The Last Mile Trilogy

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Ready?” Greek chuckled in amusement. “They found an old cell phone, rigged it, the LCD display now works as a tracking. We don’t have an exact location, but they said the closer we get the stronger the signal will be. We can follow that.”

  Jeb asked, “You said we know where it’s coming from.”

  Greek nodded. “Yeah. A good days journey . . . we’re headed there anyhow . . . Vegas.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  July 9th

  Las Vegas, NV

  The sun reflected brightly off the thick layer of sand that blanketed the city like a snowfall. It was nearly blinding as they rolled closer into the strip of the desert city.

  A place that used to be alive, thriving, bright. Now the only brightness was the speckle of sunlight cast from the sand.

  What had happened?

  What had caused the sand to thicken over Vega, in some spots up to twenty, thirty feet high?

  There was no way the bus would make it. Not at all. Fear of the sand getting into the mechanics caused them to park the bus the second they noticed accumulation.

  Perhaps a dust bomb or something occurred. Or as Greek suggested, it was a desert town, and it was conceivable since there was no movement, no city crews, nothing to deter the accumulation of sand, it just built and built.

  Whatever the reason, it was surely the apocalypse when they arrived in Las Vegas.

  Manny had been asked if the bus would be safe, if sand or dust could get into the motor. He didn’t think so, but to be on the safe side, he blanketed the motor as they sealed up the bus.

  Most stayed behind, waiting until an all clear was given. After it was deemed safe, they would follow the others who would roll into Vegas, and perhaps the second trio with the first Humvee would be needed.

  “It’s like a fuckin’ desert.” Jeb shifted the gear on the Humvee. “I remember when I was in Iraq. Fuck. This is worse.”

  Robi jolted as they ran over something. She rocked into Tate, then into Jeb. “What was that?”

  “Could be anything. Car. Who knows? Hey, Greek. Vegas is big. Any idea from our friends on where these people can be?”

  “They’re at the MGM grand,” Greek stated.

  Jeb raised an eyebrow as he peered into the rearview mirror at him. “Anyone know where the MGM Grand is located?”

  Greek had his nose buried in a map, squished in the back seat with Mas and Manny. While Bishop hunched in the back. “Should be right ahead.”

  “Where?” Jeb asked. “I can barely make out the signs.”

  “Ok, hold …” Greek turned his body. “We passed the Stratosphere. That’s that tower. That means that big bump we just hit was probably the Wet ‘n Wild sign. Former wet and wild, now dry and dull is here. We got a while. It’ll be almost at the other end of the strip.”

  “Great.”

  “See that tiny triangle with a ball?” Greek asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s the Circus, bear right. We’re off the road. Bet things smooth out once we’re off the road.”

  Tate added, “Bet me it’s not as sandy down there either. What the fuck happened here?”

  Bishop replied, “Maybe if people are really here, they can tell us.”

  Jeb drove; he focused more on landmarks and listened to Greek as he called out the different hotels on the strip. Tate was right. The sand did diminish the further into the drive. They still were driving on sand, and not road, but it wasn’t as bumpy. They could see the hoods of cars that were just spewed across the road.

  A scene repeated everywhere they went.

  The MGM Grand.

  It wasn’t covered and it peeked up in its glory as they closed in.

  Jeb drove right up the front steps and parked the Humvee. The front doors were clear.

  They all began to step out. The bright sun against the sand was nearly blinding.

  Robi blew out and pulled her tee shirt outward. “It’s really hot.”

  Jeb said, “You should have been in Iraq.”

  Tate scoffed. “Enough of the Iraq stories.”

  “Oh, no.” Jeb shook his head. “Mister, I served my war time behind a desk in Washington DC.”

  “Guys,” Robi called out.

  Tate ignored her. “As if my job wasn’t important.”

  Bishop called, “Guys.”

  Jeb responded to his brother, “It wasn’t serving the war.”

  “I beg to differ.”

  “Guys!” Bishop tried.

