by Peter Okafor
He stared at the faces of the boys and girls gathered at the hall, their spirit seemed broken and battered. Amongst them stood faces he found familiar, Slim Jim and Dope “Skittish” Davies.
There were all together ten boys and girls who had survived the proving grounds that was the maze—out of a staggering fifty.
Runner found it odd that Dope was amongst the prison inmates. He had thought Dope’s dad had quite an influence amongst the powers that be in MegaCityOne, but it would seem the grim man only bullied lowlifes in the slum colonies.
The door opened again, and two guards standing at each side raised their weapons to their chests in attention. The man that walked in was a lion to behold. He was the embodiment of toughness, his eyes fierce like wildfire, and on his large hands, a black baton stood prisoner to his grip.
“Each boy, each girl, every single one of you—each of your pathetic life that draws the air of this grand city belongs to the supreme councillor. For your crimes, you ought to be hung until your neck breaks in two, but the councillor’s mercy has no bounds,” his voice thundered.
The man stepped away to allow another woman to take the front. Runner recognized her. She was the same woman who he met at the end of the tunnel. She was tall, wore a white and black stripped latex overall that was buttoned to her neck, and walked with such grace fit for a queen.
“She looks like a giraffe,” Slim Jim whispered to Runner.
“I haven’t seen a giraffe in my life. I think they are extinct,” Runner said.
“No…no, my friend, nothing in the world before is extinct. Not if you have the mind to find it. How do you think I got imprisoned in the first place?” Slim Jim laughed softly.
The woman stood in front of them, and behind her was a large glass that was tinted. It would seem there was an audience watching them from the next room.
“As you all know, the rebel, Death Throe, has taken it upon himself to punish MegaCityOne by sabotaging our water reserves. We are in dire need of the element of life, and it has been confirmed that a freshwater lake lies deep beyond the wasteland. If only the informant had told us the location before he died of radiation burns…”
The woman shook her head as if truly she was struck emotionally by lightning of desperation.
“Each one of you will be given a chance to serve your city, escape the fate of a death sentence, and become heroes of the people. We will not force you, but you must choose. The gallows to the left.” The woman beckoned to her left. “The Remnants of Men, to my right.”
The lady began to call the names of the inmates. Runner’s mind was set somewhere else. The map of the assumed location of the freshwater lake was displayed by some kind of hologram. He knew almost every location in the wasteland and always thought it stretched just a few miles away from MegaCityOne.
What stood before him sent waves of fear down his spine. MegaCityOne looked like a tiny island on a sea of radioactive storms and ruins. Runner turned his attention back to the front where almost everyone had gathered to the right with smiles on their faces.
He had seen his fair share of the wasteland, but if the map was true to its measurement, their smile would fade to ash in a few days. No one could survive that far from the city…no one. This he knew for certain.
“We are all going to die,” Runner muttered.
Chapter Nine
Remnants of Men
“We are the Remnants of Men,” the captain bellowed. “And by god, we shall survive.”
Runner’s heart stiffened in anger. He was thankful for skipping a date with the gallows, but journeying that deep into the wasteland was no different than putting a noose over one’s neck and praying you don’t get strangled. It was pretty much stupid. Not even the armoured cars of Section 5 would make it that far.
“Guards, get them ready,” the captain ordered.
The guards came for them, but Runner followed the group before they reached him. The doors opened, and they all walked down a long passageway.
Runner hastened to reach Slim Jim. “They say they are giving us a chance of freedom, but we both know that either way. We are dead men.”
“Who knows, we might disappoint them,” Jim replied.
“I’m not trying to be the pessimist, but have you ever been to the wasteland?”
Slim Jim smiled. “No…not really. I lived in Capital One with my folks who own Nexus Pharmaceuticals, the producers of Sixth Sense pills. When I made a sinister discovery about the drug, my parents shipped me off to a Section 5 command school in anticipation that my discovery might crumble their contract with the supreme councillor.”
“So, what happened?” Runner’s gaze lingered on him.
“I’m afraid, from there, it was Limbo Penitentiary for me. You see, my parents are quite influential and could have gotten me out of this pit of goddamn shit! But they left me here to rot in hopes that their secret would remain safe. Hmm, they got something else coming.” Slim Jim shook his head.
The guards opened another door to the left and made way for everyone to enter. Runner stepped into the large room, followed closely by his new friend. Large lockers were arranged in a long line down the walls of the room, and another served as a divider cutting through the centre.
The captain stood in front of everyone.
“Pick any locker. Open it and take the gears you find. You have been given every resource required to survive the wastelands. Take your weapons, Sense pills, gas masks, food rations, torches, cloaks, and tents for camping. Dress quickly and prepare yourself for the worst. The city’s ambassador would like to say a few words before you depart.”
Runner opened his locker. The captain’s words did not fall short of truth. The locker had been stuffed with everything he could possibly need out there, far better than the resources he had used while in Rat Town.
He threw on his jacket, gloves, and then went for his boots. They were great, but he needed something more, something suited for the harsh environment. He searched further and found a grey cloak. Runner set the cloak on the floor and held it down with his foot. He caught it at one end and tore it evenly until he made it look like a turban.
