by Jon Cronshaw
Abel's jaw drops. “I...I thought you were dead.”
“You going to say that every time you see me?”
Abel smiles and embraces the wizard. Pulling away, he eyes him up and down. “And you got yourself clean.”
“Man, we’re all clean. After the plez dried-up and the Trinity guys came, they really helped us out here.”
“And you're alive.” Abel shakes his head, smiling. “I can’t believe it. I thought you were dead.”
The wizard glances past Abel and nods. “Look, man. Let's keep this moving. Speak to you later.” He pats Abel’s shoulder.
“You're Alf?”
The wizard shrugs. “I guess.”
Abel rubs the back of his neck and looks at the queue stretching behind him. “You'll notice we got a few more people here.”
“Yeah? Trinity, right? Someone already told me.” He shifts aside an empty pallet and glides his knife along the plastic covering another layer of tins. “We’ll talk about it later, man. Good to see you’re still doing okay.”
Abel swallows. “Jacob’s dead.”
The wizard’s hands fall to his side, his knife dropping to the ground and clattering along the broken asphalt. “Dead? You sure?”
“I'm sure.”
“You were sure I was dead.” He leans down and picks up his knife, checking the blade with a forefinger.
“I saw his body with my own eyes,” Abel says, lowering his gaze. “Trust me, he’s gone.”
“Damn.” The wizard shakes his head. “What happened?”
“You hear of King Omar’s gang?”
The wizard nods. “Rumblings, you know?”
“They’ve taken Trinity. They crucified Jacob.”
There’s a long silence as the wizard holds his eyes closed. He lets out a sharp breath. “He was a good friend,” he says, shaking his head. “Lost too many friends, man. That’s too bad.”
“Yep.”
The wizard waves past Abel at the line of people now growing restless. “Listen, man, I need to keep this moving. We should do something. Mark his life, you know?”
Abel pats the wizard’s shoulder, smiling sadly. “That sounds good.” He goes to leave, then stops. “It’s good to see you again.”
23. Love
A knock at the window rouses Abel from his sleep. He squints in the darkness, meeting Sal's eyes through the glass. He leans over to the driver’s door, lifting the lock to let her in. “You okay?” he asks, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
“We okay to talk?”
Abel pats the seat. “Sure.”
Sal climbs inside, leaning back against the headrest. “I can't sleep.”
“It's just unfamiliar surroundings. You'll be right.”
“Every time I close my eyes, I see Jacob. I see him hanging there, like our Saviour.”
“Alf was saying we should do something to mark his death. Won't quite be a funeral, but it will be a way to find closure.”
Sal lets out a bitter laugh. “You think this is about closure?” she asks, turning to him. “I killed him. When I see him in my head, nailed to that cross, it's through the sight on Sis’s rifle in that moment before I pulled the trigger.”
Abel shakes his head. “You did what you had to do. You said it yourself — you ended his suffering.”
“I ended my suffering. I couldn’t see him like that. But it didn't end it, did it? It's just the start.”
“You did the right thing. Don't beat yourself up. He was beyond saving.”
Sal brushes a tear from her eye and looks through the windscreen. “I preach the Gospels. I preach the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:13. There's no exceptions, no caveats. I killed, plain and simple. Whichever way you look at it, I took someone's life—”
“Out of love,” Abel interrupts.
“I killed. I intended to kill. Jacob's dead.”
“I've been thinking of a way we can get Trinity back. We’ll have to get organised. I will need help from the people at the Grid.”
“Please don't change the subject. This is serious.”
Abel raises a hand. “Honestly, Sal. It isn't as serious as all these people out there who could die if we don't do something.”
Sal bangs her head against the chair’s back. She growls, slamming her fist on the steering wheel. The car horn rasps out, causing her to flinch. “I can't do this.” She turns to Abel. “How can I call myself a leader? How can I call myself a preacher? I can't lead. I'm a hypocrite. I’m a killer.”
