by R. A. Hakok
‘And you two managed to escape. How brave. But twenty-seven others remain. Twenty-seven children. Why how awful.’
Her interest seems genuine, but somehow the last sentence seems like an afterthought, as though something else is preoccupying her.
‘And tell me dear, how did you know to come here?’
I explain how Marv told me about it. I don’t mention that he gave me a map to other places like The Greenbrier, and Benjamin’s codes to get us into each of them.
‘I see. And this Marvin, did he tell anyone else about The Greenbrier? Is there any chance others will know to come here too?’
I shake my head, no. ‘Marv’s dead. He only told me about it.’
‘What a pity.’ She takes another sip from her tea. ‘And what do you plan to do now?’
I hesitate. The truth is I don’t know. I can’t see there’s much for us here; the soldiers barely seem to have enough supplies for themselves. But we need to do something about Peck; if we just return to Mount Weather we’ll be no better off than when we left. An idea’s coming to me but I’ll need to discuss it with Mags first. She seems to have already made up her mind, however.
‘We’ll be moving on. It seems like you’ve already got enough mouths to feed here.’
Dr. Gilbey glances over as she says this, and for an instant I think the eyes behind the thin metal glasses narrow, but it’s so brief that later I convince myself I’ve imagined it. When she looks back at me she’s doing her version of smiling again.
‘Well you must do as you see fit, of course. Surely there’s no need to rush to a decision, however. Supplies are certainly tight, but it’s been years since we’ve had visitors; it would be a shame to see you leave so soon.’ She raises the cup to her lips again. ‘And tell me, where will you go?’
‘I guess we’ll keep heading south, see if we can find any other places like this, where there might be more survivors.’
She pauses, as if considering something, and then turns to me.
‘Gabriel, maybe you could speak with the Sergeant. I believe he’s scouted most of the area around here. You might be able to ask him what he’s found.’
‘Do you know if he ever made it to a place called Fearrington?’
Fearrington’s the next facility marked on Marv’s map. It’s all the way down in North Carolina, more than two hundred and fifty miles from where we are now. We don’t have supplies to make it there and back on this trip, but if I can find out something about it maybe our visit to The Greenbrier won’t have been wasted.
‘Is that one of the places your friend Marvin told you about?’
I nod. She pauses, as if she’s considering it.
‘I’m not sure. It certainly rings a bell, but then the Sergeant has been to a lot of places. I’m sure if he can help you he will.’ She brings her hands together, like she’s reached a decision. ‘Well, it’s getting late and you’ve had a long journey. You must both be simply exhausted. Rooms have been prepared for you in the hotel.’
‘You don’t all live in the bunker?’
Dr. Gilbey looks over at Mags again.
‘No, dear, the bunker is strictly off limits; I need it for my work. Besides, the rooms up here are so much nicer than the dormitories down there.’
‘Hicks said you were working on a cure for the virus.’
‘Yes, dear, I have been since before we arrived here. But I really think that’s enough questions for now. Magdalene, you’ll be sleeping over by the North Entrance. And Gabriel, we’ve got a room for you with the other men near the front of the house.’
My disappointment at these arrangements must show, because Dr. Gilbey looks at me over the top of her glasses.
‘Now, Gabriel, whatever relationship you and Magdalene might be having I’d suggest you take care not to flaunt it while you’re here. The men haven’t seen a woman other than me in a very long time. I will speak to them of course, but I think it’s wise that we put Magdalene in a part of the hotel that is uninhabited. I hope it’s an unnecessary precaution but…’
She spreads her hands, leaving the sentence unfinished. Maybe she has a point. I’ve sort of gotten used to Jax’s staring, but I remember how Boots had looked at us as we climbed the steps to the organ balcony in the church in Covington.
She turns her head again and calls for Hicks. A second later the door opens and he steps in.
‘Ah, yes, Sergeant, will you show Gabriel and Magdalene to their rooms? And have Corporal Truckle assemble the men.’
