The Last Mile Trilogy

by Jacqueline Druga

  “But don’t be surprised if it gets there.” Doc winked.

  “Oh my God.”

  Tate nudged Bishop. “What was it you told Robi? Everyone needs a little head.”

  Nick choked and stood up. “I’m gonna wake my mom. She’s been sleeping long enough.”

  Tate asked, “You think she’s OK?”

  Nick nodded. “Yeah, probably just hung over. When she drinks a lot, she sleeps a lot.

  Tate peered up while examining the saw. “Can you pound on Jeb’s door while you’re up there?”

  With a reply of ‘Sure thing’ Nick went in search of his mom.

  They remained in the kitchen, a sea of silence, until Nick’s very loud “Uh!” made them all jump up.

  <><><><>

  Robi was sleeping half on her stomach and half on her side and jumped to a sitting position when she heard Nick’s scream.

  “What? What’s wrong?” Robi then winced and grabbed her head. “Fuck.”

  Nick pointed. “Why are you guys in bed together?’

  “Huh?” Robbie looked over her shoulder and grunted. “Jeb.”

  “Hmm.” Jeb lay on top of the covers, fully clothed like Robi.

  Robi shook her head as she grabbed it. “We passed out drunk.”

  Jeb spoke, “Speak for yourself, I just fell asleep drunk.”

  “Dudes,” Nick said. “This is like, really disturbing, walking in and seeing my mom in bed with a dude.”

  “As opposed to a woman?” Jed asked.

  Nick gasped.

  “You guys are both asses.” Robi swung her feet over the bed. “God, my head. What the hell did you do to me last night?”

  Nick held up his hand. “I don’t want to know.”

  Robi grunted.

  Jeb sat up. “I feel fine.” He swung his feet to the floor and slipped in his boots, not tying them. “No one made you kill a fifth of Jack.”

  Nick asked, “You killed a fifth?”

  Jeb nodded.

  “No,” Robi said. “Close. But I never get sick off of Jack.”

  “When’s the last time you drank that much Jack and chased it with beer?” Jeb questioned and stood.

  “I don’t know.”

  “There you have it.” Jeb walked around the bed and to the door. “I’m hitting the head and then getting coffee. Nick, is everything OK?”

  “Oh, yeah, I was just coming to wake my mom, you too. Mas is ready to show his radios.”

  “Let’s go check them out. You coming, Nick?”

  “Yep.” He followed Jeb to the door. “Oh, Mom. I’m traumatized.”

  Robi only glared at him.

  “See ya, downstairs.” Nick pulled the door closed.

  Robi plopped backwards on her bed. She would join them downstairs as soon as she stopped getting the urge to gouge her eyeballs from her sockets.

  <><><><>

  If the daggering pain wasn’t bad enough, Robi was ready to kill whoever it was that was using the saw.

  “Tate,” Jeb replied as he handed Robi coffee.

  “God, kill him.” She walked to the table where Mas had items covered.

  “Rob-bee.” Mas smiled. “Well are you not?”

  “No,” Robi said. “I have a terrible headache.”

  “Sorry am I,” Mas said.

  “It’s her own fault,” Nick interjected. “She drank too much last night.”

  Mas looked curiously at him. “Important are liquids.”

  “True.” Nick nodded. “But not alcohol. That’s not important.”

  Mas gasped. “Alcohol.” His eyes widened. “Poison it is.” He looked horrified. “Us deadly too.”

  Robi nodded. “Thanks for the lecture.”

  Mas shuddered, and then chuckled. “Death them to be, should alcohol invaders be fed. A ha!” he nodded. “Yes?”

  They all just stared at him.

  Jeb leaned into Robi. “He wants us to get the enemy drunk.”

  Mas nodded. “Solution. Yes. Difficult is it, know I.”

  “True,” Jeb said. “But you can easily kick a drunk man’s ass.”

  Robi winced. “Can you not talk so loud?”

  “I’m not …” Jeb put his lips ear her ear. “Talking loud.”

  “Asshole.”

  Mas left the room, and returned with a sleeping Martha. “Resting, Martha is. At best is the gift. Her will you hold. Heal shall she.” He extended the baby to Robi. “Tightly.”

  Nick looked up at Robi. “He wants you to hold the baby.”