“You can lead,” Abel sighs. “You have to lead. You can't just abandon all these people. You’re on the verge of losing everything. Don't let it happen.”
“Can't you see? I've got nothing left. I'm not a fighter. I’m not a survivor. How can I keep leading these people when I can't even think straight?”
Abel lets out a long sigh, and drums his fingers on the dashboard. He shakes his head, staring into the night.
“What?”
“Doesn't matter.”
Sal tugs at his arm. “Just say what you need to say.”
“It breaks my heart to see you like this. I love you, Sal, and I know you’re stronger than this. I know you’re better than this.” He grits his teeth. “Life out here is hard. Trinity was an amazing place, it could be an amazing place again, but it's down to you. People look up to you. I look up to you. It’s going to be hard but you need to fight.”
“You love me?”
Abel swallows. “Yep.”
24. Raiders
Abel sits cross-legged on the ground, poking a campfire with a stick. Looking up, he watches Sis and David make their way towards the fire, a bundle of twigs under each arm. “We got some beans for breakfast,” he says. “Hope you two are hungry.”
David drops the sticks and sits next to Abel.
“Alf’s looking for you,” Sis says. “I told him you here.”
Abel gets up as the wizard approaches. “Everything okay?”
“Man, we need to talk.” The wizard casts a grim expression.
“What is it?”
“You got a plan for Trinity?”
“I was hoping to talk to you about that today. There’s so much junk around here. I was thinking we could build something to help us get over the fence.”
“People are getting restless, man. With Jacob gone, I don't know.” He glances over his shoulder.
“If you get your people to help us, Sal’s people will be out of your way. It will make things quicker.”
The wizard looks past Abel, his eyes narrowing. “What the hell?”
Abel pivots at the sound of shouts and calls. “Raiders.” He looks around. “Kid, take Sis. Hide under a car or something. Keep out of the way.”
“Okay.” David takes Sis's hand, leading the way through the cars. Abel looks around and grabs his shotgun from the ground.
Racing between cars, he heads towards the Grid’s east end. An arrow flies past as his ears fill with the sounds of battle cries and screams. He hops onto the roof of a car and looks over the raiders’ identical faces — wild red hair and blue ponchos twisting with their attacks. “Damn it,” he sighs.
He scans through the crowd, spotting Big Ned wielding a spear. He jumps down from the car and runs towards him, firing the shotgun into the air. “Ned! Ned!”
Big Ned looks around and then drops his spear, his head tilting. “Stop! We got wrong.”
Abel marches over to him, the shotgun slung over his shoulder. “Damn it, Ned. What's going on?”
Big Ned slaps his hands on Abel’s shoulders, leaning on him, breathless. “We came to get our women.”
“Well, you've come too far.”
“They burned Town. They string our boys on tree. They took our women.”
Abel nods and gestures to the crowd. “These people have also lost their homes. They’ve seen people die because of the same raiders.”
“They got to get got.”
Abel’s shoulders relax. “You're right. You can help us.”
“We go now. We take them.”
“No, no. If you're going with sticks, you’re not even going to get into the settlement. We’re coming up with a plan to get in. You can help us with the attack. What do you say?”
“You help us get our women back?”
“Yep.”
Big Ned lurches forward, embracing Abel, and then turns to his people. “Abel going to help us. He know where we need to go. He know what we need to do. That king got to get got.”
25. Remember
Residents from Trinity and the Grid sit in a large horseshoe-shape, some of them kneeling on the ground, others seated on cars and trucks. The air hangs still around them as the sun casts a grey glare through the clouds above. The wizard gets up first and scratches the back of his head. He looks around and sighs. “You know why we’re here,” he says. “Jacob was important to a lot of us, man. Can't believe he's gone. Few years back, before I came here, I used to have this show. I had a mule and a cart and I did all these tricks with stuff from before. Jacob saw me for who I was.” He gives a half-smile. “So, we didn't exactly get on.”
