“Sure,” Rae said. She dug in her pack and pulled out ten silver pennies and held them out for all to see. “This is it right?”
“Yeah,” Brandon said. “That’s it.” He watched the old woman take the coins and wait for the others.
“You guys are sleeping outside?” Rae asked.
“No,” Wendell said and paid her. The others followed and soon they were all following her to the traveler wagon.
It was offset from the main group and appeared small. It was a wagon but shaped like a wooden cylinder with a round door in the back of the wagon and a staircase that could be raised and tied off. She untied the stairs, lowered them and then opened the door. The group followed her one by one up the stairs and through the door.
Once in they all stood, transfixed. The inside was far, far larger than the outside. They were looking at what was a modern apartment. The living room had couches and lounge chairs facing a large screen television hanging on the wall. Beyond it was the kitchen, with a table and chairs set next to a breakfast bar.
“Come,” the old woman said. “I show you.” She walked to the center of the living room. “To use tee-vee box you tell it what you want.” She then moved on the kitchen waving them to follow. “To use food box,” she pointed to what looked like a half fridge laying on its side. “You touch it and then tell it what you want.” She waved them to follow and moved past the fridge. She opened a door into a luscious bathroom. “Each has private room. When you open door it’s just yours, even if someone went in already.” She pointed to the end of the hallway where there were five doors. “Each has own room.”
“Oh my god,” Rae whispered. She opened the bathroom door, went in and closed it. It had a latch lock and she locked it, even though she was told it was her private bathroom. She had been a long time without a proper restroom. Doing your business squatting in the desert hoping you’re not seen and bugs don’t crawl up inside you is not the most pleasant of experiences. She also had not had a decent bath or shower in quite some time.
She stripped, used the toilet, then was in the shower, soaking under the hot stream with water pressure she could adjust just to the point of hurting, and temperature just to the point of burning, and then dialed both back one notch which made it perfect. The shower was perfect, and it drained away everything. It drained away the dirt, the bugs, the boar-men, her mom. Tears began to well. Her emotions were right there on the surface. That devil woman brought them out. The constant fighting brought them out.
Her mom had troubles, very much like her daughter Kissiah’s troubles. And she was the forgotten, tossed aside result of those troubles. Rae used the water to help her push it back into its box. She needed to bury it back where it was.
She put her clothes back on and then left the bathroom. She wasn’t sure how long she had been, but the men were sitting on the couch watching some movie on the television. Different types of food refuse were scattered about the table. One of them had barbeque, another Chinese, and another had McDonald’s cheeseburgers, about a dozen of them.
She went to the food box, touched the screen. It hummed to life. When she was stationed Lejeune she had found this food truck parked behind a laundromat in Jacksonville. It was a family owned Mexican food truck and it had a line that wrapped around the edge of the building. She figured, what the hell and ordered the shrimp and steak burrito. It had been the best she’s ever had. Every place she’s been after she tried to get one, but nothing could compare.
“A number seven,” she said to the foodbox, “from Paco’s Mexi-Treat Truck in Jacksonville North Carolina.”
She waited but heard nothing and then just opened the door. And there, on a plate, was the burrito, with the cheese sauce smothering the top of it and the freshly deep-fried tortilla chips scattered about. She took the plate and ate it and it was better than she remembered it.
Each bite was a memory, her time as a Marine, her time in the service. Each bite was joy. Her happy times. She realized her power then, thanks to the Corps. She ate, and then got a bottle of tequila and drank while she stared at what was some super hero movie she cared nothing about. But she was staring at noise and moving pictures sitting in an overstuffed easy chair with her feet up. She missed her kids. She missed her Urto, her giant furry teddy bear, her heart. Not that she’d tell him that, he tended to get too mushy.
————
Hiking across the rocking crags of the wasteland were not easy. At least they didn’t have to worry about sinking sand or the worms crawling up to eat their feet. But the rocks weren’t that stable and there was always the risk of a rolling rock slipping and trapping a limb.
It didn’t help that about midmorning Rae spotted what looked like a shaggy dog with about twelve legs and a giant hanging jaw ridged with sharp teeth hop out of a crevice, look directly at them, and then drop back into one.
“I call them the Shaggy DA’s,” Wendell said.
“That’s psychotic,” Martin replied, holding his lightning crossbow at the ready.
“Could be, they ate me like three times before I figured out how to avoid them.”
They all stopped and stared at Wendell. Wendell turned and looked at them confused. “What?” he asked them.
“How could you not tell us that?” Brandon said, exasperated. “I mean, you talked like this hike was no big deal. How did you not tell us that something here ate you three fucking times?”
“Now it is easy,” Wendell said.
“How do we avoid them, Wendell?” Rae asked in her best mom voice she could muster. Wendell still looked confused and felt like she was about to start counting.
“Stay out of the big crags,” he said.
“Why would we go into the big crags?” Brandon asked.
“Yeah,” Erin said. “Why would do you do that?”
They heard rock moving and they all snapped their heads around in unison. One of the giant rocks was rolling and were there was once a large crag it was replaced by what looked like a smooth step across. Wendell pointed with a ‘see’ face.
