Dystopia: The Long Road

by DJ Cooper

  Georgia remained quiet but seemed more worried about her father than she was about her own feelings. Matty stuck to her side, never letting her be alone. Ever since the loss of his mother, he had become almost cold to anyone but Amy and Georgia. He seemed to have a unique understanding of her grief.

  The sun rose and the barn was awakened to the smell of coffee once again. It was Dickie, he made a warm fire and some coffee and tea for himself, to start them on what they hoped was the last leg of their journey.

  While everyone gathered around the fire for warmth and coffee, Dickie approached Jenny saying, “I cannot thank you enough for all you are doing to care for my Daughter.”

  Jenny replied, “It is my pleasure, she is such a precious little girl.”

  Dickie leaned over and kissed the top of his daughter’s head saying, “You hang in there my sweetheart, your mom won’t have no quitters in this family.”

  He then headed over to John, stretching out his hand said, “Cheers, mate for everything.”

  He then reached out to Amy squeezing her in a big bear hug.

  John was happy to see his friend in better spirits, but Amy was troubled.

  John asked her what was wrong, she replied, “Stick close to Dickie, he is not alright. He’s not being thankful or moving on, he’s saying goodbye.”

  John looked shocked and said, “Are you sure?”

  Amy replied, “Yes! Do not let him out of your sight until he deals with Jules’s death. There is yet more, Kayleigh is not out of the woods, without proper medical facilities six months along is very premature and she has at best a fifty-fifty chance.”

  John told her he understood and would keep him busy and make sure he was never alone. Dickie was distraught over the death of Jules and struggled to maintain his composure. Georgia fared far better with Matty at her side, they became inseparable. They had a commonality each losing their mother tragically in this, the world they now lived in.

  The camp was packed and the travelers prepared to move out. A head count was taken and all were present. They paused a moment as a group to say goodbye to Jules, each either silently or openly saying a prayer or goodbye. John did not worry about leaving anything at this location as they were leaving behind a grave and were not about to leave it unmarked.

  They set out along the railroad tracks that would carry them to the next junction of power lines. They needed only travel twenty-seven miles along the tracks and after only a few hours, even the kids wished for the easy trials of the power lines. The tracks were more difficult to navigate, each side was overgrown making it necessary to travel on the tracks themselves. At first the kids loved it balancing on the track and making a game of it, but soon grew tired of it. The cart was difficult to pull, each step followed by the whump whump, of the hard wheels falling between the railroad ties, then climbing the next.

  The sun began to sink on the horizon and it was time to start looking for a place to camp. Beside the tracks about twenty feet there was a small clump of pine trees surrounded by the thorny whips of raspberry bushes. Ray had them stop so he could check it out. Pine needles would be good bedding and the thorny protection made it a good site he said.

  Ray and Roger parted the raspberries while Dickie grabbed some pine boughs to place over the newly made path into their little haven. Once they all crossed into the pines they removed the pine boughs and let the raspberries return to how they were. Camp was set up in what seemed like moments, they were all becoming very efficient in its set up and tear down. Laurie pulled out some things for dinner, which consisted of jerky, some previously boiled eggs, cold beans and precooked hot dogs. There was also PBJs on some flat bread they made the night before.

  They sat eating as Ray looked over the map, John approached him asking about their position. Ray looked up from the map chomping on a piece of jerky saying, “I figure we have made it a good eight miles, judging by the overpass we crossed about a mile back.”

  John looked pleased, saying, “Wow, I didn’t feel like we made very much progress, that is a respectable distance.”

  Ray replied, “If we can maintain close to that we should have no more than another day and half, maybe two of these tracks.”

  John nodded and turned to walk away when Ray asked, “Is Dickie alright?”

  John turned back to him, saying, “I don’t really know, he has been off on his own, I’m hoping he snaps out of it soon.

  Ray looked down and said, “Me too.”

  They sat silently drinking a hot cup of… What exactly it was no one was sure, except Laurie, but it was hot and sweet with a minty taste.

  While they sat staring into the woods, Roger came over and asked, “Hey, do we have a watch rotation established yet?”

  Ray looked up at him with a chuckle saying, “You didn’t do that yet?”

  Roger shrugged and said, “It’s always the grunt that has to do the shit work.” As he smiled walking over to recruit Mark to help him.

  The night was quiet but there was a hint of smoke in the air. They wondered if it was their followers camped nearby. Before the sun came into view the next morning, they were packed and back on the railroad tracks.

  John carefully checked the campsite, pretending the need to relieve himself before getting onto the railroad tracks. He told them to go ahead and he would catch up. He found an arrow made from sticks on the far side of the camp. He was stunned that someone would betray them.

  The arrow pointed in the direction on the tracks that they were going. John quickly rearranged the sticks to point in a direction leading off into the woods. Hoping this would at least delay their trackers.

  They hoped the group would make at least another seven miles this day, but they made it twelve miles, so much better than they hoped or expected, this left them only six miles to the intersection of the tracks and powerlines that they would next need to follow. At that intersection they also reached another cache location marked on the map.

