I was good. I gained control. I lifted my shirt over my nose and entered the house again.
To our right looked like a dining room. “I’ll go check the kitchen,” Michael said. “You okay to go down the hall?”
“Yes,” I told him, patting my revolver.
“Just shoot any Sleepers you find,” he instructed.
Another nod. I didn’t want to breathe. He moved into the dining room and I walked down the hall. The first door was a bathroom; the door was open, and no one was in there. There were three other doors, and perhaps one of them was a basement door.
I grabbed the first doorknob. The door was slightly ajar.
“Mera!” Michael called just as I stepped into the room.
I paused, readying to run back.
“I found a radio. A good one.”
“Good!” I shouted back.
“It works.”
I walked into the bedroom. And then I lost it.
Any battle I waged to keep my stomach contents from erupting was lost right then and there.
There was a woman on the bed, her age hard to tell because her face was so badly decomposed. Her head was tilted to the right, one arm crossed over her forehead. She wore a dress and her legs were spread wide open. Between them, on the bed, was a huge pool of dried blood. The placenta and umbilical cord, which looked like some badly discolored beef jerky, was still attached and it partially protruded from her vagina. In the center of that blood stain, between her thighs, was the child she’d delivered. A child stillborn into the world, it was evident by the missing facial features. Even decomposed it was still smooth like an ivory statue.
The sight of the woman and child alone wasn’t what caused the final straw in my attempt to hold back my regurgitation. It was the fact that her body, everything but her face, had been picked apart and eaten. Flesh removed right down to the bone in some spots. She was there like a buffet for the Sleepers, available for them to take their pick at her when the urge to feed hit them.
And that tiny newborn, the one who never got a chance to take his first breath? His precious little body wasn’t immune to the hunger of the Sleepers either.
That was it for me.
Michael shouted that he had something. What it was, I didn’t get because my ears rang, my throat swelled and with a mouth full of vomit I raced from the room.
I heaved out my stomach contents in the hall and after a brief reprieve, I raced for the front door.
Air. I needed air.
I blasted out the screen door full speed, hoping that the open air would somehow save me. Just as I leapt to the front porch, I saw the front end of the truck.
I gasped so hard in relief that I nearly choked on the remaining vomit in my mouth.
Beck had made it back.
I spat, wiped my hand over my mouth, and readied to call Beck’s name but stood in shock at the next voice I heard.
“Why is this poor child all tied up with a garden hose? Now, that’s bad parenting. At least use a rope.”
Speechless, breathless, I slowly turned my head to the right to see Alex untying Jessie. Was I dreaming? Was it real? Did I pass out in the house and was somehow having delusions?
“Mera?” he called, tilting his head with a smile. “Did you just throw up again? I know that look.”
I wasn’t dreaming.
Releasing the biggest gut wrenching scream of happiness, I flew to Alex at such a force that when I connected with him, I nearly knocked him over.
“Whoa. Whoa.” Alex put his arms around me. “Good to see you, too.”
“You were part of saving us. I knew it. I knew it.” I spoke rushed and out of breath. I placed my hands to his cheeks and kissed him quick then I did those mother-type kisses, quick, jabbing, over and over. “Thank you. Thank you.”
“Wow, this is pretty cool.” Alex laughed. “But, uh, I think your boy over there is getting jealous.”
As fast as I hit Alex, that was how fast I spun around.
Danny.
Oh my God, Danny. I thought I’d never see my son again. And there he was standing next to Beck. I raced to him, throwing my arms around him. He mumbled my name, but I guess I was smothering him. I clenched him tight, and turned my head to look at Beck. Then I saw Phoenix.
Buried within the hold of Beck’s huge arms, Phoenix squirmed. I smiled so widely that my face hurt. It was unbelievable. I didn’t know who to hug first.
I had to catch my breath. Get my bearings. I brought my hand to Beck’s arm and gripped it tight. “You amaze me. You know that?”
“You say that now...” Beck smiled peacefully.