Something caught his attention. He turned around to find a group of boys and girls laughing at him for tearing his cloak. They folded theirs and put it in their bag packs. Runner ignored them and continued. The next thing he found were thick wooden baseball bats, wrenches re-forged into knives, a torchlight, a box of matchstick, ropes, first aid kit, and cooking utensils tied to his backpack.
“No guns?” Runner raised his gaze.
“Who asks for guns?” the captain yelled.
“There are gangs of man hunters in the wastelands. We need a handgun or something.” Runner raised his voice in reply.
The captain came towards him. “No guns!” he said. “If you don’t like your weapons, then you can throw your fist at them. Understood?”
“Yes,” Runner said.
The captain put his right hand behind his ear. “What? I can’t hear you.”
“Yes, sir!” Runner shouted.
He went back to his locker, picked his food rations and hydration packs, and proceeded to arrange them in his backpack. Finally, he had everything in place. He wrapped the thick turban around his head and carried his backpack.
“Ready to go to our deaths, are we?” Slim Jim smiled.
“I need to get some nails, a barbed wire, and a good knife,” Runner said.
Slim Jim readied his bag. “Why?” he asked.
“I have lived in a place with little regards to any rules, but out there in the wasteland, there are no rules. Everything is out to get you. The very air you inhale is your worst enemy. There are men waiting to kill and loot from your corpse, bogs with acid pools, pile of scraps that could swallow a man faster than quicksand. Then the storms that are becoming unpredictable, but that is just a few amongst many known to me.”
Slim Jim seemed a bit queasy. “You’ve witnessed all that?” he said.
“Came, saw, and conquered, no shit! Almost cost me my life at every encounter.” Runner began to walk to the exit.
At the doorpost, Dope came from nowhere he saw and stepped in front of him to obstruct his path. A sudden life came over the gloom he had borne for long, and his brown eyes burned fierce with a hot temper. He pushed Runner to hit the iron frame of the doorpost and pressed his elbow on his neck.
“I’m here because of you and your stupid friend, but don’t worry, Runner. I made sure he is definitely not having a good time wherever he is.”
Runner pushed Dope’s hand away from his neck, bent over, and twisted it behind the boy. He craned over Dope’s shoulder to reach his ear.
“What did you do to Troy? Tell me!” He twisted hard, and Dope shrieked.
Two guards rushed towards them and dragged them apart.
“Relax boys,” the captain said. “You can wait and tear each other apart when you get to the wasteland. We might be in dire need of water, but there are many more prisoners eager to take your places. Take them to the Cable Room!” the captain ordered.
The guards marched everyone out to the long passageway. It was getting pretty tiring, and Runner felt his eyes itch for a sleep he had not had since the proving at the maze. He managed to keep his mind from straying towards thoughts of Troy or his aunt’s kids. If he didn’t know better, it would seem he was now missing his home, Rat Town. Shanty as it may be, life was always bustling. The nights were brisk and lights of slum houses ever glistened from above.
He missed the nice warm pottage stew and bottle of cheap dry gin from Mekkel’s bar. There was nothing like that feeling of rushing through a mound of pottage stew after a whole day with an empty stomach. Sure, life was tough in Rat Town, but that was the beauty of it—to earn every day of your life where many had long passed from the harsh world.
The group was halted by the guards, and then another door opened to them. Far at one end sat a petite girl with a pair of glasses sitting on her face. Her hair was auburn and styled to a ponytail and her lips a glossy red. She turned her gaze away from the large computer that stood before her and glanced at Runner.
“Go in,” a guard said.
Runner walked in with his backpack. His eyes were fixed at the large screen of the computer that seemed to be some kind of surveillance.
The girl stood up. “Here.” She came towards Runner, carrying a small round wristband glistening with a red light.
She held Runner’s hand and stretched out his arm before proceeding to place the wristband on his wrist. For a moment, her gaze locked with Runner’s brown eyes and a smile formed on her face. Runner took a good look at the gadget around his wrist. There was something inscribed on its surface.
“Capricorn.” Runner read it out loud. “What does it mean?” he asked.
“It is your call sign and the name of your sponsor. You guys are not the only ones fighting for something. Water is one of the most expensive commodities out in the city. Syndicates are fighting for the right to serve as major distributors if you find the freshwater lake. They have taken it upon themselves to reward you upon finding the location.”
“And if I die out there, will they be rewarding me? Apparently, I am already a dead man.” Runner’s gaze were fixed on her. “Capricorn. Not a bad name though.”
“Done.” The girl finished setting everything.
Runner turned to leave. “What’s your name again?” he asked.
She smiled brilliantly. “Angel.”
“You remind me of my friend. She was very good with this tech stuff too.” Runner opened the door. “I will remember your name when I return.”
“You sure are optimistic,” she said.
“Yes.” Runner nodded. “It would seem so.”
“I hope you make it back.” Her voice waned.
Runner stepped out, and the next person entered. He continued down the passageway until he reached the last door. The guard following beside him gestured by shaking his head, and Runner opened the door.
