by Fore, Jon
"Well, you'll find out they are pretty messy, and once they start rolling and whatever, you’re going to be so sick to your stomach," Jackson said, then kissed Maria's forehead.
"Now," Vega cut in, "we have to find a way to get to Amsterdam. There is no way we're walking that far.” She said this last with a grim finality she hoped the other two picked up on.
"They evacuated around here a week ago, so there is no public transportation. Not anymore," Jackson said, and began scanning the streets in a long slow gaze.
"Did they evacuate north, away from the Black Forest?” Vega asked.
"Yeah," Maria said.
"How far north would we need to go to pick up a bus or train?"
Maria shrugged her shoulders and looked up at Jackson who was staring down at her.
"I really don't know. Maybe one of these cars here has keys in them, under the visor or whatever. That's where I keep the keys to my pickup. We could borrow a car as long as we didn't hurt it."
"You think we should steal a car?” Maria asked, her face a demure grin of either surprise or excitement, Vega couldn't tell.
"No. We just borrow it.” Jackson sounded hurt.
"Well, I think it's a great idea. Don't you, Vega?"
Vega looked up the road, finding three cars there, then down the road finding two more. Maybe one of them had the keys, maybe one of them had a full tank of gas, or maybe they were kidding themselves. It just felt, to her, like they were making this up as they went along, and that didn't sit well. She was used to far-seeing planning and projects and everything with a procedure, everything with a policy. That and she was a cop. Stealing a car should have thrown on the mental air breaks, but it didn't.
When she felt for the other two, all she found was an odd mixture of excitement, fear, and a heated love. There was no rancor, no urging for or against grand theft, auto. Still, it was a good idea. They could leave a note or something in the car, or cash. She had cash. It depended on how far north they had to go, but why not? Fuck it. "We can give it a try, just watch for the soldiers. If they catch us..."
"They won’t.” Maria said as she turned to head up the street.
"You should stay with her. I will go this way.” Jackson said, and turned without waiting for further comment.
Vega thought it would be best to just stand here and wait for the two. If anything happened, she could get to one or the other in the same amount of time. That, and even though she would use the car, she couldn't bring herself to actually steal the thing. Come to think of it, considering these two misfit love birds, they were more like tourists and Vega was pretty certain they didn't have a license to drive in German. That left her. She wouldn't steal the thing, but she would drive it once it was stolen. What was the difference? When is a car actually stolen?
"Fuck it.” She whispered to herself, and headed after Maria.
Chapter 7
It actually turned out, to Vega's surprise, that the Germans were more security conscience than she first imagined. It was not this street or the cross street to the north, but one of the back alleys before they found a car with a set of keys. It was a large four door Japanese car, a model none of them had seen in America.
The key was not in the visor but below the floor mat on the driver's side. Maria found it with her foot when she climbed in to look for the keys, and called triumphantly. Vega and Jackson jogged to the car as she hit the ignition, but it wouldn't start. Not only wouldn't it start, it wouldn't crank. Not only wouldn't it crank, it didn't even make that ominous ticking sound in the solenoid when the battery was dead. This thing wasn't just dead, it was dead.
Maria looked forlorn and Jackson smiled at her. "I don't think this car has been on the road for a long while, sweetie. The back tires is missing."
Maria tilted her head a second, then stuck it out the wide window to look back. When she returned her face to Vega and Jackson, she was smiling. "Know what? We don't need a damn key.” She said as she swung the door open, almost hitting Jackson with it. "These people left out of here so fast, and left cars unlocked. Let's find one we can all... There.” She said and pointed at a silver Mercedes standing rich and stoic next to the sidewalk.
"What are you planning...” Vega began.
Maria brushed past here, "Watch." She walked up to the Mercedes, tried the handle and found it unlocked. It was an older model, but appeared to be in fine repair. Vega could tell just by looking at it that whoever owned the car must respect either Mercedes or money. Probably both.
