He pushed the door slightly, listening intently for sounds of movement inside. He could feel gravel crunch under the door as he peered inside. His hand hovered over his pistol as he stuck his head in farther.
Dank and stale air greeted him.
“Hello?” He strained his ears to listen; the only sound was his own heartbeat thumping in his ears.
He pushed the door open further and stepped inside. The crunch of rocks between his boots and the concrete floor echoed through the empty station.
He turned to the right and saw his office door still open. He shoved his pistol firmly into his holster and pushed his way inside. He wiped a finger along the edge of his desk and grimaced at the film.
Hatcher sighed and slowly sat in his old chair, remembering the creaking sound it made as he leaned back. He closed his eyes and smiled, memories of a better time flooding his brain. Before the world ate itself. A time when his friends were still alive and just a radio call away.
He swiveled the chair side to side a bit, enjoying the familiar squeak. He sat up suddenly and cleared a thick wetness from his throat, quickly sniffing back the unshed tears. He came to his feet. His eyes shot directly above his desk, and he reached out for the framed photo. He plucked it from the wall and wiped the dirt from the glass.
Mitch and Shelly were both smiling back at him. He ran his finger along the familiar faces and paused at his own. “Was I ever that young?” He snickered to himself as he tucked the photo under his arm and walked back out to the truck. He set the frame in the passenger seat then opened the rear doors. He reached for a box and hefted it. As he turned back and saw the station again, he felt a tear finally break free and run down his cheek.
“Yeah,” he sniffed. “I’m home.”
Dr. Benedict stepped back and rubbed at his eyes. “Forgive me. Somewhere along the way, I’ve lost my glasses.”
“Readers?” Carol asked.
“Prescription,” he replied. “I’ll make do.” He turned back to the microscope and adjusted it once more. “I’m afraid I have to concur with your original findings. There’s something in the blood that reacts to any changes you make.”
Carol gave him a knowing look. “Andre thinks that their behavior mimics a psychedelic.” She raised a brow. “He postulates that their bodies are creating it, whatever ‘it’ is. He wants to treat them with minor doses of LSD.”
William rubbed at his chin and studied the woman strapped to the table. “He’s thinking the treatment would be similar to treating a hyperactivity disorder with amphetamines.”
Carol nodded. “Your thoughts?”
William shrugged. “At this point, I don’t see what harm it could do.”
She was a bit surprised at his reply. She inhaled deeply and blew it out slowly. “Very well then.” She turned to Andre. “I relinquish the remainder of my time.” She gave him a defeated smile. “Whenever you’re ready, sir.”
Andre gave her a slight bow. “Merci.” He turned to the far workstation and began to prepare a diluted tincture of various psychedelics. “Since I can’t know which one would be key, I feel that a thinned cocktail solution would be the best initial approach.”
“A cocktail of dope?” Carol chuckled. “Oh, this should be fun.” She stood back and watched while he worked. He shook the vial in his hand then inserted a needle.
“I’ll need her to remain steady. I’m going to inject this directly into her vein.”
Randy and David stepped closer to the woman and gripped her arm, pressing it to the table with all of their weight.
“Good grief, she’s strong,” David muttered as she continued to struggle.
Andre stepped between the two men and slipped the needle into her arm. When he stepped back, he nodded to the two men, who released her.
She continued to snarl at the researchers for a moment until her heart pumped the injection throughout her body.
“Any moment now,” Broussard mumbled, glancing at his watch.
The woman snarled at them once more then her eyes rolled back in her head and she went limp. Carol snapped to attention and pulled her stethoscope. “Is she…” She pressed the scope to her chest and listened. “Her heart rate is slowing.” She glanced nervously to Andre. “But it’s steady.”
“Let’s wait.” He pulled her slightly back. “At this point, the rest is up to her.”
As the sun crested the horizon, Simon sat patiently, watching the three men. Now tied with their hands bound behind them, they sat back to back in the center of the campground. Bandanas were tied to their heads, keeping them gagged.
