Caldera 10: Brave New World

by Stallcup, Heath

  “I can’t find my wife.” His eyes widened at the sight of the water and he accepted it gladly. His fingers fumbled with the bottle and he gulped it greedily.

  “Easy there.” Roger’s hand hovered near the bottle. “You want to sip that, not gulp.”

  The old man lowered the bottle and coughed, clearing his airways. He bent over as he coughed and steadied himself on Roger. “I have to find my wife.”

  Roger helped the old man out of the sun and Buck appeared at their side, another bottle of water in hand. “Are you hungry? Do you need medical attention?”

  Roger held a hand up. “One thing at a time.” He turned back to the old man. “Did you live around here?”

  The old man nodded as he rapidly sipped at the water. “Down the street.” He lowered the bottle and fought to catch his breath. “My wife…she was home alone when…” His voice trailed off and he looked to Roger for hope.

  Roger shook his head slowly. “We didn’t find anybody here.”

  “We’ve only been here a few days though.” Buck added quickly. “We could have scared her into hiding or…” He glanced to Roger. “Maybe she went out for supplies.”

  The old man seemed to sag in his own skin. “She wouldn’t have left the house.” His legs gave out on him and he slowly lowered to the ground, the remains of his trousers puddling around his ankles. “She never would have left the house.”

  Roger bent down next to him. “Which house was yours? Maybe my friend here can double check for you.”

  The old man turned reddened eyes to him and slowly shook his head. “I have no idea how long I was…sick.” He swallowed hard and lowered his head again. “But she wouldn’t have lasted without me.”

  “Was she housebound?” Buck asked.

  The old man shook his head. “She was afraid that the world was too violent.” The old man scoffed and sat more upright. “She was right.” He sniffed back an unshed tear. “And without her medication she can’t function. She never remembers to take it. I have to make her.”

  Roger held his good arm out. “Let’s help you find your house. Maybe somebody came to her rescue.” He gave him a sad smile. “Maybe they left a note or…”

  The old man gripped his hand and slowly came to his feet. “If Evelyn isn’t home, then she’s…” His voice trailed off. “She won’t even get out of bed without her medicine.”

  Buck noted how defeated he appeared and wished there was something, anything, he could do. “I’ll go through the house with you. Maybe we’ll find something.”

  The old man nodded as the two helped him down the street. They came to a smaller, stucco house and the old man’s jaw trembled as he stared at the front of the house. “It looks nearly the same as when I left.”

  Buck trotted ahead and opened the door, praying that somebody had already checked it and cleared any remains. He pushed the door open and was greeted with stale air. He glanced to Roger. “I don’t think anybody has been in this one.”

  Roger nodded as he helped the man up the front stoop. “We’ve been relocating to this area. At least you’ll have some neighbors nearby.” He tried to sound chipper and hopeful, but he knew that if the man’s wife was dead, there was little hope.

  The old man tugged at the shredded remains of his shirt and brushed the few stray hairs still clinging to his head over to the side. He absently tucked one tail of his torn shirt into the belt of his trousers and stepped deeper into the house. “Evelyn?” His voice cracked as he called out.

  He slowly extended a hand and braced himself on a wall, his filthy hands smearing a brown stain on the ivory paint. “Evelyn, honey…I’m home.” He almost began to sob as he called out.

  Roger looked at Buck and slowly shook his head. “Let’s get you someplace comfortable,” Roger said softly, leading him into the living room. “You must be exhausted after—”

  “You don’t understand!” he barked, his jaw quivering. “I have to find her.”

  Roger stepped back, afraid that he was about to become violent like the first woman he’d met. He gave Buck a slight shake of the head. “We’ll look around for you.”

  Buck turned and went through the kitchen. He felt oddly like he shouldn’t be reading the little notes on the fridge. “Get Milk,” “Call Steven,” “Service Car.” He turned and went over the scattered mail on the counter. “I got nothing in here.”

  Roger checked the little sewing room off of the dining room then turned for the stairs. “I’ll check up here. You watch our new friend and—” He froze, his eyes searching for the old man. “Oh, no.”

