After making it to the kitchen, he started the coffee and downed four ibuprofen tablets. Tate then submerged himself in a hot shower.
He didn’t take long to get dressed, sipping his coffee as he put on his uniform. He rushed about, not really paying attention to anything.
On his way out the door, the phone rang. Answer? Don’t answer?
He opted to answer in case it was his boss. “Yeah,” was Tate’s greeting.
“Tate!” Jeb said frantic, yet excited on the other line. “God, I was praying you’d answer.”
“Uh, yeah, but …”
“I’ve been trying to call you all night.”
“Karen broke up with me, I got hammered. Passed out.”
“I’m on my way ….”
“From Norfolk, Cool, I’ll see you when you get here.”
“Tate …”
“I’m late, gotta go. Stop at my office.” Tate hung up and raced out the door.
He worked on base, so he didn’t have to drive. He ran all the way to the duty office.
“Hello?” he called out when he enter. “Sarge?” He looked about. No one was at the reception desk. “Carol? Hello?” Tate scratched his head. “Where is everyone?” He heard voices on the television and looked up to make sure there wasn’t a major news story happening. Upon seeing a badly dressed newswoman, Tate hurried to his office.
With no one around, and no one really noticing he was late, he fired into his normal morning routine. He logged into his email and downloaded his messages.
“Maybe she emailed,” Tate said out loud. “Jeb. Dad. Nah. Come on.”
He had started his responses, getting the business ones out of the way first and saving the fun personal ones for last. About forty-five minutes into his email routine, Jeb burst in the office.
“Tate.”
“Hey.” Tate smiled. “Are you OK?” he stood. “You look bad.”
“Oh, my God.” Jeb raced to Tate. “Oh my god.” He hugged his brother. “Thank God, you’re OK.”
“I am. I mean, no I’m not,” Tate said. “I feel bad about the break up. Even worse. I got drunk. I think I screwed it up more.”
“Tate …”
“I called Karen, she argued with me, and I told her to drop dead.” He shook his head. “How wrong was that?”
“On the nose.”
“What?”
“Tate, look …”
“No.” Tate held up his hand. “No big brother advice. I should have seen it coming, I didn’t.”
“You haven’t seen anything, have you?” Jeb asked. “Don’t you know?”
“Know what?”
“You haven’t noticed at all?”
“Noticed what?” Tate asked. “To be honest I have been rushing since I slept in. Why?”
“Aren’t you the least bit curious as to why I’m here?” Jeb asked. “Why I’m frantic.”
“Well, yeah.” Tate leaned against the edge of his desk. “Something happened. Man, I’m being selfish. Something is going on with you. Please …” he held out his hand to a chair. “Sit down, big brother. Tell me all about it.”
…. The table was silent when Tate finished.
Nick was the most in shock. “That’s not true.”
Tate held up his hand. “I swear.”
“Oh, my God.” Nick sat back.
“Wait,” Bishop said. “Robi is driving, a plane falls from the sky. I’m in a video arcade. Manny is arguing, you … you missed the end of the world?”
Tate nodded. “I missed it. Drunk. Preoccupied. Late.” He shrugged.
“That’s funny,” Bishop commented.
Parker finished off his beer and set the can on the table as he stood. “Well, I have enjoyed this evening. Let me and my daughter help clean up then we’ll be on our way.”
Robi faced him. “You’re joining us for the journey, right?”
Jeb shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“Of course,” Parker stated. “But we have some things we’d prefer not to leave behind and a long night of packing is ahead of us. Now…we’ll give you a hand with clean up, but where is that girl?”
Jeb mumbled, “Probably sacrificing animals.”
Bishop laughed and answered Parker. “She’s playing video games with Doc on the bus.”
“Thanks.” Parker tossed out a short whistle then aimed his voice. “Evie! Come on, high tail it out and help clean up out here.”
“In a second, Pa, can’t let Doc beat me.”