  Bishop came in the kitchen. “Who took the baby ...oh there she is.”

  Nick said, “Mas wants Martha to heal Mom. She has a headache.”

  Bishop snickered. “He said she healed Greek.”

  Nick chuckled as well. “Yeah, that’s why Tate’s removing his cast.”

  Just as Robi’s hand touched upon Martha, she stopped. “Tate’s doing what?”

  <><><><>

  The buzz of the saw filled the air along with Tate’s laughter. Robi burst into the basement workshop and yanked the plug, stopping all power.

  “What …” she said out of breath. “What are you doing?”

  Tate lifted his goggles. “Hey, Robi.”

  “I said …” She walked to him. “What are you doing?”

  “Cutting off Greek’s cast,” Tate replied.

  “Uh!”

  “Hey, Robi,” Greek said brightly. “No more peeing on myself. They come off today.”

  “No, they don’t,” she argued. “Manny.” She turned to Manny who was covering his mouth in attempt to hide his laughter. “You guys think this is funny? He crushed his goddamn legs. Broke them in so many places, I don’t know if they’ll ever heal, let alone heal in a few days.” She winced in pain. “All of you need your heads examined.”

  Greek declared, “I feel great!”

  “You feel doped on morphine,” Robi replied.

  “No,” Greek insisted, “I haven’t had any. And I feel healed.”

  “You’re not healed,” Robi argued.

  “Rob-bee.” Mas stepped forward. “Healed she did, Martha the legs of Greek.”

  Tate nodded. “What he said. Healed.”

  Robi huffed out.

  Just then … crash. The left cast fell forward from Greek and on to the floor.

  “Great.” Robi tossed her hands up.

  Crash.

  The other fell forward as well.

  Robi covered her face.

  Manny, snickering, approached her quietly, speaking in her ear. “We found an orthopedic clinic. We have the stuff to put a fiber glass cast on him.”

  Dragging her facial skin, Robi slid her hand down her face. “Why would you guys fuck with me like that?”

  Manny shrugged and pointed to Tate.

  “Asshole,” Robi snapped and then stepped to him. “You …” her eyes shifted when she saw Greek move his leg. “No.” She turned to him warn, but it was too late.

  Greek stepped forward with one leg, then the other. “Whoa. Yes!” he hopped. “Is this great or what?” He jumped up and down.

  “Hold it,” Robi said and bent down. She took a closer look at his legs. “Jeb?”

  “Yeah.” Jeb joined her.

  “Where are the bruises and abrasions?” Robi asked. “They were there, right?”

  “Were,” Jeb said after crouching to peek. “Aren’t now.”

  “Fuck.” Robi stood up.

  Greek laughed in excitement. “Watch me dance a jig.” He started to dance about. “I’m healed. I can go to the bathroom. Speaking of which …” he said as he darted to the steps “think I’ll go now. I’ve been holding it in.” He walked up a few steps. “Terrible gas, I’ve had.”

  Tate and Manny both mumbled, “We know.”

  Mas stood proudly with Martha. “Healed she did.”

  “Goddamn Aliens,” Doc proclaimed. “At least they're good for some things.”

  Offended Mas clutched Martha. “Meanly so speaks he.”

  R
obi pushed in on her eyeballs, her face crinkled in horrible pain. She paused in her pain wallowing moment, opened her eyes and looked at Mass. “Give me the baby.”

  <><><><>

  “Gone?” Jeb asked.

  “Gone,” Robi replied as they huddled in the kitchen. She snapped her finger. “Three seconds after I held her. Gone.”

  “Maybe your sinuses shifted.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah, I get sinus headaches. Sometimes I wake up, they are irritated and need to just shift a little.”

  “Wow. I get them, too. I didn’t think about it.”

  “See.”

  “What about Greek?” she asked.

  “That one I can’t explain.”

  “Ready am I,” Mas called out.

  Jeb, gently taking Robi by the arm, turned her from the counter and toward the table where everyone stood around. “This ought to be interesting.”

  The items were covered and then Mas lifted the cloth and proudly revealed what he had done. ‘La-Wa,” he boasted.

  Bishop commented, “You and Doc will be great friends.”

  Mas gave a smile to Bishop but didn’t quite get the sarcasm behind it.

