Desolate - The Complete Trilogy

by Robert Brumm

  Seventeen

  One breath. That’s all it would take. It would hurt as water rushed into his lungs, but only for a second, really. No more running, no more suffering. He kept tugging at the seat belt, still unable to make it work and not understanding why. The van stopped moving as the last of the air bubbles escaped through the windows and ascended to the surface. He must be at the bottom of the harbor.

  Movement in the murky darkness. A pair of hands groped him. Suddenly the pressure of the seat belt lessened and he was being pulled from the van. Soo. Even in the depths of the harbor he could make out her long dark hair swirling over her face. Her eyes, filled with terror, pierced the murky water as she pulled him close then kicked, pulling him upward.

  Kick. Fight. Don’t take that last breath.

  The pressure in his ears lessened and the murky darkness cleared. Howard exhaled a second before surfacing and sucked in a deep breath of air. Water burned inside his chest and he coughed. Soo didn’t lessen her grip.

  “Howard! Are you okay?” she screamed into his ear. She didn’t even seem out of breath.

  He didn’t answer, just continued breathing and coughing but he managed a smile at her. She threw her arms around him and squeezed, causing both of them to go under for a second. Howard coughed again and she laughed, apologizing for almost drowning him.

  Dave treaded water ten feet away. Emily had both arms around his neck and dared to let go with one for a quick wave to Howard.

  “Come on,” Soo said. “We have to get to the boat. Can you swim?”

  Howard nodded and started swimming for the yacht. They approached the rear of the boat and pulled themselves up onto the swim platform. Everyone sat for a moment to catch their breath and to take in the view of the dock. Every square inch appeared to be filled with the creatures. The hunters sat and stared, patiently waiting to see if their prey would return to shore.

  Dave slowly stood up. “Come on. Let’s see if we can get this thing under way.” They searched the yacht – an 84-foot Azimut. Very luxurious, very Italian, and very expensive. As Soo suspected, the ship’s tender, a rigid-hulled inflatable boat, was missing. The passengers and crew had gone ashore at one point and never returned. They were relieved to find no bodies in any area of the boat.

  Soo sat down at the controls, feeling less than confident as the others watched over her shoulder. Her uncle’s salmon boat was old and analog, nothing but the basics. What she sat in front of now looked like the cockpit of a space shuttle; she wasn’t even sure how to start the engines. But even though it had cost millions, it was still just a boat.

  “I’ll figure it out,” she said. “I just need some time.”

  Howard, Dave, and Emily left her alone and explored the rest of the yacht. They had lost the meager rations and supplies they had taken from the hotel, but it didn’t matter. The ship’s galley had been recently stocked and there was plenty to eat and drink. The perishable food had long passed but there was enough dry and canned goods, drinks, and water to last for at least a week. All three decks were beautifully appointed, the four sleeping cabins cozy and comfortable.

  “Tell you what,” Dave said as he stood out on the sundeck, “we have a knack for finding some pretty nice places to crash. First the resort, and now this little dingy.” He opened the wet bar minifridge and studied the label on a bottle of champagne inside. “At this rate, I’m gonna get spoiled.”

  “You’re telling me,” Howard said. “Don’t forget where I was living the past few months, before all this.”

  A low rumble emerged from the bowels of the yacht as the engines started. A plum of light blue smoke floated up from the stern, and a muffled victory cry, courtesy of Soo, was heard from below. They rushed down to find her smiling behind the wheel.

  “Piece of cake.” She grinned. “She’s almost full on fuel and water and the GPS signal is loud and clear.”

  “Yeah,” Howard mused. “I suppose those satellites will be zipping around up there for years to come. At least some sort of technology was spared from what happened down here.”

  Soo found the anchor controls and retracted it from the harbor floor. She engaged the propellers and slowly increased power. Within just a few minutes they left the infested city behind as they cleared the mouth of the harbor.

  Dave placed his hand on Soo’s shoulder. “Good job, girl. Fishin’ didn’t help land you a husband, but you sure saved our hides.”

