Forager - the Complete Trilogy (A Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian Trilogy)

by Peter R Stone

  And I knew a way to test this hypothesis. If he answered the next question I wanted to ask, it meant he was going to kill us. If he didn't answer, he'd send us to the Skel.

  I asked the question. "Why did you try to kill Councillor Okada?"

  The Colonel spun about, clearly shocked. "What did you say?"

  "Don't deny it," I said forcefully, "Nanako said the route they used to get to Newhome was given to them by the Rangers, and it cannot be coincidental that a large party of Skel were waiting for them on that very road."

  Differing emotions warred over the Colonel's face for a moment, and then finally, he answered. "Okada's a blundering fool. By going to Newhome to initiate trade between our towns, he drew attention to Hamamachi. The net result of that was the Custodians blaming us for the Skel attacks on Newhome and attempting to nuke us to oblivion. If the Skel weren't so incompetent and had managed to kill Okada, the Custodians would have never suspected we were behind the Skel. They would have never tried to nuke us, and we wouldn't have had to infiltrate Newhome to try and steal the second nuke."

  "You can't blame Okada for this mess; he doesn't know what you Rangers are up to," I said heatedly.

  "More fool him. Now, enough of this nonsense. You and your wife will stay here until you remember who shot you. If you have to have fifty seizures to remember, then so be it!"

  And with that the Colonel stormed from the room, slamming the door behind him. But I barely noticed, since I'd slumped back in my chair, distressed now that I had the answer to my question. The Colonel was going to have us killed. I looked at Nanako, and saw her staring at me. And I could tell by her horrified expression that she'd reached the same conclusion.

  * * *

  For the next couple of hours, by which time I was pretty sure dawn had arrived, I pretended to be attempting to retrieve my memory, while what I was actually trying to do was work out a way that Nanako and I could escape so I could get her to the hospital. All I needed was for either the lieutenant or the private who were babysitting us to leave, and then I'd make my move. But they wouldn't leave, neither of them.

  Nanako spent the entire time lying on the floor, alternating between moaning quietly and falling into a light, troubled sleep. She had not miscarried yet, but she continued to clutch her midsection in pain. That I couldn't do anything to help her was tearing me up inside.

  But then the door to the interrogation room suddenly burst open and a Ranger I hadn't seen before rushed in, his face flushed. "Come on, we've been given the order to evacuate."

  "What? Why?" the lieutenant demanded as he stood abruptly from his chair, knocking it over.

  "The game's up," the Ranger panted. "Them three trucks we tried to send back to Skel territory somehow arrived in Inverloch an hour ago, and the slaves in the trucks have blown the whistle on us. Their message is all over the radio and TV – that they are refugees who'd been taken prisoner by Japanese Rangers and handed over to the Skel. So we gotta go before the Militia get here!"

  "What do we do with these two?"

  "Just leave them, now come on!"

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Our captors bolted from the room without a single look back.

  I leaped into action the moment they left, slipping my handcuffed hands under my behind and feet so that they were in front of me, and darted to Nanako's side.

  "Can you walk?" I asked, but it was a stupid question. She was as white as a sheet and weaker than I'd ever seen her. So ignoring the pain in my battered ribs and shoulder, I lifted her up in my arms and ran out of the room. I moved as fast as I could through the Rangers' headquarters, minding I didn't bump her head or legs on the doorframes and desks as I went. I hurried out the front door, which was swinging wide open, and out into the car park, hoping against hope that there'd be a car there I could use; but the lot was empty.

  With Nanako in my arms, I sank to my knees, wondering what to try next, when a fleet of large black 4WD cars came roaring down the street and screeched into the car park. At first I panicked, thinking they were Rangers, but then I saw the Militia markings on the side of the vehicles.

