It was decided that every able-bodied person would help dig graves for the fallen members of the group. Nearly a quarter of the camp had been killed in the fight. Freddy's body would be buried at dusk, a funeral held for him and all others lost in battle. A grassy knoll south of camp on the sea's edge was the chosen location. Daryll assumed there would be more lost than his fool of a friend Fred, and so he had made sure to grab some shovels from the warehouse.
With much of the day still ahead most of the camp members found that all they wanted to do was sleep after such a harrowing morning. Tim and Daryll did their best to round up enough diggers for the graves, but many were too frightened to leave their tents at the camp, Samuel included. He sat at the opening of his and his father's tent, staring out into the town of Blackwater. Luciele tried to coax the boy into joining their group around their campfire, but he ignored her.
Kelly told Kozz and Luciele about the odd way Tim had been acting towards Caleb before the fighting started, how he had threatened and bullied the young boy. Kozz and Luciele looked at each other, both regretting their decision to leave Caleb alone with Tim around.
“That's it then,” said Kozz. “We're gonna have to leave this camp behind and go out on our own.” Luciele nodded as Kozz spoke. “Daryll and Tim may be trying to save the lives of all these people, but damn them for threatening a child and pushing us around like we've been nothing but trouble.”
“What do you plan to do then?” asked Richard.
“We'll head out tomorrow before the rest of them do,” said Kozz, “and we'll only take what we need. Shouldn't be any trouble staying ahead of the rest of the pack.”
“And you are both welcome to join us,” added Luciele. “We'd love to have you along. You've become good friends.”
“Yeah,” said Caleb. “I'll miss you guys if you don't come with us. You have to!”
Richard and Kelly both considered each other's facial expressions. “We'll have to talk about it,” said Kelly. “Thank you though, we'll definitely consider it.”
“Yeah,” said Richard. “It's a tough decision. We have to make sure we do what we think is best for us as far as surviving the long trip to Port Town and then finding a way to Quartz. Let us sleep on it.”
“Sure,” said Luciele. “Take your time and let us know your decision in the morning.”
The burials were solemn and exhausting. Afterwards large portions of food were handed out in celebration of the bounty that was gathered from the surplus warehouse. Everyone used the opportunity to fuel their bodies for the journey ahead where food would be rationed and they would all be pushed to their physical limits. Luciele tried once more to get Samuel to join their camp and share a meal, but he was content to sit where he was and stare into town. Daryll walked over later in the evening and put a plate of food in front of the boy. After Daryll had left Luciele watched as Samuel took the plate and went into his tent. She did not see him again for the rest of the night and she went to sleep wondering if the boy was going to be alright.
Kozz woke before sunrise and started packing his belongings. When the sun peaked over the horizon he grabbed one of Luciele's and one of Caleb's toes and shook them gently until they both woke up. Luciele looked rather perplexed, but Caleb woke up giggling. Kozz smiled and left the tent, letting them get up at their own pace. They all had their belongings wrapped up and put away as everyone else in the camp began to rise.
Richard and Kelly walked over from their tent, wrapped in blankets to keep warm in the cool morning, and sat down with the others. They both offered to cook up breakfast and fried up a heaping pile of grits and opened several packages of peppered bacon.
“We've decided that we would like to go with you if the offer still stands,” said Kelly after everyone was finished with their meal. “We thought that it might be more wise to travel in the larger group with all the others, but you all are our only friends in the camp and we've both come to dislike Tim and Daryll. We don't trust them like we do you.”
“The offer still stands,” said Luciele with a smile. “Welcome aboard.”
“Yay!” yelled Caleb. He ran over to Kelly and gave her a big hug. Then he jumped up on the rock they were sitting on and hugged Richard as well.
“Glad you'll be coming along,” said Kozz. “We'll be heading out fairly soon, so you might wanna start packing. I'm gonna head over to where all the supplies are being held and grab some for ourselves.”
