Apocalypse Trails: Episode 5

by Joe Nobody

  Norval touched one of the leads to the battery as Jack closed to within five steps.

  At four steps, the head ranger’s meaty hand positioned the second wire.

  At three, Norval was moving the last connection to the battery’s terminal.

  At two, Pickett heard Jack’s boots slamming into the stone and looked up. An evil smirk crossed the madman’s lips before his focus returned to killing Keith’s invaders.

  At one, Jack launched into a headfirst dive that would have made any baseball player proud.

  Jack’s shoulder slammed into Pickett’s chest with the exposed wire less than an inch from making its deadly connection, both men rolling hard across the rock floor. The commander’s pistol, jarred from his hand, rattled over the rough stone and out of reach.

  Norval was up first, his size 15 shoe lashing out at Cisco’s ribs. The blow landed, but not squarely. Still, it was enough to knock the commander off balance and tumble him back against the rock.

  “You traitor,” Norval hissed, stepping in with his massive fists balled into tight knots. “I gave you a chance to join our master race and achieve true greatness. Your children could have led entire nations, and this is how you repay me!”

  Jack’s boot lashed out, catching the advancing giant just above the knee and causing Norval to grimace in pain. Before the brawnier man could recover, the commander was up and backing away.

  The ranger came in, swinging hard and taking advantage of his longer reach. Jack ducked one, then a second blow. Norval’s third attempt landed, the punishing blow nailing Jack in the jaw and sending white lines of ringing pain through the commander’s head.

  Staggering, Jack again withdrew, using his feet to keep out of Ranger Pickett’s reach.

  I’m not going to win this going toe to toe, Jack realized, drawing deep breaths and fighting off the pain. I have to outsmart this pompous sphincter wart, or he’s going to kick my ass.

  For the next minute, the commander avoided the oversized fellow, using his feet and staying just out of reach. “You’re a chicken shit, Navy man!” Norval barked, trying to lure Jack to come closer. “Come on, sailor boy. Surely you’re not scared of an old man like me?”

  He’s big and smart, Jack thought. He’s also crazy. Think, Commander. Damn it, think!

  “I don’t have to beat your ass, Pickett. The Simpson survivors are going to break through any second now. I’m sure they’ll finish you off for me,” Jack taunted back.

  There was truth in Jack’s words, and Norval’s expression changed visibly as he realized the commander was just buying time for the cavalry to arrive. With a deep, bear-like growl, the ranger tucked his head and charged.

  Jack was ready, sidestepping the slower man’s thrust and landing two hard rabbit punches on Norval’s temple.

  The strikes stunned Pickett, causing him to momentarily lose his footing as he fought to regain his balance.

  Jack leaped onto the burly man’s back, his right arm encircling Norval’s thick neck. The commander held on like a cowboy riding a rodeo bull, the ranger spinning and bucking in an effort to throw him off.

  With his still-healing arm and shoulder screaming from the effort, Jack gritted his teeth and strained to tighten his grip. Every cell of the commander’s frame was focused on crushing his opponent’s windpipe and ending the fight. The head ranger had other ideas.

  Norval now realized two things. First, he needed a different approach to dislodge the commander from his back. Second, he could no longer breathe.

  Changing tactics, Norval began backing up as fast as his straining legs would allow. A few steps later, Jack’s back was slammed into the stone wall, the impact knocking the air from his lungs in a whoosh. The commander barely held on, struggling to draw fresh air into his body.

  Norval staggered two steps forward and then reversed direction. Again, Jack was slammed into the unyielding rock with rib crushing force.

  No matter what, don’t let up on his neck, Commander Cisco thought, fighting through the fog of agony that racked his body. Don’t let go!

  Staggering forward as if to prepare for another backward charge, Norval’s purple face was covered in veins as he pulled with all his remaining strength against the arm that was choking the life from his body.

  Every tendon and ligament in Jack’s body howled from the strain, his tortured muscles feeling as if they were being shredded in a meat grinder. He too was having trouble breathing, sure that at least two of his ribs had been splintered against the rocks.

  Just as he was about to lose his grip, Jack felt the beast under him stagger, and then the stone trail was rushing up at the commander's face.

