His wandering mind thought about Avery and his many talents. Was there any wire, tool, or inanimate object that guy couldn’t put to good use? It almost made up for his volatility when it came to dealing with flesh and blood. Before too long, Doc’s eyelids drooped and he found himself nodding off to sleep.
*
Suzy concentrated, straining for sounds, hearing only the distant clatter that meant morning departure was not far off. She tested the silence by softly clearing her throat. Doc remained quiet so she finally relaxed for a few minutes to say her daily prayer to her grandmother to come find her. She swallowed a soft sob, gulping it down her throat as her little-girl perceptions wondered why it was taking so long. Her undeveloped brain warred with her treasured fantasy of rescue. No matter how many times she told the girls who fed her and attempted to comfort her that she would be rescued, they only shook their big heads that sat on emaciated rag-covered bodies with huge sad eyes and looked away. All were silent, not wanting to hurt the little girl with the truth of her reality. A few even envied the special treatment the five-year-old received.
Poor Suzy, not an ounce of fat remained on her bones. She refused to eat and often found herself in the arms of some of the men from the tribe as Doc directed her to be force-fed. It was the only thing that kept her alive; that and the delusion of rescue by her beloved grandmother. In the last few months, the reality of her captivity and the circumstances in which she lived had served to erase any trace of the happy, joyful child, along with most of the memories of her five years. She no longer remembered her mama and papa, her sister Jennifer, Seth, or even where she was from. The only probable reason she was still alive was her agonized screams for her grandmother to rescue her and take her to the magic bomb shelter when she was first captured. After she screamed and cried herself out, Doc was able to get enough monosyllabic answers out of her to convince him that the sanctuary was real.
Suzy shuddered as she felt Doc place a heavy hand on her thin shoulder. She began to tremble instantly. He turned her over, glancing down at the hardened crust of last night’s gray gruel that decorated her hand-me-down shirt. The infinitesimal spark that was actually Suzy receded from her eyes to take refuge in the primal part of her mind that protects us all from facing horror. The only thing that Doc could see was an empty husk. She instinctively knew he had exhausted all hope of finding a way to reach her and extract even a morsel of information that would guide them further.
“I’m sorry, little one. But maybe it’s better this way. My men will leave you alone.” Taking her in his arms, he did an uncharacteristic thing. He hugged her and held her close. The spark that was the child Suzy flared, burning bright before receding back to its place of refuge.
From outside the lean-to came shouting. Men converged from everywhere, departure forgotten as everyone waited to hear the news brought by their advance team. The woman caught each other’s eyes, glances of terror shared by all, as they wondered what new fate lay before them with the obvious urgency of the news.
Doc laid Suzy back on her broken cot and stood as his men approached. He ran his fingers through his lank, greasy hair and secured it with a band, allowing it to drape down his back like his men, then stepped out to meet them. The stench of the camp’s unwashed bodies hit him in waves as the crowd around his lean-to thickened.
“Well, gentlemen, it appears you have some news for me?” He listened intently to the report from the scouts who stayed at least half a day in front of the tribe. Yes, there was a discovery. Not the bomb shelter they were hoping for, but maybe something else that might save them; something that would shelter them from the poisonous winds that were surely bound to catch them eventually in their hot indiscriminate soupy grip.
“Well, for God’s sakes, gentlemen. Would one of you kindly get to the point?” From the ranks of the scouts a young man in his mid-twenties stepped up. He held a piece of sun-worn plastic in his hands. A sign, its letters faded, but still readable. The young man’s fetid smile split from ear to ear even as he brushed at the flies that swarmed over the open sores on his forehead.
“And there’s water too, Doc,” he exclaimed as the rest of the tribe hugged and slapped each other on the back. For in his hands lay what they would view as their temporary salvation, little knowing they would be fated to call it home for as long as most of them would survive. He stepped closer to Doc, holding up the sign for all to see. It read simply: The Franklin Mine ca 1910. The zinc and mineral fluorescence capital of the world.
Little did they know they were only ten short miles from the Hive.