  He ran for the stairs and stopped at the top. He could see into the master bedroom and the old man was sitting on the bed, weeping.

  Roger rounded the top of the stairs and slowly made his way to where the old man sat. “We didn’t find anything down…” His voice trailed off.

  His eyes fell on the woman’s remains, still tucked in bed.

  The old man pulled the covers up tighter and patted where her shoulder would be. “I’m so sorry.” Roger was certain he wasn’t talking to him. “I tried to get back…I really did.” He sobbed as he slowly came to his feet. “I’m so sorry, Evie. I’m so sorry.”

  Roger stood silently by, allowing the man his grief. He barely noticed Buck when he appeared by his side. “We should watch him,” Buck whispered.

  Roger nodded slowly. “We will.”

  Carol stripped her gloves and tossed them in the trash. “Good heavens, the smell!” She covered her nose and reached for the Vicks again.

  “He’s hosing out her cell. Unfortunately the ventilation down here isn’t that grand,” Irene stated, reaching for the vent closest to the cells. “I know this is supposed to be return air, but wow. That is na-sty.”

  Randy held the face mask in place as he shot water across the backside of the acrylic cell. “Dear god—I can taste it.” He stumbled out and dropped the hose, retching to the side. “How can they live like this?”

  “They’re feral,” Broussard stated flatly. “They have no idea what they do.” He snuck a peak at the woman strapped to the table. “Do you, you poor, mindless thing?”

  She growled and gnawed at the rubber ball in her mouth.

  “It appears that she knows you’re talking to her,” Tammy replied.

  “Only because I made eye contact.” Broussard turned away and faced Carol. “If I look at somebody else and declare that this thing on the table doesn’t have the sense god gave a gnat…” He glanced to Tammy who nodded.

  “No reaction.”

  He turned and faced Tammy. “And if she doesn’t cooperate, we’ll put a bullet in her head and bury her behind the facility.”

  Tammy shook her head. “Still the same.”

  “But if I turn and make eye contact…” He bent low and peered into her face. “Even if I tell her what a good girl she is and that she’s so pretty covered in her own fecal matter…”

  The woman struggled against the restraints and snapped at him again. He stood up and sighed. “Either that or they’ve lost the ability to understand language.”

  “Which is a distinct possibility,” Carol added. “We ran a brain scan earlier and look at this.” She pointed to the temporal lobe. “Her amygdala lit up like the Fourth of July with the slightest stimulation.”

  Andre sighed. “The rest of the brain is basically asleep.” He rubbed at his chin as he watched the transition. “I almost wish we could insert a probe and wake it up.”

  “So she’d be angry and capable of thought?” Carol clucked her tongue. “With the strength these people have, she just might figure out a way to get loose.”

  Andre sighed and fell back in his chair. “I’m running out of ideas.”

  She gave him a knowing glance. “Because you want to dope her with a psychedelic and your focus won’t shift from that idea.”

  He nodded. “You’re right.” He leaned back in his chair and groaned. “But I can’t let the idea go because I think it’s a reasonable course.” />
  Carol sighed and set the scans down. “What would you do?”

  He sat up and raised a brow at her. “I’d start with minimal doses and follow her reactions.” He sat forward and rested his hands on the arms of the chair. “I’d allow enough time for the drug to work through her system, then I’d step up the next dose. Slowly, of course, but…”

  Carol stepped closer and gave him a steady stare. “If we can’t figure anything out in…” She trailed off, her eyes scanning the clock. “Give us thirty-six hours. If we are still beating our heads against the wall, I’m willing to sign on to your hypothesis.” She stuck her finger out. “But slowly. And we allow time for the drug to exit her system before you step it up.”

  He nodded. “Agreed.” He stood and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I knew you’d come around.”

  “You hoped.” She glanced at the woman staring at the overhead lights. “And I hope you’re right. At least it would give us an avenue to begin with.”

