by Brad Raylend
The wagon passed him and he stood up and ran after it. The man with the reins cracked them and the wagon lurched forward. Todd began to run faster and he placed a hand on the side of the wagon, struggling to keep up. He waited for a smooth patch in the road and used it to throw a leg up over the side. His heel smacked the solid wood inside the bed, making a loud thud. The man riding shotgun looked back briefly and then turned back around. Todd slowly worked the rest of his body up into the bed of the wagon and sat with his legs crossed, his knees against the tailgate. He bounced up and down as he watched the land pass by. He smiled at the odd situation he had now found himself in.
The wagon jounced around along the uneven road for nearly two hours. Todd’s head began to bob down to his chest, but he was quickly woken when the wagon hit a rock in the road. It became clear to him very quickly that traveling during this day and age was extremely unpleasant. The hard, steel-rimmed wagon wheels sent the rider a report of every hard feature along the earth’s surface.
The two men on the bench chatted loudly almost the entire ride. Todd eavesdropped on their conversation for several hours and learned a great deal about them. The man controlling the reins was Henry, who was the local shopkeeper in Durango. He was somewhere in his late fifties and seemed to be extremely religious judging by “the Lord’s” constant involvement in his conversations. The other one was Calvin, who apparently worked for Henry and couldn’t have been older than seventeen. He asked more questions than he answered, and usually his questions were answered very wisely by Henry, who clearly served as a mentor role. Their conversation started with the store and its current importance to the town, and somehow led to the ever-changing nature of modern civilization and the dying spirituality and faith in society. It was interesting to hear them talk about the future, and how technology was a force that was rapidly consuming the western world. Technological achievements such as the train were an outstanding example of how the world of the future was becoming more accessible to common folk, who more and more would become dependent on machines. Todd only wished they could see the rail trains in Los Angeles from his time.
Todd looked at the time displayed in his HUD. It had been nearly four hours since they left Durango. The land around them was beginning to flatten out, slowly becoming an arid desert with hills and large buttes lining the distant horizon. The roads became softer and flatter as the sand became softer. Todd took advantage of this and adjusted the contents in the back of the wagon, clearing a space for himself so he could curl up. He ensured Henry and Calvin didn’t notice the crates being moved around and, using some empty burlap sacks as a pillow, he curled up with his knees tucked up to his stomach. Before going to sleep, he tapped the MTX and sent a quick transmission to the future.
-SITREP-
I’m en route to a local rancher “a day’s ride” south of Durango. Once I am able to obtain a horse, I will continue on with my search for York who was last seen heading west.
He closed his eyes and felt his mind drift off into much-needed rest.
* * *
June 3, 2014
The images are burned in my mind. So many lives lost because of me, so many places scarred because of my actions. I’m having a hard time sleeping, having a hard time looking in the mirror. I don’t recognize the man I see anymore. This scarred-up monster in the reflection isn’t the boy who grew up in Bayfield, Colorado with his sweet mother. I’m not the quiet seventeen-year-old who skipped prom night because he was too shy to ask anyone to go with him. Didn’t do drugs because he was afraid he would turn out to be like his father. All I saw was the bastard who was responsible for the deaths of thousands. A fool blinded by his own wants and agenda … who had sacrificed innocent civilians to achieve them.
I don’t think I want to do this anymore. I can’t watch innocent people die by my own hands and just shrug it off like they never existed anyway. I’m not like Bohden, I can’t just lie to myself and pretend that things didn’t happen. Who am I to decide what is best for mankind? Why should I single-handedly have the right to choose who lives or dies, who gets to live in the future and who gets their entire world torn apart around them? If it wasn’t for Kara and Brian, I would have left already. They’re the only reason I continue on. I want them to be able to return to the real world. They deserve real lives again. Especially Kara. There is nothing I want more than for her to be happy.
JACK
Todd woke when the wagon made an abrupt stop. He sat up quickly and saw the two men hopping down from the bench seat. His mind took a second to regain its bearings. It was now dark and the animals throughout the desert called out to the night, making for a peaceful scene.
Henry walked to the back of the wagon and pulled down the tailgate. Todd hopped off the side of the wagon and landed softly on the desert floor. He looked back to ensure the two hadn’t heard him. While Henry pulled off blankets and some cooking materials, Calvin began preparing some kindling for a fire. A few minutes later, the two settled around the fire and began cooking some beans in a pan over the open flame. Todd realized how hungry he was and unclipped his pack; he pulled out one of his rations and squeezed all the contents into his mouth, turning his head so there was no possibility of them seeing his exposed face. He cringed at the artificial taste, wanting to eat some actual food. He contemplated stealing some, but it was all gone before he mustered up the courage to act upon his urges.
The two men stared into the hypnotizing flames, saying nothing to each other for a long while. The sparks flew up into the dark night and disappeared as they cooled amongst the stars. Todd slowly crept closer to the fire and settled between two smooth boulders a few feet from the campsite. The full moon lit the desert around them as the horses snorted companionably to each other next to the wagon. Todd felt an odd security from the peaceful setting; he felt his eyes becoming heavy and his mind began to wander. He wished he could take off the suit and feel the natural warmth of the flame. He lay on his back looking up at the stars, ignoring his HUD which was trying to accurately display the temperature while being affected by the hot fire. He missed camping, he missed nature. Technology had consumed his life for the past twenty years and it seemed to have become a necessity. It was strange to see Henry and Calvin sit for hours without pulling out a cellphone. It felt freeing to be in such a raw environment.