Chapter 2
Lorna pulled hard on the contraption that Seth had fashioned after the converted wagon had given out for the last time. Who knew an eighty-five-pound teenager could feel so heavy? But it was a miracle that she still lived.
Lorna glanced back at the pile of bones in the two-wheeled sled, not even recognizing Jennifer anymore. She stopped counting the times she had fought with Seth over leaving her behind. When was that? she wondered as flakes of cold, wet gray ash fell from the ominous gloomy sky. Was it a month ago? No, I was warm then. Maybe last year . . . I think Suzy was a baby then. Nah, that can’t be right. I need Clyde. He can help me. I need to get to Clyde. Then I can pick Suzy up at her school. Yup, can’t forget to pick up Suzy. She shuddered as she thought about Suzy waiting for her at school. “Can’t leave my baby doll alone,” Lorna muttered as she brushed ineffectively at her blood as it continued to drip from her nose, a constant occurrence these days.
Her finger caught on the rags that adorned her, holding together her own emaciated frame that kept moving forward beyond all reason.
“Ahhhh.” She bent over in pain, dropping the bar that enabled her to pull Jen as another paper-thin fingernail ripped off her hand. She fumbled to untangle it from its nest of rags, forcing her unbalanced form to fall to the ground.
“Help meeee . . . Seeeth.” Her voice whispered its forlorn plea; a refrain that repeated itself every day in response to any deviation from their long journey.
*
The easily distracted Lorna no longer saw Seth as an enemy in her delusion. Small comfort to Seth who had the responsibility of keeping them safe and keeping Lorna moving forward to Sussex County, where they now traipsed after skirting the not so greater metro area of New York City in an attempt to avoid the fallout from the bombs.
“Seeeeth.” The empty whisper came at him again. He felt too weary to answer. Not that she would respond with anything like a cogent reply anyway. He picked up a stone and lobbed it at her as she lay disoriented on the ground, trying to get back on her feet.
“Get up, old woman.” He swallowed his distaste. The stupid fool. I can’t believe she’s got me this far.
Seth had only one concern now: that he would be able to find the big granite rock in the woods. He watched as Lorna crawled on the ground like an animal, grunting and blubbering his name through the blood and snot that ran down her chin.
He wasn’t much better off himself as his ear, butchered by Avery, refused to heal, leaking an odorous fluid. He hoped fervently that medical care would be available once they found the sanctuary. Eyeing up Lorna, he wondered how long she would last. They must be somewhere in the vicinity of the sanctuary now.
It was a delicate balancing act with the water. He needed to keep Jen alive if he wanted Lorna to cooperate. And he needed to keep Lorna alive long enough to talk their way into the sanctuary. Such a dilemma. He couldn’t really let Lorna live past the moment they gained entrance. He watched her frantic moaning and struggles to stand, blood from her nose now splattered all over the wretched heap that was all that they had left of Jennifer. Well, they can’t blame that on me.
Seth wondered if he would be able to pull off his plan. He hoped that in the surprise of their sudden appearance, he would be able to distract the people there enough with cries of help for Jennifer for him to give Lorna’s neck a discreet snap. She was the only one who could rat him out. Even though she
was a burnt-out husk of microbes and radiation sickness, he worried about how responsive she might be after some good medical care. Seth grinned, his heart racing as he contemplated how he would kill Lorna.
Ambling over to her in his own feeble fashion, he gripped her under her arm, the flesh feeling loose and unconnected to her bones. The smell of urine assailed his nostrils. With a grunt, he strained to bring Lorna to her feet so they could attempt to get up the hill that led to the forest perched at the edge of what looked like a deserted neighborhood of tiny ranch houses and a few split levels.
He heard the squeak and rendering tear of metal as he glimpsed a child’s swing set tumble to the ground behind a modest home that had collapsed on itself. This was Lily Pond Road.
Turning back to Lorna, he just hoped they would have the strength to drag Jennifer up the hill and through the woods.