*
WE FOLLOW HICKS down the corridor back towards the entrance. It’s colder now than it was earlier, but he still isn’t feeling the need for a parka. When we get to the lobby he tells us to wait. Outside the wind occasionally gusts against the doors and from somewhere below us I can hear the drone of the generator, but otherwise The Greenbrier’s quiet. Mags hugs her arms to her side and stomps her feet on the marble. I take a step towards her meaning to wrap my arms around her but then stop myself. Hicks will be back in a minute and I’m mindful now of what Dr. Gilbey said about how we should act around the soldiers.
Hicks returns a few minutes later carrying a flashlight and we set off across the checkerboard marble, this time in the opposite direction to the dining room Boots brought us to earlier. We climb a wide staircase, the thick carpet muffling the sound of our footsteps. None of the emergency lamps are on up here, but there’s just enough light from the lobby below to make out a landing. Long hallways stretch off into darkness in both directions. Hicks chooses one and we follow him down it past rows of numbered doors. The inky blackness quickly wraps itself around us; we’ve barely gone a dozen paces and already I’m no longer able to see a thing. The flashlight was still in his hand coming up the stairs but it’s like he’s forgotten he has it, and the wind-up I normally carry’s downstairs in my backpack. I feel Mags slip her hand into mine.
‘How many rooms are there?’
There’s a pause then Hicks’ response comes back from somewhere in front of me.
‘More than seven hundred, all told.’
There’s no more to his answer, and we go back to walking in silence. I resist the urge to reach out with my free hand for the wall I know must be there. Instead I strain for the sound of his footfalls ahead.
We continue on for what seems like a long time. We’re mostly heading in the same direction but occasionally we round a corner, or climb or descend a flight of stairs. Hicks must know where he’s going but this place is like a labyrinth; it’d be easy to lose your way in the darkness. After the first turn I start to count our steps, just like I used to do in the tunnel in Eden.
At last I see something that might be the faintest sliver of light, and in front of me Hicks’ outline once again separates itself from the darkness. As we get closer I can see it’s coming from underneath a door. Hicks stops when he gets to it and reaches for the handle. We follow him into a large room. A fire burns in the fireplace and someone’s pulled the dustsheets off the furniture. A large four-poster bed sits against one wall.
Hicks turns to face us.
‘I expect you two’ll have things to talk about.’ He hands me the flashlight. ‘Your room’s on the first floor above the lobby, at the top of the stairs. Reckon you can find your way back?’
I nod.
‘Good. Don’t be long now; I’ll be listening for you.’
He turns to leave.
‘Sergeant Hicks?’
He stops, one hand resting on the door handle.
‘Dr. Gilbey said you had been south of here.’
I think I see his jaw shift from side to side but he makes to move to turn around. The light from the fire catches the ridges on the puckered scar tissue that runs down one side of his neck.
‘That’s right.’
‘She said you might be able to tell us whether there’s anything there. You know, anywhere like this, where there might be other survivors.’
He turns around and squints back at me for a long moment. There�
��s an expression on his face I can’t read.
‘She did, did she?’
I nod.
‘It’s getting late. You can ask me your questions in the morning.’
He leaves, closing the door behind him.
Mags looks over at me.
‘Well that was helpful.’
She shucks off her parka and slides down to sit on the carpet, her back to the bed. I sit down next to her and slip my arm around her shoulders. She leans in to me and I feel a warm happiness that has little to do with the fire easing itself through my whole body. It’s been a while since we’ve had to obey a curfew and I don’t care much for it. But I’m grateful to Hicks for giving us some time alone.
We stay like that for a while, just staring at the flames. It’s actually a pretty good fire. The soldiers must be cutting timber; the logs are big, and they’ve had time to dry. They crack and spit in the flames, sending flurries of red sparks swirling up into the chimney. Eventually Mags speaks.
‘What did you think of Doctor Gilbey?’
‘She certainly doesn’t seem to care much for Kane.’
‘Yeah, but didn’t she seem creepy to you?’
I shrug. Dr. Gilbey was a little odd, but then the whole world’s messed up. I’m not sure what even counts as normal anymore.
