Erika remembered back to when she used to watch little Dex and his father sitting on the couch together, cheering on their favorite fighters. His soft blond hair would be wildly bouncing up and down and his father would grab him up tight in a big bear hug. Then they would start play-fighting together, and Vince would have Dex in an endless giggle as they wrestled for hours on the floor. It had been a long time since Erika had thought of that, and she realized it was when Dex and Vince had been the closest. Now, the stress of life had eaten away at them. There was no soft couch and carpeted floor to romp on in this place. There was no play wresting. You had to learn how to kill, how to fight for your life and survive. Looking down at her young son still resting in her arms, she couldn’t fault him for trying to recapture a little piece of the past.
“Plus, Mom,” Dexter continued when Erika stayed silent for so long. “Star’s boyfriend was fighting and Star was there.”
This comment snapped Erika back to the reality of the situation. “Star was there? She took you?”
“No, she didn’t know I snuck in but I had to see what all the fuss was about,” Dexter admitted humbly.
“Don’t do it again,” Erika demanded, making very direct eye contact with the boy. The conversation was over but she still had many thoughts in her head. She didn’t know this new man of Star’s was a fighter. Actually, she didn’t know very much about him at all. She figured she would have to look into that immediately. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Erika took Dexter off to the side for a moment and cleaned his face with a small square of old T-shirt material and some cool water from one of the buckets. He had an eye that was black and blue, and swollen all the way down his cheek. He had bruising on his upper arms, and again Erika felt the anger well up inside her when she thought of those men laying their hands on her boy.
Before long, they were toiling in the dreaded line. The guards made a sport of making sure Dexter was on the scoop and dipping full buckets. Erika stood closely by his side, ready to help the boy out whenever he faltered. Time went by faster now that Erika had her mind on something else besides the endless filling and passing of the buckets.
Soon lunch was called. Erika’s muscles were aching from the extra strain of assisting Dexter. She tried to relax as she stood with the rest of the refugees waiting to receive her meager supply of food. Suddenly, the army truck roared back down the road and came racing in. It flung dirt and dust through the air with little regard for all the uncovered food that was being served. People huddled over their plates as the brazen soldier returned on the scene.
He strolled up, looking all high and mighty, and pointed at Erika, “You, come with me,” he demanded.
“A please would be nice,” Erika said proudly, looking straight into his cool blue eyes.
“Wouldn’t it. Let’s go,” he said hastily, grabbing her arm.
Erika quickly snatched her arm out of his hand. “Don’t you lay one more finger on me, son,” she hissed at him. “I will come on my own.” Erika didn’t want to push too far but she would always keep some sense of dignity. She had been a free person at one time.
The soldier had felt the fluid, powerful stroke of her escape move and stammered back a little. “Come on then” was all he could muster in return.
“Don’t worry, Dex. I’ll see you at home tonight,” Erika said to the boy cheerfully. She had seen the look of terror in his eyes. She wasn’t sure if he was scared for her or himself, but her mother’s intuition told her he needed this reassurance. “You get some food and do your best down there, okay?’
“Okay, Mom,” he answered hesitantly. He hugged her tightly and slowly let her go.
“You done with your sappy goodbye with that little punk yet, lady?” the soldier snapped at her.
“Yes, I am,” she replied proudly, walking with confidence to the passenger door. She had no idea what she was in, for but she was not going to be humiliated.
The jeep roared to a start and sped off. They were headed toward Mathew.
CHAPTER 12
MATHEW TWEED WAS waiting for her in his office, when the cocky soldier escorted her in. She had been shuttled in the back entrance. There had been no shower and clean clothes and all those lovely things she usually got pampered with when she came here. The dirt and sweat from the day were still clinging to her clothes as she entered his pristine office and sat down in a puff of dust across from him.
“You can wait outside, Private Foster,” Mathew barked at the young man without even looking up.