  Norval’s dying throes were violent but short, the beefy man’s body heaving in convulsions as his tortured carcass made once last effort to survive.

  Lying on top of the ranger’s back, Jack never loosed his grip, waiting twice as long as he thought necessary before relaxing his hold on Norval’s throat.

  For several seconds, Jack remained on his knees next to the dead man, drawing oxygen into his lungs and trying to rub some sense of feeling back into his arm.

  Only then did it dawn on Commander Cisco that there was still a battle raging behind him. Keith and his people were still dying in the cave, as well as the surviving rangers and Carmen’s men.

  Struggling to reach his feet, Jack staggered back toward the main corridor where Ms. Legs and the rangers were still locked in a stalemate. “It’s over!” Jack shouted through cupped hands. “Noval’s dead! Stop this craziness!”

  Exchanging puzzled looks, the two defending rangers didn’t seem to know how to react. “It’s over,” Jack repeated. “Norval is lying dead back there. I’ve disabled the detonator. End this, right now. Nobody else needs to die!”

  Still unwilling to budge from behind their cover, the two rangers didn’t discharge their weapons but weren’t willing to surrender either. It was Carmen’s voice that finally got their attention.

  “This is Carmen; you men know me well. I am Norval’s second in command. I make this promise to you. Come out, and you won’t be harmed.”

  Jack was relieved to hear the safeties engage on the rangers’ weapons. Moments later, the secreted shooters stood with their guns pointed skyward. Upon seeing the situation de-escalate, Carmen rushed to Commander Cisco, his legs now barely able to hold him upright. “Are you all right?” Carmen asked, her voice thick with concern.

  “Yeah, I'm okay. Just weak is all. Go … go stop the others and end this stupidity. Go pull rank on the rangers still fighting in the cave.”

  She nodded, pivoting to rush off, face full of hope that she could stop the still-raging battle. Jack found a place to sit, his shaky legs and spent body thankful for the perch.

  Jack watched as Keith and one of his crew lowered the last of the explosives, the two men handling the hazardous object with extreme caution.

  The sound of soft footfalls caused him to turn, a glowing Ms. Legs coming to see what progress was being made.

  “I just finished assigning the last person sleeping quarters,” she beamed. “Keith and I decided it was best to keep the surviving rangers separate from the newcomers for a while, even though both groups understand that Ranger Pickett was the catalyst for all of the bad blood of the last few months. They are ready to start the healing process, and I hope one day we are one, seamless community.”

  Keith joined them just then, the ex-paratrooper obviously pleased to have removed the last of Norval’s treachery. “The bomb has been disarmed. We can let people come and go through here without fear of setting off our own Carlsbad Cavern eruption,” he announced. “I’ll let everyone know it’s clear.”

  The two leaders of the new underground society turned, motioning Jack to join them as they headed for the lower levels of the cavern. “We just finished inventorying the remaining food supplies,” Carmen explained to Keith. “There is just over six months’ worth if we are careful.”

  “Any luck with figuring out
how to grow more of the cave moss … or to make it a little more palatable?” Keith asked. “That might buy us a bit more time.”

  Shaking her head, Carmen replied, “No. One of your people was a chef in a previous life, and she’s trying out a few recipes to see if we can make it a bit more tasty. She also said that it would take a while to figure out if there were any medical uses. Given our unsophisticated medical equipment and our lack of spices to work with, it might be a while before we know what the real value of our ‘cave moss’ is.”

  “One of the rangers told me there is an underground pond that still has living frogs,” Keith interjected. “Maybe we can start raising them as a food source. I remember eating some pretty tasty frog legs in New Orleans years ago. Tastes like chicken.”

  “Ewww,” Carmen protested, “I’m going to have to be pretty desperate to eat frog,” she said with a grimace. “Still, I suppose it beats starvation.”

  “One thing is for certain. When things start growing again outside, we’ll have plenty of bat guano to use as fertilizer. I saw a cave yesterday where it was at least waist deep,” Keith said.

  “Why does the apocalypse have to be so gross?” Carmen teased. “Bat poop? Frog legs? Moss? Next thing you know, you guys will be trying to serve me cave crickets as a valuable source of protein.”