Maria laid face first in the driver seat, then rolled onto her back, her shoulders in the driver's floor. Her legs were outside the car in a half crab-walk stance as she dug beneath the dash board.
"Is she going to hot-wire the thing?” Vega asked Jackson.
"Boy-howdy, I bet she is. I should have thought of that."
Vega certainly didn't like this, but she also made no move to stop her. Whatever was holding her back seemed to be weakening, but before her better senses, her cop sense raised a protest, the Mercedes's engine rolled over and it sat there, purring in a soft, high-quality way.
Maria lifted her head, bounced it off the under-dash, then worked over a bit until she could look up at them. She was grinning with a smear of grease or something above her right eye where she had struck the dash. "How's that? Will that work?” She asked unnecessarily.
Jackson smiled at her, then Vega, "Time to go."
Vega watched him climb into the backseat, most of the back seat actually, and the car sagged and wobbled before settling. It still felt completely odd that this act of theft didn't bother her as much as it really should have, but she approached the driver's side anyway. When she looked down at Maria, the girl smiled an embarrassed smile, and then hauled her lithe form over the passenger seat and into the back with Jackson. Vega could feel the glee in the big guy's heart as Maria settled next to him. From her came a comfortable feeling of warmth and safety.
When Vega slid into the driver’s seat, the car felt somewhat cavernous, even with the near giant in the back seat. It smelled vaguely of mold and old sausage and the steering wheel--wrapped in a faux leather cover--was dry if not a bit sticky. Tacky, as her father would say. In the center of the beige leather and wood dash was a small Saint Christopher statue and from the rearview mirror hung a cheap rosary. Plastic beads suspended on a cheap gold toned metal chain with matching crucifix. The dash had no digital displays, just fat, lazy looking needles on a dial measured in kilometers with a small inset for miles per hour. Over all, the car was old world--or just plain old--and it reminded Vega of her grandmother's house. All that was missing were the sticky ribbon candies in a small crystal bowel.
Vega pressed the squishy brake pedal, yanked the steering column gear shift into 'D', then looked over her shoulder at the smoldering pair, "Do either of you know where we are going?"
They both turned and looked at her, seemingly disoriented after being broken from their smoldering. She watched them stare at her for a few moments, "Let me guess. You were hoping I would know?"
Maria smiled at this, but Jackson displayed an embarrassed coloring, obvious even in his darker complexion.
"Great...” Vega said as she turned back to the dash. She slide the thermostat slide lever up the ascending red blocks, which was the same as down the descending blue blocks, and then rolled the fan to '3'. The car hissed a moment, a small something rattling deep in its throat before blowing an almost warm breeze, which wafted through the vents. Like the car, it smelled old but was still warmer than outside. "Well, the first thing, we need supplies. Do either of you have any clothing or whatever?"
"We did.” Jackson cleared his throat, "We kind of lost our bags in the Black Forest when we got chased."
"Yeah," Maria agreed.
"Well, I have some stuff at my apartment, but we are going to have to find a store or something to get the rest."
"I've got money," Maria said.
"I've got some too," Vega added, "You Jackson?"
<
br /> "Nah, it took every penny I had just to get here to find you." There was no hint of embarrassment.
"I got plenty," Maria said confidently.
Vega nodded at the girl in the rearview mirror, "Then off we go." She cut the wheel over, checked her rear view mirror, then flipped on her turn signal to pull out. She realized this was a useless gesture and almost turned it off, but her inner cop got in the way. There had to be order somewhere, after all, even on the empty streets.
When she hit the gas, the response of the elderly engine was surprising. She expected it to be sluggish, perhaps chug a bit then spit out a plume of blue smoke, but it didn't. It surged forward and onto the dark and abandoned street. The lack of other cars, any other vehicle at all moving on the streets was creepy as hell to Vega, as if the world were already dead, but it let them make Gertrude's Fine Bridal in about ten minutes. Vega had estimated it as a two and a half hour walk, and she said a silent thanks to Maria. Oddly enough, she felt a wave of self-satisfaction come from the back and Vega began to wonder if the two behind her could actually read her thoughts and not just feelings.