  Ray could not believe how much help they’d been given, saying to John, “I don’t know how your friends did it, but the help we have is making this journey much more bearable.”

  John replied, “Matt and I have been friends for years and I would never have thought this was possible. But Dez? She is the one that has the resources.

  Ray looked impressed, saying, “Sounds like a handy person to have around.”

  John chuckled, saying, “I’m still trying to figure out what she sees in Matt.”

  Ray winked saying, “Maybe some handsome devil in camo will come steal her from him.” Running his hands through his hair as if slicking it back and raising his eyebrows.

  They laughed a moment and then set off on the perimeter check. The location was not as secure as the previous night’s camp and was easily visible from the tracks. There was a long trestle ahead that spanned between two ridges and John wanted to scout the area before getting into the open or worse yet trapped on a train trestle. The plan was to get the camp secured and then Roger and Dickie would do a little recon to see if it was safe to cross, or if they should skip it and go down into the valley. Doing so would add miles to their journey, if they felt it safe to cross it they would do so.

  That evening they smelled fires again, and after dark Dickie and Roger headed to the trestle. Approaching the area where it was open to the valley they were stunned to see the number of small fires scattered through the woods. They were definitely not alone. Dickie made the gesture to have a look at something, pointing with his index and middle fingers to his eyes, then pointing to an area just below the beginning of the trestle. There just below was a small fire with a number of figures sitting around it. Silently they crept closer, trying to hear the conversation and maybe get an idea of who they were, and if they were a threat.

  In the stillness a voice boomed out from beside them, saying, “We know you’re there and who you are, show yourselves.”

  Startled, Dickie stood, pushing Roger to the ground as he did. Dickie put his hands up saying, �
�I was just trying to see who you were.”

  The voice responded, “The other one too, stand up.”

  Roger stood, looking around, he could see no one.

  The voice said, “You know the routine, we don’t want to know you nor you us. The bridge is not safe in the daytime, go get the others and cross tonight. Another team is on the far side and will lead you to a different camp spot.”

  Dickie looked at Roger and then into the darkness saying, “Are you with…”

  The voice cut him off, “There is an update from Arthur at the intersecting point. Go now, get the others and cross. This area is not secure and you are not safe here.”

  They nodded and quickly returned to camp. Hurriedly entering the camp, they startled John, who hopped up asking what was wrong. They quickly explained what they’d been instructed to do and said they needed to pack up quickly and go.

  After explaining that they would receive an update at the intersecting point and, how the voice told them that they were not safe. There was no question, everyone quickly stowed their things and broke camp. Within the hour they were ready to cross the trestle.

  Approaching the edge of the tracks, the voice materialized. They were shocked to see it was a teen boy, looked no older than fourteen. He instructed them to move quickly and silently. He led them out onto the trestle with two other teens that were previously sitting at the now extinguished fire following up the rear. It was obvious they did not intend to come back across as they carried their packs with them.

  They were met on the other side by another group of teens that led them to a small outcropping that made a makeshift cave. They already had a weave of branches across the front of it and ushered everyone inside. They quickly learned that this was where these teens lived and asked them about parents.

  The teens ranging in age from about twelve to seventeen, seemed to be well supplied and put together.

  A young girl who looked to be one of the youngest said, “When they came to put everyone in the camps my dad sent me and my brother here, the others are the same.”

  Ray asked, “Have you heard from your parents?”

  The girl looked down, saying, “None of us have. Up on the next ridge is mister Goins, he came here a few weeks after and told us they would not be coming back.”

  Ray was saddened by the harshness of life now and said, “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  The young girl said, “We help the network now and they help us. Things are different now than they were.”

  Ray blankly stared at her, she was right and he knew it, nothing would be the same again. They rested and were offered some meager tidbits for breakfast, it was obviously all the group of teens had. John told them they were fine and even had some extras that was becoming too much to carry would they mind if the group slimmed down the packs and left some with them. The teens knew what he was doing and didn’t object, they were grateful for the extra food and supplies.

  They headed back down the track to the intersection of the railroad tracks and power lines that would lead them into Richmond, Kentucky. Today’s travels were shorter and they arrived at the cache location before sunset. It gave them a chance to set up their camp and relax a little bit. The cache was filled with food and even goodies. A note that read, “Happy Thanksgiving, it is not a feast, but hopefully will bring you some joy in your travels. The area should be secured and there is an old well just to the north, it is covered with an old door, the water is good.” It was signed simply A.N.T.S.

  No one realized it was Thanksgiving already, there were mixed feelings, ones of joy over the feast that was left them and sadness at the Thanksgiving holidays of past and lost loved ones.

  Dickie was quiet, just staring off into the woods when John approached him, saying, “Everything looking good?”

  This startled Dickie, who stuttered a moment and replied, “Don’t sneak up on a guy like that.”

  John laughed feebly saying, “Didn’t mean to startle you. I just thought you were looking at something.”

  Dickie grimaced saying, “I’m sorry, I was just thinking of Jules and how she loved to make a huge meal on Thanksgiving.”

