She looked around the room filled with misery and death and pushed down all of her doubts. If they didn't leave here and soon, they would die. It may already be too late. The thought made her stomach flip over. It was likely only a matter of time before Far View City became a giant tomb.
During three or four excavation trips the father and daughter had taken supplies out in the bags that had always housed their tools and water. Once out and away from the haven, they would transfer the provisions to the three backpacks that were covered in plastic trash bags and placed down in a hole, the hole covered with a rock. They couldn't chance animals getting to their packs.
It was after dinner and the three sat quietly for a while in Maggie and Will's quarters. Will said,
“I believe that every day we stay here is another nail in our coffins. We're as ready as we are going to get, it is time to make our escape.”
Maggie inhaled deeply, the disturbing vision of a young boy wasting away today prevented her from giving any argument at all.
Not many of the residents of the city were aware of it, an exit was mostly hidden behind the lower level animal enclosures. Occasionally over the years Will and Airi used that exit, sometimes it got them closer to their current work site. This afternoon he located one of secret service guards.
Actually, it was the father of Tanner, the courier who had been sent out to the Walker Bunker.
“Hi, how're you doing?” Will shook the hand of the man. “Any news from Tanner? I was hoping maybe I just missed hearing the latest.”
A very brief cloud of worry crossed the man's normally stony expression, “No. But you know he really hasn't had time to reach the other sanctuary. Tanner is strong, I know he can make it.” He paused a moment, “...What I don't know is if there will be any help for this.”
A thought occurred to Will, the man actually wanted his son away from this death trap. He said,
“I agree on both counts. Tanner is a good man, I think he'll be safe. Listen bud, I need a small favor.
You know that old door at the back of haven? I've used it a few times because it was closer to my dig. Anyway, I need to get back outside for a few moments. I left a specimen and my rock hammer out by mistake. That door would get me there the quickest.”
“Well, I'm busy right now. I could let you out but I don't have time to wait around and let you back in. Can't you get it tomorrow?” said the man.
Will just gave a smile, “Man, I really want to study that specimen this evening. If you would trust me with the key, I'll get it back to you after dinner this evening.”
The men liked each other and the secret service guard had no reason other than his well trained instinct to not trust the archeologist. He hesitated, shook his head and returned the smile, “You really are a weird bird, aren't you? Okay, I'll be in the common area after dinner. Bring me the key there.”
He had to shuffle through a ring of keys to locate the one that got used very little. Will slid it in his jean's pocket and said, “Thanks, see you later.”
The animals were noisy and smelly. Sure am glad we've had them, though. Don't think I would be a very dedicated or happy vegetarian. He skirted around the enclosures to the obscure exit door, a metal clad panel. Since the problem with the migrants being kidnapped years ago the door had a heavy bar across it and a padlock on the inside. As usual, he had to jiggle the key around a bit but the lock finally fell apart. The bar lifted, he pushed open the weighty door. He walked the few feet to his rock hammer and a good sized rock hidden behind some scrubby bushes. With the two items stowed in the pockets of his vest, he left the afternoon heat of the outside and slid back in the exit. The dug out sanctuary always maintained coolness and the only light in the door area was from the sky dome. Carefully, he aligned the padlock to appear locked at a glance but didn't push it closed. If we're lucky no one will be around here in the next few hours.
These days, very few of the citizens gathered in the dining room. No clattering of dinnerware, laughter and chatter filled the room. Most everyone came to get their food and returned to their quarters. A muted pall of dread and fear lingered here, just as every where in Far View City. Maggie nodded to a completely white covered lady who filled a buffet pan with potatoes. To save energy, only a couple of dim lights glowed above the food line. She filled some containers with food for the three of them and quickly returned to their quarters.
Will and Airi waited in the familiar surroundings. As Maggie closed the door behind her, sat the food on their small table, he said, “Okay, it's done girls. Tomorrow, we're out of here.”