  She put her hand on his and squeezed. “Don’t forget your driving back there. If I had stayed at the wheel, we’d be goners.”

  Dave’s smile faded and he looked out the window. “Do me a favor and head a few miles up the coast to the west, would ya? I just need a little breathing room from the city and I’ll be saying my goodbyes.”

  “Goodbyes?” Howard’s jaw dropped. “What are you talking about?”

  “You guys don’t need me anymore. You’re in good hands here.” He nodded at Soo. “I’m staying on dry land.”

  “But why?”

  “Let’s just say I made a promise a while back. And I never go back on my word. I still have some unfinished business here.”

  “Don’t you wanna go to ’Merica?” Emily asked.

  Dave squatted down and put his hands around her waist. “Maybe someday, hon. Maybe never. Just promise me you’ll look after these two. Okay? I’m making you honorary squad leader so don’t be afraid to kick a little ass.”

  Emily giggled.

  Howard and Soo stared at him. “Christ, stop acting like this is my funeral. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. Believe it or not I’ve been in some shit even worse than this.”

  Soo rose from the chair and hugged him. “You’re a terrible liar. And I think you’re making a mistake.” He hugged her back and just nodded.

  She increased speed to twenty knots and headed north for a mile before turning west. With any luck, most of the creatures watching the yacht had lost interest and moved on as it went out to sea. They sailed up the coast for eight miles to the small town of Sandy Bay. Dave carefully studied the town though binoculars as they slowly drew closer to shore and saw no movement at all. It was as good a as place as any. He hoped he’d be able to scrounge up some supplies and a vehicle.

  Soo brought the yacht as close as forty yards off the beach before she had to stop so it wouldn’t hit bottom. They walked Dave down to the swim platform. He put a knife he had taken from the galley, wrapped in a dishtowel, and tucked it into his pocket. It was just a six-inch utility knife, but like everything else on the yacht, it was top of the line and razor sharp. He took comfort in knowing that if he couldn’t find anything useful in Sandy Bay, he’d at least have a decent knife. Something a marine should always carry.

  Howard offered his hand and Dave pulled him in for a hug. “Take care of these girls.” He patted him on the back.

  “I will. You take care of yourself.”

  He hugged Soo and Emily and jumped off the platform. They watched as he swam to shore, gave them a final wave from the beach, and scrambled up to the road.

  “Come on,” Howard said. “Let’s go home.”

  Eighteen

  It was a perfect day to be at sea. The water was calm, the sky was clear, and the wind was light. Soo plotted a course to Cape Cruz, a straight shot, eighty nautical miles away on Cuba’s southern shore. By the time they spotted land, the sun was starting to set. Howard stood on the bow with binoculars and looked for lights on the shore.

  Based on the limited information the GPS map provided, Cabo Cruz looked like the remote, sleepy little town it predicted. Howard didn’t know much about Cuba, and for all he knew the town never had electricity to begin with. From a mile off shore it was impossible to tell if the village was decimated like Jamaica or if it always looked dark after dusk. Soo dropped anchor, tired after sailing for over five hours and needing to rest. Howard studied the shore well after dark and never saw a thing.

  Howard carefully reached over Emily and clicked off the bedside light. She mut
tered something and clicked her teeth together a couple of times before her breathing slowed again. He sat on the bed for a moment, watching her sleep and enjoying the simple love he felt for the little girl wash over him. Some of the best moments he had with his daughter, Lilly, involved watching her sleep. He’d often stand beside her crib at night, watching her chest rise and fall in the moonlight. Emily may not be his daughter, but he found he cared for her just as deeply.

  He quietly crept out of the cabin, left the door open a crack, and stretched his muscles in the passageway. Earlier, after enjoying a hot but quick shower, and changing into a ridiculously fluffy robe, he’d told Emily a bedtime story. She only lasted about ten minutes before nodding off, which suited him fine. He was pretty wiped out, yet oddly contented and relaxed. He felt optimistic, glad to be on the move. He had no idea what to expect once they reached the States, but for now he enjoyed the present.