“Randy.” I peered round Beck. “Where’s Randy?”
Beck bit his lip, Danny looked away, and then I turned to Alex. Alex had his hand on the back of his head with an apprehensive look.
“Oh, God,” I gasped. “He’s dead?”
“No. No!” Alex held out his hand and walked to me. “No. He’s fine. He’s safe. He’s at the ARC. He wasn’t with us. We came out to make sure you guys were safe. I’ll see him when we take Phoenix back.”
A squeak of the screen door brought Michael to the porch. I saw Alex and Danny ready to greet him, but Michael spoke before they could.
“You can’t do that. You can’t take Phoenix there,” Michael said.
I turned around and looked at Michael. He was pale, he looked as if he had seen a ghost. My first thought was that he’d seen the woman on the bed.
Beck chuckled. “What do you mean?”
“If you want to figure out a plan to get Randy, you do so," Michael said. “But you can’t take Phoenix there.”
“Padre,” Alex moved to him in a pacifying manner. “It’s good to see you alive. Listen, Phoenix is the cure. As much as I would rather not have him there, for the future of mankind, he has to get the ARC.”
“No, the Doctrines state that mankind’s only chance is to get him to the New Jerusalem,” Michael said.
“Same difference. That’s what we’re saying,” Alex argued. “He has to get back to the ARC.”
“No, he has to get to the New Jerusalem,” Michael said passionately. “Not the ARC.”
Beck moved to Michael. “Mike, isn’t that the same place?”
“No,” Michael said, “we were wrong. All wrong. Randy was wrong. The ARC isn’t the New Jerusalem.”
Alex asked. “How do you know?”
Michael pointed back to the house with his thumb. “Because I just spoke to them.”
“The ARC?” questioned Beck.
“No,” Michael answered with a shake of his head. “The New Jerusalem.”
13. MERA STEVENS
The open kitchen windows provided enough of a breeze to ventilate the house and relieve some of the smell, but not enough. Alex sprayed air freshener every chance he got. We had to go into the kitchen because the radio was in there. That’s where it was when we picked up the signal and we didn’t want to take a chance that we’d lose that signal if we moved it.
“I heard them. I thought they’d keep talking,” Michael said.
“What did they say?” Beck asked.
“Dude,” Danny said, “I gotta get out of here.” With Phoenix in his arms, he took Jessie’s hand and led her outside.
Alex watched them leave then turned to Michael. “What exactly did they say?’
“Their words were, ‘We are a second facility. We seek others and trust with the appropriate elements we can make a secure future.’”
I interjected, “The appropriate element, meaning Phoenix.”
“I didn’t say anything about Phoenix. It was a chance call. I asked where they were after the announcement ended and got nothing. No response.”
“It could have been a recording,” Beck suggested.
“What the hell is this?” Alex threw out his hands. “It’s the ARC playing games.”
Michael shook his head. “I don’t know. I do know this, they began their announcement with ‘This is the New Jerusalem. We are
with people from Project Savior.’ That, my friend, is what makes me think they are the real thing.”
Alex heaved out a breath. “Fine. Pack up the radio and remember the frequency. We need to make a plan.” He took another breath. “I can’t take this smell.” Alex walked out, taking the can of air freshener with him.
Beck and I followed, leaving Michael to pack up the radio.
Project Savior. That title stuck in my mind because Randy had used that name when he explained the virus to us. The virus wasn’t supposed to be deadly; it was supposed to enhance those who were exposed to it, and those people from the future were part of Project Savior. The deliverers of the virus.
It made sense to me that if those with Project Savior made the virus, then with Project Savior’s knowledge and Phoenix’s blood they could create a vaccine and cleanse the virus. For some reason, I had a feeling that Beck and Alex would strongly disagree.
I walked around the house to the front yard. Alex had a map spread out on the hood of the truck. He was discussing strategy with Beck. Danny listened in, but Jessie seemed focused on something on the side of the house. I glanced around, didn’t see anyone and called for her.