Airi smiled and dug into the barely warm potatoes. Maggie wasn't hungry, amazing for her. She wished she could think of something funny, something optimistic. Instead, she looked around the rooms that had been home for the last fifteen years and struggled to push away a gut twisting apprehension. She felt exactly like she had felt when they loaded them onto the train in Washington and shot them into an unknown future. Her eyes dropped to the simple twisted gold band on her left hand. Will had already been carrying it around in his pocket when the stuff hit the fan. Weeks later, at the haven when the chaplain married them, he slipped the ring on her finger.
The last couple of days she had managed to scrunch and squeeze, roll up her two blouses and a couple of more t-shirts and shirts. Compacting her necessities into as small a space as she possibly could, food and other items had to take priority. She looked up from her thoughts to find two faces watched her.
As was her normal reaction to stress, she said, “What-t?...well, s—t, I'm fine. This is going to be a grand adventure, right? Great fun. I'm rushing into the vast unknown with two crazy dirt diggers.” She was up and paced now, “It's not as if I have nothing to wear. I've got two raggedy blouses and three thread bare pairs of panties. Damn, I'm good, I'm ready my sweeties!” She plopped in the chair and mumbled something about blanking-wierdos.
Will's weathered hand reached out and covered hers. When she met his eyes, her frustration vented, she laughed and they all begin to laugh. What the hell? They had to get out of here.
After dinner, with the handle of the small chipper still poking from his pocket, Will found Tanner's father and returned the key. “Thanks,” he said, “Found my stuff and got the door all secured again.” He hoped the man would trust him and not go down to the exit to check it.
CHAPTER THREE
Outside
The two excavators were let out, as was normal, for their day of work at the sites. Maggie gave one last look around their quarters. With a small bag, she tried to appear casual, passed the room where no classes had been held lately and went to the infirmary. Donning the protective suit she spoke with one of the doctors. He solemnly told her that two more had died. She went through the motions, did her usual ministering which felt completely useless. When she went to get some cloths and alcohol, she unzipped the suit a few inches and put two tubes of antibiotic cream, two bottles of pain and fever meds in the bag underneath. Later, she followed a nurse into the medicine room, talked to her about one of the children. The nurse unlocked the medicine closet, still chattering away to her she managed to slip two bottles of antibiotic pills away. A few minutes later she made an excuse, left the suit in the disposal can and moved down the halls to the animal pens.
Her heart beat fast now, she was always much more of a hand wringer than her husband who trusted things would go just as planned. Her nervous hand reached for the padlock on the rear exit door.
“Crap! I just knew it.” The padlock was engaged and locked. A small boot stomped on the floor and nearby about a half dozen chickens fluttered and cackled in alarm. Even on her edge of hysteria she thought Good grief, they stink. To herself, “Okay, okay. No panic, I've already thought of this.”
More than a half hour passed as she traveled what seemed like miles of hallways, inquired about and searched for Tanner's father. Finally, she located him as he left the dining room, a wrapped sandwich in his hand. She tried to calm her breathing
, “Hey, glad I found you.”
The man looked at her a moment and said, “Hello, it's a-ah Meg?”
“Maggie,” she said with a forced smile, “you remember, Will's wife.”'
“Oh yeah, whatcha' need Maggie?”
“You know that goofy hubby of mine. He forgot the same tool that he left outside yesterday. I swear, he's a regular absent minded professor. Anyway, I have the tool, some water and snacks that I need to get to them. Do you think you could let me out?”
“I guess so, c'mon and follow me.” He moved past her and down the hallway. At the main entrance the man unlocked and swung open the heavy door. The bright light made him squint and the fresh air washed over him, “God, that air smells good doesn't it? I ought to just go outside with you.”
Maggie's heart stopped for a moment. The man continued, “Best not, got things to do here. As a matter of fact, if you go out you'll have to stay until their regular time to come back in, about 4:00.”
“Oh, that's okay. That digging stuff bores me to death but I'll make it.” She stuck her hand out,
“Thanks, see ya later.” A hesitant look crossed the man's face. The sound of the door as it closed and locked allowed her to breathe out once more. She only stood a few seconds and stared at the closed door. Will and Airi waited a few more minutes away and beyond them, the unknown destiny of her small family. She made her feet move through the rough high plateau towards the dig site.