Richard and Kelly did as requested and started packing their gear right away. Luciele and Caleb followed Kozz over to the pile of supplies. They hauled their near-empty bags over and started filling them up with food, medical gear, and other miscellaneous supplies. Caleb's coat was badly torn from yesterday's fighting and so Luciele grabbed him a new puffy blue jacket from the pile of clothing.
The supplies were right near Daryll's tent and he came over to see what was going on.
“Grabbing stuff already?” he asked. “I thought our plan was to hand this all out in an orderly fashion this morning before we left.” Tim came over to stand by Daryll's side.
“We're heading out on our own, slick,” spat Kozz. “We think it's better for us to get away from you and your little buddy Tim. This way we can stop interfering with your plans, and you can stop harassing our little Caleb.”
“Is that so,” said Daryll. “Well this pile of supplies our camp gathered from the surplus store was intended to be used for this camp, not to share with other travelers.”
“Ya sayin' ya tryin' to steal our food and medicine, partner?” said Tim.
“We're only taking what we need,” said Luciele. “We've put in our fair share of work and deserve our fair share of the reward. We need this to make it over the ice fields to the south.”
Others from the camp gathered around the scene, interested in what the commotion was.
“Looks like yer takin' a wee bit more than you three are goin' to need,” said Daryll.
“Richard and Kelly have decided to come with us,” said Luciele. “We're grabbing what they need as well.” She raised her voice as she turned to the gathering crowd. “Any of the rest of you are welcome to come with us. We aren't putting up with Tim and Daryll's oppressive leadership any longer.” None of the people in the crowd took interest. As she scanned the faces they turned away from meeting her eyes, then she spotted Samuel and walked over to him. “Would you like to come with us Samuel? Caleb could sure use someone to play with. I know you miss your mom and dad, but we can be there for you now. We can help you if you want our help.” Samuel pushed Luciele away and ran over to Daryll's side, hiding behind his legs.
“Looks like y'all've got a small group there,” said Tim. “No one else wants to join yas.”
“That's fine with me,” said Kozz. He went to grab more packages of dried meat, but Daryll moved to block him. “Look, slick. You're either gonna get out of my way or I'll have to force you out of my way.”
“Yer not taking the supplies these people are goin' to need to survive,” said Daryll.
“What's fair is fair,” said Luciele. “We'll take what we need, but you can have my mules. Your group is going to have a lot more to carry than we will, and some of these people can't hold much on their backs. You take both the mules and let us take what we need and we'll be on our way. You'll never have to bother with us again.”
Daryll turned from Kozz's glare and looked at Luciele. Tim tried to speak but Daryll quieted him, wanting to ponder his thoughts. “Ah'right,” he agreed. “Take what you need and be on yer way.” Daryll grabbed the reins of the mules and walked away towards his tent. He hitched them and turned back towards Luciele, Caleb, and Kozz. The “GAUCHO” took off his hat and held it against his chest. “Have a safe trip. I regret our differences and wish you no harm.” He turned away and walked into his tent.
“I'll make sure they don't take too much,” Tim yelled over to Daryll. He looked back at Kozz and held his hand over his new rifle. “Hurry up now. Grab what yas need and get lost. T
ake that infected kid as far away from us as ya can.”
Kozz grimaced and wanted to pound Tim's face in, but Luciele put a calming hand on his shoulder and eased his tension. They filled their bags to the brim. The weight of their backpacks would be grueling to carry, but Richard and Kelly walked over with a sled they fashioned out of their tent cover. They were able to throw some of their supplies in the fabric sled and pull it smoothly across the ground. Kozz found the box of fine cigars he had set aside for himself and it was the last thing he grabbed.
All packed up and ready to go, the five of them walked through the crowded camp and looked at the faces of those they were leaving behind. As the small parade left the town of Blackwater Luciele turned back to see Daryll standing outside his tent with Samuel standing close at his side. The child had made his choice. She shed a tear for the boy and did not turn back again.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Glacier Crossing
It wasn’t as bad this last time, thought Kozz, my heart didn't hurt as much. It feels like the weight of a boulder has been lifted off my chest and I can breath again. Luciele and Caleb are the medicine I should have been prescribed a decade ago. Even those kids Richard and Kelly have helped to ease my tension.