The sun shined through his visor and his eyes slowly blinked open. He sat up slowly and stretched out, but froze when he noticed the wagon was no longer behind him. He stood up and looked around. The fire had been kicked out and there was no sign of Calvin and Henry. Although they had never even been aware of his presence, he felt like they had abandoned him.
“Shit!” He couldn’t believe he had overslept. Looking at the ground and shaking his head, he began thinking of options. He looked up and scanned the horizon. His HUD was actively searching for anything that resembled something manmade. It finally locked onto an object off in the distance. He squinted and canted his head at something dark that was blurry from the mirage on the horizon, so far away it looked like a small pebble. “6.5 kilometers” was displayed beneath the highlighted object. He rolled his eyes and began walking towards it, cursing every other step.
One kilometer remained and the object in the distance was beginning to take shape. He began to speed up was what was clearly a house grew in his view. He started to run but then stopped and thought for a moment. He quickly unclipped his pack and pulled out his disguise and began undressing. His skin breathed in the warm air and he paused for a moment to take it in. He held the cloaked suit and took in a long breath; the warm, dusty air was intoxicating. He looked down at his depressed pads of his fingertips bearing the weight of the invisible hard plates. Over to his right a few feet away was a distinct rock formation that rose above the shrubs like a natural pillar. He walked over, placed the suit at the base of it and began piling stones over it like an ancient burial.
He set the last stone on the large pile and stood up to admire the incognito ca
che spot. He would leave it here until he could get a horse and start on York’s trail. He didn’t feel entirely comfortable about leaving a billion-dollar suit out in the desert, but he didn’t see any other option. He pulled off the MTX and put it in the duster’s pocket. He also removed his 1911 and its spare magazines.
“Whatcha doin’, Mister?” a little voice from above called out.
Todd jump backwards, his heart pounding in his chest. He looked around in confusion, then a shadow from above engulfed him. Sitting on top of the rock formation was a small boy wearing a flat-brimmed hat. His legs dangled down and kicked curiously.
“What the, I, uh …” Todd fumbled with his words.
“How come you have no clothes on?” the boy asked.
Todd looked up at him in confusion, then down at himself. He was wearing only his synthetic polyester briefs. He cringed at the sight of them. In one instant, the entire timeline could be corrupted because a little boy had seen his future underwear. He felt a sickening feeling spread in his stomach. The boy canted his head and looked confused, and he pointed his little index finger down at Todd.
“Why you have such fancy britches?”
Todd thought for a second then replied, “They’re uh … silk, from England.”
“Hmm, I heard ‘bout England, don’t they talk funny there?” he asked, his voice high-pitched and adorable.
Todd chuckled, knowing that he was in the clear. “Yes, they talk funny.”
The little boy stood up and put his hands on his hips, looking down at Todd like a comic book character atop a building. “Why you out here all ‘lone, Mister?”
Todd smiled up at the little boy. Placing his hand over his eyes to shield them from the sun, he said, “I was going to ask you the same question.”
The boy looked out into the hills confidently. “I’m gonna find gold up on them hills, and live by myself,” he said in a defiant way.
Todd laughed. “You’re a little young to be living by yourself, little man. Where’s your parents?”
The boy disappeared behind the ledge of the chimney, then Todd heard the sound of his small feet hit the rock landing a few feet below the peak. He came around the chimney and looked at Todd, who was at eye level with him now.
“I’m a man now, I don’t need to live with my parents anymore.”
Todd looked at him with a humorous expression on his face. The boy wore a dirty button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his scuffed elbows, and overalls that were covered with the orange powder from the rock. He had long blonde hair that crept in front of his eyes beneath his hat. He smiled at Todd. He still had all his baby teeth, which led Todd to believe he was about five or maybe six years old. Todd looked at him with a grin, placing his hands on his hips to combat his confident posture.
“Them your clothes?” the boy asked, pointing at the long duster and the rest of his disguise sitting next to a small sage brush.
“Yup, I uh … was trying to get some ants out of my clothes.”
The boy laughed hysterically and cradled his little belly. “You can’t sleep in the dirt, dumb dumb, you have tuh put somethin’ below ya!”
Todd smiled. “You’re smart,” he said over the boy’s laughter. “Your father teach you that?”
The boy stopped laughing and exhaled, shrugging his shoulders and throwing his arms down in an overly dramatic fashion. “Yeah … Papa is mean and I hate him.”
“He’s mean? How mean?” Todd asked, his face going stern.
“He’s always makin’ me do chores and not letting me do what I want,” the boy said, as he paced atop the boulder.
“Sounds like he cares about you,” Todd said, as he walked over to his clothes and began dressing.