  Soo, holding a bottle of water, padded down the steps in her bare feet. Her hair was still damp from her own shower and she wore an extra-large T-shirt she’d found in the master cabin’s wardrobe. It came down almost to her knees.

  “Is she sleeping?” she whispered.

  “Yep. Out like a light.”

  Soo nodded and took a sip of her water. “I can’t stop thinking about Dave. Do you think he’s all right?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure he’s fine. If there’s one guy I’ll never worry about, it’s him.”

  She took another sip and tucked her hair behind her ear. She glanced at the door behind her. “Are you sure you don’t want to take this one? I almost feel guilty. It’s too nice. That bed in there is three times as big as what I had back home.”

  Howard waved his hand. “Nah, you take it. It’s the captain’s quarters and you’re the captain. I’ll just grab the other bed in here with Emily.”

  Soo chuckled at his captain remark and took another sip of water, appearing nervous. Howard couldn’t imagine why. She tucked her hair behind her ear again, something he could watch her do all day long and never get tired of.

  “Well, uh…” he whispered. “I guess I’ll call it a night.”

  “Okay. Good night.”

  “You too.”

  He turned and took a step toward his door.

  “Howard?”

  He turned around just as she ran into him, slamming him up against the wall. The water bottle hit the floor, splashing cold water on his bare feet. She grabbed the sides of his face and kissed him deeply, a slight moan escaping her lips as she pressed herself against him. Howard’s mind turned in slow motion, taking a second to process that, yes, this was actually happening. He realized his arms still hung at his sides. He finally snapped out of it, embracing Soo and trying to keep up with her eager kisses.

  Somehow they managed to stumble into her cabin. She slipped the T-shirt over her head and untied his robe, pushing it off his shoulders and dropping it to the floor. He ran his hands over the contours of her body. Her smooth skin, hot to the touch, glistened in the dim light of the cabin. He lifted her off her feet and she wrapped her legs around him. Howard lowered her to the bed.

  ****

  They got an early start the next morning. Soo wanted nothing more than to spend the entire day in bed with Howard, making love and enjoying the soft mattress and silk sheets. But sitting a mile off the coast of Cuba wasn’t doing them any good, so she reluctantly got out of bed.

  They headed east, keeping a mile or so off the coastline. After seven hours, they reached the mouth of Guantanamo Bay. They had a good view of the airstrip, which was located directly off shore, but the rest of the US Navy base was positioned deeper in the bay, out of sight. There was no movement on the airfield, no boats or ships of any kind in the bay. It was disappointing to say the least. If they expected to see any sense of normalcy in Cuba, any clues of resistance to the infection, it would have been at Gitmo. Howard tried to convince the girls it meant nothing, but he had doubts of his own.

  Two hours later, they rounded the eastern shore of Cuba. From there it was a straight shot to Miami, four hundred and fifty miles away.

  Howard brought Soo a plate of canned tuna, crackers, and sliced cheese. He set it down and started massaging her shoulders. Despite what had happened the previous night, several times, he felt awkward with the intimate gesture. He was relieved when she moaned in pleasure and told him how good it felt.

  “How’s it going up here?”

  She popped a chunk of cheese into her mouth. “So far, so good. We have less than halfway to go but over half a tank of fuel. I knocked our speed down a few knots, just to be safe.”

  Howard looked out the window to the west. The setting sun painted a spectacular picture of reds, yellows, and oranges.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Soo asked.

  They sailed for a few more hours after dark before stopping for the night. Soo estimated they had about twenty hours to go.

  Their luck with good weather and smooth seas held out another day as they pressed on. Soo insisted they sail through the night. Howard only agreed if she would let him relieve her for a few hours. She showed him the basics and he kept the course while she napped with Emily on the sofa nearby.

  Around two in the morning, Howard woke to Soo quietly calling his name. He hadn’t realized he’d dozed off. He gently slid out from under Emily, who was sleeping on his lap.