The residents had all dressed and were now making their way out of their campers to determine the fate of the men who they’d once thought of as friends.
Simon swallowed another pair of pain pills and sat quietly. Watching. Waiting. Ready to do what was necessary to protect the innocent.
Lana stood by his side, her shotgun bouncing restlessly in her grip. More than once she bent down and whispered in his ear, “Your kicking his ass made me so hot. Once we burn these assholes, I’m gonna grind you to a nub.”
Simon said nothing, his face stoic.
In his mind, her words disturbed him. He found it troubling that she was so stimulated by ruthless dominance. He glanced at her and couldn’t help but wonder why he couldn’t be that tyrant any more. Had being infected tamed him? Could it have made her even wilder? Had it changed her personality as much as it had his?
The crowd gathered and Hammer rolled up in his wheelchair, his leg unable to support him any longer. “We’re all here,” he stated firmly.
Simon nodded and glared at the three men. “Ungag them.” He watched as Lana pulled out the huge Bowie knife that they carried and sliced the bandanas away. Simon raised his voice for all to hear. “You stand accused of heinous acts and crimes against the good people of this small community. How do you plea?”
Trent turned and shot daggers at him with his eyes. “Fuck you!”
Simon laughed. “That’s probably the smartest thing you’ve said to me since I met you.” He slowly came to his feet. “I’ll take that as a ‘guilty.’”
“No it ain’t!” Tommy squealed. “Hell no! I plead not guilty!”
“Me too!” Jake cried as tears ran down his face. “We didn’t do nothin’. It was all Trent.” He looked from face to face, snot bubbling from his nose.
“Shut the fuck up!” Trent bellowed. He struggled to come to his feet and Simon watched as the man nearly tipped over before getting his legs under him. “All y’all would have starved to death by now if it weren’t for us.” He spun and glared at Simon. “And you, you cock sucker…you was the one who told us to make them pay.” He spat upon the ground.
Simon shook his head a slow smile forming. “No, I told you that people were our biggest assets.”
“Yeah? Well, you also didn’t say not to when I told you I was gonna fuck the good lookin’ ones.” A quiet gasp worked its way through the crowd of onlookers.
Simon nodded. “You’re right.” He turned and faced the group. “Because I shouldn’t a had to tell you not to rape somebody you callous asshole.” He spun back and pointed the pistol at Trent. “Who stopped you from raping the leggy blonde?”
“Trailer Park Barbie?” Trent scoffed. “Hell, everybody’s fucked her at least once.”
“That’s not true!” she cried, covering her mouth. “Not…everybody…” She glanced out at the crowd. “Besides, you didn’t have to beat Jody stupid.”
“Jody was already stupid you fucking cunt!” Trent bellowed.
Simon stepped forward and kicked the back of his legs, sending to his knees. Hard. Trent grunted and fell to his side. “That’s enough.”
“Fuck you, Simon!” Trent coughed as the pain shot up from his kneecaps. “You’re a piece of shit, man.”
“Yeah, I know,” Simon groaned. He slipped his pistol back into his waistband and walked a slow circle around the accused. “I caught him trying to plow her.” He pointed to
‘Trailer Park Barbie’. “After he beat her husband to a bloody mess.” A low murmur arose as he continued walking. “I forced the three of them to leave and told them that if they tried to return, I’d kill them.” He spun and stared straight at Vee. “What say you, doc?”
She shook her head as she slowly backed away. “I…I uh, took a vow.” She swallowed hard. “To do no harm.”
Simon nodded. “Fine.” He spun and pointed to Jody, the side of his face swollen and purple. “What say you?”
Jody glanced at his wife then back at Simon. He slowly shook his head before turning back to his wife. “Everybody? Really?”
“Shut up, Jody.” She hid her face as her cheeks reddened.
Simon groaned. “Fine.” He marched toward Trent and pulled him back to his knees. He pressed his pistol to the back of Trent’s head. With his wounded arm, he grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled, holding him there. “This may be the only time I’ll allow a vote. Who thinks they should pay for their crimes and attempted crimes with their lives?”