  Simon watched Lana as she danced in the tiny kitchen, her headphones turned up so loud that he could hear the thump of the bass. Her words continued to echo in his mind, but he simply couldn’t take any pleasure in her gyrating form. Even when she raised her arms, her eyes closed, her slender body swaying to the music, even when he could see her bare breasts through the arms of the tank top, he wanted nothing more than to get away.

  He stood and stepped around her. “I’m gonna get some air.”

  She stopped and gave him a wide-eyed look, her hand pulling the headphones away. “Do what?”

  “I’m gonna walk around. Get some air.” He gave her a quick wink and a peck on the cheek. “I’ll be back soon.”

  She nodded, dropping the headphone back into place, her booty swaying with the tribal beat of the music.

  Simon shut the door and stood under the awning. With the tree cover and the few clouds in the sky, it was a gloomy forest to be parked in. He inhaled deeply and took no pleasure from the pine scented air.

  He stepped out from the awning and began to walk up the hill, his mind running through numerous scenarios in which he could attempt to please her without reverting to the bastard he’d once been. None seemed likely.

  “Easy, buddy.”

  Simon turned and was surprised to see Trent dressed in camouflage. “What are you doing out here?”

  “Checking traps.” He held up what appeared to be two rabbits. “Got lucky today.”

  “What kind of traps?” Simon asked, not sure if he really wanted to know.

  “Nothing that would hurt a human.” He dropped the rabbits, letting them swing from his belt. “Mostly snares.”

  “Aren’t you worried about predators?”

  Trent shook his head. “I check them pretty regularly.” He stepped beside Simon and gave him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry about those two dimwits trying to pressure you into—”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Simon replied, cutting him off. “They’re wanting out. I don’t guess I blame them.”

  “Were you serious…? That there’s nothing left?”

  Simon nodded. “Buildings. That’s about it.” He blew his breath out hard and stared into the woods. “The people? Not so much.”

  “That sucks.” Trent’s voice was soft and low. “So, if we decided to leave and move into the governor’s house?”

  “Odds are it would be empty,” Simon replied. He seemed to brighten for a moment. “Don’t misunderstand, though…there are some people. Small groups…well…” He trailed off. “One small group that I know of for sure.”

  “Where?”

  “Rio Rancho. It’s a little place just outside Albuquerque.”

  “I’ve been through,” Trent said as he fell into step beside him. “And there’s some people still alive there?”

  “Yeah. And they might even be decent folk. I really don’t know.” He stopped walking and looked back down the hill and through the trees. “I can’t even see the campground from here.”

  Trent snorted. “Yeah, the woods are thick and it’s easy to get turned around.” He pointed down the hill. “There’s your trail coming up. Just follow it back.”

  Simon shook his head. “You can see where I walked?”

  “You’re easier to track than a jackrabbit.”

  He raised a brow at him. “If you say so.” Simon turned and began to walk back down the hill. “So tell me this…why are you guys afraid to just leave? Why do you need me to lead you out?”

  Trent hesitated then stopped. “Might as well come clean.” He glanced down the hill to ensure that nobody was nearby. “Mike and Tommy are wanted.”

  Simon nodded. “And you?”

  Trent shrugged, his face flushing. “I may have been in a bit of trouble.” He sucked at his teeth as he mentally argued with himself. “I may have been in the back of a patrol car being transferred to county when all of this went down.”

  Simon raised a brow at him. “And you got out of the cuffs and the back of a cruiser on your own?”

  Trent shook his head. “I had help.” He shrugged again. “He got attacked while unlocking the cuffs.” He drew his finger across the jugular. “He was gone real quick.”

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  “Yeah, well it’s not like I actually knew him.” He stared off into the woods, his mind replaying the events. “He just appeared and opened the door. He grabbed the keys from the cop’s belt and…” He snapped his fingers. “It was over like that.”

  Simon nodded. “Well, it’s like I said. There’s nothing left. You’re a free man now; everybody’s starting from scratch. There’s nobody looking for any of you.”

  Trent swallowed hard and blew his breath out. “Truth is…I kind of liked it out here. Nobody knew my history.” He shrugged again. “They just thought I was some dumb hillbilly that could help feed them.”