  On the table were a few caps to ketchup bottles some pickle and olive jar lids. Various lids encircled two Whitman Candy boxes.

  “Work will they,” Mas explained. “Here through, receive.” He laid his hand on the candy box. “Extra. Waves heard not by enemy.” He laid his hand on the other. He then picked up a ketchup cap and handed it to Jeb; he gave another to Tate. “Test shall you. Speak with button press, listen with button no.”

  Nick explained, “You press the button to speak and when you want to hear …”

  “I know.” Jeb looked at the ketchup cap. “You can’t be fuckin’ serious. Look, Mas …”

  “Check it out,” Tate said. “Little screen inside.”

  Jeb turned the cap over. Indeed there was a screen and the tiniest of black buttons on the side. “My fingers are too big for this.”

  “Ah.” Mas grabbed a pickle jar lid. “This try.”

  Jeb grumbled.

  Tate didn’t. In fact, he was up for playing the game. “Hey, Jeb, I’ll go in the other room and try.”

  Jeb grumbled again.

  Still snickering like a school kid, Tate darted in the other room.

  Mas indicated to Jeb to put the lid near his ear.

  Jeb wouldn’t.

  Robi nudged him. “Don’t be grumpy, do it. Be nice.”

  “Fine. I’ll put a fuckin’ pickle lid to my ear.” He raised it to his ear. “There are you …”

  Silence.

  “What?” Robi asked. “What is it?”

  Jeb looked at the lid. “Fuck me.” He searched for the black button and pressed, bringing the lid to his ear. “Yeah, Tate, I really fuckin’ hear you.” He handed the lid to Robi.

  She held it near her ear. Her eyes lit up. “He’s singing.” She turned to the others. “They work.”

  Mas nodded and waved out his hand to the table. “Made I did, all for enough.” He reached to the table. “Ah, Rob-bee. Special. You for.” Proudly he handed her a lid to a baby food jar.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Some would describe Jeb as looking ‘weird’ speaking into the lid of an olive jar. He preferred the ketchup cap, but that was too small for his fingers. “Roger that, Tate. What about northeast?”

  “We’re heading that way now. But other than that, it’s a dead zone.”

  “Dogs?”

  “Negative.”

  “The mall?”

  “Negative there, too. No dogs.”

  Mas, who was seated at a small table near Jeb in the family room, tugged Jeb’s arm. “Wave of second?”

  Jeb sighed. “Mas needs to know if you’ve seen any second wave?”

  “Negative there, too.”

  “Negative,” Jeb told Mas. “Bishop has …” with a single hand movement, Jeb flipped open a notepad, “a Regional Hospital here as a possible survivor link.”

  “We’re gonna stop there en route,” Tate said. “What about supplies?”

  “Greek is working on that. You two be careful.”

  “Did you mention to Robi about that thing?” Tate asked.

  “Not yet. Later. She’s doing something. I know Bishop and Nick are getting antsy, they want to go to the mall.”

  “Want Manny and I to swing by there and check on them?”

  “Uh …” Jeb paused. “No. No. By the time you hit north, come back, they’ll be here. Just check in.”

  “Roger that, over.”

  Jeb pulled the lid from his ear. “This is amazing.”

  “You I thank, Jeb,” Mas said.

  “Fuckin’ awesome. How do you power it?”

  Mas pointed up.

  “What? Is there a receiver in the mansion?”

  “Sun.”

  “The sun?” Jeb laughed and looked down at the Whitman candy box. “The sun. Seriously. How?”

  Mas pointed to a tiny glass piece embedded in the letter ‘a’ on the box. “Sun. Advance, are we home of my. Technology than you.”

  “I’d say. Where exactly are you from?” Jeb asked.

  “Far away miles of many. Chichitatan.”

  “Chi …”

  “Ch-itch-a-ta-tan.”

  “So you kind of skip out the itch in the word.”

  Mas nodded.

  “Chichitatan.” Jeb shook his head. “Doesn’t sound familiar. Where is that near, Turkey?”

  Mas started to answer, but Bishop walked in the room.

  “Hey, guys,” Bishop said. “Any word yet from Robi? Can me and Nick head over to the mall?”