A few of the gathered people laugh. Others dip their heads, sobbing.
“He had high standards. He always pushed people to do better. I'm speaking for us at the Grid here, but, man, he helped us all get clean. The Family used to say you can never be free of plez.” He looks around, smiling. “Here we are. And it's thanks to him.” He lowers his head and closes his eyes. “We’re going to miss you, man.”
The wizard steps aside, and takes a seat next to Abel.
“That was a nice speech,” Abel says, patting the wizard on the back.
“Thanks, man. Meant every word. You should go say something.”
Abel nods and gets up, walking over to the clear patch of dirt. He looks around and swallows. “What can I say that hasn't already been said? Jacob's been there for a lot of us. I can't count the amount of times I’ve been banged-up and he fixed me up. He was there when I got clean too.” He shakes his head. “Seems like a lifetime ago now.” He gives a half-shrug and rubs the back of his neck. “I'll be honest, we didn’t always get on. He could be smug. He could be arrogant. There were times when I wanted to punch him in the face. But, you know, we all saw he was a good person and helped a lot of people.” Abel licks his lips. “A few years back, I used to run with this dog called Pip. She was a really good dog, not like the wild ones you run into on the roads. She was a proper friend.”
“She was good, man,” the wizard calls.
Abel nods. “I still miss her. But I found new friends,” he says, smiling at David and Sis, his eyes resting on Sal. “Pip had been attacked by this dog. It came out of nowhere. I managed to kill it, but one of her legs got infected.” Abel shakes his head. “Jacob was there for her. She was only a dog, but he sewed her up and cleaned her wounds. He tried to save her. He could have turned me away and said that she was just a dog, that she wasn't worth saving, but he didn’t.” He looks down at the ground and sweeps his gaze across the faces. “I was one of the last people to see him alive. He died trying to help everyone here. We tried to get some weapons so we could get Trinity back. That's when they took him. Even at the end he was trying to help. I think that's the type of person we need to remember.”
Quiet applause ripple around him. He shuffles back to his seat as Sal stands.
“So many of you have come up to me with kind words and prayers. Thank you. I...” She shakes her head, staring at her hands. “I wish we could have saved him. I wish—” Her voice cuts off with sobbing. She drops her head into her hands as tears run through her fingers. She wipes her eyes and nods to herself. “Please, join me in prayer.” The others bow their heads, many of them clasping their hands together. A few people look around confused, then copy the person next to them. “Dear Lord, we are thankful for the life of Jacob, and are grateful for his time on this earth. We ask you to accept your servant with your blessings into Heaven, so he can live in eternity at your side. Amen.”
26. The Deal
The wizard leans back against a truck, arms folded as he glances between Abel and Sal. “I've been talking to some of the people around here and they're not happy.”
Sal nods. “I know it's a lot to ask. Abel’s talking about constructing some kind of ramp so we can send our people over the fence.”
“You need to see it from our perspective, man. We’re just getting things sorted here. I've got nothing against Trinity, but you people are draining us. We were away more than a week to meet the caravans. That food usually lasts a few months. And now it’s going to be gone in a matter of weeks. We can't live like this.”
Abel leans forward and stares at the wizard. “This is why you should help them. As soon as they get Trinity back, they'll be gone. And then you’ll have another place to trade.”
“No offence, man. But what's stopping us from just asking your lot to leave. I'm sure it was fine for you to be here when Jacob was running things, but when it comes to it, he was a Trinity guy. We don't owe you anything. I'm running things now and I need to do what's best for my people.” He flinches at Abel’s glare. “I know that sounds harsh, but that’s what I need to do.”
“So, what?” Abel asks. “You’re going to leave these people to wander the wastes and die? Come on, you know what it’s like out there.”
“You said you'd help us,” Sal says.
The wizard nods. “That was before. I’ve got to look out for my people. And, no offence, Abel, every time you and me cross paths, you're always trying to do something stupid.”