She dragged her feet in the dirt and reluctantly made her way to me, still looking back at the house.
I grabbed her hand and pulled her. She pointed.
Ah … the storm hatch on the cellar door of the home intrigued her. She knew that we’d looked for a basement.
By the time I returned, Beck and Alex had hatched a quick plan, and I was out of the loop. Of course, so was Michael.
“So that’s it,” Alex folded the map.
“Excuse me?” I moved closer. “What is it?”
Beck replied, “We both agree that the bombs probably came from Denver, maybe Colorado Springs. So if we move north through Nebraska into South Dakota, we should be good.”
“So we’re not hunkering down here?” I asked.
“This isn’t a good place,” Beck said. “You know that, and I’m sure we will be safe from fallout if we take that route. I’m not worried about the Sleepers as much as what occurred here.”
“You didn’t see those Sleepers, Beck.” I said. “Something was wrong.”
Alex laughed. “Mera, they’re Sleepers. They’re never right unless they’re Jessie.”
“No, they were different. I can’t put my finger on it.” I shook my head. “So the plan is to move north, and then stay or go or what?”
Alex looked at Beck and then to me. “I’ll travel with you guys until we hear from the ARC. At that time, I’ll go to them with Phoenix.”
My mouth dropped open. “What about the New Jerusalem?”
“Mera,” Alex said, “we don’t even know if it exists. We know the ARC does, and we know it’s a fully functional facility. They have to have access to Phoenix, not for the future, but for now. You saw those people in there.” Alex pointed to the house. “That kind of thing can’t be allowed to continue.”
I laughed in disbelief. “And you think that they’ll cure it that fast, so fast that they can keep anyone else from getting sick?”
Alex shrugged.
“Mera,” Beck said softly, “me, you, Jessie, and Danny, we’ll head north, then maybe east for a while, organize and try to come up with a plan for the winter. Right now, we aren’t thinking about the winter because it’s so damn hot. It’ll come around.”
“That’s why we should head east, to the New Jerusalem.”
“What’s out east?” Alex asked. “The what?”
“The New Jerusalem. They radioed.”
“You heard Michael; they made no mention of east.” Alex laughed at me; that irritated me.
“The Doctrines said east.”
“Yeah, well, the Doctrines also said the padre was the Son of God. You wanna believe that, too?” He looked up. “Sorry, Padre.”
I looked over my shoulder and saw Michael standing there with the radio.
“That’s totally blasphemous,” Michael stated.
“Well, that’s what the Doctrines said,” Alex replied. “I got as far as your rising from the grave, the St. Francis of Assisi thing with the Sleepers, or Palers as the Doctrines call them, and that’s it. I didn’t get a chance to talk to Randy because we left to find Mera and Beck.”
“Well, that’s ridiculous,” Michael whispered.
“I’m beginning to think the Doctrines aren’t all that prescient, and maybe they’re a bit fictional. Just sayin’.” Alex tilted his head. “Aside from saying you’re the Son of God, supposedly Mera here and Bill hook up, fall in love and live happily ever after.” He looked me.
“What?”
“I was expecting a response. I don’t know, like a laugh.”
“Um, did you see Bill?” I asked. “Bill was very handsome.”
“Yeah, in a geeky way,” Alex snorted.
“Enough,” Beck held up his hand. “Bill’s gone, so that is not even an argument. However, and no offense, Michael, I don’t think you are the Second Coming.”
“No offense taken.” Michael replied.
“So with that in mind, we can’t bank on the New Jerusalem being anything but the ARC,” Beck said. “We don’t know what’s east. They bombed the west. We’re clear here of Sleepers, but how far east did they drop bombs?” Beck shook his head. “I say we all go north and wait to hear more from this place. In the meantime, we’ll plan on Alex taking Phoenix back to the ARC. Danny doesn’t have to go with them.”
“And I go back because I gave my word,” Alex looked at me.
“I don’t want you to,” I told him.