Parker gave a toss of his head.
Robi said, “Don’t worry about cleaning up. We got it.”
“Thank you, what time is take off tomorrow.”
“About eight,” Robi replied.
“See ya right before.” Parker laid his hands on Robi’s shoulder and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, so much for all you did today.” He turned and walked to Jeb with an extended hand. “We shared a meal, conversation …”
“I’m not sharing her.” Jeb nodded his head at Robi. “So don’t ask.”
Parker laughed. “No, I was just gonna say we ain’t shared handshake. Parker Westin, formally introducing myself.”
“Jeb Hoyt. Thought you were gonna say something about your daughter.”
“’Bout the way you fight with her?” Parker snickered “No, I wasn’t born with rose colored glasses. I know what she’s like. Heck, she was worse with the mailman than she is with you.”
“You’re kidding?”
“Nope, he gave it right back to her.”
“Bet she never shot him with a BB gun,”
“I’ll take that bet” Parker winked. “When she was waiting for something in the mail and it didn’t come, she got him good. Almost faced federal charges. She’s a rough and tumble, like her brothers. Got worse when her mother passed.”
“Pa!” Eva came from the bus. “You’re gonna get the cooties, ya touch him again.”
“Cooties?” Jeb asked. “Cooties? Man, now I know you’re some reincarnate using an old word like that.”
“Pa, there he goes again, picking on me.”
“Jeb.” Parker gave him a firm handshake. “See ya in the morning. Let’s go Eva,” He put his arm around her.
“We ain’t cleaning up?” she asked as they walked.
“Packing.”
Eva grumbled, and then waved with a smile to Robi, as her and her father left to go in the house.
Manny stood. “Anyone up for a game of gin?”
Robi shook her head. “Actually, I’m gonna get this cleaned up, set a course for tomorrow and go to bed.” She reached for the large skewer that held minimal remains of the Spam barbeque.
Jeb asked, “Bed? It’s only nine o’clock.”
“After I get settled, it’ll be later.” Robi picked off Spam from the skewer. “Bishop, this was wonderful.”
“Thanks.” He grinned. “And I’ll play gin, Manny.”
“Cool. Let’s wash the pots and get it together,” Manny said. “Bet Doc will play.”
Jeb stepped closer to Robi. “Since when do you go to bed at nine o’clock?”
“Since when do you care?”
“Since I want to spend some time with you.”
“Well since I’m still mad at you, I’m going to bed.”
“Are you sick because of female things?”
Robi’s mouth dropped open. “I can’t believe you asked that when I am standing with an impaling object in my hand.”
“Sorry.” Jeb paused “Is it?”
“No!”
“Why are you still mad?”
Robi stared. “I’m not.” She picked another piece of Spam.
“Good. Since Martha is comatose, will you have a drink with me and kick back?” Jeb raised his eyebrow.
Robi inserted the meat into her mouth. “Yes.”
“Yes.” Jeb leaned to her and kissed her. “Whoops. Sorry. Did I do that?” he licked his lips. “Barbecue. Tasty.” he smiled, and started to clean up. He noticed Bishop was staring. �
�What!” he blasted.
With a ‘whatever’ attitude look to him, Bishop just shook his head.
<><><><>
Out in the distance, not too far, but away from everyone, Jeb and Rob sat quietly in the bright light of the small fire.
Jeb lay on his side, propped on an elbow, book in hand, while Robi was before him, partially sitting, using his mid section like the back to a chair.
“You’re not bored, are you?” Jeb asked.
“No, it's fascinating, I’m still in shock.”
“Why is that?’
“You’re reading to me.”
“I wanted to share this with you since I found it this afternoon. I thought it was a really cool book idea. I like it.”
“Me, too.”
“Very prophetic,” Jeb commented.
“Big word.”
“Thanks.” He smiled. “But come on, who would have thought some author would have listed this as one of the possible plans.”
