ROAD TRIP THROUGH THE APOCALYPSE

by Vincent Fields

  They moved to Sarah’s sedan to speak in private while his men waited. Charro had a reputation to uphold as a macho bad-ass who was the leader of the Southern Devils and someone who didn’t take shit from nobody. Getting him out of earshot of his men allowed Sarah to use her feminine charm without Charro having to come off as overly tough, which worked to her advantage.

  They talked for half an hour. She fed him a bogus story about how she had been visiting a female friend of hers who was one of the Death Keepers girlfriends. She said she’d barely escaped with her life as Tak had blown up the clubhouse and escaped in his RV. He’d killed her friends and she wanted payback; or so she told the beguiled biker. A few gentle strokes of his injured left arm with some sympathetic sweetness had him on the way to falling for her already. She worked out a deal with him; they would be partners in their pursuit of Tak, this half-Asian cop they both hated. Charro was happy to take her in when she told him of the ammo and weapons cache she’d secured from the Death Keeper’s armory during the week after the blast, which would go to him and his club if he’d give her protection and all she needed to live back at his clubhouse in Nashville, as they hunted Tak together. As they finished their talk she placed her leather cowboy hat on his head, which seemed to be a perfect fit. “There you go honey; that looks great on you.” Charro nodded and adjusted his new hat, “I’ve been meaning to pick a new one of these up, thanks.” Sarah nodded, leaned in and gave him a kiss on his pock-marked cheek. She figured she’d have this dog trained and eating from her hands in no time.

  Chapter 33: plans for a new home

  A s the days passed just after the collapse, conditions around the country grew worse. Riots and looting overtook every major city and most towns. Police and military checkpoints became increasingly common, with many citizens seeking shelter in government run camps after their homes became unsafe. The camps were often worse. Tadashi and his men passed the checkpoints without much problem as they displayed their credentials showing diplomatic immunity as dignitaries of Japan; another perk The Order had taken care of for them. Tak and his crew passed by a few checkpoints as well by showing their badges and politely explaining what they were doing.

  As they drove back towards home the group talked about Tak’s plan. He explained that he wanted to contact any surviving members of the Marion Police department and see if they would like to move out to his property in the country and start a small survival community there, at least until things returned to normal; if they ever would. He invited Nathan and the Braxton’s to join him, who all thought it was a great idea. He explained how his father had made it a place where people could survive indefinitely out in the middle of 500 wooded acres with plenty of game for hunting, a large stocked fish pond and natural water wells on the property. While his home and a bunkhouse out back had been recently burned down, they could rebuild and add others. While things got built he still had plenty of room for people to sleep in a large pole barn that served as a tool shop and equipment storage, and more room inside another building that was his training dojo.

  Everyone was in favor of the idea and they each offered to help in any way they could as their plans came together. Tom and Ellen had been lifelong farmers and had done very well for themselves. They would be huge assets in establishing a community of survivors as they had plenty of useful contacts and relationships already developed. Tom mentioned two good friends named Brandon and Billy who ran a joint lumber and construction company. They should be able to greatly help get the necessary cabins and buildings constructed on Tak’s property. When Tom mentioned them Tak asked, “Will they still be working even now that the collapse has happened?” Tom kept his eyes on the road as he answered, “I doubt demand for new homes will be in high demand right now, but I’d like to invite both of them to join your community, if that’s all right with you. They’re both God fearing, hardworking family men.” Tak shifted seats from the couch over to the dinette at the right side of the RV so Tom would be able to see his face as he glanced back, “Well, I wouldn’t call this “my” community, Tom. It’s true there are certain people I wouldn’t allow to come join us, but it should be a vote on major issues. I have no desire for power or to be some sort of dictator, I just recognize the need for good people to group up together during these trying times.” Tom glanced over at him for a moment, “Son, that’s exactly why someone like you should be the head of a community like this. Things are getting crazy out there and a lot of people are looking to prey on anyone they can. We had a few close calls just waiting at the RV park over the last several days. I had to run some guys off by pulling out my pistol; if not for that we might not even be here right now.” Tak nodded. I expect we’ll have a lot more run-ins like that before things get better. As soon as we get back home we’ll get right to work.”

  At almost midnight Tak and friends were driving home north on Interstate 75 almost to Macon Georgia, planning to get on a smaller two-lane highway in a couple miles and head west on highway 80 to bypass the city and stick to the smaller highways and backroads when they could. At the same time, Tadashi and his men were heading South on the same highway just a few miles away from them. Tadashi was in the back as usual, with Nobu driving and Shinji in the passenger seat with the tracking device up on the center of the dash where they could all see it. Tadashi was speaking to his men about their quest, “We will search every RV park in the St Petersburg area. We will leave no stone unturned as we search for this bastard… I don’t care how long it takes or what it costs; we will find him.” Rage burnt in his eyes anytime he talked about Tak… he’d go through hell if that’s what it took to kill this bastard and get his sword and family history book back.

  Just then, the tracking device beeped and lit up with a red dot, indicating the sword… and Tak… was about a mile to the south.

  COMING SOON

  CHAPTER 1: DIARY ENTRY - A DIFFERENT WORLD

  T he apocalypse came and went five years ago in the form of a complete economic and social collapse, and yet I still remain. It wasn’t really an end per se, but more like a new beginning. It certainly ushered in some big changes. Now we live in, shall we say… a changed world. A different world. A new world. A world with less than a fifth of the population of the old one. A world in which the few remaining bullets are worth their weight in gold. A world without governmental infrastructures or controls. It has become a world with no electricity or running water, unless you rig it up and defend it yourself. It is a world in which crime goes unpunished, unless you take matters into your own hands. The only law is survival of the most prepared. Ours has become a world where the old cities have become wastelands, only inhabited by a few daring souls. The old buildings stand abandoned and unmaintained as they decay like tall, crumbling skeletons amidst an encroaching jungle as nature relentlessly reclaims the land.

  This world has brought people together; for better or for worse. Those who have survived this long have either grouped up with likeminded people who strive to form self-sufficient communities, or they have joined gangs of murderous thieves. The former work hard to build a good life; the latter scheme to take what they can from those who actually earn it. I suppose in that regard it’s not so different from the old world, is it?

  Regardless of the many struggles I have encountered over the last five years since the collapse, I have found that I prefer some of the ways of this new world to the old ways. If you want to live, you will work. Nothing is free except for a rare bit of love and generosity; hidden in the dangerous landscape of hunger and necessity. You never know where you’ll find those good things, and you certainly can’t expect or count on them. In this world the children and adults fill their free time with learning and honing useful skills and actually interacting with others instead of wasting their days away playing video games, browsing the internet and living lost in their cell phones. To those things, I say good riddance.

  I have grouped up with some great people, and together we have built a new home for ourselves. I
t is a sanctuary where we live off the land and reap the rewards of our labor. However the line of enemies at our gates never seems to cease. We have grown strong and defended what we have made time and time again, but now an enemy approaches who greatly outnumber us. Their leader is a twisted soul who carries within him an ancient gift as great as my own. He is hell-bent on revenge and will stop at nothing until I and everyone I have ever loved is destroyed. I cannot allow that.

  - Takamura Graves

  Written the night before the battle of Blue Line Ranch