The father and daughter both sat bent legged on the large rock, jumped at every small sound and anxiously watched and waited for sight of Maggie. Will was the first to spot the wide brimmed straw hat bobbing around at a distance. “Thank god, I see her. Look Airi, there she is.”
Hair completely twisted up under the sun hat, her legs high stepped over the low plants and rocks. The bag dropped to the ground and she loosened the cord that held her hat on and pushed it to her back. No smile crossed her lips, “Well, mister, that frickin' door was locked.” Hands on her hips, she tried to catch her breath and threw her husband an accusatory look.
“Locked...blazes! I don't like that one bit. I should have known the guard would go back and check it. Did he say anything to you?”
Maggie sat down on the hard ground, gave them a faint smile now and explained how she persuaded Tanner's dad to let her out the main door of the sanctuary. “No, he was pretty accommodating. Looked like he would like to be out of there himself. I had already thought about the possibility of the door being locked and had a back-up plan of sorts.”
Will pulled out the three backpacks, looked over his shoulder, “Woman...don't sit...we have to get on the move. Let's load these bags and get out of here.”
She pushed to her feet just as the secret service man emerged from the bushes, a deep voice said, “You folks going somewhere?” His hand rested on the pistol that he wore on a shoulder strap.
Three very startled faces took in the man. Will's hand went to his pistol, holstered at his waist. He attempted to regain some semblance of calm demeanor. “Oh, we're just going to another dig site around the rocks there.” Maggie was on her feet, she moved nearer to Airi.
“That's a hell of a lot of gear for digging around in the dirt. Are you bugging out of here, man. I'm asking as a friend,” said Tanner's father.
Will didn't remove his hand from the pistol. “Listen, I don't want any trouble with you. Yes,we're leaving. This place is no more than a death trap, I intend to get my family away. You should come with us, maybe we can find Tanner.”
The man looked at each of them and out towards the deserted and wild landscape that stretched around them for miles. “I'm not going to try to stop you, friend. You're right, I don't know if there's any hope for Far View. But I have a duty here, this is where I belong.” The man stepped forward, reached his hand out and then clasped both around Will's, “If you find Tanner, tell him to stay away and tell him that I...” he paused now.
Maggie moved up to the two men, “We know, we'll tell him. Are you sure you won't come?”
The man turned and walked away, said not another word. The three strapped their backpacks on and quickly moved to the twisting and grown over road that led down from the high mesa. Both women wore wide brimmed hats, tied under their chins. The usual cloth encircled the seasoned archeologist's head and draped to shade his neck. As the high sanctuary slowly faded behind them and the scene rolled out ahead, Will thought how much it reminded him of the Australian Outback, the place they called the Never Never. He had spent a year there, worked on an interesting archeological dig and found it to be stunning and amazing country. In a quiet voice he quoted:
Out on the wastes of the Never Never-
That's where the dead men lie!
That's where the heat waves dance forever-
That's where the dead men lie
“What's that?” said Airi.
“Oh, just a poem I read when I was in Australia working a long time ago. This country reminds me of the wilderness they called the Never Never.
Maggie plodded along, she turned and him a narrowed gaze, “How cheerful.” The straps on the pack had started to dig into her shoulders, she adjusted them for some temporary relief. The three refugees had walked for several hours, the sun dropped low. It would soon be time to make camp, before the night fell like a cold dark curtain. She felt conflicted between thank god, rest and an uneasy anticipation of her first night in the wide open.
***
The strange piece of meat with four legs outstretched, sizzled on the stick over the fire. Tanner had become quite the rabbit chef. He liked to eat right before he set out for his night time treks. When he arrived at this place, barely a shadow of a town, probably already a near ghost town before the big calamity struck, he dug around and found some faded clues he was getting very close to his destination. The Walker Sanctuary might be as close as two more of his night walks. The daytime heat increased now and he found some stucco walls still standing with a few boards across the hole where a roof once stretched.