“For Christ’s sake, Lorna. You have to help yourself a little. I can’t do it all.” Lorna looked at him as if she didn’t recognize him. Seth sighed. He could see Lorna was blanking out again and going to be next to useless, just when he needed her the most. How the hell was he going to find the trail to the rock without her directions? She said to follow the trail a few months ago when he had pressed her for specifics. What the hell is that supposed to mean?
He knew she wanted to get there as much as he did, but he had to be careful. She might be looking to pay him back for losing Suzy. He had yet to come up with a story to explain that debacle. He reached up to feel where his ear should have been, wincing as the throbbing pain kicked up a notch from his clumsy touch. He cleaned the pus and fluid from his shaking hand, his ragged drawers the only place to wipe.
At least he knew they were in the correct place. He scanned the empty tractor trailers that sat around a small ranch house which no longer featured windows or a front door. The dwelling appeared to mock him with its vacant window eyes, daring him to come inside.
Tearing his gaze from the empty house, he renewed his efforts to get Lorna and Jennifer up the hill. He silently assisted Lorna to her feet, placing her hand back on the metal pull bar. He scrambled to the rear of the makeshift wagon and shouted, “Come on, Lorna . . . Pull!”
She turned to look at him, a momentary morsel of clarity flowering in her bloodshot eyes. “Seth, are we on Lily Pond Road?”
Seth trod carefully, not knowing how long Lorna’s mental state would stay anchored in the present, or what kind of new trouble she would give him. He grimaced as Lorna’s face crumpled and she began to wail. She sank to the ground on her knees, dragging Seth down with her. The sled that supported Jennifer slid a few feet down the hill then halted.
“We didn’t go back for Suzy. How could I ignore her?” Lorna squinted at Seth. “She’s not at school, is she? We left her behind.”
Seth could see the wheels of her mind turning in her eyes, trying to connect the events of the last five months. Lorna’s eyes widened as she stared blankly at Seth. Her voice hissed venom, slow and painful. “You low life scumbag. You actually think I’m going to have my husband save your pathetic ass after what you did?”
Seth drew his shoulders together as he rose off the ground. He bit down hard on his lip, restraining himself from punching her in the face. He’d been through this many times. If he kept his mouth shut, Lorna’s moment of clarity would pass. He reached under her arm to yank her up as she struggled against him.
“Take your bloody hands off me, you insect.”
Seth raised his hand in the air, stopping a mere few inches from her face. Her red splotchy face leaked blood from her snotty nose as she defiantly stood her ground. Just as he decided to go ahead and slap her anyway, he witnessed the light fade from her eyes to be replaced with pliant confusion.
“Seth, what are you doing? We need to get to the school. I promised Suzy we wouldn’t be late. Now help me pick up my bags.” Seth lowered his fist as Lorna slipped out of his grasp to scrabble after the wagon.
Sighing with relief, Seth helped her retrieve the rickety wagon and they resumed the trek up the hill to the woods amid breathless grunts; the neighborhood homes mocking their progress with their shouts of death and silence.
“Hold on Lorna . . . hold on.” They were having trouble with the wagon. The ruts on the floor of the woods refused to give way as they pulled the wagon behind them, forcing their meager strength to dissipate rapidly. Lorna struggled, flailing ineffectively, creating another obstacle for Seth to deal with.
“Seeeth, it won’t . . . it won’t.”
“It won’t what? For Christ sakes, Lorna, you think I can’t see?” He stopped to scan the trees, denuded of all life: no leaves, no birds, and no squirrels. He rubbed his sore back, feeling his bones flex like rubber and his muscles quake and chatter. As he watched Lorna mutter to herself, he scanned the faint pathway that disappeared into the barren woods.
“Lorna, we need to talk.”
She continued to mutter and pull ineffectually at the wagon.
“Lorna. I want to talk to you.” He stood in front of her, removing her hands from the wagon’s iron pull bar. When she showed some vague sign she was listening, he pointed into the woods. “We can’t go any further with the wagon. We need to leave it here while we go look for the boulder.” She immediately shook her head and muttered louder. He grabbed her by the hand and dragged her away from the wagon. Lorna’s pathetic wail turned to a shriek as Seth pulled her away and deeper into the woods, the two of them stumbling along like drunken barflies.