  “You would beg to differ,” Jeb said. “You were comfy and cool, while I was hot and dodging car bombs.”

  “Play me a fuckin fiddle,” Tate snapped.

  “What is your problem?”

  “Guys!” Manny yelled.

  “What?” they both yelled.

  Manny pointed at the front doors.

  Two women wearing sunglasses were emerging and they did so slowly, apprehensively. They both wore silky robes, colorful, and flowery. Both had long blonde hair, and were about twenty-five years old. They both stepped out at the same time.

  In synch, they looked at each other, screamed in excitement, and bolted toward the gang.

  The first of the women, wearing the bluer of the robes, leaped up and slammed into Manny. She wrapped her legs around his waist and plastered him with kisses.

  The second woman did the same to Bishop.

  Tate grinned. “Cool.”

  “Oh my god!” the first woman spoke, “People. People. Men.” She released herself from Manny and moved to Tate. She did the same to him.

  The other woman made her rounds, and as she jumped for Jeb, he stepped back and extended his hand. “Ma’am.”

  She giggled with enthusiasm, grabbing his hand and holding on to it for dear life. She brought it to her cheek, laughed, and then kissed it repeatedly.

  Jeb pulled his hand back with a polite smile. “Ma’am, this is my wife.” He reached out to Robi.

  The woman gasped and with a huge grin, she jumped into Robi embracing her. She pulled back, laid her hands to Robi’s cheeks and kissed her smack on the lips.

  “Beautiful,” the woman whispered. She spoke airy, “Millie. Millie.”

  Millie clung to Tate. “I know.” After a moment, still bubbling with enthusiasm, she stepped back. “Welcome. Please come in. Welcome.”

  <><><><>

  Everyone anxiously awaited nightfall. Millie and Minnie told them that the power was still going, and, like clockwork, automatically, the strip lit up.

  It was a sight, especially when the sand glowed.

  Aside from the lights, there were other things planned for the evening.

  There couldn’t have been at a better place; the MGM Grand was decked out.

  Ben planned to live out his dream and perform on the MGM stage. He set the show time for nine PM and gathered up his ‘posse’ as he called them for rehearsal.

  Manny was amazed at the kitchen, and with Greek’s help, they were able to salvage enough steaks for everyone from the freezers of the MGM and nearby restaurants. Manny was prepared to serve up the feast of a lifetime. He didn’t let Bishop anywhere near the kitchen, just in case he got one of his Spam ideas.

  As odd as it was, everyone did his or her own thing. Dinner would bring them all together and a chance to get to know the new women.

  Parker loved the slot machines. Of course, to him they sort of lost their impact when winning or losing didn’t matter, when it wasn’t going to be the big thrill to hit the major jackpot. He realized how much enjoyment was lost when he hit the ‘Progressive Jackpot’ and had to tilt the machine to get it to stop ringing because no attendant would be by.

  He piddled around the hotel, listening to music still piped through the intercom system. The girls, whom he originally thought were fraternal twins, told him out of boredom they kept the hotel running.

  He stopped at the ballroom but was quickly kicked out of rehearsal because Ben didn’t want to ruin the show for him. Stopping at the sound and light ar
ea, he chatted with Nick and Eva who were self-learning how to light and run the sound for the show.

  Parker carried a little notepad with everyone’s name in it, and checked them off as he stopped and bothered each person.

  Tate found the promo picture booth a blast. He took about a dozen self-portraits, and Parker even posed for a few.

  “I think everyone should get their picture taken here,” Tate said.

  “Why is that?” Parker asked.

  “Not so much for now, but for later on, down the road, in history. So the people of the future can see the new founding fathers. Us.

  “Even if it is wacky photos from a photo booth.”

  “Even that. Hey, none of us has bothered to take any pictures. To document any of our road trip. Robi keeps a log, yeah, but no pictures.”

  That was it.

  Eureka!

  Parker had found his purpose. He thought about it over the last couple days. What would his purpose be in the new world? He could help with law and order, but Jeb and Tate were much younger and stronger men, although Parker had them with wisdom, hands down.