“Wait,” Erin said. “They’re laying a trap?”
“Yeah,” Wendell said, shrugging. “Keep your eyes out, if you see that happen, avoid it.”
“That’s just fucking great,” Rae said and continued hopping from rock to rock.
“How did that get you three times, Wendell?” Erin asked.
“I was still new.”
————
Merchant’s Oasis was a heavy stream of water erupting from a crack in a massive boulder gushing out in a long heavy arc with some degree of force. It splashed deeply into the oasis pool created and fed by this never-ending stream of water.
Set around the large pool of water were tents of all types and make. Each one a merchant’s tent selling everything you could imagine. Set farther back were a cluster of wagons, similar to the traveler wagons that the group had slept in the night before. Sitting next to the wagons was a family. They surrounded a camp fire as they prepared their daily meal. They were strongly similar to the last group that they rented the wagons from; eerily similar.
The smell of food preparations was strong through the camp. Near the back end of the camp, set near what appeared to be a split in a giant boulder creating a narrow passage, was a sign that read ‘the pit’.
Near the front entrance to the oasis was a shrine. They all went to it and entered, hearing the “you’re bound” before leaving. Someone that had been sitting off to the side watching them enter and was standing there waiting for them as they exited the shrine.
“Hi,” the young woman said. “My name is Edaline Otero. My friends call me Eddie.”
“Hi,” Wendell said walking up to her. “How can we help you?”
“You’re them, aren’t you?” Eddie asked. “The ones that got rid of the monster that took over the camp?”
“Yes, we are,” Brandon said. “But I don’t recall any women there. The troops were all male.”
“We weren’t,
they made us all leave. Something about the new army and women being a distraction. He had a lot of people convinced.”
“He was crazy,” Martin said.
“You can come share our meal if you like,” Eddie said. “We don’t have much, but we are thankful for what you did.”
“Thank you for your kind offer,” Wendell said. “But we have further work we have to attend to. How are you and the others faring?”
“They have no free food here,” Eddie said. “But there are enough that take pity on folks and at least keep them from starving. It seems the only work is the Pit, they keep sending people there to ‘learn and earn’ they say.”
“Yeah,” Wendell said, exhaling heavily. “That’s where I got my start. It’s not bad, and they’ll buy everything you find.”
“Yeah,” she said. “Slowly but surely, we’re getting more.”
“Some advice,” Wendell said. “Go in as a group, keep tight, clear it all out, collect everything and sell all that you can’t use, then do it again.”
“We figured out that’s the best way. Some new comers get angry and try to attack us instead,” she nodded to a group of them near the shrine. “They are some of the new soldiers you made leave and now they’re here.”
Wendell left the conversation and walked right to the group of men. They all stood, standing ready. Some were dressed better than they were at Yar’s Camp, most were not. Rae went to follow him, to back him up, but Erin held his hand out to stop her.
“Wait,” Erin said. “Let’s see what he does.”
“So,” Wendell said. “I hear you’re trying to victimize these people again.”
“That’s bullshit,” one of them said, his hand on his sword hilt.
“Wait,” the other said. “Look, all we want is a fair shake. They’re going in as a large group and clearing out everything in the pit, leaving nothing for us.”
“Go in after dark,” Wendell said.
“What?” the lead man asked. “After dark?”
“Yeah, the haul is richer. And stakes are higher as the critters are bit more dangerous. But you boys can handle that I bet. No risk, no reward.” He smiled at them and then returned to the group.
Once back Wendell smiled at Eddie. “You should have an easier time. I gave him some advice.”
“Thank you,” Eddie said, looking relieved.
“Eddie,” Rae said. “If you need anything, let me know.” She looked Eddie directly in the eyes. “If they start to bother you.”
“I will,” she said. “You’re the crazy witch that they talk about, aren’t you?”
“Crazy witch?” Rae asked, getting irritated.
“Yeah, you scared the shit out of them,” Eddie was grinning.
“You fought in the arenas too,” Rae said. “And you let them do that?”
“Yeah,” Eddie said. “It took a while. But I got good at sword and shield. Until I tried to leave. Three times I went out and was killed by those boar-men on the first two tries. The second time it,” she paused as her voice caught in her throat. “It wasn’t as fast as the first. The third time the werewolf things ate me.”
“I understand,” Rae said, her voice dropping.
“I was done. I didn’t want to do it again.”
“But you came here?” Rae asked.
“Yeah, it took a few trips for some folks. Those shaggy things would jump on top of folks and just eat them.”
“You made it okay?” Rae asked.
“Yeah, been trying to build back up. It’s still scary. Are you staying here?”
“No, passing through, but here, come with me.” Rae led Eddie to one of the merchant tents while the rest of her group looked at her, confused.
Rae bought a saber and shield and gave them to Eddie.
“I can’t really tell if they’re good,” she said. “But they’ll be better than nothing.”
“I can’t,” Eddie said. “Thank you. I don’t know what to say.”
“Do good. Pay it forward.”
“I will.”
They embraced, and Eddie nodded a goodbye and left.
“I’m waiting on you,” Rae yelled at the men.