  I groaned. Was this a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire? The last time I saw the Militia they said I was a terrorist in league with Custodian Lieutenant King, who'd just tried to blow up Hamamachi with a nuclear bomb he'd smuggled here. A bomb that David and I then disarmed. So what reception I'd receive from these Militia, I had no idea. But one thing was for sure, they had no reason not to take Nanako to hospital, so I clambered painfully back to my feet and hurried to meet the lead car, which braked to a stop only meters away.

  Five Militia armed with assault rifles leaped out of the vehicle and ran towards me, while the rest of the vehicles in the convoy pulled up in front of the headquarters. More Militia got out, but these ones all rushed inside.

  "Ethan and Nanako Jones?" asked the first Militia soldier to reach me, a slim, young Japanese guy several years older than me and wearing the badges of a lieutenant.

  I nodded and indicated Nanako with a tilt of my head. "Please, Sir, Nanako needs urgent medical assistance. I don't care what you do with me, but can you please, please take her to hospital immediately?"

  "Of course! Quickly, follow me," he said, nodding emphatically. He led me to his car, and with gentle care, helped me place Nanako in the back seat.

  I hopped in the back with her, and the lieutenant and one of his companions got in too. Without a moment's hesitation, he had us out of the HQ car park and full speed towards the hospital. I propped Nanako's head on my lap and smoothed her hair back from her brow. "You'll be getting the help you need before you know it, Nana-chan," I assured her.

  She flashed me a weak smile and squeezed my hand.

  "Are you okay, Sir? You don't look too good," the Militia lieutenant asked me as he glanced in the rear vision mirror.

  "I'll be fine," I assured him.

  "Did the Rangers do that to you?"

  "Yes."

  "Why?"

  "They thought I had information that they wanted."

  "I see."

  "Lieutenant, can you please tell me what's going on?"

  He nodded and quickly explained that three trucks filled with Skel slaves had driven into Inverloch an hour ago. They'd been rescued by a Custodian specialist and three foragers from Newhome. They had gone straight to Inverloch's AM radio station, which had immediately broadcast their story live on air, that many of the slaves had been refugees who had been on their way to Hamamachi or Inverloch, hoping to find asylum, but had been intercepted by Hamamachi Rangers, and then delivered to the Skel as part of some immoral deal that the Rangers had made with them. To add weight to their testimony, the rescued slaves had two wounded Ranger prisoners with them. As soon as this information reached Hamamachi, the Militia general issued arrest warrants for all of the Rangers.

  Nanako, who'd listened to the lieutenant's story, smiled sadly. "But how did they escape the Rangers?"

  "Madison," I replied. "She must have overpowered all five of them."

  "Seems you were right about her after all," Nanako sighed, and then groaned again in pain, clutching her midsection.

  "They mentioned you two on the radio, too," the lieutenant added, and then looked up to meet my gaze in the rear vision mirror. "They said that you, Mr. Jones, were the leader of the mission to rescue the slaves and expose the Rangers, but had been captured by them. We were asked to keep a lookout for you specifically, and ensure that you were safe."

  "Thank you."

  "You're welcome."

  Hamamachi was a small town so we arrived at the hospital minutes later. Nanako was rushed off into emergency on a gurney, while I was left to sit in the corridor outside along with the two Militia who'd brought us here. The nurses wanted to check me over, but I wouldn't hear of it, choosing instead to wash the blood off my face when I had to make a quick toilet break. I should have accepted some painkillers, though, for I had a massive headache.

  I'd been
waiting half-an-hour when I heard somewhat familiar footsteps. I turned and quickly jumped up when I saw Councillor Okada hurrying towards me, his face a mask of concern. With him was a petite, small woman around his age whom I recognised immediately as Nanako's mother, and Ken. Ken was walking behind the councillor and was doing his best to avoid making eye contact. I wonder what'd happen if I was to inform the councillor right then that Ken hadn't taken us all the way back to Newhome like the councillor had asked, but had dumped us off in Lilydale instead.