Over a month earlier, when he left Far View City his father cautioned him, “Stay smart, Son. Rest and eat. You'll likely be weak and tired before you reach the other bunker.”
He trusted his father and he did indeed believe the hours of walking and who knew what other obstacles would take their toll on him. He found the softest place available, earlier in the day, put his pack under his head and laid back in the corner of the crumbling adobe walls. As his eyes closed with exhaustion he did not feel weak; he felt strong, stronger than he ever had been. The walks through the dark had grown easier and easier, his body became leaner. The sister sanctuary wasn't so far away and if there was any help to be had, he would turn right around and return to his home haven with the aid. His hand found the small container of salve in his pocket, he rubbed it across his cracked lips. With images of home in his mind he turned on his side, hand on the pistol at his waist and slept.
The hot daytime hours slipped by. He was awake again and preparing for his nightly travels. The stick rotated in his fingers, seared the rabbit. In the last rays of light a shadow crossed his vision. Maybe just a bird, an owl. The bowed head didn't lift, he shifted the stick to the opposite hand, didn't want to lose his meal. Slowly he stood from his practiced squat, his .45 drawn.
A shadowed figure took a step forward, both hands outstretched and spoke, “We don't mean anyharm, mister.”
Tanner faced an older man, frizzy gray hair to his shoulders. The symptom of days of solitary survival, his thought was damn, now I'll have to share my supper. Then came the unmistakable click-ck of a gun being readied.
“We?” said Tanner, as four more figures moved into the only light now, the glow of the waning fire. Moving to flank their companion was a somewhat younger woman, a young man with dark skin, another light skinned young man who was a bit on the heavy side. The fourth smaller person extended an arm to mirror his own and gripped a .38 pistol. The young girl, perhaps thirteen or fourteen years old, supported the gun with her
other hand and offered no smile.
Good God! Hope I don't have to stab somebody with my rabbit was further proof of his many days of self preservation.
The elderly man spoke again, “Take it easy, son. We're traveling, just looking for shelter for the night.
“Oh yeah, traveling from where?” his stance not relaxed, he stood with the pistol aimed and the rabbit on a stick in the other hand.
“Ya' think I could sit down?” the man eased to the ground. “We left home two days ago. I'm flat beat, not used to the walking and the heat.”
Tanner said, “Home...where's home?”
The newcomer tried to fold in his legs but gave up and stretched them out. He pushed his glasses up on his nose, ran his hand through the wiry mass of hair, “Walker Bunker, a government sanctuary.”
Now the heavy .45 dropped to the loner's side, “Walker Sanctuary? You left there, are you couriers?” He began to pace, stopped and stabbed the stick in the ground. “Why did you leave...they're all sick, aren't they? Just like Far View, everybody sick and dying!”
“You came from Far View?” said the woman. She dropped to the ground and folded up her legs. The two men squatted and the girl slipped her gun into a vest pocket. All of their faces looked stricken in the dim flickers.
He stood still and said, “Yes, I was trying to make it to Walker. Hoped to find help.” He saw the girl ease around to the cooked and cold meat swaying on the top of the stick. “Go ahead, everybody might get a bite.”
The oldest man reached up his hand, “I'm the Professor. This is Cynthia and the armed assassin there, is Chloe.
The black man reached out, “Rafe.”
The other man said, “Charlie.
He shook their hands, “Tanner.”
Some uncomfortable moments followed as all of the travelers contemplated the news that their two opposite destinations were not safe, no longer an option. Cynthia bent and began to stoke up the fire, “You guys scrounge up some more wood.” She rummaged in a large pack and pulled out some biscuits and a rice mixture. Water from a jug filled a skillet and the mixture was dumped in. The men returned and quickly the fire blazed again. The woman balanced the pan on the campfire and said “Doesn't look like we'll be going to Far View, does it? What in the world are we going to do?”
The Days After (Far View) Page 4