“But sir, she…” Private Foster was going to give some tale of Erika’s unbelievable disobedient behavior but was cut off.
“I said, outside!” Mathew barked again. This time he looked over the top of his glasses that were hanging off his pudgy nose.
“Yes, sir,” Private Foster replied, taking his post outside.
“And close the door on your way out,” Mathew demanded, not looking up from his papers again.
He sat there jotting down notes and shuffling papers around. Erika could hear the tick, tick, tick of the clock in the corner. She scanned the room, surveying the antiques that Mathew had assembled here. There was a geographical surveying machine from the 1920s and an old sailboat model that had been built inside a bottle. There was a coffee grinder in one corner that looked as if they had put it back to work. On one of his shelves there was an antique blowtorch that looked exactly like the one that she had before the quakes. Her grandfather had built cars with it in Detroit, and it had been handed down through the family.
She sat consumed in thought and jumped out of her seat when Mathew finally said, “You have a friend in that soldier.”
For Erika the comment came out of left field. “Who, Private Foster?” she questioned curiously.
“No, not Private Jacob Foster. Although he is a promising soldier, I don’t think he thinks too fondly of you.” Mathew looked up with a sly kind of chuckle. Erika guessed this had been his attempt at a joke. His eyes returned to the papers. “I’m referring to Staff Sergeant Alex Bingham. He suggested the funniest thing to me the other day.” He paused for effect and his eyes met hers. “Can you believe he suggested that you should be on the rescue crew? Actually, he said he thought the whole darn group of yours should be on the crew.” He laughed louder now, like it was an outlandish idea. “He praised you all because you are California survivors and knew his brother. Then he browbeat me into believing that you all would be less trouble around here if you had the satisfaction of living a life where you have purpose and could really make a difference for others. What do you think, Erika, do you need a little satisfaction?”
“I ahhhh….” Erika was caught totally off guard. She thought she was being brought here to discuss Dexter’s actions. Alex had said he would get back to them before he did anything. That sneaky dog, Erika thought. He had gone ahead and done it anyway.
She gathered her composure, “You know, Mathew, it has been nine years since I left this place, and any kind of outing would be a good one.”
“You know why you never got on the crews before, Erika?” Mathew questioned her directly. “The plain and simple fact is, you are a flight risk. You are too knowledgeable about wilderness survival and you and your family would take any opportunity to leave.” Mathew was speaking to himself more than her now. “But the fact that you were surprised by the request pleases me. It could mean that there’s no escape plot going on in the background because, let me tell you, if Alex is playing any part in helping refugees escape, it would be the end of his career and cause for extreme disciplinary action. I would be terribly disappointed if I was forced to do that, Erika. I like that guy.”
“Look, Mathew… I don’t know why Alex would suggest that. We’re friends, but I would never want to put him in harm’s way.” Erika replied frankly.
“That’s good, too.” Mathew was finally giving her his full attention. “Alex says he is concerned about you. He says your depression is affecting your work. Let’s be hones
t, we all have a reason for our spirits to be crushed. On the one hand, I think finally, your will is gone and you’ll go quietly away with some landowner never to be heard from again. God knows, it would make my life easier.” Mathew rolled his eyes and chuckled to himself. He spoke again quickly so Erika would not have time to come up with some smart-mouthed remark. “On the other hand, I see great potential in you, if we could just channel your energy in the right direction. You are the lone survivor of Sacramento. You have been quietly working at menial positions there in the camp, but I know what happens behind closed doors. You have still been training, staying ready and keeping that group of yours defiant. You are all a thorn in my side, but ya’ll stay so under the radar I can’t do anything about it.” He took a deep breath, steadied himself and continued, “But maybe I have been going about this all wrong. Maybe it is possible to harness your strengths to my advantage. You have a big, well-trained family group and that works for me, as well.”
He was lost in his own thoughts again and stood quietly in front of Erika, gazing out the window. Erika didn’t really know what to say. She was so excited at the prospect of getting out of that hellhole she called a home that she was afraid to open her mouth and screw up any chance she had at seeing beyond Las Vegas.