  Councillor Okada remained a polite distance behind as Nanako's mother rushed over to me and took my hands in hers. She was a good couple of inches shorter than her daughter was, but a familiar kindness radiated from her round face. She reminded me very much of her daughter.

  "It has been a long time, Ethan," she said as she looked up into my eyes.

  "I wish I could be catching up with you again under better circumstances, Mrs. Hirano," I said sadly. I hadn't seen her for over two years, not since Nanako had taken me to Newhome after I'd been shot.

  "Oh no, you must not call me that," she said kindly. "Call me Okaa-san. Now tell me, how is my daughter?"

  The councillor came forward now and shook my hand, and then I filled them both in on Nanako's condition. I didn’t mention I was genetically engineered, of course.

  After that, the councillor dismissed the two Militia, and then the three of us sat in the seats against the wall, with me in the middle. Ken remained standing further down the corridor, for all intents and purposes trying to blend in with the wall.

  "You have been very busy since I saw you last," the councillor said quietly.

  "Yes, Sir."

  "This affair over in Inverloch, is this your doing, as they are saying on the radio? Did you lead that expedition into Skel territory?"

  "Yes, Sir, I did. Not that we really had much choice. We had to leave Newhome or face execution."

  "I wish..." he began, but his voice petered off.

  "You wish what, Sir?" I prompted tiredly.

  "I just wish your people had reported this abhorrent situation to us with discretion, so that we could have dealt with it privately, as an internal matter. There will be many repercussions, reparations and loss of honour for years to come from the Rangers' incomprehensible actions," he said wearily.

  "You didn't have any idea the Rangers were doing these things?" I asked, although I already knew the answer. Had he known, he would have done something about it.

  "Not even an inkling. They covered their tracks too well," he lamented.

  "What will happen to them?"

  "The Militia are out rounding them up as we speak. They will be prosecuted according to the law, and sentenced accordingly. Some of them, starting with Colonel Yamada, will be facing life in prison. But tell me, how did you know the Rangers were up to these nefarious activities? What tipped you off?"

  This was a great opportunity to land Ken in it, if I was to tell the councillor that Rangers had rescued us out from the middle of Skel territory thanks to Ken abandoning us in Lilydale. But, I wasn't in the mood to cause a fuss right now, so I decided to try a different tack.

  "Since I met Nanako my memories of my time here in Hamamachi have been coming back, and..."

  "You've remembered who shot you?"

  "No, not yet, but I have..." My words trailed off when the door to the emergency department was swept open and a doctor emerged. He spotted us, bowed to the councillor, and then came straight to me, though I could tell from his expression that he didn't have particularly good news.

  "Ethan Jones?"

  "Yes, Sir?"

  "Your wife is doing well, and we will be moving her to her own room shortly, at which time you will be able to see her. However, I regret to inform you that she has suffered a miscarriage."

  "Th-thank you, Doctor," I stammered, but I was already turning away so that I could sort through the mass of emotions that had spontaneously erupted within me at hearing Nanako had suffered another miscarriage.

  My first thoughts were for her, about how she must be feeling right now. I remembered her sharing with me that she was late and suspected she was pregnant, and the quiet hope that had filled her when Madison had confirmed it. And now the little child that she had carried for just five or six weeks was gone, and with him or her, went Nanako's hopes and dreams for raising a family with me. This miscarriage confirmed Madison's damning words, that we'd never be able to have children. And on that score, I felt a wave of guilt wash through me. This was all because of me. If she'd married a normal guy, even if she'd had another miscarriage, she'd still have hope for the future.

  I also felt a deep-seated sense of loss because I'd never get to meet the little one she'd carried for such a short time. I wondered if the child had been a boy or a girl, and what he or she would have looked like. Would the child have had dark hair and a darker complexion like their mother, or fairer hair and complexion like me? I sighed deeply, contemplating that now the little one was gone, I'd never be able to hold him or her in my arms and cradle them to sleep. I wouldn't see the first smile, or watch him or her batting the toys dangling from their playgym while they lay on their back. I wouldn't get to see the little one giggling as he or she learned to crawl, or run to the door to welcome me home from work. I wouldn't see the child off to their first day of school, or leap to my feet and cheer when he or she graduated from high school.