————
Lobster, king crab legs, extremely large prawns, Kobe Wagyu steaks, all with the highest quality aged wine. They were eating a feast reserved for the wealthiest of the wealthy of their world. They were all laughing and telling stories about their families, their lives, and their time in the world before the Wasteland.
“What’s tomorrow?” Martin asked.
“We head to the Mountain Retreat,” Wendell said. “It’s further south, up the mountains. Then, from there, we head to the Lost Mine.”
“That sounds ominous,” Brandon said.
“It is,” Erin said, looking at Wendell sideways. “It’s a mine filled with Undead but rumored to have gold and gemstones galore.”
“We’re not going in, Erin,” Wendell smiled at him, drinking some more wine.
“Then what?” Rae asked, dipping a fork full of lobster into more butter.
“We head to Boar Camp.”
“What?” Erin asked. “I don’t know that one.”
“Nope, most really don’t go there. It’s not an easy trip.”
“It’s filled with those pig things isn’t it?” Martin asked, glancing at Rae for her reaction.
“Yep,” Wendell said, grinning.
“Why the fuck would we go there?” Rae asked, her voice showing her flash irritation.
“That’s not our destination, just a stop. From there we head to the City-State of Altemickhus.”
“Okay,” Erin said, “the rest I get. I know there is a shack at the Old Mine we can lock ourselves in and sleep, if we can ignore the howling. But where do we sleep in the Boar’s Camp?”
Wendell pulled out a napkin and began drawing. “When we’re about two thirds to the camp there is a shrine.” He drew it out. “Altemickhus is just about twenty to twenty-five miles from the shrine.”
“We can camp in the shrine?” Rae asked.
“No, we can’t,” Erin said.
“But we can regenerate,” Wendell said. “And that tends to run a full night.”
“I don’t understand,” Martin said.
“Reverse your aging,” Brandon said. “I did it a lot. And Wendell’s right. You basically sleep in those pods and when you wake up at dawn you’re refreshed and a lot younger.”
“Wait,” Rae said. “Younger? How much younger?”
“They do a bit at a time,” Brandon said. “Depends on how old you are. But the time is about the same.”
“What else can they do?” Rae asked.
“They can fix any problems you have,” Erin said. “Eyesight, old injuries, diseases, you name it. With enough trips to the pod you can pretty much end up a perfect version of you.”
“They can change things too,” Brandon said, grinning a huge shit eating grin.
“You got a bigger dick, didn’t you?” Raevyn asked and then rolled her eyes when they all laughed.
Brandon held up his hands showing how big and they all descended into silly wine induced giggles and laughter.
————
Dawn came all too quickly. They roused, showered, drank coffee and ate.
“We’ll have to stop and pick up travel rations,” Wendell said.
“Why?” Rae asked.
“We’re almost out and we won’t have the wagons to stay in after we leave,” Wendell explained.
“Your box works in here right?” Rae asked.
“Yeah,” Wendell said, “I don’t see why not.”
“And you can take food and turn it into cards?”
“Yeah,” Wendell said and then his face changed as he realized what she was saying.
“What?” Martin asked.
“The foodbox,” Rae said. “Just make all the meals we want, then turn them into cards.”
“That’s fucking brilliant!” Erin yelled.
“I don
’t understand why you guys didn’t think of it,” Rae said.
“Too much like home, maybe,” Wendell said.
“I think it’s because you’re still stunned at Brandon getting a giant penis,” Erin said, laughing.
Wendell gave Erin the ‘too funny’ look and began ordering meals from the food box. They all did. It became a game. Soon they had stacks and stacks of cards. All full-fledged meals representing what all of them liked best and missed the most from back home. They packed up and left the wagon.
The trail out of the oasis was easy to find. It took them to a set of stairs carved out of solid rock. They were narrow stairs leading straight up. The group began climbing. After the first hour their legs started burning. After the second hour their backs were hurting and their shoulders were in pain. Another half an hour more they came to a flat rest area. There were benches, a water pump to get fresh water and tables to sit and relax. They all took an hour break, resting as much as they could before continuing. After another two and a half hours there was another rest.
That rest threatened to be their permanent one as they were all in pain and exhausted beyond anything they had before.
“Get up!” Martin said, kicking Rae’s boot. “Time to go.”
“I don’t know…” Brandon said, his voice trailing off.
“Move, Marine!” Martin’s voice barked, and Rae found herself standing.
“Fuck you,” she whispered and then joined in getting everyone up.
“Get up!” Rae barked.
“Move your asses!” Martin snapped.
“Don’t quit now, we’re almost there,” Rae said, leaning over to Wendell. “This is your idea. You going to wimp out?”
“I’m too old,” Wendell wined.
“I’m fifty-four,” Rae whispered in his ear.
He looked at her, surprised. “But,” his voice trailed off.
“No shrine trip for me. I don’t look it, but I am,” she said. “So, get up, stop being lazy!”
Slowly the remaining three stood. They continued and near the end they all helped each other finish the last nine miles of the hike climbing the stairs on all fours. They finally reached the top and collapsed breathing in drenched sweat. Before them was a gigantic temple carved into the mountain.
Awakenings Page 6