  Pictures.

  They were so close to So-Cal, or Utopia as a few of them called it, they could almost smell it. By the next nightfall, that’s where they would be.

  Parker had a mission, and sought within the hotel for the means.

  The gift shop was still packed with merchandise. Parker imagined someone asking if he needed assistance. He felt like Charlton Heston in the Omega Man.

  “No, I’m fine,” he said. “Found what I need. Right here.” He lifted the camera. “A photo printer and paper. Sure. How ingenious.” He walked to the counter and behind it. He grabbed a bag and loaded the seven packages of picture paper. “This is hardly gonna be enough. I may have to go shopping.” His eyes lifted. “Really? A gift shop upstairs.”

  A sign on the wall that read, “Can’t find what you need here? Try the Love Shop.”

  “What the heck is The Love Shop?” Parker asked. “Well, guess I’ll find out.”

  He took his bag, complete with two cameras and headed to the working elevator. He rode it to the desired floor and followed the signs.

  The Love Shop.

  It was a romantic little nook, with lace, gowns, suits, jewelry, flowers. Pretty much anything, that could be used for a wedding. He loaded up another bag with the remaining instant film. As he turned to leave, he saw it. The Chapel, The quickie wedding chapel. He wouldn’t have thought much about it, had the doors not been open, and he saw Jeb in there.

  He debated on stopping in, but Jeb looked in thought, and he decided to leave him alone.

  No reason to bother a man while he was praying, even if it really wasn’t a real place of worship.

  On his exploration, Parker decided to take the other elevator down to the main floor. He figured he’d venture out into the city to collect more film. As he rounded the bend, he saw a peculiar sight.

  Doc.

  Doc sat in a chair, before a long line of windows, staring out.

  “Gonna hurt your eyesight,” Park said to catch his attention.

  Doc turned his head. He sported a small pair of round sunglasses. “I’m covered.”

  “That you are.”

  “What are you up to?” Doc asked.

  “Well, a scavenger hunt.” Parker held up his bag. “Tate put it in my head. Said we don’t have anyone photo documenting this trip.”

  “Or the beginning of our little town in So-Cal. Cause I don’t think there’s anything left there,” Doc said.

  Parker breathed out. “Me either. I don't think any of us think there is.”

  “From the ground up,” Doc stated, “you’ll capture it all. Good idea. Have to get some apple tree pictures, too.”

  “Why is that?’

  “They’re pretty.”

  “I’ll remember that.” Parker stood behind him. “I’m about to go outside. Would you like to join me?”

  “As a matter of fact, I would. I’m not getting any answers here.” With an exhale, Doc stood.

  “Answers?” Parker asked. “What kind of answers. To what?”

  “I’ve been here about two hours. Watching. Trying to see what those two are up to.”

  “Who?”

  “The goddamn aliens.” Doc taped on the window.

  Parker looked. In the distance, in the sand, both Mas and Sam sat Indian style. They were perched upon a large dune with what looked like a satellite. They had some other items Parker couldn’t make out. With an ‘hmm’ Parker faced Doc. “One way to find out.” He gave a flick raise of his eyebrows. “Let’s go.”

  Laying a hand on Doc’s back, he escorted him from the window. But he didn’t walk away without one more look at the alien duo.

  <><><><>

  Greek clicked away on the laptop. He was amazed that he was able to connect to the internet via satellite. He had two windows open. One for the net, the other in some chat room that Minnie and Millie had told him about.

  He kept going back to the one page. How long was it maintained? It was a web blog of some eccentric writer. The last entry was only 14 hours earlier. They were talking about Rice Crispy treats and finding their way to Utopia.

  Utopia.

  It was more of a universal name than So-Cal.

  “Any luck?” Robi asked as she entered the back bedroom of the suite.

  “Um, no.” Greek sat back. “Not yet. Amazing. Who is this person and why haven’t they given out their whereabouts.”

  “The writer Minnie mentioned.”