Vega left the car running and climbed out, followed by Jackson and Maria. The little village Vega moved into was now a ghost town. Not only were all of the shops dark and closed, but the street lights were dark and the small fountain in the middle of the square was silent as well. No spray of water rose from its core to play with the sunlight, and somehow this touched Vega in an oddly deep way. It was a symbol of the world's death, or society’s death and it made her almost sad. Then she felt a large grip on her shoulder.
When she whipped around she found the concerned face of Jackson staring down at her, "Are you alright?"
Again, Vega felt touched and returned to him a failed smile, "Yeah. It's just sad, you know? Not even the bright colors make this place cheery anymore. I wish you could have seen it before... you know."
"We did.” Maria said.
Jackson nodded at Vega, "We came here looking for you. We knew you had something to do with Gertrude's Fine Bridal. I got the address from the internet."
He pronounced 'internet' like 'enter net', but Vega understood. She spared the silent square another look before leading the others into the alley and up the steps to her apartment. It wasn't until she made the landing that she remembered she didn't have the keys. As discouraging as this should have been, Vega could only smile at herself and her thoughtlessness. For some reason, no matter how bad things got, she couldn't feel entirely bad about it. Everything just seemed to be okay, unlike before. Before the amulet.
Vega felt Jackson mount the stairs and turned to stop them from coming all the way up, and bumped into Maria who giggled lightly as they grabbed each other’s upper arms. "I didn't hear you come up. But I forgot, I don't have keys anymore."
Maria looked thoughtful for a second, then looked down at Jackson who was enjoying a close-up eye-level view of Maria's backside. "She doesn't have the key.” She said to him, a color lifting in her cheeks.
"I got it.” He said, and squeezed past the girls, forcing Maria back on the steps.
Vega was vaguely surprised at how easily the big man entered her personal space, but unlike anyone else in her life--except her father--it didn't bother her. If anything, she felt a wave of warmth wash over her and she released an almost audible sigh. It was a sensation she wasn't used to. Not since the 'Taking'.
Jackson gripped the left side of the door frame with one hand, then in one fluid motion, he punched the door just to the left of the deadbolt. The sound was enormous and startled Vega, both with the idea of shattering Gertrude's door and the violence this guy could muster. The door popped in its frame, then flexed back and forth like a slow butterfly as it eased inward.
Jackson turned to head back down the stairs and let Vega go first, but she held up her hands, "You go first. To tight back here.” She smiled.
Jackson smiled another embarrassed smile, "My ma didn't make um small, boy-howdy." He stepped into the apartment and stood by the door to let the girls in.
Like the shops, the streetlights, the fountain, this space was also dark and dead in its silence. The apartment was just the same as when Vega was last here--the same bloated furniture and heavy wood trim--but it was all veiled in a nearly unnatural darkness. The smell of it was the same, but there was a vague odor of age now, as if something was dry rotting or molding over. But what surprised her was the pack in the middle of the floor, a battle rifle resting against the side. On the middle of the pack, pinched with the barrel of the rifle was a folded slip of paper.
"It’s my stuff.” Vega said aloud but to herself, and approached the large pack. The rifle was the same she carried into the Black Forest. It held no clip, but here it was, as if waiting for her.
"This is a nice apartment.” Maria said softly, wandering off towards the balcony.
Vega lifted the folded sheet of paper, and read it:
Private Severin,
My Rangers tell me that you, a pharmacy technician, towed the line with the rest of them. Even wounded, you kept firing, kept fighting, and for this I am both proud and grateful. You exemplified the very code of the Rangers and it is so rare to find such a spirit, especially in the pharmacy.
I have ordered your belongings returned to your apartment to await your return. I imagine the armory sergeant will get a kick out of having his weapons returned. If not, he should.
You keep your spirit up, and if I ever need a soldier to stand at my right hand, I will come calling.