Abel shakes his head. “I thought you’d changed. But you haven't changed at all.”
Sal places a hand on Abel's arm and nods. “You’re perfectly within your rights to do that. I understand my community has placed a great burden upon you. We’ll work out a way.” She turns to leave.
“Wait,” says the wizard. “I haven’t finished.”
Sal raises her chin. “You've made your position perfectly clear. I'll let my people know and we’ll be out of your hair as soon as we can.”
“I said, I haven't finished.”
Sal hesitates and looks at Abel.
Abel nods and turns to the wizard. “At least just help us get a decent ramp built. There's a lot of stuff around here that’s just junk.”
“I didn't say we can’t help you. It's just you're expecting a lot from us for nothing in return. Apart from...” He shrugs. “What are you offering? You're offering to clear the people at the Grid. All I need to do is give the word to a few of my people and you will have no choice but to leave.” A grin curls along the wizard’s mouth. “We’re going to need more.”
“What do you mean?” Sal asks.
The wizard pushes out his bottom lip. “I'll help you with your ramp. I'll even give you people to help with the raid. But I want what Jacob had. I want a home in Trinity.”
“This isn’t about helping your people at all,” Abel says.
The wizard glare at him. “If we’re going to take Trinity, we’re taking it for everyone here — that means everyone.”
Sal shakes her head. “We’ve spent too long building a community of God-fearing Christians. Having some of the people here, living among us...I don't know.”
The wizard snorts. “You're kidding right? You’re talking about your community as if it’s still a thing. Trinity is gone, man. It's gone and I'm offering to help you get it back.”
Sal takes in a deep breath and looks in the wizard’s eyes. “If you promise to live by our rules—”
The wizard raises a hand and shakes his head. “We'll live within your walls and help out with everything. But you’re not leading us. I need to be in charge.”
Sal closes her eyes. “You promise not to interfere with our Christian duties?”
“When I see Trinity, I see a trade hub. If you want to carry on with all that Christian stuff, don’t let me stop you.”
Abel clenches his jaw. “You don’t have to listen to this, Sal. We can
work something else out.”
Sal holds out her hand to the wizard. “If we can continue to live our lives how we did before, I accept your offer.”
The wizard gives a wolfish grin and shakes Sal’s hand. “Done. Let's get to work.”
THE WIZARD CLIMBS ONTO the back of a pickup truck and casts his gaze across the gathered people. “Everyone, listen,” he says, raising his right hand. “This is important.” Smiling, he looks over to Sal. “You guys at the Grid know who I am. The rest of you...” He shrugs.
“You that magic man,” Second Bob calls out. “I remember you. You made Mister Fluffy live.”
The wizard nods. “That was a long time ago. My magic show was destroyed. For the benefit of everyone else, I'm Alf. As Jacob's right-hand man, I've done a lot of stuff to make this place better. But now things are looking up. I've just had a conversation with the leader of Trinity. I've said we’re going to help get the place back.”
The residents from the Grid grumble. “Why should we help them?” a man calls out.
“If we help, we’re helping ourselves,” the wizard says, rubbing his hands. “Sal has agreed that if we get Trinity back, we’ll all be able to live there.”
The crowd erupts in a mixture of cheers and jeers, hostile eyes turning to Sal.
“When did this happen?” a pale-skinned woman asks, her eyes darting from the wizard to Sal. “Well?”
Sal raises her hands. “I was going to tell you myself, tell you in my own way.” She shakes her head. “But obviously, Alf has pre-empted that.”
“What did you offer them?”
Sal swallows. “I offered them what they're offering us — the chance to live in Trinity. We can't do it alone. We need people and we need equipment.”
“So you’re just going to let all these ungodly people into our home?”
“We don't have a home,” Sal sighs. “Our home was taken. I'll admit that it's not ideal, but we will build a new community and we will take our home back, and if it means sharing our home with these good people, that is a small price to pay.”