  Jeb laid a hand on Mas’ shoulder. “We’ll let you get back to work.” He walked across the room and asked Bishop, “Has Nick spoken to his mother?”

  “She keeps saying in a minute. We want to go to the mall.”

  “Greek gave you a list?” Jeb asked.

  “Few clothing items. Nothing spectacular.” Bishop shrugged. “What do you think?”

  Mas stood. “Mall?” he clapped his hands. “Wonder of I. Mall may go I?”

  Bishop looked at Jeb for an answer.

  Mas touched his chest. “Wave of second, see can I. Know can I. Useful protection of Bishop and Nick.” He turned. “Radio take we.”

  Jeb nodded a few times. “Sure, you can go.”

  Bishop whined.

  “Stop it. Take him. He may be useful. He hasn’t been wrong yet.” Jeb raised an eyebrow. “He got a grip on technology we don’t. Says his country is more advanced.”

  Bishop snickered.

  “Laugh if you must, but look at our radios.” Jeb lifted the olive lid.

  Bishop cleared his throat. “You’re right. Where’s he from anyhow?”

  “Somewhere outside of Turkey. Chi …”

  Mas corrected, “Chichitatan.”

  “Yeah,” Jeb said.

  “Hmm.” Bishop said. “You sure that’s Turkey. Maybe it’s outside of Asia. You know the way they are. Plus … he knows about the enemy. That may be close.”

  “Does he look Asian to you?” Jeb asked. “No. Turkish. And get Nick, and then stay put here, I’ll go see what the hell Robi is up to.” Jeb started to leave the room. “Play with Mas or the baby.”

  “The baby is sleeping.”

  “Again?” Jeb asked.

  Mas smiled. “Changing is she. Much rest. Soon …” he chuckled and waved out her hand. “Rest like me, will she need not much. See, shall you. Father …. Proud be.” He nodded.

  “Um …yeah, thanks,” Jeb said and walked out.

  Bishop smirked. “He is a proud father, isn’t he?”

  “Ah,” Mas nodded. “Prouder be shall he when Martha of baby change. See you. Wait.” Mas winked.

  “Luckily, we have a few years to wait, right?” Bishop said.

  “Years?” Mas shook his head. “Days.”

  “Days, huh?” Bishop said with a tone. “Wow. Cool. OK, I�
�ll be back. I’m gonna get Nick.”

  “Mall?” Mas asked as Bishop started to leave.

  “Yep. We’re going to the mall.”

  After Bishop walked out, Mas clapped his hand together once, and then returned to working on his radio.

  <><><><>

  Clearly, it was an office, and the door was closed. Jeb knocked once on the door and opened it. An empty reception area greeted him and he called out, “Robi?”

  “Back here.”

  He followed the sound of her voice to the double oak doors. He knocked again and entered. “Hey.”

  Robi peered up from behind a huge desk. “Hey.”

  “What are you doing?’

  “Waiting on Greek.”

  “For?” Jeb stepped in.

  “Plans? Feedback.” She set down the pen and leaned back.

  “For the trip.”

  “Of course.”

  “Aren’t we a team, Robi?” Jeb asked.

  “Sure.”

  “So, if we’re a team. How come I’m not involved in this?”

  Robi chuckled. “I’m sorry. I … I didn’t think you wanted involved. Everyone usually just leaves it up to me and asks what we’re going to do.”

  “Well, my friend, not me.” Jeb walked to the desk. He sat on the edge before her, one leg touching the floor. “I don’t want you to feel you have to carry this alone.”

  “I’m not.”

  “I’m here.”

  “I know. And you … you have enough to worry about with our safety.”

  Jeb smiled. “Thank you for that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, you trust me with your safety.”

  Robi turned her views to the map and lifted a pencil. “You’re amazing, I never seen anyone react like you.” She shook her head, not looking at him. “I was in the service for nine years and…”

  Jeb grabbed her hand, stopping her from writing. “I didn’t know that.”

  “Oh.” Robi looked up. “That was a while back.”

  “Why did you leave?”

  “Shipping off to war was a bit much with motherhood,” Robi said. “My husband got tired of moving around.”

  “What branch?”

  “Army.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Jeb smiled. “Nurse?”

  “You got it.” She winked. “Field triage.”

  “Rank?”