Robi sat up more to face him. “What if the author was an Alien?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like Mas or Sam. When was it published?”
Jeb opened the page. He muttered out, “Days to the End, copyright … wow. 1976.”
“See. Bet me,” Robi said. “Bet me this guy was one of Mas’ crew. We should ask him.”
“He did say they were trying to get the word out.”
“We’re really going to have to ask him, Jeb”
“Hmm.” Jeb was finding their spot in the book.
“Why didn’t you tell your story?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your story about what happened to you with the drop. Why didn’t you tell it?”
“Well, Tate told his and I figured why even bother telling mine.”
“But Tate wanted to save his for last, so why didn’t you jump in and tell yours.”
Jeb shrugged.
“What’s your story?”
Jeb began to sing. “Morning Glory, What’s the word, humming bird? Have you heard about Robi and Jeb?”
Robi laughed. “What?” She sat up all the way. “What is that?”
“Come on, Bye-Bye Birdie. You never saw?”
“Oh wow.” She covered her mouth as she laughed. “I remember that.”
“Yeah, but the song was about Hugo and Kim.” Jeb nodded. “I improvised.”
“Adlibbed.”
“Whatever.” He shrugged.
“So, why don’t you want to tell me?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, it’s just that I want to forget.”
Robi gave a quizzical look. “Was it that bad?”
“I think so.”
“Then … then I won’t ask. OK?” She turned her body. “When you want to tell me, you will. You can read some more.”
“I was … I was filling in for Sgt. Stefano.”
Robi returned to facing Jeb.
Jeb continued, “He was in charge of the Junior ROTC. Kids nine through thirteen. There were twenty of them.”
“Oh, my God.”
“I didn’t want to fill in. I never do that shit. His wife went into labor and I just went down to the hall to cover. We were closing out standing in formation when the drop happened.”
“Oh, Jeb.” Robi laid her hand on his cheek.
“I still can see those kids dropping. It was something I never expected to see or would ever want to see again.” He laid his hand over hers. “I wanted you to know, so, you can understand me completely. And … and …”
Robi waited.
“And I think we should go back to reading now.”
“Sounds good.” Robi started to turn, but Jeb stopped her.
“After ….” he leaned closer to her, slightly parting his lips for a kiss.
“Jeb!” Tate called out. “Jeb!”
“Fuck.” Jeb pulled back. “Over here.”
“Jeb.” Tate caught his breath. “Sorry to interrupt. But …we may have a slight problem.”
<><><><>
The vision of Mas slammed Jeb like a ton of bricks, angering him upon sight.
What was Mas doing?
At first Jeb feared that it was sabotage, but then reasoning took over and Jeb tried to look at the situation objectively.
The side of the bus was open, the hatch still propped. Mas had the weapons removed and scattered about the street. He sat in the center of the weapons, some of which were taken apart.
Jeb looked at Robi. “Thoughts?’
Robi shrugged.
“Tate, did you ask what he was up to?” Jeb asked.
“He said he’d only tell Robi.”
“Fuck that, he’ll tell me.” Jeb shifted the chamber on his revolver and walked to Mas. “Little man, you better have a damn good reason for doing what you’re doing.”
“Ah, Jeb.” Mas tossed out his hands. “Begin I don’t know.”
“Why don’t you start with why you have taken our arsenal out and torn it apart?”
“Part a torn?” Mas shook his head. “Improve.”
Jeb used the tip of his boot to shuffle a few loose pieces. “This doesn’t look like an improvement.”
Robi tried. “Mas why are you taking apart our weapons?”
“Must.” Mas stood. “Must.”
Robi nodded. “OK, why must you?”
“Have word received,” Mas stated. “Power of fire too weak.”
Tate deciphered, “Dude, our firing power is too weak?”
Mas nodded.
Tate chuckled. “The XM8 is awesome.’
“Enough it is not,” Mas said. “Power of more we must. Work hard. Fast.” Mas nodded. “Fast very. Improve. Enhance.”