I feel strong again, alive again. My heart beats as strong as a lion’s. I let my mistakes cripple me, and my son's death destroy me. All these lonely years spent on this ice block have been tough, but in the midst of all the chaos and otherworldly carnage I find myself feeling more at ease than I have in a long time. Battle has been my life, and it has returned. Family has been my reason for life, and in my friends I have found a family. I must find her, my dear Priscilla. I should have never left.
“I'm so sorry, Caleb,” Luciele cried into her son's shoulder. She still did not forgive herself. “I'm sorry I left you behind, I thought it would be more safe in the camp.”
“It's ok mom,” said Caleb. He gave his mother a strong squeeze. "I'm still here. That's all that matters. Kelly took care of me and everything turned out alright in the end. None of us got hurt. It's impossible for you to be with me a hundred percent of the time.”
Luciele released her son and nodded. No, she could not be with him all the time, and that was the problem. She once shared that responsibility with her husband, Harold, but he was now gone. Even when Caleb was away from his mother and father he was cared for by his grandmother, Harold's mother, but she was gone as well. Luciele was now all alone in caring for Caleb, and sometimes the weight of the responsibility felt as if it would crush her. On the surface she tried her best to be strong for him, but inside she worried that she was not a good enough parent to watch over Caleb all on her own, especially in the middle of the crazy world they were now in. She longed for her fallen husband and wept in silence as the group marched south towards the icy wilderness.
They spent the nights in abandoned homes until they had traveled far beyond the outskirts of Blackwater. The campfires of the men and women they left behind flickered along the northward horizon, but after a few days of walking they could no longer be seen. The shores of The Great River were covered in mounds of slush which melted away during the blue skies of the day. The further south they traveled, the larger the slush mounds became, and the longer they remained throughout the day.
The frozen landscape in the south was different than the near lifeless ice fields in the north that Kozz had been accustomed to, especially near the sea. Southern ice pines dotted the landscape like dandelions in a see of white alyssum. Their bare stems extended high into the air where pliable branches spread wide with their hair-thin needles, covering the wide areas underneath them like large canopies. Their light and rubbery attributes allowed the snow to slip off their branches, creating a crater-like formation of built up snow around their perimeters.
Sheets of ice stretched across the sea's surface, but it was not thick enough for crossing. The group needed to reach the solid glacial ice farther south that would allow them passage across the vast sea. The cold shallow waters were alive with fish of many varieties. Small abandoned docks and marinas lined the water's edge. An expansive flock of gulls swam in the waters and nested on the shore, feeding on the wealth of fish and hatching their young during the warmest season of the year.
Kozz and Richard did not want to bother the wildlife, but Kelly was absolutely obsessed with every little critter she found. At one point she sneaked her way close to the nesting gulls to catch a better look at the freshly hatched nestlings and found herself bombarded by the aggressive adults. She ran away screaming and found refuge in Richard's arms. The angered gulls continued their assault and everyone was forced to run a short ways before the birds stopped attacking.
The southern glacial wall was more striking than they had expected, none having seen it before. The thin ice that stretched across the sea had grown thicker during their journey, but the glacial wall was a staggering blockade of ice that stood twenty feet above their heads and appeared to rise taller like a mountain beyond its face. Not one in the group knew how far east or west it extended, but it at least spanned the width of The Great River and would serve as their passage over the sea.
“Shit,” said Richard, “how the hell are we going to get up that?”
“There,” said Caleb, pointing to a dip in the glacial ice near the edge of the frozen sea. “We might be able to climb that part.”
“There is water pouring out of that dip,” said Luciele. “It's a stream of ice melt.”
“The river ice is thinner near there,” said Kelly. “What if one of us fell in?”
“There might be another way,” said Richard.
“There isn't,” said Kozz. “Look around. There isn't another break in the ice as far as I can see, and we didn't pack any climbing equipment. That stream is our only choice.”