  “Yep.” Greek nodded.

  “She said that it isn’t the same person as the artist person.”

  Greek shrugged. “Who knows? All I know is that I’ve been in the chat room for over an hour and nothing.”

  “The girls said they’d show.”

  “Then I’ll wait.”

  “Anything else interesting?”

  Greek shook his head. “Just that fact that someone kept Yahoo news going up until a month ago.”

  “Greek, that’s… amazing. Where are these people?”

  “My guess.” He rubbed his hand over his mouth. “Hiding. Hiding because they all internally know.”

  Robi nodded in agreement. “I’ll let you alone. Find me, OK, if anything happens.”

  “Will do.”

  Turning, Robi returned to what she was doing.

  She had picked out a heck of a suite, three rooms, on the top floor. She remembered reading somewhere that they had more square footage than her home.

  On the carpet, she sat back down with Martha, a chessboard between them.

  “Where were we?” She breathed out and looked down. “No, no, sweetie. You can only move one square with that,” Robi told her.

  “Sorry Mummy.”

  “That’s OK, you’re learning.” Robi watched her move the pawn. “Good.” She then moved a piece. As she leaned to the board, Martha stroked her hair.

  “Pretty.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Me?” Martha rubbed her bald head. “Where is Martha’s hair?”

  Robi struggled for an answer.

  “When Martha becomes a mummy?”

  Robi smiled. “Yes, when you get big, you’ll get hair.”

  “I will be pretty like Mummy.”

  “Thank you.” Robi reached out and touched the child’s face.

  The door opened and Jeb walked in. “There are my two favorite ladies.”

  “Dudday!” Martha held out her hands.

  “Hey you.” Jeb reached down and lifted her. “I see you’re playing chess. Are you kicking Mommy’s butt.”

  “No, but I am trying to win,” Martha replied.

  “Man,” Jeb said. “I can’t believe last week we were changing her diapers. This week chess.”

  “But, she’ll be like this until we are old and gray and beyond.” Robi smiled.

  “Why do you like that concept?” Jeb asked.

  “Well, as a parent you hate seeing yo
ur kids get old. You wish you had this special secret formula to make them stay small.” Robi stood up. “I thought you were practicing.”

  Jeb wiggled his Adam’s apple. “I have to reserve my voice for tonight. I have a big solo.”

  Robi chuckled and Jeb kissed her.

  “I have to talk to you about something,” Jeb set Martha down. “Martha, why don’t you go read The Stand since it deals with the town we’re in.”

  “Ok. I am on that part now.” Martha ran over to the couch. Her big book set on the table and she lifted it.

  “What’s up?” Robi asked.

  Jeb stepped to her. “I want to ask you something.”

  “Sure.”

  “Marry me.”

  “What!” Robi stepped back.

  “I’m totally serious. Marry me. I thought we’d get Parker to do it, they have rings upstairs we can ….”

  “Jeb. Jeb. Wait.” Robi held up her hands. “We’ve not known each other very long.”

  “And who cares?” Jeb shrugged. “We’ll know each other until we die.”

  “Where is this coming from?”

  “All of this, Robi.” Jeb held out his hand and pointed to Martha. “She calls us Mommy and Daddy. Like it or not, she labeled us a family. We’re almost at So-Cal. We’re almost at our starting point. I’d like to arrive in So-Cal not only a team, but a indivisible couple.”

  “We don’t need to be married to do that.”

  “Yeah, we do. We head into that community as husband and wife. We’re an official team. Officially couple with a family. Families are strong.”

  “Jeb," Robi said, “we can be a family without being married.”

  “Why don’t you want to? Do you think it’s silly?”

  “A little.”

  Jeb shook his head. “I want to be able to call you my wife, Robi. I want people to look at me as your husband. I don’t know, call me silly, call me strange, but I just think it makes us stronger as a couple.”

  “Jeb, do you love me?” Robi asked. “Because, even though I have deep feelings for you. It isn’t true love yet. I’m getting there. I’m not there yet.”