  “So don’t tell them. It’s none of their damned business anyway.” Simon leaned on a tree and studied the large, shaggy man. “That still doesn’t explain why you wanted me to help you.”

  “Tommy and Jake…they said they remembered you. Said you were a hardass. I figured if anybody knew their way around the law, it might be you.”

  Simon reached out and patted the big man’s shoulder. “Lucky for you, there ain’t no law. You don’t need me anymore; you and the boys can split any time you like.”

  Trent nodded then seemed to set his jaw. “Yeah, except me and the boys were talking it over.”

  “And?”

  “And we were thinking that maybe you were right.” He hooked his thumb towards the camps. “They owe us. I think it’s time we have them pay up.”

  Simon raised a brow. “And how do you expect to have them do that?”

  Trent’s face went slack and his eyes turned dull. “The only single woman down there is old enough to be my grandmother.” He turned and gave Simon a dark stare. “But the married ones aren’t.”

  Simon raised a brow. “And if they refuse?”

  Trent nodded slightly. “We won’t take no for an answer.”

  17

  Buck pushed open the door to Vicky’s lab and she came to her feet when she saw the old man, who looked distinctly like a Zulu, being ushered inside. “Where’d he come from?” she asked as she snapped on a pair of rubber gloves.

  “He wandered into the neighborhood while we were working.” Roger helped the old man into a chair then stood upright, stretching his back. “We checked the new clinic, but you weren’t there.”

  “I was preparing the records.” She snatched her stethoscope from a nearby stand and hooked it over her neck. “My name is Vicky. And you are?”

  The old man looked up at her with red eyes. “Ed,” he sniffled. “My wife called me Eddie.”

  “Okay Eddie. I’m gonna give you a once over, okay?” She breathed onto the surface of the stethoscope and pressed it to the thin skin over his bony chest. “How are you feeling, Eddie? Can you breathe in and out normally for me?”

  He stared
off into nothingness while Vicky listened in various spots. “Okay, Eddie, can you take some deep breaths for me now? I need to listen to your lungs.”

  Eddie continued to stare into nothingness but Roger saw his chest rise and fall as Vicky moved the stethoscope. She dropped the end and pulled a pen light. She looked briefly into his ears then tugged gently on his jaw. “Wow. A man of your age and you still have your teeth.” She smiled at him. “Impressive.”

  Eddie nodded slightly until she stood in front of him. “I need to look into your eyes. The light might be a bit bright, okay?”

  He gave her a blank stare and she whisked the light in front of his pupils quickly a few times. “Pupils are normal. He doesn’t show any signs of photosensitivity.” She reached to a glass jar and pulled out a wider version of a popsicle stick. “Say ahh.”

  He opened his mouth and she depressed his tongue, checking his throat. She withdrew the stick and dropped it into the trash. “The good news is, you look healthy as a horse.”

  He looked up to her expressionless. “What’s the bad news?”

  She smirked. “You desperately need a bath.” She nodded to Buck. “Do you feel like helping him to a shower? Maybe dig some clothes out that will fit him?”

  Buck stepped forward. “Sorry…I never thought to ask your name.” He held a hand out to old man. “Nice to meet you Eddie. I’m Buck.”

  The old man’s withered hand took the offering and Buck helped him from the stool. “As soon as he’s cleaned up, we’ll come back.”

  Vicky watched them leave then turned to Roger. “Why did you bring him here?” Her eyes were wide and she seemed nervous.

  “Hey, he needed help, Vic.” Roger sat down and tried to steady his hands. “He was coming back to his house, looking for a wife that was long gone.”

  “She’s probably infected and—”

  “Dead, Vic.” Roger crossed his arm and cradled his wounded one. “She never crawled out of bed.” He glanced toward the hall where the old man had disappeared. “He kept saying she needed him to give her medication, that she wouldn’t take it on her own…” He looked up at Vic. “He told us that she wouldn’t get out of bed at all unless he made her do it.”