‘She’s been living in this place with a bunch of soldiers for ten years. It’d be strange if it hadn’t affected her a little.’
Mags considers this for a while, but I don’t get the impression she’s buying it.
‘I’m not sure this place is any better than Mount Weather, Gabe.’
‘Yeah, I think you might be right. But we’re not safe there; it’s way too close to Eden.’ The idea that was coming to me downstairs resurfaces. ‘Maybe we could do a deal with Dr. Gilbey; have her send some of the soldiers back with us to Mount Weather to scare Peck off. They seem to be running low on supplies and we have plenty to share.’
Her brow creases, like this isn’t something she’d be happy with.
‘I’m not sure. What about that guy Truck? He just seems like an asshole.’
‘Truck’s probably okay. I just got off on the wrong foot with him with that comment I made about their food. Anyway, it wouldn’t have to be him. One or two of the others would be enough. I mean, look at the size of Jax. And I bet Hicks is pretty handy with that gun.’
She doesn’t say anything. I know she’s not convinced but I don’t want to return to Mount Weather with nothing, and Fearrington’s simply too far for us to check out on this trip. I’ve been running through our provisions in my head and we can’t stretch the supplies we have left for a hike of that distance, even if we ration them. That means we’d have to scavenge as we went. I might risk it if it was just me, but this is Mags’ first time out and I don’t mean to bring her anywhere without food enough to get us home.
For a long while neither of us speak. There’s a sound from the fire as one of the logs shifts in the grate. Outside the wind picks up; it gusts against the window, rattling the glass in its frame. She shivers against me and I pull her tighter.
‘I guess you’d better get back to your room.’
But she makes no move to stand so instead I slip my hand under her chin and bend down to kiss her. Her parted lips meet mine and even though their taste is familiar to me now I experience that same moment of fascinating breathlessness I always get when they first touch. It’s as though I’m suddenly aware of everything at once, the pressure of her lips and the taste of her mouth and the warmth from the fire on my cheek and its light through my closed eyelids and the breath we share as we pull away before it starts again.
She twists around and slides underneath me. Her fingers slide up into my hair and curl into it, drawing my face down to hers. I kiss her on her mouth, under her jaw, above her collarbone, lingering there for a few seconds. Her skin is soft and tastes of salt from the day’s hike. I trace a line with my lips from the hollow of her throat to that spot on her neck that always makes her sigh.
I feel her hands tighten around my waist and suddenly something has changed. Her kisses are deeper, no longer gentle. After what happened with Lena we know to only go so far, but it’s always Mags that has to stop us. But now it’s like she wants me to go on and it’s suddenly scary because I don’t think I can be trusted. All I ever want is more.
I feel her hands twist into my thermals and pull them up. Cold air slips across my skin in spite of the fire but her fingers are warm. I shiver as they brush over my skin just above my belt and then slide around and up my sides. Her fingertips trace a line over my ribs; I feel them rising and falling with the bones there.
I breathe her name against the side of her neck, gently at first and then more urgently as I feel the last of what little self-control I began with evaporating. At last she stops and I bury my face in her neck and hold her tight, just breathing in her smell. I’m aware of every inch where our bodies are touching, the angle of her hips, the rise of her ribcage. Eventually she slides a hand up into my hair and tugs gently and I lift my head a fraction. Her eyelashes flutter against my cheek as she opens her eyes.
‘You becoming immune to my charms Gabe?’
If only she knew. If you asked me what I know of hunger I would tell you, All there is. But not like this. There is no satisfaction here; each taste of her just leaves me wanting more.
Across the room the fire’s slowly burning down, the flames that remain scattered among a nest of quaking embers.
‘You’d better get going.’
‘You going to be okay here by yourself?’
‘Yeah, ’course. I’d prefer it if you were staying though.’
I bend my head down to kiss her but this time before I get too far she tugs my hair again.
‘Go on, get out of here. Hicks’ll be waiting up for you.’