  “Hey,” Keith brightened, “That’s not a bad idea. Maybe….”

  “Stop!” Carmen laughed. “I was only teasing. Will you men eat anything?”

  Ham arrived just then, interrupting the banter. “Keith, we’re ready to hold the first meeting regarding the elections. Are you still planning on stopping by to give your two cents worth?”

  Nodding, Keith turned to Jack and Carmen. “No rest for the wicked. If you folks will excuse me?”

  Jack stood next to her, watching in silence as Keith hustled off with his friend. “So, you’ve chosen the democracy route as opposed to Norval’s fascist leanings?” Jack teased.

  She nodded, “Yeah. We thought given recent history, that democracy was an effort that was best started sooner rather than later.”

  “I’m glad to see it. To be honest, I think you and Keith are both a little tired of running the show and making all the decisions.”

  “Oh, and that’s not all,” she continued. “Keith and I have agreed on a more peaceable lifestyle for our community. We have had enough bloodshed; we don’t want any part of conquering our neighbors so that we can harness their resources for ourselves. In fact, we had a meeting this morning to brainstorm ideas for self-sustainment. Turns out one of the tourists who is part of the Simpson Hotel refugees is a botanist by trade. Apparently, when Yellowstone erupted, he was here studying some edible mushrooms that have colonized in one of the more remote chambers.”

  “I remember Ranger Pickett talking about how there were more than 100 caves in the park. No telling what you would find in them all. I guess it doesn’t surprise me that you found mushrooms,” Jack pondered.

  “Exactly,” Carmen continued excitedly. “They are an excellent source of protein; they are easy to grow, and they are bound to taste better than bat livers,” she giggled.

  Carmen paused, her tone growing more serious now. “You know, Commander Cisco, I am a better leader …,” she bumbled, struggling to choose the right words for the man to whom she owed so much. “Heck, I’m a better person … for having met you,” she admitted. “You were the grain that tipped the scale … that led us to rebel against Norval…. Everyone here owes you so much.”

  Their eyes met, both of them well aware of what was coming next. Jack came right out with it, “You know it’s time for me to hit the road.”

  “I know,” she replied, staring down at the cavern floor, blinking away hot tears that threatened to breach her bottom eyelids. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can say or do to change your mind? You really do bring out the best in me,” she added.

  Gently placing his palms on her shoulders, Jack again found himself hesitating. Carmen was not only strikingly attractive, but she had proved herself a brilliant, brave woman. It was so tempting to grant Mylie her divorce in abstention and remain here to help the good people of Carlsbad rebuild.

  Yet, the commander knew he would never forgive himself if he took the easy way out. He still loved Mylie and could think of little else but his girls.

  “No,” he finally responded. “I have to go to Texas. I have to see this through.”

  Stepping close, she reached up and toyed with the collar of his shirt. Again, she flashed the most seductive eyes Jack had ever seen. “Are you sure? Really sure?”

  “Yes,” he replied. “You are a stunning woman, and my head is screaming for me to stay. But my heart still belongs to my family. I have to go to Texas. I have to see this through.”

  She nodded a reluctant acceptance of his words and stepped back to restore the space between their bodies. “I understand,” she murmured. “But please … promise me you’ll come back if things don’t work out. Will you do that?”

  “Yes,” he replied with a smile.

  “Oh, hey, I had one of the guys drop in a few extra medical supplies just in case you needed a little something for that boo-boo on your shoulder,” she teased, trying to raise the melancholy cloud that lingered over them both. A few seconds passed before Carmen’s attention returned to business. “Do you have everything you need for your trip, Commander Cisco?”

  “Yes,” Jack nodded. “Keith was a little hesitant to let me restock my ammo but finally gave in, and I am well supplied now. My pack is full of food and water, and my bike is ready to go. I plan on heading east in the morning.”

  “How much further do you have to go?” she asked.

  “I’m halfway home,” he replied. “And if the second half of this journey is as eventful as the first, I am going to have one hell of a story to tell my kids.”

  Carmen smiled as she watched him leave, wishing she could be a fly on the wall when he opened his pack.

  Apocalypse Trails – Episode 6 available mid-Summer, 2017