  “What’s up?”

  Soo turned the cabin lights all the way down and stared out the window. Howard was about to ask what they were looking at when he saw it. The full moon not only illuminated the waves outside, but the dark Miami skyline in the distance.

  He rushed outside, holding onto the railing as the boat rode the waves. Not a single light on the horizon. Husks of once mighty skyscrapers on the southern edge of downtown still smoldered. A cloud of smoke hung over the city and stung Howard’s nose as it reached the yacht.

  The engines shut down and a moment later Soo was at his side, silent tears rolling down her cheeks. “Dave was right. It’s just more of the same. All gone.”

  Howard stared at the dead city, not wanting to believe. He knew the odds were against them, yet for the past couple of days he couldn’t help but imagine this moment turning out differently: The three of them laughing and hugging and cheering for joy as the brilliant skyline shown as a beacon in the night – the triumphant glow of a city teeming with life. He didn’t realize how badly he wanted it until the harsh reality appeared over the bow of the yacht.

  “What do we do now?” Soo asked.

  He didn’t have an answer.

  Nineteen

  They sat in a daze, exhausted but unable to sleep. Howard suggested they get closer, so Soo started up the engines. It didn’t matter. They sailed just a few hundred yards off the shore of Miami Beach, dark and quiet. Mixed in with the smell of smoke was an all too familiar odor of decomposition. Death. After nothing but fresh sea air, it smelled worse than ever and lowered their spirits even more.

  Not knowing what else to do, they headed north. They sat side by side, not saying a word, consumed with their own thoughts as Emily slept, blissfully unaware. Miles of dark coastline slipped by. Howard was exhausted to the core but knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep. He also knew what they were doing was pointless. They might as well stop for the night and figure out what to do next after a good night’s sleep.

  He looked over at Soo. She stared ahead with glazed eyes, a blank expression on her face. Howard racked his brain for something reassuring to say, something to help lift her spirits, but he knew anything out of his mouth would be hollow.

  Soo furrowed her brow and blinked. “Am I crazy or do you see a light up there?”

  “Huh?” Howard leaned forward and peered out the window. “Where?”

  “Right…” Soo pointed her finger to the left. “Wait a minute. I could have sworn…there! Right there. See it?”

  Howard saw it– a momentary flash of light, followed by a beam shining out to sea before going dark agai
n. A few seconds later it happened again.

  “If I didn’t know better I would swear that’s a lighthouse,” said Soo.

  “I think you’re right. We passed a couple a while ago but they were dark. How can this one still be running?”

  Soo increased the throttle. As they got closer to the lighthouse, the soft glow of surrounding lights filled the sky. Soon they could make out individual lights coming into view as they got closer.

  “What’s up there?” Howard asked.

  Soo pulled up the map on the GPS system. “Mmm…Juno Beach, Juno Ridge…Jupiter. That’s gotta be Jupiter.”

  “Jupiter?”

  Soo pointed at the LCD display. “Right there. Jupiter, Florida.”

  They sailed closer to the beacon that was Jupiter. Miles of shoreline to the north were as dark as where they’d come from. As they got closer they could make out streetlights, signs, and porch lights. All the usual late-night illuminations common in any American town.

  “They have power,” Howard said. “How is this possible?”

  Soo just shook her head and smiled, not having an answer. She knew one thing however, and that was power plants needed people to run them. Left unattended, any kind of plant, from nuclear to coal to natural gas, quickly failed. She remembered that simple fact from those Life After People shows she enjoyed watching years ago.

  The yacht entered Jupiter Inlet, passing a residential area to the right. To the left, dozens of piers and docks lined the shore.

  “Look.” Soo pointed. “Is that a car?”

  A police cruiser came to a stop in the parking lot near one of the public docks. The car’s spotlight came on and shone directly on the yacht.

  Howard squinted at the bright light piercing the cabin’s windows. “I guess we might as well dock.”