Jeb asked. “Why?”
“Yours of weapons.” Mass reached down. “Power not enough for wave of second.”
“Second wave?” Robi asked. “The second wave is coming?”
Mas nodded. “Jeb. Stop we must. Supplies need I. Can empower, make best, weapons of yours, I can.”
Jeb nodded. “Do you know what you need?”
“Much power,” Mas answered. “Wave of second, mighty. Strong. Scattered here. There. Enough about, see we will. Fight we will.”
Robi understood. “So the second wave is coming. They won’t be everywhere, but we will face them.”
“Yes.”
Jeb remained rational. “Ok, can you prepare us other than the weapons? Get us ready? We’ll get you what you need.”
“Prepare I will,” Mas said. “Short is time.”
Tate remarked, “You said that. The second wave. When?”
Mas hesitated before answering. “Four days.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
July 8th
Tucumcari, NM
The drip coffee maker slurped out its last drop and Robi anxiously awaited the brew. Usually coffee they made over an open fire or using Sterno but, since the finding of the bus, making coffee the way she was possible.
Jeb and Tate had taken Mas out for supplies when the sun started to rise. They had to go to the next town. They had radios but she hadn’t heard anything from them. She wondered if they were out of range. They were exceptionally quiet.
She had lost the egg lottery, so she was stuck with Eggbeaters, which was fine with her. She did, however, envy Greek, Doc, Nick, and Ben when they got their farm fresh eggs sunny side up.
The smell of the day before had long since left her senses, and she had to admit, the fresh eggs smelled wonderful.
Spam and scrambled eggs worked.
Parker and Eva hadn’t checked in yet, of course it wasn’t even seven o’clock. Rarely, unless they all put in a late night, did anyone sleep late.
Sam didn’t go with Tate and Jeb, and Robi realized she hadn’t spoken to Sam at all. She was going to take advantage of the opportunity.
The odd little man was seated by a tree just left of the picnic area reading a book. Robi carried her own book, in fact, the one that Jeb had been reading to her the ni
ght before.
“Hello,” she greeted him. “May I join you?”
“Yes, you may.” Sam extended his hand. “The spot is great for reading.” He spoke slowly and articulated each word, not slurred or delivered in the backwards manner Robi was accustomed to with Mas.
“What are you reading?” Robi asked.
“Men are from Mars.” Sam held up the book. “I find it very amusing. I have dated earth women. They are very charming and intelligent creatures.”
“Thanks.”
“You are welcome. What is it that you are reading?”
“Something I wanted to ask you about.” Robi took a seat next to him on the ground. “Jeb found this book. Are you familiar?” she handed it over to him.
“Ah, yes, a great foreshadowing,” Sam said. “I know the author very well.”
“So, is he one of your people?”
“Yes. Very much so.”
“I knew it.” Robi grinned. “Thanks. Where is he now?”
“Sadly he was killed.”
“I’m sorry.”
“We have lost many people,” Sam said. “But many remain. We are here. Just about. You will find us. And we will find you.”
“Why didn’t you go with Mas to get supplies?”
Sam shook his head. “You have a saying. Too many hands …”
“Spoil the soup.” Robi finished it. “So you think you’d interfere.”
“When we have an idea, the one with the idea will execute. It is not right to step in unless help is asked for.”
He continued, “I understand. Mas, he is very good at weapons. He can do communications, but I am better. Communications is my specialty.”
“How did you know the second wave was coming?” Robi questioned.
“The message came through. We received. As the second wave nears, we must also limit all radio contact unless needed.”
“I understand. So I should stop calling out to check on them?”
“Yes. Roberta. The second wave will not be pretty, nor will it be easy. You know this, do you not?”
Robi nodded.
“It will come with bloodshed if it is not fought properly. The second wave will last two years or more, unless we defeat them.”
The Last Mile Trilogy Page 28