  Finally, I remembered my intention to divorce Nanako should this pregnancy result in a miscarriage. Well, it had, and so I now knew with utter certainty, that I had to divorce her and get out of her life so that she could marry a normal person and have children and a family.

  Knowing that I had to do this tore my heart apart. Nanako was my world, but I knew with conviction that this was the right thing to do. I knew how important it was for her to have her own children, and that was something I could never give her. A deep calm entered my soul as I pondered this course of action. The only thing that remained was to wait for the right time to tell her, and that time was not now.

  A small hand slid into mine, interrupting my painful deliberations. I looked down to see Okaa-san standing beside me, searching my face with gentle kindness. "Everything will be okay, Ethan, you'll see," she said.

  I gave her a weak smile. She didn't know the truth, that nothing would be okay.

  Fifteen minutes later a nurse came and took us to Nanako's room, which had four beds, three of which were occupied. Nanako was in the bed in the back left near the window, lying on her back and staring despondently at the ceiling.

  Okaa-san and the councillor hung back while I quietly approached her. I dragged over the closest chair and sat down.

  "The doctor told me what happened. I'm so sorry," I said softly.

  Nanako's eyes remained empty and lifeless, but she reached out, grabbed my hand, and clutched it to her chest. Her mother and the councillor approached now and sat in two chairs on the other side of the bed, and offered their condolences. Nanako nodded briefly, but apart from that said nothing.

  An hour passed and Nanako suddenly turned towards me and locked her deep brown eyes on mine. "I'm sorry," she said.

  "For what?"

  "For getting so angry with you."

  "There's no need to apologise," I assured her gently.

  "No, there is. I didn't realise that this is just as hard for you as it is for me."

  I couldn't reply because I'd choked up and had to hold my breath to keep the tears back. So I just nodded and held her hand.

  The day fled by ever so slowly, but Okaa-san and I remained at Nanako's side while she continued to mourn the loss of her baby. Councillor Okada had left some time ago.

  "Nana-chan, do you remember Chiba-san?" Nanako's mother asked after a while.

  Nanako gave a tiny nod.

  "I don't know if you recall, but she had five miscarriages before she had her three children. So don't lose heart, okay? You are still very young, and you have plenty of time."

 
Nana nodded politely, but her eyes were fixed on mine, and I knew what she was thinking. Our case was different. It wouldn't matter how much time we had. All of her pregnancies would result in miscarriages.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  That evening, about an hour after the sun set and Nanako was fast asleep, Councillor Okada came to see me. But he didn't talk, he just motioned for me to join him. I bade a quick farewell to Okaa-san and followed the councillor out of the room, down the corridor, and into an empty nurses' station. Except it wasn't empty. Madison, David, Leigh and Shorty were all there.

  "Hey man, you all right? You look a right mess," David said as he came forward and gave me a quick hug, before stepping back. His right arm was in a sling and was set in plaster. "We heard what happened to Nanako. Sorry, mate, that's rough."

  "Looks like we got the easy end of the deal for a change, and yeah, sorry about Nanako," Leigh said as he checked out my bruises. I noticed with no small amount of satisfaction that Leigh was standing next to David. He'd finally forgiven him.

  "Them bruises gonna fade, I reckon, what a shame – they'd make awesome trophy wounds," Shorty said, trying to lift my spirits. He gave me a hug too.

  "My condolences, Jones," was all Madison said, but for her, that was something.

  The councillor stood beside us all, and was clearly waiting for something, though what, I couldn't guess.

  "You guys must have a story to tell. How'd you get away from the Rangers and get all the way to Inverloch without getting detected?" I asked.