to continue doing so. I’m really excited to see what you think of the conclusion to Aftermath.
If you’d like to find out more about the Aftermath series, or if you’d like to get in touch with fellow fans or myself, please head on over to the website, and to any of the social networking pages that I personally manage.
Website
http://www.aftermathseries.com
Facebook
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In addition, as you purchased this particular copy through the Amazon store, I’d like to invite you rate it, by heading over to the product page and leaving a review. These reviews help more than you know.
Amazon Page:
http://www.aftermathseries.com/amazon2
As an amateur author, I absolutely welcome any feedback good or bad, so please feel free contact me.
Thank you again,
Duncan McArdle.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Thirty
Chapter 2: Regroup
Chapter 3: Riches to ruins
Chapter 4: Translucent
Chapter 5: Breach and clear
Chapter 6: Communication
Chapter 7: Seeing is believing
Chapter 8: Blue, white and yellow
Chapter 9: Answers
Chapter 10: Soar
Chapter 11: Making plans
Chapter 12: Bang
Chapter 13: Plans
Chapter 14: Execute
Chapter 15: Advance
Chapter 16: Barricade
Chapter 17: Outnumbered
Chapter 18: Grand return
Chapter 19: Recovery
Chapter 20: Crossing paths
Chapter 21: Rebuilding
Chapter 22: Follow the leader
Chapter 23: Discount
Chapter 24: Return to sender
Chapter 25: Over and out
Chapter 26: Answers
Chapter 27: Catch-Up
Chapter 28: Evolve
Chapter 29: Assess
Chapter 30: Clearance
Chapter 31: Start
Chapter 32: The speed of sound
Chapter 33: Hiding in plain sight
Chapter 34: Spreading
Chapter 35: Like old times
Chapter 36: Fishing
for something
Chapter 37: Cut it off at the source
Chapter 38: Holding back
Chapter 39: Hatchet
Chapter 40: Transmission
Chapter 41: Precision
Chapter 42: Parting ways
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Thirty
Chapter 2: Regroup
Chapter 3: Riches to ruins
Chapter 4: Translucent
Chapter 5: Breach and clear
Chapter 6: Communication
Chapter 7: Seeing is believing
Chapter 8: Blue, white and yellow
Chapter 9: Answers
Chapter 10: Soar
Chapter 11: Making plans
Chapter 12: Bang
Chapter 13: Plans
Chapter 14: Execute
Chapter 15: Advance
Chapter 16: Barricade
Chapter 17: Outnumbered
Chapter 18: Grand return
Chapter 19: Recovery
Chapter 20: Crossing paths
Chapter 21: Rebuilding
Chapter 22: Follow the leader
Chapter 23: Discount
Chapter 24: Return to sender
Chapter 25: Over and out
Chapter 26: Answers
Chapter 27: Catch-Up
Chapter 28: Evolve
Chapter 29: Assess
Chapter 30: Clearance
Chapter 31: Start
Chapter 32: The speed of sound
Chapter 33: Hiding in plain sight
Chapter 34: Spreading
Chapter 35: Like old times
Chapter 36: Fishing for something
Chapter 37: Cut it off at the source
Chapter 38: Holding back
Chapter 39: Hatchet
Chapter 40: Transmission
Chapter 41: Precision
Chapter 42: Parting ways