As if reading her mind, Mathew snapped his attention back to her and said, “You’re awfully quiet. You’re usually so full of opinions on whatever I have to say.”
“I’m just honored that you would even consider me and my family for the job. I don’t know what to say,” Erika responded tentatively.
“Oh, now so polite as well. Maybe Alex was right about this…or maybe not.” He stared steadily at her for a moment and then turned to look out the window. He stood there for a long time. He took his glasses off and cleaned them with a thin rag from his back pocket. Pushing them back on his face with his chubby little finger, he turned back to her. “I’m going to take my chances on you. If you bail on us, I promise you, there will be hell to pay.”
Erika’s eyes twinkled with excitement. She fidgeted nervously in her chair, finding great contentment in the fact that something in Mathew’s future was now in her hands rather than vice versa.
“We are going to see how well you have trained those kids of yours. I’m sending your whole crew: you, Vince, Dexter, Star, and I’m even sending your mom. Greg and Penni Sherman, Mitchell, Jen and Roxy, as well as the Duncans. I must be nuts, but I’m sending the whole lot of ya into the program. I have been looking into the occupational activities of your group, and it is a perfect fit for rescue-salvage team. You will have three weeks of training to make sure your group is able to handle the physical requirements of the position and to train in your respective assignments. We’ll see how well the California Survivors can handle a look at the new world, but, Erika, don’t let me down.” His beady eyes met hers in a deep stare.
Erika stayed calm and met his gaze. She had to appear sincere. “Don’t you worry, Mathew, I won’t.” Her heart pounded frantically in her chest, but she focused on her breathing. She needed this opportunity.
“You now officially work for me,” he announced as he broke his gaze with her and swung around back to his desk. “You’re not just another refugee here, so I will not tolerate you using my first name. You will address me as sir and with respect.”
Erika was not about to screw this up. She sat up attentively in her chair and replied, “Yes, sir.”
Mathew was taken back by this change of persona. Usually, she would have a remark, a look, and dispute his authority. He wondered if she was just being nice so she could escape and leave him looking like a fool. He would have to answer to his authorities then and would be lucky if he didn’t get sent to the coal mines.
“Excuse me, sir?” Erika questioned quietly.
“What? Haven’t I done enough?” he responded, perturbed.
“What about Daniel, Crystal and Carmen? You didn’t mention them,” Erika was not about to be separated from her family again, ever.
“Girl, do you think I’m an idiot? Daniel, Crystal and Carmen will be staying with me and so will Alex. One thing I do know is, you are so deeply loyal to your family, you would never leave one of them behind while you escape. Think of it like an insurance policy. Plus, they aren’t old enough to be of use out there anyway.” Mathew tapped his pencil impatiently on the desk.
“Yes, sir, you are right. I am so loyal that I would never go anywhere without them. I was separated from my family before and it will never happen again. What if the quakes start again when we are out there and we can’t make it back? The kids have to come with us,” Erika demanded.
“Well, they’re not going to. The quakes have been mild since the great quake nine years ago. You can make your decision. Go to Colorado, accept being part of the rescue crew and leave Daniel behind or don’t go, stay here, and rot for all I care. In fact, all the families have to make this decision, so let them know when you brief them on the mission. Whoever decides to go will meet at 17:00 at Warehouse D by the gate. That way we can get you a uniform and assign your group to a Drill Sergeant for the three weeks.” Mathew was not going to bend on this issue. He really didn’t trust her intentions but wanted to harness her potential. He needed a guarantee, she and her crew would perform. “Now go. I’ll inform Sergeant Terrance Walker to take you to where the individuals from your team are working, so you can get this figured out.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied with a little bit of attitude thrown in. She wanted to argue this point with him so bad, but she knew his patience would only last so long. Then she would lose her chance at seeing beyond those gates.