The little boy began rambling on about how his father was always strict and was very stern with him. Todd had never had much of a father, and he found the boy’s complaints quite humorous. From what he gathered, his father seemed like a caring man, maybe a little harsh, but he only wanted what was best for his son. The boy’s complaints were completely understandable. It was no surprise that a child would find rules unfair or see chores as punishment. Todd wondered what his father did for a living.
Todd finished dressing and threw on the long duster, tying the scarf around his neck. The boy looked at him in awe. He was unsure what it was the boy found so fascinating about him.
Todd looked down at himself then back at the boy. “What?” he asked.
The boy smiled, his little upper teeth covering his lower lip. Todd hadn’t been around children much in his life. He rarely even saw kids in his line of work, and he didn’t particularly even like children. This kid however reminded him of himself when he was a boy. The two looked at each other in silence for a while.
“What’s your name, kid?” Todd asked.
The boy stepped to the edge of the rock, close to Todd, and presented a dirty hand. “Jack McWilliams, Mister.”
Todd smiled kindly and grasped the boy’s small hand. “Nice to meet you, Jack, my name is Todd.”
THE STRANGER
Luke McWilliams stood on the porch overlooking the vast acres that surrounded the ranch. He felt troubled inside; it wasn’t the first time this had happened. He blamed himself for his son’s attitude towards him. Being a father had proven to be one of the most difficult feats he had ever undergone. He had spent most of his life living outside the law, living the way most considered unworldly. Making ends meet by the skin of his teeth, day by day.
He saw his son going down the same cursed path as himself, and it was his greatest fear that Jack would one day end up being anything like him. He found it odd that he wanted his son to be the complete opposite person he was. He wondered if other fathers dealt with similar issues regarding their children. Maybe he didn’t deserve a child. Jack sure as hell didn’t deserve him; he deserved better.
He stepped off the porch towards the corral. His steps were thunderous as he stormed towards his saddle that sat on the post of the corral. He reached over and was about to throw it up on his shoulder when he saw something from the corner of his eye. About two hands beneath the dropping sun were two figures approaching from the northwest. He tilted his head down, using the long brim of his tall hat to shield his eyes from the sun. He could spot little Jack’s proud walk from a mile away. He was with a broad-shouldered man wearing a long duster. Luke stepped away from the log fence and studied the man beside his son. They were coming close now and he could see the man’s features. He had short, messy hair that blew in the wind, and he had a week or so of stubble. His dark eyes were shaded by his hard brow.
The two walked onto the soft grass surrounding the house and Luke looked the man in the eyes. Trust was something that very few individuals had earned from Luke McWilliams. He looked down at Jack very sternly. Jack looked down at his feet.
“Jack!” a voice called out from the house. A tall, slender woman came running out, holding her long skirt and apron above her feet. She came to Jack and dropped down to him, hugging him tightly. She pulled away and looked at him intensely. “Where have you been. I’ve been worried sick!”
Jack’s eyes became teary and he refused to look up. “I’m … sorry, Mama,” he said quietly.
Her anger quickly faded and she hugged him again. Luke looked back up at the stranger, who held out his hand towards him. He grabbed it, noticing a firm grip.
“Luke McWilliams,” he said. His voice was deep and complemented his large stature.
“Todd … Mitchel.”
“Thank you for bringing him back, he … tends to venture off every now and then.”
They watched as Jack and his mother walked back to the house. Luke noticed how Todd looked around the ranch in a very strange way. As If he were making sure he wasn’t being watched, or was scanning for predators. Luke looked around and then back at him.
“Where ya from, stranger?” Luke asked.
Todd was about to answer but stopped himself briefly. “I’m from … Durango. I’m hea
ding west, trying to find my twin brother.”
“This brother of yours … he in some kind of trouble?” Luke asked grimly, his arms crossed.
“Luke! I think our guest could use something to eat,” said Sarah McWilliams, who approached her husband, placing her thin fingers on his shoulder.
He looked over his shoulder at her and his hardened expression eased; she was the voice of reason in his life, and she could ease all the pain and anger within him with just a look or touch. He looked back at Todd, and his thick mustache and goatee raised on his face as he broke a smile. “Come on in, Mr. Mitchel, let’s have some supper and talk about this brother of yours.”
Luke, Todd, and Jack sat in the dining room of the McWilliams house as Sarah placed plates of beef and vegetables in front of them. Jack, who was fresh from a bath, went straight for the beef. Sarah gave him a quick glare and he stabbed his fork into some veggies angrily. Todd seemed to stop himself from devouring the plate. He looked quite parched, and his hands shook slightly as he slowly brought his fork up to his mouth.
“So, what brings you out here, Mr. Mitchel?” Luke asked without looking up from his plate.
Todd wiped his mouth and was about to answer but was beaten by Sarah.
“Thank you, Mr. Mitchel, for finding our son. Luke and I are very grateful.” She fixed herself a plate and sat down next to Luke. “He had been gone since early this morning, and had me and Luke on the fritz”
The corner of Todd’s mouth curved up and he nodded. “Glad I could help,” he said.
“So, what brings you way out here, Mr. Mitchel?” she asked very kindly.