He was met with loud chants and thousands of people behind a stage raising banners that read: THE WORLD IS WATCHING. THE WORLD IS WAITING. Another read: WATER IS LIFE. GIVE US LIFE. And on they went.
Their roars and chants filled the atmosphere. He had never been in front of such a crowd before and was a bit nervous. Soon, the others joined him, all with red glowing wristbands. A girl was escorted to the stage by two rangers from Section 5. She waved her hands as she came closer. Runner watched Olivia Patterson ascend the stage.
She went and stood behind a glass podium.
“On behalf of the supreme councillor, Peter Patterson, and the twelve Citadels of Excellence, I am honoured to bring before the great people of this city, ten volunteers, ten brave souls, ready to brave the great waste that surrounds our city and deliver to us water that would serve for generations to come.”
The crowd went wild, fluttering their banners in the air.
“Volunteers my balls,” Slim Jim whispered to Runner. “This girl is good; I will give her that.”
Runner did not answer him. There was no need fighting his fate anymore. Curses and insults only resulted in an insignificant effect as feather upon shield. His gaze was stuck at the marvellous building that stood far in the distance beneath artificial lights that looked like clouds on the large dome. MegaCityOne. It had always been his dream to live in the city, but he never imagined his first time there would be his last.
“They are valiant, unique, and the best of the Remnants of Men. Today, we say to them, Godspeed!” Olivia finished.
“Godspeed!” the crowd yelled continuously in unison.
Rangers from Section 5 took over from the guards and led the group away from the stage. Runner took the lead and walked past a series of electrified fences built around an outpost with a large watchtower. The rangers stopped them before armoured Humvees readied to depart for the wastelands.
Faint sounds came from the distance, and Runner turned to see a few women, men, and children heading towards them. Boys and girls from the group ran and hugged their loved ones with tears and moaning. Even Dope’s dad had come out to see his son one last time.
Rhiannon would have been here, Runner thought.
He stood beside Slim Jim and observed since they had no one around who cared for them.
“Hey,” Runner heard a familiar voice.
He turned around, only to be met with a hug from Olivia. She kissed his right cheek softly and forced something into Runner’s hand, out of the prying eyes of the rangers. He felt the paper in his hand and folded it tightly.
“Read it when you have the time. It would explain everything. Good luck, Runner of Rat Town. Much depends on your success, so much that you don’t even know.” She kissed his other cheek and left.
Chapter Ten
Fall Behind and Die Behind
The armoured cars slowly disappeared into the obscurity of a haze in the wasteland. Runner watched them depart with any hope of ever seeing Rat Town again. He stood still, his thumbs tucked beneath both shoulder straps of his backpack. He stole a glance at his group. The boys and girls were thrilled by the unfamiliar atmosphere of the wasteland.
“Why are you smiling?” he asked a big girl beside him.
“Can’t you see, Runner? We are free to go wherever we want. Relax. It’s not like there is anyone to force us to do anything.”
Runner shook his head at her ignorance. “And where exactly will you go, huh? Please tell me.”
Dope walked to Runner and tapped his shoulder. “I’m sure we can manage without you, Runner,” he said and then raised his voice. “Why should we care about water shortage in the big city? Why should we care about earning our freedom and go back to the captivity of MegaCityOne, or even worse, the slums. I am going to seek for a better life out there, and anyone who wants to come is welcomed.”
“Anyone,” Dope said again.
A girl strode towards him, and she was the first and last to join. It seemed the others fav
oured freedom. They wanted to earn that freedom and go back to their families, or perhaps it was the chance of becoming a hero of the city that urged them away from Dope’s notions.
“Save it, Dope,” Runner said. “You won’t make it half a day here alone.”
Runner turned around and began his trek on a journey he feared more than anything. Slim Jim followed quickly and caught up with him.
“Hey, wait!” a girl shouted behind.
Runner turned around and saw her running to reach him. Beside her was a large plump man, barely keeping up with the girl. He was so fat that it seemed he did more of strolling than running. His breasts flapped and slapped on his chest.
“Hey.” The girl reached him. “Runner, right? You mind if we tag along?”
Runner looked over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of her partner. The man was still struggling to make the distance. He knew for certain that the man would only be a burden and slow him down or get them trapped trying to rescue him from a storm he couldn’t outrun, but he could not turn him away.
“Come on,” he said.
The girl gestured a handshake, and Runner received it. She was tall and wore a black hoodie that covered half her dirty blonde hair. She didn’t look any more prepared than Runner. She was carrying a backpack and wore a black boot with a black knee guard.
“The name is Legion,” she spoke boldly. “And this is Big Edd.” She pointed at the plump man.
“What kind of name is Legion?” Runner asked.
She glanced at him and smiled. “What kind of name is Runner?”
“A fair question.” Slim Jim chimed in.
There was a brief episode of awkward silence, and then she smiled again, “Ariel Waters, but they call me Legion. I’m from the 7th Colony, or as you know it, Bad Town.”
He moved his gaze away from the girl and noticed that the others had formed groups of their own. It was a very bad idea. Something Old Max’s laws of an outlaw made clear that to survive in the wasteland, four hands are better than two. But how could he convince them when they saw the opportunity for freedom as a competition. He ignored them and turned to continue walking.