“Don’t let me down, girl. This is a one-time opportunity. Do well and we can talk about a much different future for you. Screw up and you’re done, you’ll waste away on that water line, I can assure you.”
He put his hand out for Erika to shake it.
Erika was full of mixed emotions. It was nice to feel like a real person again. To have a handshake offered to her like she was respected. She stood up straight and shook his hand firmly. She left his office and went back down the stairs again to the lobby. She felt the bounce in her step and her passion toward fulfilling a purpose returning.
CHAPTER 13
TERRANCE MET HER at the lobby. “What’s up, T?” Erika said to him.
“Look at you, so full of life. I understand you are part of the rescue crew now so you need to address me officially. Gotta keep the ranks in line,” he said with a wink.
“Yes, sir,” she said sarcastically.
“It’s serious stuff, Erika,” he corrected her gently. “You haven’t been out there and seen the world in a while. We’ll need to be a cohesive unit with clear communication lines. We can joke and party when the job is done and we all walk away safely.”
“Alright.” Erika felt humbled. He was right. She had no idea what was out there anymore and she couldn’t wait to find out. Although, what about Daniel? She was not thrilled about the idea of leaving him in Mathew’s care.
They got in the jeep and headed off to find Harold Duncan first. Erika deeply valued her relationship with Harold and his wife Betsy. She almost felt like she needed to stay with them and protect them out of respect for Harold’s mother and father. She vividly remembered waking up in Henry’s barn after she escaped the flooded city of Sacramento. He and his wife Carol cared for her burns and nursed her back to life. She smiled as she reminisced about meeting Harold at his father’s house. He and his family had survived best they could. They were still so full of optimism that this whole thing would blow over and the world would return to normal. Erika left shortly after meeting him and his children to return home and reunite with her own family, but when Harold’s family was in danger, Erika came to his aid. Tears filled Erika’s eyes as she continued the memory: Henry didn’t make it through that day. Carol, his wife, survived and made it to Las Vegas, but she died two years later of a broken heart. She had loved Henry so deeply that she could not wait for the
day she would rejoin him. She willed herself to die.
Harold’s family and Erika’s family had been inseparable since that day. They were a new kind of family, one formed from absolute reliance on one another to get through unimaginable circumstances.
Harold worked in the communications warehouse. He had gone to Harvard, when it still stood, and had worked managing a division at Hewlett Packard before the quakes. When he arrived at the refugee camp they put him right to work overseeing any sort of a computer network and training younger people about shortwave radio and Morse code.
Sergeant Walker stopped the jeep in front of the warehouse, and he and Erika stepped into the fluffy dirt; dust particles filled the air. It was nothing new to them. They were used to having noses coated with dirt and desert sand. As they walked into the warehouse, they saw curious faces on the heads of workers popping up from the little makeshift cubicles they worked in. It wasn’t everyday they got unexpected visitors.
“Wait here, Rescue Recruit Moore.” Sergeant Terrance Walker instructed formally.
Erika was really soaking up this new position. It had been a lot of years since she was treated with any type of dignity, and it had an immediate effect on her. She watched Terrance go and talk with the manager regarding his visit, and then the two of them went to get Harold from his desk.
They returned moments later, and Harold looked shocked to see Erika waiting for him.
“Mr. Duncan, I believe you know Rescue Recruit Moore?” Sergeant Walker queried very officially again.
Erika immediately wished he hadn’t said it, though, not to Harold. It implied she had already made her decision.
“Y…yeah…I mean, yes, I do,” Harold’s words slowly rolled off his tongue in his bewilderment.
“Recruit Moore,” Terrance said, indicating to Erika it was her turn to speak.
“Harold, I have been recruited as part of the rescue team heading to the floods in Colorado. As a most trusted friend and a very talented communication specialist, you and your family have been formally invited to join me.” Erika was trying to appear very official.
The Changing Earth Series (Book 2): Without Land Page 6