Lana stepped forward. “Fuck ‘em. Kill ‘em all.” She stepped back and glared at Trent. “Come into my home and drag my man out with a gun to his head…” She turned and glared at the rest of the campers. “Tell him.”
Most lowered their heads or backed away slowly. Simon watched in bewilderment. “You realize, you let him live, he’s just stupid enough to try again.”
“I won’t TRY,” Trent shouted. “I’ll fuckin’ do it. I’ll blow your brains out before you ever wake up.”
Simon sighed and pulled the hammer back. “Are you people really this stupid?” He pressed the barrel tighter to Trent’s head. “When he’s already told you what he intends to do and you don’t want him wasted?”
“Don’t kill us!” Tommy whined. “Please god, don’t do it.” Jake shook so hard that he passed out, falling forward onto his face.
The people of the campground avoided eye contact, most shaking their heads as they backed away. Simon decocked the pistol. “Really? You want to let this raping son of a bitch off?”
“They know they owe me their lives, asshole,” Trent yelled. “Who the fuck are you to come along and in a couple days decide that you’re in charge?”
“Shut your hole before I stick this shotgun down your pants and turn you from a rooster to a hen!” Lana screamed back. “Turds like you don’t deserve to live.”
Simon shook his head before planting a foot to Trent’s back and kicking him to the ground. “He’s yours.” He pointed to the crowd. “You wanted me to keep you safe and I did. Here he is.” He shoved his pistol back into his waistband. “If you don’t have the intestinal fortitude to do what needs doing…” He spit on the ground and walked towards Lana. “Then you deserve everything he brings on you.”
Vee broke ranks and stepped forward. She bent beside Trent and untied his hands. “I’ll get the others. You do your feet.” Her voice was soft and low but carried across the silence of the campground.
Jake jerked awake, screaming as she untied his hands. Tommy rubbed his wrists as he eyed each of the campers. “Thank you.”
“We didn’t do it for you,” Vee stated. “We’re not murderers.”
Simon scoffed. “It’s not murder, doc.” He eyed the others in the camp. “It’s called justice, and we didn’t see much here.”
23
Hatcher stacked the boxes next to his office and shoved his duffel next to his chair. A quick glance at his watch and he knew that it was still early. He could search a lot of the area around the station well before dark.
He stretched and yawned, realizing he had driven completely through the night. He dug around in the boxes and pulled out a couple of packets of freeze dried coffee. As much as he dreaded doing this, he needed the caffeine.
He ripped the packets open and tilted his head back, emptying the contents into the back of his throat. He quickly drank down half a bottle of water and grimaced at the taste.
“Oh dear god…please don’t let me do that again.”
He finished off the water then stepped outside. He found one of the four wheelers parked near the station and checked the battery. “Of course it’s dead.” He walked to the shed and pushed open the gate. Inside he dug around until he found a gas can with something in it. A sniff test verified it was high octane.
He quickly filled the tank then stocked some supplies. His last step was to pull the big truck over and use one of the batteries to jump start the four wheeler. He dug through the shed again and found the jumper cables.
He quickly jumped the four wheeler then mounted the vehicle, his mind going back to the good old days again as he planted his ass in the saddle. “It’s good to be home.”
Hatcher pointed the four wheeler in the direction of the last place he’d seen Shelly. She’d been infected and had run off at high speed. Taking that into consideration and the fact that she’d had months to go anywhere the wind blew her, he really had no reason to return to the scene, except that he had nothing else to go on.
Hatcher drove slowly along the trails, his eyes scanning in every direction for any sign of life. About every mile he’d stop, shut off the engine, and listen. Before he’d start up again, he’d cup his hands to his mouth and yell for all he was worth.
Nobody replied.
Hatcher spent the day rediscovering the ancient beauty of the park and praying that Shelly would make herself known.