With utmost respect,
General Landon C. Bell
"What does it say?” Jackson asked, again looking sheepishly embarrassed.
Vega offered him the letter as she reached for the rifle. She felt a strong urge to feel its weight again, to feel its grips filling her hands, but Jackson didn't take the sheet of paper. Vega could feel fear coming off the man, and she turned to look at him.
"I can't read so good," He said softly.
"Oh.” Vega abandoned the rifle and read the letter aloud for him as Maria strolled back and worked her way under his arm.
When she was done, Jackson arched his eyebrows, "What's that about? Did you do something special?"
"Well, not really. At least I don't think so. Bell does it seems. So did the medics, actually."
"What was it?” Maria asked from beneath Jackson's massive arm.
"Well, I did what anyone would do, I guess. I was there when the gate was opened and I tried to stop the... monsters. There was a detachment of Rangers on maneuvers in the same place, and we had ourselves a little firefight with the things coming through. I got hurt when we decided to fall back--we didn't have much ammo. When we made it back to the firebase, I didn't go to the medics but stayed with the Rangers on the fire-line, trying to drive the things back. I mean, hell, it was just a training exercise. They didn't have much ammunition either, in fact I was surprised they had any at all."
"Wow.” Maria said.
"That's something, alright.” Jackson agreed.
Vega suddenly felt embarrassed, as if she had been boasting, and turned away from the two to pick up the rifle. "It was nothing. Anyone would fight for their own life, you know?" The rifle did feel good in her hands, the familiar weight was a little light without the clip full of rounds, but just having the engineered killing tool in hand made her feel less helpless. She slid the breech open and inspected it to find it cleaned and oiled and ready for use.
She laid the rifle down beside the bag to look for the M-9, and found they had hidden Red's sword beneath the rifle. It was still short, perhaps two and a half feet long and resembled a heavy ended machete. It leaned against the pack in a dull grey way, waiting. The thing welled fear in her gut. It was, more so than her pack and rifle, a real tie to that unreal memory. There was no way what she remembered wasn't real, but to have the solid physical piece of proof, the tangible evidence made the event snap hard into place in her mind and put sharp corners on it. It snapped so hard it almost h
urt. Snapped so hard it scared the daylights out of her.
"Was that the angel's?” Maria asked, pointing at the sword.
"They weren't angels.” Vega knelt next to her pack, staring at the antiquated metal weapon.
Maria paused a moment before pushing further, "Alright, but was it his?"
"Yeah, it was Red's."
Jackson knelt next to Vega, "Why does it scare you so much?"
Vega looked at him, a feint and distant spark of anger burst and then died immediately. She simply would not be comfortable sharing every damn emotion with these people and despised the fact she now had to. "I don't know... It was his, he tried to give it to me, but I didn't want it. I left it at the hospital on the floor between us. I really can't believe it made it here."
"You were supposed to have it, that's why," Maria said, either confidently or defiantly, Vega could not tell. She could tell the girl said it with a strong measure of passion.
"Why do you say that?” Vega abandoned her knee, and sat on the floor.
"You tried to get rid of it, and it showed up here, like a million miles from where you left it. What are the chances someone would return it, more or less know it was yours?"
"It isn't mine. It's Red's."
"He gave it to you, didn't he?"
"I didn't accept it."
"It sounds like your splitting hairs," Jackson said to both of them. "If Jesus wanted you to have this... sword, then you're supposed to have it. Remember we serve Him..."
"I don't.” Vega cut him off, hoping to drive this point home in one try.
Maria and Jackson shared a look for a moment, then they returned their gaze to Vega. "It still doesn't matter," Maria said, then crossed her arms under her breasts and cocked her hip to one side.
Vega thought Maria looked like a pouting child but for the very serious, very adult expression on her face. When she looked at Jackson, she found him utterly resolved. "Fine. It's mine and I won’t leave it here, okay?" Neither of their faces changed and Vega could tell they already knew this, even before she said it. "Whatever."