I stand and make my way to the door. I check for a lock on the way out but there’s only one of those keycard readers, its circuits long since fried by what Kane did to the skies to stop the furies.
*
I MAKE MY WAY BACK towards the lobby, following the cone of light cast by the flashlight as it meanders down the never-ending hallway ahead of me. Tell the truth I’m dragging my feet a little; all I really want to do right now is turn around and go back to Mags’ room so we can pick up where we just left off. But Dr. Gilbey’s in charge so I guess we have to do as she says while we’re here. Whatever, it’ll not be for long. Mags is right; there’s nothing to keep us. Tomorrow morning I’ll find out from Hicks what he knows about Fearrington, and then we can be gone.
I’m more than a little distracted replaying what just happened with Mags over in my head, so I’m not really paying attention. I don’t realize there’s someone standing a little further down the corridor, just out reach of the beam, until he speaks.
‘Well how y’all doin’ there Huckleberry.’
The voice makes me start. I jerk the flashlight up. It casts ugly shadows, distorting Truck’s already lumpen features. I hear a tapping sound and when I look in that direction I see something flashing in his hand. It’s the tin of chewing tobacco. He spins it then grabs the edge between his thumb and finger, rapping the lid once with his pinkie. Spin. Tap. Spin. Tap. For the first time I notice a small bird tattooed in the crook of his thumb. As he flips the tin the muscles there flex, making it seem like it’s moving.
‘Fine, Truck.’
The tin stops mid-spin.
‘Corporal Truckle.’
Yeah, I guess Mags called it; Truck is just an asshole. I’m tired, and hungry, and pissed at not being able to stay with Mags and generally not in the mood for whatever back-of-the-school-bus entertainment he has in store for me.
‘Sure. Well, good night Corporal Truckle.’
I take a step towards him but he makes no move to get out of my way. I’m close enough now to smell his breath. It reeks of frankfurter and chewing tobacco, and underneath it something else: the smoky, sweet smell of whisky.
&nbs
p; He goes back to flipping the tin over in his fingers.
‘Weez here said I was rude to you earlier, at dinner.’
At the mention of his name Weasel steps out of the darkness behind him and grins at me. Great. Somehow I doubt he’s here to witness Truck deliver a heartfelt apology.
‘Didn’t offer you any of my dip.’ He holds up the tin.
‘Yeah, well, thanks, but I don’t think I’d like it.’
‘But you’ve never tried it. It’s Wide Cut, see? Only the best.’ His hand flips the tin again. Spin. Tap. Spin. Tap. ‘You sure?’
‘Positive, thanks.’
‘Well then, suit yourself. Whaddya say, Weez? Do you think that girlfriend of his’ll want some? Perhaps she’ll be more friendly?’
I glance behind me in the direction I’ve come. There’s no way Truck or Weasel would actually do anything, would they? But Dr. Gilbey was already worried about the effect Mags might have on the soldiers; that’s why she’s sleeping all the way out here by herself. In a room without a lock. And they’ve been drinking. I back up a step.
‘Okay, maybe I will try some.’
Weasel looks disappointed but Truck just flashes me that gap-toothed smile. He spins the tin one more time and then pops the lid and holds it out. The pungent aroma fills my nostrils. I reach over and tentatively stick my thumb and index finger into the tobacco. It’s moist, spongy; I feel it slide up under my nails. I’m trying to extract the smallest amount I can when without warning Truck’s other hand darts out and closes around my wrist.
‘Grab yourself a decent pinch there, boy.’
I work a lump of the tobacco free and pull it out as quickly as I can. It smells pretty gross but how bad can it be? I hesitate for a moment then place it in my mouth against my gum, like I saw him do earlier at dinner.
At first there’s not much, just a little warmth on the inside of my lip. But then I feel the juices start to build, and it’s like a faucet’s been turned on in my mouth. I look around, but I have nowhere to spit. Saliva wells up over my lip and runs down my jaw. Loose bits of tobacco have started to break off. They float around my tongue; I can feel them start to slide down my throat.