As the day began to wind down and Hatcher was fighting to stay awake, he turned back for the station and didn’t stop. He would start all over again in the morning. Once I’ve been over the most worn trails and roads, he thought, I’ll start going off road, check out some of her more favorite locations.
If that didn’t work…he wasn’t sure what he’d do. But he knew he wouldn’t give up.
He couldn’t.
Broussard paced slowly, his eyes locked on the woman strapped to the table. “Vitals?”
“Still steady,” Carol replied. She attached the last lead to the monitors and stepped back. “Blood pressure is normalizing, heart rate has lowered to reasonable levels. Respiration is slowed, but her O2 stats are in the upper nineties.” She glanced at him and shrugged. “It might be working.”
William stood at the foot of the table, his hand propped under his chin. “Or she’s about to start tripping balls.” Both researchers glanced at him and he shrugged. “Medical term.” He smiled.
Broussard reached out tentatively and checked her wrist. “Pulse is still strong.” He let go and stepped back.
After a moment, the woman’s eyes fluttered open and she looked around the room, fear in her eyes. Tammy stepped closer and looked down at her. “Can you understand me?”
The woman nodded slightly and tried to speak past the ball gag choking her. Tammy looked to Andre who nodded, then she reached for the straps holding the gag. “I’m just going to remove this.”
The woman spit a piece of the rubber from her mouth then looked at the researchers. “What’s…going on?”
“I don’t believe it,” Carol muttered. She looked to Andre and shook her head. “You’re batting a thousand.”
“Not yet.” He stepped closer and leaned over the woman. “Can you tell me your name?”
She nodded. “Deborah Winegard.” She swallowed and looked at the other researchers. “Where am I?”
“You’re still in Cheyenne Mountain,” Tammy replied gently. “Do you remember anything?”
The woman slowly shook her head. “Not really.” She swallowed hard. “Can I have a drink of water?”
Tammy quickly stuffed a straw into a bottle of water and let the woman sip from it. “How about before?”
“Before what?”
Tammy looked to Broussard who shook his head. “Do you remember coming to the facility?”
“Of course.” She coughed slightly and tried to sit up. “Why am I tied down?” She started to panic then looked at the foot of the table at the infected man staring at her. “Oh my god! He’s
one of them!”
Andre waved William away and tried to calm her down. “Please, I need you to relax.”
She struggled with her bindings then broke down and started to cry. “There’s poo in my pants.” She sobbed as the realization struck her.
“Great,” Carol sighed. “She’s more concerned with her hygiene than what’s happened to her.”
“Not so quick.” Broussard held a hand up and patted the woman’s cheek, slapping at her but not hard enough to hurt her. “Hey, hey Deborah…I need your attention.”
The woman sobered somewhat and stared at him, her face still betraying her fear. “Wh…what?” she choked out between sobs.
“I need to know what you remember and what you don’t.”
She shook her head then squeezed her eyes shut. “We went out for some sunshine.” She sniffed back tears, her lower lip quivering. “We came back in that night and…and some of the people started fighting.” She inhaled ragged breaths then opened her eyes. “They got infected, didn’t they? They attacked.”
Broussard narrowed his gaze at her. “You were included in that group.”
She nodded. “I know. I went out there with them.”
He shook his head. “You became violent.” He nodded to the side. “Like them.”
She turned her head and gasped. “Oh my god…” Her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out.
Broussard sighed as he stood up again. “This is not going as I had hoped.”
“The human mind can only accept so much at one time,” Tammy stated. “Apparently, hers maxed at that point.”
Carol stepped up and patted Andre’s shoulder. “But, you found the way through to her.” She inhaled deeply. “Now to see if it’s a ‘one and done’ application or if she’s going to need a steady supply of LSD to be able to function.”
“Fingers crossed,” William replied.
“I can’t believe that they pussied out,” Lana huffed as she fell onto the mattress. “I was so wanting to celebrate their executions.”
Caldera 10: Brave New World Page 17