As luck would have it, they quickly came to the granite boulder. Seth dropped Lorna’s hand to wrap his arms around the almost mythical stone, tears of relief coursing from his red-rimmed eyes.
“Oh my blessed Lord, it’s here. It’s here. I’m saved!” He slapped the boulder with the palm of his hand. Turning with his back resting against the boulder, he found Lorna standing motionless, just staring at him. His happy grin clearly confused her.
“So, Lorna, what do we do next?” He sounded like a puppy that had just been promised a thick juicy steak. “Where’s the shelter?” He swiveled his head around, looking high and low around the boulder. “Where’s the door?” He glanced back at Lorna and noticed her blank expression, unnaturally quiet. He could see her start to weave and ran to catch her.
“Oh no ya don’t. Not when we finally got here.” Wrapping her thin arm around his neck, he dragged her around the enormous boulder to search from another angle. He stopped in surprise to see the rise of a hill behind the boulder.
“Well, what do we have here?” Before he could do any further investigation, he heard the rustle of dried bushes. Turning from the hill they confronted the sickly sight of an emaciated feral fox. Dried blood soaked her once fluffy henna fur that decorated her ears. Her eyes flashed wildly, clearly out of her mind with hunger and disease. A low growl deep in the throat of the fox snapped Lorna out of her trance.
As the fox crept closer, froth at its mouth dripped to the ground. It crouched low and tense, ready to attack when Lorna decided to join the growls with her choking and guttural scream. Seth leaned into the hillside, forcing Lorna to shield him as he cowered behind her. The fox sprang to Lorna, clamping its teeth down on her flailing hand.
Chapter 3
As Kenya and Kane shuffled into Netty’s kitchen followed by the rest of the inseparable group—Chloe, Scotty, Echo, and Barney—Caesar poked his head into the room. Chloe gave him a quick pat on the head as Scotty ran for the ubiquitous tiger’s water dish. All hungry voices waiting for dinner stopped as Kane lowered Kenya with her big belly into a chair that had been specially made for her. Netty and Abby came rushing over. Abby knelt at Kenya’s chair, her arms around the distressed teen, while Netty stood stoically, an unreadable expression in her eyes.
“Oh, you poor sweet child. How in the world did you get to the fields today? I thought we agreed you would stay off your feet? What if something happened? You need to stick close to us.”
Kenya rolled her eyes at Abby, her voice imp
atient. “I’m about going crazy here, chickey. This baby doesn’t wanta come. And I feel healthy as all get out. I can’t just sit around all day. I’m gunna go nuts. I want to be with my friends if this damn baby is going to give me such a hard time. Have you figured out something to get it out of me yet?” Kenya swiveled her head around to see Netty watching her. She glanced down to see the winged woman quietly wringing her hands.
“What the f’ing Lord is the matter with me? Netty, I know you know something. Why hasn’t my baby come?” A slow rise of hysteria sounded in her voice.
Johno detached himself from his seat at the table next to Crystal, who reached out to drag him back. “Johnny, you know you ain’t gunna be able to do anything. Why do ya even bother?”
Johno gave her a gentle quiet motion with his hands and knelt down in front of the anguished teen. He took her hand in his, calmly stroking in a methodic fashion. “Shhhh. There you go, little Miss Kenya. Now we have all been through this before. Do you think anything has changed since yesterday?” Kenya looked into his impassive eyes, finding a calm reassurance. She took a breath, ready to expel all the pent up emotion from the inconvenience of lugging her big belly around all day. The steady pressure of his stroking soothed her. All that came out of her mouth was a whimper.
“But, I . . .” She sniffed.
“Shhhh, I know. We all know, young lady.” He continued to stroke her arm, not taking his eyes off her face. “Why don’t I have Miss Salina fix up some of that special tea you like?” Kenya’s mouth opened, then glumly closed again. She hung her head and whispered, “I don’t know how much more I can take, Johno. I want to have a normal life.”