“I don’t want to go, either. But afterward I’ll meet up with you guys with Randy and the baby. Beck’s promised to leave a message when you move on. I’ll find you. Going north is best. Maybe you, Beck, Padre, and the kids will settle somewhere, and I won’t have to look far.”
It was when he used the word ‘kids’ and ‘settle’ that I turned my head to look for a glimpse of Jessie. She had wandered off again. She was standing next to the cellar hatch.
“Jessie,” I scolded. “Sweetie.”
“Ma!” She pointed to the hatch.
“Come on.” I pulled her arm.
She pulled away. “Ma. No. Ma!” She pointed at the cellar door.
It took a second, but then her stubbornness registered. If I hadn’t been so distracted by all that was going on, I might have noticed that she was adamant. Too adamant.
“Beck,” I called then waved my hand to summon him.
It didn’t take him long to come over. The others followed.
“What’s up?” Beck asked.
“I don’t know. But she’s really focused on this hatch.”
Beck stepped closely to her. “Jess, hon, what is it?”
Jessie only pointed.
“Is there something there?” Beck asked.
Then Alex arrogantly stepped forward. “Okay, now, really? Why are we asking her? Just open the damn hatch and show her it’s clear.” Alex reached down.
I wanted to tell him to stop, even though I believed myself that the hatch was clear, and my daughter was showing juvenile curiosity.
Michael muttered, “Might not be a good idea,” but Beck stepped back, raising his weapon.
Alex confidently opened the hatch.
Did I expect anything to be in the cellar? A Sleeper maybe, after my run in with Ma and Pa Cannibal Kettle, but I didn’t expect – nor did I think Alex expected – to be face to face with a shotgun.
I heard it rack a shell into the chamber.
Alex raised his hands. Beck charged forward aiming his gun. I grabbed for Danny and clutched Phoenix tightly.
I’d never heard Beck use such a harsh, soldierly voice. “Sir, lower your weapon.”
“No, you lower your weapon,” he said. “You’re on my land.”
I couldn’t see the man in the storm cellar, but I could see Beck. He aimed and stared into that hole. It was a standoff.
“All righ
t, all right,” Alex intervened. “This isn’t the OK Corral. No one is shooting anyone. Only reason we opened your little hideaway was to see what the girl was pointing at.?” Alex shifted his eyes to Beck then look down into the cellar. “We aren’t here to hurt you or steal anything, we just stopped by. We’re leaving. We’ll let you keep hiding.” Alex showed him his palms and slowly reached for the hatch. “I’ll close this, and we’ll be on our way.”
“Wait,” the man called as Alex began to close the hatch.
I watched Beck lower his weapon, indicating to me that the man I couldn’t see had obviously lowered his.
“Wait.” The man’s voice softened, and I watched a bare arm reach to hold open the hatch.
A moment later, surprising even me, the man emerged.
14. MERA STEVENS
He was sweating, and it was obvious that the sunlight bothered his eyes. He asked for a moment and walked to a hand water pump that was hidden by a garbage can.
He pumped a bucket, poured it over his head, then pumped some more.
“You all are welcome to help yourselves; there's plenty.”
Water had never truly been a problem with us, especially at the church, but it had been a couple of days since I had actually washed or felt clean. We’d all appreciate a bucket of cool water to wash off the sweat and grime.
“I’ll fill one up,” Alex said without hesitation.
The man handed Alex the bucket with one hand and extended his other. “Sonny Richards.”
Alex took the bucket. “Thank you for the water, Sonny.” He promptly dumped it over his head.
Sonny flashed a quick, nervous smile. He was about Alex’s age. He probably was blond; it was hard to tell with his wet hair. He had a familiar look to him; something about his demeanor was familiar to me, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I knew I would remember eventually.
His body looked strong and healthy, although not muscular. He wore a pair of tan work pants cut off around the knee, a wife beater, and boots without socks.
He walked toward the house and reached behind a bush, lifting two more empty buckets. He turned. “Anyone else?”
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