  John put his hand on his shoulder and said, “I am sorry my friend, I didn’t think about how a holiday might affect your family.”

  Dickie looked up at him, a small tear in the corner of his eye, he quickly regained his composure and stood, saying, “My family… I’ve got to take care of them, Jules would toss a pan at my head if she knew how I’ve acted.”

  John smiled inwardly, and pointed over to Jenny, who was still holding Kayleigh and talking with Georgia and Matty. Dickie reached his hand out to John thanking him for being there for his family, nodded and walked over to where Jenny sat.

  Approaching Jenny he asked, “How’s Kayleigh doing?”

  Jenny looked up at him, saying, “She’s eating well finally, and seems to be breathing better. I think she was producing extra insulin for Jules and once they were separated she kind of had to re adjust”

  Dickie still struggled to contain the tears as he spoke, saying, “I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for my children.”

  Jenny stood and handed Dickie the tiny swaddled infant and said, “I am going to go fix her a bottle, have a seat and visit with your baby girl.”

  Dickie failed in keeping back the tears that now sat like droplets on his bottom lash, not big enough to fall but too much to pull back and hide. He sat with Matty and Georgia holding Kayleigh. He looked upward as if knowing somehow Jules were watching and said, “She’s beautiful my love, I will protect them right up until my last breath.”

  He hugged his daughter close and openly cried mourning the loss of his wife. Matty squeezed his hand and hugged him before going to join Amy at the feast preparations.

  They did not know that today was Thanksgiving and they had good reason to give thanks on this day. They made it to the last intersection and would soon be finding themselves among their friends. The A.N.T.S. network continued to see them across the state providing caches.

  They were thankful for Gerald and his group for the ride clear across the lower section of Pennsylvania and the news from their friends. Each reflected on the weeks and months passed and some talk of how fortunate they were to have all the help that made the journey bearable. They talked of the friends they lost and the betrayal they suffered and considered how much more difficult if not impossible the journey would have been.

  The evening mood swung from one of thankfulness and gratitude to tears and sorrow. Tomorrow they would begin the journey of the last twenty miles to Richmond, they would leave the power lines there and follow some older country roads. Somehow, Richmond felt like making it to their destination even though they still had another leg of the journey to go at that point. They knew from their benefactors that Richmond was under the protection of the Militia that their friends associated with. That gave them a feeling that this would afford them more protection.

  Calling it a night they went to bed, sentries walked the perimeter and kept a keen eye. As John walked his watch he could not help but think about those that followed them. He knew they still had a tail, no one could seem to figure out who or why, but they were out there in the dark following them. Someone in their own camp was leaving clues, a traitor.

  Chapter 25

  “Sickness”

  “Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.”

  -Seneca

  November 21st

  The morning was cold and hazy with a light drizzle, the dampness making everything feel even colder. There was something wrong in the camp, only a few were moving about and some moaned as though in pain. Dickie walked over to Amy, who was up and asked her what was wrong.

  Amy said, “I don’t know, there is a sickness, I can’t tell if it is food poisoning, some kind of dysentery or my worst fears.”

  Dickie shuddered and asked, “Your worst fears?”

  Amy explained that Ebola started with fever, vomiting an
d diarrhea. Telling Dickie they needed to separate everyone, sick from well.

  Dickie hurried to see if Jenny was ill, she was not and the children weren’t either, he settled them into the area on the far side of the camp. Setting up a tarp over them and a small fire in a Dakota pit, this would hide the flames from unwanted attention and keep them warm. Amy already had John and Roger settled into the large tent that would now become the infirmary and quarantine area. Kimmie and Renee were fine, but Danny, Mark and Melinda were ill. Laurie wasn’t sure if she was sick or just upset so she sat away from those that were not sick, but she did not go into the quarantine tent. Ray was like Laurie in that he felt slightly ill, but not like the others, so he too stayed separate but on watch across the camp. He set up a spot with some cover and a tarp to keep the rain off near the power lines, away from the others.

  One tent was kept for those not at all ill, Kimmie and Renee slept in there, another for Jenny and the kids. The last of their four tents was for Laurie and Ray, who were both still feeling slightly queasy but not really ill. The girls were asked to help with watches, but Kimmie and Renee were lazy and didn’t want to stay awake. Dickie, Laurie and Amy each relieved Ray in his position. Jenny put the kids down and set a watch near their tent.

  Days went by with little improvement and worries of dehydration became the first order of priority, keeping those ill hydrated. Amy was sure it was not Ebola, they suffered no bleeding as can be seen in hemorrhagic fevers, but they were not out of the woods yet.

  Near dawn of the third day, John called out to Amy. She hurried to the tent and found that his fever broke, he was alert and thirsty. Still weak from the fever and dehydration he tried to rise, instantly he fell back, dizzy and nauseous.

  Amy said, “You need to take it easy.”

  John wearily replied, “Is everyone ok?”

  Amy told him, “Yes, so far everyone is hanging on. I feared the worst but I think it was just a case of food poisoning.”

  John asked, “Why didn’t you get sick.”