The wall of ice was the beginning of the southern ice cap. On this side of the world it was broken by the warm habitable valleys, but the ice wholly consumed the other uninhabited half of the planet where the south and north ice caps met without interference.
Kozz made the decision to scale the obstacle, and everyone else followed. The stream fell into the sea from a couple of feet above the water’s surface, dropping a small waterfall into the icy water. They had to walk a short way on the sea ice to get to the dip in the glacial wall. The sea ice near the shore was strong enough to hold each person's weight, but the closer they walked to the waterfall the thinner the ice became. Kozz took the lead, and everyone spread out from each other to reduce the strain on the frozen water. They clung to the glacial wall where the ice was at its thickest.
Kozz reached a point where he could see cracks in the ice a few feet away from himself and knew he could move no further. He could not make it over to the lowest point in the ravine without falling into the ice-cold water. The waterfall was still several feet away, but the erosion had been slow and the v-shaped valley was wide with a gentle slope. They were going to have to scale the wall where they were. Kozz reached above his head and could just barely feel the lip of the eroded wall. He felt for something to grip, but there was nothing more than snow and smooth ice. He asked for Richard to pull out his hammer and tent spikes which were thick and specifically designed for the ice that they knew they would be traveling over.
"We really should have thought to grab some climbing gear from that pile of supplies," said Luciele.
"No kidding," replied Kozz. "Dumb mistake on our part."
Kozz raised his frigid hands and hammered a spike into the ice. His first attempt ripped off a chunk of the glacier that fell to his feet and slid off the ice and into the sea. He tried again, his shifting weight causing the cracks below himself to grow longer, and planted a spike deep into the glacier. He stood on his toes and slammed the sharp back end of the hammer into the wall, then he pulled himself up with both arms, his weight sinking the hammer into the ice and bending the tent spike. His feet clamored for something to aid his arms and he found nothing until Luciele walked over and grab
bed his feet, pushing him up onto the icy slick surface. Kozz held to his hammer and spike until he gained enough traction on the slippery slope to hold himself. He found several small crevices which gave his feet some friction to hold on to.
Luciele lifted Caleb and Kozz pulled the boy up on top of the sloped wall. Next came Luciele, and then Kelly, and finally Richard. They all managed their way onto the glacial ice and slid down to the bottom of the v-shaped erosion of the stream. The stream was small and not much of a hassle to avoid, but crawling up the other side of the slope was going to be tough.
“What about all the others?” asked Caleb. “How are they gonna get up here? I don't think they are all gonna be able to climb this thing.” His concerned eyes met the exhaustion and sorrow in the eyes of his friends. “What are they gonna do if they can't make it?”
Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what answer to give the child.
Kozz asked Caleb for his knife and Caleb gave it to him. He turned around and crawled back up the ice to where they had all climbed the face. He pulled out another tent spike and used it to help himself climb up a little further, then he pounded the spike into the ice and pulled out a rope from his sack. He hung the rope down to the sea ice below to measure it and cut it off at that length, then he tied the rope to the spike and put the rest back in his pack before sliding down to the others.
“That will help them,” said Kozz. “It's the best we can do. They should have some sort of climbing gear that can help them out, too."
Caleb nodded. “Thank you,” he said to Kozz. It is the best we can do, Caleb thought, and they're just gonna have to do the best they can with it.
Richard handed out spikes to the group. Everyone held one for each hand, except Kozz who gripped the hammer in one. They used the spikes to pull themselves up the slick incline. Fatigue set in as some parts of the slope were slippery and difficult to surmount. Kozz took the lead and used his hammer to tear little divots in the ice where the others could stick their feet in to give their arms a rest. Every two steps forward came with one step back, but they each conquered the arduous climb and heaved for breath when they reached the top of the glacier. To one side they could see the iced over waters of The Great River stretch into the horizon, and on the other side the glacier grew in mass and appeared to have troughs and crests like ocean waves. Kozz slammed another spike into the ice and let down another rope into the eroded valley for those behind them to use. Caleb smiled at this as the group moved away from the edge of the glacier and set up camp on top of the block of ice.
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